(From left to right) John Kahrs, David Silverman, Tim Reckart and Fondhla Cronin O'Reilly in the theater lobby. Behind them are the cookies. All images courtesy of Dan Sarto.

By Dan Sarto

The Southern California leg of Acme Filmworks’ and AWN’s annual Oscar Showcase Tour kicked off with a screening Monday night at Woodbury University, sponsored and organized by ASIFA-Hollywood.  Frank Gladstone brought boxes of cookies, containers of coffee and his unflappable and eternally upbeat demeanor.  The cold wind and threat of rain did nothing to damper the crowd, which filled the Fletcher Jones Theatre almost to capacity.  After he introduced me, sharing the fictional story of my childhood spent roaming the streets of India, I then regaled the audience with the story of the first time I met Frank, literally bumping into him within a huge room at the castle overlooking Annecy’s old town, stuffed wall-to-wall with people celebrating the release of DreamWorks’ Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.  I told the crowd, as I tell you now, the next time you meet Frank, ask him to tell you the “Seamus” joke.  And be prepared.