evening1 I had heard the name Toots Shor but never really knew who he was. This movie adequately answered the question. It was somewhat interesting to hear about Shor's very humble beginnings -- he was the son of parents who both died tragic, separate deaths -- and the goings-on at his celebrity-studded restaurants, all against the backdrop of always-interesting New York. I loved the anecdote of how Shor decided to give his showgirl girlfriend a birthday party and when she worried no one would want to come he assured her, "Oh, they'll come," and he packed the house. This is a very male-heavy documentary. With the exception of a baseball team owner's wife and one of Shor's daughters, most of the talking heads here are men, and you hear from each of them repeatedly. While the involvement of mobsters and topics like gambling and tax evasion are touched upon, I got the sense a lot was probably left out of this film. For example, if you read Shor's profile on Wikipedia, mention is made of a late-life daughter who was raised by Bob Hope and his wife. Come again? This puzzling point isn't even mentioned. In all, this is a not-so-bad film to listen to as background while taking care of more important things (in my case, paperwork for my business).

JasparLamarCrabb A highly enjoyable look at the life & times of Toots Shor, the Falstaffian saloon keeper whose eponymous NYC bar was the watering hole for a who's who of comics, athletes, mobsters and politicians from the 1940s through the 1960s. Shor, never one to shy away from publicity, mingled with everyone from Jackie Gleason to Frank Costello to Richard Nixon. He had his name in one or more newspaper columns virtually every day. Directed by his granddaughter Kristi Jacobson, TOOTS is not just a loving portrait of Shor, but a sometimes melancholy film, relying on audio recordings made by Shor toward the end of his life (he didn't exactly end up on top). Nevertheless, it's insightful, fun and very entertaining. Yogi Berra, Frank Gifford & Pete Hamill are among the talking heads interviewed.

jhailey Just saw the movie on DVD. Shor's granddaughter tells several stories: about Toots, about New York, about Prohibition, about the changing times of the 1960s, and about changing relationships between stars and the public. She's a good storyteller: she's dug out old photographs and news clips from the early 1900s through 1970; the black-and-white scenes of New York City's neon are wonderful; she's found aging sportswriters for whom Toots Shor's place was the watering hole in the age of Dimaggio, Mantle, and Gifford. She gives us a take on ethnicities and religious backgrounds (not so much on race) in the twentieth century. And at the center of it is this unique guy -- tough, quick-witted, generous, a warm father and husband, sly about his ego -- a man who saw things in terms of personal relationships. It's a personal film that transcends the personal. A master class in documentary film-making.

frodo-nj Just caught this at the Tribeca Film Festival and beyond the comments during the Q&A session with the director, this film was an amazing time capsule of New York City during the 50's and 60's.After watching this film, one of the strongest feelings that I experienced was a deep regret that I never had the chance to meet this person or walk into his bar.I loved the concept of there being no velvet rope, if you had a dollar for a beer, you were welcome.Hopefully, this is put out on DVD or at least released soon. I know several people that would really enjoy watching it.I highly recommend it.