1. In 1978-9 I was looking for acting work in NYC. You don't quit your day job. If you're trying to break in, you work nights.
I was a terrible waiter so I worked as a restaurant manager. It was just about 5 years after first Russian Refusniks were allowed to emigrate.
I was a terrible waiter so I worked as a restaurant manager. It was just about 5 years after first Russian Refusniks were allowed to emigrate.
2. I had 2 Russian immigrant employees, busmen, who loved to smoke and the only place you could do it was in my office. So I traded choking on cigarette smoke for stories about Russia including gulags, hiding diamonds in radios and getting caught. They wanted to practice English
3. so I rationalized it as employee development plus in a very tough place to manage, the largest restaurant in the Hilton system at the time, they would do pretty much anything I asked and that was to help other workers so things went OK. Repaid my petty kindness with loyalty.
4. It was like I had my own crew. 😎
