‘Hollywood’ is back in the Beach
Locals glad chatty pen vendor over his terrible pneumonia and back ‘where he belongs’
The sun shone bright and early Sunday in Toronto’s Beach neighbourhood, making the sidewalk mums pop yellow, burgundy and burnt orange. There were “to go” coffees, strollers and the rumble of the 501 Queen streetcar.
And a girl with a tiny pumpkin in one hand bent down and plucked a pen with her other hand from a cup in front of a rumpled, friendly figure, in trade for some loose change.
Wayne “Hollywood” Joice was finally back at his spot in front of the Foodland grocery story at the corner of Queen St. E. and Lee Ave. and all seemed right in the Beach.
He was back — some believed him dead, so much so that news of his premature passing made a local newsletter — following serious health problems that landed him in hospital.
“I feel terrific, like the million-dollar man. In a way I am, since I got this,” said Joice, 54, pointing out a tracheotomy valve that he hopes might come out, and the hole sealed.
It was a terrible case of pneumonia that landed the man — whose nickname comes from warming up prospective customers with comparisons to Hollywood stars — in hospital, and he may have to live with the hole.
“They say the rest of my life, but I hope they take it out in two months.”
“Makes you appreciate everything when you see the spirit the man has.” MARGARET PINT BEACH RESIDENT
Joice’s return brought smiles, a few big thumb’s ups and pleasant conversations, some of which went like this: “You fooled us!” said Margaret Pint. “I didn’t fool you. I didn’t want to be dead!” said Joice, quite convincingly.
“Everybody’s Marilyn Monroe to him,” said Pint, in an aside to a reporter. “All the young chicks that walk past, it’s ‘Hi Marilyn.’ ”
“You look like a Marilyn, too,” declared Joist. “Oh, you definitely need those glasses checked!” said Pint, who is in her late 60s. “You don’t look a day over 21,” said Joice. “Yeah, I’m a leap year baby,” deadpanned Pint. “Glad to see you back at your post,” said former Beach resident Richard Laporte, out for a stroll in his old neighbourhood. He’s known Joice for many years and was glad to see him “where he belongs.” Joice said he was worried some might have forgotten him. But nobody did. “Somebody said he was dead, and he never said goodbye, so I thought, wait a minute,” said Pint. “And then I hear it was not true, and I’m just so thrilled. He’s an institution down here and everybody loves him.” Joice made a point of telling more than a few people Sunday that he would be back the next day, back at his spot near the sidewalk mums, where the pens are as cheap or expensive as one desires, but the flattery is always free. “Makes you appreciate everything when you see the spirit the man has,” said Pint. “All is right. Wayne’s back.”