I COU PON I I ENTERTAINMENT 1111•MI FAMILY ITALIAN DINING & PIZZA 4033 W. 12 MILE, 3 Blks. E. of Greenfield 548-3650 Berkley prmt-mas-no RINIEMADE BMX BREAD ma y the C orning ROUND PEA MARE PSI * SMALL OR URGE SMAII—MED—URGE ON FOOD PURCHASES OF $6 OR MORE $1 OFF e rin9 Peace and ilealth Jo DINING ROOM, CARRY-OUT All NEW • BANQUET ROOMS • BEER • WINE • COMPLETE CARRY-OUT • COCKTAILS ()NE- 4AS CAFE 1 COUPON im YARD 1SAR.B• 583 MONROE r. THE OPEN 7 DAYS — 11 a.m. to 12 Mid. PifO R is BAR-B-Q SLAB FOR 2 $10.95 INCLUDES: 2 POTATOES, 2 COLE SLAWS AND BREAD FOR 2 BAR-B-Q CHICKEN FOR 2 785 . INCLUDES: 2 POTATOES, 2 COLE SLAWS AND BREAD FOR 2 JN • 1 Coupon Per Order Coupon Expires 9-16-88 (Inquire Within) TRY OUR DAILY SPECIALS MON.-FRI. FARMINGTON HILLS — 851-7000 I LIVONIA — 427-6500 30843 PLYMOUTH RD. —1 31006 ORCHARD LAKE RD. AT 14 961-5544 4c _VT 4, ur c9 1 . ; greatest Natural ~a--- 7 Resource , ffi \ L'Shona Tova Wishing Everyone Health and Happiness from The Shops and Services of Millender Center Raldolph at Jefferson Detroit 88 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1988 Continued from Page 86 near Expires Sept. 30, 1988 I Michael Lembeck nothing like this busines on earth!' Of course, some businesses don't need as many partners; theater is such a collaborative process — and an exhausting one. "Theater does take a piece out of you," says a slightly worn-out Lembeck, propping his feet up on a well- worn couch. How about "Mike"? The actor smiles. "This one has taken a large chunk." But then, as the title character, Lembeck is a chunk of the musical's action. "I'm on all but a few pages." Not that he minds being center stage. Yet Lembeck also doesn't mind sharing the wealth — especially when the booty is provided by such legendary actors/comics as Sid Caesar, Milton Berle and Danny Thomas as it was in "Side by Side." Lembeck was on the side of the angels in that recent CBS telefilm, starring as Berle's artsy son. Lembeck uses television as a canvas for some fine work. One of his favorite roles was as a 1960s activist Abbie Hoffman in Home Box Of- fice's "Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8!' "That was the job of a lifetime," smiles Lembeck. "I read everything that Abbie wrote. You know, he hung around the set during filming. He was extremely helpful." Lembeck thinks a moment. "In terms of essence, Abbie parallels Mike Todd," both larger-than-life characters pocketing headlines like others pocket small change. "Abbie didn't just protest — he chained himself to a fence," marvels Lembeck. "He's so passionate about his beliefs!" Lembeck is also passionate — about having been without passion in his life. "I've gone through a lot of dramatic changes in recent years," he says. "It bothered me that I was without passion for so long. Now I seek it out every day. I stopped doing the kind of work that was dissatisfy- ing." Lembeck strokes his chin, listening to an inner metronome, one ticking off a more peaceful metier than he had known before. "I will not punch a clock to pay a mort- gage. I will not take roles anymore just to support a lifestyle," he says. Instead, he'll gamble that the good roles will come to the good guys, such as "Mike" has arrived on his doorstep now. "Mike Todd was a gambler, too," says Lembeck. "In fact, he believed that he couldn't win unless he lost. He wanted to go back to square one." Lembeck squares his need to satisfy his soul before his banker with what his dad taught him. "My father gave me a legacy, a wonderful legacy of honesty," he says. A smile breaks on the son's lips as he talks about his father. Besides being an ac- complished actor, Harvey Lembeck ran a successful comedy workshop on the West Coast, which son Michael and daughter Helene are now operating. "It's in its 25th year. We're pumpin'," says Michael. "It's so satisfying to continue his work." In a way, Lembeck is conti- nuing his father's dreams. "We even walk the same," "Abbie didn't just protest — he chained himself to a fence," marvels Lembeck. "He's so passionate about his beliefs." muses the son. "All Lembeck men walk the same. It's a high-energy walk. His spirit even courses through my son Sam's veins?' Harvey Lembeck never really walked through a role — he ran on all pilots. What an inspiration, says his son. "He was a father, a friend, an agent." And a teacher, perhaps the best teacher of all. "He let me learn my own way," says Lembeck. If there was any discord, it showed up only in fictional form. "We worked together on an episode of 'The Partridge Family.' I played a striking employee; he was my boss," says Lembeck. A better boss you couldn't find, says the son. A boss whose paychecks were filled with hours of humor and kindness — and a touch or two of heritage. "A lot of Yiddish was spoken at home," recalls Lembeck. "There was a feel- ing for the cultural aspects of Judaism. There was quite a celebration of life in the Lembeck household." That celebration continues with Michael and his son Sam. Just like what he learn- ed from his own father, papa Michael knows how to offer support. "Today Sam wants to be a photographer. Last week he wanted to be a sushi chef. Last year, a car salesman." Michael shrugs his shoulders. "Kids. You have to support them." Harvey would be so proud.