Entertainment Books

This book is exactly what I was looking for. It explains craps in an easy-to-learn format and provides a great strategy for any wallet. I was on a very tight budget in Reno one night and actually ended up getting comped a room and show tickets for playing craps all night for very cheap! This book has led me to nothing but great experiences and extended playing time at the tables...great read!

This book is great. As a beginner to craps, I appreciated Mr. Orlyn's easy-to-read writing style. His presentation of basic bets and strategies make this book excellent for any beginning craps player. I strongly recommend it to anyone wishing to learn and are intimidated by this game.

This book delivers pefectly on its title. I am only a casual player, but Mr. Orlyn has taken a lot of the hype and mystery of the game and distilled it into something that makes sense. Good job.

As a fellow Long Islander,I thought it would be fun to skim this new book by Barbara McIntyre. It turns out to be a work that should appeal to anyone who enjoys a book filled with humor,love and a great deal of common sense. Barbara's step mother in law, the central figure of the book,joins a large and energetic family when she marries when well into her fifties. She is an immediate hit with her step children and grandchildren. I recommend it be read to find out why. The reader will not be disappointed !

This is a warm , witty look back at a Granny of the sort the world could use more of today . A Zeigfield girl , cabaret chanteuse and confidante-advisor to her many grandchildren . Written with charm and much humor. I loved it , I only wish it could have gone on forever . What ever happened to her type of Grande Lady? Bring us more , Barbara .

Nobody Much is a delightful, humorous tale about an endearing woman and her relationship with the instant family she acquired by marrying a widower. His three children were at the stage of life when they were getting married and starting families. This transplanted city dweller and former actress became involved with all the trials and tribulations of young families and managed to become beloved by all the members of the two generations younger than her husband. Barbara McIntyre has a lovely sense of humor and it is easy to relate to her and her mother-in-law's situation. It is a good book to read when you want something light that you can just relax and enjoy.
Rosamond Dean

Barbara McIntyre may be the first person ever to write a flattering portrait of her mother-in-law. The lead character in the book, Margaret McIntyre, is thoroughly likeable--funny, street-smart, compassionate, and though she cares immensely about how her hair looks and which bracelet and earrings set to wear to the horse races, she's utterly devoid of airs. Maybe this is because Margaret spent most of her life as a career girl. She had her moments of glamour, like joining the Zeigfield Follies fresh from Southern Illinois and entertaining in New York speakeasies. But she also had her share of routine jobs, like pushing face creams for the formidable Estee Lauder. The highs and the lows taught Margaret to keep things in perspective, and above all, to laugh. We laugh with her.

In her mid-fifties, Margaret married Mac McIntyre, a successful businessman she'd known since they were children. Margaret's relationship with her new extended family is particularly noteworthy, because she seems to have been universally adored. The secret may be that she never had children of her own. With no "entitlement issues," Margaret was free to treat every member of her large extended family--even the little ones--like interesting people in their own right. It worked. Whenever anyone wanted advice, they invariably turned to Margaret.

The book gets better as you progress, and the end makes you feel sad indeed to say goodbye to a great lady. What I especially liked was how the author made Margaret's attitude about seemingly banal things (like hair, clothes, and fudge) reflect a larger attitude about life itself: that it's there to enjoy as much as possible.

If you had been raised in southern Illinois 100 years ago, and you were ambitious, talented, personable and hell-bent-for-leather, you might have followed in the footsteps of Margaret McIntyre, who followed her heart to the theater stages of New York, had a successful career as a Ziegfield girl, speakeasy performer, silent movie accompanist, and stage actress, and then gave it all up to live on a Long Island "Gentleman's Farm" with the true love of her life. That she didn't do this until she was in her fifties was the reason she inherited 3 step children, their spouses, and 12 step-grandchildren, all of whom adored her and continually looked to her for guidance, perspective, encouragement, and just plain laughs. It was her sense of humor that would initially win people over, a sharp, black humor that sprang from the characters and adventures of her youth in Benton, Illinois, an old coal-mining town that seemed to exist in the Antebellum South well into the 20th century. But her upbringing also gave her strength, resilience, and eternal optimism that no matter how bad or crazy or unfair things seemed, she had definitely seen worse! And of course, she had learned how to deal with the twists and turns of life, and would eagerly share her experience and expertise with any who might seek a little enlightenment, Benton-style. She was down-to-earth, unpretentious, self-deprecating, and completely lovable, and this exceptional portrait of her life and times offers a quick-moving, intimate glimpse into a simpler age, when often the most important question of the day was, What did you do to your hair and what shall we have for dessert tonight? And yet hidden in the straightforward anecdotes of sumptious Thanksgiving dinners, hairdresser's appointments, elegant teas, or the twist and perils of a grandchild's love life, an approach to life, an attitude for how to live emerges that is instructive to us all, particularly in these fast, troubled times that are so lacking in style. After reading this, you will never again underestimate the importance of Family, Friends and Food!

These boys are hot!! The calendar rules!! Especially the September pic( Ashley's pic!!). U should definitely get it!!!!

I just want 2 say how happy i was when i received my o-town calendar. It was a lot better than i thought it would b and it came really quick. I've made my mate well jealous as she wantsme 2 now order her 1. Thank u so much for me bing able 2 order it as the shops in england r (bad) and don't stock it.O-town r fab!!!

otown is awesume their self an the calender is just another item u can get to show u love em'

I bougth this Calendar and it is great. I love the guys and the pictures are hot. Buy it if you truely love O*Town and what they do. Ashley, Dan, Jacob, Trevor and Erik are the best.

If you're a real fan of O-Town, Lou Pearlman's newest pop sensation, you won't want to miss this great 2002 calendar with beautiful pictures. These pictures have never been seen anywhere else! The calendar starts in September so you'll be ready for school. If you're a truly #1 die-hard fan, you'll buy it and love it!

A great adventure for the 3rd edition of Cthulhu Live. The setting is real different, my group enjoyed it alot.

A well done supplement to Cthulhu Live! I look forward to future products from Skirmisher!

If you love Cthulhu you NEED to own Cthulhu Live 3rd Edition (another book by the same author/group) and this awesome complimentary dvd! I seriously can't praise it enough- my friends and I have had so much fun with these materials- so clever and informative... BUY IT!

I very much enjoyed this scenario for the Cthulhu Live 3rd Edition horror live-action roleplaying game! It is definitely a compelling edition to the genre and I hope to see more like it from the publisher. Can also very easily be converted over to pencil-and-paper format for those more interested in table-top gaming, and with some minor adjustment would cross over well as a scenario for any fantasy RPG, such as Dungeons & Dragons.

Absolute must for anyone who loves Cthulu Live! Skirmisher is the bomb! Keep up the great work....

As other reviewers have pointed out, Marie Wallace is best known for her two years on the spooky soap opera Dark Shadows.But her career, and her life, encompass so much more.For decades, Marie Wallace was a working actress, appearing on television, and in scores of theatre productions, including eight stints on Broadway.Her credits are impressive, and she has worked with many theatre greats. In her new book, On Stage And In Shadows, she invites her readers to figuratively join her for a cup of coffee while she tells of her childhood in New York City, her early days as a model, and her wonderful adventures in show business.In sharing her memories, Marie Wallace not only regales us with stories about Ethel Merman, Jimmy Durante, Jackie Gleason, Bob Fosse, and her dear friend Ruth Buzzi, she educates us on the hard work it takes to succeed and do good work in the often cuthroat world of New York theatre.The book, like it's author, is a charming delight!On a personal note, I'd like to say that, after having met and talked to Marie Wallace at numerous Dark Shadows conventions, her charm is no act!Marie Wallace in person is every bit as warm and delightful as she is on the printed page.Bravo!!!!!!!

Many know Ms .Wallace from her time on the classic cult soap opera, Dark Shadows. While a fascinating and integral part of Wallace's career, Dark Shadows is simply a small thread in a very large and impressive tapestry of work and I might add, an enviable career on the stage and screen .

Those hoping to read about Ms. Wallace's days in the strange and supernatural world of Collinsport, Maine won't be disappointed. The actress offers up wonderful stories of her time on the spooky soap. Even more fascinating is a look back at her time on the Great White Way working opposite and along side luminaries such as Ethel Merman, Gwen Verdon and Bert Lahr.

More then anything else I love this book because it so purely conversational. Every moment is told so vividly and with such great detail, without ever once lagging or boring the reader. I honestly felt as though this lady had pulled up a chair next to me and was just shooting the breeze. The book also chronicles a Manhattan and a Broadway we'll never see again . I found one very important sentiment Marie makes through out her personal story . Something anyone in any profession or walk of life should keep in mind: take chances, keep moving on, don't be afraid to venture down a new path!

Marie Wallace: Actress, Photographer, Raconteur!

Theater and TV lovers will enjoy this career memoir of actress and photographer Marie Wallace even if unfamiliar with her work. I happen to be familiar with her stage and TV career so I loved the book all the more. Ms. Wallace has worked with many performers and directors, some of the better known performers being Jackie Gleason, Ruth Buzzi, Ethel Merman, Gwen Vernon just to name a few and her insights into the business itself is as interesting to read as her recollections of the cast and productions.

As an actor and acting teacher, I recommend this book for those new to the business as Ms. Wallace offers advice and opinions about how things were done when she first started out and how they work now. Ms. Wallace's memoir is a fascinating read for anyone who loves the business and fun of showbusiness.

This book was a delightful read. Written in an easy-going and friendly style, Marie keeps the reader hooked with her career progression throughout the years. She shows how a positive outlook and energetic approach to life have benefitted her both her life and career.

In addition, her stories about each of the shows she was in are engaging and fun to read about, from her descriptions of other actors, some well-known, some known well only in theatre, to her take on each of the characters she played. It was good to see how much she has enjoyed her career as an actor and later as a photographer.

A warm and charming person herself, Marie Wallace earned with hard work the accolades she received in her shows and still receives when she encounters her fans. What a treat to get to read about her life and career.

"On Stage and in Shadows" is a joy from cover to cover, an invigorating experience that hits every note beautifully. If you're interested in how an actor/actress "makes it" against seemingly insurmountable odds, then Marie's book is for you. She candidly chronicles her truly remarkable life and career(s), from cradle to today--all the while pulling no punches and sparing no detail. I was particularly interested in "On Stage" because of my connection with "Dark Shadows," the infamous gothic soap opera that featured Marie as "Eve," "Crazy Jenny Collins," and "Megan Todd." Her fan club was the first one I joined, way back in 1969, and our eventual meeting at Hampton Playhouse on July 29th of that same year has remained a clear and nostalgic memory for me. She is both a fascinating individual and a strong-willed survivor, as you, too, will discover in "On Stage and in Shadows." Profusely illustrated, written in a personal, conversational tone, this book is one for the ages. Highest rating!

One of the best celebrity memoirs ever. If anyone ever deserved the success in life that Carol Burnett received, it is she. This little girl, raised in poverty, in a one room apartment, literally steps away from the then- at- its- peak Hollywood Boulevard, a muckle mouthed little dreamer, tended by her cuckoo "Nanny", both parents tragic alcoholics, both of whom did not have a happy ending...This is a fabulous, humble, true success story, about one of the most talented, respected, classy ladies in the history of show-biz. Her telling of her ambition to achieve her dream, in the face of what would have been overwhelming odds to most, is not only incredibly touching, but a lesson in perseverence, and believing in yourself. I tend to write about movies, books, etc.., that are not necessarily "current", and I guess that's because the quality of the originals can't be duplicated, and Carol Burnett is truly one of the "originals." She had and has "the goods." A must read (and read again) about one teriffic lady.

If you're a Carol Burnett fan, you'll acquire a deeper appreciation for her after reading this autobiographical account of her early years. Her parents were divorced alcoholics who died young. She was reared by a grandmother with her own checkered past, sharing a one-room, flophouse apartment with her until she finally moved out to try to make it as an actress. Their story was one of constant struggle and seemingly relentless poverty. Yet Burnett is living proof that, though we are all products of our past, we should never abandon hope. Despite her personal tragedies, she has become someone we all associate with laughter and love. She, like her personal story, is simply inspirational and amazing. A worthwhile read that you won't ever forget!

Carol Burnett is probably best known for her television show where she performed in various skits with a talented cast. One might not realize just how shy she was as a kid, or that she never dreamed of being a movie star until college. However, it is all here in this autobiography, a charming and personal account of a life filled with entertaining characters. We learn about Nanny, the woman who raised Carol and her younger sister Chrissy. We find out about Carol's alcoholic parents Jody and Louise, very different people and different influences on Burnett's life. There are many stories of growing up, school, various jobs, and family, each incredibly relatable and great fun to read. It is hard to put this book down. It is written to constantly leave the reader wanting more and never disappointing.

It is obvious that Burnett has a great love for her childhood although she wasn't always the most popular or the richest. She is an ordinary woman with a life that anyone can latch onto. The only disappointment is that it is so short. Burnett skips talking about her famous tv show as well as the marriage that brought her the three children she wrote the book for. It leaves the reader wanting more. Perhaps there will be a sequel one day; it will no doubt be as good as the first.

Carol Burnett hit the bullseye with the re-telling of her now familiar life story. The pacing is gentle and flowing while the anecdotes and stories are vivid and well written. Reading this, one can really appreciate "destiny" because the truth is that someone who had her experiences should never have even had the gumption to get herself into UCLA -- let alone take the rest of her journey.

Yet she did it all, with both verve and aplomb and for those of us who are fans, we're grateful that she was able to share her natural gifts with us. Singer, comedienne, actress, entertainer -- she's all of them and more -- and how she got there is a wonderful reminder to everyone that you can't ever stop believing in the power you have to imagine your own life and destiny.

I enjoyed this autobiography so much. I'm not American, and cannot even remember ever seeing Carol Burnett on TV, but reading the auto I felt I was really sharing her life. I got to know her family so well. They came to life for me.
Just after I finished CB's book, I started reading one about Jackie Onassis. JO's life seemed so empty, worthless, and dull by comparison.
I also know that CB was telling the truth. I could feel it. I once read Shelley Winter's autobiographies, and I sensed that there were incidents that she either made up or distorted, so I wasn't surprised when people came forward and said SW hadn't been, to put in mildly, accurate in some of her accounts.

I bought this book originally in the early 1980s right after it was printed and I have re-read it every year and a half or so since and find new things every time. The writing is just fantastic; each episode in his life is constructed like a story. I have read where people think it is a whitewash, but actually he touches on everything discreetly and without rancor or salaciousness. When I first read it as a young film student he cataloged a string of movies I had barely heard of, mostly because they weren't easily available until now. A conscientious watching of the films he mentions makes for great companions to the book. From our vantage point in time, this book is also a window into a vanished world where the late 19th century was reluctantly becoming the 20th century, and Huston always was searching to find his place in it. Few people live lives now similar to his life then because we don't have the times from which great lives spring like they did back then. Those decades gave rise to Bogart and Hemingway and Picasso and Roosevelt and the countless others because there were no other choices. Dynamic times make dynamic people! Huston constantly improvised, both in life and art, using his unique background and fine literary sensibilities to surf the constantly changing tides of war and economic depression and modernism, and at the same time constantly indulging himself in every way he could possibly conceive. His movies emerged from this mix, at times wise, at others mischievous; some daring, others fantastic. They were always a little ahead of their time or form, and they never consciously talked down nor pandered to their audience. His innovations developed organically. His breakthrough preference for remote location shooting stemmed from his experiences making documentaries in the battlefield during WWII. His arrangements of characters and objects in the frame came from his love of painting and still composition. His unusual choices for stories grew from his voluminous reading habits. Huston's natural curiosity and striving for perfection filled-in the spaces left between.

Some of Huston's films, like "The Maltese Falcon", are models of perfection, while others are like Michelangelo's scores of unfinished sculptures, almost as if he were saying, "Well, you get the idea!" before moving on to the next object of his fascination. "We Were Strangers" is a good example of this, rendering almost hypnotically the feelings of oppressive paranoia living in a fascist state, while at the same time servicing a story that is a B+ at best.

The real story of Huston's life and films has yet to be written though. There is just too much!

I can't remember when I enjoyed reading a book so much. I wished that I could read it anew all over again. I've read half dozen Hollywood bios and autos the last 6 months or so and this was hands down the most enjoyable!

I'm really quite surprised to see only two reviews before this one. Afterall, in my mind Huston ranks up there with the very best of American directors and screen writers. His history in the film business dates back to the ''golden era'' of Hollywood. And he knew all the top heads of the studios as well as many of the most talented people in the their related fields.

He is of course my overall favorite director, based on the quality and sheer number of films on his side of the scale. High Sierra [Scrnply], Maltese Falcon, the Big Sleep, Treasure of Sierra Madre, Key Largo just to mention a few of the early ones. And of course his writing of screenplays of the late thirties that anyone will recognize as some of the best of the classics. And his continued writing of movies; with and without directing, far to many to start listing here!

His relating of his life stories as told here is so captivating and so 'dog gone' interesting and funny, that I felt I was listening to a grandfather tell his life story from the front porch of a family home on a Sunday afternoon!

Anyone that likes to read of a Hollywood long gone and about the people in the industry in those days would do just fine in getting a copy of this wonderfully entertaining book, told by one of Hollywoods finest raconteurs! If not the finest!

John Huston's autobiography 'An Open Book' was written while the author - a film director whose life spanned the period from the earliest days of Hollywood to his eventual death in 1987 - was living, in old age, as something of a recluse in Mexico.

From this quiet, remote, idyllic spot he tells - as he sees it - the story of his own life and the many experiences and fotuitous friendships and relationships which he believes had been important in making him the way he was.

It goes back as far as he can go into his own ancestry and the origin of his own name - Huston. It goes deep into the impressions of his own family that he formed as a child and refined as he grew up.

He shares with us his many mistakes, as well as the background to some of his greatest successes - which nominally, are his many great films.

But somehow more important than this is the way he approaches his life and how he tells his own story. At one point he is discussing what actually constitutes the 'style' of a writer and what makes it distinctive. He concludes that what is called a writer's style is straightforwardly a unique artefact of how that person thinks and feels about their life and experience.

This book is full of a polished but intimate candour that illuminates and compliments his long and successful career in film

Not only has he been one of my favorite directors over the years, he did some great acting spots, particularly in Chinatown. Then to have this book to read is truely a window into his life. He gives one bit of advice. Has to do with smoking, I won't spoil it for you. Witty guy. I think we tend to forget that films are visual/written/audio stories that several people have put together. A piece of art, typically. And the director is the eye of the hurricane, piecing it all together, in his (her) vision. This book gives us a look into both his private life, one which the citizen today likely has little idea about, as well as numerous stories about various Hollywood people he worked with over the decades. I could barely put this book down. He's got a writing style that's so comfortable, so enjoyable to read, well, maybe it was more fun for me because, in my mind I heard his resonate speaking voice reading the whole book like one on tape by the author. There's never been a director like him that I'm aware of, someone who did not have his own style so much as cull the story right out of the block of stone so to speak. Each of the great films he did has their own vision, their own look. A great accomplishment for a real director who mastered his craft. I think of him as a man's man and this book keeps that sense alive. Sure am glad he took the time to write it because it's a lot of fun to explore his life with him. Unique places, people and times in American cinematic history, and he was there, right in the midst of it all. chrisbct@hotmail.com

Here are some great annecdotes (Bogart, Hepburn, Lorrie, Connery, et al.) by one of Hollywood's greatest directors. Huston's private life rivals any script that he ever shot, and his skill and training as a scriptwriter makes this an interesting, articulate volume.

When you deal with Otto Preminger there's possibly too much story to possibly deal with in one volume. One might ask for a whole book just on the relationship betwen Preimnger and his Marshalltown, Iowa, discovery, the late Jean Seberg, for their back and forth intimacy, the sense that they ruined each other in a way, is something Foster Hirsch works up perfectly, and for once he seems to have informants in all the right places and with the proper combination of critical judgment and insider information. One is encouraged to think of SAINT JOAN and BONJOUR TRISTESSE--back to back flops for wounded Preminger--as two sides of a single coin, a coin with a profile of short haired Seberg on each side. You're left thinking of her as a proto Edie Sedgwick, Preminger as an irascible Warhol, and the St. Joan-Tristeese one two punch as their own "Inner and Outer Space."

Preminger's affair with Dorothy Dandridge might equally well have been expanded. Hirsch credits Preminger as a sort of civil rights pioneer, pointing to Avon Long's ooften overlooked turn in CENTENNIAL SUMMER as just the sort of music number which Hollywood should be proud of, instead of apologizing for. For every step forward, however, that Preminger seemed to make--placing Duke Ellington on the piano bench alongside James Stewart, for example, in ANATOMY OF A MURDER, or trying to hire Martin Luther King to play a senator in ADVISE AND CONSENT, he takes two steps back. I suppose he should have encouraged Dandridge to take the part of Tuptim in Walter Lang's THE KING AND I--it might have helped preserve her illusion of serious stardom for more than a minute. And speaking of which, how bad can PORGY AND BESS be? Gershwin estate, release your shroud of silence over this film! It just isn't right to keep it from us, let us judge for ourselves how shrill and self serving Sammy Davis Jr can be, how miscast Sidney Poutier.

Big books could be written on so many chapters here--the supplanting of Lubitsch, the Gene Tierney spiral of madness and deceit; the Gypsy Rose Lee affair that led to the birth of their son, Erik Lee Preminger. The big, serious films of constitutional critique each need more pages than Hirsch can possibly give them, even in the deluxe sort of Knopf movie bio glossy treatment he gets here. For goodness sake, for a Preminger fan, THE CARDINAL all by itself could use a complete encyclopedia, just for the way the man played up his little Viennese starling Romy Schneider, her quickeyed grace so sumptuous and moving against Tom Tryon's need to be bigger, need to blow himself up. Though I must say this is the most complete treatment, in and out, that THE CARDINAL is ever likely to get.

What I dislike is Hirsch's need to have something to say about everyone in his path, and he is often vicious as Clifton Webb, which would be fine if you shared his bile and hated his targets as much as he must. Why the hate for the late Ira Levin (who worked with Preminger on the screenplay for BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING), why dismiss a great novelist as a "mediocre" hack, it's just gratuitous sniping, and it leaves you wondering why--perhaps an ill Levin refused the biographer an interview? Jackie Gleason is "humor-free" here, while Groucho Marx os "gross, uncouth, extremely unpleasant." Kim Cattrall will want to go into hiding after the full scale attach Hirsch mounts on her. Not that I'm a great fan of Kim Cattrall, but still! Give the girl a break! As for Dyan Cannon, well, I wasn't there, but neither was Hirsch and he paints her as worse than Grendel's grandmother. And Romy Schneider? I refuse to believe that "Romy really was an awful person," "highstrung and arrogant," etc and an impossible demon. No way Jose! Even Ursula Andress comes off as a shrew, and there's no evidence Preminger ever spoke to her, so it seems that Hirsch just delights trashing all these women just because it's easy.

Hirsch's book is an absolutely first-rate biography of a filmmaker that makes fascinating reading whether one is a Preminger fan or not.

"The director of the movies The Man with the Golden Arm, Anatomy of a Murder and Carmen Jones was a genius. Hirsch tells all including Preminger's determination to film movies about African Americans with Carmen Jones and gays in Advise and Consent."

This is a well written book. If you like biography and you like Hollywood, especially the golden age, you will enjoy it. You will be especially interested in the discussion of his classic films. Also Preminger was a leader and ground breaker in elimination of censorship of films and the McCarthy era of blacklisting writers.

Foster Hirsch has done a masterful job putting together a study of the life and times of Otto Preminger--a "rebel with a cause," namely the expansion of individual freedom against forces opposed to it. He was a figure from a time when people were serious about arts and culture, and 'adult entertainment' did not mean xxxx-rated porno. A better producer than director of actors, that is Hirsch's main argument, but Preminger still gets points for being a masterful "Noir" auteur, as well as a decent director of social-issue films of the 50s and 60s. He broke censorship taboos, the blacklist, the color-line, and created an overtly pro-Israel classic in Exodus (though not pro-Israel enough for author Leon Uris), and dealt with the Alger Hiss case in Advise and Consent (also pulling punches, to the dismay of Alan Drury). But he made the type of films that, while familiar in the 1950s and 1960s--think of Stanley Kramer, Sam Spiegel, Elia Kazan, and so on--are all but gone today. Serious, thoughtful films, posing philosophical dilemmas in the middle of melodrama.

If Preminger's reach exceeded his grasp, Foster Hirsch makes the case that he deserves credit for trying. There's also material on Preminger's colorful personal life--his illegitimate son by stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, Dorothy Dandridge's abortion (Otto's fault per Hirsch), his temper tantrums (Dexedrine use may have been a factor), and his interesting relationship with his brother Ingo (talent agent and producer of Robert Altman's MASH) and his parents (father was former Attorney-General of Austria-Hungary). His final marriage, to Hope, seems to have worked out OK--his son became a doctor in New Jersey and his daughter a lawyer who manages the Preminger business today. His son by Gypsy Rose Lee was responsible for some of Preminger's more peculiar films, such as Skiddoo and Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon.

He directed Porgy & Bess, which was pulled from distribution, as well as Carmen Jones. Laura is his most enduring hit. But many others have withstood the test of time. Preminger's last film, The Human Factor, was written by Tom Stoppard. Foster Hirsch says it is worth another look--like many other Preminger productions.

If you are interested in movie history, America in the 1950s and 1960s, or Viennese refugees and their Kultur, this is the book.

I am in awe of Mr Paul Simon and his great work in his music.

This book is awesome with great explanations and great tabs, esp for an amateur like me. Dabbing in music without a guitar instructor, poses to be ardous, but with such a good book I could decipher the tabs quite easily.

Thank you for having such a great book!

This is a great book, it includes the music in both notation and tab. The transcriptions are perfect, they are exactly what is on the recording. The best part about the book is that for each song, there is a page or two describing how to finger each chord (some of the songs are really hard to play if you use "normal" fingering, if you use the alternate fingering he suggests, you can do the chord switches MUCH easier!)

Using this book, I had Bookends and Scarborough Fair down in two days!

The only thing preventing me from giving this book a 5 : It had some songs I didn't know, and was missing two songs I really wanted : The Boxer, and Sounds of Silence.

If you want authentic transcriptions, this is the book for you. I have every Paul Simon guitar book of note, and this is the only one with real recorded-version tabs; lamentably, it lacks some of Simon's wonderful flourishes, but it is by far the best Paul Simon guitar book available. Each song includes a page of Mark Hanson's performance instructions/notes that are genuinely helpful and informative. The music ranges from early intermediate ("Bookends") to intermediate advanced--the more difficult arrangements (like "Hearts and Bones") are much too demanding for a real beginner. But if you have decent fingerpicking abilities and want a book to grow with, this would be a great choice. A true 5-star selection. If it had included "The Boxer" and "April Come She Will," I would be a happy man.

There are so many guitar books for Simon and Garfunkel, and until I saw this book, I was convinced that they were all useless.

This book has really accurate transcriptions, obviously done by someone who has a personal interest in Paul Simon's guitar playing; it shows in the song selection.

If you don't know how to play Kathy's Song, Overs, Peace Like a River, 59th St Bridge Song, Scarborough Fair, American Tune (and some others), this is a great, great book. You will learn so much from this book. The two part vocal harmonies are transcribed too, for the relevant songs.

I just wish the book could've been longer (keep an eye out for Brad Priddy's web page), but there was enough material in this book to keep me going for at least 9 months.

The author Mark Hanson gets much well-deserved praise for his books, cds, dvds, and teaching style from folks on the guitar web forums I visit. This word of mouth led me to try his Beyond Basics Fingerstyle Guitar book/cd combination. Which led me to buy his The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking book/cd combo and his Fingerstyle Solo Guitar dvd. I found all of these to be excellent learning tools. In his Paul Simon Transcribed, it's much of the same again: great instruction! This isn't a beginner's book. You have to know something going in. He prefaces each song with a page telling you about the tune itself and the technique for how it should be played. Both the standard music notation and the tablature for each song are presented clearly and in detail. And fortunately for me, as I am unable to read music, the tablature shows the timing/beat/rhythm of the song: without that I'd be lost. One final gushing comment: this is an excellent book which could only have been better if it had included an audio cd to hear how the songs should be properly played. Enough said!

I had read this book years ago and like so many other things, you lend it out and never get it back. sigh. I was happy to find this online and ordered it straight away. It was ordered at the same time as my Amazon stuff (through a reseller) and it beat my Amazon order by a good 3 days! lol

This is a fantastic inverview. I only wish an audio were available. Maybe someday.

I think that this book was very good. It took the reader in to the private lives of both John and Yoko. It gives us an inside look on what their own private lives were really like. That being when John was with The Beatles and his life afterwards and up to the end of his life. I recommend reading this book. It takes you into John's thoughts about life!!

I love John lennon so i started reading biographys on him and interviews, etc to learn more about him. When I read "The Playboy Interviews With John Lennon and Yoko Ono" I HONESTLY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! I couldn't believe it; i started reading it in the afternoon and didn't put it down until late at night where i finished it! It is a wonderful, wonderful book with John's sense of humor and yoko's too and their insight into the world. It really is my favorite book because it is close to a John Lennon autobiography as the world will ever know. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

This is the definitive book regarding John Lennon. He reviews almost every song he wrote with or without Paul McCartney, which alone is worth the price of admission. In addition to that, he provides insights into his personal philosophies and world views. One could call it the perfect companion to the recent Beatles Anthology book. Crucial reading. How sad he had to die a little over 2 months after these interviews were conducted. Unfortunately out of print, do yourself a favor and try an out of print book search; you won't regret it.

I first read this book back in 1983, to gain a little insight of John...and it quickly became my favourite book. Although I don't think Yoko was or is everything he thought, this was a man who truly loved his wife, and believed with his whole heart and soul in their marriage and life together. He was enjoying making music again, so much (this interview was done in September of 1980) and was looking forward to the future...hoping he'd be there with us. His love for his music, his wife, his sons, and even the Beatles are all there. He gives his opinions on every subject he can think of, both positive and negative, in his usual witty, straight-to-the-point manner that we all know him for. The interviewer did a great job, and was clearly a man who admired John Lennon as much as I do. He did a great job in this book, and it is my absolute favourite, out of all of my collection. Anyone who wants a peek into what John thought and felt and wanted you to know, should read this book...you will treasure it as I do.