This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Arts & Entertainment

Writer Returns to His Cranston Roots

Ken Dooley, who grew a block from the Park Theater, has a play currently running at the theater and another debuting on April 1.

For Ken Dooley, writing “The Murder Trial of John Gordon,” which is playing at the Park Theater through Feb. 27, was a very meaningful project. A former theater critic and the author of 38 books, Dooley was raised in an Irish Catholic household, a block from the theater.

Now residing in Newport, after living in New York City, Connecticut and Florida, Dooley discussed his Cranston roots, the John Gordon play and his upcoming projects with the Cranston Patch. One thing Dooley wouldn’t reveal was his age.

“When Billy Burke, the good witch in the Wizard of Oz, was asked her age, she replied, ‘age doesn't matter unless you're a cheese,’" said Dooley. The talented writer did admit, however, that he “won't see 70 again.”

Find out what's happening in Cranstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Cranston Patch: What was it like growing up so close to the Park Theater?

Ken Dooley: I l lived at 15 Haywood Street, approximately one block from the theater.  I had five brothers and two sisters. My brothers and I used to go to the theater every Friday and Sunday (when the movie changed). Price for weekdays was 10 cents, but it went up to 17 cents on Sundays.

Find out what's happening in Cranstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

CP: What are some of your fondest childhood memories of growing up in Cranston?

KD: It was a wonderful, friendly community. We certainly weren’t poor (the entire community), but we were far from rich. I made friends at age 10 who are still with me today. Some of them have come to see the play. I went to Eden Park Elementary School and wrote and directed my first play in grade four.

CP: Where did you go to high school and did you participate in extra-curricular activities?

KD: I went to LaSalle Academy. I wasn’t much of an athlete and there really wasn’t a theater program then. I did some writing for Maroon & White, the school newspaper.

CP: When and why did you leave Cranston?

KD: I left Cranston in 1950 with the idea of attending the University of Notre Dame. I got a job and for the first time in my life had some money. I bought a car and decided to postpone my enrollment at Notre Dame for a year. Meanwhile, I got drafted, but was allowed to join the U.S. Air Force. I wasn’t much of a hero, fighting the entire Korean War in Europe as a reporter for the Air Force Times. After I got out of the service, I returned to Providence College as an English major, a decision I never regretted.

CP: What prompted you to research and write "The Murder Trial of John Gordon"?  How much did you know about the story before you started your research?

KD: As a young boy, I used to listen to my mother sing a little Irish ditty about “Poor Johnny Gordon.” I can remember asking my mother about the song and she gave me some of the information. My uncle, Leo Kenneally, and my sister Eileen were always after me to write a book about John Gordon. I have written a lot of books and they both felt I should look into this miscarriage of justice.  Pat Conley, the noted historian, gave me a lot of information and pointed me in the right direction to do my research. When I read trial excerpts and stories taken from the Providence Journal, I became very angry. It was time to right a tremendous black mark on Rhode Island history.

CP: What role did your own Irish heritage play in your interest in the story?  Did you ever experience any anti-Irish discrimination?

KD: All of my grandparents were from Ireland, so I’m sure that had something to do with my motivation. I only experienced one small bit of Irish discrimination. In ninth grade a young lady turned down my invitation to a school dance because her father didn’t like Irish Catholics.

CP: How has the play been received?  What are some of the comments you’ve heard from people?

KD: Overall, the reviews, including the Cranston Patch’s, have been quite favorable. The comments from people who have seen the play have been positive and flattering.

CP: Rep. Peter Martin plans to introduce legislation that would exonerate Gordon.  What do you think the chances are that such legislation would pass?  What would it mean to the Irish community?

KD: Peter has done a wonderful job, and I’m quite optimistic that the governor will react favorably to our resolution. Regardless of what happens with the legislature, we have found the unmarked grave of John Gordon and plan to erect a headstone with the simple phrase “Forgiveness is the ultimate revenge.”

CP: When will your next play, “The Auerbach Dynasty,” debut at the Park Theater?  How much of it will be based on your book, “Management by Auerbach”?  How did you know Red Auerbach? 

KD: The Auerbach Dynasty will open at the Park theater on April 1 and run for 15 performances. Very little of the play is based on “Management by Auerbach,” which had a totally different objective. I first met Red in 1985 when I directed him in a motivation screenplay that I had also written. It began a 21-year-old friendship that serves as the basis for the play.

CP: How much have you worked with the NBA, the Celtics and the Auerbach family on the story?  Will the NBA or the Celtics help fund the play?

KD: I worked very closely with Red’s daughters, Nancy Collins and Randy Auerbach. They have been extremely supportive and provided many of the photographs that will be used in the play. Steve Lipofsky, the photographer for the Celtics during Red’s time, is also working with me. While we have the blessing of the NBA and the Celtics, all of the funding for the play comes from Pi Patel and Paul Plourde, owners of the Park Theatre.

CP: Besides The Auerbach Dynasty,” what other projects are you working on?

KD: I’m writing a book called “From White to Black,” the story of the black pioneers in the NBA. It’s based on interviews with people like K.C. and Sam Jones, Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Tom Heinsohn, Satch Sanders and all of the living black players in the time frame starting in 1950 (Red drafted the first black, Chuch Cooper in 1950) and ending in 1960. It includes an interview with Earl Lloyd, the first black to play in the NBA. He started one day before Chuck Cooper because of the schedule.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?