The Joe Spinell Story2001

William James Kennedy:
I was aware of Joe's drinking problem which got worse year after year. I used to own this summer house in the Poccono mountains of Pennsylvania. During the summers of 1983 and 1984 when Joe wasn't working, I would invite him with some of my friends where for fishing, nature trail hiking, etc. The deal was that he could come... if he wouldn't drink and brought no booze. So, every time Joe would arrive at the cabin I would go through his bag and check his pockets and find a bottle now and then. But he would always find a way around that. For example, he would sneak out and go to one of my neighbors houses down the road, sneak in or just invite himself in asking to borrow some firewood or food, and when they weren't around he would go to their liquor cabinet and quickly pour himself a shot, down it, and leave.