Goin' 'A*P*E' in Los Angeles!

Reuben Leder in his office. Photo by Brett Homenick.

When I arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 1, my first order of business was to visit writer-director Reuben Leder. Reuben has enjoyed an amazing career in Hollywood, working with some of the biggest stars in some of the biggest movies and TV shows imaginable. I interviewed Reuben in 2020 about his work on the King Kong parody A*P*E (1976), but this was my first time to meet Reuben in person. 

We met at Reuben's home and spent a few hours talking about just about everything there was to talk about. At one point, I mentioned my interest in pro wrestling, to which Reuben responded that he worked with Roddy Piper and Jesse Ventura on an old TV pilot. Of course, I knew the project as Tag Team, so it was fun to hear a little bit about what went on behind the scenes. 

Reuben was not just generous with his time but also in giving directions to my next destination. Suffice it to say, he went above and beyond the call of duty on my behalf. Best of all, he gave me an autographed copy of his satirical novel You Might Feel a Little Prick, which I would highly encourage you to check out. 

I had a blast meeting Reuben and his wife, who couldn't have been better hosts. I certainly hope to have the opportunity to visit them again in the near future.