Interviews/Phoners & Photo-Ops 12/17 & 12/18: Frank Vincent (Sopranos) & Mobster & Jewel Thief, Thiel Shaw

News provided by

Dec 16, 2010, 07:00 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Frank Vincent (Sopranos) and former mobster Thiel Shaw, are in New York this week to complete production of GENIUS ON HOLD, a powerful New York-based crime documentary about Walter Shaw (1917-1996), the visionary inventor of speakerphones, conference calling, call forwarding, touch tone dialing, and voice print recognition. Shaw's unfortunate circumstances compelled him to invent for organized crime. Vincent is narrating the film.

Vincent and Shaw are available for phoners & photo ops Friday & Saturday, 12/17 & 12/18.

PREMIERE: Saturday, January 8, at a lavish, Hollywood-style red carpet event at historic Cinema Paradiso, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Actors confirmed to attend, like Linda & Brooke Hogan (ex-wife and daughter of Hulk Hogan), Academy-award nominee Lorraine Bracco (Married to the Mob), Vincent Pastore (Goodfellas, Sopranos, Carlito's Way), Kathy Narducci (Sopranos), Frank Vincent (Goodfellas, Casino), Mike Starr (Goodfellas, Wise Guy -TV series), Cathy Moriarty (Analyze That, Raging Bull, Wiseguy TV series), Miguel Ferrer (Lie to Me, Kings), William Forsythe (Raging Bull 2).

Thiel is considered the "greatest jewel thief in the world." Before he was arrested, his career total for 2000 heists was $70 million from the ultra-rich and famous; from Liberace to DuPont. Now retired from organized crime. GENIUS ON HOLD is his longtime endeavor to raise awareness about his father's inventions that have enabled everything from computers to cell phones.

GENIUS ON HOLD is a riveting account of a father and son during a chapter in history when New York's organized crime syndicate was expanding and the telecom industry was ruled by the monopoly of AT&T that squashed any telecom innovation it couldn't own.

In the 1960s, AT&T was the largest corporation in the world. Shaw was powerless against the corporate giant. In order to maintain his integrity, protect his patents, continue to invent, and feed his family. His inventions for the mob, like call forwarding and the infamous "Black Box," enabled them to avoid detection by law enforcement and create impenetrable nationwide illegal gambling operations.

Once Thiel was attracted to the lifestyle of 'made' men. He was trained by the best for his long and successful career. Walter Shaw never saw his inventions utilized by the public. He died anonymous and penniless.