Wire services reported Wednesday that Ted Kaczynski’s jailhouse proposal to Simon & Schuster for a book has been rejected. The Unabomber wants to write about lawyers misrepresenting him. INC. can tell you brother David is the real writer in the family–Ted’s manifestos not withstanding. We’ve already reported that half of the INC. duo (Conklin) was once acquainted with the Kaczynskis and, years ago in their Lombard home, the late Ted Kaczynski Sr. proudly displayed a fictional novel David, an aspiring writer, was completing. It was never published, but we’ll bet there’s a market for his work now.
More pages: Relatively few have prowled the halls of Hugh Hefner’s mansions–the long-shuttered Chicago property or his current Los Angeles home. But a new book out in September, “Inside the Playboy Mansion,” promises to go behind the doors of both for a look at Hugh’s lifestyle. Hugh’s written an intro and Gretchen Edgren, a Playboy mag editor for 25 years, has written the text that shares page space with hundreds of photos.
Replay: U.S. Rep Jesse Jackson Jr., wearing a White Sox uniform, was a goat Tuesday night in Roll Call’s annual Republicans vs. Democrats baseball game in Washington. Jackson, for the second straight year, was caught stealing second base by catcher-U.S. Rep John Shimkus, a GOPer from Downstate Illinois. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep Rod Blagojevich, whose 5th District borders Wrigley Field, wore a Cub uniform with a Harry Caray patch. He was a designated runner but played it safe and never tried to steal. The Repubs won 4-1 and, during the game, special acknowledgment of Caray took place. Ex-Illinois Congressman Marty Russo was the PA announcer.
Danny boy: Ex-Vice President Dan Quayle just did an Illinois swing and, if there was doubt, we’re sure his fedora has been tossed in the 2000 presidential ring. During a Monday stop in Bloomington, he said it was “likely” he’d run for the White House. Then Tuesday night at a funder for U.S. Senate candidate Peter Fitzgerald in Lake Forest, he said it was “very likely” he’d make the run–though he’ll wait until 1999 to make an announcement.
Beat goes on: Mary Bono, who won late husband Sonny Bono’s congressional seat, does her first Illinois fundraiser July 10 for U.S. Rep. Thomas Ewing in Mahomet. . . . Cook County Sheriff Mike Sheahan is promising Mayor Richard Daley, plus other Dem big hitters, at his Thursday funder in Maggiano’s.
In the dark: Jim Nabors opened a five-day engagement Wednesday afternoon in Drury Lane-Evergreen Park and narrowly avoided a calamity when a power outage hit the theater. There were no lights for comedian Royce Elliott’s opening act, but he’s a trouper who knows how to soothe a tough crowd. Elliott, from Peoria, brought a flashlight out to illuminate his face during the monologue.
Reel love: Word from Hollywood has Dustin Hoffman and Steve (“Forrest Gump”) Tisch acquiring the rights to newlywed David Weinlick’s story. Earlier this month, Weinlick married Elizabeth Runze, a woman who was picked for Weinlick by his friends from several dozen candidates, in a wedding ceremony David organized at the Mall of America.
Passages: Thursday birthdays: Phyllis George, 49; June Lockhart, 73; Sidney Lumet, 74; Carly Simon, 53; Jimmie Walker, 50.
No bull: Chicagoans love the Bulls–but may love a bargain more. A half-price sale at a temporary Bulls sports apparel store at State and Adams drew such a large lunchtime crowd–despite Wednesday’s heat–the wait in line was estimated at a half hour.
EAVESDROPPING
“(He’ll) inject a new kind of energy into the show and force the writers to come up with different types of storylines.” Jimmy Smits on his “NYPD Blue” replacement, Rick Schroder
