Lisle Francis Xavier Hebert Jr., aka Joe Hollywood, left a big hole in Juneau’s heart with his passing this week. His creative film work, endless good humor, deep sense of social justice and unwavering commitment to his family and the community he loved, touched us all.
As the less talented half of the now-defunct tap dancing duo Hebert and Nelson, I rode Lisle’s coattails all the way to the top. Specifically, to the top of a flat-roofed garage in a downtown Juneau neighborhood back in the late 1970s, where Lisle thought it would be a good idea to perform our tap routine as a surprise for some newly married friends during their outdoor wedding reception. Our rhythm was perfect but our timing was off. We began our syncopated dancing just as the bride and groom were cutting the cake, which turned out to be more annoying than entertaining for the guests. Sadly, it was our last gig, but we went out on top. Literally, on a rooftop.
Lisle lived on his own terms, right up to the last days. During the final weeks of his life, he busied himself editing films, going to the Augustus Brown swimming pool, and writing scathing letters to the editor. His grace and dignity in dealing with the debilitating effects of ALS were nothing short of inspirational.
Lisle Hebert will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him, especially his leading lady Claire, co-stars Gabriella, Lucy and Paris, and all his gossipy buddies at the pool sauna.
So old pal, as they say in the movie business: The End. I look forward to the sequel.
• Steve Nelson
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A light dims
When I think of Lisle Hebert, our founder and friend who left us all too soon, I think of pictures. Not film titles, necessarily, but images from them. Charlton Heston being confronted by Michael Moore; Gene Hackman racing go-carts in The Royal Tennenbaums; penguins marching; Peter Dinklage walking a long lonely railroad track. These and so many thousands more, my companions in the dark, bringing comfort, solace, sometimes anger, annoyance, and in the best of times, all of the above.
Along with having a full-time job, raising a family and producing his own films, Lisle provided for his community a place to escape, to be a part of the world beyond our hills and inlets, and gave so much more than he ever received. For over a decade he operated the Gold Town Nickelodeon, usually to the deficit of his wallet, but always to an inestimable profit to Juneau. Nearly every week of the year he would receive a new 35 mm film, splice it together, play it for the weekend, break it back down to the four or five reels on which it had arrived, and ship it back out again. He did this out of a pure, unadulterated passion for independent film, and an equally strong desire to share it with his friends and neighbors.
Without him there would most certainly be no Gold Town today, and it is our strongest wish that we keep his dream alive for as long and as well as we possibly can. In the near future, we will be hosting an event in Lisle’s honor, and we will share those details as they come to fruition. For now, our prayers and thoughts are with Claire and the entire family. And to Lisle, I owe my eternal thanks for allowing me the chance to carry on as noble a tradition as i can imagine … conducting the dance between light and shadow in this secular church. Thank you for all those beautiful, fleeting pictures.
• Collette Costa, co-owner and manager of the Gold Town Nickelodeon.
