McQuown 101

ON BEING A CRITIC

I started at the newspaper as a copyeditor, but when the entertainment editor found out I had a theater background, she asked me to go see a few plays. At the time, Philadephia had several good companies doing everything from classical to modern. After a few successful stage reviews, I got assignments for film as well.

My first actor interview was Paul Winfield for “A Hero Ain't Nothin' But A Sandwich” opposite Larry B. Scott as his son. Winfield was one of many actors, producers and directors I met during the seven years I worked at the paper.

Thie was between 1976 and 1983, when the Hollywood publicity machine was still relying on the press junket to hype films. Most studios had PR offices in major cities and they staged huse press lunches where the actors and others sat down to chew the fat with the members of the Fourth Estate.

What usually happened was that the press did all the chewing and the star did all the work. At a big splash at Bookbinder's seafood house, the writers chowed down on a multi-course dinner while producer Jon Peters answered questions. Then, while we were still fressing, Peters was whisked off to the airport to fly to his next gig. He got to eat a box lunch on the plane.

Henry Winkler fared no better. There were about thirty tables full of press on this occasion. Winkler was shuttled form table to table then out the door. If he got as much as one bite per table, I would be surprised. Oh, the glamour of show business!

Many other sessions were far less hectic. I don't recall that a twenty-something Jackie Chan ever ate a bite, but that was because he was too energetic to sit still.

To be continued...