Ode to Sid Soffer…..what character really means!

The passing of Sid Soffer hardly matched the totality of the
man and his legacy. The “Sidisms” that have occupied those moments
at Newport Beach City Council Meetings and through the pages of
the Daily Pilot over the years are truly beyond legend.

Having met Sid for the first time back in 1962….at his place down
by the Newport Pier….our first meeting was more than memorable. At
that time The Stag Restaurant/Chinese closed early then, Charlie’s Chilly
wasn’t there that I can remember..so walking into Sid’s Bluebeat at
12:30am with the Flamenco Music Rattling “Soliaris” from the guitar of
his one and only (can’t remember his name)…maybe Armando.. was an
experience. At any rate, you sat down and were handed a wooden board
with the menu items painted on. The chalk board on top of the antique
Bar told of the Daily Specials. Joey Cabell used both forms for his
Chart House restaurants menus. Sid couldn’t care less if he was one
of first or the last to use any idea. His world was designed for
efficiency, low cost and attracting as many intelligent people as he
could find. We have to face it – Sid just hated boring!

I was working at North American Aviation in Seal Beach back in 1966 and
worked 2nd Shift…from 4pm to 12am. When I got offwork I would head
for Sid’s to get late night eats. Sid occasionally would hire a one
night stand entertainer to fill in or supplant Armando…or whoever played
the Flamenco Guitar. It was such a night when one of these one night
wonders was playing. The guy was really good, I was stunned by his talent,
energy and intelligence. I yelled out in the crowd – “Wow man, you are
really good! Where are you from?” He called back out “New York!” “When
are you going to be playing here again?” I asked. “No, no man just
filling in for Armando for a couple of nights. I am going to be on a new
TV series called the Monkey’s!” I thought he was kidding! “Never heard of
it man!” I responded. “Don’t worry…we are going to be big – it’s a take
– off on the Beatles!” he said. “What’s your name?” I said. “Peter Tork”
he replied. Sid was a break through guy in almost every way. He was the
first we ever heard ever….that during Public Comments at NB City Council
called the entire dais …”a bunch of Nazi’s!” Pretty shocking comments
for way back in the 70’s. But that was just the beginning. Sid was Mr.
Gadfly in Newport Beach – thank you very much! In the later years almost
every City Council agenda item was grist for Sid’s candid comments. Sid
was just Sid..and he wasn’t going to “sugar coat”much of anything in
his life. He could suffer the mean spirited behavior of irate politicians, bureaucrats and/or citizen’s with nominal complaint.

When the OC Judge finally flailed him and scourged him for the sin of
parking cars on his own property and sentencing him to jail…Sid left
and went to Las Vegas. After nearly 50 years – Sid finally had to run
away from home – Newport Beach. Those that still hold him in distain….
are no heroes. Sid needed love as only an old curmudgeon could ask
for it. He wanted to make a difference. You did Sid..they are still
talking about you! God bless your soul sir!

A couple of years before Sid left to go to Las Vegas…literally run
out of town without the rail…..we needed to shoot a commercial for a
restaurant down in Laguna Beach. We needed a dark seedy location..with
loads of character. We called Sid and asked him if we could use his new
Bluebeat on Old Newport Road as the location. We even offered to pay him.
Sid politely refused any payment and we spent about2 hours on location
going through the dialog with two very visible Newport Beach mavens ….
which we will not mention by name here. The lines were: “Next time,
let’s go to Sneaky Pete’s!”, “Where? “Sneaky Pete’s in Laguna Beach!”
“Oh, Sneaky Pete’s! The upscale Sneaky Pete’s in Laguna Beach lasted
six months and went out of business but Sid’s Bluebeat endured.
Our commercial never aired….but Sid still gave us cokes and sandwiches!

Sid Soffer was about the most real person that anyone ever met.
He didn’t tolerate fools…..but he was a very generous, caring and
honest human being. Lot’s of people hated him…he even swore at
me a couple of times. But that wasn’t the point. Sid Soffer was
Newport Beach the way we thought it should be – REAL!!!
Sid passed away on January 31st, 2007. The reassuring part of all
of it is – there won’t be another one soon! We love you Sid!!