Thanks to State Rep. Ken Dunkin, Eric Monte, co-creator of “Good Times” and writer of “Cooley High,” has returned to Chicago after living a riches-to-rags story in Hollywood that’d make a good movie in itself.
Nearly 40 years ago, Monte left Cabrini-Green and hitchhiked to L.A. to become one of a few young African American writers in the early ?70s.
Although he was among those who sparked an explosion in black culture, Monte fell into a downward spiral. After years of bad investments, bad health, bad drugs and savings drained by an attempt to sell a self-published book, Monte last year landed in a Salvation Army shelter in L.A.
When Dunkin, who also grew up in Cabrini-Green, learned about Monte’s plight he coordinated a small fund-raising effort to raise money to bring him home.
“We want him here in Chicago,” said Dunkin. “This man should not be going out like this. I grew up on ?Good Times.’ That’s me. I grew up in the ?70s watching that show. Our family gathering and bonding moments revolved around that show. That was our building.”
With Dunkin’s help, Monte paid for the last three months at the shelter in Bell and bought a plane ticket to Chicago, where he was to be greeted with a welcome home reception last week at the Little Black Pearl and given a chance to get back on his feet.
“I’m excited about the possibilities,” said Monte, 62. “I want to see my old neighborhood, my old street. I want to start rejuvenating my life.” He told a TV reporter that he had written a movie and was looking for investors.
