EXCLUSIVE The Friars Club, struggling to stay afloat, has finally wised up and “retired” embattled CEO Michael Gyure. His ousting wasn’t because he was found guilty of tax evasion last year, or countless other things he’s done to destroy the club. No, it seems that the pandemic did him in.
Gyure, according to a memo to Club members, “has decided it would be beneficial for him to leave the club in retirement at this time. It is with enormous gratitude for his long service to our club that we accept Michael’s decision.”
The Friars Club has been closed for months after a suspicious flood closed the place. According to sources, the insurance money has come in but no vendors have been paid– and this was just before the city shut down all non essential businesses.
The Friars “furloughed” Banquet Manager Giuseppie Tarillo, Director of Entertainment Bob Spiotto, and Chef Daniel Misiti. They say they expect to bring them back one day.
The letter to members comes from “Prior” Marvin Scott, a long time local New York newsman for Channel 11. The Friars have titles like “Prior,” “Abbott,” “Scribe.” Ralph Kramden would have loved it.
Scott writes: “We want to assure our members that the Friars Club is still here, and we are going to be back, along with all our beloved New York institutions, as soon as we can. ”
He adds: “With heavy heart, The Board of Governors has found it necessary to furlough a few of our dedicated staff members while our club is closed, and with the expectation and hope that we will be able to bring them back when we can. These furloughs follow the previous notice to our longtime union employees.”
This may be the first step in that direction, although a total cleaning of house will be needed before the Club re-opens and real members of the show business world come back to it. They still haven’t jettisoned Bruce Charet, the man who caused them to settle a sexual harassment suit for close to $1 million. Charet is still considered the group’s celebrity wrangler. He’s living in a sketchy hotel in Los Angeles where he threw a “roast” last year for “dean” Larry King.
King, by the way, is still alive. He has a quote in the members’ memo thanking Gyure for his service. But the next thing I’m sure we’ll hear about is the severance package Gyure received, and how much he was paid not to discuss the Friars’ last five or six years of chaos.
