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.

Feuding Fan Dancers: Faith Bacon, Sally Rand, and the Golden Age of the Showgirl

January 21, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Feuding Fan Dancers

Feuding Fan Dancers: Faith Bacon, Sally Rand, and the Golden Age of the Showgirl is the latest book from actress and author Leslie Zemeckis and it is breathtaking. One of my favorite pastimes is reading Old Hollywood biographies and autobiographies, so when I was offered a copy of Feuding Fan Dancers in exchange for telling you about the book, I jumped at the chance so fast I startled both the cat in my lap and the one on the back of my chair.

Like many people who spend a great deal of their time in Classic Hollywood, I was somewhat familiar with Sally Rand. I had not heard of Faith Bacon, however. While my knowledge of Sally was limited (I knew she had danced with feathers and that she’d been in a couple of movies), at least I could put a face to the name. I couldn’t have told you who Faith Bacon was if I’d had to.

Clearly I needed an education on the Golden Age of the Showgirl and Leslie Zemeckis provided it. I assure you, no other text book could compare to this one – or even come close!

From the Inside Cover:

Leslie Zemeckis continues to discover the forgotten feminist histories of the golden age of entertainment, turning her sights on the lost stories of Sally Rand and Faith Bacon―icons who each claimed to be the inventor of the notorious fan dance

Some women capture our attention like no others. Faith Bacon and Sally Rand were beautiful blondes from humble backgrounds who shot to fame behind a pair of oversize ostrich fans, but with very different outcomes. Sally Rand would go on to perform for the millions who attended the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, becoming America’s sweetheart. Faith Bacon, the Marilyn Monroe of her time––once anointed the “world’s most beautiful woman”––would experience the dark side of fame and slip into drug use.

It was the golden age of American entertainment, and Bacon and Rand fought their way through the competitive showgirl scene of New York with grit and perseverance. They played peek-a-boo with their lives, allowing their audiences to see only slivers of themselves. A hint of a breast? A forbidden love affair? They were both towering figures, goddesses, icons. Until the world started to change. Little is known about who they really were, until now.

Feuding Fan Dancers tells the story of two remarkable women during a tumultuous time in entertainment history. Leslie Zemeckis has pieced together their story and―nearly one hundred years later― both women come alive again.

Those last five words jumped off the page at me when I first opened the book, “…both women come alive again.” That’s my personal mission when it comes to Hollywood Yesterday. Few things excite me more than seeing stars from yesterday shining just as brightly as they did when they walked the earth. Through the pages of Feuding Fan Dancers, each beautiful showgirl is with us as we read about their heartbreaks and triumphs, their bold creativity and talent, and even their masterful twisting of reality (especially entertaining).

When doing book reviews, I am always mindful of several things – telling the reader why he or she should read the book is, obviously, right up there, but I also put a lot of effort into not giving anything away. When an author writes a book, they unveil truth and information in a particular, well thought-out manner. They put a lot of time and effort (often years) into research and writing and I have zero intention of letting any secrets out of the jar. The author has earned that right to lift that lid.

I will say that you’ll be amazed by the things life threw at these ladies as well as the things they threw back at life.

Feuding Fan Dancers is an especially fascinating book and is a joy to read. It reads at a very fast-pace as each star’s life unfolds before the reader’s eyes. The two showgirls come alive on each page and they bring a lot of fascinating people with them… many of whom you have heard of.

A VERY impressive amount of research went into this wonderful book. I am blown away by the facts the author was able to piece together from so long ago. As I hinted at earlier, both Sally Rand and Faith Bacon got pretty creative with their “facts.” Truth be told, they were almost as creative with reality as they were feathers. The fact that Leslie Zemeckis was able to travel back in time and sift though all of the information is truly remarkable.

I love everything about the way the book is written. Each woman’s life is told separately, culminating to the point where each became… for better or worse… aware of the other.

As I said, I knew of Sally Rand before reading Feuding Fan Dancers but had never heard of Faith Bacon. After reading this remarkable book, however, I’ll never forget Faith Bacon. There was something mesmerizing about her – a mixture of strength and vulnerability. While Sally often displayed even more strength – she never seemed as vulnerable as Faith Bacon, which, given the time and circumstances, is a real testament to her self will and confidence.

I’ll never forget either lady and I am profoundly glad to have gotten the chance to know each better. In fact, I have grown so fond of them that I’ve already started reading the book a second time! While I often re-read my favorite biographies, I seldom begin a second time through on the very day I finish, but this was the case with Feuding Fan Dancers.

Their lives turned out differently, I look forward to revisiting them a second time and seeing what circumstances and even people could have helped them reach such horrifyingly different destinations.

About the Author: Leslie Zemeckis is an entertainer, author and award-winning documentarian, specializing in early American forms of entertainment (from burlesque to the circus). With an impressive burlesque collection.

Zemeckis wrote/produced/directed the critically acclaimed documentary shown on Showtime “Behind the Burly Q” the true story of old-time burlesque. Her second film, “Bound by Flesh” about Daisy and Violet Hilton, sideshow “freaks” won many festival awards as both best documentary and best director and can be seen on Netflix. Her current film “Mabel, Mabel, Tiger Trainer,” is about the world’s first female tiger trainer.

Her book “Goddess of Love Incarnate; the Life of Stripteuse Lili St. Cyr” is the best-selling in-depth story of the influential burlesque dancer in Hollywood in the ’30s-50s, Montreal nightclubs, and Swinging 52nd Street in New York.

Zemeckis is co-staring in the film “Welcome to Marwen” opposite Steve Carell Dec 2018.

Her latest best-seller FEUDING FAN DANCERS is about Sally Rand, Faith Bacon and the golden age of the Broadway showgirl. She extensively interviewed and researched both fan dancers ground-breaking performances, the history of the American world’s fairs and early Hollywood. Find more at lesliezemeckis.com.

Read more about Feuding Fan Dancers by clicking the links. You’ll find many glowing reviews – which the book and author both certainly deserve.

More Classic Hollywood Book Reviews on Hollywood Yesterday.

Unsinkable: A Memoir by Debbie Reynolds (Review)

August 7, 2018 By Joi 1 Comment

Buy Unsinkable on Amazon

I have always loved Debbie Reynolds – she was adorable (every single day of her life), a wonderful actress, great singer and dancer, and all around…. well… lovable. How anyone could ever conceivably claim to not like her would worry me.

After all, how could you not like Debbie Reynolds?? That’d be like saying you didn’t think Rita Hayworth was beautiful. Or you weren’t quite sure Lucille Ball was funny. That you were up in the air over Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford’s acting chops.

Okay, you get the point. You can’t dislike Debbie Reynolds. Impossible.

Now that we have that settled….. I actually remember my first Debbie Reynolds movie – Singing in the Rain. 10 minutes after she first on the scene (actually, in the scene), I was ready to like, love, or hate any other star or character based solely on how they treated her. She just had a certain something about her that drew you to her and every character she breathed life into. Though I’d always been a huge fan of Elizabeth Taylor, when I read about her “you know what” with “you know who,” I wrote her AND “you know who” both off.

Years later, I read that Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds had become friends again – proving, yet again, that they don’t come any more special than Ms. Reynolds.

As for “you know who…” well, I’ve never forgiven him.

I just finished a wonderful book, Unsinkable – a memoir by Debbie Reynolds, herself, and I couldn’t wait to tell you about it. I’m obsessed with Old Hollywood biographies, but when they’re about stars who happened to be favorites, I often read a chapter twice simply to make sure I’ve devoured every word possible. If you aren’t convinced of my infatuation with these biographies on that alone, I can do you one better. I take notes from each book I read. Whether they’re Old Hollywood biographies or another passion, historical biographies (Cleopatra, Harriet Tubman, First Ladies, and Abraham Lincoln are some of my personal favorites) – I jot down quotes or information I want to remember.

As you’d imagine, I have a lot of notebooks.

People often ask me if I prefer autobiographies and memoirs or biographies and I truthfully cannot say. Autobiographies and personal memoirs reach somewhere other biographers can’t even touch… inside the star’s head. The stars, themselves, can tell you what they were thinking and how they felt. Biographers have to rely on assumption or secondhand knowledge.

Having said that, I’ve read enough of each to know that you often get more “raw facts” from a biographer than a star. Many stars, understandably, don’t want to give everything away.

Debbie Reynolds was, in my opinion, one of the most open and honest stars when it comes to her memoirs. She isn’t vindictive, didn’t have a “narrative” or ax to grind. She simply tells her fascinating stories and in a way that, quite frankly, feels like you’re having coffee with your hilarious aunt. The aunt who is as lovely inside as out, yet has a crazy sense of humor that sometimes makes you kind of blush! YES… that Debbie Reynolds. YES… that Old Hollywood’s Sweetheart. Her humor will catch you off guard and, if she were the aunt you were having coffee with, you’d have to put your cup down often to keep from choking on the coffee.

After all, laughing and swallowing aren’t mutually compatible.

She. Is. Hilarious.

Before I continue with the book review, take a look at the picture from the cover (below). Gorgeous, right?! You know who she reminds me of here? If you watched soap operas back in the day, you’ll know who I’m talking about. If you didn’t, you’ll have to take my word for it. She reminds me A LOT of the beautiful actress Robin Strasser (Dorian, One Life to Live).

{Review Continued Below]

Unsinkable is the definitive memoir by film legend and Hollywood icon Debbie Reynolds.

In Unsinkable, the late great actress, comedienne, singer, and dancer Debbie Reynolds shares the highs and lows of her life as an actress during Hollywood’s Golden Age, anecdotes about her lifelong friendship with Elizabeth Taylor, her experiences as the foremost collector of Hollywood memorabilia, and intimate details of her marriages and family life with her children, Carrie and Todd Fisher.

A story of heartbreak, hope, and survival, “America’s Sweetheart” Debbie Reynolds picks up where she left off in her first memoir, Debbie: My Life, and is illustrated with previously unpublished photos from Reynolds’s personal collection.

Debbie Reynolds died on December 28, 2016, at the age of 84, just one day after the death of her daughter, actress and author Carrie Fisher. – From Amazon

If you read many Old Hollywood biographies and memoirs, you know that one of the funnest things about them is when you “bump into” other actors, actresses, and celebrities on the pages. Sometimes they’re expected, other times not. Either way, I always get a huge kick out of the book’s subject’s interactions, relationships, and inward thoughts about these stars.

You can often learn as much (or more!) about someone from another person’s words and/or opinion of them. There are numerous such “encounters” on the pages of Unsinkable and they are sometimes hilarious, sometimes disappointing, and always fascinating. Unsinkable was written by Debbie Reynolds and a longtime friend of her’s, Dorian Hannaway. These ladies created a book that will go down as one of my personal favorites. Talk about a FUN read!

As with all of my reviews, I detest the thought of giving anything away… so I won’t allow myself to say too much. After all, the best way to get to truly know these magical stars of Hollywood Yesterday is to read about them. Since my number one goal with this blog is to keep these stars shining brightly, I desperately want as many people to get to know them as possible. This means I want as many of you to read these biographies as possible! If I give things away, you’ll be less apt to do that… and Debbie Reynolds is a star I absolutely want as many people as possible to get to know better.

There’s so much more to her than her uncommonly sweet smile and beauty. A lot more… and much of it will catch you off guard!

The two things I take away the most from this book are:

Her sense of humor was outrageous. Although she isn’t known for comedy, she’d have been HUGE in the genre. She had a natural sense of humor and ability to find the fun, humor, and playfulness in just about every corner of life.
She loved her family completely, intensely, and passionately. Her love for her children and granddaughter – and her pride in everything about them – defined Debbie Reynolds. They were her world… to the very end. So much so that, after her beloved daughter Carrie Fisher passed away, it would appear that she wanted only one thing.. to follow Carrie and make certain she was safe.

This is a book I know you’ll want to read and this is a lady I know you’ll love. You can find Unsinkable by Debbie Reynolds and Dorian Hannaway on Amazon or in your favorite bookstore.

By the way, if you were a One Life to Live fan (I was for more years than I could begin to count!), you’ll recognize the gorgeous actress in the picture above with Debbie Reynolds, her son Todd, and Carrie Fisher… Catherine Hickland – one of the best actresses to ever grace daytime television OR nighttime. She played Lindsay on OLTL and she is one of my all-time favorites. She is actually married to Debbie Reynold’s beloved son Todd.

Small world!

For Fiction Fans: The Old Cape Hollywood Secret by Barbara Eppich Struna

May 31, 2018 By Joi Leave a Comment

The Old Cape Hollywood Secret

To say that I love to read would be like saying Garfield is fond of lasagna or that Cookie Monster enjoys an occasional cookie. Seriously, I always have… at ANY given time… at least 4 books I’m reading from simultaneously (not counting the Bible, of course, that goes without saying). My little pile of “current reads” follows me from room to room – and it’s usually an especially colorful crowd I run with.

I am always in the middle of an “Old Hollywood” biography, memoir, or autobiography. Only one at a time because I want each star to have the spotlight they were born to command. I just finished Joan Crawford A Talent for Living (click the link to read my review) and, before that, Unsinkable by Debbie Reynolds (I’ll have the review written and published next week!). I just started Ginger by Ginger Rogers and I’m already head over dancing heels in love with her. Fred will be after her… ladies first.
I am also always in the middle of a couple of history biographies or books. Currently, a fascinating Cleopatra bio (probably the 12th one I’ve read about her – she’s one of my favorites, in case you couldn’t tell) and a book of our First Ladies fit this bill. I’m a history buff with a particular fascination for US Presidents, First Ladies, the American Revolution, the Civil War, Harriet Tubman, and Ancient Egypt.
For about 12 years, I have also had an Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot mystery going at all times. Yes, I’ve read and re-read them all many times over but I am never more content than when I’m in the presence of Hercule Poirot and his little grey brain cells.
I read religiously from a book of Emily Dickinson poetry. I love Emily Dickinson greatly (I even named my oldest daughter in her honor – a daughter who went on to also write poetry. How cool is that?)

Except for my daughter Emily‘s short stories, poetry, and fiction and Emily Dickinson’s poetry, Agatha Christie is the only fiction I read. Every reader has their favorite genre and although it seems the vast majority of people in my family favor fiction, I’m a non-fiction kind of gal (except for Emily, Agatha, and Emily!)

If fiction is your thing, I have a book I believe you’ll love. It seems like it’d make a perfect summer novel. It’s called The Old Cape Hollywood Secret and it’s written by author Barbara Eppich Struna.

Synopsis: In 1947, Maggie Foster and her cousin, Gertie, leave Cape Cod for Hollywoodland in search of glamour and fame. One girl returns home and the other disappears. Present-day Nancy Caldwell travels to Hollywood, where she discovers the paths of Maggie and Gertie.

In “The Old Cape Hollywood Secret,” a novel of historical suspense, Nancy’s curiosity gets her into trouble again. Along the way, a missing ring and a pearl-studded pouch are mixed in with the search. Using alternating chapters, across seventy years, the tragic stories of two young girls unfold and a murderous secret is uncovered. Barbara Eppich Struna, author of “The Old Cape House” and “The Old Cape Teapot,” had as much fun writing “The Old Cape Hollywood Secret”, as she did researching the novel. The 1927 Pig & Whistle Pub and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, located on Hollywood Boulevard, are just a few of the famous landmarks featured in this historical adventure. Struna’s present-day character, Nancy Caldwell, returns in the author’s third novel set in Old Hollywood and on Cape Cod where she leads you on a journey filled with suspense and nostalgia.

Sounds like a real page-turner to me!

About the Author: Internationally best-selling author Barbara Eppich Struna is fascinated by history and writes a blog about the unique facts and myths of Cape Cod. Her published books are The Old Cape House and The Old Cape Teapot; her third novel in the Old Cape Series is The Old Cape Hollywood Secret. Besides being a storyteller at heart, she is currently President of Cape Cod Writers Center, a Member in Letters of the National League of American Pen Women, a panelist at the International Thriller Writers – Thrillerfest 2016, and a member of Sisters in Crime and two writing groups.

See The Old Cape Hollywood Secret for more information, including awards the book has earned and glowing reviews it has received!

Review: Joan Crawford A Talent for Living

May 24, 2018 By Joi 1 Comment

Joan Crawford A Talent for Living

For more years than I could even begin to count, I have always been in the middle of at least one old Hollywood biography, memoir, or autobiography. They fascinate me beyond words. They’re as entertaining and exciting as the movies the stars starred in… sometimes even more so, if we’re being honest.

The most recent biography I read was about the beautiful, talented, and iconic Joan Crawford. Joan Crawford A Talent for Living, by Jennifer Bitman is a very fast-paced look into the fascinating, albeit often heartbreaking, life of Joan Crawford.

From her earliest days to her final days, Joan Crawford comes to life in this “page turner.” It’s a must read for any Joan Crawford fan and makes a cherished addition to any Old Hollywood collection.

One of the things I appreciate the most about Joan Crawford biographies such as A Talent for Living is this: They give Joan Crawford a voice. There have been a lot of negative things published about Joan Crawford… many of which were published and/or written after her death… robbing her of a chance to give her side of the events. As a Joan Crawford fan, I’m very grateful that authors are writing about her and allowing her voice to join the conversation.

Seems only right.

{Review continued below…..}

One of the things I love most about Old Hollywood biographies is the fact that they allow us to see the “star” as an actual flesh and blood human – like all of us who also fall into the category of human (on most days, anyway), the stars made their share of mistakes. Some of them were whoppers. They also, very often, endured great hardships and even abuse – both of which leave scars that do not easily, if ever, heal completely. The lucky ones had family or friends who “had their back” and held them accountable their choices. They had people who loved them too much to let them live anything but their best life.

When I read about stars, such as Joan Crawford, who pretty much had to have their own back, it squeezes my heart. Joan had a life that was defined by loss and an overwhelming sense of not being loved. Early experiences caused her to fear that if she wasn’t perfect, people who she loved would leave her.

As is the case with many people, powerful personal pain morphed into powerful personal demons for Joan… demons she battled daily.

Whether it’s drinking, drugs, and/or self-destructive decisions with relationships, personal demons beg to be silenced. Unfortunately, each of these means of silencing demons leave a lot of carnage in their wake.

Like so many stars, Joan Crawford arrived in Hollywood with open wounds… an earmark of vulnerability. Joan Crawford A Talent for Living gives us a very intimate look at the lasting and intense effect Hollywood had on Joan and at the lasting and intense effect she had on Hollywood! She hit Hollywood much as a hurricane hits land. Hollywood hadn’t seen anything quite like her – and you could make a strong case for it not having seen anyone quite like her since.

That’s the remarkable thing about Joan Crawford – she was so breathtakingly original and unique. She had such a beautiful and strong aura about her. The way she dressed, did her makeup, spoke, walked… even in her expressions. She was strength personified. And yet…. there was, at the same time, an unmistakable quality of vulnerability and need to be loved. A great, great need to be loved.

Author Jennifer Bitman allows us to meet Joan Crawford even before she became Joan Crawford. Through the early chapters, we get to witness her… well… meet herself.

Before she made landfall.

Parts of the book are painful to read but impossible not to. When you’re a fan, you want to know everything about someone – even the things that leave you with a tear in your eye. After all, each experience went into making them who they were.

There are, of course, plenty of experiences in her life that leave you smiling rather than reaching for a tissue. One of the things about Joan Crawford that always makes me smile is her devotion to and love for her fans. They meant the world to her. With all the people who let her down, I’m especially thankful that she was able to feel the great love of her fans.

I also love that she was apparently a great friend. Her friends knew they could count on her and she had a great reputation for being both gracious and generous.

{Review concludes below….}

In addition to getting to know my favorite stars better, another reason I’m obsessed with Old Hollywood biographies is this: You never know when another favorite will pop up! To read about different stars meeting one another, getting to know one another, and (sometimes) even feuding fascinates me each and every time. While reading A Talent for Living, many names popped up and I hung on each and every word – especially when one Clark Gable arrives on the scene. I don’t want to give anything away, but the relationship between the two is pretty scintillating!

Did Joan Crawford have emotional scars that led to demons? Yes. Did the demons, when she attempted to silence them, cause havoc? Yes. But here’s the thing – to have accomplished all that she accomplished while battling all that she battled is remarkable. It took great strength from a woman who always had a little girl living within who wanted to be loved and desperately needed to know that those she loved weren’t going to betray her or leave her.

While I am as happy as a clam laying on the beach on a Sunday afternoon when I’m lost in the pages of an Old Hollywood biography, I realize there are people who much prefer “fast reads,” books that are neither long or “heavy,” as in difficult to read. If this describes you, you’ll love the fact that this fast-paces book is a very fast read. It would make an excellent companion at the beach, park, lake, or backyard patio.

Not counting the Filmography (which was incredibly to consult while reading when I wanted to establish a time-line), Bibliography, and Notes – the book is just 175 pages in length.

I hope you’ll grab a copy of A Talent for Living and really get to know Joan Crawford. Behind the beauty, clothes, talent, and strong aura was a woman who wanted the same things we all want from life – to love and be loved in return.

~ Joi (“Joy”)

Are you on Twitter?? If you are a Joan Crawford and/or Old Hollywood fan, I have a Twitter account that I cannot recommend enough. Bonnie Edinger is a dream come true for those of us who love this era so much. Last year, one of my daughters had a very complicated pregnancy and, like any mother hen, I spent every day and night worried about her and her baby. When the beautiful baby boy was born prematurely, he had to spend time in the NICU – it hurt to see such a tiny baby hooked up to so many wires. While I always LOVE Bonnie’s beautiful pictures and great information (I’ve learned so much – and here I thought I knew everything… Ha!), I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated them quite as much as I did during these months. When I felt like I was at the end of my emotional rope, I’d find her Twitter page and lose myself in the wonderful pictures and read every wonderful word she had to say.

I have to say, though, I do appreciate the Tweets even when the emotional rope is nowhere in sight! She’s a sweetheart and is even the one who told me about this great book – Joan Crawford is one of her favorite actresses!

Review: Ball of Fire – The Tumultuous Life and Comic Art of Lucille Ball by Stefan Kanfer

February 20, 2018 By Joi 1 Comment

Ball of Fire: The Tumultuous Life and Comic Art of Lucille Ball by Stefan Kanfer

One of my favorite pastimes, hobbies, and passions is reading old Hollywood biographies, memoirs, and autobiographies. I’m absolutely obsessed with them. When they happen to be about one of my personal favorites, I can barely make myself put the book down. I devour each word (often twice) and study the pictures as though I’m searching for hidden clues.

Lucille Ball is one of my favorite television actresses… movie actresses…stars.. comedians.. oh, heck, she’s one of my favorite humans to ever draw breath. Let’s just leave it at that. I read everything about her that I can get my hands on.

Ball of Fire is the latest Lucille Ball biography I’ve read and it’s easily one of the best.

From the Back Cover:

As a movie actress Lucille Ball was, in her own words, “queen of the B-pluses.” But on the small screen she was a superstar – arguably the funniest and most enduring in the history of TV. In this exemplary biography, Stefan Kanfer explores the roots of Lucy’s genius and places it in the context of her conflicted and sometimes bitter personal life.

“Elegant, entertaining… engaging and immensely readable. – The Boston Globe”

Ball of Fire gives us Lucy in all her contradictions. here is the beauty who became a master of knock-down slapstick; the control freak whose comic alter ego thrived on chaos; the worshipful TV housewife whose real marriage ended in public disaster. Here, too, is an intimate view of the dawn of television and of the America that embraced it. Charming, informative, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny, this is the book Lucy’s fans have been waiting for.

A delightful… Encyclopedia Lucytania, guiding us through every possible detail of the woman’s history and legacy. – San Francisco Chronicle

Lucille Ball Fans: This Has to be the Next Book You Read

If you love Lucy like I love Lucy (sorry, I had to), you’ll want to read this book cover to cover, possibly twice. While we’ve all known and celebrated the fact that Lucille Ball was one of the most beautiful, talented, and gifted stars Hollywood ever saw, this great book is a reminder of the strength this lady possessed. When you read about everything she had to overcome (and remind yourself that this was a time when feminine strength wasn’t celebrated as it is today), you realize that she never simply waltzed into stardom, she kicked, scratched, and clawed every step of the way.

Needless to say, that makes her fans love her even more.

While I love everything about this book, one of the things that stands out to me is the fact that the author doesn’t try to “steer” the facts toward any set narrative. As a fan of many actors and actresses from Old Hollywood, I have to say that this would be difficult (if not impossible) for me. If, say, I were writing a biography of any of my favorite stars, I’d want desperately to show them at their best on each page of the book. I’d steer everything in a preconceived direction… Happy Town, U.S.A.

Warts? Not a one. Negative actions? Never! How dare you ask? Promiscuous? I should say not!

See why I don’t write biographies… everyone would come off like a choir boy or Sunday school teacher. To be able to give an accurate, beautifully rounded portrait of an individual takes a lot of talent and, I’d wager, self-control. As an avid reader of Old Hollywood biographies, I’m overjoyed that such authors exist. After all, none of us expect our favorite stars to have been perfect – even the men and women (except for One) in the Bible weren’t perfect!

It’s the imperfections we identify with – the weaknesses that we love seeing them overcome and the demons we love seeing them defeat. It makes them more real to us and makes us love them even more. Author Stefan Kanfer does a beautiful job of showing complete respect to Lucille, Desi, William Frawley, Vivian Vance, and the many other household names who “guest starred” in our favorite Lucy’s life.

Unlike some biographers, he doesn’t fixate on a star’s less-than-perfect traits but he doesn’t gloss over them as a certain Old Hollywood blogger we know would have done. *Raises hand with guilt on her face

This particular biography gives us a beautiful look at the mesmerizing life of Lucille Ball – from her earliest days to her last days. While it would be impossible to give the totality of a life within one book, Mr. Kanfer comes alarmingly close. I feel like I know her better after this book than I did before and, as someone who truly adores Lucille Ball, I will forever be thankful for that.

I Love Lucy Fans: Consider this a MUST READ BOOK

As a Lucille Ball fanatic, I’m sure you won’t be the least bit surprised to know that I can recite episodes of I Love Lucy along with the stars. I know what they’re going to say right before they say it and yet laugh each time as though it were the first time. That’s the magic of the stars, the writers, and everyone involved. While Ball of Fire (obviously) focuses on arguably the greatest comedic talent of all time, herself, there is gold… and a lot of it… for fans of I Love Lucy.

Even I read stories about casting (William Frawley, Vivian Vance, and memorable guest stars) in Ball of Fire I’d never heard… and I was pretty sure I was a walking/talking/coffee-chugging I Love Lucy encyclopedia! I honestly don’t want to give anything away, here, because I want you to read the book for yourself and be just as surprised and delighted with each turn of the page. I will say this, however – I’ve always known that Desi Arnaz deserves more credit for his acting and comedic genius. After reading Ball of Fire, I realize that he deserves A LOT more credit for the success of the series. He was more active behind the scenes than most of us would have ever guessed and he may have had one of the greatest eyes for casting of all time.

He was more than just a source of facial expressions for Lucy’s antics or verbal expressions for Lucy’s humor – he was one of the driving forces behind the series. I desperately want to find a read a biography of Desi Arnaz after reading Ball of Fire because it has caused me to be even more of a fan of this complex, talented, diverse, and often complicated man.

I only wish this particular author would write such a biography!

As I said, I refuse to give any of the wonderful details or stories away but I want to implore you again… if you’re a fan of I Love Lucy, you’ll love the amount of time devoted to the series. I read and reread the pages and am looking forward to pulling out my dvds and finding the episodes mentioned. The Grape-Stomping episode will be one of the first I re-watch!

I’d better move along before I DO give something away.

Ball of Fire is, As Much as Anything a Love Story

Not only is this book, at heart, a love story – it’s one of the best love stories you’ll ever read. When I read (pages 63-65) about the first time Lucille an Desi met, I literally had goose bumps. Now, I know the word literally is overused and misused these days but trust me – I’m neither overusing or misusing. I legit had goosebumps as well as a lump in my throat. The feelings would return (often along with teary eyes) when the author talked about Lucy’s desire to have children, when the marriage began (and continued) to unravel, and when both Desi and Lucille died.

The love these two gifted stars shared for one another was absolutely palpable. When you read the book, it becomes more clear than ever that Lucille and Desi were soulmates, just as Lucy and Ricky were. Sadly, soulmates don’t always go the distance with one another – especially when Hollywood is concerned. Hollywood is like a whole other world and very few couples navigate it from start to finish hand in hand. I’m convinced that, had they lived in any other place, they’d have made it.

Finally….

As I’ve said many times on Hollywood Yesterday, old movies, classic television, and Old Hollywood biographies are part of my DNA. I love for an author to take me on a journey where I’m able to spend time with current favorites and meet stars who I become so smitten with, they often go on to become favorites. A notable star this happened with was Carole Lombard. Her name kept popping up in various biographies (Lucille Ball, Ginger Rogers….) and she was always such a scene-stealer that I sought out more information about her. I found that she was, indeed, beautifully colorful and wonderfully full of life. She, along with other household names (Clark Gable, Ginger Rogers, Claudette Colbert, etc) are here in Ball of Fire – woven into the fabric that is the magical life of Lucille Ball. They add to the mystique and heighten the magic.

What more can I say? This is a breathtaking book and I really hope you read it as soon as possible. Ball of Fire is available on Amazon in paperback for less than $5 and hardback for not much more.

EDIT: I just searched for the author (Stefan Kanfer) on Amazon – determined to buy any and all biographies he has written. Am I ever in luck? He has several – so, needless to say, you’ll be seeing the reviews soon!

Somebody: The Reckless Life and Remarkable Career of Marlon Brando
Tough Without a Gun: Humphrey Bogart, Men in Movies, and Why It Matters
Groucho: The Life and Times of Julius Henry Marx

Old Hollywood Book + Biography Reviews on Hollywood Yesterday

August 27, 2017 By Joi 2 Comments

(Read my I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn Biography Review )

One of my favorite pastimes or guilty pleasures is (as you’d expect) watching movie classics. Old Hollywood, the Golden Age of Hollywood, Hollywood’s Golden Era… whatever name it goes by, it is absolute magic as far as I’m concerned. There’s just nothing quite like curling up in my favorite swivel rocker, with hot chocolate or tea, my favorite throw, and at least one cat nearby.

However, over the years I’ve found that there’s another guilty Old Hollywood-related pleasure that ranks right up there with watching the movies, themselves…. reading about the colorful, larger than life men and women who made the magic happen.

Old Hollywood biographies, autobiographies, and books line my bookshelves and the collection continues to grow. To be perfectly honest, I just can’t get enough of them!

{Continued below Princess Huck admiring Katharine Hepburn…}

I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn, A Personal Biography

I Know Where I’m Going is one of the first Old Hollywood book reviews I wrote on Hollywood Yesterday and it remains one of my all-time favorite books of all time.

(See I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn Review)

The review, linked to above, will go into greater detail about exactly what makes this book such a knock out. It isn’t just a MUST read for Katharine Hepburn fans and it isn’t just a MUST read for fans of Old Hollywood… it’s a MUST read for anyone who enjoys a great book.

The past week, I’ve been going through old posts and articles on the blog and “freshening” up pictures, deleting irrelevant posts, etc. I was anxious to add fresh pictures to this particular book review. When I wrote the review, my camera was a horrible excuse for a camera. So, I snatched I Know Where I’m Going off of my Old Hollywood Books shelves and arranged a photo shoot.

For my food blog as well as a few of my other blogs, I do a LOT of book reviews. I meticulously plan photo shoots for the books to better show them off to my readers. As you can see from these pictures (as well as ones in the review, itself), I had “help” – one of our kittens, Princess Huck, decided she just had to read the book then and there.

I decided, “Fine. You want to be in the pictures… you’ll be in the pictures!” I may or may not spoil my cats.

I have a LOT of book and biography reviews coming up, so keep an eye or two out for those. You’ll forgive me, I trust, if a cat or two or six make their way into the pictures.

~ Joi (“Joy”)

Old Hollywood Biographies on Hollywood Yesterday:

Old Hollywood Biographies Coming SOON…

Ginger: My Story by Ginger Rogers
Steps in Time by Fred Astaire
Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn

Review: In Such Good Company by Carol Burnett

January 14, 2016 By Joi 1 Comment

In Such Good CompanyA few classic television series stand out to me as being as much a part of growing up as Hostess Cupcakes and Saturday morning cartoons. Gunsmoke, The Carol Burnett Show, Sanford and Son, Andy Griffith, I Love Lucy, Good Times, The Jeffersons, The Beverly Hillbillies are a few. They were (and are!) extra special to me because I spent so many years sharing the experiences with my mom and dad.

One of our absolute favorites was The Carol Burnett Show. Carol Burnett was my first girl crush – I loved her style, her beautiful smile, and… most importantly.. she had what I’ve always considered to be the BEST trait for anyone to have. She made you laugh.

And laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh!

I can still watch skits with Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, and Lyle Waggoner and roll with laughter as though it was the first time I’d ever seen them. A lot of people talk about “it” and about “TV magic,” these 5 were bathed in “it” and frolicked in the magic they created.

When I saw that Carol Burnett had written a new book, In Such Good Company, and that it was devoted to the 11 years of creating The Carol Burnett Show, it was all I could think about. I knew it’d be a very special book, but it actually surpassed my expectations.

About In Such Good Company (from Amazon)

The New York Times Bestseller

Comedy legend Carol Burnett tells the hilarious behind-the-scenes story of her iconic weekly variety series, The Carol Burnett Show.

In In Such Good Company, Carol Burnett pulls back the curtain on the twenty-five-time Emmy-Award winning show that made television history, and she reminisces about the outrageously funny and tender moments that made working on the series as much fun as watching it.

Carol delves into little-known stories of the guests, sketches and improvisations that made The Carol Burnett Show legendary, as well as some favorite tales too good not to relive again. While writing this book, Carol rewatched all 276 episodes and screen-grabbed her favorite video stills from the archives to illustrate the chemistry of the actors and the improvisational magic that made the show so successful.

Putting the spotlight on everyone from her costars to the impressive list of guest stars, Carol crafts a lively portrait of the talent and creativity that went into every episode. With characteristic wit and incomparable comic timing, she details hiring Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, and Tim Conway; shares anecdotes about guest stars and close friends, including Lucille Ball, Roddy Mcdowell, Jim Nabors, Bernadette Peters, Betty Grable, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Gloria Swanson, Rita Hayworth, and Betty White; and gives her take on her favorite sketches and the unpredictable moments that took both the cast and viewers by surprise.

This book is Carol’s love letter to a golden era in television history through the lens of her brilliant show. Get the best seat in the house for “eleven years of laughter, mayhem, and fun in the sandbox.”

In Such Good CompanyI haven’t had the book in my possession very long but I devoured it like I would a piece of peanut butter fudge – and, at the risk of sounding corny, the stories and reflections in this book are even sweeter and more enjoyable than any peanut butter fudge I’ve ever had.

And I make some darn good peanut butter fudge, just so you know.

The book includes adorable behind the scenes photographs as well as photographs from skits (naturally, I remembered each and every one). The stories and reflections are broken into bite size readings – sort of like blog posts. I can’t tell you how much I love this. Books that break everything down in such a way spoil me to the point that I get annoyed with books with long chapters. I know, I know – that doesn’t say anything good about my attention span, but there you have it.

I just can’t say enough good things about this book. I feel like I know so much more now about Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, and Tim Conway as well as guest stars that are also household names: Sammy Davis, Jr, Rita Hayworth, Betty White, Betty Grable, Jim Nabors, and my much beloved Lucille Ball. This gal was never happier than the times my favorite red heads shared TV time together.

I hope you will click through In Such Good Company and order a copy for yourself. This book would also make a perfect gift idea – there’s a whole generation of us who connect with this show and these stars in a very profound way. Trust me, this is a book any Carol Burnett fan would love immensely.

Note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. The opinions and photographs are my own. When they send books for review, it’s entirely up to the reviewer whether it’s a positive or negative review…. it all depends on the book and In Such Good Company is exceptional!

Shop for Autographed Carol Burnett Collectibles at HollywoodMemorabilia.com

I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn, A Personal Biography (Review)

July 29, 2011 By Joi 1 Comment

I Know Where I'm Going (Katharine Hepburn Biography) and Princess

I was recently sent an exceptional book to review, I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn, A Personal Biography by Charlotte Chandler. Katharine Hepburn has always fascinated me (more so than most Hollywood stars present or past), so this is a biography that I have truly savored. Many times I find myself re-reading certain passages several times because you can really get the essence of the great and beautiful legend on each page of this outstanding book.

As you can imagine, I read everything I can get my hands on about the Golden Age of Hollywood. Autobiographies, biographies, magazines, memoirs… you name it, I’m on it.

Over the years, I’ve read about some truly remarkable lives. Many times I’ve closed the book, looked at the face on the cover of the biography (or autobiography) and said, “Your life was more interesting than all of you movies combined.” Nothing, of course, against their movies – it’s just that most of the time, reel life has absolutely nothing on real life.

Katharine Hepburn (even with her incredibly impressive body of work) is no exception. The lady, herself, is far more fascinating and complex than any character Hollywood could dream up. The things she does couldn’t be scripted and the words out of her mouth? No dialogue writer in the world could dream up. I’ve read about some interesting actors, actors, and directors over the years, but most of them cannot hold a candle to Katharine Hepburn. She is the perfect blend of intelligence, beauty, spirit, determination, talent, vulnerability, and strength. Many of her best traits contradict one another and that’s what makes her so deliciously fascinating.

Writing book review, or recommending books, is a lot like movie reviews for me. I want so badly to tell you all the reasons you should (even must!) read the book or see the movie. However, I want you to experience it, just as I did – without knowing what’s coming. I live in fear of giving anything away that’ll spoil the experience for the next person!

There are so many trying and tragic moments in Katharine Hepburn’s life that are tempting for me to talk about. Moments that would, definitely, make you want to grab a copy of the book and… as they say, “Read All About It!” But, I’m picking the lock because I want you to have the same, “Oh my!” moments I had while enjoying this book.

Suffice to say, I know where Katharine Hepburn got her strength. She earned it. With some of the things life threw at her, her choices were to let life BREAK her spirit or MAKE her stronger. She chose the latter. Boy did she choose the latter!

The beautiful thing is this: Although life handed this legendary actress and international style and beauty icon several blows, she has always enjoyed life and embraced it as much as anyone I’ve ever read about. The lady loves life frontwards, backwards, upwards, downwards, and inside out! She approaches life as if it’s a carnival and each day is a joyride. I honestly believe I connected more with her through reading about her life than any other individual I’ve ever read about.

Halfway through the book, I thought, “This book has to be used as a basis for a movie about Katharine Hepburn. I want to see this play out onscreen!!!” However, by the end of the book, I thought, “There isn’t an actress alive that could pull off Katharine Hepburn.” And even though her story would, indeed, make one of the most fascinating and inspiring movies of all time, I’m sticking to my guns. There’s only one actress in the world who could even come close to Katharine Hepburn and that’s the lady, herself.

Katharine Hepburn’s love of her family is something else that stands out to me. Her fierce devotion to them and the fact that she would fight the demons of hell for any of them left quite an impression on me. The same devotion, loyalty, and love is evident throughout her life with her friends as well.

I have to honestly say that Katharine Hepburn had always been a favorite actress of mine. With such talent, style, intelligence, and beauty – how could she not be? However, after reading I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn, A Personal Biography , I’ve moved from Katharine Hepburn fan to Katharine Hepburn fanatic. This is an exceptional book and I marvel at the author Charlotte Chandler. To have such a larger than life subject like Katharine Hepburn, she no doubt had many times when she wondered how to fit it all in!

Katharine Hepburn is a fascinating, one of a kind, lady and I am just SO hoping you click through one of the links in this post and buy the book. I want so much for you to meet and get to know this incredible woman. Her story isn’t just entertaining and getting to know her won’t just make you smile (and often laugh out loud at her spirit and sass!). Katharine Hepburn’s life is inspiring and even uplifting. She showed up to Hollywood, and to life in general, and knew who she was and what she wanted to accomplish. She has always known who she was and defied anyone to imply that wasn’t good enough.

When you look at her pictures, you can see the intelligence, determination, and spirit in her eyes. They tell the story! I can’t tell you how many times I turned to the cover of the book and was simply awestruck by the perfection of both the title and the picture used on the cover. The picture captures her beauty, originality, style, intelligence, and strength and the title couldn’t possibly reflect the essence of Katharine Hepburn any more than it does.

You’ll love the author’s wonderful writing style, you’ll love the priceless photographs in the middle of the book, and you’ll love reading about all of the Hollywood names and how they interacted with Katharine Hepburn. Most of all, of course, you’ll fall head over heels in love with the great lady, herself. If you’re a Katharine Hepburn fan, you’ll become a Katharine Hepburn fanatic. Trust me.

I’ll end with one of the most “defining” sections of the book. There were many, so the choice was difficult. Truth be told, some of the most defining pages were toward the front of the book when Katharine Hepburn talks about her family.

Another favorite passage is toward the end of the book (which, by the way, I HATED to get to – I wanted the book to last forever, I suppose). Katharine Hepburn is discussing “The Creature.” One of the most incredible things about her is the fact that she beautifully kept her public self and private self separate. She didn’t think of her public image as Katharine Hepburn. She thought of her as, “The Creature.” Her public image.. the persona… was for the world and she recognized that it was different from the REAL her. She told the author that she called it “the Creature” and that it should be spelled with a capital C.

In closing, here are a few paragraphs from page 325 of this exceptional book:

When I first visited Kate in her home, I hadn’t seen any pictures of her from the days of her glamorous career. “I don’t keep pictures here in my home of my professional self because those aren’t pictures of me. Those are photographs of the Creature, and I don’t bring her home. I don’t allow her in my house.”

In our conversations, she previously had touched on the subject of the Creature, but it was the last time I saw her that she offered her most extensive discussion on the subject. She said she could do this because she was dismantling the Creature, the Creature having held her in bondage for so long. Now, she had no more need for her, so the Creature no longer had any power over her.

“I was called Kathy when I was a little girl, and I guess I never grew up or outgrew that little girl. I feel very much the same inside. It’s how I think of myself, which is quite often.”

“I created the Creature, but I didn’t completely understand her. Sometimes, she took off on her own. Ungrateful thing. She didn’t remember I created her, and I was put in the position of being her psychiatrist or a personal assistant or even a white slave because she knew I was more dependent on her than she was on me.”

“I believed if people knew the person I really am, they wouldn’t have been very interested in me. They might have said, ‘Boring.’ So I had to always think first about the Creature before I thought of myself.”

“I’ll tell you someone I felt sorry for. That was Marilyn Monroe. You know why? She let her Creature take over.”

Whether you are already a Katharine Hepburn fan or are only just now “getting to know” her, I STRONGLY recommend I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn, A Personal Biography by Charlotte Chandler. It’ll be one of the most fascinating books you’ve ever read.

You’ll never forget it OR the beautiful face gracing the cover.