[on his former boss, mentor and friend, actor/comedian
Ted Healy, who died under mysterious circumstances (according to one theory, after a drunken argument) while in his early 40s] When sober, Ted was the essence of refinement. When under the influence, he became a foul-mouthed, vicious character. Liquor had killed his father and uncle, and destroyed his sister's life. When Ted was young, I remember that he made a pledge never to touch liquor, after having seen the consequences of its effects on his family. The strain of his life in show business got him started, and once he started drinking, he was never able to stop.