Old Hollywood Books and Book Reviews

Reviews of books and biographies about Old Hollywood or the Golden Age of Hollywood and its magical actors and actresses.

Great Gift Idea for Fans of Classic Hollywood: Renegade Women in Film & TV

November 23, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

I love my family. Okay, that should probably go without saying, but seriously… I really, really love my family.

Not only because they’re the coolest, most colorful, and lovable group of people you could ever hope to meet but also because they’re uncommonly thoughtful, kind, generous, and… well…. DARN good. Not just good. DARN good.

The book you see here is an early Christmas gift from my youngest daughter Stephany. She and her two sisters (Emily and Brittany) have contributed to my Old Hollywood book and dvd collections tremendously and I love that they love supporting my obsessive habit!

They’ve helped create the monster behind these words.

Renegade Women in Film & TV is an absolutely remarkable book. Not only is it gorgeous (hardcover and packed with colorful illustrations of the women it celebrates), it is an exceptionally inspiring read.

Within the pages I was reminded of just how remarkable some of my favorites are (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Dorothy Dandridge, Hedy Lamarr, Hattie McDaniel, Dorothy Arzner, Mary Pickford, Rita Moreno, Anna May Wong, Marlo Thomas, Oprah…). I also learned a lot about some ground-breaking women I knew very little about (Ida Lupino, Mae West, Edith Head, Barbra Streisand, Susan Harris, Mary Tyler Moore, Lesley Visser, Barbara Walters, Geena Davis…) and met ladies I knew nothing about and a few I’d never heard of before but will never forget now.

(Continued Below Lucille Ball… how mesmerizing are those eyes??)

As expected, there are outstanding women who are missing that I’d have LOVED for them to have included..

Olivia de Havilland
Bette Davis (she gets a mention at the end)
Greta Garbo
Betty White
Etc.

However, the ones who AREN’T there should not and do not detract from the ones who are. Besides, maybe there’ll be a follow-up. I certainly hope so!

Renegade Women in Film & TV would make the most wonderful gift for fans of Old Hollywood and/or Classic TV imaginable. You will, however, want to get your hands on a copy for yourself, too, trust me.

But, here’s the thing… you may want TWO copies. I know I do. One for enjoying and keeping whole (it would make a perfect coffee table book) and one for removing the gorgeous photos for framing. They are truly stunning.

See Renegade Women in Film & TV for more information.

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The Young Duke: The Early Life of John Wayne

October 30, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

The Young Duke: The Early Life of John Wayne

As I’ve often said on Hollywood Yesterday, I collect Old Hollywood biographies and autobiographies like it’s my job. I’m content with one or two biographies of some stars, while others are such favorites, I collect anything and everything written about them. John Wayne is one of these “give me one of everything” stars. He’s a favorite and has been since I watched him on television with my day. That may be part of the reason I love The Duke so much. The Young Duke: The Early Life of John Wayne by Howard Kazanjian and Chris Enss is the newest addition to my John Wayne collection and I was anxious to tell you about it.

This book would make a great gift idea for anyone in your life who loves John Wayne. It’s a “fast read” with plenty of pictures, so even those “old cowboys” you love will enjoy it!

In addition to the wonderful content and pictures (lots of things even I didn’t know and quite a few pictures I’d never seen), the book includes great quotes about John Wayne and his influence on family and co-stars. I love these quotes so much because what people say about us is one of the strongest blocks in the building of our legacy.

From the Back Cover:

By the time Stagecoach made John Wayne a silver-screen star in 1939, the thirty-one-year-old was already a veteran of more than sixty films, having twirled six-guns and foiled cattle rustlers in B Westerns for five studios. By the 1950s he was Hollywood’s most popular actor—an Academy Award nominee destined to become an American icon.

Through rare photographs and revealing family anecdotes, The Young Duke offers an unflinching look at how Marion Morrison became the legend known as John Wayne—from his boyhood in Winterset, Iowa, and his days as a college football star, to his stunning box-office success in Westerns and war movies in the 1930s and 1940s. Shedding new light on Wayne’s formative years and early Hollywood roles and influences, this stirring biography uncovers the true stories behind the screen legend’s public and private lives.

About the Authors:

Chris Enss is an award-winning screenwriter and the author or coauthor of more than two dozen books.

Howard Kazanjian is an award-winning producer and entertainment executive who for three decades has been producing television programs and feature films, including two of the highest grossing films of all time, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

Great Addition to a Collection

There are, of course, more detailed biographies of John Wayne – many delve into his life and you can spend glorious weeks reading every detail. This book is a much different book from other biographies. Would it provide a complete picture of John Wayne, the actor or the man? No – certainly not. This book was intended more for a “quick read” or for collectors, like me, who simply must have everything related to their favorite stars!

This is a great addition to any biography collection and a very fun read. Whereas some biographies are “heavy” with filmographies, research, quotes, and information, this one is “light.”

When you want a fast-paced overview of a star’s life, sometimes that’s just what you’re looking for!

Find The Young Duke: The Early Life of John Wayne on Amazon or in your favorite second-hand bookstore.

Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner (Review)

October 24, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner

As both a collector and AVID reader of biographies and autobiographies (old Hollywood and history), I often group these books into three categories when adding to my collections:

The stand-alone, ultimate biography or autobiography – as in the only one you really need for a certain star or historical figure.
A component biography or autobiography – one that is a wonderful (even necessary) addition to a collection of memoirs of the individual.
The one I have to have no matter what – one that it simply doesn’t matter which of the above slots it fits into because I collect everything ever written about the individual!

A few examples of number 1:

These books give you such a perfect all-around account of the star that (unless you collect everything written about them, you may not find it necessary to add another book about them to your collection).

Ginger by Ginger Rogers

June Allyson’s Autobiography

Barefoot to the Chin

Esther Williams’ The Million Dollar Mermaid

A few examples of number 2:

These books are so wonderful that they should be added to any collection you have on the star(s). However, either because of their laser focus on one particular topic or because they cover more than one star (Feuding Fan Dancers, for example), they wouldn’t be considered the ultimate biography. There’s also the… shall we say chance… that the author’s recollections are clouded by emotion(s) – such as Georgia Hale’s biography of Charlie Chaplin, a man she spent nearly a lifetime loving.

Feuding Fan Dancers

Georgia Hale’s Charlie Chaplin Biography

Bob Hope: My Life in Jokes

My Examples of number 3:

I collect anything and everything pertaining in any way, shape, or form for the following, so I grab every book associated with them!

Lucille Ball, Maureen O’Hara, Barbara Stanwyck, Rita Hayworth, Katharine Hepburn, June Allyson, Audrey Hepburn, Georgia Hale, Buster Keaton, Bob Hope, Elvis, Abbott & Costello, John Wayne, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis (I get a special kick out of always listing these two together.. strange sense of humor, I guess)…

Back to Lana….

I lay all of this out merely to set the stage for Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner – because it is a “component” type biography that also happens to (for me, anyway) fall into the third category as well – I collect all Lana Turner books!

As you can tell by the title, “The Life and Loves of Lana Turner,” this book has Lana’s (eventful!) love life in mind. In fact, the wonderful author (Jane Ellen Wayne) focuses the bulk of time on the men in the beautiful Lana Turner’s life… to be more precise, the effect(s) they had on the actress.

Make no mistake about it, each man left fingerprints all over her life – for better or worse. A certain amount of naivety existed with Lana, because she seemed to sincerely believe that each one was her Prince Charming.

Not only does the author provide a great deal of insight into what Lana Turner was thinking (even when she seemed to not be thinking at all!), she presents her as she truly was – a human being, just as capable of mistakes as any of us.

Things I Love Most About This Biography

When I think about things that make this biography stand out, the one that comes to mind first is the respect with which author Jane Ellen Wayne treats Lana. Instead of, “She did this wicked thing… she made this irrational decision…,” her response seemed to be more, “I wish I’d been there to help her avoid that guy!” I feel the same way when it comes to Lana and many of my other favorites – I wish I could have been there to tell them, “No… absolutely not!” Heck, with Lana, I’d have been tempted to lock her in a room once or twice! Her heart led down some very destructive roads and left her a beautiful and easy prey for more than one low life.
I am in love with the way the author presents Lana’s beautiful daughter, Cheryl and her relationship with her mother.
While there are a few men you meet along the way who you’d love to throw rotten garbage at, there are a few who you’ll find especially intriguing and want to learn more about (Tyrone Power, for example).
The pictures – just wow! There are gorgeous pictures of Lana throughout her career as well as candids with the men in her life and her beautiful family.
As you’d expect from someone who reads as much as I do, I appreciate a “fast read.” Books that are easily digested and don’t take a lot of time to read have a special place in my heart and Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner is a very fast read – yet it’s one that stays with you.
The “staying with you” aspect is something else I love about this book. Since I first read it, I often think back to moments in Lana’s life when I see pictures or films. When I see her during a particular time, smiling for her fans and looking radiant, I’ll instantly think back to this book and remember what she was going through at the time. It’s very memorable and will stay with you long after the last page.

One could say that Lana was weak in some ways – weak to “allow” herself to become more than one man’s (and more than one situation’s) victim. She often, when faced with two decisions, made the absolute worst one as though it were her job to torment herself. As a Lana Turner fan (and one that has studied her more than I ever studied any subject in school), I would hasten to say this: Yes, she displayed moments of great weakness BUT the fact that she survived the madness and is, today, one of the greatest, most-recognized icons of Old Hollywood took greater strength.

If you are (or even if you are not YET), a fan of Lana Turner’s, I hope you’ll read Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner. I have a feeling it will help you understand her better. Trust me, she’s very much someone worth getting to know.

One of the Best Old Hollywood Biographies I’ve EVER Read: June Allyson’s Autobiography

October 21, 2019 By Joi 1 Comment

June Allyson by June Allyson

My husband has a passion for BBQ that is, in my opinion, completely unrivaled. The man can smell a BBQ restaurant three miles away – when he locates one, we either visit it right away or, if we’ve recently eaten, he instantly make plans for when we WILL be back.

Sometimes he even tells it, on the way by, that we’ll be back.

When he has a plate of BBQ in front of him, it’s quite the production. JUST the right amount of sauce is added (after first tasting it to see how much will be required), the perfect amount of onions and perfect number of pickles are invited to the party, the napkin placed in his lap and… he dives in without a care in the world. It’s one of his greatest passions and seeing him “BBQ happy” makes me happy.

This is very much how I am with cats, chocolate, strawberry sundaes, fried catfish, old movies, classic tv and radio, and old Hollywood biographies/autobiographies. Fortunately, for cats, I only eat three of these passions.

As I’ve often said in my Hollywood Yesterday Book Reviews, I am always, always, always in the middle of at least 3 books at any given time. I can’t help myself, I just love them that much.

I recently read one that is, now, officially one of my all-time favorites: June Allyson by June Allyson.

First, a few words about how I feel about June Allyson. She’s my Doris Day. Is that a strange thing to say? Well, stick with me, kid, you’ll get used to it. I say a lot of strange things – sometimes within one sentence.

Doris Day is sunshine, personified to many people. Perhaps they were going through a rough patch in their life when they saw her in a movie and her rays of sunshine broke through their clouds. Or, maybe they didn’t have any dark clouds to break through – maybe she simply caused the sun to seem brighter.

I have nothing against the wonderful Doris Day, mind you – but June Allyson is MY personal Doris Day.

Except she’s my June Allyson.

I warned you about me.

June Allyson and Her Beloved Husband Dick Powell

My parents both died far too young. My dad was just in his 50s (after a long illness) and my mom was in her early 60s (complications from diabetes and heart disease – both of which are monsters). June Allyson movies were like medication on both occasions.

Recently, one of my beautiful daughters had a high-risk pregnancy that had this mother hen beside herself. I can’t even begin to tell you how many June Allyson movies I watched!

Naturally, I watch June Allyson even when my world isn’t turned upside down. I just adore her and everything about her. Whether she brings Van Johnson or Dick Powell with her into my den, it doesn’t matter -she is always, always, always welcome.

Her wonderful autobiography, June Allyson is as sunny, honest, and unpretentious as she was. It was an absolute joy to read every single step of the way.

In fact, I did something after finishing this one that I have never done before. Instead of placing her on one of my Old Hollywood book shelves, I turned back to page one so I could enjoy the journey through her life one more time.

I say “one more” but there will be other journeys – and plenty of them.

June Allyson pours her heart out in this poignant autobiography. She takes us inside her early days in Hollywood with wonderful stories about Mickey Rooney, Van Johnson, and her very close friend Judy Garland. As is the case with all exceptional memoirs, you meet household names along the way and, in this case, you get to enjoy their presence as well as June’s adorable instances of being starstruck.

Stars you’ll meet along the way: Lucille Ball, Dick Powell, Judy Garland, Claudette Colbert, Joan Crawford, James Stewart, Van Johnson, JFK, Peter Lawford, Jane Wyman, Ronald Reagan, Alan Ladd (oh boy, is there some Alan Ladd content), Merle Oberon, Rita Hayworth, Susan Hayward, Joan Blondell (who happened to be Dick Powell’s glamorous wife, then ex-wife during the course of the book), Charles Boyer, Mary Pickford, Jack Benny, Ronald Colman, Gracie Allen, George Burns, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Margaret O’Brien, Gloria DeHaven, Louis B. Mayer, Kathryn Grayson… and more.

Reading about the movie “The Conqueror” (the deaths of John Wayne, Dick Powell, Susan Hayward, Pedro Armendariz, and Agnes Moorehead have all been tied to the making of this film) was unsettling and interesting at the same time.

Most compelling (for me, anyway) was the love story between her and Dick Powell. Their marriage lasted 17 years – until his death. When she lost her soulmate, she had a horrifying downward spiral – understandably. Her book tells how her friends helped her find her way out of the devastating darkness.

With a personality few stars could even hope to rival, spending time with June Allyson, the author, is as joyful as spending time with June Allyson, the actress.

While you journey through the valleys and mountaintops with this wonderful lady, you can’t help but be awestruck how she survived it all. One of the things I love most is that it all ends on a mountaintop with her husband Dr. David Ashrow. It may sound like a Hallmark greeting card but there’s only one way to put it: He helped her find happiness again.

As I often say, one of my greatest and perhaps guiltiest pleasures with autobiographies and memoirs is hearing about the other stars. When an actor or actress tells about their experiences with fellow stars, you learn a lot about the stars they are referring to as well as the one doing the reminiscing. Katharine Hepburn, June Allyson, and Fred Astaire are three that come immediately to mind when thinking about stars who were kind to other stars.

There are one or two stars who June Allyson doesn’t shine an especially favorable light on, but it isn’t, shall we say, an unflattering light we didn’t already know about!

Overall, she is extremely positive about everyone she knew along the way and I love that about her.

I can’t say enough wonderful things about June Allyson (the book or the actress!). Every word is a delight – whether it makes you feel warm, happy, shocked (two words: Alan Ladd), or sad. You’ll laugh out loud in places and probably swipe at a few tears in others (I certainly did). You’ll come to love stars you already loved even more (for me: Judy Garland, Lucille Ball, James Stewart, Rita Hayworth, Van Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Susan Hayward, John Wayne) and you’ll become a fan of stars you didn’t know much about before but want desperately to know them better now (for me: Alan Ladd, Alan Ladd, Alan Ladd, and Alan Ladd).

You’ll also find that some of your favorite stars were as complex and multi-layered as you always suspected (for me: Joan Crawford, Joan Blondell). I love that June doesn’t attempt to judge anyone – she knows something I always preach: Everyone fights their own battles in their own ways. Period.

In addition to the wonderful writing and priceless memories and stories, the pictures in this book are extra wonderful. I have been a huge fan of June Allyson and Dick Powell for years and there were many pictures I have never seen.

Read more about June Allyson by June Allyson on Amazon. As for me, I’m going to kick back and read another chapter right now. Yes, for the second time. What can I say… she’s my Doris Day.

Bob Hope: My Life in Jokes by Bob Hope with Linda Hope (Review)

October 19, 2019 By Joi 1 Comment

Bob Hope: My Life in Jokes

One of my favorite entertainers of all time is synonymous with the word, itself: Bob Hope. The man was simply brilliant in everything he did – every word, every joke, every film… brilliant.

Not only was Bob Hope a wonderful actor and entertainer, like some of my other favorites, he was also all class – with some to spare. James Stewart, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Hattie McDaniel, Maureen O’Hara, Olivia de Havilland… some stars were such high quality people that it makes being a fan as easy as an autumn breeze.

The book above, Bob Hope: My Life in Jokes by Bob Hope with Linda Hope is one of my all-time favorite books in my collection. It’s like sitting down in your favorite chair with a hot cup of tea (or tall glass of iced raspberry tea, depending on the season) and having Bob Hope, himself, stand in the middle of your room making you laugh until your sides ache.

“I was destined to be an actor. The day I was born, I stood up and took a bow. Really. When the doctor slapped me, I thought it was applause “

The stories, jokes, and vintage Bob Hope self-deprecating humor are such a joy, I’m really at a loss for words. If you, or anyone in your life loves to laugh, this book is a must have…. if you love to laugh and are a fan of the wonderful Bob Hope, Bob Hope: My Life in Jokes is an absolute MUST HAVE.

To comedians, ‘material’–their jokes–has always been precious, worthy of protecting and preserving. On stage, a good vaudeville routine could last years as it was performed on tour across the country. On radio, a year’s vaudeville material might be fodder for one week’s broadcast. Bob Hope used new material not only for his weekly radio series, but also for the several live charity appearances he made each week.

Organized by the stages of his life, accompanied by black-and-white photographs, this book gives readers a chance to enjoy the very best of Hope’s jokes, from his early years in vaudeville, his top-rated radio show in the ’30s and ’40s, his legendary television appearances, and much more.

Bob Hope’s wonderful, one-of-a-kind personality comes shining through on every page of this delightful and fun book.

“I knew the troops would be glad to see me. I said, ‘Look at me, fellas, these are the kind of clothes you’ll be wearing when you get home!’ Fifty guys re-enlisted.”

About the Authors

Bob Hope was in the forefront of the entertainment industry for virtually his entire life. Primarily a comedian, he also acted, sang, and even danced, hosted his own radio and television shows, and starred in sixty movies. Bob Hope’s dedication to and love for the American GI is legendary. He traveled around the world to entertain the men and women in uniform during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Desert Storm. No individual in the history of show business journeyed so far–and so often–to entertain so many. He received more than two thousand awards and citations for his humanitarian and professional efforts, and was honored and befriended by every U.S. president since Franklin Roosevelt.

Linda Hope, Bob and Dolores Hope’s daughter, is chief operating officer of Hope Enterprises, Inc., and producer of her father’s television specials for the last twenty-five years.

“Jobs didn’t come easy. For months at a time, I forgot what kind of work I was out of.”

Bob Hope: My Life in Jokes is absolutely hilarious and would make a perfect gift idea for anyone. They broke the mold when Bob Hope came along and this collection is a perfect reminder of this very fact.

The Making of the African Queen by Katharine Hepburn

October 1, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

The Making of The African Queen

One of my guiltiest of pleasures is getting inside of Katharine Hepburn’s head.

What a place!

Whether it’s listening to interviews, coming across her quotes, or (my favorite) reading her memoirs – getting a front row seat to the intriguing thoughts of one of our greatest actors/actresses of all time is a treat I never pass up.

Needless to say, I collect all Katharine Hepburn biographies, memoirs, autobiographies, magazines… if she’s in it, I’m on it.

One of my favorites is The Making of The African Queen. In this larger-than-life account (Let’s face it, what associated with Katharine Hepburn isn’t larger-than-life?), she tells, in her own priceless words and in her own delicious way, everything that went on behind the scenes of this legendary film. She tells of Bogie and Bacall’s great love for one another, the time she basically told John Huston to scram… only to become very close to him…. how they all made the absolute best out of difficult situations, etc.

As luck has it…

Katharine Hepburn is one of my favorite actresses.
Humphrey Bogart is one of my favorite actors.
Lauren Bacall is one of my favorite actresses.
John Huston is one of my favorite directors.
The African Queen is one of my favorite movies.

No wonder I love this book – it was practically written for me! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Continued below the legends…

I’ll tell you a few of the things I love the things I love most about Katharine Hepburn:

She was a straight-shooter. She didn’t mollycoddle anyone or anything. If she didn’t like something, she said so. If she did like something, she said so.
She knew who she was and didn’t need anyone’s approval and she darn sure didn’t need their permission.
She was one of the greatest actors/actresses EVER. I’ll go a step further – there will NEVER be another like her.
While she was deliciously frank and honest, she was also uncommonly fair and positive. Yes, positive… and in VERY positive. She seems to have an image (when it comes to some people, anyway) as being kind of “hard” and edgy. Here’s the facts: I read a lot…. a lot a lot a lot a lot…. of Old Hollywood biographies and autobiographies. Seriously, I couldn’t even begin to count the number I read in just a year, let alone over a lifetime. I always have at least three going at any given time. Of all the stars’ memoirs I’ve read or quotes they’ve given, I have never read a star who was more giving to those they worked with or more positive about their experiences than Katharine Hepburn. In fact, I could count on one hand, probably, stars who were AS positive. It’s simply the way she was and I love it.

Not only is The Making of The African Queen fascinating because of the firsthand details our wonderful author gives us, it is also fascinating because of the wonderful pictures – many never seen anywhere else.

As you know, when it comes to my movie reviews and my book reviews, I like to keep things short and sweet when possible and I detest the thought of giving away too much information that I want you to come across on your own – heck, I refuse to spoil your fun! I will keep this review short and sweet as well. If you love Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, John Huston, The African Queen or simply are a fan of Old movies… you need to add this book to your collection. When you click through to Amazon, be sure to look at the “Used” books available.

I’ve gotten to where I always buy “Used” books on Amazon (I’m just sure to mark “excellent” or “very good” as determiners). I figure that saving money on one book simply means I can buy two or three!

And there you have it… a look inside my devious, plotting, book-greedy mind!

~ Joi

P.S. If you don’t know much about Katharine Hepburn, please start reading more about her – particularly in her own words. She was a fascinating, larger-than-life, inspiring, one-of-a-kind woman and the more you get to know her, the more you’ll love her. This would make me unspeakably happy.

Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball (An Autobiography You Can NOT Put Down)

September 24, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball

One of my greatest obsessions in this world? Well, you’re looking at her – the talented, beautiful, one-of-a-kind, they-broke-the-mold legend, herself, Lucille Ball. As I’ve often said on this very blog, I collect anything and everything connected to this lady.

As I said, she is an obsession and I offer no apologies. She has brought so much laughter and joy into my life over the (many) years and continues to do so each day.

What a legacy… to bring joy to countless people even after you’re gone. Does not get much better than that.

Over the years, I have read and reread this particular autobiography – as I do my absolute favorite books. I mean, if once through is wonderful – why not want that experience as many times as possible??!

After Lucille Ball died in 1989, this autobiography (written prior to 1964) was discovered among her papers. In these memoirs, she describes a childhood deeply affected by her father’s death and her mother’s withdrawal from her life.

Lucille was raised by her maternal grandparents and, over the years, developed a fiery, determined, larger-than-life personality and temperament that would help her years later as she made a name (and legacy) for herself.

Lucille Ball – oddly enough – was not an overnight sensation. Personally, I don’t know how everyone in Hollywood kept from falling all over themselves for her – but boy did they manage. I don’t think they knew quite what to make of her because there had never (and would never) be anyone quite like her. It took years of plodding and B movies to make herself a household name. Along the way, she met and usually befriended some of the top names and faces in Hollywood.

One of the funnest things about this autobiography is the same as the others – “meeting” a seemingly endless cast of stars and getting to know them through another star’s eyes. In this case, Lucille’s beautiful wise blue eyes.

The many photographs are a real treat, as are her very humorous accounts and stories. The early pages pull at your heart’s strings as you realize how overwhelming everything must have been for such an innocent little girl.

My favorite parts of the book, however, are the ones which include her soulmate, Desi Arnaz. Yes, it can be frustrating to realize that these two couldn’t remain together – downright sad, actually. But, during the time they were together, they made the best kind of magic together. What’s more, even after they no longer shared rings or even a home together, the love was ALWAYS there.

Her chapters dealing with her and Desi are absolutely breathtaking. Actually, the entire book is. If you’re a Lucille Ball fan, you are going to love Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball as much as we all love Lucy.

Maureen O’Hara Autobiography: ‘Tis Herself (Review of a Personal Favorite)

September 22, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

One of my favorite actresses of any time, all time is Maureen O’Hara. As far as I’m concerned, she made any scene (or movie, for that matter) instantly better simply by showing up.

If she is listed in the credits, count on it… it’s a movie I’ll see. As in dozens of times.

The beautiful, spirited actress enjoyed a wonderful career in Hollywood for over 70 years. Known as “the queen of Technicolor,” she had a reputation for having an especially strong will – a trait that allowed her to have such an illustrious career and a trait that allowed her to live her life on her terms. Take advantage of Miss O’Hara? I don’t think so.

This strength of will came shining through in her performances as beautifully as it did in her life. It was part of the reason it was simply impossible not to follow wherever her character led.

As an avid, die-hard, obsessive fan of Old Hollywood, I literally have at least three biographies, autobiographies, or memoirs in my hand or within reach at all times. Currently I’m besting my own record – I recently re-read (for the third time) Maureen’s autobiography, ‘Tis Herself: An Autobiography and am currently in the middle of June Allyson’s fun autobiography (review coming next week), Ingrid by the wonderful Charlotte Chandler, Ava Gardner’s autobiography, and Rock Hudson: His Story.

Why would anyone re-read bios and autobiographies as I have ‘Tis Herself? For one thing, as with movies, you sometimes miss things the first or second time through. For another, some stars are such excellent writers and story-tellers that reading their words is like having a cup of coffee with them.

Sign me up for that anytime!

Maureen O’Hara’s HIGH character, intelligence, wit, beauty, and independent nature earned her a legion of admirers in and outside of Hollywood. ‘Tis Herself: An Autobiography recounts the beautiful star’s life and tells her story as it should be told… by the lady, herself.

From Amazon:
O’Hara was brought to Hollywood as a teenager in 1939 by the great Charles Laughton, to whom she was under contract, to costar with him in the classic film The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She has appeared in many other classics, including How Green Was My Valley, Rio Grande, The Quiet Man, and Miracle on 34th Street. She recalls intimate memories of working with the actors and directors of Hollywood’s Golden Age, including Laughton, Alfred Hitchcock, Tyrone Power, James Stewart, Henry Fonda, and John Candy.

With characteristic frankness, she describes her tense relationship with the mercurial director John Ford, with whom she made five films, and her close lifelong friendship with her frequent costar John Wayne.

Successful in her career, O’Hara was less lucky in love until she met aviation pioneer Brigadier General Charles F. Blair, the great love of her life, who died in a mysterious plane crash ten years after their marriage. Candid and revealing, ‘Tis Herself is an autobiography as witty and spirited as its author.

One of the things that jumps out at you first (and then again and again) with her autobiography is the fact that the lady is not the least bit shy about speaking her mind. If she didn’t like someone, you don’t have to ask, “Hmmmm, I wonder if she liked him?”

You’ll know!

If she thought a certain someone was not a strong actor or good director – she’ll flat out say so. If someone told lies about her – or anyone she loved – or tried to take advantage of any of them, she didn’t take it on the chin, she fought back. A few VERY big names found out she wasn’t one to be pushed around. Heck, she wasn’t one to even be poked! She lacked boldness about as much as she lacked beauty – not one bit.

Speaking of her obvious beauty, the book is FILLED with rarely-seen (and never seen by many) gorgeous pictures of Maureen, her family, friends, and co-stars.

(Book Review concluded below….)

While I love the Hollywood tales and, in particular, the stories of her and her wonderful friends Lucille Ball, Charles Laughton, and John Wayne – I loved spending time with her as she retold the story of her childhood every bit as much.The love for her family, friends, and life in general comes shining through and it is simply a beautiful life, beautifully told.

See ‘Tis Herself: An Autobiography for more information.

Cooking Price-Wise: A Culinary Legacy by Vincent Price (Book Review + Recipe)

July 11, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

You’re familiar with the saying, “When worlds collide…” right? Two worlds colliding accounts for one of the funnest things I collect: Old Hollywood celebrity cookbooks and recipes.

Since I was 18 years old, I have collected cookbooks. I’m an avid cook and food blogger and cherish my cookbook collection. Some belonged to loved ones and I am thankful they were in the habit of writing in their cookbooks.
As I’ve often said here, I collect Old Hollywood biographies and autobiographies like it’s my job.

So…. naturally, the two collided and the inevitable happened – I collect every Old Hollywood star recipe and cookbook I can get my eager hands on!

The most recent one I’ve bought is pictured here, Cooking Price-Wise: A Culinary Legacy by Vincent Price. In addition to being a wonderful star of stage, radio, and screen, Vincent Price was a noted gourmet. Not only did he have several cookbooks to his name, he even had a cooking show (Cooking Price-Wise), making him one of the earliest celebrity chefs.

Before I get to the recipes, I just want to say what a wonderful writer Vincent Price was. His personality and humor come through in every word he wrote – it’s as though you’re having a visit with him, face to famous face. He even makes the humble potato fascinating!

From the Back Cover: Best known as a star of stage and screen, Vincent Price was also a noted gourmet whose enthusiastic promotion of home cooking included several cookbooks and a television show, Cooking Price-Wise. This charming book of Price’s favorite recipes is based on the Thames Television series he hosted in the 1970s, which showcased timeless international cuisine. Scores of easy-to-make dishes from around the world include soups, breads, main courses, sidedishes, and desserts that can be made from ingredients readily available in supermarkets and food shops. Fascinating food-related historical tidbits add extra zest to the newly typeset recipes and numerous color and black-and-white photographs that enhance this handsome collectible edition.

My personal approach with all recipes when I first see them is to make them as close to the original as possible. I say “as close to” because a lot of the cookbooks/recipes I collect are really old and foods available then are either not available now or are known as something completely different. Something I run into even more frequently (regardless of the age of the recipe) is the fact I have to eat gluten-free… health reasons.. so I have to make frequent substitutions. Once you’re accustomed to it, it’s not such a big deal.

However, on the first time making a recipe, I stay as close as absolutely possible to the recipe, as given. In future relationships with the recipe, I’ll add this, add that, cut back on this, substitute that, etc. This process (what I call making a recipe your “own”) has led to some of my favorite and most frequently used recipes.

Having said all of that, on my food blog and everywhere else, I always preach the same sermon – make a recipe AS WRITTEN the first time. It’s the only way to know, for sure, what you’d do differently (if anything).

Very often, you’ll come across a recipe like the one here and think, “I wouldn’t change a thing!’

This is the first recipe I made from Cooking Price-Wise: A Culinary Legacy and it’s one I’ll make OFTEN. I have always loved fried potatoes with onion (it’s kind of a staple here in the south) but I had never parboiled the potatoes, first, while cooking the onions separately before. Vincent Price’s approach is outstanding and one of the reasons is the fact that the onions flavor the oil they’re in and set the stage for deliciousness when the potatoes join the party.

The recipe is called Lyonnaise Potatoes and it’s from one of my favorite sections, Potato Recipes. What can I say, I’m a real potato head.

Recipe Below the Picture…

Here’s the recipe, as written in the book:

Lyonnaise Potatoes

Serves: 4

1 lb. potatoes, peeled and sliced
1 onion, peeled and sliced

Parboil potatoes; this takes about 3-5 minutes. Lightly fry onion rings until pale golden brown. Remove from the pan, then fry potato slices. When cooked, add onions and fry both together until crisp and brown.

Notes:

I used Russet potatoes because they’re the potatoes I had on hand. It’s also my “go to” potato for frying.
I used Sunflower oil simply because I’ve become obsessed with it but vegetable oil or peanut oil would be great, too.
I allowed my onions to go a little past golden brown because I’m wild about the flavor they take on at this point.
I kept the seasonings really basic – salt, pepper – because I wanted the flavor to be as close to what Vincent, himself, would have been enjoying. I get an especially big kick out of eating food the stars ate!
I served these with fried catfish (an obsession) and fried green tomatoes (another one).
There was, surprisingly, a little potatoes leftover, so I invited them to breakfast the next day. I heated the potatoes up in a skillet with a little fresh bacon grease and OMG they were amazing.

Not only is this beautiful book filled with similarly wonderful recipes, the vintage pictures are out of this world. I love the fact that the recipes come from around the world – the intercontinental flavors and overall vibe make it unlike other cookbooks.

Possibly my favorite part of the book, however, is Vincent Price, himself. He had a very warm personality and it comes shining through. Great food, great author… can’t beat that!

Other Recipes Include:

Potatoes with Sour Cream (Poland)
Minestrone
Potato Yahni (Greece)
Peruvian Peppers
Sweet Potato Cake
Chili-Con-Carne
Irish Stew
Wilted Spinach Salad with Bacon Dressing
Summer Bacon Soup
Arabian Nights Pilaf
Fried Chicken with Lemon Rice
Pineapple Custard Pudding
And a lot more….

You can find Cooking Price-Wise: A Culinary Legacy on Amazon.

Charlie Chaplin: Intimate Close-Ups by Georgia Hale

June 27, 2019 By Joi 2 Comments

Charlie Chaplin: Intimate Close-Ups by Georgia Hale

From the Intro: Charlie Chaplin was not one but two. For many years I was under contract to Charlie Chaplin. Now I want you to know him as I do. These intimate close-ups of him reveal the still calm of a sun-lit lake, the fury of an unspent sea. ~ Georgia Hale

Georgia Hale was an especially beautiful and talented silent film star and a very gifted writer. Unless you’re pretty familiar with Silents, you probably aren’t familiar with her. After all, she wasn’t in very many films and her career did not continue on into “talkies.” In fact, she only has 17 films to her credit and four of these roles weren’t even named – one was “Second Wife,” one was, “the girl…” you get the idea.

She does have a very big… huge, even… feather in her cap. She starred alongside Charlie Chaplin in one of the most popular, beloved, iconic and brilliant silent films ever made – The Gold Rush.

If you’re going to have one movie that’s truly a stand out, make it legendary.

I often talk about the instant impact many stars and films have on those of us who cherish Old Hollywood. While some actors and actresses become favorites over the course of three, four, or even five films – others leave their fingerprints on your life immediately. There’s just something about them – their screen presence, the way they walk, the way they talk (when applicable), the way they make their character come to life. Sometimes there’s just something in their eyes that you resonate with and… make no mistake about it… you know they’ll be one of your “absolute favorites” for the rest of your life.

When I watched The Gold Rush for the first time, Charlie Chaplin had already been one of my favorites for a while. However, his beautiful co-star, Georgia Hale (portraying his love interest, Georgia) was completely new to me. Within two scenes, I knew she’d be one of my “absolutes.” While she reminded me of a hybrid of two of my all-time favorite actresses (Barbara Stanwyck and Keira Knightley), she was most definitely totally unique and very fun to watch.

To see someone totally new to me holding their own with the breathtakingly brilliant Charlie Chaplin left quite an impression.

When a new “absolute” arrives in my world, I want to read everything about them and see as many of their films as I can find. As is the case with a lot of silent film stars, finding all of her films will be a little tough. But as soon as I saw that she had written a book, I knew that reading more about her would be as easy as it would be enjoyable.

Georgia Hale Publicity Still Photographed by Paralta

Her book, “Charlie Chaplin: Intimate Close-Ups” is as unique as Georgia. It’s also just a little bit sad because She had written a biography and could not find a publisher. It was only when she wrote it from the standpoint of being about Charlie Chaplin that she found someone willing to publish it.

Although, as a fan of Georgia’s, this kind of makes me sad, I cannot help but admire and applaud her determination to have her say! The book is every bit as much an autobiography as it is a Charlie Chaplin biography… in spite of the fact that someone thought it had to have his name on the cover before her name.

In the end, she got her book published and that’s all that matters!

I feel rich for having been so close to him. – Georgia Hale

There are many things I love about this book and we’ll get to them in a minute, but first I want to assure fellow Charlie Chaplin fans that this is not a hatchet job. Yes, she talks about how much she loved him and how he never quite returned this love. He comes to life as, at times, selfish and other times incredibly desperate for attention and love. He can be aloof and bewilderingly unpredictable. He broke her heart as well as other hearts.

In other words, he was a flesh and blood human. Flesh and blood humans are capable of all sorts of things – especially when they’re in the middle of the kind of CRAZY success he had. Georgia does not judge him – she tries to understand him. And to love him.

I respect the fact that she does not wade into bitter, “He did this and this and this… the jackass!” waters. Unlike a certain celebrity daughter (won’t name any names, here), she does not try to knock him down and make a joke of him just to shine a spotlight on herself with a t-shirt that reads VICTIM.

She had too much love in her heart for that.

She explains their complicated relationship, which included great pain on her part, but she loved him… I believe until the day she died.

If Charles Chaplin carried within him many contradictions, was tender-hearted, cruel, sensitive, child-like, a poseur, all these qualities were part of his creative spirit. – Georgia Hale

In a previous post, I shared Georgia’s beautiful story of how Charlie Chaplin changed her life… possibly even saved her life… before she ever even met him. She said, “He made my heart laugh for the first time…” When you’re done here, be sure to read her beautiful words here.

As I always mention in my Old Hollywood book reviews, I am possibly more cautious than any reviewer in the world when it comes to trying to be brief. The internet is always in the fast-lane and I don’t want to slow my readers down. I’m even more tenacious when it comes to NOT giving anything away. Doing so isn’t fair to the author or the reader. I want you to enjoy books as much as I did, journeying from one page blissfully to the next…. without anything being ruined for you.

Continued Below….

Charlie Chaplin and Georgia Hale on the set of The Gold Rush

I will allow you to discover the first meeting between these two stars on your own and allow you to explore their relationship without throwing in my two cents. I do, however, want to say that no matter how badly their relationship ended, the fact that she was able (many years later) to still speak of him with love – and at times even a great deal of sympathy for him – tells me that he was a special man. He left a lasting impact on Georgia, one she was never able to run away from.

He also helped her grow and to find herself. Her childhood and teen years weren’t very happy. She dealt with poverty, feelings of not being good enough, and a seemingly unloving father. After Charlie Chaplin came into her life, she found herself able to stand up for herself and TO herself. Later in life, she became very wealthy in real estate – at a time when women weren’t given many opportunities.

She also found a way to get her book published! (I love this fact, could you tell??) While she never married, she did have a loving relationship later in life and left him a wealthy man after she died.

So, yes, she found her happy ever after and, personally, I think Charlie Chaplin had a lot to do with it – in spite of not sharing the ever after with her.

I hope you’ll find a copy of Charlie Chaplin: Intimate Close-Ups (Amazon) or e-Bay. This is a fascinating book about two even more fascinating stars. You’ll also meet other wonderful Old Hollywood stars as you read through Charlie Chaplin: Intimate Close-Ups – Marion Davies, Marlene Dietrich, Mary Pickford, the Gish sisters, Douglas Fairbanks.. and many more.