The baby boomer movie star caused a momentary stir when he strolled in. Celebrities are not uncommon at high-end antiques/collectibles shows and he did live right there in Miami. Dealers try to act calm and unimpressed. Beautiful people dress down (like everyone at shows), the theory being if you appear too well-heeled, prices will be higher. This means a dealer must sometimes counter-access appearance—that scruffy due who looks like a transient might be a wealthy rock musician. After all, he did have to pay $12 to enter.

His body guard kept busy chatting up teenage girls. As the baby boomer idol spotted something he wanted, a personal assistant would do all the negotiating while he stood stood a comfortable distance away. Negotiating? You would think one who rakes in mega-millions a film would be willing to pay full ticket. Often not. Barbara Streisand is notorious for throwing hissy fits over retail prices. By contrast, Andy Griffith and Mark Harman are gentlemen and never squabble.

Genuine nice guys

An art glass dealer near my booth was a primary recipient of the star’s miserly desire. He bought a half dozen items, including a Tiffany lamp, for a total of $65,000. No money changed hands. The exuberant dealer marked the pieces “Sold” and was informed he would be paid and the merchandise picked up at the end of the show, three days hence.

The star and his entourage sauntered in for the final hours to make some last minute purchases. The art glass merchant didn’t fare well. The assistant informed him that her employer had a change of heart and decided to “pass” on all the items he selected. End of story. The dealer took much of his best merchandise out of circulation for the entire show and went home with greatly reduced revenue for his effort.

“I always thought he was a lousy actor,” the dealer groused. “Now I know he’s a lousy human being, too.”

This is the same star who instructs his household employees never to look directly into his eyes.

Baby Boomer Trivia Questions

►Match the famous line to the movie

Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.

What we have is a failure to communicate.

I spoil my children. They talk when they should listen.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he doesn’t exist.

The Godfather, Auntie Mame, The Usual Suspects, Cool Hand Luke

► Castaways. Connect the actor with a movie he turned down

Warren Beatty
Tom Selleck
Alex Baldwin
Sean Connery

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Lord of the Rings, The Fugitive, Indiana Jones

Answers at end of post

Answers

►Movie lines

Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death. Auntie Mame

What we have is a failure to communicate. Cool Hand Luke

I spoil my children. They talk when they should listen. The Godfather

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he doesn’t exist. The Usual Suspects

►Castaways

Warren Beatty→ Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Tom Selleck→ Indiana Jones
Alex Baldwin→ The Fugitive
Sean Connery→ Lord of the Rings

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