BY JIM KNIPPENBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Where were we? Oh yeah, fresh back from vacation and trying to catch up with life here in the big city. To wit . . .
THE LITERARY JOCK SCENE: So, you were wondering how much Cincinnati loves Boomer Esiason? This much: His Tuesdaysigning of Toss (Dutton; $23.95) at Borders' Tri-County store was the biggest mob scene since Rick Pitino's 1997 visit.
Consider:
- Borders gave out line numbers starting at 9 a.m. By mid-afternoon, all 175 (standard for a one-hour signing) were gone. Another 25-50 people showed up without numbers.
- Borders sold close to 500 copies at the signing. "People were buying in threes and fours," assistant manager Cylon Woods said. "This morning (10 a.m. Wednesday), we already sold 25."
- Most fans brought cameras and most went behind the table for pictures with Boomer.
- Most frequently overheard conversation was about the Enquirer's Tuesday review by columnist Paul Daugherty, who called it "sleazy and breezy."
"People were outraged by "sleazy,"' Woods said. Feeling among some was "not Boomer." Among others it was "Oh, I don't want to buy a sleazy book, but I will."
Esiason, meanwhile, hung around the bookstore an extra 15 minutes or so before stealing off into the night.
THE ARTSY CROWD:
They're all talking about Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati's newest Broadway connection.
Specifically, Dennis Parlato, one of the stars of ETC's A Question of Mercy (it closed Sunday).
He was Dr. Robert Chapman, the physician asked by a dying man (AIDS) to assist in his suicide. The play was a series of questions about control, life, death and ramifications of our decisions. Anyway, people invariably ended up raving about Parlato. Which must be justified, 'cause he just found out he's been cast as Capt. Von Trapp in Broadway's very hot Sound of Music revival.
He left town Monday, still talking up Cincinnati: "Best theater experience I ever had," he told Mercy director D. Lynn Meyers. He goes into Music rehearsals next week.
Next up at ETC: The Hollywood connection. Brenda Vaccaro (Midnight Cowboy, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Once is Not Enough, TV's Ally McBeal and Friends) arrives Tuesday to rehearse the sassy Diana Vreeland bio Full Gallop (Oct. 14-Nov. 1).
THE CIAGR SMOKERS: They're talking about The Clinton Collection, a line of cigars marketed with Bill and Monica in mind (well, no one ever said this was going to be in good taste).
Clinton Collection is the brainchild of Cincinnati marketing exec Mary Soller. She's pushing three cigars, all high-quality Dominican Republic jobs, with Clinton-inspired bands. Such as: The Clinton Collection with a picture of a pizza and the line "Eatin' ain't cheatin'."
The Slick Willie Reserve.
One with big red lips hovering over the White House and a line reading . . . uh, you're going to have to by it to read it.
Cigars, Soller says, are going fast -- more than 200 in the first week. They go for $7-$8 or $175-$200 for a box of 25. Call (800) 813-6674, access code 02.
Why cigars? Because, Soller's silent partner says, "Sex sells, and these are OK because you know where they've been."
Ouch.
Psst! appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Have an item to report? Call Jim Knippenberg at 768-8513; fax: 768-8330.
KNIPPENBERG ARCHIVE