As the news of legendary actor Tony Curtis’ death circulated Thursday, Denver business types and politicos shared memories of a kind, gentle man who never put on airs even though he was a bona-fide movie star.
Third-generation Rockmount Ranch Wear owner Steve Weil recalled meeting Curtis at a party in 1996 while the film star was in town for the Denver International Film Festival.
“He was interested that I was in the Western-wear business,” Weil recalled. “The next morning, the phone rang, and it was Tony Curtis asking for me. Thinking it was a joke, I picked up the phone and made an offhand incredulous comment: ‘Who is this?’
“Undeterred, he said he would like to come by Rockmount and asked, ‘How long would it take to get a cab and drive there from the Warwick Hotel?’ I said, ‘Five minutes. I’ll pick you up.’ “
At that time, Rockmount, in the historic Wazee Street building, didn’t sell retail. But Curtis bought a cowboy hat and signature snap-front shirt from the sample room.
“Dad (Jack B.), Papa (Jack A.) and I chatted with him,” Weil said. “We had some laughs, and he hung around long enough to go to lunch with us at the (Denver Athletic Club).”
During that same Denver visit, Curtis stopped by then-Mayor Wellington Webb’s office.
“His wife, as I recall, was a blond bombshell with legs up to the stars,” said Andrew Hudson, Webb’s press secretary. “He was great and took pictures with all the staff. Funny, witty, not a pompous star at all. Walked around and talked to everyone.”
In 2002, Curtis returned to Denver in the play “Some Like It Hot” (the movie version made him famous).
“He came in twice for dinner,” said Palm general manager Cathy Cooney. “And he got mauled. Everybody wanted to talk to him and say ‘Hi.’ He was nice to everybody, shaking hands and nodding to people.”
Mr. Rogers’ five-diamond neighborhood.
The Ritz-Carlton Denver is the only Mile High City hostelry to receive the prestigious 2010 AAA Five Diamond rating and among less than 1 percent of the 31,000 properties rated by AAA to achieve that level.
“To achieve this distinguished rating is very exciting not only for Ritz-Carlton but also an honor for the city of Denver,” said Ritz GM Andrew Rogers.
AAA annually evaluates more than 60,000 lodging establishments and restaurants and rates them on a scale of one to five diamonds.
Name-game pain.
Visit Denver spokesmodel Rich Grant relayed a phone conversation he had Wednesday with a political surveyor.
She: “If the election were held today, what candidate for governor would you vote for? John Hack . . . or Hackenlap . . . or Hee-kin-loop?”
Grant: “You obviously don’t live in Colorado.”
She: “No, sir. Is that Hic-loper?”
Grant: “Close enough!”
EAVESDROPPING
A woman in the records room at the Denver District Court after being told she brings in the lunatics: “I am my own personal full moon.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
