Entertainment Books

Fascinating and illuminating book about the way movie classics were made in the 30's and 40's. This man knew his job and we are lucky that in the making he wrote those long memos. The people they were sent to found them annoying. We movie fans find them fascinating.

It's a genuine pleasure to see this 1972 volume back in print again. Practically the entire history of classic Hollywood can be seen within the pages of this fascinating series of memos, a veritable stream of behind the scenes trivia and the most impressive book of name-dropping ever seen in print. The cinematic genius of Selznick and Company is told as only it should be told...in the Master's own words.

David O. Selznick was behind some the films considered classics from that era. He was known for his memos that he sent to others in the industry and those working for him. The book is a fascinating look at the studio system at the time - and is also a reminder that people at one time actually communicated in writing - no cell phones, no email. This book is a must-read for those interested at all in film lore - and it's a great read!

I was a bit leery of a book of just memoes but ... This is truly an extraordinary book, full of insights into every aspect of film making. The most interesting parts are about scripts and script construction. That was what Selznick had a genius for, and that comes through clearly. Some of his faults come through too. There are a number of memoes about his life and emotions so you get a picture a man not just an executive.

For anyone who likes old movies a must.

as a fan of lou costello all my life i never really new much about the real lou till i read this book by his daughter chris.This is a must read for any of lou"s fans as it will make you feel all his highs and lows.

Like every kid in America, afternoons after school meant watching television and who better to watch than Abbott and Costello?

This book took me by surprise. For years I heard stories about the tragic events that happened in Lou Costello's personal life but somehow images of him in HOLD THAT GHOST or bothering the Andrews Sisters didn't jive with those images.

Lou's daughter, Chris, wrote a loving tribute to her father that is accurate, on point but never gets syrupy sweet. Nor is it a "Daddy Dearest" where she portrays anyone as a monster.

Although she was not born at the time, Chris traces her father's roots from New Jersey all the way through vaudeveille and finally Hollywood. In a sesntive way, she recounts the tragic loss of Lou's son, Butch and with just as much delicacy she handles the problems of her mother's drinking.

Although I would have liked to have had a better insight into what went on as the team created some memorable movie scenes, Chris concentrates solely on the man. You put down the book and wonder how Lou Costello - plaqued with IRS problems as well as health issues - could be so funny and so giving all the time.

Even if you are not an A&C fan, this book will show you the side of a professional comedian who gave the gift of laughter to others despite his own problems.

I found out from a local bookstore that this particular edition of Lou Costello's life was out of print and that their supplier unable to procure. The bookstore reminded me to check with Amazon and there it was. You had one copy which I quickly scooped up. Delivery was even a day earlier than stated. Very pleased as always with Amazon website, products and delivery

Starts with his early years.
The beginning of Abbott & Costello.
21 years later , the break-up of Abbott & Costello.
They were two opposites.
One didn't drink, one drank heavily.
Offstage: one loud jokster, one quiet & reserved.
Both gambled heavily.
Lou's long illness.
Death of Lou's son. Plus More.

It seems as though a lot of bios written by the children of famous parents run to the two extremes of villifying the parent or sugarcoating the parent. This book does neither, and fits nicely in between. Though Ms. Costello was only eleven years old when her dad passed on, and therefore didn't know or remember him in the same way as if he had passed on when she was an adult, she does still manage to be both loving and honest in her treatment of him. The Lou Costello who comes to life in these pages is largely a really nice generous guy, who was absolutely devoted to his parents, children, siblings, wife (even if he didn't show much physical affection around others, since that wasn't part of his upbringing), and friends, and who was also very generous and kind to the other performers he worked with, particularly the ones who were just getting started in the business and needed someone to look out for them and show them the ropes. And while it is true that some people really are so uniformly good, Ms. Costello does not paint her father as an utter saint either. There's not a lot of dirt to dig up, but not everything about him was perfect. Among the character/personal flaws she discusses are his habit of stealing stuff from Universal's movie sets, how he was quite the McCarthyist, and his bad gambling habits.

The book seems like much more of a personal bio than a career bio. It focuses on Lou and his family and friends, instead of rehashing a lot of stories most fans have heard already. Most of his movies aren't discussed in any detail at all, many of them just mentioned in passing, and while this might frustrate people who are looking for more in-depth information on that rather important side of his life, you can always find more thorough discussions of the movies in another book. This book is to tell the personal side of his life, as remembered and researched through the eyes of a daughter who loved him. I really enjoyed reading about things such as his early family life, the beautiful lavish mansion he had in Sherman Oaks, his family's life on the ranch they moved to after his problems with the IRS, his relationship with his parents, siblings, wife, and children, and his solo acting at the end of his career. With obvious notable exceptions such as the tragic loss of his only son days before his first birthday, the start of his movie career, and the version of "Who's on First" that he and Bud Abbott used on their debut radio performance of it, most of the stories and anecdotes in this book aren't to be found anywhere else. It goes beyond and doesn't dwell on oft-repeated statements such as "He was never the same after the loss of his son" and "He and Bud Abbott didn't get along off-camera." The truth is so much more interesting. Overall, it's the complete and personal picture of a very talented, funny, giving, sweet man, delving beyond simplistic stereotypes and myths.

D.D. is a connivingt woman. She has taken over the Music Of Your Life and now The Best Music Ever recorded. She apparently lent financial support to Chuck and his son, Karl, as they think she is just marvelous. The listeners do not, and we'd like to have a break from her put-on sexy tone. It is so false. She is a parody and should have stayed in seclusion with her animals at Mt. Carmel. Then perhaps Chuck could get back to being a hospitable host. As it is now, you'd think she is running him and the network, so all we can believe is that (1) he either married her, or (2) she bought the networks and they have to play her stuff.

The author really raves about Doris Day even when she is not that good, he'll defend her work. Doris is a very talented singer/actress who has done some very notable work. He is pretty honest about her clunkers, in movies/music, even though I might have liked that movie. However, he gives a good luck at her career through music, movies, and tv. He also provides a good overview of the era in which she worked, discussing how studios made movies in the 50's. It's a good, unvarnished book that you'll enjoy. There are a few lists at the end detailing all her movies/music along with his personal comments.

Today, forty years after her last film, how many would name Doris Day as the #1 female movie star of all time in terms of box office? This book definitely has value as a reference for Day fans particularly for its comprehensive catalog of her recordings. The author rates all her films, records, and TV shows. His opinions, of course, are subject to question. He tends to be repetitious and I sometimes found his overly personal and informal style to be annoying. It should be understood that the book is a detailed analysis of her career rather than her personal life.

This is not a biography or even a basic history. It is one man's thoughts about the life and career of Doris Day. It is a pseudo-critical analysis of a woman's life, singing and movie acting. Much of it is sophmormic, self-edifying and generally self-indulgent. Anyone to cares about Ms. Day can generally make up their own minds about the value of her varied acting roles and choices. Certainly, there are none (beyond the present-day hearing-impaired youth) who will deny her singing talent, skill and performances. Yet, the author believes that he -- with a sense that only "HE" -- can provide that complete insight in to Ms. Day's work, successes and failures. It is a waste of money for anyone to cares about Ms. Day...

I do think Tom Santopietro is a flavorful writer. I'm a journalist and journalism teacher and editor and I've had a separate life in the music business and, Lord oh Lord, the terrible reporting and writing I've seen. Santopietro isn't terrible and is often quite delicious to read. And he's bright. But, as with his Streisand appraisal, everything here has been said before somewhere else and his meager quotes from Day herself come from the few sentences she spoke on a PBS documentary and published sources. I'm not sure that's a problem as Day never has been much of a commentator on her films or her music or her art. I think that is a consequence of her having always been a natural, instinctive talent with a strong honest streak. But in truth any of hundreds of Day fans could have written this book. That's not to take away from the fact Santopietro actually DID it and has gotten great reviews for it but I'm still wondering how--unless I'm missing something--he never noticed that the song "The Glass Bottom Boat," which he loathes, consists of new lyrics to the great standard "Soft As the Starlight," one of Day's great recordings. The great Day book is still down the road.--Wayne Brasler, University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, wbrasle@ucls.uchicago.edu.

This book offers no substance on card counting. It's more like a poorly written college essay. Also, be careful with the previous 5 Star reviews. If you look carefully, the reviews appear to come from the same San Diego area and written by the same type of reviewers with Filipino sounding names. I'd be suspicious of the padded reviews.

Don't waste your money.

Featuring exquisite interpretations and vivid details of the life of a high roller, this outstanding author allows the average reader and gambler to accompany him along the journeys and perils of being a high roller Card Counter. This is a book for all age groups (that are able to gamble) to enjoy and appreciate. Its themes are universal and his opinions are both realistic and comforting.

It is the worst book I've read in my entire life and I don't esitate to define it a fraud. The 40 pages are written only in one side (so 20 pages are really written) and talk about NOTHING of blackjack. His argument are absolute nonsense and there are no numbers, no statistic, no strategies, nothing at all. I wish I could have my money back. PLEASE DON'T BUY THIS BOOK!

Paper thin book that teaches you nothing.... what a waste. Save your money and put it to something useful. This book might be 10 pages long. Ridiculous

I was hoping the raves of this guy's "wealth" of experience would give me some insights into the world of card counting and blackjack. Come to find out this guy can't even fill up twenty full pages of the book that is already paper-thin. Seriously read the excerpt and that is pretty much the format for the entire book. Not to mention all of his statistics... oh wait yeah he didn't have any. All you have to go on is his word, which doesn't seem to be worth much. Just save your money....

This book is amazing and every woman going through divorce should have a copy in her night table. It is a lifesaver and in my opinion the best book out there on divorce. I learned tips that even my divorce lawyer didn't tell me. I wish I had read this book even earlier because the pre-divorce plan the author sets out is probably some of the best advice I have heard. Even if you are thinking about divorce and want to protect yourself in your marriage, this book is extremely helpful. I was surprised at how much useful information was packed in the pages. I give it an A+.He Had It Coming: How to Outsmart Your Husband and Win Your Divorce

He Had it Coming is a wonderful planner - it lays out in clear and easy language how to prepare and plan for a divorce. The checklists are most helpful - from whether you are ready to leave him to what records you need to copy first. Part psychology and part law...one complete how to. Excellent.

It sounds like Bookman is an Angry Man and had a very bad divorce. I
read the book and I am a man and I thought the complete opposite of
what he said. Despite the title, the book is actually promoting
husbands and wives to get along, and was surprisingly good. It says for
the wife to be nice to the husband so there is always open
communication, especially when children are involved. As far as what
the author wrote about the advice huritng kids-- again I can't see
where he's coming from. It seems like the book is showing how to
improve dynamics, even through a nasty divorce. Even though I tried to
dislike the book, I actually wish the author would write the same book
for us guys. It was really easy to read and understandable and the tips
seemed insightful for the women.

This book is clearly aimed at increasing rather than reducing conflict in already problematic situations. Wirse off - the recommendations, when children are invloded, are likely to harm children in the short term and long term.

A friend provided this book to me and I had a hard time getting through it. Clealry aimed at - get all his money.

If you need advice on divorce, as a woman or a man, pick a book which provides solid advice in your best interest, your children's best intrest and does so with some dignity.

I just finished reading "Tony and Me" by Jack Klugman. It's a wonderful dedication to the memory of his best friend Tony Randall, of whom he had the pleasure of working with in various projects for many years, including 5 years together on a TV show. In the book he discusses the work they did on "The Odd Couple", their plays together and some personal reasons why the friendship mattered so much. As a reader it was visible how much of his heart went into making this. He does say their friendship went beyond "The Odd Couple" and their work, and as a reader we can see it. He has written this lovely tribute with grace, respect and love. It's a short book, but one that I just kept reading (I finished it in 2 hours). This was a partnership that started from acting together but it grew beyond that, with their friendship becoming first and foremost. He put it best in the beginning of his book "For Tony". Thank you Mr. Klugman for sharing your friend with us. As a fan of both men I appreciate it. I highly recommend "Tony and Me". The bonus DVD is a real extra treat....
I have a best friend too that I met while working together. True friendship is about accepting each other's imperfections and looking past the silliness we've done. Thank you for putting that in perspective. I know we appreciate this!

This was a wonderful story of friendship. Jack wrote this after Tony died. It briefly tells about how they met, how The Odd Couple came to be and how their friendship became a life savor for Jack, especially after he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Tony was instrumental in building Jack's confidence back after Jack lost his voice from cancer surgery so that Jack could perform again. Tony was also helpful in allowing Jack to see how important friendship is, especially during rough times. Jack never thought much of friendships. He was a loner and reluctant to open himself up to trusting anyone. But, Tony showed Jack how much he cared and how much he was routing for him when he was trying to come back as an actor. This book is a tribute to a partnership, a very successful partnership. Included in the book is a DVD of some outtakes from The Odd Couple. This was the icing on the cake.

I recently saw Jack Klugman in a production of the Sunshine Boys and he signed my book!

Jack does a fine job of recounting their careers and eventual freindship. Could have been longer found myself wanting more. The DVD is way too short again I wanted more.

Reading this book by Jack Klugman, you could almost see it written by Tony Randall. Far more vulnerable and sensitive that you would expect from the characterization we see of his public persona.

The book was very insightful and surprising on the complexity of these two individuals and the relationship they developed over the years. I was duly impressed.

He sums it up quite well at the end of the book:

"If you're like I was, or you're someone who likes to hold a grudge, or you've never really let someone know what they mean to you because you're afraid, ask yourself this question: what are you really protecting? If you look, you'll see it: nothing. Absolutely nothing. Just phantoms from old wounds that never healed. Give them up and join the people in your life who love you. Risk it all. For me, it was the best gamble I ever made."

In this, though the book is easy and quick to read, it is an epic in personal growth as well as a tribute to the effect those we let in our lives have on us.

I am left to slobber and drool uncontrollably and often wonder aloud how heaven could improve on this magnificent art form. I fully suspect St. Peter and all the rest dine regularly on a menu culminating in these wondrous desserts. Now, this is what a low-fat, antioxidant is supposed to taste like. Sigh. . .

Clearly Ms Medrich has turned creating low fat, high flavor desserts into an art form! Many low fat recipes taste low fat, but not the ones in this book. It is comprehensive and included is everything from easy cookie recipes to stunning dressy desserts. Make sure to try Michael's Brownies, they are simply addictive!

The book is visually stunning, and also includes detailed information on ingredients and techniques which makes this into a real cooking reference. The book is well researched and one of my favorite subject books.

I have yet to make something in this book that isn't delicious. So far, I've made the marble cake, brownies, tiramisu, chocolate chip biscotti (mmm, tasted just like a real cookie!), and chocolate souffle torte. Everything is easy, clearly explained, and RICH. Like another reviewer said, these are great recipes that happen to be low-fat. And there's no gimmicks, like "Oh, just substitute half the fat with apple sauce." Medrich teaches you how to maximize the flavor of your full-fat ingredients so you use less but taste more. I am so sad this book is no longer in print. If I lost my copy, I would die!

BTW, everyone thinks I'm a kitchen god. It's not me; it's the book!

I have read all of Medrich's books so far-this being the last one. I know that this book has recieved accolades from the critics and fans alike, but I disagree.
For one thing, with the word chocolate highlighted in bold print in the title, it would seem to suggest that the book is primarily about chocolate; (the author writes books about chocolate after all), but half of the recipes in this work are not made with chocolate at all.
As I have written in other reviews of her books, the self-congratulatory text in her books are tiresome and it is evident in this one as well...when you look at the paragraphs in her introduction, it seems every third one starts with "I" and then follows with something like "my stuff was so fantastic..everyone was amazed!" You know, there is such a thing as humility, but it is certaintly not evident in these books. I prefer cookbooks with a forward written by someone else; a person with "know-how" to stand up for the author-to show examples why the author should earn our respect..this is what feels comfortable to me as a reader.
Also, the photos were not as good as shown in her other works and I had expected the same quality and consistancy, so this was a disappointment.
The techno-culinary babblings (informational writing) got pretty stale too, although some other readers may like this. Obviously the critics did...this book recieved an award.
Personally, I don't think this is her best work.I have seen several authors offer excellent low-fat recipes for desserts (Steven Raichlin is a good example) so the fact that Medrich has a few recipes that work here is not really that noteworthy. I know this review reads like I am a sourpuss but rest assured, most of my other reviews are not as harsh as this. It is only one opinion-mine.

This is an elegant, sumptuously produced book - if you're the type who reads cookbooks in bed, you'll love it. I've tried some of the simpler recipes and found that things turn out exactly as promised.

Be warned, though - you'll need a good assortment of baking pans, spatulas and bowls and an instant-read thermometer to make most of these recipes. Secondly, vegetarians look out - all but one of Medrich's mousse recipes (the foundations on which 3/4 of these desserts are based) contain gelatin, so you should be prepared to experiment with agar-agar or another setting agent. Also, Medrich loves herself *a lot* - her lavish self-praise can be annoying.

Having said that, this is a great manual for lower-fat desserts. Medrich is an able teacher who wants you not only to make her recipes but learn the principles for developing your own.

I really liked this book. Within the biographical anecdotes of Kevin Clash there are plenty of thought provoking lessons. Much like the Muppets or Sesame Street Shows. And it does remind one of how being young and free was like. I'm going to be a little more childlike from now on :)

As the mother of an Elmo-crazy toddler, I became intrigued with the little red guy and started looking on You-Tube for interviews with his puppeteer. I found him to be hysterically funny and never willing to comprimise Elmo's status as a "3 and a half year old" to get laughs on any adult talk shows, like some performers might. I bought this book and now I am a true fan. Kevin Clash is smart, funny, and devoted to children. You'll laugh, you'll cry (if you get through the story about him singing "Sing" to a young terminally ill girl without tears running down your face, then you're a Vulcan), you'll love Elmo just as much as your kids do! Very refreshing to have a role model like this. Thanks for the outstanding work, Kevin. Now, how can my kid meet you and Elmo???

I absolutely love this book. If you are feeling a bit down just pick up this book and you'll have a smile on your face within minutes.
Its just so positive, impossible not to love this book and off course our furry friend Elmo.
Thanks Kevin for giving us Elmo and this book.

Elmo. He's cute, he's furry, and for years he's been teaching the world to ask questions, to be creative, and to love with a pure heart. Odd but I never really thought about an actual person "being" Elmo.

My Life as a Furry Red Monster is written by Kevin Clash, the voice and puppeteer behind that furry red smile. In hearing his story, you understand that Elmo is merely an extension of the way this man tries to live his life. Kevin grew up in a household full of love where creativity was encouraged. At a very early age, he made all sorts of puppets. His shyness magically disappeared when he was entertaining others with his creativity. His greatest wish was to join the team at Sesame Street which took a lot of perseverance and hard work.

I may have picked up this book because Elmo was on the cover but Kevin's story will stick with me. It reminded me that dreams can come true.

I am, at heart, a child. A bitter, sarcastic child, yes, but a child nonetheless. I love animation. I like playing in the dirt. I adore the Muppets. I have absorbed Muppet trivia and information like a sponge. You tell me the Muppet (even a vague description) and I can spout back the puppet's name, puppeteer, and filmography. It was precisely for this reason that I finally picked up the autobiography of Muppeteer Kevin Clash, the voice of Elmo.

Born and raised outside of Baltimore, Clash grew up building puppets out of his mother's slippers and the lining of his father's Sunday coats. By the age of 12, he was making money as a puppeteer, and by the time he was a teenager, he and his puppets were regulars on a local television show. By the time he was 19, he had established a career as a puppeteer with the Captain Kangaroo show and another one of my perennial favorites, The Great Space Coaster. Shortly thereafter, Clash found himself in the dream job of his youth as a Muppeteer with the great Jim Henson companies.

The birth of Elmo was one of those happy flukes. Fellow muppeteer Richard Hunt, who passed away in 1994, flung a random puppet, then known as `Baby Monster' to Clash and said, "Give it a voice, Clash." Since then, Elmo, as he was eventually renamed, has become a world-wide phenomenon.

In My Life as a Furry Red Monster, Clash and his co-author take a rather unusual approach to the re-telling of Clash's life story and the story behind perhaps the most popular puppet in television history. Instead of a chronological retelling of his life history, Clash opts instead to divide the chapters into life lessons such as tolerance, friends, and joy. Using stories from his early childhood, his life as Elmo, and from Elmo's point of view, Clash illustrates the importance of these aspects of life.

In some ways, this unique approach works. One can see, particularly in Clash's retelling of events that have happened to him as the voice of Elmo, how one small three and a half year old with a hyper-active imagination and an unlimited capacity to love has changed the world and improved it for so many.

This is not, however, a history lesson in Elmo and the Muppets. The facts and behind-the-scenes tidbits that are so tantalizing and fascinating to a reader such as myself are in very short supply, and entirely out of order. We read about the death of Muppet creator Jim Henson within the first paragraph. We never really learn anything in-depth about Clash's induction into the Muppet hall-of-fame or how he progressed from muppeteer-in-training to director, producer, and muppeteer-in-training trainer.

The writing is very accessible and engaging; the voice, personal. However, it is difficult to follow the though path of Clash and his co-writer due to some very unusual stream-of-consciousness thought paths that have Clash in one paragraph recounting his childhood, the next paragraph preaching about a topic, and then immediately back to the Sesame Street studios. It's a short work, coming in at just over 200 half-sized pages, and when all is said and done, I felt rather unfulfilled by my experience.

I also had a small complaint about the form factor of the book. Instead of being a standard size, the book was printed in an unusual 6.7" x 5.9" form factor, which makes holding the book open with one hand a difficult process. I found my hand cramping after just a few minutes holding the book open.

Clash does do one job well, however, and that's relating Elmo's experiences to those faced by adults and the world in general. Clash relates particularly touching experiences, including the introduction of Elmo to a group of small school children in the newly apartheid-free South Africa in preparation for the release of a South African version of Sesame Street and his experiences in New Orleans following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. It's easy to see how, in Elmo's life, the ability to distribute love freely has resulted in love being returned to him ten-fold--and the difference that has made in the lives of countless children and adults.

Toward the end of the book, Clash writes

"We go to school to learn--from out instructors, from our books, from each other. And at some point, we begin to listen to another teacher: our dreams. We think about what could be, what might happen once we're all grown up, what we might be able to do without our budding talents or our latest interests. Dreams are fragile things, but when they've been bolstered by the support of parents and teachers, and reinforced with early success, they can withstand the skeptics and take flight."

This, perhaps more than any other statement, defines what this book is about. Though light on the "literature," history, and behind-the-scenes tidbits, My Life As A Furry Red Monster is all about the quest of a furry, red, three-and-a-half year old monster to make the world a better place, one hug and one laugh at a time.

Rating: B