Another Hollywood movie is ripped from the headlines
“Money Monster,” set for release May 13, sounds like an interesting movie. George Clooney stars as Lee Gates, a flamboyant financial wizard who offers stock tips on his popular TV show. His producer is Patty Fenn, played by Julia Roberts. They have a little thing going on the side.
Then it happens. A crazy gunman, who lost every penny on a bad tip from Gates, bursts on the set, waving a gun, and holds Gates hostage.
I’ve kind of already seen this movie. I knew a guy it happened to for real.
Before coming to Houston, I was a columnist in Phoenix. I wrote a lot about television, and there was a hard-nosed, toughguy anchorman on Channel 10 named Bill Close.
Here’s a Bill Close story. I didn’t actually see it, but I heard about it so many times that I started thinking, this can’t possibly be true. Then YouTube happened, and it’s all there. As Lili von Shtupp said in “Blazing Saddles” … “it’s twue, it’s twue.”
In the early ’80s, a deranged gunman walked onto the Channel 10 news set during the 5 p.m. newscast, pointed a pistol at Close and insisted that the anchorman read a long, rambling letter that made the Unabomber’s manifesto sound like “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” At one point in the letter, the gunman was giving Johnny Cash 48 hours to persuade Queen Elizabeth to leave England. From there, the letter got loopier.
The gunman held Close hostage for more than four hours. Channel 10 aired the entire incident live without commercial interruption. Ratings! The incident became folklore in Phoenix. It’s like “Money Monster” with less attractive people.
After the entire evening of prime time, Close talked his kidnapper into giving up. Police took the gunman into custody, on camera, shortly before the 10 p.m. news. To put it in TV terms, it was the greatest leadin to a newscast in Phoenix television history.
Close died a couple of years ago. He was 91. He still holds the record for being the longest-running anchor in Phoenix history — 30 years — from 1964 to 1993. He was a crusty coot. Old school. He was the first Phoenix anchorman who shared a newscast with a woman. He didn’t exactly roll out the welcome wagon for his co-anchor. In a 2004 interview, he said that TV news was a “man’s domain.”
He acknowledged, “I didn’t want her on the set. But I didn’t tell anybody that. I tried not to let any negative vibes penetrate her tender skin.”
“Man’s domain.” “Her tender skin.” You get the picture. He was right out of central casting. Not the easiest-going guy.
Now, I have to admit something. Close helped me gain one of the best victories of my career. While I was working in Phoenix, the newspaper publisher one day decided that all male employees should wear a tie when inside the building.
I’m not sure I even owned a tie.
Close to the rescue. Remember when I said that Close was old school? He wore a bolo tie on the news. That was his trademark: the string tie, a symbol of the old Wild West, a time long gone by.
Most of the men who worked for the paper weren’t thrilled with having to wear a tie. One day, we were all complaining when, I’m not certain it was me, but I was sure in onit…
Let’s look this up. There it is!
“The bola (that’s what they call it in Arizona) tie was designated the official neckwear of Arizona in 1973.”
Thank you, state legislature.
We went to the western-wear store and bought the cheapest bolo ties they sold. They were on a spinning rack next to the cash register, like gag gifts.
The publisher couldn’t object to the bolo ties; they’re the official state neckwear.
Most states have “official” clothes. For example:
“RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate the cowboy boot as the official State Footwear.”
Ever been to Phoenix in summer? It’s 115 degrees in the shade at the airport. On the corner of Central and Van Buren, where the newspaper building was, it was 125 degrees bouncing off the pavement and baking the brick building. We wore short-sleeve polo shirts … with bolo ties. We looked really stupid. But some causes are worth fighting for, like not wearing a tie in July in Phoenix.
A month later, the tie edict was rescinded. The bolo-tie protest won. Power to the people!
Norma Rae had nothing on me.
Pethouse Pet of the Week
Name: Diamond, as in Neil (Top 40 hit machine), Dustin (“Screech” in “Saved by the Bell”) and Legs (noted murderer).
Ethnicity: I’m a Chihuahua girl from south of the border — if the border we’re talking about is Mason Road in Katy.
Birthdate: Feb. 1, 2016 — just a babe in your arms.
Diamond’s gems: Bernard Wishnow, the undisputed greatest radio talk host in Houston history (he tells me that all the time), has written an autobiography. It’s called “Wishnow: a Memoir.” How much time did he spend on that title? Wishnow hosted his show, “Midnight with Mr. Wish,” during KSEV’s fledgling years in the ’80s and ’90s. He also owned a controversial couples club called “Wish’s Club.” Again, how much time went into that name? Wishnow will have his first book signing, 2-4 p.m. May 7 at the Book Attic, 28569 Tomball Parkway, Tomball.
A few months ago, Channel 2 sports reporter Simone Eli playfully challenged Rockets mope center Dwight Howard to a game of H-O-R-S-E. Howard accepted. Naturally, Eli beat him. Channel 2 played it up like, “Isn’t this funny? Our female sports reporter beat the great professional player.” Now that we’ve had a good look at Howard … Simone beating him wasn’t an upset. Simone played college hoops at Miami University in Ohio. I think she could beat Howard lefty.
Howard complains about not being a bigger part of the offense. Seriously? His shooting range is dunk and closer. He is one of the worst freethrow shooters in history. That’s a 15-foot shot with nobody guarding him. No excuse. It’s time to say goodbye.
Diamond will be available for adoption at 11 a.m. Friday at Citizens for Animal Protection, 17555 Interstate 10 W. More information: cap4pets.org or 281-497-0591.