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Voted "Best Book of 2009" by Classic Images magazine!You know the films. You know the characters. You may even know the man behind the glasses. But do you really know the events and happenings that most changed Harold Lloyd? That define him? The turning points in his life and career?From birth to death, Harold Lloyd grew and evolved because of the things that were happening around him,, and he was always aware of the importance of these events. These are the turning points that fashioned the magic . . . the coin flip that got him to California . . . meeting a fellow extra at Universal by the name of Hal Roach . . . creating his revolutionary Glass Character . . . a death-defying bomb accident . . . patenting his legendary thrill comedies . . . building his Greenacres . . . making a too-quick leap into sound . . . taking perpetual control of his films . . . deciding to raise his granddaughter . . . leaving two film compilations for posterity . . . not allowing his films to be aired on early television . . . winning his Oscar.Friends, family, and Harold Lloyd himself, together with author Annette D'Agostino Lloyd, tell the story that gives us a clear picture of this comedy legend.

Lon Chaney's Shadow: John Jeske and the Chaney Mystique reveals an unexplored and controversial side of the great silent film actor Lon Chaney's life by taking a close look at his relationship with friend, chauffeur, and make-up assistant, John Jeske. Books previously published of Chaney's life and career document his phenomenal talent in the art of motion picture make-up and acting, but the reader comes away without a full understanding of who Chaney was as a man. This book focuses on the human level of the relationship between Lon, his son Creighton (Lon, Jr.), second wife Hazel, and their "faithful servant", so the pieces of the emotional and psychological dynamics at work in this complex story can finally be appreciated for the significant impact they had on Chaney's career.The John Jeske story is at its core a fascinating glimpse into a world which has until now been off limits to all but the most dedicated of researchers. The majority of evidence to link the two men has been purposely suppressed or destroyed--a great deal of it was destroyed by Chaney himself and his wife Hazel to keep alive the myth that Chaney did not need help of any kind. The story of Jeske's life and work with Lon Chaney is therefore fragmented at best, but I believe, through painstaking research, I have recovered enough to finally reveal the truth. This book fills the gap left behind by every other Lon Chaney biography and is an essential addition to the libraries of Chaney fans and film historians worldwide.

Lewis J. Stadlen made his Broadway debut as Groucho Marx in the musical comedy Minnie's Boys (1970). His other noted Broadway roles include Senex in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Banjo in a revival of The Man Who Came to Dinner, Milt in Laughter on the 23rd Floor, and Dr. Pangloss in the 1973 production of Candide. He was nominated for three Tony awards over the years.Stadlen's film credits include Portnoy's Complaint, Serpico, The Verdict, To Be or Not to Be, Windy City, and In & Out. On television, Stadlen had a regular role in the first season of Benson. He also has appeared in Law & Order and The Sopranos.When someone asks him what he does for a living, he tells them, ¿I entertain people." About his autobiography, he explains, ¿Calling myself an actor would be too immodest. Rarely do I spare them the anarchic and usually hilarious accounts of what it has been like to survive for forty one years in the movies, television, and my first love, the American Theater. During that time I have persevered through a minefield of theatrical personalities, not excluding my parents, in order to emerge the man I am today: a closet optimist, easily fooled, addicted to tall sexy women and serious enough to make thousands of people laugh at any given time (as long as I have the right material).¿My autobiography explores my journey with the people I have been blessed to be associated with. Zero Mostel, Neil Simon, Groucho Marx, Nathan Lane, Joseph Papp, David Burns, Harold Prince, Sidney Lumet, Rita Moreno, Mickey Rooney, Agnes DeMille, Henry Fonda, Mel Brooks, Richard Dreyfuss, Stella Adler, Sam Levene and Alan Arkin all have in common the blessing and curse of being born with the creative gene. Their¿s is a life where only a degree of politeness is advisable. Everytime you think you've seen it all, you are reminded you will always be a virgin.This book is the story of larger-than-life people, who have dedicated their lives to telling the story well. How it's done isn¿t always pretty, but to quote the great Stella Adler, ¿It's better to be interesting than be real.¿

Before Bond, before Maxwell Smart and Mrs. Emma Peel, we''ve enjoyed a wide variety of TV Spies. From 1951''s Dangerous Assignment to today''s Burn Notice, we''ve watched cloak-and-dagger adventures from popular successes like Alias and Mission: Impossible to thoughtful mini-series like The Sandbaggers to cartoons and even live animals in shows like Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp. Our TV secret agents have worn masks and capes (Adventures of Zorro), fought in the historical past (Hogan's Heroes, Jack of All Trades), been as stylish as Napoleon Solo in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., or have been as frumpy as George Smiley in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.No one knows more about the wide vista of these undercover operatives than Dr. Wesley Britton, author of the highly-acclaimed 2004 history of the genre, Spy Television. Now, Britton has compiled the first indispensable reference book on television espionage unveiling the secrets behind our beloved favorites, the nuggets we might have missed, and the programs that disappeared without a trace after their short original runs. Britton provides the behind-the-scenes creative process for TV spies drawn from both extensive research and his interviews with many participants. He uncovers the reasons why some dramas were either unforgettable hits or regrettable misses.But The Encyclopedia of TV Spies is more than a historical overview-. Britton offers analysis of the elements that made key shows innovative and trend-setting and why some of the best productions ever made never jelled with the networks or audiences. And, like a "Special Edition" DVD, The Encyclopedia of TV Spies also includes extra features including articles on tie-in novels and how to collect TV spy music.In short, no entertainment library is complete without The Encyclopedia of TV Spies, and no fan of television should be without it. Every reader should expect to discover surprises and suggestions for their own viewing, and will find themselves seeking out the best dramas and comedies available on DVD or online.

"At long last, a book that pays homage to television's unsung heroes -- those wit wizards who face a blank page every day and somehow manage to create something John Barrymore claimed was more difficult than dying: laughter. In his book, Bob Mills not only keeps the reader laughing, but -- like a comedic Houdini revealing his secrets -- shows us how it's done. The Laugh Makers is a "must read" for anyone even thinking about a career in comedy. " - Shelley Berman (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Boston Legal)"In the 70s and 80s, Hollywood Squares often taped next to The Bob Hope Show studio. Judging from the laughter we often heard in the hallway, I always suspected Hope's writers were having a great time over there and now I know why. The Laugh Makers is a fascinating, heartwarming and revealing book on the day-to-day life of comedy writers working for a legend. It also revives long-ago memories of an era and that was so much fun and that I'm sure we'll never see again." - Peter Marshall (Host of The Hollywood Squares)"The author and I have lots in common -- we're both San Franciscans, our comedy careers were launched by a KSFO disc jockey named Don Sherwood, and we're fellow college alumns. Now that I've laughed my way through his backstage stories and priceless recollections of a long and exciting tenure on the road with Bob Hope, I can finally say definitively and without fear of contradiction that Bob Mills is the second-funniest graduate of S.F. State." - Ronnie Schell (Good Morning, World, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.)"When I was first introduced to the author, I said "How do you do?" and he replied, "I make a nice living." Though an incurable smart ass, Bob Mills is one of the warmest, most talented members of our comedy fraternity -- attributes clearly evident on every page of his landmark homage to Bob Hope and his gag writers. So buy his book... please. He's gotten used to that nice living."" - Jack Reilly (Mr. Carlin on The Bob Newhart Show, Stu Pickles on The Rugrats)"It's hard to praise the work of a longtime friend without sounding like you're angling for a free lunch. But Mills has really created something unique here -- an accurate, compellingly readable, hilarious and heartwarming inside view of one of America's most popular variety shows, its legendary host, and its guest stars. And I say that not because I got a free advance copy. Actually, it wasn't from the author -- a hotel where I was staying ran out of Gideon Bibles." - Chuck McCann (The Projectionist, Boston Legal)"In The Laugh Makers, Bob Mills takes us on an exciting backstage journey from London to Stockholm... Bora Bora to Beijing, covering thousands of miles and nearly as many laughs. Today, Mills has more milage on him than Bob Hope's luggage. His book is a real gem that's got sex, violence, intrigue -- and the second page is good, too. Actually, that's a joke Mills wrote for Hope, but I couldn't resist. I have to confess, I read the book in one sitting -- stuck in traffic on the 405." - Pat Harrington (The Steve Allen Show, One Day at a Time)

Internationally known silent film pianist Stuart Oderman brings together a collection of personal interviews with prominent personalities from music and film: Artie Shaw, Lita Grey, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Harry Richman, Vera-Ellen, Ann Miller, Janet Blair, Veronica Lake, David Burns, Marie Windsor, Vivian Blaine, Joan Blondell, Lou Jacobi, Gloria DeHaven, Tallulah Bankhead.Includes photographs taken at the time of the interviews as well as rare photographs from the author's personal collection.

"Hello?""Hello, Milton Berle, this is Mel Simons.""Which Mel Simons is this?"Which Mel Simons? It's the Mel Simons from Boston who is the humorist, accordionist, emcee, radio personality and show business historian. It's the Mel Simons who has authored four books on the greats of early television and radio. Yes, that Mel Simons.In this follow-up to his acclaimed volume Old-Time Radio Memories, Mel prompts such television greats as "Uncle Miltie," Morey Amsterdam and Steve Allen to share their remembrances of a time when Television was considered to be little more than "radio with pictures" and "vaudeville in a box."The transcripts of these revealing telephone interviews read like conversations between close friends. Clayton Moore recites "The Lone Ranger Creed"; Gale Storm (My Little Margie) opens up about her courageous battle with alcoholism; Larry Storch (F Troop) comments on the state of today's off-color comedy; eighty-year-old George Jessel tries to steal Mel's girlfriend; and legendary crooner (and former barber) Perry Como offers to give Mel "a good haircut." Mel Simons' telephone interviews are so vivid and so fun, you'll think you're eavesdropping on a party line. And if you're old enough to remember party lines, then you'll certainly love this book.

Any Way I Can: 50 Years in Show Business presents the legendary life of veteran television and movie screenwriter John Gay, one of Hollywood's most prolific treasures.From an original comedy sketch that launched the broke fledging actor and his new bride onto WOR-TV's first broadcast day on the air in 1949 to writing during the Golden Age of Television, John Gay's memoir details his breathtaking trajectory into Oscar-nominated feature films and Emmy Award-winning television shows. He began writing for television in 1951, when tvs were only in a few American homes and all programs were in black and white. He wrote several dozen episodes of various shows, and then he made the giant leap into films with the prestigous Run Silent, Run Deep (1958), which starred Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. The next year, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Separate Tables (1959), which starred Rita Hayworth and Deborah Kerr. John also wrote yet did not receive credit for Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) and How The West Was Won (1962). That same year, he wrote the extremely popular The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, which starred Glenn Ford and Charles Boyer. John was much more than a great writer; he was a genuinely good man, who was hoisted into stardom by his writing of so many great screenplays and yet he maintained a good, solid relationship with his family during most of his career. Whether he was adapting Charles Dickens for the small screen, writing a docudrama without landing in jail, or sitting alongside Prince Rainier in Monaco at a performance of his one-man play, John lived show business any way he could and had an exciting run for fifty remarkable years. This richly researched autobiography is co-authored by Gay and his daughter, Jennifer (Gay) Summers, and the book includes a treasure trove of rare photos that capture the glamour and excitement of Hollywood and television¿s Golden Years.

If you're not old enough to remember Falstaff on The Fred Allen Show, perhaps you recall Fred Flintstone from The Flintstones, that modern stoneage family. Both boisterous voices - and more - came from the talented mouth of Alan Reed, one of the greatest actors ever to light up radio, television and films.This is his story, published for the first time, complete with rare photos and credit list.

It's time the New horror elite had their say...Freddy? Jason? Michael Myers? Please! Since the waning days of the 20th century, a renegade band of directors have renounced the cartoon trappings of recent horror flicks and reclaimed the genre for a new generation of fans. Their work is darker, nothing is off limits, and every frame is as beautiful as its contents are disturbing. The New Horror Handbook introduces you to the leaders of this "new horror" movement, including Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever), Greg McLean (Wolf Creek, Rogue), Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Splice) and John Fawcett (Ginger Snaps, The Dark).The Handbook also examines what's happening on the fringes of modern horror, where you will meet:* Steve Niles, the comic book phenom who dragged horror comics out of their 50-year rut with the hit series 30 Days of Night* Rodrigo Gudino, who started Rue Morgue magazine -- the voice of the "new horror" movement -- just so he could break into horror filmmaking himself* America's youngest horror film director, and the grown-up documentary crew who captured her every move for a film of their own* Horror filmmaker Joe Monks, who just might also be America's only blind director* And many more!

Autobiography of a master impressionist, now the voice of Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Warner Bros. cartoon characters! "Everyone who knows voices knows how good Joe Alaskey is at them. The guy has an uncanny ear, an amazing ability to sound like anyone or anything, and the comic timing of a master comedian. You'd think that would be enough for one human being but no. Turns out, he also writes (and, for God's sake, even illustrates!) a warm, funny autobiography that's as much about the greats he's met and/or revered as it is about him. Anyone interested in cartoons or voices or just show biz success stories will have, like I did, a hard time putting it down." -- Mark Evanier

The Baby Snooks Scripts! The first time in print, these old time radio scripts by Philip Rapp are taken from otr's golden age shows: Maxwell House Coffee Time, Good News, and more. These are not transcriptions, but the original scripts, sometimes vastly different from broadcast-draft scripts, since Rapp would often revise a script three times before it aired. "It's too funny to pass up. Phil Rapp's humor is still in style. Anyone can relate to Snooks' questioning of her poor daddy about - EVERYTHING. The problem child is back." - Laura Wagner/Classic Images

"Hey, did you hear the one about the honest lawyer?..." "So, this priest says to a rabbi..." When it comes to comedy, nobody knows the comics and their jokes as well as Mel Simons. Mel has spent his entire career enjoying, collecting and chronicling the best of the best, whether it be the comedy of radio, TV, nightclubs or stand-up comedians. Take These Jokes, Please! is the latest in Mel's prolific series of books, which cover radio, television, music, and comedians. Take These Jokes, Please! includes the jokes of the greatest of the greats, including comics who Mel knew personally, including entertainers like Milton Berle, Red Buttons and Joan Rivers. If you just like jokes for jokes' sake, he has also placed humor into categories, such as "Lawyer Jokes" and "Bar Jokes." Mel, an entertainer, lecturer, author and radio personality lives in Boston. His home boasts one of the largest collections of entertainment memorabilia any-where.

Dr. Mickey Smith, Barnard Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Mississippi, is the author of a new book, "How Fibber McGee and Molly Won World War II. This entertaining essay combies serious subjects and comedy in chronicling a very specialperiod inthe broadcast life of one of Radio's most popular and best-loved series. In the book Smith describes how the special combinatio of the stars themselves, a writing genius, and the "perfect" sponsor, produced a one-of-a-kind program melding laughs and patriotim during ne of America's drkest hours. Jim and Marian Jordan somehow hooked up with thw writing genius of Don Quinn, and the unparalleled support of the S>C> Johnson(Wax) Company to produce an entertaining, funny series of programs with an uwavering mssage--America was in right , the men(and women) in the military deserved unflagging support, and the folks at home had a vital role to play, assuring the ultimate victory.The story is told via excerpts fro scores of broadcasts enhanced by the author's observations. An account of the difficult , but ultimately successful, efforts of the Government and of the broadcast industry to adapt to Wartime conditions provides an illuminating backdrop to the story. Fifteen photographs illuminate the book.The McGee's messages, while always supportive of the War efort, were sometimes poignant. An example is Molly's post-War reminder in support of the National War Fund, an agency devoted to providing recreational care and maintenance of morale for the military until they returned home:"We gave our boys a warm han when they left. Let's not give them the cold shoulder now."Fibber McGee and Molly highlighted subjects nt usually given a lot of attention such as the Coast Guard, Merchant Marine,"WACS", Inflation , and Aid to European War Victims.

"Back in 2001, I put together Golden Images, a collection of silent movie star articles originally published in Classic Images and Films of the Golden Age. It's taken me nearly ten years-oh, I keep busy-but here is the sequel, Bride of Golden Images (if Abbott and Costello were in this book, yes, it would have been called Abbott and Costello Meet Golden Images)."As in the first book, these articles have all been seen in CI and FGA. But, also as in Golden Images, I have gone over them with a fine-toothed comb: rewriting, doing additional research, and handing it over to my fabulous editor, Richard Kukan, so that clunky phrasing and just plain bad writing can be fixed. "I loved writing for CI and FGA (I basically ran out of subjects, so only do an occasional piece for them now, such as a recent tribute to the late Anita Page). What other publication will happily print pieces on the Duncan Sisters? Judy Tyler? Jimmy Durante? The research and writing were fun for me, and I hope that comes through in these articles. It was an additional kick for me to be able to illustrate this book with photos from The Everett Collection, where I work as an archivist. Bride of Golden Images covers the talkie years, from the late 1920s through the 1960s. It's an eclectic collection of superstars, second bananas, character actors, and stage stars dipping their toes into the movies. Some of them immortal (Garbo, Dietrich, Crawford, Monroe). Some fondly remembered mostly by movie and pop-culture buffs (Carmen Miranda, Edward Everett Horton, Betty Grable, Inger Stevens, Constance Bennett). And then, those whose stories are known only to us few real fanatics: Lyda Roberti, the Hilton sisters, Helen Kane, Renate Muller, Phillips Holmes. If I can bring those people back to life for just a few moments, I will be, as Edith King Hall wrote in a 1900 children's book, 'the happiest little girl in all of Toyland.'"

Listen to the accolades Laura has received:"I wouldn't buy a book by Laura Wagner if it was the last book on earth or if it was given to me free. This woman is a looney psycho who needs to get a grip on life or come down out of the clouds and start treating people like people. Ugly through and through.""Laura Wagner professes to be the be-all and end-all when it comes to film history. Her little column in Classic Images is a platform to hate every book published and point out the mistakes the authors have made throughout their work. Her ego and arrogance is off the radar. This book, or any book written by her, exudes her personality, and believe me, that's not a good thing!""You know, there is quite a difference between 'not liking' something and 'hating with a murderous passion.'""Instead of trashing other people's work why don't you write something original.""I got the new Classic Images you lousy crumb loser. Crawl back into your hole where you belong. Jealousy will get you NOWHERE. You have NO WRITING TALENT that's why you are a book reviewer instead of writing real stuff. Piece of sh*t."Let Me Tell You Have I Really Feel...Again is a follow-up to Laura's Let Me Tell You How I Really Feel: The Uncensored Book Reviews of Classic Images' Laura Wagner, 2001-2010, also published by BearManor Media. It gathers up the best of Laura's entertainment reviews from her monthly CI book column.The much-"beloved" Laura Wagner's articles have appeared regularly in Classic Images (www.classicimages.com) and Films of the Golden Age (www.filmsofthegoldenage.com) since 1995. She became the book reviewer for Classic Images in 2001. Laura is the co-author of Killer Tomatoes: 15 Tough Film Dames (McFarland), is the author of et Me Tell You How I Really Feel: The Uncensored Book Reviews of Classic Images' Laura Wagner, 2001-2010 (BearManor Media) and Anne Francis: Her Life and Career (McFarland), and contributed a short story to the anthology, It's That Time Again 2!: More New Stories of Old-Time Radio (BearManor Media).

Shirley Temple possessed by demons? Danny Kaye singing like Michael Jackson? Are the characters in Night of the Living Dead planning a party? There's nothing wrong with your television set. It's Mad Movies with the L.A. Connection, the television show that ran from 1985-1989 in the wee hours of the night. Founded in 1977, The L.A. Connection is still going strong with sketch comedy, improv and "mock dubbing" of movies and television. Author Mike White (Impossibly Funky: A Cashiers du Cinemart Collection) looks at the history of The L.A. Connection and their many projects from Flicke of the Night to Reefer Madness II, to Blobermouth, and beyond.Pop some corn and settle in for the maddest of movies...

"Hero: A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose."Merriam-Webster DictionaryThese are just some of my heroes from A to Z, along with every firefighter, law enforcement officer, teacher, and all the men and women who serve and defend this nation. There are hundreds more stories and, who knows...if you like, I may just tell you some more of them.

Capitalizing on Darren McGavin's irresistible charm and his success on the smallscreen, Revue Studios cast him in their new series, Riverboat, which premieredin 1959. Since McGavin was also starring in Mike Hammer at the same time, hebecame the first actor to simultaneously star in two television series.Co-starring the young and inexperienced Burt Reynolds, the series captureda devout audience but suffered from numerous production problems, includingwhat later became a well-publicized feud between McGavin and Reynolds. Aftercompleting thirty-one episodes its first season, Riverboat was renewed (with the costarring role going to Noah Beery, Jr.), but lasted only thirteen more episodes.Now, fifty years later, though never released on video or DVD by UniversalStudios, Riverboat maintains a devoted fan base.S.L. Kotar and J.E. Gessler, are webmasters of Darren and Kathie Browne'sauthorized web site (www.darrenmcgavin.com), and wrote the highest-ratedepisode in Gunsmoke's twenty-year history.