1 I'm watching an old movie from 1968 called The Split right now. It stars among other people the great Cleveland Brown running back Jim Brown. They just had a scene where discussion of an upcoming playoff game happens. Ticket prices: $5.50 to $8.00. Brown is stalking the vendors and the concession stands, watching all the open cash that is exchanged.
2 The playoff game is at the Coliseum, and is between the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons. The Rams win the game 20-3. I enjoyed watching the Falcons lose.
3 Brown needs money.
4 He decides it might be a good idea to rob the ticket booths. The upcoming game can evidently fit 80,000 people. It can actually hold 93,607. I looked it up. Who knew?
5 Pretty low-budget stuff. He decides to "audition" different thugs, most of whom were relatively big stars at the time: Brown, of course, Ernest Borgnine, Jack Klugman, Diahann Carroll, Julie Harris, James Whitmore, and even an actress named Beverly Hills. Gene Hackman plays a corrupt police detective. Everybody is crooked. I couldn't care less about any of the characters.
6 I got a bit hooked by the fact they were watching the vendors. The program vendor at the beginning of the film had individual dollars folded in each finger, quite the way to hold money back in 1968.
7 As a former stadiu vendor, I realized rather quickly that facing money in the palm of the hand works much better and much faster when selling programs, and that guys who would do that were doing it more for show than anything else. All vendors work on commission, and our commission was 20%, which meant we had to move swiftly and accurately.
8 The trouble with finding this all-star film into the 3 a.m. is that I'm trying to watch it and write this stuff at the same time.
9 I do like the premise of the film, since I was in that business for years.
10 Not a good idea to try to rob those guys. Trust me. It isn't the store's money; it's their money. They can get pretty protective pretty quickly. I worked with a guy one time who had a gun in his duffle bag. It scared me, but he was a gun guy, and said if anyone even came close...
11 Yeesh.
12 And this was "back-in-the-day."
13 In the film, the seven or eight guys in on the robbery have all sorts of doo-dads and gadgets that can help them wire up the Coliseum, which already looks old and dingy. I'm convinced that whatever wiring they may have tried wouldn't work in a concrete stadium.
14 The total amount they wish to run off with: $500,000. I don't know if the math adds up if tickets to a playoff game are $5.50 to $8.00.
15 Seems a little high. They would have to get all of the money.
16 Or not.
17 These guys are real thugs.
18 Some of the stuff in the film is pretty accurate. The money bags have locks on them, just like the real deal. The vending set-up and money rooms look right.
19 Anyway, greed gets the best of everyone in this story, which is fairly accurate about the vending profession. A lot of guys aren't greedy, but the ones who are...another "yeesh."
20 This is why it isn't a good idea ever to attempt something like this. I know some guys who would have killed their mothers if someone tried to rob their stand.
21 One time I stupidly chased some miscreant fan who tried to steal two mini-baseball bats. How stupid was I? Pretty stupid. This guy stole small weapons and ran down the ramp. I jumped over the table and chased him yelling, "I'll call the police!" To my astonishment the guy came back up the ramp, gave me the bats and ran off.
22 My partner looked at me like I had twelve heads. "That guy could have cracked your skull with those bats."
23 I felt like an idiot, but I also took one for the team.
24 Two $7.00 bats. My delicious greed almost got me killed.
25 Anyway, here's the plot of this film, which is pretty low-budget. It's from Imbd.
A pair of crooks conspire to rob the ticket booth at the Los Angeles Coliseum during a Rams game. Before they can perform the heist, the two must find precisely the right henchmen to join them. Each potential gang member must undergo a rigorous test of skill. Thanks to care and precise planning, the caper comes off smoothly and afterward the gang leader (Jim Brown) hides the money in the apartment of his ex-wife (Diahann Carroll). She only agrees to keep the money on the provision that he reform so they can get back together. Unfortunately, the wife's lust-crazed landlord (James Whitmore) busts into her house the next day and tries to rape her. During the struggle he kills her and then takes the loot. Later a crooked cop (Gene Hackman) investigates. Meanwhile, when the gang members learn that the loot is missing, they suspect a double-cross and engage in a huge battle. The cop finds the money and at first keeps it for himself. The head crook eventually figures out that the cop has it and so goes to him to make a little deal. (courtesy of IMDb)
26 Pretty small-time stuff, but somehow with an all-star cast.
Nolte in Teachers, a 1984 film
that comes closer to the real deal
than most people think.
27 I've seen films about schools and teachers, and don't recall ever seeing anything close to the real deal with the possible exception of the 1984 classic Teachers, starring Nick Nolte. The Split does show a bit of accuracy of how the money circulates at a football game, although if it was a playoff game, I don't know that it would have been quite as easy to pull off a heist. There has always been extra security at large events.
28 They escape in an ambulance that somehow makes it through the traffic. That would never happen at Candlestick Park, which becomes Beijing after a game. Those guys would have been stuck in two-hour traffic with their take.
29 Anyway, I think I would rather watch a film about vending than I would one about teaching. I think the concept is interesting, but that the characters one meets in that profession are much more interesting than the stock low-budget crooks in this film.
30 My favorite part of vending was the different characters I worked with, people from all walks of life, most of whom get hooked on at least one team. It was a hard job, but one filled with fun times, great games, huge concerts, and lots of laughs.
31 Zany stuff.
32 Hard workers.
33 Lots of wiseguys. Lots of characters, that's for sure.
34 Sensational memories.
35 Do I miss it?
36 A little. Working the seats was always fun, good exercise, and being right in the thick of it.
37 Tough on the body though.
38 Up and down steps for three or so hours.
39 For the record, souvenirs makes WAY more money than selling anything in the seats. It's a long day, because you are essentially setting up your own little store, and you are accountable for every single piece of merch, which takes a LOT of time, so they are long days, and if your stand comes up short, YOU and your partner or partners pay.
40 Tremendous money when times are good. I can't begin to imagine what my friends are making this season, what with the Giants, A's, and Niners having good seasons. It's probably pretty high.
41 Anyway, I thought it was fun to take a glimpse at the film. It was really not a great film, but a film about the vending life would be pretty interesting. It is the world of entertainment and sports turned inside out. I have even worked the circus.
42 Well, I am into the 4 a.m. and have another long day, with meetings all the way 'til six, so I think I'm going to pull up to the curb, park, and get me some sleep.
43 Have a GREAT day!
44 See you again.
45 Peace.
www.xanga.com/bharrington
The Daily News1 I'm watching an old movie from 1968 called The Split right now. It stars among other people the great Cleveland Brown running back Jim Brown. They just had a scene where discussion of an upcoming playoff game happens. Ticket prices: $5.50 to $8.00. Brown is stalking the vendors and the concession stands, watching all the open cash that is exchanged.2 The playoff game is at the Coliseum, and is between the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons. The Rams win the game 20-3. I enjoyed watching the Falcons lose.3 Brown needs money.4 He decides it might be a good idea to rob the ticket booths. The upcoming game can evidently fit 80,000 people. It can actually hold 93,607. I looked it up. Who knew?5 Pretty low-budget stuff. He decides to "audition" different thugs, most of whom were relatively big stars at the time: Brown, of course, Ernest Borgnine, Jack Klugman, Diahann Carroll, Julie Harris, James Whitmore, and even an actress named Beverly Hills. Gene Hackman plays a corrupt police detective. Everybody is crooked. I couldn't care less about any of the characters.6 I got a bit hooked by the fact they were watching the vendors. The program vendor at the beginning of the film had individual dollars folded in each finger, quite the way to hold money back in 1968.7 As a former stadiu vendor, I realized rather quickly that facing money in the palm of the hand works much better and much faster when selling programs, and that guys who would do that were doing it more for show than anything else. All vendors work on commission, and our commission was 20%, which meant we had to move swiftly and accurately.8 The trouble with finding this all-star film into the 3 a.m. is that I'm trying to watch it and write this stuff at the same time.9 I do like the premise of the film, since I was in that business for years.10 Not a good idea to try to rob those guys. Trust me. It isn't the store's money; it's their money. They can get pretty protective pretty quickly. I worked with a guy one time who had a gun in his duffle bag. It scared me, but he was a gun guy, and said if anyone even came close...11 Yeesh.12 And this was "back-in-the-day."13 In the film, the seven or eight guys in on the robbery have all sorts of doo-dads and gadgets that can help them wire up the Coliseum, which already looks old and dingy. I'm convinced that whatever wiring they may have tried wouldn't work in a concrete stadium.14 The total amount they wish to run off with: $500,000. I don't know if the math adds up if tickets to a playoff game are $5.50 to $8.00.15 Seems a little high. They would have to get all of the money.16 Or not.17 These guys are real thugs.18 Some of the stuff in the film is pretty accurate. The money bags have locks on them, just like the real deal. The vending set-up and money rooms look right.19 Anyway, greed gets the best of everyone in this story, which is fairly accurate about the vending profession. A lot of guys aren't greedy, but the ones who are...another "yeesh."20 This is why it isn't a good idea ever to attempt something like this. I know some guys who would have killed their mothers if someone tried to rob their stand.21 One time I stupidly chased some miscreant fan who tried to steal two mini-baseball bats. How stupid was I? Pretty stupid. This guy stole small weapons and ran down the ramp. I jumped over the table and chased him yelling, "I'll call the police!" To my astonishment the guy came back up the ramp, gave me the bats and ran off.22 My partner looked at me like I had twelve heads. "That guy could have cracked your skull with those bats."23 I felt like an idiot, but I also took one for the team.24 Two $7.00 bats. My delicious greed almost got me killed.25 Anyway, here's the plot of this film, which is pretty low-budget. It's from Imbd.A pair of crooks conspire to rob the ticket booth at the Los Angeles Coliseum during a Rams game. Before they can perform the heist, the two must find precisely the right henchmen to join them. Each potential gang member must undergo a rigorous test of skill. Thanks to care and precise planning, the caper comes off smoothly and afterward the gang leader (Jim Brown) hides the money in the apartment of his ex-wife (Diahann Carroll). She only agrees to keep the money on the provision that he reform so they can get back together. Unfortunately, the wife's lust-crazed landlord (James Whitmore) busts into her house the next day and tries to rape her. During the struggle he kills her and then takes the loot. Later a crooked cop (Gene Hackman) investigates. Meanwhile, when the gang members learn that the loot is missing, they suspect a double-cross and engage in a huge battle. The cop finds the money and at first keeps it for himself. The head crook eventually figures out that the cop has it and so goes to him to make a little deal. (courtesy of IMDb)
Nolte in Teachers, a 1984 filmthat comes closer to the real dealthan most people think.27 I've seen films about schools and teachers, and don't recall ever seeing anything close to the real deal with the possible exception of the 1984 classic Teachers, starring Nick Nolte. The Split does show a bit of accuracy of how the money circulates at a football game, although if it was a playoff game, I don't know that it would have been quite as easy to pull off a heist. There has always been extra security at large events.28 They escape in an ambulance that somehow makes it through the traffic. That would never happen at Candlestick Park, which becomes Beijing after a game. Those guys would have been stuck in two-hour traffic with their take.29 Anyway, I think I would rather watch a film about vending than I would one about teaching. I think the concept is interesting, but that the characters one meets in that profession are much more interesting than the stock low-budget crooks in this film.30 My favorite part of vending was the different characters I worked with, people from all walks of life, most of whom get hooked on at least one team. It was a hard job, but one filled with fun times, great games, huge concerts, and lots of laughs.31 Zany stuff.32 Hard workers.33 Lots of wiseguys. Lots of characters, that's for sure.34 Sensational memories.35 Do I miss it?36 A little. Working the seats was always fun, good exercise, and being right in the thick of it.37 Tough on the body though.38 Up and down steps for three or so hours.39 For the record, souvenirs makes WAY more money than selling anything in the seats. It's a long day, because you are essentially setting up your own little store, and you are accountable for every single piece of merch, which takes a LOT of time, so they are long days, and if your stand comes up short, YOU and your partner or partners pay.40 Tremendous money when times are good. I can't begin to imagine what my friends are making this season, what with the Giants, A's, and Niners having good seasons. It's probably pretty high.41 Anyway, I thought it was fun to take a glimpse at the film. It was really not a great film, but a film about the vending life would be pretty interesting. It is the world of entertainment and sports turned inside out. I have even worked the circus.42 Well, I am into the 4 a.m. and have another long day, with meetings all the way 'til six, so I think I'm going to pull up to the curb, park, and get me some sleep.43 Have a GREAT day!44 See you again.45 Peace.~H~www.xanga.com/bharrington
