elliot mintz

it was a delicious weekend. i dined with a friend and ate very clean.....fresh fish and steamed vegetables. at the end of the meal the waiter presented the dessert menu. my date ordered the coconut sorbet and encouraged me to indulge a bit. she said a disciplined life might be healthy but it places restrictions on spontaneity. i considered her advice for about 3 seconds .... and then ordered the carrot cake. so glad i did. elliotmintz.com Purchase a copy of “we all shine on: john, yoko and me” a.co/d/003zBSKj #elliotmintz #carrotcake #temptation #dessert

today, joni mitchell celebrates her 83rd birthday. she is one of a distinguished group of artists who seem as if they have been with us all our lives. we first met in the late sixties in laurel canyon, california. i represented joni for a while. in 2019 i attended her ‘new years eve’ party at her rambling, artifact filled home in bel-air. that’s when this photo was taken. joni is brilliant and articulate, opinionated and elusive. her cross references are a mass of eclectic wisdom from the most unlikely of sources. she has read almost as much as she has lived and is completely unpredictable. truly one of the smartest, complex, thought provoking people i have known. we are both nocturnal beings.. she seemed to give it no thought. during my late night/early morning visits, we would drink wine and she would smoke cigarettes.... endlessly. her hands were seldom empty or still. her mind was constantly active. i just did my best to keep up. today, i was reflecting upon some of our visits with great appreciation for the experience and admiration for the lady. and i thought of ‘both sides now’.... arguably, her signature song. she wrote it when she was in her early twenties. how is that possible? an example of inspiration being a precursor to experience. the muse eavesdropping on the tarot. who is to say? as i listened to it again, i reflected upon our time together and paused to consider the reference in joni’s song with regard to the difference between ‘loves illusions’ and her declaration that she ‘really does not know life at all’. perhaps some of this resonates with some of you as well. there was a time when we were all so ‘certain’ about so much. but not as much during these times musical chairs upon a slippery floor..... wishing joni mitchell a very happy and healthy birthday. elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #jonimitchell #laurelcanyon #legendary

are you hopeful? elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #hope #goodday

historically, this page avoids politics. i don’t believe that anything that anyone posts on the subject is going to change anyone’s mind. especially these days. such references only raises the levels of tension and divisiveness. however, i am making an exception with respect to this tuesday’s midterm elections. i think it might be the most important election of my lifetime and will dramatically alter the destiny of the country. i have already voted and urge you to do the same. who you vote for is your business, but the course of america’s future is our business. elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #election #vote

steve allen passed on this day in 2000. he was 78. i admired him from afar for many years. he was one of my inspirations and teachers in the world of broadcasting and beyond. steve allen wrote 8,500 songs and authored 50 books! he was the first to take the television camera out of the studio and observe people on the streets while offering comedic commentary about their destinations. he booked guests that were not usually seen on television at that time such as jazz artists, jack kerouac, bob dylan, frank zappa and lenny bruce. when i first moved to hollywood, i lived a few miles from the studio where steve allen broadcast his show.on a few occasions, i walked to his studio. admission was free but the lines were long. i didn’t mind. once inside the building, i studied the way he engaged his audience, listened carefully to his guests and allowed spontaneity to prevail over planning when the chemistry clicked. i wrote steve allen a letter about that collection of his poems and asked if he would consider joining me in-studio where we could take turns reading them and talk about his life and times. a few weeks later, we did just that. he was kind and wise, generous with his time and ever so gracious. i posted that visit on my free website. it is one of my favorites. feel free to join us at: WWW.ELLIOTMINTZ.COM just go to ‘explore’ and click on ‘150 radio interviews’. on this day, in 2000 steve allen got into a minor auto accident on his way to visit with his son and grandchildren as they prepared for halloween. after an early dinner, he said he was feeling tired and wanted to take a nap on the couch. he never awoke. at first, it was believed steve died as a result of a heart attack....but that was not the case. he had apparently ruptured a blood vessel caused by injuries during the accident, (hemoperricardium) allowing blood to leak into the sack surrounding his heart. steve allen was a true renaissance man. he brought wisdom and thought provoking humor to a medium that had not yet been tested.....and he triumphed over mediocrity. he was ‘the real deal’. elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #steveallen #thetonightshow #broadcasting #meetingofminds

a few observations about ‘halloween’ for those of you who will be celebrating the holiday. as is the case with most things of religious, mystical, or mythological origins, the experience is not only about scary movies, costume parties or ‘trick or treating’. this celebration of october 31 is observed in a number of countries on the eve of the western christian feast of ‘all hallows’ day. it begins the 3 day observance of ‘allhallowtide’, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs and all the ‘faithful departed’. it is observed by christians (and many non-christians) around the world.....and involves services, prayer, fasting and vigil. some theologians have suggested halloween has pre-christian, pagan roots....while others believe the occasion began solely as a ‘christian holiday’. i once spent some time with a brilliant researcher who explained in detail the nuances of its origins in the roman feast of ‘pomona’, the goddess of fruits and seeds or in the festival of the dead called ‘parentalia’’. it is more typically linked to the celtic festival of ‘simhain’ which comes from the ‘old irish’ for ‘summers end’. therein may be the kick-off point for your own research. it’s yours for the asking. if you live in ireland, scotland or the ‘isle of man’, you already have a head start on this subject. they ‘know’ better than most. it might be important to know that the literature says this is a time when souls of the dead come back to visit. in some countries, food is placed at the table or the door for such an encounter. in the u.s., we have candy at the ready if a being appearing as another, in costume or disguise should randomly knock on your door. perhaps, it’s not all that random. and finally, this.....if you should hear a ‘bump in the night’ or see what appears to be a ‘ghost’ in your hallway, do not be afraid. it is not mike myers or a figure with a chainsaw. that’s for the movies. maybe....just maybe.....well you know the rest. elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #halloween #samhain #pagan #parentalia

today is birthday 79 for richard dreyfuss. it was thre years before covid, while attending a party that i came across my old pal who i had not seen in decades. we used to hang out at a local joint where you could shoot some pool, kick back a few drinks and hear the crackle of peanut shells on the creaky wooden floors beneath your feet. richard has appeared in dozens of films and exudes an on-screen cinematic quality that has a way of staying with you for a long time. he won the ‘academy award’ for best actor in ‘goodbye girl’ and was nominated in the same category for ‘mr. holland’s opus’. he mirrored our innocence in ‘american graffiti’, confirmed our suspicions in ‘close encounters of the third kind’ and of course, kept us out of the water for years because of his portrayal in ‘jaws’. success never changed him. richard does not carry the trappings of a ‘movie star’ and prefers to speak about the accomplishments of others. i’m posting a brief snippet of our reunion. richard reminisced about a mutual friend of ours, henry jaglom....who has since passed. henry (who was a friend of this page), was an actor, film director and playwright. he is one of the pioneers of the independent film movement.....and one of the smartest people i’ve ever knon. we were friends for over 50 years. henry’s movies might not be as well known as ‘jaws’, but they are without question, masterpieces. his first movie (many of which he financed and distributed), ‘a safe place’ stars jack nicholson and orson welles. viewing a henry jaglom film is a deeply personal and intense experience. some people ‘make films’. henry was a ‘filmmaker’. you may wish to visit his website to get a taste of what he did. it is a portal to an experience in cinema that exits nowhere else: rainbowreleasing.com richard had wonderful things to say about henery in our video.....and just about everyone in hollywood has something kind to say about richard. wishing richard dreyfuss a very happy birthday. elliotmintz.com

i confess to having a completely indulgent 3 or 4 nights. although, my social media presence suggests differently, i am a home body at heart. i enjoy the company of one special friend, a clean meal, soft music, fireplace and candlelight till dawn. however, i just experienced a cycle of 3 superb restaurants with multiple friends, sumptuous meals, carrot cake, vanilla sorbet and warm chocolate chip cookies. this is an unapologetic revelation. last night, i joined kathy and rick hilton along with two friends from australia for an astounding meal at the hotel bel-air.....where swans swim in the lake. kathy is one of my dearest friends of almost 20 years .... and always makes me laugh. the weekend was capped off by a reflective night beneath the full moon in taurus (ruled by venus). it’s called the hunter’s moon. i know that i am blessed ..... and do not take a moment for granted. how is with you? elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #kathyhilton #hotelbelair #indulgence #carrotcake

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today, kim kardashian celebrates her 47th birthday. we first met 20 years ago when i was representing paris hilton. to her legions of admirers, she is a culture hero. her detractors believe she represents the worst of a society driven by fame, unbridled extravagance, phenomenal wealth and vapid values. most simply can’t understand why she is followed on social media by 344 million people, is currently worth $1.9 billion dollars and remains a constant presence on the international horizon. it’s impossible to address the enigmatic conversions in a simple post. i won’t attempt to try. we shared some quality time together back when fame first kissed kim on the shoulder.....and i enjoyed our random social encounters in the years that followed. if there is one ‘take away’ from this noting of kim’s birthday it is this: she studied law and attempted to pass the california bar on two occasions........and failed. but she became an activist in penal reform believing that nobody who is incarcerated for minor, non-violent drug offenses should serve time. she is responsible for the release of people who found themselves in that predicament. for me, that is enough. wishing kim kardashian a happy birthday. elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #kimkardashian #thefamereport #celebrity #skims

snoop dogg celebrates his 55th birthday today. standing at almost 6'6" with his trademark hoodie, dark glasses and boots, he is an imposing figure and gentle giant. we met in 2018 at a christmas party at paris hilton's old house. (which was when this photo was taken)....and got to spend some 'quiet time' together along with 3 of his associates in paris' private recording studio.....not far from her private disco club.  as is usually the case, there is more going on here than the fact he has always been an enthusiastic proponent and user of cannabis. snoop has stated he smokes around 10 joints each day. he has released 17 solo albums and sold more than 58 million albums around the world. snopp has received 17 grammy nominations. his various business has helped him amass a $160 million dollar fortune. he married his 'high school sweetheart' almost 30 years ago. they have 3 children and he has more children from other relationships. he is a grandfather and coaches a youth football league and h.s. football team. in 2018, he declared himself to be a 'born again christian'. i found him to be warm, articulate, funny and centered. we got along great and had some laughs. snoop, (well nobody calls him mr. dogg) really liked the jacket i was wearing and i took an interest in his wardrobe as well. we both appreciate 'style'. i told him i didn't think i could 'pull off his 'look' ..... but he disagreed. he said he could hook me up with a man who could do a hoodie for me in any choice of fabric, style and design. he said i could add crystals and mink if i wanted. i told snoop i would pass on the fur but was open to to his wardrobe suggestions. i also mentioned i could arrange for him to get a jacket, like the one i was wearing for him to try on as well. it was fun sharing some private time with him and some of his pals. but i must confess that i left the room with an insatiable appetite...... wishing snoop dogg a very happy birthday. elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #snoopdog #marthastewart #cannabis #hiphop

we are just 3 weeks into autumn. this seasonal change seems to effect more people than the others. maybe, it’s the coming down from the frivolity of summer celebrations or the anxiety of an approaching frigid winter. some folks become depressed or melancholic as darkness looms upon the horizon. but last night, i shared a magnificent dinner with a group of friends i adore and laughter prevailed. it’s the universal antidote to the blues. i also welcome the sound of rain on the roof, the warmth of burning logs from the fireplace, a great book, light jazz, some fine wine and a loving companion. solitude is an option....not an imperative. each day is a gift. elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #autumn #evacassidy #friends

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today is nancy kerrigan’s 56th birthday. she won the ‘silver medal’ in the 1994 olympics for her magnificent skating abilities on the ice. i was retained to escort her to the ‘academy awards’ presentation and the ‘vanity fair’ party. more about that night in a moment. it was reported she had been offered almost 10 million dollars in endorsement deals. she was only 24 and about to become an internationally celebrated olympian athlete. then, things took a terrible turn. nancy completed practice at a local ice skating rink and was preparing to go home.... as she stepped into the corridor, a man appeared with a baton and hit her very hard just an inch above her knee cap. she fell to the ground in agony. the moment was caught on tape and broadcast around the world. although nancy would heal, practice with passion and compete....nothing would be the same. a series of unfortunate, high visibility ‘media problems’ would follow. i was retained by one of her corporate sponsors (revlon) to generate ‘positive’ publicity for nancy as well as their new product, ‘age defying make-up’. so, it was decided that i should accompany nancy to the 1994 oscar ceremony and high profile ‘vanity fair’ party which would provide high visibility platforms to promote the product. we did 37 interviews that night. some of hollywood’s best known actors wanted to meet and be photographed with her. serving the needs of very high profile people in very public places is a complex, intense, sometimes dangerous, competitive, high stakes operation. it is a part of my life i do not miss. today, i am delighted to report that nancy has been happily married for 31 years. raising 3 children and enjoying her family, her retirement and most likely not wearing designer shoes with six inch heels. wishing nancy kerrigan a very happy birthday. elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #nancykerrigan #skating #olympics #vanityfair

it’s sean ono lennon’s birthday elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #seanonolennon #birthday

john lennon was born on oct 9th, 1940. he would be taken from us 40 years later. no words can express how much he touched so many. and no words can express how much he is missed. elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #johnlennon

today is dakota johnson’s 37th birthday. it was october 4, 1989. i was representing don johnson and melanie griffith. they were in texas where don was shooting a film. he called to inform me about the birth of their daughter.....dakota. i prepared a simple press announcement which i provided to the wire services. it wasn’t long after that, i met baby dakota for the first time. i don’t wish to create the impression that we have spent lots of time together.....but our shared times are indelible. i used to spend ‘thanksgivings’ and christmas with don and melanie at their beautiful ranch in ‘woody creek’ colorado....not far from aspen and down the road from our late friend, dr. hunter s. thompson. dakota once worked at a local market in that secluded, beautiful, festive place. i’ve watched her evolve from a restless teenager into a highly successful actress, model, producer, director, activist and sophisticated young woman. dakota has worked steadily most of her life as an actress....but it was her starring roll as anastasia steele in the provocative ‘fifty shades of gray’ trilogy that catapulted her to international stardom. her subsequent choices of films have been eclectic and compelling. she likes to ‘shuffle the deck’ and take chances with respect to the characters she portrays. her performance (with sean penn) in ‘daddio’ is one of my favorites. dakota and melanie share many qualities. the most endearing one to me is humor. i think i may have laughed more with melanie than anyone i ever represented.....and dakota must have inherited the laughter gene. dakota consistently appears to be on the verge of saying something very funny or reacting to something being expressed in a manner that makes the original statement humorous. there are many things missing in this country right now. among them is the gift of laughter. we took that one for granted. i cannot remember a single moment spent with dakota where a sense of unbridled joy was absent from the visit. wishing dakota johnson a very happy birthday. elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #dakotajohnson #donjohnson #melaniegriffith #taylorswift

in a perfect world, tom petty would be preparing to celebrate his 67th birthday later this month....but as you already know, it was not meant to be. tom passed on october 2, 2017. accidental overdose caused by a mix of prescription medications. we knew each other for around 20 years and i treasure each moment shared. allow me to tell you about one of them. it occurred on june 22, 1996.. on that day, carl perkins (who was my client), was being honored in hollywood and tom graciously accepted an invitation to introduce him. carl was loved by all the rockers and rightfully thought of as one of the ‘founding fathers of contemporary music. tom petty did not engage in much ‘public speaking’. he allowed his songs to express his thoughts. but that day was an exception. he loved carl and stood before a wall of cameras to pay homage to one of his heroes. the speech was heartfelt and real. you can view a 20 minute video of the event on my website. elliotmintz.com later that evening, the three of us were alone in a small recording studio in studio city and carl picked up an acoustic guitar and sang six or seven songs for us. tom and i were transfixed. as we were leaving the building tom whispered in my ear ‘you can’t buy a ticket to that show’. and he was correct. i have always admired his ethic. although he has sold more than 80 million records, making him one of the best selling artists of all time, he remained grounded and committed to his music and his creed. tom was humble, grateful and true. i am posting one of his best known tunes. it speaks for tom and i would like to believe it still speaks to the best in each of us who still believe that no matter how high the price or slim the chances, standing up for one’s core beliefs, is a non-negotiable imperative. he always reached that high. tom petty was the ‘real deal’. we shall never cease missing him elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #tompetty #carlperkins #inmemoryof

today, sting celebrates his 75th birthday. imagine. i’ve always admired his artistry, philanthropy and spiritual pursuits. when he first sang his eternal classic, ‘every breath you take’, many viewed it as a love song. it was played at weddings. it was not that. the song is about stalking.....people’s obsessive behavior to contact, follow and threaten their target. it happens to millions. we only hear about ‘celebrity stalkers’, but ex boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives and strangers can speak about the anguish they have found themselves in because of others who refuse to let go. sting has been married for 25 years to trudie styler. he was once quoted in a lengthy interview about their form of intimate expression called ‘tantric yoga’ which is frequently called the yoga of sexuality. it is a form of lovemaking that goes on for many hours and transforms sexuality into an offering to the gods. both trudie and sting practice solo yoga every day. sting also practices transcendental meditation. he is very generous when it comes to the causes he supports. we are both been supporters of ‘habitat for humanity’. i encourage you to google the organization which was created by former president jimmy carter. this photo was taken years ago when my hair was it’s natural color. wishing sting a very happy birthday. elliotmintz.com #elliotmintz #sting #tantra #habitatforhumanity #transcendentalmeditation

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