Book
First to leave the party : my life with ordinary people ... who happen to be famous / Salah Bachir (he/him) with Jami Bernard (she/her).
"An enchanting collection of stories from the life of philanthropist, art collector and former president of Cineplex Media, Salah Bachir--who through his sheer joy of life, art, and human interaction has captivated some of the most famous people in modern history, including the likes of Marlon Brando, Muhammad Ali, Andy Warhol, and Katherine Hepburn. Salah Bachir, who immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in the 1960s, has been in the movie business for four decades, first as the originator of syndicated in-theatre magazines, and most recently as the president of Cineplex. While this has given him undeniable front-row access to Hollywood's biggest stars, it's Salah's personal charm and kindness, his philanthropy, his overall style (think capes, sashes, pearls, diamonds, etc.), and involvement in the art world that has made him a friend, companion, lover, and/or confidante to everyone from Katherine Hepburn, Paul Newman, Joan Rivers, Mary Tyler Moore, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. to Andy Warhol, Edward Albee, Orson Wells, Aretha Franklin, and Elizabeth Taylor. Collected here in this wonderful book are personal stories of them all, some short, some long, some surprising, others juicy, and all fascinating. Through them we get to know Salah, a larger-than-life character that embodied the worlds he lived in and shaped--the kind of person it would be hard to make up if he didn't already exist"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780771006111 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: xv, 277 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some colour) ; 24 cm
- Edition: Hardcover edition.
- Publisher: Toronto, ON : Signal, an imprint of McClelland & Stewart, 2023.
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Bachir, Salah J. Art > Collectors and collecting > Canada > Biography. Businesspeople > Canada > Biography. Philanthropists > Canada > Biography. Lebanese Canadians > Biography. |
| Genre: | Biographies. Autobiographies. Personal narratives. |
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Branch | 361.74092 Bachi | 31681010344992 | NONFIC | Available | - |
- Baker & Taylor
"An enchanting collection of stories from the life of philanthropist, art collector and former president of Cineplex Media, Salah Bachir--who through his sheer joy of life, art, and human interaction has captivated some of the most famous people in modern history, including the likes of Marlon Brando, Muhammad Ali, Andy Warhol, and Katherine Hepburn. Salah Bachir, who immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in the 1960s, has been in the movie business for four decades, first as the originator of syndicated in-theatre magazines, and most recently as the president of Cineplex. While this has given him undeniable front-row access to Hollywood's biggest stars, it's Salah's personal charm and kindness, his philanthropy, his overall style (think capes, sashes, pearls, diamonds, etc.), and involvement in the art world that has made him a friend, companion, lover, and/or confidante to everyone from Katherine Hepburn, Paul Newman, Joan Rivers, Mary Tyler Moore, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. to Andy Warhol, Edward Albee, Orson Wells, Aretha Franklin, and Elizabeth Taylor. Collected here in this wonderful book are personal stories of them all, some short, some long, some surprising, others juicy, and all fascinating. Through them we get to know Salah, a larger-than-life character that embodied the worlds he lived in and shaped--the kind of person it would be hard to make up if he didn't already exist."-- - Random House, Inc.
INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER
A marvelous and compulsively readable collection of stories from the life of Salah Bachir â philanthropist, art collector, movie industry insider â who, through his sheer joy of life, art, giving back, and human interaction, has endeared him to some of the most famous and creative people in recent times.
Salah Bachirâs encounters with stars who have passed through his beloved Toronto over the years opens on a backyard garden barbecue with Marlon Brando, and bread continues to be broken with icons as fascinating and seemingly disparate as Muhammad Ali and Liberace, Margaret Atwood and Cesar Chavez, Andy Warhol and Princess Margaret, to name just a few. But the true literary coup is that the biggest, brightest star we encounter is the author himself.
                                                                       Alan Cumming
Salah is the patron saint for all of us who are full of curiosity, hungry for celebration, horny for fun, and who wonât stop until every need is fulfilled. His appetite and passion for life is voracious. His ability to transform those passions into making life better for others is even more impressive.
                                                    Atom Egoyan
Salah Bachir, who immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in the 1960s, has been a gay activist who has worked in the film world for over four decades. While this has given him undeniable front-row access to Hollywoodâs biggest stars, it is Salahâs personal charm and kindness, his philanthropy, his overall style (think hats, scarves, brooches, pearls, diamonds) and deep involvement in the art world that has made him a friend, companion, confidante, and/or lover to so many â including Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Joan Rivers, Mary Tyler Moore, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Edward Albee, Orson Welles, Aretha Franklin, Norman Jewison, and Elizabeth Taylor â although itâs true that Katharine Hepburn once turned him down, very nicely.
Collected here in this wonderful book are personal stories of them all â some short, some long, some surprising, others juicy, and all fascinating. Through them we get to know Salah, a larger-than-life character that embodies the many worlds he shapes â the kind of person it would be hard to make up if he didnât already exist.
