My Life Among The Icons
A FASCINATING MEMOIR OF A RACONTEUR WHOSE LIFE INTERSECTED WITH THE GIANTS OF SPORTS AND THE GLAMOUR OF HOLLYWOOD
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This book is a life's journey involving my numerous never before told stories of the personal encounters I engaged in with some of the most celebrated people, not only in the movie and entertainment field, but also many of the the biggest names in the sports world. It also tells of some very compromising positions I was placed in, such as having a notorious gangster threatening me with bodily harm if did not consent to his demand. Also being in the presence of the Godfather of all Godfathers, Sam Giancanna, as he demonstrated his anger against a friend of mine. The eight different days I spent in the company of "The Chairman of the Board," Frank Sinatra, eight of the greatest days of my life. His treating me with kindness and making me feel like 'one of the boys' gave me a small taste of what it might be like to be a member of "The Rat Pack." The two memorable meetings and the conversations I engaged in with "The King of Rock and Roll," Elvis Presley. The many coincidences between the two of us. This chapter also contains a tender, beautiful love story that has an unforeseen ending. The incredible week I spent at the world famous brothel, "The Mustang Ranch" as a guest of "Mustang Sally." A week men can only dream of. An unlikely sweet romance develops, a romance that is doomed from its very beginning. The unforgettable evening I spent in the presence of "The Lizard King," Jim Morrison at the Whiskey A' Go-Go. His introducing me to 'coke' for the first time. Remembering the night when I first saw and heard the enormous, magnetic, charismatic talent of the handsome boy singer who left us much too early. The great times I spent with "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali, a time when he trained at the gym I co-owned, the legendary Main St. Gym for his fight with then champion, Larry Holmes. Being at his fiftieth birthday party at a very exclusive Beverly Hills restaurant. It was a very exciting affair, it did my heart good to see this bigger than life man so euphoric. I will forever treasure the conversations we engaged in that wonderful evening. Meeting and getting to know Slyvester Stallone during the time he shot the gym scenes at the Main St. Gym for his movie, Rocky lll. I found Sly Stallone to be a very hard working young man preparing every scene and working on everything else. As an actor, witnessing the epitome of acting during the scenes between Jackie Gleason and Karl Malden in the movie, "Sting ll" that was being shot in the Main St. Gym. Words cannot describe the humorous conversations I had with "The Great One," like the boxing story he told me when he was a young boy. Spending time with both Jackie Gleason and Karl Malden is something that I will forever cherish. Spending an entire lunch hour conversing with the "Queen of Them All," Bette Davis, was an unforgettable experience one cannot ever forget. Those eyes and that unmistakable voice are something that will forever haunt my reverie. My story on Orenthal James Simpson has nothing to do with OJ bashing. It tells of a night, July 18, 1968, nearly forty-three years ago, I spent having dinner with OJ. After dinner, we sat side by side at the fights at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. OJ at the time was the premiere running back in the nation, a senior at the University of Southern California. I vividly remember a nice, humble young man who thanked the Lord for giving him an extraordinary gift of running with a football not knowing what the future held in store for him, a future that would bring him untold fame, wealth, and an unforeseen fall from grace. I write of the time when "Uncle Milty," Mr. Televison himself, Milton Berle came on as a guest on my radio show, "Ringside with Johnny Ortiz." As only he could, he had us all in stitches with his off the wall stories, one concerning Frank Sinatra in a would be brawl in a public bathroom of a saloon-restaurant on the Sunset Strip. His machine-gun like humor was truly something to behold.
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About the Book
“His connection at age fifteen with L.A.'s most notorious gangster, his sinister lifestyle while working for a renowned private investigator, Johnny Ortiz's exciting life involved close friendships with Hollywood superstars and sports champions. In Palm Springs he mingled with the Rat Pack; in Las Vegas he attended celebrity-ridden parties; in Los Angeles the saloons he owned became a hangout for sports figures and famous actors. Champions worked out at his legendary Main St. Gym and most of Hollywood's top boxing movie gym scenes were filmed there including the first three Rocky movies. In his revealing reminiscences Ortiz fondly relates previously untold stories of celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison, Henry Fonda, Antonio Banderas, Woody Harrelson, Robert Mitchum, Lynda Carter, Olivia De Havilland, Bette Davis, Jackie Gleason, Ben Johnson, Dorothy Lamour, Milton Berle, Mickey Rooney, Lenny Bruce, Cliff Gorman, Phil Crosby, and John Drew Barrymore, along with sports icons like Muhammad Ali, O.J. Simpson, Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, Rocky Marciano, and Joe Louis. Johnny Ortiz has been a fighter, trainer, manager, boxing historian and a twelve year host of his own radio show. He is a longtime member of the Screen Actors Guild, has numerous TV and film credits, and is also an accomplished stage actor. In 1999, he completed his role opposite Antonio Banderas and Woody Harrelson in the film, ‘Play It To The Bone.’ In 2001, director Michael Mann cast him in the Will Smith movie, ‘Ali.”
About the Author
Johnny Ortiz was once the co-owner of the world famous Main St. Gym. The gym was used in most of the major boxing films including the first three Rocky movies. He was a twelve year host of his own radio show, “Ringside with Johnny Ortiz.” His show aired on ESPN radio as well as six other Los Angeles radio stations. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild since 1974, he has had numerous roles on film and TV and is an accomplished stage actor. In college he won the Actor of the Year award. He has had numerous experiences with mega stars of film, TV, and the sports world. Fifteen Academy Award winners are numbered among these personal encounters. In April of 1999, he completed his role opposite Antonio Banderas and Woody Harrelson in the movie, “Play It To The Bone.” In May 2001, he was cast by director Michael Mann to play a boxing reporter in the film, “Ali.” He has been the recipient of eight highly prestigious awards for “His Great Influence and Devotion to the Sport of Boxing.” He has been inducted twice into several Boxing Hall of Fame organizations. In 2010, he was given a “Celebration of His Life, A tribute to Johnny Ortiz.” The event was attended by two hundred and forty friends.