THE FORTUNE CHRONICLES PART FIVE (Final)

Los Angeles January to August 1969

by Joe Bonelli (Copyright 2000 by Joseph H. Bonelli)

As I mentioned before, my friend Robert Redding came in from Honolulu (and the "sweltering palms") to New York in winter, to replace Michael.  He was once again a terrific Queenie.  He had stalked the Village for a long, LONG heavy coat to warm his 6'4" lanky frame. The Nebraska farm boy had gotten used to L.A. and Honolulu climes!!

At about the same time, a stocky young man stepped in as understudy for Bart Miro, in the role of Rocky.  He took over the role when Bart exited a bit later.  We called him Tom Lee Jones.  He was very powerful in the part of Rocky.   I admit, I did not recognize Tommy Lee Jones as a potential "star" at the time.  I watched his career develop from his movie debut in Love Story (shot while he was doing Fortune) on up.  A few years later he was on television as Howard Hughes and not long after, his name was there with Laurence Olivier in The Betsy.  And gradually he became the star he is. Tommy Lee Jones is a most generous person.  Years later he went out of his way to be nice to me when we were reunited on the set of JFK in New Orleans.  He was the Defendant and I was on the Jury.  He deserves all his hard-worked-for success!!

Late in the run, Mark Shannon decided to leave the show. A young man had been campaigning to play the role.  He completely wanted to change his image from tv.  He would have done it, too!! His name was Jay North.  And he was tv's famous "Dennis the Menace."  And he was tired of hearing about it, too!!  The producers hired Jay! Jay was a very hard worker and put his heart into rehearsals.  He would have been very good in the role of Smitty, had his chance come.

But, in the meantime, dwindling houses and summer were wearing the production down. Waissman and Fox decided to close the show after a run of about 8or 9 months. Due to the necessity of George playing Smitty, I took over the show and ran backstage during performances for the remainder of the run. A sad Jay went back to the West Coast.

As a reward for our hard work a couple of us were given Equity contracts for the last weeks of our run.  This allowed us to join Actor's Equity Association, the union for professional stage actors.  It was very difficult to get in, more so then than now.  It was an honorable reward!! Working on the two productions of FORTUNE AND MEN'S EYES that were directed by Sal Mineo, was the greatest experience, so far, of my professional life in "show biz".   I saw Sal Mineo twice after Fortune closed in New York.  

In 1972, Sal was living in London.  I made my only trip so far to Europe and stayed there for several days. I had his number, called, and visited with Sal and Courtney Burr.  About a year and a half or two later, I was working in Los Angeles at a restaurant and Sal came walking in.  I introduced him to my friend who worked there and we chatted briefly. I think he said something about doing a TV series segment.  I got busy and that was the last time I saw Sal.

I have always remembered him well.  He was encouraging and good with the people he worked with.  He was not a "star" in attitude, but knew who he was.   He was a very talented man who should have gone further. But, then, how many people do you know of who were nominated for the Oscar twice before age 20???