Coffeeshop brings back pleasant memories

Step through the door of Wild Bill's Coffeeshop and you're surrounded by
memories of the spirit of Bill Sackter. As you come in, look up and to the right at the big black and white picture. There's Bill in the middle with the cowboy hat. To his left is Mickey Rooney, who played Bill in the two movies, "Bill" and "Bill On His Own." This photo was taken during the filming of "Bill On His Own." At the bottom right in the photo is Barry Morrow, Bill's friend and the screenwriter. On the far left is a young Helen Hunt, who plays a social work student in the movie. One recent visitor was delighted to discover Rooney played Bill. He was a great fan of the actor, but did not know of this film role.

High on the wall in a back corner is a framed poster which reads "God Bless You, Bill." It is covered with signatures -- social work students and staff and other friends of Bill. The poster was created shortly after Bill's death in 1983. The signatures are fading, but on one recent day two visitors were still able to find their names.

On an interior door is a poster reading "War is not healthy for children and other living things." That was the slogan created by Another Mother for Peace, a group founded in 1967 to oppose US military involvement in Vietnam. There were 15 founders, including Iowa native Donna Reed, best-known for the TV show of her name, and Barbara Hammer Avedon, creator of the Cagney and Lacey TV show. One recent visitor warmly recalled receiving a medallion with the "War is not healthy..." slogan from her college boyfriend in the late '60s.

As you leave the coffeeshop, glance at the "Rainman" poster on the left inthe doorway. Barry Morrow also wrote the screenplay for this movie. His
inspiration for the autistic savant in the movie was a young man he met at a conference a number of years ago. Barry had been invited to the conference to talk about Bill. Barry says this chance encounter with the young man is another example of why "I owe all my success to Bill."