Jon Dawson: When Kevin Costner came to Bucklesberry
Kevin Costner reenacts a scene from “Field of Dreams” in Jon Dawson’s back yard. / Photo courtesy of the Jack Ruby Estate.
What do Cary Grant, Kevin Costner, and I have in common? More than you might think.
Aside from being cursed with rugged good looks, we were all born on Jan. 18. In astrological terms, we're on what is referred to as the Capricorn-Aquarian cusp. Cary Grant and Kevin Costner made their mark in major motion pictures, while I co-starred as Prince Charming in my third-grade production of "Cinderella". New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley described my performance thusly:
"Falling somewhere between dismal and adequate, what Dawson's Prince Charming lacks in charm endears him to the audience. When Dawson forgot his lines during the third act and started reciting the lyrics to 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia', those in the audience who were still awake found it quite amusing. Jon Dawson most certainly has a career looming in the theater, most likely as a ticket taker."
On Friday night I was in Raleigh working on songs for an album that will hopefully be out later this year. Afterward, a friend and I took in a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, and it was amazing. Not only does this theater allow you to order restaurant-level food from your seat, but there is also a free VHS rental library in the lobby. The crux of the biscuit? Anyone caught texting, talking or using a phone in any way during the movie will be asked to leave. Don't believe me? Check out this public service announcement from Tim(e) Robbins that was shown before the movie:
Saturday was the actual birthday, and I spent the morning visiting with my buddy Jon Hughes. After a five-month stint in the hospital following a leg amputation he's finally home, and within minutes we fell into our usual music nerd conversation. As soon as the renovations on his house are complete, we'll be getting together to organize his album collection by alphabetical order and then by year of release. What's he supposed to do, simply pile them willy nilly in a corner? Horsefeathers!
Later that day The Wife prepared a great meal, and we enjoyed a nice evening at home without our Two Tax Deductions, who gifted me a spiffy new flannel shirt and a box of Little Debbie Peanut Butter Crunch Bars - which are apparently only sold at one grocery store in Lenoir County. I only get these once a year because they're a little too tasty. We used to get these at breaktime in the tobacco field, but for some reason, they aren't widely known in this area. The local Little Debbie representative should ramp up promo efforts because these things are the Cadillac of prepackaged confectionary.
For best results store in refrigerator and consume with milk so cold your teeth ice over. / Photo courtesy of Snack Snob Magazine.
Sadly, Cary Grant has passed on, but Kevin Costner usually stops by the house on my birthday when his schedule allows. Last year Kevin told "Bull Durham" and "Field of Dreams" stories till 3 a.m. Did you know "Field of Dreams" wasn't originally a baseball movie? Before several script revisions occurred, it was a movie about the hacky sack craze entitled "Parking Lot of Dirty Hippies: Drum Circle of Dreams".
Kostner also told us the script for Oliver Stone's movie "J.F.K." was ghostwritten by a young Jussie Smollett.
This year Kostner couldn't stop by because he is busy shooting the TV show "Yellowstone", but he did send over a case of steaks and a few "Dances With Wolves" t-shirts.
He's good people, that Kevin.
P.S. For the record, my favorite Kevin Costner movie is the Clint Eastwood directed “A Perfect World”.
Jon Dawson's humor columns are published weekly by Neuse News. Contact Jon at jon@neusenews.com and www.jondawson.com.
