Author: Craig

Sly Stallone’s Personal Note to Burt Reynolds

Craig / / 2018, Celebs

Here’s a gem from the Zablo vault.  A few years ago, Burt Reynolds held an auction to thin out his personal collection.  One of the items for bid was this personal letter from Sly Stallone to Burt.  I think it’s cool that Sly and Burt were hanging out and that Burt thought enough of Sly to keep the note.  Click on the photo to see a much bigger version.

PS – I agree with Sly’s assessment of Sharkey’s Machine.  It’s a favorite!

Cosmo Carboni, Mumbles and Thomas Boatwright

Craig / / 2018, Celebs, Craig's Sly Art, Paradise Alley

Thomas Boatwright created the piece above when I requested Sly from Paradise Alley.  Boatwright is such a Tom Waits fan that he felt compelled to add him since Waits played Mumbles in the movie.  How cool is that?

Over the years I’ve gotten several Stallone pieces from Thomas.  Click on the link to see what has been posted so far… there are more to come.

If you’d like to see more of Thomas Boatwright’s art check out his blog and his instagram. Send him some love.

If you get commissions, you should consider a piece from Thomas. He keeps you totally in the loop on his progress, finishes his commissions on or ahead of schedule, has very reasonable prices, is a fantastic artist and always gives you more than you’re expecting!   – Craig

The Wild, Untold Story of “The Good Life”

Craig / / 2018, The Good Life, Unmade Films

Illustration by Simon Hayes

Christopher McKittrick’s The Wild, Untold Story of The Good Life at Little White Lies is an interesting profile of a “lost” Sylvester Stallone film.  Most Stallone fans have heard of (although never seen) The Good Life, a film starring Frank Stallone, Burt Young, Andrew Dice Clay, David Carradine, Beverly D’Angelo, Frank Vincent, Tony Sirico and former middleweight boxing champ Vinny Pazienza.  It even featured a cameo by Frank’s brother Sly.

Because the film was low-budget and for the opportunity to work with Frank, Sly agreed to his cameo in The Good Life for some golf clubs and the understanding that he wouldn’t be featured prominently in advertisements for the film.  Unfortunately, the film was promoted making it look as if Sly had a much larger, if not starring role in the film.  And that’s when things went off the rails.  Before it was over several lawsuits were filed, an agreement was reached and The Good Life was shelved.

Years ago, I asked Frank Stallone if he thought the film would ever be released.  He said it was highly unlikely.

Maybe someday enough time will have passed and a new agreement could be worked out so that The Good Life gets released.

If you’ve read this far, you’ll definitely want to click over to McKittrick’s  The Wild, Untold Story of The Good Life.

Thanks to Chris Heathcoat for finding and sharing the article.