Portraits and Heists at Sardi’s
Being green, or in this case, having a famous green frog as a guest, is perhaps not so easy. Sardi’s, the iconic restaurant in the theatre district, holds about 1,000 famous portraits, and interestingly, the most frequently stolen one is Kermit the Frog.
“Kermit was taken three times, so we had to secure him to the wall,” said Johnny Ferridi, a long-time maître d’ at the century-old eatery, as he shared his experiences before the Tony Awards on Sunday.
Barbra Streisand also faced similar challenges at her favorite location on West 44th Avenue. After her original 1963 portrait went missing, she took an astonishing 55 years to agree to a replacement.
Interestingly, she left a note on her second portrait: “Don’t steal this,” as Feridi recounted, adding a touch of humor to the situation.
Another notable work that mysteriously vanished was a piece of Julie Andrews, though it was eventually recovered at an auction. Feridi also mentioned updating the binder that lists all the portraits and where they can be found within the multi-story restaurant.
Bob Hope’s portrait also faced a similar fate. Feridi remembered an incident when the thieves, who were drinking at the bar, were caught on camera.
When confronted, they tried to deflect, saying, “We don’t want law enforcement involved, just please give us the caricature back.” And they did. Ferridi, originally from the Bronx and now sharing his stories from Parma, Italy, chuckled at the memory.
The original portraits at Sardi have been preserved, with replicas replacing them on display. This decision spurred from an unfortunate event in 1986, when James Cagney’s caricatures were pilfered on the night of his passing.
The tradition of having portraits began when Sardi employed Russian immigrant Alex Gaard to create them in return for meals, aiming to attract customers. Currently, artist Richard Barratz, a sculptor with a background, takes the lead with his work.
This season, Barratz has captured Broadway stars like Nick Jonas, Jake Gyllenhaal, Denzel Washington, and George Clooney.
Andrew Lloyd Webber, a legendary figure with multiple Tony awards under his belt, finally got a caricature done this year after a long wait, illustrating how busy schedules can get in the way.
To make room for new faces, the current owner, Max Klimavicius, chooses portraits to remove, placing them in storage—around 500 of them—while some have even found new homes at the New York Public Library.
Celebrity pairings are thoughtfully arranged too; for instance, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are side by side, while Richar Burton and Liz Taylor are kept apart to avoid disputes.
Similarly, when Tony Danza completed his portrait for “Chicago,” he had one condition. He asked to be placed next to Sammy Davis Jr.
Interestingly, two former employees who gained fame later also have their artwork displayed. Martin Sheen, a former busboy in the 1960s, has a caricature visible in the dining area. On the other hand, Chevy Chase, who worked there as a doorman in the 1970s, still awaits his portrait’s unveiling.
“Every time he visits, he asks, ‘Where’s my caricature?’” Ferridi explained, noting that Chase always promises to sign it after his meal but often forgets.
Sardi’s, located at 234 West 44th Street, has been serving patrons since 1927, accumulating a rich history filled with anecdotes and artistic treasures.
