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Dan Aykroyd hawks vodka and a signature for $49.95

5:16 PM Wed, Feb 25, 2009 |
Bryan Rourke    Email

Dan Aykroyd played the part of a salesman today in Attleboro. And lots of people were buying, about 300 of them, many of whom stood in line for hours to purchase what he was selling: Vodka.

The 56-year-old comedic performer, best known for his roles as an original cast member in the TV show Saturday Night Live and the movies The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters, made a promotional appearance in the Yankee Spirits liquor store to pitch a new product, a Crystal Head Vodka, made by a company he part owns.

Buy a bottle, for $49.95, get an autograph.

"I'm here to meet a legend of comedy," said Melody Bradford of Pawtucket.

Bradford was first in line, arriving at 10:30 a.m. for Aykroyd's scheduled 3 p.m. appearance. But Aykroyd was running late because of larger-than-expected crowds at a promotional appearance in Boston.

At 3:45 p.m., Aykroyd, wearing all black, strode into the warehouse store. "Santa Claus has arrived," Aykroyd announced. "Its Christmas in March."


Perhaps it just seemed like March, at least for Bradford who waited all day to see Aykroyd and bought a bottle of his vodka for him to sign, though she doesn't drink it.
"I'm not going to open it. It will be a collector's item."

Meanwhile at the end of the line, a few hundred feet away, was Jennifer Berg of Pawtucket clutching DVDs for Aykroyd to sign. And someone broke the news: an Aykroyd signature costs a bottle of vodka.

"Fifty dollars is a lot of money for something I don't drink. I'll have to think about that."
Darren Cartier doesn't drink alcohol. He was second in line, and bought a bottle.
"I'd spend $100 to meet Dan Aykroyd."

With production-like efficiency, the line moved from Aykroyd's right, who signed with his left, smiled for the camera and welcomed the next customer. But at the end, he did not
meet Berg, who left the line and the store.

"I think I'll settle for a picture in the newspaper. Times are tough."

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 Tags  Attleboro Crystal Head Vodka Dan Aykroyd Massachusetts


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