Paul Newman

In 1969 I was a sports intern at KMPC radio in Los Angeles. This was a big full-service station at the time. News, personalities, sports. Gary Owens from LAUGH-IN, the Rams, Angels, and UCLA Bruins. For people in the Midwest, think WGN. I worked in the newsroom, wrote sportscasts and changed teletype ribbon. The station could not run without me.

One day the general manager (Mr. Carlson of WKRP) approached me and said there was somebody who was going to be making a movie about radio and wanted to do a little research. Could I show him around for two days? I said sure, and he brought in Paul Newman. (He was about to make WUSA). And this was the Butch Cassidy-era Paul Newman, girls. So I picked myself off the floor and for a few days hung with my new BFF, Paul Newman. He even took me out to lunch. And I can happily report he was as nice, as gracious, as down to earth as you could possibly imagine.

I celebrate his life. And I celebrate his work. Here are some of my favorite Paul Newman movies.

ABSENCE OF MALICE (coincidentally, my latest Netflix pick of the month)

THE VERDICT

HARPER

BUTH CASSIDY (duh!)

THE STING (Shame on you if you haven't already seen this movie)

COOL HAND LUKE (the girl washing the car is maybe the sexiest scene ever)

HUD (the ultimate bad boy flick)

THE HUSTLER (Jackie Gleason is his bitch)

NOBODY’S FOOL (a small but underrated movie)

SLAP SHOT (I was saving this for a future Netflix pick)

TORN CURTAIN (Considered one of the lesser Hictchcock films but shouldn’t be)

Oh, who am I kidding? Just about any Paul Newman movie really. Except maybe WUSA.

What are your favorites?

The Newman family suggests donations in his name to the Assn. of Hole in the Wall Camps. You can get information here.