Entertainment Books

I have a feeling this book will continue to draw acclaim as the months and years go by, for it must be the standard biography for some time to come. Drawing on a wealth of material from the artist's family, Janis Londraville and Richard Londraville have managed to animate a long forgotten story, and it has made me completely interested in Paul Swan's works in all their guises. It's hard to imagine today the ease with which Paul Swan seems to have said to himself, "Well, painting is only making me this famous, I think I'll add another string to my bow and become an interpretative dancer"? How often does that happen, and how often does any arrist excel in both wildly competitive fields?

Janis Londraville and Richard Londraville hint that Swan's good looks helped him along here and there. With so many photos of him spread throughout the book, a concordance of beauty begins to take shape in the reader's mind. Is he the "most beautiful man in the world" as his press agents claimed? It's a type of good looks you don't see very much today, or if you do, you see them in leading men who are just average looking--say, the Bill Pullman look. (Take a gander at the book jacket photo.) But Swan knew how to work his look, and he studied the Egyptian arts of presentation, so that his dances resembled early versions of Madonna's "Vogue" movements, with hand manipulations framing the face, the body, the long legs and the cinched in waist. He could have been a contender in the movies, but alas, he let the camera come close a little too late (he was already 40 when he played a herald in THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (first version) by Cecil B. DeMille. In fact his age was always getting in his way, like a clumsy, ardent teenage boy stumbling over his erection. In old age he was still performing his "Grecian" and "classic" dances in which, apparently, he would dance off his seven veils and at the end reveal the original naked body Isadora Duncan had fondled way back in the day. In his prime, when he went to Greece, Greek newspapers claimed that their statuary had come to life and was walking in American clothes! "See him and then see our marbles! Is he not the Hermes of Praxiteles come to life again? Or is he Antinous?"

He was sort of a dramatic Paul Lynde sort of queen except without a sense of humor, and not much of a dad to his two long suffering daughters. The authors luckily had his unpublished memoirs to draw on, and they are adept in art criticism to a scary extent, coming close to persuading me that Paul Swan's painting is necessary, like Thomas Hart Benton or Jackson Pollock. At any rate he is an American Rousseau, for good or bad, and I would love a companion volume with full color plates of all his surviving work, And what a shame that the authors worked hard interviewing nearly every available witness who knew the old man, and in a touching vignette they report that one, the actress Lisan Kaye, who posed as the Empress Theodora in 1944 for Swan, can't remember him at all, trapped as she is in her Alzheimer's disease. Something very Swanlike about that inability.

Do the authors cheat in subtitling their book "from Wilde to Warhol," considering that Swan actually never did meet Oscar Wilde? Yes, a little, I think, but it suits the carnival barker aspect of their subject, for whom no publicity was bad publicity.

I have had the privilege of working with Janis and Richard Londraville as an intern, and as a gift for assisting them with the exhibition of Paul Swan's works that Janis is curating at the SUNY Potsdam campus, I recieved an autographed copy of their book. I simply couldn't put it down! The authors did an amazing job of telling the story of Paul Swan, and after I'd finished the book, I felt as if I'd known the artist for years. This is a wonderful, amazing book and I'm glad I got the opportunity to work with the authors on an exhibit of Paul Swan's works. Everyone should read this book!

When I read the review in the Hollywood Reporter, I figured the book was worth a look. Indeed, it was. I can't say it better than HR: The book should have screen actors guild members "turning pages with one hand and dialing their agents with the other." This is a visual book, filled with images. There is a lot of power is this crazy artist's life. --Another artist.

If this were fiction, it would almost be unbelievable. As a biography, it's simply fascinating to read what he did, who he knew, and how he survived during that time in history. An excellent exploration of art, sexuality, personality. You will burn through it.

Whether you're thinking about a career in the music industry, curious about the mechanisms behind starting up a record label, or an artist that wants to cover the business side of being a successful performer, this is the book for you.

Christopher Knab's book, "Music Is Your Business: The Musician's ForeFront Strategy for Success", skillfully navigates the reader through the sometimes tumultuous terrain that independent musicians and record labels travel every day. Methodically comprised of what he calls the Four Fronts, namely Artist & Product Development, Promotion, Publicity and Performance, Chris pulls from a body of knowledge that spans from his thirty years in the music industry.

Terms are spelled out in an easy to read format, but with a technical tone for those that want to sharpen skills they already have. Whether you're a beginner or long time veteran, his book is loaded with useful and insightful information that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else. As someone whose starting his own label, this resource has been an invaluable source of inspiration and information. Simply put, this book rocks!

This book is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to start treating their music career as a serious business.

There are a lot of solid books out there that bite off a piece of the music industry - promotion, getting gigs, publicity, website management - but this is the book you need to start with. In it you will find a detailed overview of every aspect of the music business in clear no-nonsense prose. Getting a sense of the big picture is crucial in order to be able to prioritize the work that needs doing.

Unlike many of the music books out there, the reader is treated as an adult, and there are no silver bullets offered. What you get instead is professional advice on all of the tools you need to develop a solid and professional business around music. This is not a book of generic answers, but a book that will help you make sure you are asking all of the right questions, with advice for how to find the answers specific to your career.

Whether it is the proper way to organize a bio, or how to submit your music to magazines, or how to set up house concerts and build a loyal following, there is a ton of great thinking in here.

As a working professional in the Music Industry, I feel this book is a "must" read for any artist or anyone representing an artist who wants to make the Music Industry their career. So many artists just want to play, and ignore the business aspects. As it's stated in the book, The Music Business is just that, a business!

Hands on experiences, with printed examples make this an easy to read and reference guide that you'll come back to time and time again. Before you know it, you'll be sharing this information with other artists.

If you don't read this book, or think you know it all, you are not serious about furthering your career, for it discusses the pitfalls of the industry and warns you how to not fall trap to them.

Take control of your career.. Do it now! Order this book!

Robin Fairbanks, Seattle

Chris Knab has made his career in all areas of the music business, from record store owner to radio DJ, starting a record label to managing an independent radio station, and music business educator and consultant.

Using what he calls the Four Front strategy to cover Artist and Product Development, Promotion, Publicity and Performance issues, Chris Knab shows independent musicians how to navigate the paths to sucess in the music business.

Let me break these down for you a little bit. In the Artist Development section, he lays out the knowledge and skills that musicians and bands need to reach their goals of getting their music out to an audience, and guides you through the many potential minefields that can hinder you from achieving success. In the Product Development section, he and entertainment lawyer Bartley Day detail the specifics of getting a record released, including CD production and both retail and internet distribution, as well as the many legal issues to be considered. In the Promotion section, he gives detailed information needed to get radio airplay for your songs. In the Publicity section, he shows the ways to get the word about your music out to the print, broadcast and internet media. Finally in the Performance section, he focuses on ways to find and build an audience of customers for your music.

The book is packed with useful information, but is also easy to read, and is a very good reference for any musician or band seeking a successful music career. The book won't do the work for you, but it will give you a detailed insider's view on what you need to do to make it in the music business.

In the airport recently, I picked up the Los Angeles Times and came across a review of this delightful book, which will appeal to movie buffs, history buffs or anyone whose family experienced the Great Depression. I quote from Jonathan Kirsch who wrote the review: "The next time a 1930s gangster flick called 'Kid Galahad' shows up on cable, take a close look at the guy in the spectacles and the fedora standing next to Humphrey Bogart. 'If you are familiar with many B movies of the late '30s or '40s,' writes Joan M. Cunningham, 'you would probably recognize my father's face, if not his name.' Joe Cunningham was one of the character actors who are the unsung heroes of old Hollywood, and his brief but memorable career is detailed in an unabashedly sentimental memoir by his daughter. Joan Cunningham recalls a childhood on the margins of Hollywood." The review goes on to highly recommend this fascinating book about the other side of Hollywood during it's Golden Age. I picked up the book and couldn't put it down.

Just returned from a tip to California where I learned about the Hollywood moguls who founded the movie industry. What a joy, when I returned, to discover this little book--the other side of the coin--that told what it was like for families to live and work amoung the famous in Hollywood of the 30s and 40's. The author takes you back with her to walk the streets where Jackie Cooper was her neighbor and little girls adventured out to get a peek at the big studio lots. You feel the highs of dining at Chassens when dad has a bit part and the lows of moving to a smaller house when bits are sparse. A love story from a daughter for her father, forever a featured player in her life.

A delightful read. I was transported back in time to an era of "B" movies as seen in the lives of the players, a family that shared love, and tough times with humor and strength.

A revealing, surprising, delightful look at bygone Hollywood by one who was there: the daughter of the "Bit Player" in the title. This personal remembrance is sprinkled with the famous--and not-so-famed--personalities and events that have shaped our impression of Hollywood's "golden age." Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Ginger Rogers...they're all here, but in small roles, supporting the star: Joe Cunningham.

Snap this one up for an insider's look at a special time in our nation's cultural history. You'll be rewarded with page after page of anecdotes about life on the edge of the spotlight, and in the middle of how things really were. (Check out the photo of the author at Shirley Temple's birthday party--she's adorable!)

I was fascinated by the star-studded stories, and touched by the loving look back at a uniquely American family. I recommend this to all who appreciate good movies, good writing and good reads.

I recently finished reading 'My Father's voice', the biography of Lorne Greene written by his daughter Linda Greene Bennett. If you are a Lorne Greene fan this book is an absolute MUST for you. I thought I knew quite a lot about this man but discovered I hadn't even scratched the surface! I just wish I had had the opportunity to meet him. Linda obviously loved her father dearly and this comes across in the book. I laughed and I cried but loved it totally.
Even if you are not a particular fan of Mr. Greene it is still worth reading about this hard-working, intelligent, humorous, wonderful person, and WHAT a life he had!!

I very much enjoyed reading this book. It reminds me how "Stars" are seen by the public, when in fact they are still just human after all. Mr. Greene was quite a man, very ambitious, talented, funny and warm. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys the work of this man, as I do.

I bought this book for my husband, and he didn't put it down till the book Was finished! He loved it.

If you're a fan of Lorne Greene and Bonanza, you'll love this book. I had no idea that the man was such an accomplished actor! A "must-read" for all fans of the show.

Stanislavsky is still the most influential figure in modern or contemporary theater. In this book, he is open about his life especially the rough years in Russia, his first exposure to the theater, his first time at directing. He also writes about his professional relationship with another Russian, Anton Chekhov. He writes about his travels mostly in Russia such as his journeys to Petrograd, the Russian provinces that inspired many of Chekhov's plays, and of course his first journey abroad. The book is really for theater junkies like myself who would have loved to have been a theatrical actress or director but life isn't so bad. He has directed William Shakespeare's tragedies like Othello and Julius Caesar along with Chekhov favorites like The Cherry Orchard, The Three Sisters, Uncle Vanya and The Sea Gull. Stanislavsky also founded and developed the Moscow Theater Company. He did it all for love, not money nor fame. He became rich in so many other ways.

For those in the arts, and especially those in dramatic art, this book is a must. It is the account of the father of modern truthful acting and a look into what a life spent towards creating art is about. While at times the book can drag a bit and get wordy, there is too much insight and inspiration in this book to pass it by. It is so wonderful to have an account of this mans amazing life in his own words to read, study and eventually aim for.

A must read for those of the stage!

This book is Stanislavski account of his experiences in working at the Moscow Art Theatre that he Co-founded with Vladimir Danthcheko ( who also wrote a similar book from his perspective titled ' My life in the Russian Theatre'). The book deals with the problems the duo faced in ushering in modern theatre as we know it today and the solutions they came up with. Highly recommended for those interested in learning about this major revolution that happened in theatre at the end of 19th century.

"Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art." Truly one of the world's greatest arts educators, Stanislavsky's autobiography is beautifully written. It is a fascinating portrait of the history of modern acting and also of Russian history. Absolutely key for understanding the Method, and the development of today's theater.

The New Amsterdam Theatre is amazing. It has been given a new life. This book tells that story. It brings us back to Old New York when there used to be over fifty theatres!! It is a shame that we've let them be destroyed. But this book gives the story of a theatre and a peek into a past that deserves to be remembered.

This is the most beautiful book I own. I had been to the New Amsterdam in its most painful days. At this time I saw Mondo Cane and would not sit down it was such a flea bag theatre. It was a historical sight...Ziegfeld Folies et al. I really felt sad as I stood there feeling the greatness that had passed; at the time I felt... forever. Disney has brought the theatre and the feeling back. I witnessed this with my viewing of LION KING. What I felt had been lost forever can be seen in this wonderful book. The pictures before and after make one feel that nothing is impossible. The beauty that had decayed and looked irreversable has been accomplished and this book, and this theatre stand as testaments to what can be accomplished. Anyone who has walked into a theatre and felt the past rekindle will love to read this inspiring book. This book shows the cycle of a wonderful theatre and all that it was and lost and then saved. It symbolizes the rise and fall of 42nd Street as well as one beautiful theatre. This book will for once and for all show what a thetare can be and fall to and rise above. This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in Theatres anywhere and what they should symbolize to all of us.

This book offers an excellent overview of the New Amsterdam Theater from the beginning through the recent renovation with discussions of the architecture of the building, the decorative artwork and of course a history of shows that have played at the theater from the beginning.

Do you know a theater buff who deserves the perfect gift this holiday season? Disney's Hyperion has just released the ideal book for anyone who loves the theater: The New Amsterdam: The Biography of a Broadway Theatre.

The book is as striking as New York's famed and recently refurbished New Amsterdam Theatre. Opening from the center to reveal the main stage framed by delicate murals and art nouveau decorations, the book is brimming with pictures. It begins with decades old photographs and sketches that depict the grace and splendor of the theater when it opened in 1903 and concludes with before-and-after pictures demonstrating the care and effort that went into the building's restoration.

This book does not simply tell the story of the rise, fall, and rebirth of the Broadway landmark, it recounts the history of American theater as it passed over the stage of the New Amsterdam. From the Ziegfeld Follies to Fred Astaire to Jack Benny to Disney's recent staging of King David, the New Amsterdam welcomed America's most famous and talented performers. The New Amsterdam: The Biography of a Broadway Theatre makes this history come alive with photos of movie posters, actors, sets, and costumes.

Disney is to be commended for committing their resources to the painstaking and comprehensive restoration project that has saved the New Amsterdam from its undeserved fate as a forgotten and abandoned relic from Broadway's' glamourous past. They can also be congratulated for offering this remarkable book that preserves and shares 94 years of America's artistic heritage.

This guide is very usefull for to Duke Nukem 3D Gamer(not Atomic Or the PAK version). The book had all the secrets to each level and episode; good for people who want to master it. However if your a begginer, it tells you the basic and simple parts of Duke,his ego, and his enimies. Gives you a Map guide of the level and path to beat it. Gives hints, tips, and demos of other games by 3D Realms. however, the book can be hard to understand a bit for younger or less educated people. Still, a great book for a great price. get this book if you want to know how to MASTER Duke Nukem 3D!

This book was a great help to me when I was playing Duke. This guide shows and explains how to get out of each level and also shows secret areas! If you've ever been lost in the levels of Duke Nukem 3D before, this book is the answer!

As strategy gaming host for bellaonline.com, I have to read through quite a number of pitiful walkthroughs. This one is a great exception! The book is extremely well laid out, with clear, easy to use maps, tips and techniques. The instructions are all dead on. But best of all, the book isn't written assuming you're 2 years old. It's written with a fantastic style, with humor and knowledge all mixed together. I was extremely impressed, and this has stayed on my shelves while other books were tossed out long ago!

The Game Book for Duke Neukem 3D is the bomb! It has all the stuff you need to finish the game without missing blasting a thing! If you want the total experience of Duke's adventures, buy this guide!

Rorschach gave us the inkblot test. Mr. Samples gives us turds. If the inkblot test is the second most commonly used forensic assessment in modern psychology, then I move to make Mr. Samples' Guide the first. Truly, a universe of information can be gleaned from the identification of our defecation. I find it my privilege--and my duty--to recommend this sparkling example of fine literary crap to anyone searching for meaning on, and within, the confines of the porcelain keister gasket. The satisfying and thorough descriptions of various human colonic refuse refused to take the high road, instead opting for a pungent, earthy feel that uncoiled the mysteries that lie in the bowels of humankind. I found the illustrations insightful, although I appreciated Mr. Samples' refusal to go with scrath n' sniff. And, to twist a phrase, if a turd could really be polished, this book would shine like the sun.

Great book! I loved it enough to send several as gifts!! (Think Father's Day... he'll love it.)

This book is absolutely hilarious. It provides a fresh spin on a not so fresh experience. If you've been unsuccessful in finding the right words in your Dictionary or Thesaurus to describe the results of your daily event, look no further. This book is the end to your searching. Not only has this book been educational for me, I have also found that I want to share this valuable information with the ones I love. It is truly funny. Thank you, Mr. Samples.

Have you ever taken a dump and not known what to call it? Well then this is the book for you. Now you will be able to identify all the turds you have made in the past as well as future turds not yet produced. The drawings and terminolgy are quite clever. Melvin's book really cracks me up.

Wow! This game is really fun! its addicting! I wouldn't recomend it for kids under 5, and kids under 7 might have to mute it, cause i remember the music and the sound effects when someone died or something kinda scared me. Okay, i mean really scared me. But it doesn't now. Want some tips?
1. Never never EVER use a connestoga wagon. Buy a farm wagon. it tips over way less.
2. Always bring camphor. You never know when a person will get a concussion
3. If you're going to oregon, don't take the toll road. it takes way longer than the columbia route and theres a really hard hill you're going down. 23 of my people have died on that road. oh, and pay someone to raft you down the columbia. If you can't afford this, then cross your fingers and hope for the best
4. If you're going to california, don't take hastings cutoff. how'd u like a million mile cross in a desert or tundra?
5. Start in April or May. I made the mistake of going in June and i got to nevada when the winter snows hit and my party was stuck in the sierra nevadas just like the donners (we didn't eat eachother, though)
6. While hunting, don't shoot at bears. if you miss, the bear could and will bite you
7. During a buffalo stampede, go hunting baby. Allelujah!
8. My recommended occupation is pharmacist. You have enough money, have medical AND botany skills, and that leaves enough room for other skills
i hope you can use these 2 your advantage <3

I love the Oregon Trail II game and this book provided tons of useful information in helping understand what the pioneers faced on their journey west. It helped me achieve a really high score too (34,085)!! It is packed with information on which trail to take, how to load your wagon, which wagon to choose, which draft animals are best, how to care for your people, and so much more. I'm hooked on the game and the Strategy Guide helped me appreciate this bygone era for all it was worth. I think it is a great compliment to owning the game!

The Official Strategy Guide is a wonderful guide. It not only helps you through your journey, but it is very informative. I would find myself sitting down to read the guide more than using it while I was playing the game. It has a lot of historical facts about the trail, the people, towns, and diseases. I would recommend buying it, because it is two-fold, informational for the game and for yourself!

If you are playing the 2 version of the game this book is the best. I hope to see one for the newest game version. It is still helpful in your travels. Give it a try.

Like all Odyssey this is a great product. My children listen to it in their play room, in the van or at times before going to bed. I prefer them to listen to a show rather than watch T.V. since they have a tendency to get wired if they watch T.V. before bed. With this, they learn to listen, learn morals and relax. It's perfect and worth every penny you spend.

Great Audio to listern on the road or at home. My son and I enjoy it very. We couldn't stop listerning to it. My son listern more than once. I really suggest this to parents for there children.

This album has is one of the best heres how many stars i give them.
135: Back to Bethlehem, Part 1. 4/5
136: Back to Bethlehem, Part 2. 4/5
137: Back to Bethlehem, Part 3. 4/5
144: Someone to Watch Over Me. 5/5
139: Melanie's Diary. 4/5
148: Isaac the Procrastinator. 4/5
145: The Second Coming. 3/5
146: Emotional Baggage. 5/5
155: Waylaid in the Windy City, Part 1. 5/5
156: Waylaid in the Windy City, Part 2. 5/5
159: The Homecoming. 5/5
157: Last in a Long Line. 5/5

Overall a great Album trust me buy it.

BACK TO BETHLEHEM, PARTS I-III
Faith/The Story of Jesus' Birth
Connie discovers that the first Nativity wasn't what she thinks it was when she and Eugene take a trip back to first century Bethlehem in the Imagination Station. Connie goes to work at an inn in Bethlehem and Eugene encounters an old prophet who thinks a mysterious star is the sign of the coming Messiah. While they find themselves in the middle of a clash between the Romans and a radical zealot at the inn in Bethlehem, something unusual happens in a stable nearby.

MELANIE'S DIARY
Empathy
Robyn Jacobs learns a hard lesson about the pain of embarrassment when she reads her little sister Melanie's diary.

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME
God's Protection
Jimmy Barclay goes on his most incredible adventure ever when meets an unusual gentleman named Mr. Nagle.

THE SECOND COMING
The return of Jesus
Melanie Jacobs becomes convinced that she knows the exact day and time of the return of Jesus.

EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE
Grudges
Connie starts behaving strangely when she learns her aunt is coming for a visit, and Whit uses a rather unusual game to show her what a grudge is doing to her.

ISAAC THE PROCRASTINATOR
Procrastination
When Isaac Morton keeps putting off doing his work, Whit comes up with a way for him to get the job done -- now!

WAYLAID IN THE WINDY CITY, PARTS I AND II
God's control/The folly of revenge
During a trip to Chicago, Whit and Connie get caught up in an amazing and perilous mystery involving a portable computer, the Defense Department, and some familiar -- but not very friendly -- faces.

LAST IN A LONG LINE
Family heritage
Eugene makes an amazing discovery while walking through an old cemetery -- the tombstone of his long-lost father.

THE HOMECOMING
Forgiveness
Odyssey is in an uproar when Richard Maxwell comes back to town for the most unlikely--and very surprising--reason.