gwynnega

Thanks to everyone who answered my post on plays for the Jo book. Sam Shepard came up in the comments, and then just now I read this lovely bit from Patti Smith's memoir Just Kids. She's been hanging out with a drummer who introduced himself to her as "Slim," and one night he takes her out for lobster at Max's. Then:

While I was eating, I noticed Jackie Curtis giving me hand signals. I figured she wanted some of my lobster, which was fine with me. I wrapped a meaty claw in a napkin and followed her into the ladies' room. Jackie immediately started grilling me.

"What are you doing with Sam Shepard?" she blurted.

"Sam Shepard?" I said. "Oh, no, this guy's name is Slim."

"Honey, you don't know who he is?"

"He's the drummer for the Holy Modal Rounders."

She rummaged frantically in her purse, polluting the air with face powder. "He's the biggest playwright off-Broadway. He had a play at Lincoln Center. He won five Obies!" she rattled off, penciling her eyebrows. I stared at her incredulously. The revelation seemed like a plot twist in some Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney musical. "Well, that doesn't mean much to me," I said.

"Don't be a fool," she said, gripping me dramatically. "He can take you right to Broadway." Jackie had a way of transporting any random interaction into a B movie scene.