Aspen photographer Lynn Goldsmith was set to be the official shutterbug at Hunter Thompson’s send-off Saturday night – but the deal fell through. Just as well, as she got dosed at the funeral and had to leave on a stretcher.
Rumors are flying that Goldsmith was hired by the family to provide pictures to the media. The story went that Goldsmith then made a side deal to sell the pics to People magazine for $200,000.
“Absolutely not,” says Goldsmith. She says it was her understanding that Thompson’s widow, Anita Thompson, and funeral underwriter Johnny Depp were onboard with a plan to sell her pics to People. The money, nothing close to $200,000 she says, would have gone to Thompson’s foundation.
“A lot of things changed,” says Goldsmith.
Family spokesman Matt Moseley says Goldsmith was considered because she had done excellent work with Hunter in the past, but Depp wanted full control of the event. Selling the pics to People was not considered. The photo duties went to Depp’s studio photographer, Peter Mountain.
As for the dosing, Goldsmith says she ate a chocolate chip cookie at the ceremony. Shortly afterward, “I felt out of my body. It was after his ashes had been blasted off, and I remember some music. Then my arms and legs seemed not to be part of my body.”
She was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, where, says Goldsmith, they found marijuana in her system, but no psychedelics.
“It wasn’t horrible,” she says. “No one gave me acid or mushrooms or whatever. It was a combination of things. I was dehydrated, and I have a very clean system. I don’t think there was any ill intent.”
Sing out
Tryouts for the fifth season of “American Idol” come down Sept. 11 at Invesco Field at Mile High. Not the most sensitive date, but expect thousands of hopefuls to show up singing.
Extra! Extra!
Donna Dewey’s movie “Looking for Sunday” is set to start filming in Denver on Tuesday. The project will need 100s of paid extras – all types, sizes, ages (primarily adults), retro, tattooed, hip. Open casting sessions are 2-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Denver Studio Complex, 241 S. Cherokee St. Bring a pic or have $2 for a Polaroid.
Glorious food
5280 magazine has expanded its annual restaurant list from Top 10 to Best 25 in Friday’s “Denver’s 25 Very Best Restaurants” issue. Meanwhile, Pat “Gabby Gourmet” Miller is paring down to a new rating system in her upcoming guide with six “flawless” restaurants.
So who gets the nod from 5280? The roster includes some of my faves: L’Atelier, Luca D’Italia, Mel’s, Mizuna, Rioja, Solera, Sushi Den.
City spirit
Bennett’s Bar-B-Que celebrates 20 years in the rib biz with a “Thank Q” to fans 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 10 with a party at the Lone Tree location (10025 Park Meadows Drive). Prices will remind you of 1985, proceeds to the Dumb Friends League … CNN filming at Mizuna this Friday, doing a story on the nation’s top-rated restaurants in Zagat … Sez who: “There must be something more to life than having it all.” Maurice Sendak
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears on Fox 31 News. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
