Charlton Heston died on April 5, 2008. I drove by his house the next morning on my way to an appointment and saw the large American flag draped over the gate. It made me think back seven years, when I drove through that gate to spend a few hours with him. I remember the call […]
Author Archive | Lawrence Grobel
Jesse “The Mouth” Ventura
“Hey Larry, Jesse Ventura here, how are you? I’m in town doing this book tour thing. Larry King, Wolf Blitzer….I’m free for dinner on Friday if you are.” “Sure,” I said, “I’d love to see you governor.” Former presidents still get called president, so I guess former governors should get the same respect. He was […]
Tojo: Vancouver’s Zen Master of Sushi (World)
If one ever needed a reason to go to Vancouver, eating at Tojo’s new restaurant at 1133 West Broadway is reason enough. Tojo, you see, is not just a master sushi chef, he’s the veritable Picasso of sushi chefs. He can bend a slice of raw fish over a rectangle of rice in a way […]
Walking L.A. (Diversion)
When you mention walking in L.A. to people who don’t live in L.A. the most common reaction is: Ha! And then, “Are you kidding, nobody walks in L.A.” That’s not true, of course. Nobody jaywalks in L.A. Or, if one does, there are cops waiting to pounce. A friend and I once crossed two feet […]
Pavarotti & Me (Autograph)
When Luciano Pavarotti lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on September 6, 2007 at the age of 71 the world lost one of the most remarkable voices since voices began being recorded. I had the privilege—and I do mean privilege—to have interviewed the great tenor in depth at the height of his career. It was […]
Competing with Midgets: A Tall Order
After a book I wrote was accepted for publication, I received an eight-page questionnaire from the company’s publicist. She wanted more information about me than my doctor asks for. Who was the book’s primary audience? Who did I know in the media who might be interested in reviewing the book? Have I ever appeared on […]
Teach Me to Dance (Reader’s Digest)
One of my very favorite scenes in the movies is when Alan Bates says to Anthony Quinn at the end of Zorba the Greek, “Teach me to dance.” “Dance?” Zorba replies, his eyes shining. “C’mon, my boy.” They are on a beach in Greece and as the zither plucks that familiar tune, Quinn snaps his […]
Madonna Paints a Mustache (Autograph)
When my children were much younger than they are now, way back in 1989, they knew Al Pacino as a friend of the family, but not as a movie star or celebrity. They were too young (six and nine years old) to have seen any of his movies (other than Author! Author! and even that […]
Scottsdale, San Diego & Rancho La Puerta (World)
You’ve fallen in love, again, with your mate, or you’ve just met a new mate, and you’re wondering what you can do for the two weeks vacation time coming up. It’s a long plane ride to the west coast of the U.S. but what the heck, you’re looking for romance, and why not take the […]
Western Canada: Cowboys & Sushi (World)
I never wanted to be a cowboy. I prefer sneakers and sandals to calf-hugging leather boots. Baseball caps to Stetson hats. Horse power under the hood to horses under a hard saddle. Restaurants with waiters to cans of pork and beans over a campfire. I’ve never fantasized throwing a lasso over a calf’s head and […]
