I like it that the script did not make him a stereotypical "Bull Connor" type of cop but one who knows he has to keep order and is mostly bemused by how silly and smug the people at Alice's restaurant acted. He played himself and did quite well, I think.
shareAgreed. I thought he was adorable.
Arlo states in his own DVD commentary that Officer Obie became a bit of a celebrity and was good-natured about it, even autographing photos of the garbage.
Yeah, he seemed like a nice guy. Fortunately, the movie got his title right. Unfortunately, he is consistently referred to as "sheriff" on this page. Mass. sheriffs do not perform law enforcement or patrol functions, other than maintain the jail, providing court security, serving court papers.
shareNow that I know that, my view of of this film has completely changed.
The real trick to life is not to be in the know, but to be in the mystery. -Fred Alan Wolf
William J. Obanhein (October 19, 1924 – September 11, 1994), sometimes better known as "Officer Obie", was the Chief of Police for the town of Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He was a member of the police force there for 34 years. According to the Stockbridge MA Police Department website:
"Chief William J. Collins became the third Stockbridge Police Officer to die in the line of duty, when he suffered a heart attack while chasing a stolen car on Rte. 183 in Interlaken. William J. Obanhein, a Navy veteran of WWII, who had been a patrolman since 1951, was appointed Chief of Police...
Nineteen sixty-five was the year that changed the lives of Chief Obanhein and the Town of Stockbridge with the arrest of Arlo Guthrie, who would later chronicle the events in his song "Alice's Restaurant". In 1966 there were 7 drug-related arrests reflecting changing social attitudes...
William J. Obanhein retired in 1985 and was replaced by Richard B. Wilcox as Chief of Police."
Trivia: Officer 'Obie' was also the policeman depicted in that famous Norman Rockwell painting with the run-a-way kid.
http://www.morethings.com/pictures/music/runaway-officer_obie.jpg