Movielogr
Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's (1998)
Directed by Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Overview
In 1995, Chasen’s closed its doors after 60 years of serving chili to movie stars and visiting dignitaries, Presidents and the Pope. During its two final weeks, Chasen regulars (actors and producers), staff, and management sat for interviews. There’s an Oscar party for 1500, footage and photos of famous diners, and time with Tommy Gallagher, the ebullient head waiter until retirement in 1994, his son Patrick, catering head Raymond Bilbool, general manager Ronnie Clint, hat check girl Val Schwab, ladies’ room attendant Onetta Johnson, and foreign- born waiters, including Jaime. When he started in 1970, like other Latins, he wasn’t allowed out of the kitchen. It’s a family farewell.
Length 90 minutes
Actors
Quentin Tarantino | Rod Steiger | Samuel L. Jackson | Martin Landau | Madonna | Jack Lemmon | Fay Wray | Sharon Stone | Don Rickles | Suzanne Pleshette | John Travolta | Robert Wagner | Sally Kellerman | Kelly Preston | Margaret O'Brien | Jay Leno | David Frost | Ed McMahon | Yanni | Donna Summer