Everyone in Grand Rapids has a Blackie Dammit story. Here is mine:

I was in highschool when I was a chorus member in Annie Get Your Gun at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. Blackie's area of the men's dressing room was decorated with all sorts of pictures showing Blackie with big name Hollywood stars. It also was roped off with Police Line ("Do not cross")! Blackie called my home one night because Lethal Weapon was on, and he wanted to make sure I didn't miss it. Blackie also gave autographed 8x10 pictures of himself for the cast party's "white elephant" gifts.