Monday, July 20, 2020

On Meeting Al Pacino And Shaking His Hand

I honestly don’t know how I discovered this, but back in 1976 while I was living in New York City, it came to my attention that actor, Al Pacino, enjoyed having dinner quite frequently at the restaurant, Right Bank, which was on Madison Ave and 68th Street. And it just so happened that I lived on 65th Street and Madison Avenue, which was only three blocks away. So I got this psychotic idea in my head that if I went there, I would miraculously meet him.

I should probably tell you that I have a tendency to get overly starstruck with certain actors/actresses that I admire. And Al Pacino is one of them.

Now keep in mind, this incident occurred not too long after the movie Dog Day Afternoon was released, which was based upon a real-life story that happened in the early seventies in which the Chase Manhattan Bank in Gravesend, Brooklyn, was held siege by a bank robber, who was portrayed by Al Pacino. I love any movie with Pacino. However, if I were forced to choose just one it would be this film, hands down. Not only is the story absolutely fascinating, but Pacino is riveting.
 
So one evening, my partner and I and three of our theater friends, walked over to the Right Bank and were determined to sit there and eat until Mr. Pacino walked into the restaurant.

After we got our table, I positioned myself so that I'd have a perfect view of the front door. And each time the door would open, my entire body would jerk with anticipation of him possibly making an entrance.

Finally. FINALLY, after almost an hour of eating as slowly as we possibly could, guess what?

Yessiree, Al Pacino walked in with two other men and sat at a table across the room. The Right Bank was an intimate restaurant, so we could clearly see him from our table.

OH MY GOD...Al FREAKING PACINO! In the flesh!

My friends and I just about died looking at him without appearing as if we were a bunch of crazed-stalking fans.

Which we were.

Immediately I began to make a plan on how I was going to get myself over by his table because I didn’t want to just look at him, I was also hoping to speak to him.

And possibly touch him.

I decided that the easiest way to do this would be to get up and use the restroom because I'd have to walk by his table to get there. Now, to get to the actual restroom you had to go through a door and then walk up a long flight of stairs. So that's what I did. I walked by his table (looked at him); proceeded to go to the restroom; then on the way back I walked passed his table (and looked at him) again.

As soon as I got back to my seat, my friends asked me in unison, “Ooooooo Ron...what did he look like up-close?

And no sooner did I open my mouth to tell them, I noticed Mr. Pacino getting up from his table and heading for the restroom door.

Shit…what rotten timing!

But then I thought, “No, this is perfect…I’ll just go back to the restroom because then it’ll be just he and I alone, the perfect opportunity to talk.”

So I leaped up from my seat and made a beeline for the door. But as I pushed it open, I felt the back of the door slam into something behind it. And as I looked to see what it was, I stared directly into the face of Al Pacino who was talking on a payphone. I couldn’t say one single word because I was totally embarrassed, so I just dashed up the stairs to the restroom.

I was beginning to think that this was turning into a zany I Love Lucy episode, in which Lucy gets herself into trouble trying to meet movie stars.

Anyway, to kill some time, I dilly-dallied in the restroom by washing my hands and checking my hair. I then took a few deep breaths and headed back down the stairs because I figured I’d be able to get another close look at him while he was talking on the phone.

WRONG! He was no longer on the phone.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

When I got back to the table I told my friends, “Let’s just go because it's useless, I’m just not meant to meet him tonight. I'll have to come back some other time.” So we paid the check and got up to leave. We all decided to walk by his table on the way to the front door and just be satisfied with looking at him and calling it a night.

I was the last one in line. And as I got near his table I thought to myself, “No, damn it…I will not allow this opportunity to pass.” So I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at him straight in the eyes and said, “Hi Mr. Pacino, I’m sorry for interrupting your dinner, but I just have to tell you how much I respect your work. In fact, I just saw "Dog Day Afternoon” and loved it.

He was incredibly sweet and gracious, and politely said, "Thank you very much."

And then I held out my right hand to shake his, and he responded by shaking mine. I smiled and said, “Enjoy your dinner," and then walked out of the restaurant.

When I got out onto the street, I started jumping and shouting, “I DID IT….I DID IT...I actually talked to Al Pacino and touched him with THIS hand (holding up my right hand), which I will NEVER wash it again!”

And as we walked back to my apartment, I remained in a starstruck coma. I kept staring at my hand, bedazzled; realizing it contained Al Pacino's DNA.

And it's funny because right after that experience, whenever I would see him in a movie my attention would first go to his right hand, and I'd think, "Damn...I shook that paw!"

Have a 🌟-studded week, y'all!

X


P.S. Oh, and I eventually did have to wash my hand.