Spirit Magazine - September 2013 - (Page 76)

Faced with a decision to either commit or walk, Amos walked, divorcing Maria in 1966—just in time to marry an exotically beautiful aspiring singer named Shirley Ellis. Amos’ third son, Shawn, was born in September 1967. A month later, Amos relocated his new family to Los Angeles, leaving behind 8-yearold Michael and 5-year-old Gregory. He ditched the Morris Agency, too, having hit their glass ceiling for African-Americans and deciding to go it alone as a personal manager. The gamble was disastrous from the start; clients of the caliber he was accustomed to working with never materialized. Amos allayed his anxiety by making chocolate chip and pecan cookies from his Aunt Della’s recipe, the same treats that enchanted him as a 12-year-old boy. Or so goes the legend that has sold billions of Famous Amos cookies. That story was baked. “I had a meeting with one of my clients, an Loyalty ranks high in any recipe for life. So does esteem for one’s self. But from whom would Amos have learned these things? actress named Shari Summers,” Amos remembers more accurately, “and she broke out chocolate chip cookies she had made. I tasted them and, oh my god. Years before, Aunt Della had stopped sending cookies to me, and at that moment I realized I could make ’em myself, so I asked Shari for the recipe. I thought she was going to say it was some deep, dark secret. It turns out it was right off the back of the Nestlé Toll House bag. I went straight to the supermarket, and, sure enough, there it was.” With his management company limping along, Amos looked for anything to give him a leg up with the power brokers he was courting. Used as an aromatic calling card, his homemade cookies—bite-size, crispy, and bulging with pecans and chocolate chips—made more of an impression than his client list. Less savory were Amos’ unchecked infidelities, which opened fissures in his second marriage. If the fundamental demands of marriage were too much for him, what surfaced next was even further beyond his capacity. Shirley, after a string of nervous breakdowns, was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a form of mental illness that many years later caused her to take her own life. Confronted, again, with the hard work of family and commitment, Amos again walked away. How does he explain such devastating indiffer- You haven’t stayed in Vegas until you’ve stayed where Elvis stayed. He spent nearly 7 years in the villa of the iconic LVH – Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Now it’s your turn. Book a stay at any Red Lion and you’re entered to win our VIVA LAS VILLA SWEEPSTAKES! BOOK NOW: redlion.com/viva Lucky winners will receive: • A 3-night stay at the LVH in a 5,000 sq.ft. villa • Access to the VIP Resorts Club Lounge • Airfare on us Visit us at the new redlion.com for other unique packages and promotions at more of our hotels. redlion.com 800-Red Lion @redlionhotels facebook.com/redlionhotels * Roll the dice with the Viva Las Villa Sweepstakes, sponsored by Red Lion Hotels Corporation. No purchase or payment of any kind necessary to enter or win. Anyone may enter one time per day by booking a stay at www.redlion.com, using the form online or mailing in an entry. No more than one (1) prize (“Prize”) will be awarded per person. Open to legal residents of the 48 Contiguous United States, District of Columbia, and Canada 18 years and older, excluding residents of New York, Rhode Island Florida and the Canadian Province of Quebec. Sweepstakes ends 9/30/13 at 11:59p.m. PST. Void where prohibited. For official rules and to enter, visit www.redion.com/viva. 7164/0413 http://www.redlion.com/viva http://www.redlion.com http://www.redlion.com http://www.redlion.com http://www.facebook.com/redlionhotels http://www.redlion.com http://www.redion.com/viva

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spirit Magazine - September 2013

Contents
Gary's Greeting
Gary's Greeting en Español
Star of the Month
Freedom Story
From the Editor
Your Words
Your Pictures
Media Center
Eat Drink Sleep
The Numbers
Business
Chomp, Chomp
"Are You Famous Amos?"
Health
Calendar
Fun!
Spotlight
Community Outreach
Products and Services
Flight Service
Terminal Maps
Information
Rapid Rewards Partners
Route Map
The "If" List

Spirit Magazine - September 2013