Lawyer Michael Griffith, involved in a case, once entered Jordan Belfort’s actual Stratton Oakmont and describes this wolf of Wall Street’s workplace in which DiCaprio stars as the “Wolf of Wall Street”:
Rows of tables. Brokers yelling on phones like in the film. Near Belfort’s office, four 3-foot-high files stacked with computer sheets. A staffer called them “the past month’s telephone bills.”
Dining at Flex Mussels, he also remembered two subsequent clients who wanted to work for Belfort. They came to see Griffith. Both had federal raps. They asked could he have those expunged prior to their taking a stockbroker’s license test.
What they then did, I don’t know. What he then did, I know. Threw them out.
Magic Needed
Jack O’Brien, director-in-waiting of B’way’s expected play “Houdini,” which has become as slippery as the Master himself, tells me: “I’ve had to delay it. Today’s a different world. There’s investors, corporations involved. Script’s great. We believe in it.
“But for such a huge expensive musical project, you can’t just sign on for six months. Hugh Jackman, who’s now so hot, doesn’t have two years to give this. Hugh’s got kids, jobs — he can’t do it. I’m now having to regroup and rethink who’s a possibility as a star.”
No clues here
About those beauts on “Mob Wives: New Blood.” Doing Bethenny’s show recently, teary-eyed Alicia Garofalo, on bail awaiting an outcome on embezzlement charges, claims she knew borscht about hubby being a mobster. OK by me, but his story, even before his father got iced, was all over the press. Even I knew.
Listen, should both Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Jackman become available — don’t wait for this to become a musical.
Kelly’s on a hot streak
Kelly Osbourne, 26, is living good. Broke up with her longtime lover after 2 /₂ years. So who’s she with now? Everyone. Her career’s in high gear. She’s getting as hot as daddy Ozzy and mommy Sharon. Kelly for 10 minutes was a vegan chef. She’s not vegan any more. Forgetting even about her love life, she’s now into red meat.
Odds & ends
Tom Brokaw looks great, but friends worry he might maybe be ailing a bit . . . You’ll love Due restaurant on 79-80th and Third. It’s Italian. It’s great. Ask for Ernesto . . . Joshua Johnston, doing “Hamlet” at the Pearl Theater, begins a four-month road schlep 41 years after mommy Patti LuPone first went on tour. She’s thrilled for her kid.
Romantic air
We’re coming up to Valentines. Lovers. Steven Tyler’s first was with a hooker; Dr. Ruth Did It in her teens; Jerry Springer, always known for class, and steady ladyfriend tried out at 17; and beginner Cher’s older dude was nervous to be seen with her because she was sooo young.
NYC story
Speaking of couplehood, Lucinda Franks a k a Mrs. Robert Morgenthau did the new Farrar Strauss Giroux book “Unconventional Marriage.” She says: “It’s an intimate look into the wedding of a 20ish sometime hippy to a staid eminent man of the establishment twice her age. Both were set to become a prominent NYC couple.” To guess who that twosome might be — read the book.
Had a feeling
TRIBECA Film Festival’s Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro’s production partner and Craig Hatkoff’s soon divorcing wife after nearly 20 years, when, sitting together quietly one day on a bench I suggested lunch:
“Listen, I have no time. I have children. I have these two men. Everyone demands their time. Bob De Niro has his needs. My husband has his needs. My kids have their needs. They’re all difficult. I have no time for myself. I have no time even to breathe.” Needless to say we didn’t have lunch.
Oh, the weather outside is frightful . . . etc., etc., . . . Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow . . . But not
Only in New York, kids, not only in New York.