More...on Edd Byrnes! Kookie, Kookie...

 Background on New Book By Paul Kyriazi...



This audio-book was written and performed by Edd Byrnes and directed by me, Paul Kyriazi.

You know Edd Byrnes from the John Travolta movie "Grease" where he played Vince Fontaine, the star of "National Bandstand" for the dance contest scene. Or if you were around in the 60's he became a household name playing "Kookie" on TV's "77 Sunset Strip." Theme From 77 Sunset Strip!




His recording of "Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb", earned him a gold record. He went on to many movies, TV roles, and stage plays. I worked with Edd on my audio-book "McKnight's Memory". Edd was great playing the part of "Floyd" the henchman to Henry Silva's gangster. Click to Watch "Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb..."

Edd had prepared and exuded total confidence when he entered the recording room. He decided to use a New Jersey accent to round out the character. The main scene is a long card game played between Silva and Robert Culp with Edd dealing the cards and giving his opinion. Frank Sinatra Jr. Said of Edd's performance, "When Edd Byrnes starts explaining the rules of the game, he really set the whole thing up."

After recording, me and my producer Larry Metzger walked Edd to the parking lot. We said our good-byes and when Edd walked off Larry said to me, "He's so cool." I replied, "Of course he's cool. He's Edd Byrnes." A that time, Edd became interested in producing his own audio-book. But he didn't want to repeat any of the stories from his first book "Kookie, No More". So he decided to tell what happened when he won a three million dollar jackpot in Las Vegas, and was stalked by a criminal and ex-girlfriend for the money.

He hired Larry Metzger and I to produce and direct the project titled "My Casino Caper. Edd asked his acting friends to re-create what happened 20 years ago. So Alan Young , David Hedison, and Henry Silva recorded as themselves. Edd tells the story to Alan Young, with the other actors joining in on the dramatizations in this full cast and effects production.

The cool thing about this project is that Edd worked auto-biographical material into the story, giving listeners info on his rise to fame in Hollywood, his gold record, his TV shows, movies, and relationships with other actor friends. Alan Young makes several references to his movie "The Time Machine" (one of Edd's favorite movies), and how Edd first told his secret story to him in 1977 just before his role in "Grease".

The part of the criminal, who stalked Edd for his jackpot, must remain anonymous and is played by Michael Callan of "Cat Ballou" and "Mysterious Island fame. Edd's two ex-girlfriends, who must also remain anonymous, are played by other actresses.

As for me, I was on "Cloud 9" working with Edd and his actor friends. They all added their own unique contributions and memories about the incident, and how they came to his aid. Later when Larry and I delivered the audio-book copies to Edd, I brought my dad along and we all met at a coffee shop to celebrate.

I couldn't believe it. My dad and I use to watch "77 Sunset Strip" every Saturday night, and now we were talking shop with "Kookie" himself. I should have asked him to park my car like he did in the show. Edd is so cool, he would have done it. But instead he gave me a hug for a job well done, and for being a true fan.

Download at: http://lodingo.com/_catalog_49120/Ronin_Audio_Book_Downloads

Excerpt

"When those three Mega-Buck symbols came up, I felt like I was on that 'Cloud Nine' that I sang about with Connie Stevens all those years ago. I felt like it was the first day on the set of "77 Sunset strip". "Hey, anybody want their car parked before eating at Dino's restaurant? Well, I'm your man. Zipper jacket, Bryllcreamed hair, comb and all. And maybe I'll do a flip before I take your car. Yeah, a three million dollar flip. And I'll tell you Alan, my 42 year old body could still do a no hands flip.

I heard some guy say, 'Isn't that Kookie from the the TV show?' Then a chick yelled out 'Hey Kookie, lend me your comb?' Then another chick yelled out, 'Forget about the comb, Kookie. Lend me a million'. I smiled back,'What's with this jackpot caper baby? Why do you want to latch on to my dough?' The crowd gave me a laugh. I added, "You're the 'ginchiest', baby. You should be happy about that. The crowd gave me another laugh, even the ones that were too young to know the song."

"Hey man, what the hell's going on here?"

"What's going on? I just won a jack pot. That's what's going on."

"What? That's my machine."

"What are you talking about? I'm playing here."

"I've been playing this machine all night. I just went the the bathroom to take a wiz.

And I leaned my chair against it. So it's my machine and my jackpot."

"Look Bub, anybody in the casino could say it's their machine, so you must be joking. Besides the cameras saw the whole thing."

Kookie - Looking Good Today!

Review: Edd Byrnes Writes and Performs My Casino Caper!

Cover of Kookie: Star of "77 Sunset Strip"
My Casino Caper



Written By and Performed by
Edd Byrnes












This audio-book was written and performed by Edd Byrnes and directed by Paul Kyriazi. It is available for download at $9.00 by clicking the article title above.

I must be old enough to remember the old radio stations, since I can recall shivering at "Only the Shadow Knows..." but I can remember mostly from early television programs where they acted out a story for radio. You would see somebody ring a telephone, or buzz to pretend that somebody was at the door...or even walk across the stage so that footstep sounds could be picked up at the appropriate time (and actually the sounds were made by a machine behind the curtain!).

Well, the audio books directed by Paul Kyriazi create the type of book that brings back radio days! And the first one I've listened to is My Casino Caper by Kookie Byrnes...yes, I can call him Kookie because I'm old enough to remember his song, "Kookie, Kookie, lend me your comb..." and remember the program he starred in on TV, "77 Sunset Strip."

Edd asked his acting friends to re-create what had happened to him 20 years ago. So Alan Young, David Hedison, and Henry Silva recorded as themselves. Kookie's voice was always very distinctive, so it was fun hearing him as if he was talking just to me! Actually, he is telling his story to Alan Young! And, yes, I remember him more for Mr. Ed than for other programs he was in! Well, Alan is not so sure that Kookie is not telling him one wild tale, but he's willing to listen carefully, as was I.

It all started in Las Vegas...

Edd is really not a gambler, but his girlfriend Jessica (he refused to give the star's real name!) talked him into the trip... Now he had earlier steadily dated Jessica but she had broken off with him, so he was hoping that they would "renew" that earlier closeness although Jessica stated they were there to...gamble...

Edd figured he'd played a few machines, but Jessica pulled him toward those at which you could try for a three million dollar jackpot. She was quite willing to have him put high dollars into the machine and Edd tried to be responsive but not lose too badly. Still as he was standing there in front of the machine, he started remembering how some things had "lucked" out for him in the past, so that with each cash entry in, he'd pause a little before placing the next coin...

Well, apparently, his particular touch that day worked, because he won the $3M!

And that's when the trouble started...

As soon as his machine announced a winner and amidst the responsive screaming, a man quietly came up behind Brynes and claimed that the machine was his, he had been playing it for hours, and therefore the money was his...stating that he had placed a chair backwards against the machine and that was known to show that somebody was using it! He looked and acted like a member of the mafia, but Edd quickly stood up against the guy and claimed the money was clearly his and he could prove it.

When the Casino manager came, he, of course, backed Edd's position, especially since Jessica was screaming out her support and disgust with the other man...and so finally Edd received a check for $3M, very quietly as requested by Brynes, and left the casino. Interestingly, Jessica was now quite willing to spend the night "celebrating" with Edd...but the next morning, she quickly started talking about getting her half of the money!

So Edd found himself a lot richer, but now threatened by a criminal and his ex-girlfriend was claiming that she had wanted the trip, showed him the right machine to play and told him exactly how to do it, so she deserved half. And she continued to tell Edd that even after they were back home...calling daily to either threaten or seduce him into sharing!

And the criminal was also making sure Byrnes knew he was around...

But Edd had a plan and he called upon his old friend David Hedison to help him...

I am sure you will recognize the stars that take part in this fun audio tale. The presentation is very informal, with Edd talking as himself to Alan Young, and then playing his own part as he proceeds to perform the story he calls The Casino Caper. Whether true or not, it's a fascinating "could-be" tale that includes humor, a little romance, some great con artists, as well as a couple of actor friends who are willing to help their friend out when he's facing some trouble!

Taking a long auto trip or just wanting to relax and enjoy an afternoon with some unique entertainment, then I know you will enjoy listening to, for instance, Alan Young performing some of his "voices" from movies in which he has played, and other career actors sharing backup to Edd Byrnes in this great audio book! I thoroughly enjoyed it and believe you will too! Listen to a free sample of Edd winning the 3 million dollar jackpot with the criminal trying to claim it right away (Click please!)



Audio Book tape
provided by Director


G. A. Bixler