Spinning Laughter: Profiles of 111 Proposed Comedy Spin-offs and Sequels that Never Became a Series. The Andy Griffith Show begat Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C. The Mary Tyler Moore Show spun-off Rhoda and Phyllis. An episode of All in the Family became Maude and another episode became The Jeffersons. You remember the successful spin-offs, but you may now know about the spin-offs that never were. Why did the characters of Fred and Ethel Mertz from I Love Lucy never star in their own spin-off? What animated spin-off pilot could be considered a forerunner of The Simpsons? Which situation comedy has had the greatest number of attempted spin-offs? Why did the idea of a Krusty the Clown spin-off from The Simpsons never become a series? What could have been the first gay family comedy? What was the live-action Monsignor Martinez pilot from the King of the Hill series all about? Discover rare summaries of treatments, scripts, and pilots along with comments from fifty writers, directors, producers, and actors involved with proposed spin-offs and sequels: actress Elinor Donahue remarks about the Father Knows Best reunion movies; actor Patrick Cassidy talks about his audition for The Nanny spin-off; former actress Sheila James describes why her character, Zelda from The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, never got her own series; Eddie Mekka from Laverne & Shirley comments on the Lenny & Squiggy in the Army spin-off. Richard Irvin is also the author of Forgotten Laughs: An Episode Guide to 150 Sitcoms You Probably Never Saw (Bear Manor Media).
The Sexiest Starship AliveIt's how People Magazine would crown the Enterprise's crew if the pop culture stalwart warped into the 23rd century. Captain Kirk's randy reputation old, intergalactic news? Thankfully, this isn't a 'How to Score' guide penned by J.T.K. It's no tell-all memoir to shock and awe, nor cosmic celebrity sex tape full of space babes. Star Trek Sex deals tastefully in the romantically loaded tales of Gene Roddenberry's landmark TV show. And though William Shatner's Kirk is a front and center player, his crew, Spock, Scotty, Uhura, McCoy, Sulu and Chekov, also get a piece of the action.To explore strange new worlds... To seek out new life...Star Trek Sex covers the iconic classic, then warps beyond to Star Trek: Into Darkness and the hip satire of Saturday Night Live, Family Guy and the legendary Howard Stern. It highlights the sexually charged moments of Roddenberry's 'Wagon Train To The Stars' and focuses on those complex themes which helped establish Star Trek as a global Hollywood franchise.At age 4, Will Stape watched Star Trek before he knew the difference between a phaser and a taser. He's one of a handful of freelance writers to sell to Star Trek: The Next Generation. His episode, 'Homeward', with Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas), premiered in the Emmy Award winning show's last season. A year later, he sold to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and his script, 'Charity', became 'Prophet Motive' with Wallace Shawn star of The Princess Bride.Stape pitched to Star Trek: Voyager, Deep Space Nine and met with writer/producer Michael Piller for Stephen King's The Dead Zone. He's developed TV show docudramas and his articles appear in Sci-Fi Pulse, Airlock Alpha, McCall's Quilter's Home, Hudson Reporter, Bayonne Style, Shine, OMG! and Yahoo! News.He's owned phasers, but never a taser.
A BROADWAY LEGEND OF 1924 Includes more than eighty rare photographs, some published here for the first time. Before they made the films which are their principal legacy, the Marx Brothers were the stars of three Broadway musicals in the 1920s. Two of these, The Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers, are popular classics, familiar from the Brothers' immortal film versions, and from numerous stage revivals. But the boys' 1924 Broadway debut, I'll Say She Is, was never filmed or revived, and it slipped through history's fingers. Although it was the most successful thing the Marx Brothers ever did on stage, it was unseen for ninety years after the original production closed, and has been considered a lost work. In 2009, writer, performer, lyricist, and Groucho Marxist Noah Diamond began a seven-year odyssey which led to the restoration, adaptation, and finally the historic first revival of this legendary entry in the Marx and musical theatre canons. Gimme a Thrill tells the whole story for the first time-the complete history of I'll Say She Is from 1923 to 2014. Noah Diamond adapted the book and lyrics for I'll Say She Is and has a long history of playing Groucho, on and off the stage. He is among the organizers of Marxfest, New York City's Marx Brothers festival, and has written and lectured widely on the Marxes and their work. With his partner Amanda Sisk, he wrote and produced the Nero Fiddled musicals, a series of political satires. His previous books are 400 Years in Manhattan and Love Marches On.
Charlotte Rae's career spans more than seventy years, from the golden age of television to Shakespeare in the Park, the New York Cabaret scene of the late 1940's and 50's to her hit series, The Facts of Life and well beyond. Off stage and screen, Charlotte's life has been one of joy and challenge, raising an autistic son, coming to terms with alcoholism, the heartache of a broken marriage, the revelation of a gay husband and the sudden challenge of facing middle-age with financial and emotional uncertainties--a crisis she ultimately turned into the determination that brought her stardom. The Facts of My Life is the first opportunity for Charlotte fans to explore the fascinating story of her extraordinary life: poignant and hilarious, a story of courage and triumph, one that speaks for a generation of women breaking barriers, taking on challenges, overcoming personal tragedy, and paving the way for others.
Joan Steiger's marriage to Academy Award winning actor Rod Steiger ended on July 9, 2002 when he passed away at a Los Angeles hospital. It wasn't the first time she had lost a man she loved... and it wouldn't be the last. In spite of such trials, Joan has maintained a contagiously upbeat and positive outlook throughout her life. As a star of the stage and screen with countless credits to her name, Joan has worked with nearly every Hollywood icon in the business and counts many of them among her friends. Her fascinating story is filled with some of the highest highs and lowest lows that life can offer. Ultimately, Brooklyn Baby is a fascinating read guaranteed to inspire as well as challenge each of us to follow our dreams.
"This book brings back so many lovely and amusing memories of a sadly missed friend. She was unique and irreplaceable in so many ways. Joel has been thorough in his research, and his love and respect for Karen shine through. Love and thanks for the fun and the magic of her musical soul." -Petula Clark "An insightful look at the life of Karen Carpenter, a singing hero of mine. I had the pleasure of opening for the Carpenters in 1975, but it was more exciting that they recorded several of my songs, particularly 'Solitaire, ' which featured a breathtaking Karen vocal accompanied by Richard's magnificent orchestration. Mr. Samberg's book is a worthy tribute to her everlasting legacy as one of the great vocalists of all time." -Neil Sedaka The popularity of the Carpenters-Karen in particular-has never really waned. In fact, when you consider the online presence, documentaries, tributes and other projects, you might even say that an unofficial Carpenters revival has been brewing for years. Many remember the velvety voice that helped the Carpenters sell 100 million records, but not everyone knows that beyond the gifted singer was also a love-starved romantic, conflicted sister, obedient daughter, unpredictable jester, modest millionaire, optimistic dreamer, wannabe mother, emotional wreck, generous friend, and melancholy clown. How is it that someone whose stardom lasted just a dozen years, and who might have given it all up in a heartbeat, is still so beloved and still fascinates more than three decades after her untimely death?
This book delves into Rayburn's life before the classic show. Rayburn, who was born Eugen Jeljenic in 1917, was a budding actor who got sidetracked at the start of his career and became a disc jockey. With Dee Finch, he co-hosted Anything Goes, the earliest "morning drive time" radio show, and dominated New York airwaves--one interviewee called Rayburn "The Howard Stern of the 1940s." His success as a disc jockey led to a contract with NBC, where, in 1954, Rayburn would become the first announcer/sidekick on The Tonight Show. Rayburn also amassed an impressive resume in theater, including the starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie and La Cage Aux Folles. In addition, The Matchless Gene Rayburn explores Rayburn's life away from the cameras, including his fractious relationships with Match Game panelist Richard Dawson and game show kingpin Mark Goodson, as well as his struggles finding employment after Match Game ended. As a television game show host, Rayburn was famous for his somewhat rebellious approach to the job. He told jokes, used silly voices when he read questions, dragged stagehands in front of the camera, drew the audience's attention to broken pieces of equipment, and encouraged the audience to boo when contestants gave what he called "rotten answers." He could be just as mischievous off the air. He was on the receiving end of numerous memos from NBC executives, scolding him for riding his bicycle in the hallways of the NBC offices. Among the interviewees that author Nedeff spoke to for the book were Match Game panelists Orson Bean & Dick Gautier, Hollywood Squares host Peter Marshall, animal trainer Warren Eckstein (The Mickey Mouse Club), and Rayburn 's daughter Lynne. All paint a portrait of Gene Rayburn as a complicated man torn by the success he enjoyed in television, and the frustration he felt about not getting the roles he truly wanted or the respect he felt he was owed.
"Lewis Vendredi made a deal with the devil to sell cursed antiques, but he broke the pact, and it cost him his soul. His niece Micki, and her cousin Ryan, inherited the store-and with it, the curse. Now they must get everything back-and the real terror begins." So opens Friday the 13th: The Series. In 1987, Paramount Studios found success selling a new Star Trek series into syndication. Eager to cash in on other studio-owned properties, Paramount asked producer Frank Mancuso Jr. to develop a series around Friday the 13th, and the television series was born. It had nothing to do with the popular slasher film franchise, which was both a blessing and curse. It was a largely young, inexperienced cast and crew, and one of the first Hollywood productions to shoot entirely in Canada. In the first-ever examination of the TV series, author Alyse Wax delves into the series episode-by-episode, with more than sixty exclusive interviews with the cast, writers, directors, and producers, as well as nearly fifty never published behind-the-scenes photos from the cast and crew's personal collections. ALYSE WAX has been covering television and the horror industry for over a decade. She was the Associate Editor of the dearly departed FEARnet.com, and currently writes for a number of geeky, freaky places, including ComingSoon.net, Fangoria, ShockTillYouDrop.com, and Blumhouse.com.
MGM British Studios: Hollywood in Borehamwood tells the story behind England's biggest film studio. Based in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, between 1948-1970, it played host to some of the biggest names in Hollywood's history, and over 150 classic movies from the golden age of cinema were produced on its sound stages.From Under Capricorn (1949) directed by Alfred Hitchcock; to Mogambo (1953) Starring Clark Gable, Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly; from Where Eagles Dare (1968) starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood; to 2001 (1968) directed by Stanley Kubrick; this book tells the story of their making, from behind the scenes.Featuring many never before seen photographs, and hundreds of memories from those who worked at MGM British, both in-front of, and behind the camera, this is a nostalgic trip through an important era in British film studio history.Derek Pykett spent many years of his life as a professional actor, working in theatre, television and films, and making his first movie appearance in what is now regarded as a classic, The Princess Bride (1986) directed by Rob Reiner.In 2001 he founded his own theatre company, Theatre Macabre, specialising in horror and fantasy. Shows produced include Dracula, Jack the Ripper and Witchfinder General.More recent years have seen him produce and direct documentaries for DVD, including AMICUS: House of Horrors (Alpha Home Entertainment, USA). Previously published work as an author includes, Michael Ripper Unmasked (Midnight Marquee, USA) and British Horror Film Locations (McFarland, USA). Derek and his partner Ruth live in England, and they have three dogs - Lucy, Willow and Woolly.
Dr. Elinor Barry, a forensic therapist, has been summoned to evaluate the sanity of Dr. Frank Enari, one of two scientists assigned to work on a project involving monkeys at a high-altitude research lab isolated in an Arctic-like wasteland. What they encounter is far more sinister and threatening than anticipated as they begin to suspect someone or something other than their research primates is inhabiting their polar station, driving Enari to an act Elinor must determine: criminality or insanity.
Actor David Hedison may be best-known for playing James Bond's CIA buddy, Felix Leiter, in Live and Let Die (1973) and Licence to Kill (1989), as well as Captain Crane on the television series, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964-1968). Long before those roles, Hedison appeared as a CIA agent of a different sort in the 1959-1960 20th Century Fox Television series, Five Fingers. His role was as Victor Sebastian, a double agent within the then active Communist Party. Through his adventures every week, he was able to thwart their many nefarious plots, all while romancing his lover and muse, chanteuse Simon Genet, in addition to keeping his cover intact as a bon vivant talent agent at Wembley and Sebastian of London, Paris, and New York. Quite a balancing act, yet Victor Sebastian was always able to pull it off. Five Fingers was one of three shows in 1959 that led 20th Century Fox Studios' entry into series television. The other two shows were the successful Adventures in Paradise (1959) and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959-1963). Some viewers believe that had Five Fingers not been programmed on Saturday nights against the Western, Gunsmoke (1955-1975)-the #1 show on television-Five Fingers might have enjoyed that same success. The sixteen episodes chronicled here were syndicated around the world through 1965 and in the United States until the late 1970s. Five Fingers was a truly class act of a series. Discover why the series has lasted for over fifty-five years in the hearts of the show's fans.
What folks say about Donn Trenner... "Donn, my musical director for twenty-one years, always made me feel so safe and secure as a performer. I would stand on stage, he would lift his baton, the music would begin, and I was home. Loving thanks, my dear friend. Everyone will love your book." - Ann-Margret, singer, dancer and award winning actress of movies and television "Donn was my partner in several productions and we played many engagements touring with my show. As a vocalist, I have worked with numerous musical directors over the years and there is no one better than my good friend, Donn Trenner. This book is a must read." - Peter Marshall, singer, actor and host of the popular TV game show, Hollywood Squares "I first met Donn Trenner when he was heading up The Steve Allen Show and their band in the sixties. Throughout the years, I've seen him again and again, now especially in the Connecticut area. He knows more about music than anyone else. He's worked with so many stars from Bob Hope on. I was lucky enough to inherit him for a two week run on Steve Allen's show while Steve was on vacation, and it was a thrill that I will never forget. But the thing about Donn Trenner that is most important - he's also the nicest guy I ever met. He's had a great career, which is still going on, and I know you'll enjoy reading about it in this book." - Regis Philbin, American media personality, singer, actor and talk show host
"HOW IT HAPPENED" The title pretty much says it. The ups. The downs. The good and the bad. The feasting and the famining. And the people. There were always the people. And what incredible people they were. It's hard even now to think that I told Lee J. Cobb, in real life, to stick his cigar "where the sun don't shine." Or to relive the moment of being kissed by one of the most beautiful women in the world. Or singing with a world renowned orchestra in front of 40 million people and bombing. Accolades, being afraid, escapades and renegades. At least two childhood dreams fulfilled (always wanted to be an actor and a cowboy). 'Twas sometimes a whirlwind, sometimes The Dead Sea. But never, ever dull. And always finding the opportunity to laugh my a - - off, which I hope you will do as you peruse the pages of this titillating tome. PRAISES FROM THOSE WHO KNOW "Even I wasn't strong enough to put this book down." CHUCK NORRIS "This book is not not crap." THE OPTIMIST CLUB "Now you're Getting Smart." MEL BROOKS "I lveod erevy wrod." DYSLEXIC DALE "All I can say is that Gary's book is @#%&*@$% great!" JAMES DRURY (THE VIRGINIAN) "I've never seen anything like this." RAY CHARLES "I'll drink to that." ERNEST HEMMINGWAY "I didn't see this one coming, either!" GENERAL CUSTER "What are you doing with your life? Why don't you get a real job?" RITA L'AMOREAUX (MOTHER OF GARY CLARKE) ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Everything you could possibly ever want to know about Gary Clarke you will find written among the flawlessly chosen, impeccably placed words so lovingly yet sophisticatedly held within the creatively custodial covers of this carefully crafted classic.
When Robert Aldrich directed his unforgettable film, Emperor of the North (1973), featuring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, and Keith Carradine, changes were made to the original screenplay by award-winning Christopher Knopf. The film still managed to please audiences and has remained a revered favorite among many. Even the theme ballad, "A Man and a Train", written by Frank De Vol with lyrics by Hal David and sung by Marty Robbins, reached #40 on the Billboard chart. Despite the vigor of Hollywood hoopla, Knopf always longed to reset the ruthless railroad tale on the right tracks. Now, nearly half a century later, Knopf finally reveals the true story in a riveting new novel that restores the crucial elements that film audiences have never experienced. In 1933, during the Great Depression, Shack, a cruel train conductor wages a personal war to keep anyone from riding his train for free. When A No. 1, an experienced, train-hopping hobo, and Cigaret, his green companion, dare to invade the sanctity of Shack's train, a battle of wills erupts with a pounding intensity rivaled only by the throbbing power of the steel behemoth beneath their feet. A climactic fight with heavy chains, planks of wood, and an axe used as makeshift weapons pits the three desperate men against each other. Will one of the hobos manage to ride Shack's train all the way to Portland and earn the title "Emperor of the North," or will Shack ultimately prevail? Christopher Knopf graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1950. Hired out of school by MGM Studios, he launched a producing and writing career in motion pictures and television that lasted fifty years and earned him an Edgar Alan Poe nomination, two Emmy Nominations, a Humanitas Prize nomination, two Writers Guild of America Award-winning scripts as well as five further nominations, two Writers Guild of America Service Awards, a People's Choice Award, and an NACCP Award. His autobiography, Will The Real Me Please Stand Up, and two novels, Remains To Be Seen and Chill Factor, were published exclusively by BearManor Media.
Edward D. Wood, Jr. has been called the "Worst Filmmaker in History." In this hilarious and reverential study, authors Andrew J. Rausch and Charles E. Pratt, Jr. investigate this claim while providing in-depth looks at the 29 existing films written and/or directed by Wood. In doing so, they manage to fully capture and translate the sensation of watching a Wood film in print. With nearly 300 pages, 13 photographs, and 10 original interviews with Wood associates, The Cinematic Misadventures of Ed Wood is a must-read for anyone interested in the films of Edward D. Wood, Jr. Sure to delight the most casual fan to the most knowledgeable of aficionados, this one-of-a-kind book stands as a testament to the misunderstood life and genius of Ed Wood.
"Before Oprah . . . before Ellen . . . there was Dinah Shore. She was the queen of the afternoon talk show. For over five decades, Dinah induced a state of joy into people wherever she appeared, a love affair between her and her audience. In the fickle world of popular music, Dinah had a longer run at the top than any other girl singer, and on television, she had no equal in the musical field. Arguably, she was "the first lady of television." Dinah life, however, was not always easy. She was a Jewish girl growing up in the Deep South and, at an early age, suffered a bout with polio. Later, as she was just achieving success as a radio/recording artist, a vicious rumor threatened to scuttle her career. Romantically, the lady was been involved with many men, from her first husband, actor George Montgomery, to Frank Sinatra, to her May/December affair with Burt Reynolds. Then, there were the clandestine relationships. Miss Dinah Shore is the candid story of a beloved woman whose career spanned almost all aspects of show business, from radio, records, movies, television variety and talk shows: a remarkable journey"--publisher's website
Bette Davis answered, "George Brent" whenever asked to name her favorite co-star. Her longtime crush on the actor (they teamed in eleven films) culminated in an off-screen affair while filming Dark Victory (1939) for which she won an Oscar nomination and Brent gave what many consider his "finest performance." Hollywood's top stars clamored to play opposite Brent, who infused his easy-going warmth into such blockbuster films as 42nd Street (1933). Before long, Garbo demanded that MGM cast him opposite her in The Painted Veil (1934). Brent was perfect foil for cinema's leading ladies: Ruth Chatterton (his second wife), Ginger Rogers, Loretta Young, Claudette Colbert, Barbara Stanwyck, Myrna Loy, Kay Francis, Olivia de Havilland, Joan Fontaine, Hedy Lamarr, Merle Oberon, and Ann Sheridan (his fourth wife). Not to be pigeonholed Brent's perfection as the dissipated Englishman in The Rains Came (1939) and surprise turn as the heavy in The Spiral Staircase (1946) fueled the longevity of his career. The personal life of George Brent remained undercover. Upon signing with Warner Bros., studio publicity fabricated a back-story for Brent: a graduate of Dublin University (he dropped out of school at 16); a player in the Abbey Theatre (for which no record exists); a dead mother (who was very much alive); and, a dispatcher for Michael Collins during the Irish Revolution (this . . . was true). Brent's biography offers a fascinating look into the life of Hollywood's elusive lone wolf. Scott O'Brien, whose biography on Ruth Chatterton made The Huffington Post's "Best Film Books of 2013," abetted by Irish filmmaker Brian Reddin, sheds new light on Ireland's gift to Hollywood and its leading ladies: George Brent. (Foreword by Wesleyan University's Chair of Film Studies, Jeanine Basinger.) 331 pages with 125 illustrations capture the glamour and private world of Hollywood's Golden Age.
Expanded, revised edition!Airplanes and motion pictures were born within a year of one another. In 100 years they have both risen from uncertain infancy through growing adolescence to robust maturity. While Hollywood's actors and directors learned the art of making movies, the aircraft industry and pilots learned how to conquer the sky. In peace and war, prosperity and depression, the airplanes and motion pictures have become a part of American culture. The relationship was symbiotic. While airplane movies helped sell box office tickets, the movies helped promote aviation. In Flying on Film movie fans and aviation buffs can find their common bond. From wooden biplanes to armadas of warplanes, from majestic China Clippers to huge 747s, from slow monoplanes to swift jets, the movies told the story of the airplane. William A. Wellman's 1927 masterpiece Wings was the first of the breed, the standard to be emulated. Flying on Film is the history behind the films. Veterans and aviators from past and present tell the real story of one of the most fascinating genres of motion pictures in Hollywood.About the Author:Mark Carlson is an aviation historian, writer, classic film buff and student of filmmaking. He has written articles for several national aviation magazines and organizations. As a docent and researcher at the San Diego Air & Space Museum and member of many aviation-related organizations, Carlson has gained an insight into the people who lived the world of airplanes and the movies. He and his wife live in San Diego.
''And they are reading sociological significance into my performances . . . I was a brave, independent woman in the forest, frisking around . . . Of course, I was blithely unaware that I was a social statement. I was just a hungry actress." - Kay Aldridge on her Nyoka role, New York Times ". . . six beauties, but the only one who stood out was Kay Aldridge, who had a funny little way of winking her eyes and crinking her nose. They liked Kay for that." - On the Navy Blues Sextette, Los Angeles Times The Thrills Gone By: The Kay Aldridge Story presents the life of the photogenic and most-photographed cover girl, model, Hollywood starlet and Serial Queen who has been forgotten today, except for her iconic role in the Republic serial, Perils of Nyoka. Her story is one of unrealized potential. No, she did not become a major star in Hollywood, and sadly so, perhaps simply because she never overcame the limits of being so photogenic and so heart-stoppingly beautiful in person. Kay Aldridge is portrayed here experiencing nine years of thrills gone by. Her ultimate failure to make superstar status puts the familiar and oft-told Hollywood success stories in perspective. This biography is based on material from Aldridge's original scrapbooks as reassembled and annotated by her daughter as well as inclusion of every major newspaper article written about her. It offers a respectful portrait and appreciation of Aldridge's personal life and includes a brief examination of the thrilling moments from her three serials. Jim Manago has authored the first biography of Huntz Hall and two biographies on Shirley Booth. He holds a Master's degree in Cinema Studies from the College of Staten Island/City University of New York.
THEY'LL LOVE YOU TO DEATH! James Bond's bad girls. Wicked queens of ancient myth. Bisexual vampire women. Teenage temptresses. Deadly dinosaur dames in fanciful fur bikinis. Golden princesses of porn. And many, many more. They were the wicked women of the 1960s and 1970s. While there have always been femme fatales in films, no one had ever believed anything like this pop-culture revolution could be possible, as overnight the 'new freedom of the screen' came into being. Censorship was out. Nudity was in. The golden age of the wicked woman lasted for two full decades. During that time, B-movies and exploitation flicks, as well as Hollywood A-movies and international cinema, played host to a remarkable array of deliciously deadly females who had two things in common: They were all drop dead gorgeous and they promised devoted fans "the desired death." Rich with rare photos, filled with previously unknown details from the private lives of the very real women who incarnated these fantasy femmes, here is the ultimate encyclopedia of their on- and off-screen adventures. DOUGLAS BRODE is a novelist, graphic novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and multi-award-winning journalist. He created and taught the Film Classics program at Syracuse University until his retirement in 2013.
What appears on the surface as a featherweight teenage romp is in reality a hotbed for social and political debate. Patty Duke's Billie is celebrating its 50th birthday as a pop culture oddity. And there's no better time to explore this neo-musical's unique thesis on social change, political activism and gender identification disorder... all to the infectious Beat of mid-'60s rock and roll! Authors/debaters Gary Gerani and Casey Bond take readers through every stage of Billie, from its beginnngs as Broadway's celebrated Time Out for Ginger to its current status as a cult classic. Along the way social experts and college professors weigh in with their views pertaining to this study's central question: Is super-athlete Billie a role model for feminism or, because of her final, fateful, give-up-sports-and-put-on-that-pink-dress decision, a betrayer of same? Even Billie herself, Patty Duke, shares her thoughts on the subject. In addition to thematic analysis and behind-the-scenes revelations, rare photographs, many never before published, add to the overall fun of Patty Duke as Billie: Role Model or Sell-Out? So get in the game, readers... and take a stand!
"I had no idea of writing another book on the Dead End Kids, until I was looking thru some of my many the 8x10 stills that I have collected over the past 50 years. While I was looking at them I came across a still of Charles R. Duncan, who was the original actor to play the role of Spit in the 1935 boradway production of the play Dead End. After looking at it for awhile, I thought that no one knows of him or has seen many pictures of him some of the other actos who worked with the Dead End Kids, who were punks"--Introduction.
"With essays from more than 40 noted film writers, this collection is a one-of-a-kind treasure for those amongst us with a passion for the seedier side of cinema"-- Page 4 of cover.
REVISED EDITION: Many unseen photos of Joi and an additional Afterward chapter. Plus two never seen photos of Joi and Rachel."Joi Lansing: A Body to Die For colorfully chronicles personal and intimate details of the last four years of the talented '50's "blonde bombshell" star's fascinating life. After three decades of successful TV and movie appearances and Vegas singing stardom, Ms. Lansing died far too young at just 43. Though her funeral was attended by luminaries of the day (Frank Sinatra sent a huge floral display), her light went out relatively unceremoniously. Always just on the verge of "making it big," Joi packed them in with standing room only in Vegas, but when the curtain came down and the audience was gone, who was she? Sadly, the one relationship where she was loved for the sweet, gentle woman she really was, the friendship that might have given her the strength to finally cross the finish line for that one moment of glory for which she had run since she began in show business as a little girl of 14, was ended at her death from breast Cancer in the arms of her dear friend, "Rachel." "Author Alexis Hunter ("friend/baby sister") was the only person who really knew Joi and knew how she struggled with a suicide-obsessed self-image and deadly drug problem after being a child star at MGM where "uppers" were a common way to keep the kids working 20 hour days. "Stunning black and white photos of Lansing by Maurice Seymour, the era's Superstar Photographer, make this book a collectors dream." -Kate Porter-AveryJoiLansingaBodyToDieFor.com
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