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I really considered ‘21’ as almost a second home and I still do…I first went with Toots Shor when I was a rookie with the Giants in 1952. I have been a regular ever since and proud of my close and affectionate relationship with so many of the people who work there and have worked there. The photo above was taken on the occasion of Pete Rozelle’s (the late and great NFL commissioner) birthday…it includes the late David Mahoney (chairman of Norton Corp.); the late Bob Tisch (founder of the Loews hotel and resort chain); Herb Siegel, chairman of Chris-Craft Industries; the late Jack Landry who started one of the most famous of all ad campaigns, the “Marlboro Man”…and then there is Walter and me…
Frank Gifford
One of the most memorable of the many great times I’ve had at ‘21’ occurred when Bob Dole and I gave a fund raising luncheon for the World War II memorial. The money was coming in slowly so Bob hoped some wealthy New Yorkers might give it a kick start. I persuaded Tom Hanks to fly in from Hollywood to help us and I also invited three Medal of Honor recipients from the New York area to join us.
We had an excellent turn out and as the luncheon got underway former Governor Hugh Carey presented the combat infantryman’s badge to Walter Weiss, a favorite ‘21’ waiter. He had served heroically in the war and no one was aware of that. The Wall Street guests sat up a little straighter and before the lunch was over we had raised nearly two million dollars. Dole quipped to me on the way out, “Not a bad hour’s work!”
Tom Brokaw
I have many wonderful memories of times spent at ‘21’. Two that stand out involve a couple of my sons. In April of 1998 we had a wonderful time at ‘21’ the night before Peyton was chosen as the # 1 pick in the NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
The second time would be six years later the night of the NFL draft when Eli was the 1st pick in the draft and became a New York Giant.
These were special nights for our family.
Archie Manning
After winning Miss America in my early twenties, I moved to New York City from Denton, Texas. After co-hosting Candid Camera, I was hired as a sportscaster at CBS, and was becoming somewhat recognizable. Luckily, one benefit of that was getting 'good' tables at the city’s hot spots, quite the big deal for someone hailing from a small town and new to New York.
My first date with my former husband, John Y. Brown, Jr. (later elected Governor of Kentucky) was at ‘21’. We just walked in without him having made a dinner reservation, and were seated in the middle section along the back wall.
I was thinking, “Can't this guy get a better table?”
He then confessed he was considering buying ‘21’ and it really didn't matter to him where we sat! We laughed!
Phyllis George
I know the noted author, David McCulloch, from the Yale Club.
I was talking to him one evening at the ‘21’ Club shortly after he wrote “John Adams,” whereupon he was approached by a rather obnoxious character who wanted to impress David with his knowledge of John Adams. During his dissertation, he mentioned the “ABC” affair to which McCulloch gently responded, “I think you’re referring to the “XYZ” affair and then added, “By the way, ABC is a television network.”
It was the most precious put down I’ve ever witnessed.
James F. Gill
During the 29 years I served as President/Chairman of CARTIER - with my office just up the block at 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue - '21' became my personal neighborhood "cafeteria" where I lunched several times per week. In time, Sheldon Tannen and Bruce Snyder invited me to add to the collection of icons suspended from the ceiling by hanging something from CARTIER.
Their idea: "How about a big CARTIER diamond?"
My reply: "I don't think so."
In the end, we settled on hanging a giant-size replica of the CARTIER "Must" perfume case...which proudly remains suspended there to this day.
Ralph Destino
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