30 Years Later, Still Making a Difference

If you’re lucky, there are people in your life who make a difference.
Linda Johnson has made a huge difference in my life in a positive way.
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If you’re lucky, there are people in your life who make a difference.
Linda Johnson has made a huge difference in my life in a positive way.
Read More

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY:
REMEMBERING THE 1984 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
It’s hard for me to believe this photograph was taken exactly 40 years ago. Here’s a pic of me outside the Dallas Loews Anatole Hotel, a short time after the presidential limo pulled up and dropped off Ronald Reagan. He made a speech inside the atrium to a packed audience of supporters.
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THEN AND NOW:
MOVIE: “THE GAMBLER” (1974)
CAESARS PALACE LAS VEGAS
On the 50th anniversary of the release of The Gambler, I walked through the iconic circular casino pit at Caesars Palace late last night, where the ecstatic crescendo of Axel Freed’s gambling “high” takes place. One of the most intense movies about gambling ever filmed, the 1974 lesser-known cult classic isn’t shown often. Not to be confused with embarrassingly dreadful 2014 remake starring Mark Wahlberg (read my review HERE), the earlier version starring James Caan in the title role contains a riveting portrayal of addiction and self-destruction, boosted by an outstanding supporting cast — including Lauren Hutton, Paul Sorvino, Burt Young, M. Emmet Walsh, and James Woods (in his first film role).

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY:
ROSECROFT RACEWAY — OXON HILL, MD (1985)
Most gamblers have at least one lapse of degeneracy, unless our condition is permanent.
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EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY:
WITH DENNIS HOPPER AT CINEVEGAS FILM FESTIVAL — THE PALMS LAS VEGAS (2005)
Circa 2003-2009, I attended CineVegas film festival several years in a row. Las Vegas has been featured as the backdrop in several movies. Given its close proximity to Hollywood and all the top entertainment performing here, it’s inevitable that our city would come to host an annual film festival.
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