PORT TOWNSEND – Grocery store manager Bob Geisler, was declared winner of the 2007 Port Townsend Film Festival “Guess-the-Guest” contest.
Sherry Grover, general manager of the festival, said Geisler’s name was drawn from the names of 52 people who correctly identified the film event’s featured guest, actor Elliott Gould.
Gould will be honored at the film festival, scheduled from Sept. 28 to Sept. 30.
Geisler and his wife will be invited to attend a special screening of Gould’s 1974 film, “California Split,” directed by the late Robert Altman, followed by a private reception.
The Port Townsend Safeway manager was among 143 who participated in the contest.
Nearly 38 percent correctly identified Gould as the honoree.
No one made a correct guess after the first clue was published, said Peter Simpson, artistic director of the festival in a written statement.
Two people guessed correctly after the second clue.
The first clue, “In the guest’s first stage appearance, the special guest worked with a classic vaudevillian,” referred to Gould’s appearance in the 1957 musical comedy, “Rumple,” with vaudevillian Eddie Foy, Jr.
The second clue, “The special guest admired a prostitute in his second stage appearance,” was a reference to the 1960 musical play, “Irma la Douce.”
The third clue, “The special guest appeared in several classic Robert Altman films, the first being released in 1970,” referred to Gould’s major break-through role as Trapper John in “M*A*S*H.”
Gould was one of 29 actors identified as the 2007 special guest.
Others receiving a significant number of votes included Mickey Rooney, Rene Aberjanois, Candace Bergan, Sally Kellerman, and Tom Skerrit.
Those who correctly identified Gould were Kerry A. Oakey Ball, Cheryl Baumann, Greg Blackmer, Nancy Blackmer, Linda Bovee, Cheryl Brass, Esko and Megan Cate, Bob Chamay, Jeff Chew, Chris Cuzzetto, Amy Dahlberg, Peggy deBroux, Dori Lee Dunkle, Stuart Dunkle, Joanne Eagen, Sandra Eisenman, Lisa Ferenz, Rob Gruye, Hali Johnson, Nathalie Johnson, Jonathan Safir, Carrie Kanable, Gerald Kanza, John Kielas, Robere Le Huguet, Linda Maguire, Kevin Mason, Patricia McCauley, Nan McGraw and Andy Miklancic.
Also Jennifer Nielsen, Donna Nouss, Linnea Patrick, Jessica Pavish, Patricia Quyle, Sue Raley, Beverly Rich, Marion Rideout, Mary D Rizzardi, Bob Rousseau, Jonathan Safir, Lou Sarna, Stephen Schumacher, Cheryl Smith, Trish Stornetta, Beverly Taylor, Rob Thompson, James Trekas, Howard Vern, Jeremy Vrablik, Lynne Webster, Anne Winegar and John Wood.
