I had reason to believe that meeting Academy Award winning actor Gene Hackman would be a miserable experience. This has nothing to with good ol’ Gene himself, but more about my personal issues on Monday, June 23, 2008. The day before had been Ashleigh’s graduation party and I had been utterly exhausted by day’s end. I awoke the next morning feeling like I hadn’t gotten enough sleep, but nevertheless headed into northern Kentucky to visit a Kroger store there.
After getting back to my office, I began to have blurred vision in my right eye and also began feeling like I was coming down with a cold. By the end of the work day, I had been rubbing my eye so hard that it was turning red. I wasn’t sure if I my immunities had been so low the day before that I contracted a very bad cold or if I had somehow I had contracted Grace’s pink eye, although she had gotten over it nearly two weeks before.
By the time I arrived at Books & Company at the Greene in Beavercreek just before 6pm, it was pretty evident that my eye was completely infected. In addition I had forgot to remind Jackie that we were supposed to be meeting here, so she accidentally went to my house instead. Her phone died while we were talking on the phone, so not only was my eye irritated, I was becoming irritated. Then after getting my line number 153, I read the rules that photos were permitted of the authors, but they would not pose for pictures. I also read that Gene Hackman was willing to sign one additional item for those who purchased the book that they were promoting, a fictional Civil War story entitled Escape From Andersonville, the third in a series of books that he had co-authored with Daniel Lenihan.
This stressed me even more because in my weariness that morning, I had not even thought to bring along a DVD cover or something else to have Mr. Hackman sign. I have multiple movies in which he starred: The French Connection, Unforgiven, all of the Superman films, The Royal Tennenbaums, Runaway Jury, The birdcage, The Firm, Wyatt Earp…the list goes on. Usually I am over-the-top on top of these kinds of things and would have certainly found something else to bring along. (On the way home, I realized that I did in fact even have a photo of Hackman from The Poseidon Adventure which had been signed by director Ronald Neame).
With the way things were going I wasn’t looking forward to any part of the evening and was wishing I had just gone home to bed. Then Jackie showed up and I ran into my friend Eric Flinn and things began to look up. At promptly 7pm, Gene Hackman and Daniel Lenihan showed up and began an interesting question-and-answer session with the crowd of at least 300. As the questions finally began to taper off (and get dumber and dumber), Hackman announced that they would begin signing autographs.
Although 153 (out of about 250) wasn’t really a low number, I was surprised that it took well over an hour to get to it. Jackie and I entertained ourselves browsing the books and magazines and then it was our turn to get in the line. I could see ahead that Gene Hackman was indeed posing with the fans, hence an explanation why it was taking so long. I cleaned my eyes and washed my hands in preparation of meeting this retired legend, who was spending his golden years doing what he loved and meeting his many fans. At last, it was my turn to meet Gene Hackman.
First Daniel Lenihan signed the book, then Gene Hackman signed it. I got into position to pose with him and wanted to get a handshake as well (remember I had cleaned them off as to not pass the pink eye on to him). I wasn’t planning on posing in the hand embrace but he kept ahold of my hand as Jackie took the photo. I said to Gene Hackman, “it’s very cool of you to be doing this,” and instead of giving me a trite “thank you,” he looked up at me and gave a knowing smile as if to say “yes it is – and I can see you’re someone who appreciates it”
Hopefully not giving pink eye to Gene Hackman
I then retrieved the camera from Jackie and shoved her next to him so she could get a photo as well. After they finished posing, Gene told her “you’re very pretty” which flustered Jackie even more. Great, I thought, she could have a two-time Academy Award winner pursuing her instead of this goopy eyed monster. But I was happy that she received such a compliment.
Very pretty Jackie and Gene Hackman
And so this pink eye that came out of nowhere continued to worsen. I missed the next two days of work as I struggled with seeing…and inserting eye drops. It is quite possibly the most uncomfortable ailment that one could ever have…except of course for kidney stones.
But I’m still glad to say that I met Gene Hackman. And I would feel terrible if I find out that he came down with pink eye.
2008 will continue with a fresh set of eyes…
We were just watching Crimson Tide the other day and talking about how awesome Gene Hackman is.
By the way, the picture above is a little creepy. If you give pink eye to Gene Hackman, just think who he might pass it to. Maybe someday there will be a Six Degrees of Brad F*rrell’s Pink Eye game. I can connect Brad’s pink eye to Bea Arthur’s pink eye.
Chris
July 1st, 2008
I’m sorry. I meant to say, “Just think to whom he might pass said pink eye.” My mistake.
Chris
July 1st, 2008
lol that pink eye pic is… well… there are no words! lol
Scott Sliver
August 18th, 2008
I love Gene Hackman, and you are so lucky to have met him, and to have this terrific photo taken as well. I think Mr Hackman is just about the greatest American movie actor alive today and I was really bummed out that he retired from acting, although I’m glad to see he has found a new career which he seems to enjoy a lot.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and photos with the rest of us! 🙂
Geir Olsen
June 9th, 2013