"A/K/A Tommy Chong" A Documentary by Josh Gilbert

In 2003, as the George Bush Administration was invading Iraq, an even more sinister scenario was taking place, largely unnoticed, here at home.

Thomas B. Kin Chong, aka Tommy Chong, half of the legendary comedy duo Cheech and Chong, was arrested and charged with selling "bongs" through the mail. On September 12th, 2003 Mr. Chong was sentenced to 9 months in Federal Prison and forfeited over $103,000 in cash and all of the merchandise that had been taken during the February 24th, 2003 raid.

The United States government had targeted him with an operation named "Pipe Dreams" which was aimed at Mr. Chongs mail order business Nice Dreams. US Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan prosecuted the case against the actor-director-comedian. Part of her argument against Mr. Chong was based on his "career of glamorizing pot smoking." When asked if Community Service would be an option for sentencing, Mr. Chong, who had no prior convictions, and his defense team were met with a perfunctory "No." The same answer applied to detention at a halfway house. Dangerous criminals such as Mr. Chong clearly need to be incarcerated.

Josh Gilbert, an associate of Mr. Chong, has made a documentary about the arrest,trial and sentencing in this case. It is about 80 minutes long and features many luminary personalities such as Lou Adler, Jay Leno, Bill Maher and Cheech Marin.

The movie is not shown in too many theaters. If you are wondering why, then you do not know, as I did not, that as late as May 13th, 2008 in Newport, Kentucky the FBI was raiding a warehouse and confiscating 10,000 copies of the completed film "A/K/A Tommy Chong." The movie that the Government didn't want you to see has become the movie that the government doesn't want you to buy. I have just watched the trailer and I have to agree with Roger Ebert who said of the film, "You don't have to approve of drug use to be offended."

Tommy Chong was placed under a Federal "gag" order to keep silent about the arrest. Too many complicated First Amendment and Ninth Amendment issues to deal with. Too much light on this subject might expose the "man behind the curtain." At a time when we are supposedly fighting for freedom in 2 wars, do we really want too much examination of our own policies here at home?

John Ashcroft and Mary Beth Buchanan spent over $12 million of YOUR tax dollars to keep you from seeing this film. For a look at this film and more information about it go to the following link;

http://akatommychong.com/

The site will introduce you to the facts of the case and filmmaker Josh Gilbert. You can also order a copy for your private viewing. I wish to thank Mr. Gilbert for his "heads up" on this film. It is important to remember that this country was founded on certain principles. Artistic and political freedom are paramount to our continued existance as a free society. At a time when we are battling the enemies outside of our borders, we should not have to be concerned with fighting "the enemies within."

"Cheech and Chong-The Unauthorized Autobiography" by Tommy Chong

I never thought I would even read this book. It has stared at me from the shelves of several libraries for almost 2 years now and I have kept on passing it over. Couldn't be good. Couldn't be worth reading. Boy, was I wrong!

This is one of the most well written and entertaining autobiographies that I have read in quite awhile. If you are expecting, as I did, a rehashing of old Cheech and Chong bits, with not too much substance in between, forget this book. It's not for you.

But if you are looking for a true life story that spans the 1950's through the 1980's and takes you from Calgary, Vancouver to Detroit and the Second City Comedy days and then on to the rest of the world- this is your book.

Whatever preconceived notions you might have about Cheech and Chong need to be checked at the door before you begin to read. This is the story of Tommy Chong, a Chinese-Canadian-Black Man who plays jazz guitar. Turned on by a Chinese jazz musician to marijuana he begins a musical journey that leads him to the world wide fame he imagined while growing up.

Along the way he performs and tours with the Supremes, T. Bone Walker (the Blind Man Chittlin' skit comes from a memorable night when Mr. Chong shared a bill with him), The Temptations and Berry Gordy himself. He even mentors Joe Jackson when The Jackson Five receive their first contract from Motown. Along the way he jams in London with Jimi Hendrix on bass. This guy has really been around.

In 1967 he was a member of Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers. They recorded for Gordy Records, a subsidiary of Motown. They had several minor hits, among them "Malinda" and "Does Your Mama Know About Me?" The latter was written by Tommy Chong.

By 1969 when he met Richard Cheech Marin, Tommy was on his third marraige. Rae Dawn Chong is his oldest daughter. Although some of the stories here do end up as the basis for the comedy duos sketches, the book is more a history of the changes taking place in show business during the early 1960's. Mr. Chong does an incredible job of relating the Canadian club scene of the era and how it came to cross with the American entertainment of the time.

Influenced by comedians such as Lenny Bruce and especially Redd Foxx, he begins to veer away from music and is drawn toward the comedy of Second City in Detroit and the comedy clubs of Los Angeles.

Tommy Chong was a Canadian trying to get into the United States and obtain a "Green Card" at the same time Richard Marin was trying to get into Canada to avoid the draft. Through a series of misadventures they meet in Canada in 1969. Mr. Chong is by this time an accomplished musician and an Improvisational Comedian. He is looking for someone to play off of when he meets Cheech.

After a few false starts things really take off for them. A meeting with Lou Adler at A&M Records lands them $1,000 apiece and a tape recorder to make demos with. Before the day was over they had recorded the first sketch of the album that would make them famous. By the next morning Lou Adler had the "Dave's Not Here" bit sent to every major radio station in the country. The phones were ringing off the hook with requests to play it again and again. "Big Bamboo" had arrived.

There is also a little mystery being played out in this book. In the beginning Mr. Chong recounts sitting in an airport with his wife Shelby when Cheech passes by. Mr. Chong makes no effort to greet him, wondering instead why he does not "have the urge to reach up and grab him, as I would have a few years before..... why did I just watch as he passed by? ...What caused the rift that has seperated us for more than 20 years?"

I'm no spoiler so you will have to read the book to find out the answer. As for me,this was such a good read that I'm going out to get a copy of Mr. Chongs first book, "The I Chong."