Saturday, October 21, 2006
A Modern Day "Good Night and Good Luck" Playing on You Tube

Paul Icolari
"The Rocky Psychic"
Rest In Peace My Friend
Anthony and I had dinner this Tuesday at the Frontier diner on East 39th and Lexington, where he showed me page-by-page the current issue of Forest Hills Celebrity & Entertainment magazine. This was the latest in a number of publications Anthony created. While sitting in a booth and sipping coffee, Anthony said he was most proud of this magazine.
I first met Anthony P. Montesano (known by most friends as "Monty") at United Entertainment Media. We worked together there for four years. At the company, Anthony was director of the custom publishing division. He created a number of magazines including the unique Park City Digital Report, TriBeCa Digital Report, and Telluride Digital Report. Anthony always managed to incorporate his love of movies into his work projects. During this time, Anthony and I were regulars at Bella Napoli, a fantastic italian restaurant & pizzeria on Madison and 31st. We usually stayed there for hours talking about everything from movies and music to politics, religion and spirituality. Anything and everything was up for discussion, and debate. Anthony was well-educated, knowledgable, and had a tremendous sense of humor. We could make each other laugh for hours, which I will truly miss.
I went for the first time to "the Feast" in Little Italy last year with Anthony. I also recorded my first podcast with Anthony. The topic, of course, was movies. I had the honor of being at his daughter's first communion party at his Mom's house in Queens. We also watched the Oscar's there, in February. Even last week we saw Scorsese's latest film 'The Departed' at Kips Bay.
Anthony and I talked a lot about movies, publishing, the old times working together at UEM, family, and life in general. He has been there for me- since the old days and recently when my father got sick. It is a very sad week here for all of us. He was a good friend.
Anthony's knowledge of film and the film world was unsurpassed by anyone I've ever known personally and as a result I always took a huge measure of satisfaction when I would beat him year-in and year-out on the oscar pools during annual parties at his home on Oscar night. My wins, of course were not much more than dumb luck (I never had a scintilla of the film knowledge he had), but I would rib him endlessly anyway.
I will sorely miss him.
Paul
I have his book and the first issue of Visions Magazine. I remember the article he wrote for the Tablet about being a godfather.
He wrote with great passion and love for life. He was a wonderful person and I am glad he touched my life. I will miss him.
Rest in peace Anthony.
Anthony P. Montesano
Entertainment journalist
By VARIETY STAFF
Entertainment journalist Anthony P. Montesano died in New York of a heart attack on Oct. 25. He was 40.
A graduate of NYU, he started his publishing career at American Film magazine, eventually editing the publication for several years.
While at CMP Media in Manhattan, he developed and published the entertainment industry publications Visions, Sony Network, Sony SoundByte, CineGear Expo News, Park City Digital Report (for the Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals), the Tribeca Film Festival Digital Report (published with The Village Voice), and Telluride Film Festival Digital Report.
His articles on film, music, television and entertainment technology appeared in publications including American Film, Millimeter, Variety's On Production, Cinefantastique, Imagi-Movies, Femme Fatale, Producer, Markee, Video Systems, Post, and the New York Daily News.
He is survived by two children and his mother.
His sudden and unexpected death reminds me of a film that I would have loved to discuss with him. It's New York Doll, about Arthur Kane, the bass player in the early punk band, and how he hit bottom and only recently started rebuilding his life. He had ound happiness in the Mormon church. In summer 2004 he was granted his wish to play with his old band again. After returning from London (with a New York gig scheduled in a few weeks), Arthur went back to work at the library. He felt ill and was taken to the hospital, where he was discovered to have an advanced case of leukemia. He died hours later. But Arthur, like Monty, achieved something before he left us. He also set an example to me of how to be a good dad. I'm proud to have known him.
Larry Jaffee
I would like to know if the Forest Hills Celebrity & Entertainment Magazine will be available. I'd like to read it.
Rosemarie
We need a Luco Brazzi to do the job...a reference Anthony would appreciate...
Anyone reading this probably cared very deeply for Anthony and misses him enough to look at this site. But, just as you wish to keep your very identity private, I'm sure Anthony would have wanted details (very possibly over-simplified details at that) kept private. You never saw him post anything about his children or the relationship with his ex on a site for all to read. Ever. I have spoken to his mother and these comments do not at all reflect her feelings or attitudes and she extremely distraught that anyone would see fit to not only broadcast private things but to characterize them in a way that presumes to reflect what she's feeling and thinking. I promise you she realizes the situation is complicated and she wants to work it out in a way that hurts nobody. And I think that's about all anybody needs to post on a web site about something that directly affects none of us.
Your friend always,
Joe
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