The stories behind the photographs
Dan Aykroyd – Nightclub Opening, Lansdowne Street, 1995
Twenty years after he was a Saturday Night Live founding cast member, and 15 years after the Blues Brothers movie, Dan Aykroyd was still a huge star. In 1995 as co-founder of the House of Blues chain, he was rumored to be attending the Boston opening . I was chatting with Patrick Lyons (his business partner) outside the club and captured this candid moment.
Richard Avedon – In the American West Opening, ICA, 1987
One of the greatest photographers of the 20th century, Richard Avedon’s controversial exhibition, In the American West, came to the ICA in 1987. I was thrilled to meet the master, attend a private dinner with him, and later re-connect with him at the ICA spring gala. The intensity of his eyes was balanced by his relaxed charm.
Alec Baldwin – The Charles Hotel, 1994
The opening of the Charles Hotel in Cambridge was remarkable because it forever changed Harvard Square. After shooting the opening festivities in 1985, celebrities began to show up and in 1987 I photographed Alec Baldwin over early morning coffee at Henrietta’s Kitchen. This was my first shot, before he started to smile for the camera.
Tony Bennett & Peter Wolf – WBCN, The Hard Rock Café, 1994
Tony Bennett’s enormous popularity has spanned several generations and I’ve had the pleasure to photograph him many times. In 1994 Boston’s venerable Rock n’ Roll radio station WBCN presented Tony in concert at the Hard Rock Café. Among the hordes of fans was Boston rocker Peter Wolf, who enjoyed a backstage moment with his idol.
Paul Benedict, Jenny Agutter & Richard Jordan – Betrayal, The Charles Playhouse, 1980
British actress Jenny Agutter has achieved stardom for her role the BBC/PBS hit Call the Midwife (2012-present). When I shot this Playbill cover of her in the 1980 Charles Playhouse production of Betrayal (with co-stars Paul Benedict and Richard Jordan), she was coming off an award-winning supporting role in the film version of Equus, starring Richard Burton.
Christie Brinkley – Filene’s, 1980’s
In the mid-1980’s there was nothing fashionably hip about our historically Puritanical city to attract one of the world’s first “super” models, Christie Brinkley. All we had was our venerable New England fashion mecca Filene’s and they got Ms. Brinkley and her products. When I got the call, I headed downtown to see what a celebrity model looked like in person.
Carol Channing – Forbidden Broadway, Park Plaza 1984
In 1984 while Carol Channing was appearing in her smash hit Hello, Dolly! on stage at the Colonial, downstairs at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, theatergoers were cracking up over Forbidden Broadway’s spoof of the same thing. Being the great sport that she was, Channing strolled over to the Plaza, greeted her hilarious doppelganger backstage, and conspired with us to get the shot.
Cher – The Esplanade, 1996
Cher was in town for a concert on the Esplanade in 1996 and was not allowing any interviews or arranged photos. A talented local band of Berkelee students had somehow gotten their CD into her hands and she kindly agreed to do a quick photo for them. In this shot, they are smiling in the background.
Joan Collins – Nine Lansdowne, 1984
As “Alexis” in Dynasty, Joan Collins was the biggest TV star in America in 1984. Before shooting her appearance at Nine Lansdowne Street, I went to Logan to shoot her arrival. It was the largest media event/scrum and public mob that I had ever seen. Luckily, I was part of her entourage and had police protection from my colleagues’ flying elbows. Ever the consummate media pro, Collins gave me some great shots.
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From 1984-89 The Cosby Show, produced and starring actor/comedian Bill Cosby, was the #1 rated show in America. Cosby was one of the most influential entertainers in the country and at the peak of his fame in 1987 when he and his wife, Camille, came to Boston to dedicate the Camille Cosby Center at the Judge Baker Children’s Center.
Andre Dubus, Stephen King & John Irving – The Lafayette Hotel, 1987
Boston’s literary community came together in 1987 at the Lafayette Hotel to raise funds for noted short story author and novelist Andre Dubus, after he was injured in 1986. Organized by Boston publisher David Godine and Sara Eisenman, they ushered me into the green room to shoot this candid moment with literary lions Stephen King and John Irving.
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Shooting publicity photos for the 1978 Charles Playhouse production of Vanities, Governor Dukakis invited the cast up to his State House office. In full cheerleader, pom-pom waving costume, I instructed the gals to run into the room in character and slip behind the Governor’s desk before he could stand up for a formal greeting.