TAXI TIMES

...now that I'm on the subject

I drove cab at night in L.A. and Hollywood for many

years.  I'm often asked did I have any famous people in

the cab.  The short answer...yes!

Who was the most famous?

He is so old most people won't remember

him.  He was the main radio broadcaster

in WWII

This was probably in the early 60's.  The

Coconut Grove and the Brown Derby on Wilshire Blvd

were the hot spots.  The area behind it on 8th St.

was the happening area.

One night around 3 or 4 AM I pull into the Coconut Grove

cab stand and get out to talk to the door man, Harry Black.

He was talking to...guess who?

WALTER WINCHEL

Remember....good evening Mr. and Mrs. America

...and all the ships at sea.

Harry introduced me.  I called him Walt.

Harry was upset, Walter said it's o.k. I was just a kid.

The other big name was....!!!

One nite I get a call for a place way back in the

Beverly Hills.  In that area there were fences around everyplace. 

I pulled up to the voice box at the gate.  Soon

someone came down and let me in.  He went back to the

house.  I turned around and waited.  Pretty soon

a short blond haired guy came out and inquired how much it was to go to a certain place.  I told him, he went

back inside.

Pretty soon a couple of women come out and get in the cab.  I take them where they wanted to go.

A week later I get another call for the same place.

This time the gate is open, so I drive up and turn around.

Soon the guy who let me in before comes out

and gets in.  He is going to what I know to be a see and be seen spot.

I asked him who lives there?

That was ROD STEWART who came out and

inquired about the fare.

I had Dino Delaurentis nephew in the cab once.  I think

Burt  Bacharach who was really drunk one time.

There are three kinds of people in L.A.

Artist, actors and illegal aliens.

For every legitimate actor you have you'll get a hundred wanna' be's.

I'm an actor, turn left here.  what have you

been in ?  Nuffin' yet.

Can I get a break on the meter ?