What Really HappenedThere were terrible crimes committed against greatly talented American citizens by overzealous and unconscionable government actions. Meet the victims inside this book. See for yourself what happened to the innocent, what they went through, how they coped with their persecution, and how they survived the aftermath with their chins up, in dignity."Congratulations Stanley Dyrector...WAVE AWARDS... Video Excellence Award presented for Community Media in Santa Fe, New Mexico on November 9, 2001, The Stanley Dyrector Show: The Hollywood Blacklist..." "Dyrector has encountered countless people that help Hollywood sparkle but never get a chance to shine...Screenwriters on the Hollywood Blacklist in the 50's denied work due to their politics..." - Debra Beyer, Los Angeles Times, May 9, 2006. "...I'm not afraid to be corrected by a guest, or to tell them I love them!"...Dyrector explored the blacklisting period of Hollywood during the McCarthy era..." California Seniors Weekly (2000)About the AuthorStanley Dyrector was born in Brooklyn, New York. Beginning his career as an actor, he switched to writing, where he found much success. His TV writing credits include such popular shows as Wagon Train and Slattery's People. He and his wife, Joyce, teamed up and wrote for daytime TV soaps on ABC, as well as hour radio dramas and comedies for Sears Radio Theatre and Mutual Radio Theatre. Dyrector's 2-act Vietnam-era play, A Pelican of the Wilderness, was deemed by LA Times critic John Mahoney as "Outstanding." His award-winning interview show called The Stanley Dyrector Show can be seen in various locales and on the Internet.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FOREWORD INTRODUCTION PART I: INTERVIEWSCHAPTER 1: PARKER FENNELLY "TITUS MOODY" ON THE FRED ALLEN SHOW,WITH WIFE, CATHERINECHAPTER 2: JOAN MERRILLVOCALIST ON THE EDGAR BERGEN PROGRAMCHAPTER 3: WARD BYRON PRODUCER OF MUSICAL PROGRAMSCHAPTER 4: FRANK NELSON & VEOLA VONN FRANK, COMEDIAN ON THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM ANDVEOLA, ACTRESS ON VARIOUS PROGRAMSCHAPTER 5: HILDEGARDE CHANTEUSE, THE RALEIGH ROOMCHAPTER 6: MIRIAM WOLFF ACTRESS ON THE WITCH'S TALE AND LET'S PRETENDCHAPTER 7: DOROTHEA COLE WIDOW OF WRITER AND ACTOR ALONZO DEEN COLECHAPTER 8: ROBERT VAN DEVENTER PANELIST ON TWENTY QUESTIONSCHAPTER 9: MARY SMALL VOCALIST ON LITTLE MISS BAB-O'S SURPRISE PARTYCHAPTER 10: ANNE DEMARCO VOCALIST AND ONE OF FIVE OF THE DEMARCO SISTERSCHAPTER 11: JANET CANTOR GARI DAUGHTER OF EDDIE CANTORCHAPTER 12: PAT HOSLEY ACTRESS ON MANY PROGRAMSCHAPTER 13: SANDRA MICHAEL CREATOR AND WRITER OF AGAINST THE STORMAND LONE JOURNEYCHAPTER 14: PEGGY MOYLAN VOCALIST AND ONE OF THE MOYLAN SISTERS ON THE HORNAND HARDART CHILDREN'S HOURPART II: RESOURCE GUIDE TO THE ORAL HISTORYOF THE GOLDEN AGE OF RADIOCHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2: LIST OF ORAL HISTORIES
Two questions that people ask television comedy writers repeatedly are: "How do you guys ever think them up?" and "Is writing for a television show anything like it was on the old Dick Van Dyke Show?" Tales from the Script invites you inside the writing rooms and into the writers meetings for such legendary television shows as The Carol Burnett Show, Laugh-In, Mama's Family, Welcome Back Kotter, Three's Company, the variety shows of Bill Cosby and Tim Conway. You'll also be part of the planning, preparation, and production of almost all of the Bob Hope Specials, including his Christmas shows entertaining America's troops around the world. As a reader, you'll step onto the stage with the writing teams to accept "your" Emmy for "Outstanding writing in a Comedy-Variety Series." You'll also know what it feels like to be nominated, but have to sit in the audience and try to look gracious while another team steps up to accept the award. After reading Tales from the Script, you'll be able to answer for yourself whether it was anything like the old Dick Van Dyke Show or not. As to the second question - "How do you guys ever think them up?" - you'll discover...well...you'll probably discover, as most comedy writers already have, that nobody knows the answer to that question. Foreword by Jim Nabors!
Jess Stacy was the kindest, sweetest, most generous man to grace this Earth. It was my lucky day when I decided to buy a house in Laurel Canyon, and my husband felt the same. After years of living in Los Angeles and working the Hollywood studios, circumstances took us all over the world and we had sold our Bel Aire home. Children gone, it was just the two of us. Lookout Mountain Ave. was the street we fell in love with, and the neighbors were a bonus! Jess and his darling wife, Patricia were our closest. Jess was a regular guest (their star) in all of the best and biggest jazz festivals. Eddie and I tagged along.What a great part of our lives!We celebrated Jess' 90th birthday together and we could see that he was losing strength... but he still have that twinkle in his eyes...'til the very end... and then some.- Jean Porter Dmytryk
Ann Harding. Laurence Oliver, who starred with her in Westward Passage (1932), referred to her as an "angel." Director Henry Hathaway, who directed her and Gary Cooper in Peter Ibbetson (1935), claimed she was a "bitch." Critics hailed her as the finest actress to venture from Broadway to Hollywood. The Ann Harding story follows her from humble beginnings as the daughter of a career army office who moved around constantly, to her youth settling in New York. After spending a year attending Bryn Mawr college, she found work as a clerk and freelance script reader with a film company. Then, she made her stage debut in 1921, and eight years later, she made her film debut in an early talkie, Paris Bound, opposite Fredric March. She was the Gallant Lady (1933), an unwed mother, who gives up baby for adoption and hopes to get it back when the adoptive mother dies. Her unique, natural screen presence in Holiday (1930) earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. From 1929-1936, she reigned as cinema's "Gallant Lady." Her co-stars included Ronald Coleman, Mary Astor, Conrad Nagel, Leslie Howard, Melvyn Douglas, Richard Dix, and William Powell, among many others. Ann's ethereal quality belied a passionate nature. Her affairs with three remarkably talented and very married men associated with the film industry could have easily outraged fans and quashed her career. Theater visionary-director Jasper Deeter, Ann's life-long mentor, remarked that Ann was a master at hiding her childish, stubborn temperament. Friends of Ann's daughter, Jane Otto, claim that despite Ann's highly publicized custody battles, she was a detached mother. In the 1950s and 1960s, she appeared extensively on American television in series such as The Defenders (1961), Dr. Kildare (1961), Ben Casey (1961), Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1961), and Burke¿s Law (1963). Scott O¿Brien¿s richly researched and illustrated biography draws heavily from Ann¿s family, friends, and personal papers. The book includes behind-the-scenes anecdotes, contemporary reviews, and synopses of Ann¿s films. He pays tribute to her career and unveils a complex portrait of one of stage and cinemäs most remarkable talents.
Never before have the infamous love letters between John and Blanche Bickerson seen the light of day, and this collection shows just why. This amazing testament to the strength of marriage celebrates the true depth of feeling the squabbling couple felt for one another. And no. It wasn't always bickering!Unearthed at last are their origins: how they met. Who they are. Their very different backgrounds. Now experience, for a change, the love shared between two people who were obviously made for one another. "I'm sure you've all heard about the Lost Honeymooners Episodes, but Ben Ohmart has done us one better. He's found the "Lost Love Letters" of John B. and Blanche P. who were later to reap radio fame and fortune as "The Battling Bickersons." With the aid of their only child, Jules, he has painstakingly recreated their historical and hysterical correspondence from a high school crush to an elopement in 1939. The results are also painful, as your sides will be aching with laughter. Fans of OTR rejoice! This is a great compliment to the previously published scripts representing their audio triumph of years past. "- Phil Proctor of The Firesign Theatre"Ben Ohmart's discovery of the Bickerson's love letters is the dysfunctional lover's equivalent of finding the Dead Sea Scrolls." - Jay Johnson, Chuck and Bob on SoapA Bottle-of-the-Month Club Selection
Gripping Chapters is much more than a history of the sound motion picture serial. Here you'll find all of the sources for sound movie serials, including comic strips, comic books, the pulps, novels and radio shows. There are chapters analyzing the cliffhanger endings of serial episodes, with information focusing on cheat cliffhanger endings, such as time expansion cheats, "survived through it cheats," and re-shot footage cheats, as well as a study of some of the cleverest and most exciting cliffhanger endings of all time. Other topics include serial sequels and series, the stars who appeared in serials, prolific contributors to serials, and stock footage and bloopers. Plus an appreciation of three very special serials: The Phantom Empire, Flash Gordon and Zorro's Black Whip.
Rediscover radio as it was broadcast during the Golden Age.From shows fondly remembered to those long forgotten, this was the experience of days spent listening to the radio during the early part of the past century. This three-volume set, researched and compiled by author Keith D. Lee, features published radio listings from Los Angeles from 1929 through 1954, for the four major networks and their local Los Angeles affiliates.This is volume 1 of 3.
Kane is going to burn in Hell and he knows it and he's raising Hell to make sure his family doesn't follow!"The fourth Kane Branson book is a great companion to the trilogy ofBranson books. 'Kane Man of War', set in Iraq, depicts the man witha love of his wife and his country, and shows that right does triumphover evil. 'Kane Man of War' also connects characters from earlierBranson escapades giving this book a great connection. Kane Bransonis a man for all seasons."- Tony Bonner
The story of the 1940 film by Will Garth The strange adventures of Dr. Cyclops, the superscientist, makes athrilling and amazing horror story. Dr. Bulfinch, noted biologist and his young and pretty assistant, Mary Phillipshad travelled thousands of miles to the Peruvian jungle to answer the call of the scientist, Alexander Thorkel.Near the place where Thorkel carried on his experiments, natives talked fearfully of black magic.But even their weird stories were less strange than the truth.For the hermit scientist had discovered how to reduce people toone sixth their natural size. And he turned Dr. Bulfinch,Phillips and theit team into midgets at grips withworld grown suddenly large and frightening.
"Power...Power to walk into the gold vaults of nations, amidst the secrets ofkings, into the Holy of Holies! Power to make multitudes run squealing in terror, at the touchof my little invisible finger!"- Claude Rains as The Invisible ManIncludes the shooting script, pressbook and an introduction byJessica Rains "Anyone who cares about classic monster movies will find a treasure trove of information, rare photos, and meticulous detail in these books. They are obviously a labor of love."- Leonard Maltin.
Eddie Cantor was a famous comedian and often a lot of fun to be with, but basically he was a serious man, a devout patriot and a champion for justice.He made sure his daughters grew up with a strong sense of responsibility and urged them to participate, not just to talk.Janet is his youngest and only living daughter, and through her we become aware of the convictions with which he endowed his family.JANET CANTOR GARI is a native New Yorker, daughter of comedian Eddie Cantor, and mother of singer-songwriter-author Brian Gari and singer-actress Amanda Abel.Having been told all her life that her mother was unwittingly as funny as her father and that she should write a book about her, Janet did just that. It's called Don't Wear Silver in the Winter, also published by BearManor Media.With the success of that book, Janet was emboldened to write a book about herself and her droll and sometimes downright absurd experiences. That title is Stop the World-I Want to Tell Someone Off!She's still in that mode with her latest publication, the political journey entitled Themes from My Father, which you now hold in your hand.
Ever wonder what the unaired episodes of situation comedies that disappeared quickly from the air were about? Curious about those comedy series such as Rewind, The Grubbs, and The Ortegas that the Fox network announced for its fall schedule but that never premiered? Did you know that stars like Bradley Cooper, Michelle Williams, and Brad Pitt made some of their earliest appearances on short-lived sitcoms?Forgotten Laughs: An Episode Guide to 150 TV Sitcoms You Probably Never Saw contains answers to these questions as well as others about quickly-canceled, never-aired, and short-run situation comedies. Published for the first time are episode descriptions for these forgotten shows. This reference book contains the most complete descriptions of sitcoms such as the quickly-canceled Doc Corkle, Co-Ed Fever, and Black Tie Affair, the never-aired Misconceptions, The Singles Table, and Snip, as well as short-run comedies like Fathers and Sons and Free Country and over 140 more. Most episode descriptions were culled from the archives of the Library of Congress, the Paley Center, and the UCLA TV script collection. In addition, Forgotten Laughs also includes insights from many producers, directors, and writers who worked on these little-known shows.
Autobiography of the KING of PORNIn the world of adult cinema, one name stands out above all others: John Holmes. For nearly 20 years, from 1967 to 1987, Holmes reigned as the undisputed king of X-rated films, having appeared in a record 2,200 plus productions, from the landmark Johnny Wadd movies (one of which became the first adult motion picture to gross over $1 million) to the legendary Insatiable with Marilyn Chambers. To a legion of fans world-wide, he was known as "Mr. Big." To industry insiders, he was "Mr. Nice Guy." Yet for all of his fame and notoriety, Holmes remained an intensely private person and a mystery man. - that is, until now. In a startlingly frank autobiography, PORN KING was written in large part prior to his death (with new material added by his widow, Laurie). Holmes tells the story of his incredible life. This is not a typical celebrity story, filled with bright lights and glamor, giant sound stages and movie moguls. It is, instead, a rare portrait of a young man drawn into an unknown Hollywood, a secret, forbidden Hollywood, and the parallels between his astounding career and the sexual revolution in American films. Holmes knew his subject better than anyone. Holmes candidly tells of a lucrative but often harrowing "other" life as a male prostitute to the rich and famous, a shattering fall into drugs and his side of the grisly Wonderland Murders and his desperate cross-country right afterwards. From start to finish, in this newly revised edition, complete with never-before-seen candid photos of Holmes in his private life, PORN KING is a sizzling, sensuous, fast-paced story laced with controversy.If ever there was an untold story, PORN KING is it.Website address: www.johnholmes.com
Walt Disney was a pioneer in the art of animation but by the mid-fifties due to the increasing costs of producing animated films, Disney began to specialize in producing live-action films. The films explored in this book include such classics as Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Pollyanna, The Absent-Minded Professor, The Parent Trap, Mary Poppins and The Love Bug. But the films covered also include some wonderful, yet lesser known Disney titles such as Toby Tyler, Babes in Toyland, Miracle of the White Stallions, Savage Sam, Summer Magic, Blackbeard's Ghost-and many more. The book's main focus is on the live-action films that the studio produced from roughly 1955 thru 1980 and the people who were part of them including a solid stock company of actors who audiences identified immediately-even if they didn't always know the name of the actor. Many of those actors give their memories in this book as do several others including Fess Parker (Davy Crockett), Tommy Kirk (Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog), Ann Jillian (Babes in Toyland), Billy Mumy (Rascal), Arthur Hiller (director of Miracle of the White Stallions), Marta Kristen (Savage Sam), James Drury (Pollyanna, Ten Who Dared), Eddie Hodges (Summer Magic, The Happiest Millionaire), Peter Brown (Summer Magic, A Tiger Walks)-and many more.About the Author:Charles Tranberg has written five previous books: I Love the Illusion: The Life and Career of Agnes Moorehead, Not so Dumb: The Life and Career of Marie Wilson, Fred MacMurray: A biography, The Thin Man Films: Murder over Cocktails, and Robert Taylor: A Biography. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin.
Step right up to this eye-opening account of how circuses are scouted, produced, directed and ballyhooed - and forever reinventing themselves. Covering them all, from the Kings of the sawdust rings to the bottom feeder big tops, the author's unflinching candor and rich historical grasp may change forever how you view and experience the great spangled parade!"Step right up for a visit to the American Circus! There could be no finer guide than David Lewis Hammarstrom ... His passion for sawdust and spangles bubbles from every line but - a rarity among circus writers - he's as quick to point out the rubbish and rip-offs as the wonderful" -- THE STAGE, London "Fascinating! ... Something we need in these changing times more than anything else." -- PLANET CIRCUS, Germany "Bold and ambitious ... Timely and provocative! ... It is difficult to disagree with most of his views." -- CIRCUS REPORT, USA"Once in the audience, how can viewers evaluate what they see? ... A concise guide ... Hammarstrom's memories are vivid, and his enthusiasm is infectious" -- CHOICE "I eagerly read this book - as a circus arts performer and instructor I found it entertaining, and as an academic educator I found it very useful ... strikes a fun balance between history and gossip, critical guide and personal insights into the diversity that is the world of the modern circus show." -- ELSIE SMITH ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR CIRCUS ARTS"A thought-provoking book... how circus, particularly American circus, has changed and developed over the past 50 to 60 years, this book is packed with information and opinion." -- KING POLE, UK¿Penetrating ... Informative ... Takes us out of our comfort zones.¿ ¿ THE WHITE TOPS"Roll up, while you still can, to the greatest show on earth! 'fresh, alive, magical and compelling.' Along with the author of this fine volume, I urge you to buy tickets for the world of sawdust and spangles before it's too late and circuses go the way of steam trains." -- THE DAILY MAIL, London"Pay Attention! ... A good show!... This engaging study functions as a sort of everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-circus-business-today-but-were-too-mildly-nostalgic- to-ask." -- SPECTACLE, USA
The Off-Broadway hit musical Godspell became a worldwide cultural phenomenon in 1972 when, just over a year after its award-winning emergence on stages around the world and with the Top 20 Billboard hit "Day by Day," Columbia Pictures decided to film and release it on the silver screen across the globe. In the process, it created cinematic history for its use of locations around New York City (including the then-unfinished World Trade Center) and, at the same time, accomplished the nearly-impossible by taking a small stage show¿one that had been originally created as a college thesis¿and unleashing it upon a world of moviegoers who have since continued to embrace it as one of the greatest musical hits of all time, as well as a celebrated Easter special and a score that will live forever.Film historian Andrew Martin has captured every step of the show's journey, from school play to an indelible part of modern culture, and depicts in glowing detail all the highs¿and lows¿of a production that will always live on in the hearts and minds of all who watch and enjoy. Featuring interviews with composer Stephen Schwartz, producer Edgar Lansbury, and star Victor Garber, besides all of the film's surviving co-stars and key players from the creative team, this impossible-to-put-down story of "the little show that could" is certain to bewitch the reader from the very first sentence. About the AuthorANDREW MARTIN is an award-winning writer and entertainer who, for over thirty years, has been an actor/singer/dancer on stage as well as film and television, an entertainment journalist for news in print, broadcast and Internet sources, a standup comedian and cabaret singer, and film historian. All for the Best is his first published book. He currently resides in his native New York City.
Perfect Fool: The Life and Career of Ed Wynn is the first-ever biography of the master comedian, chronicling a legendary career that spanned over half a century.It was Ed who coined this famous definition: "A comedian is not a man who says funny things; a comedian is a man who says things funny." Ed did both, first as a vaudeville and Ziegfeld Follies star,then as the "Perfect Fool" (so named from one of his many self-produced Broadway revues), as radio's "Fire Chief" on the popular Texaco-sponsored program, and as an early pioneer at the dawn of network television. He attained a level of praise and respect from his comedy peers, critics, and, of course, the public, rarely matched by any other comedian since. In his later years, he became a highly acclaimed dramatic character actor, much to the surprise and joy of all who didn't know he had it in him (including Ed himself).Yet for all his impressive achievements, this comedian/actor/director/writer has been too often overlooked in the years since his death in 1966. Perfect Fool is meant to help correct this injustice, with reviews, interviews, and never before published photos, some courtesy of grandson Tracy Keenan Wynn. This book is an appreciation of Ed Wynn's talents, foresight, and highly regarded ability to make people laugh virtually at will.About the Author:Garry Berman is an entertainment historian and freelance writer. His previous books include Best of the Britcoms, a celebration of the finest British situation comedies to appear on American television, and We're Going To See The Beatles!, an oral history of the Beatlemania era as told by the original generation of fans who lived it first-hand. Berman has also published a comic novel, Old Wave, and writes comedy scripts in between book projects. He lives in New Jersey with his wife Karen and theirtwo spoiled dogs.
Something stirs in the darkness and pads along the moonlit path...Werewolf stories have long captivated film audiences and lovers of pulp fiction.Thomas McNulty's Werewolves! explores the genesis for this cultural phenomenondating back centuries when stories of shape shifters and wolf-men werepredominant in folk tales. The book traces the origins of lycanthropy inmythology through modern times. Included are discussions of wolf mythology andthe importance of the wolf symbol around the globe. Included is an examinationof key werewolf stories and novels with an emphasis on popular fiction and pulpfiction. This is followed by a survey of the Hollywood films with chaptersdevoted to the Wolf-Man films starring Lon Chaney Jr. and the groundbreakingSpanish werewolf films of Paul Naschy. The survey of films includes titles fromHollywood's Golden Age to present times with commentary on over 70 werewolffilms. The work includes a bibliography, filmography and index. Illustrated withrare photographs.Thomas McNulty is the author of the critically acclaimed biography, Errol Flynn,and the novels Trail of the Burned Man, Wind Rider, Death Rides a Palomino, andShowdown at Snakebite Creek. His feature articles have appeared in numerousmagazines and periodicals. He lives in Crystal Lake, Illinois with his wife,Jan, and daughter, Brenna.
(This is the second, expanded edition.) Most people might, understandably, predict that the world's first porn star was a woman, but they would be wrong. John Curtis Holmes was just a simple country boy from Ohio when he moved to California in 1964. It was the infancy of hardcore, so in Holmes' wildest dreams, he could not have predicted the turbulent ride on which he had embarked by publicizing his private parts. With the fame he achieved by playing his most famous character - a gun toting detective named Johnny Wadd - came money. Holmes was pleased to spend it on his wife and mistresses, but soon was in over his head after he became addicted to cocaine. Unfortunately for Holmes, in the years that followed, his addiction led him into several desperate choices - including setting up a robbery at the home of Ed Nash, a powerful L.A. nightclub owner. The robbery resulted in one of the most gruesome, unsolved, multiple-murders in Hollywood history. Amazingly, before his untimely death in 1988, Holmes regained his momentum, remarried and rebuilt his life and career. However, the grave consequences of his addiction, his association with the Wonderland murders, and his AIDS-related death made him an infamous figure in pop culture. Digging past the stigmas, John Holmes: A Life Measured in Inches - the first biography about John C. Holmes - unearths the human being behind the penis and proves that there was more to him than could be measured in inches. This biography includes material from the authors' new interviews with: Laurie Holmes, Bill Amerson, Bob Chinn, Julia St. Vincent, Detective Tom Lange, Detective Frank Tomlinson, Paul Thomas, Ron Jeremy, Seka, Marilyn Chambers, Candida Royalle, Rhonda Jo Petty, Dr. Sharon Mitchell, Bill Margold, and many others! John Holmes: A Life Measured in Inches also includes 114 reviews of John's most notable feature films, 86 loops synopses, 3 photos sections with rare nudes, and a 21 page comprehensive filmography. "The tree of life represents the roots of man. The branches are the different directions a man can take, live or exist. When you're dead, those that you leave behind will put you in a part of that tree. It represents what was, what is and what will be. It's eternal." -- John Holmes
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