In loving memory of Walter Matthau (October 1, 1920 — July 1, 2000).

“Hey, who do you have to know to get a drink around here?” I will always remember him for that line in the 1974 film Earthquake too.

Walter also had a penchant for telling tall tales. According to his son Charlie in the book Matthau: A Life, Walter found the joy of embellishment lifted a story (and the listener) to such enjoyable heights, that he couldn’t resist trying to pass off the most bogus of information, just to see who was gullible enough to believe it.