Next morning I drove (which you do everywhere to and for
everything in that godforsaken place, called LA) to the rinks
and went up to a fellow who looked like he was running the show.
It was Ned Dowd, Nancy's brother and soon to be "Ogie"
and he was acting as the technical advisor on ther film. We had
a quick chat and hit it off immediately, learning that we both
had attended McGill and other likes and dislikes that seemed to
match.
He threw me a pair of rental skates and I jumped on the ice and
skated better than I had 18 years prior, which was my last time
on skates.
Something about being in LA gave me a new confidence...
After the skate, Ned sent me with the wardrobe person from the
film and they bought me a pair of Bauer Supremes - to that date
the most expensive and elaborate skate I had ever seen or
worn! I had grown up skating in hand me downs, so it was also
the first new pair I had ever owned. Next day I broke them in, by sitting in the hot tub with them on
and hanging them up to dry with my foot form embedded after the
water treatment. Wore them the next day for a skate and I could
not have felt better.
The skating /audition process went on at these rinks for quite
some time and I recall several rounds of beers and beer nuts
following each day of "practice".
Ned and I became really good friends during this process and
between us told the other our life's story. Nick Nolte who was
trying out at the time joined us on several occasions as did
Jerry Houser and some guy, who's name I can't recall, but it's
probably a good thing, because even though he cheap shotted me
into the boards and broke 2 of my ribs on the last practice day,
bought his own airline ticket and flew to Johnstown, with the
cast and skated with us there (actually forcing himself upon
us)...he did not make the film.
I recall seeing this same guy years later giving a weekend
"acting" clinic, for which he charged large sums of money, with
promises of a casting opportunity, and he used Slap Shot as one
of his credits an out and out lie...the guy maintained his
standing as a jerk for quite some time, in my mind.
So back to the filming, we (the cast and crew) all arrive in
Johnstown and proceed to fall in love with the place, as it is a
major part of the story, a mill town, living with the threat of
the mill closing at all times.
There's an incline plane (a subway car that goes up the side of
a hill), several "old school" bars and our hotel, the Ramada,
with no frills but welcoming us with everything they have.
The town welcomes us too.
The towns people welcome us...
All the businesses we come in contact with welcome us...it's
bloody great!
The team (the Johnstown Jets) are still playing in the final
games of their season and we are thrilled to meet the team and
see other teams play and drink beers with everyone and just
basically have a great time. Ned introduces to everyone and
let's us know if so in so is the basis for character in the
film.
We meet the Carlsons (known in the film as the Hansons) and
these guys prove to be everything and a bag of chips...they are
the real deal.
Jack Carlson is up, playing with the North Stars, so his role in
the film is filled by Dave Hanson, a great guy, great player and
a pretty good illustrator. Before it's all done, he has made us
some great t-shirts (long before his time).
This instantaneous mutual admiration for each other (i.e. athletes
and actors) seems pretty terrific and if you give it a bit of
thought...pretty obvious because of the mutual respect each has
for the others lifestyles and the amazing similarities.
We get down to the task at hand making the film and because of
the way it has been presented, because we are taken in by the
community where the team plays, because of the casting of
several locals and team players, it all comes together like
butter.
It is so smooth.
The locations and reactions so real.
The dialog so actor friendly...that we cannot do anything but
have a great time.
From the iced down beers at the end of every shoot day to the
continuing evenings into nights of laughter, who could ask for
anything more?
I had everyone into my room one night for steaks (which I cooked
two at a time in my toaster oven), Newman brought a case of
wine, Jennifer brought a salad, team and actors brought beers
and we had a great time.
The next morning I awoke to find one steak left over and when I
proceeded to cook it, my toaster oven (or more likely all the
accumulated grease from the previous night) caught on fire and I
set the alarms off in the entire hotel and the fire Department
arrived to my sullen explanation and took it with a grain of
salt...actually they took it with a lot of salt that they
poured on my grease fire to subdue it.
There are more stories but they all came to be about the same
thing, a great camaraderie between colliding worlds that were
brought together by a film script.
One of the best times in my life!
