9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Howard Hughes as Seen by His Security Guard, October 9, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: I caught flies for Howard Hughes (Hardcover)
This is the account of Ron Kistler, who was Howard Hughes's security guard/valet/confidante for a number of years. This book does not discuss any of Hughes's business dealings, only his strange lifestyle. There are dozens of hilarious incidents that the author relates.
Hughes was already several years into his self-imposed isolation when his organization hired Kistler. Kistler's first assignment was a harbinger of weirdnesses to come: he had to drive to an airport and watch over an airplane that hadn't moved in ten years. The guard he was to relieve wasn't there to brief him, and as it turned out usually didn't bother to show up anyway. The aircraft itself was corroding, the engines had long since lost their oil, the interior curtains had rotted, and the tires had rotted and had collapsed. The aircraft was simply unflyable and unairworthy. Nevertheless, Hughes insisted on round-the clock security for it, on the grounds that he might need it one day to enable a quick getaway, and in the meantime had to be sure it hadn't been sabotaged.
Hughes was eccentric to say the least. On one Easter Sunday, according to Kistler, Hughes really did call him to have him come into Hughes's room and chase a fly that Hughes believed was there. Another time, they had to order 400 gallons of banana-nut ice cream from Baskin-Robbins, because that was the kind Hughes liked and it was out of production: Baskin-Robbins refused to make up a new batch any in any amount less than 400 gallons. Well, this was the Hughes organization; you did whatever it took. They ordered the ice cream. Then, a couple of weeks later, Hughes said, "That's great ice cream. But it's time for a change. From now on, I want Neapolitan."
Hughes's eccentricities and incessant demands on Kistler's time eventually drove Kistler to quit. But Hughes's method of firing him was typical: he said, "Fire him. But keep him on the payroll." That way, he wouldn't be able to talk about Hughes.
Kistler also relates touching tales that depict Hughes's shrewdness and an underlying humanity. For the fly-catching incident, Kistler had brought a frozen fly from home in order to pretend he had "captured" it so as to placate Hughes. Hughes chuckled and looked at the fly. Then he said, "That's a nice fly. But next time, let's make it a REAL one, OK?" Another time, Hughes was at Lockheed in Atlanta. He took one of their planes up to do some touch-and-go practice landings in it. A man on the ground was watching the show and then said, "That must be Howard Hughes up there. No one else can handle a plane so beautifully." The man turned out to be Lockheed's chief test pilot. Hughes of course had once been a world-class pioneer aviator in the 30s.
This book is enjoyable light reading. No monumental issues are discussed. It's good reading for someone, say, who needs something to do while on a long flight. Hughes would probably approve of that use.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I caught flies for howard hughes, August 12, 2000
This review is from: I caught flies for Howard Hughes (Hardcover)
I thought Ron Kistler's humorous insight of a man that hardly anyone really knew was one of the funniest books I've ever read. The bizarre details that Kistler was assigned to makes Hughes even more of a kook than anyone ever imagined.I had the book years ago and somehow misplaced or lost it and really would like to find another copy, even used would be good.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious, I couldn't put it down, March 16, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: I caught flies for Howard Hughes (Hardcover)
I met Ronnie's wife Virgie Kistler last year when she came to work for our company in Carpinteria California. Being interested in Howard Hughes, I asked her if I could borrow her only copy of the book. I was suprised to find that even though the book centered around Hughes's life, it was really more about Ronnie's own life and how humorous the relationship between an ordinary man and billionaire could be. Definately read the book before the movie comes out! Yes, the movie! And I am sure that even though Ronnie is gone, the movie will accurately portray this great book because his wife Virgie has been contracted to be a consultant to the film and the rerelease of the book.
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