The very top video is the complete & unabridged 77 minute audio-book. Performed Edd Byrnes, Alan Young, Henry Silva, David Hedison, Michael Callan. Click the arrow.
The video below it, is Edd's big scene in Grease. Watch Edd do a flip into the shot and grab the mike in mid-air, at the end of the scene.
In 1977, EDD BYRNES, known as Kookie in the hit television series 77 Sunset Strip, won three million dollars in Las Vegas. Immediately, his ex-girlfriend wanted half and a criminal tried to claim all of it.
From threats at the casino, to a home invasion, to persuading his actor friends to put themselves at risk, Edd's memoir will keep in suspense.
Alan Young, David Hedison and Henry Silva join Edd in this full-cast audio-book to disclose their memories of the daring and terrifying event that tread the fine line between luck and misfortune.
The part of the criminal is played by Michael Callan. Edd's two girlfriends, who must remain anonymous, are played by Ishtar Uhvanna (Jessica) and Christianna Carmine (Kristy).
Directing Edd Byrnes in My Casino Caper by Paul Kyriazi
You know Edd Byrnes from the John Travolta movie Grease where he played Vince Fontaine in the dance contest scene.
In 1960, appearing in the TV series 77 Sunst Strip, Edd was receiving more fan mail than any actor in the history of the Warner Brothers studio. Even more than Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart or James Cagney at the height of their popularity.
His recording of Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb, earned him a gold record. He went on to many movies, TV roles, and stage plays. I worked with Edd on my audio-book McKnight's Memory. Edd was great playing the part of Floyd the henchman to Henry Silva's gangster.
Edd had prepared and exuded total confidence when he entered the recording room. He decided to use a New Jersey accent to round out the character.
The main scene is a long card game played between Silva and Robert Culp with Edd dealing the cards and giving his opinion.
Frank Sinatra Jr. Said of Edd's performance, "When Edd Byrnes starts explaining the rules of the game, he really set the whole thing up."
After recording, me and my producer Larry Metzger walked Edd to the parking lot. We said our good-byes and when Edd walked off Larry said to me, "He's so cool." I replied, "Of course he's cool. He's Edd Byrnes."
At that time, Edd became interested in producing his own audio-book. But he didn't want to repeat any of the stories from his first book Kookie, No More. So he decided to tell what happened when he won a three million dollar jackpot in Las Vegas, and was stalked by a criminal and ex-girlfriend for the money.
He hired me to produce and direct the project titled My Casino Caper. Edd asked his acting friends to re-create what happened 20 years ago. So Alan Young , David Hedison, and Henry Silva recorded as themselves.
Edd tells the story to Alan Young, with the other actors joining in on the dramatizations in this full cast and effects production.
The cool thing about this project is that Edd worked auto-biographical material into the story, giving listeners info on his rise to fame in Hollywood, his gold record, his TV shows, movies, and relationships with other actor friends.
Alan Young makes several references to his movie The Time Machine (one of Edd's favorite movies), and how Edd first told his secret story to him in 1977 just before his role in Grease.
The part of the criminal, who stalked Edd for his jackpot, must remain anonymous and is played by Michael Callan of Cat Ballou and Mysterious Island fame. Edd's two ex-girlfriends, who must also remain anonymous, are played by other actresses.
