* OK, I couldn’t resist this story for several reasons. First, I have a painting by Henry Hill and it’s pretty good. Second, I used a quote from Goodfellas in a recent Sun-Times column…
The leaders’ most important job is protecting their members from election challenges by the other political party. And that brings us to my favorite Outfit movie, Goodfellas.
“All they got from Paulie was protection from other guys looking to rip them off. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what the FBI can never understand - that what Paulie and the Organization offer is protection for the kinds of guys who can’t go to the cops. They’re like the police department for wiseguys.”
Henry Hill’s real-life description of how Outfit bosses operate pretty much gives you the key to understanding how things work in Springfield.
Now, I don’t consider legislative leaders to be gangsters. But even the leaders would have to admit that the organizational mindset is strikingly similar.
And just yesterday I was talking with a legislator about that “F___ you, pay me” scene in the movie and how that related to Illinois politics…
Now the guy’s got Paulie as a partner. Any problems, he goes to Paulie. Trouble with the bill? He can go to Paulie. Trouble with the cops, deliveries, Tommy? He can call Paulie. But now the guy’s gotta come up with Paulie’s money every week no matter what. Business bad? F___ you, pay me. Oh, you had a fire? F___ you, pay me. Place got hit by lightning, huh? F___ you, pay me.”
Anyway, here’s the story…
The former mobster who inspired “Goodfellas” was arrested Sunday in Fairview Heights because he had “one too many” drinks in a hotel lobby, he said.
Henry P. Hill, 66, of Topanga, Calif., was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in the Drury Inn Hotel, 12 Ludwig Drive in Fairview Heights.
“I got a summons for being intoxicated; it wasn’t my first one,” Hill said. “I broke the law and I got arrested.
“I don’t drink every day,” he added. “Sometimes I have one too many. I know I shouldn’t drink this much, but they give you free drinks. I had a few and it got pretty foggy after that. The lady I was with doesn’t drink, so I had six drinks and I ended up at the county jail.”
Hill is in the area for an art show at a, um, gentleman’s club.
So, I thought you might get a kick out this. Anybody up for a trip to Fairview Heights tonight?
LIVE session coverage...
- Vote Quimby! - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 10:07 am:
C’mon down! Lots of good…um, art shows…in the area.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 10:10 am:
What exactly does Hnery Hill paint? And is it available in velvet?
I dont want anything to clash with collection of velvet dogs playing poker and Elvi.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 10:11 am:
===What exactly does Hnery Hill paint?===
Check his website… http://www.goodfellahenry.com/
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 10:15 am:
very interesting…who knew he was so arty?
- WOW - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 10:16 am:
It appears he is coming to the Deja Vu in Springfield as well. His name was on the billboard yesterday.
- been there - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 10:21 am:
Didn’t Phyllis Schlafly used to live in Fairview Heights?
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 10:21 am:
First, you need decide who won the Golden Horseshoe for best bar. Then, you need to organize a party there, and invite Mr. Hill to guest lecture on Illinois politics.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 10:22 am:
LOL. Good idea.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 10:31 am:
It’s amazing the guys is still alive.
Sad Trivia question: What film and director beat out “Goodfellas” and Scorsese for the Oscars?
Sad Answer: “Dances with Wolves” and Kevin Costner.
- Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 10:57 am:
Rich had never asked me to go to Fairview Heights before…that’s when I knew I would never have come back from there alive.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 10:59 am:
Come on, Morrie, you’re talking crazy, stop it!
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 11:04 am:
He is not that old…what an amazing story his life is!…he’s so lucky to be alive…
- Lester Holt's Mustache - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 11:08 am:
Wow, even for a former mobster, this Henry Hill Original Artwork is terrible. The one one ebay under the title “NOTORIOUS MAFIA RAT” is my favorite. I don’t know which is better, the straight-out-of-Highlights magazine taxi cabs, or the plane that makes me think of this recent conversation -
My daughter - *hands me a drawing*
Me - “that’s a nice horse, sweetie”
My daughter - “It’s not a horse, daddy, it’s a princess!”
- John Herath - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 11:10 am:
I think it’s time for the first Metro East Capitol Fax support group meeting. Surely, though, we can find a better place for it than Fairview Heights. A mall doesn’t seem to be Mr. Miller’s style.
- Fan of the Game - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 12:39 pm:
Nick Pileggi wrote the book Wiseguy on which his screenplay for Goodfellas is based. He spent a lot of time with Henry Hill to write the book, and it’s a terrific read.
Pileggi also wrote the screenplay for Casino and is married to screenwriter Nora Ephron of When Harry Met Sally fame.
- Fan of the Game - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 12:41 pm:
I believe Mr. Hill used to run a restaurant and sold Mob-related spaghetti sauce.
- The Prophet - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 12:45 pm:
I am not too sure that I would want to be standing near Mr. Hill (if he were also to be at the “Art Show”). I believe that I read somewhere that he was eventually thrown out of the federal witness protection program (due to violating some of the conditions that came along with being in it). Hopefully, his former business associates either have short memories or they are now “born again Christians” who are willing to forgive & forget.
- nice kid - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 1:25 pm:
Rich, I also have a HH painting, and it is terrible. I cannot imagine yours is much better! I only have it because I liked the Goodfellas movie. Why don’t you post a photo of it? It looks like posters would be curious to see it.
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 2:00 pm:
“Pileggi also wrote the screenplay for Casino and is married to screenwriter Nora Ephron of When Harry Met Sally fame.”
To extend the six-degrees-of-separation meme even further… Ephron was previously married to Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein, and the book and movie “Heartburn” is (allegedly) based on her life with him.
- Jeff - Tuesday, Dec 15, 09 @ 6:47 pm:
I wouldn’t worry about his safety too much. His former business associates are all dead or in jail.