Frank Books

For years.The fans of Abbott & Costello wanted to find out how their most famous film parody of horror movies"Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein!"came about.A few books have come to light in recent years:"Movie Comedy Teams"by Leonard Maltin,"The Abbott & Costello Book"By Jim Mullholland and:"Abbott & Costello In Hollywood!"by Ron Palumbo & Bob Furnemack.Now..As a companion to These three manuscripts is the paperback edition of the film's script.Film historian Phil Riley has found an early draft of the script that shows us all scenes and dialogue that never appeared in the final release print:"Oh Oh! And Up Pops The Devil","You're not going to leave me with all of this work"."You're not suppose to throw away all of that fat wasite".etc in terms of the film's dialogue.There is one scene that was never used in the film and sadly.It prohibieted Poor Lou from using his improvational skills as a true movie clown.The scene has "Dracula"(Bela Lugosi)using his hyponotic powers to lure poor"Wilber Brown"(Costello)back into the castle for the brain transplaint.Lou keeps trying to run away.But the power of the evil vampire's spell is so strong that he is constantly being pulled back into the castle via the cave entrance.He finds a rock and sits there."Dracula"(Bela) by now is getting madder than hell! And he says to "Wilber"(Lou)"I Said Come Back!"."Wilber Brown"sits on the rock and says"'No! I'm sitting right here and I'm not going back!".Until both Lou and the rock are zipped back into the cave and into the evil clutches of "Dracula"(Bele Lugosi) and "Dr.Sandra Morney"(Lenore Aubert).The book also shows some photos from the film and some wonderful behind the scenes candid pictures from the cast members,the film's director(Charlie Barton),The film's producer(Bob Arthur)and Dialogue Director(Norman Abbott..Bud's newphew)and the members of the Abbott & Costello families.There are also some thoughts about the making of the film from the team's family members and the true story of how this classic parody was conceived and filmed by the book's author:Mr.Riley.For fans of horror movies and for fans of classic comedy movies.This is one book to have in your collection.Bravo Phil! Kevin S.Butler.

This is a great treasure for Abbott and Costello fans as well as Chaney, Lugosi, or Universal fans. The pictures alone are worth the price of the book. The script is still titled "The Brain of Frankenstein" and includes deleted scenes which further add to the story. As someone who has seen the film many times the added info gives new insights as to the characters performances.

Classic horror film stars meet legendery comic duo make for great film and great book. behind the scenes info with rare photographs and insight into the relationships with all protagonist's. Also critic's reviews and posters and billboards from the orginal time of film's release.

This book is packed with everything you need to use Sony's Acid Pro to it's fullest. The information is clearly presented with lot's of screen shots, tips and suggestions. The chapters take you from just getting around in the program to detailed discussion of all the FX available and when and where to use them, to mastering loop manipulation, using MIDI, and publishing your work. I found useful information in every chapter. The book is well organized. Each topic in a chapter has its own sub-heading with usually about a half-page of text, making it easy to put down, play with what you've learned, and then continue. This book also explains several ways to jump from feature to feature, including menu navigation and short-cut keys. This is a great book for learning the software and to have on hand as a reference book.

This book not only will help you begin to expand what you can do with Acid Pro 5.0, but will also provide a review of basic music theory and song creation. It is more detailed, and not as fun to read as "Instant Acid" but can actually serve as a reference as you continue to grow in your technical abilities. You can hear how I used the info by lisening to Griffman on acidplanet.com

Sub-Title: The Official Guide to Sony ACID Pro 5 Software : The Official Guide to Sony's ACID Pro 5 (Power!)

ACID Pro, at about $400 retail (about $250 discounted) isn't the cheapest or the most expensive music processing software. It is probably the most popular loop based creation and remixing software sold.

This book is intended to be both a tutorial and a reference book and it does that by spending the first couple of chapters leading you through a tutorial before moving to a more reference like format. It is intended to be a supplement to the manual that comes with the product, at once providing more basic understanding of the underlying philosophy of loop generated music.

Mr. Frank, the author is a multimedia artist specializing in digital video production and scoring. He has used ACID to create music for a wide variety of customers.

This is an intermediate to advanced level book, as the author says, play around with the software first, and then we'll settle down to doing some work.

This book is absolutely outstanding. The book involves in depth RESEARCH on the G-W House. It is written in University research style, which is lacking in today's typical architectural items. I have read the book 5 times. Every time I find something new an interesting. The book covers the first planning stages of the house, the construction/material phases, etc. Probably the most interesting fact was the story of the original owners (G + W) which makes the house so intriguing. Furthermore, it includes the G-W III house designed by E. Fay Jones (a onetime Wright apprentice). The only drawback is there are no photos of the bedrooms and gallery area of the house. Overall, I rate this book among the best of Wright Usonian house books!!!

This book is absolutely outstanding. The book involves in depth RESEARCH on the G-W House. It is written in University research style, which is lacking in today's typical architectural items. I have read the book 5 times. Every time I find something new an interesting. The book covers the first planning stages of the house, the construction/material phases, etc. Probably the most interesting fact was the story of the original owners (G + W) which makes the house so intriguing. Furthermore, it includes the G-W III house designed by E. Fay Jones (a onetime Wright apprentice). The only drawback is there are no photos of the bedrooms and gallery area of the house. Overall, I rate this book among the best of Wright Usonian house books!!!

Thank you so much for offering this book. The info on how it came to be and background correspondence between Wright and the clients is very extinsive. I only regret the book dosen't give more photo's. The footnotes add a balance to the over all effect of the book. Anyone out there have more info on this house in Okemos Mich, please E-mail me at cdrhodes56@hotmail.com

You gotta get the cuban beat

If you are looking to spruce up your playing, this is the book for you. It uses a step by step process to ease you into the most dificult rhythms. It also comes with a cd that gives examples of all the beats in this book which I found very helpful. You can apply the beats learned in this book to any type of music for a much more interesting sound. I would say this book is for moderate to advanced drummers. Get this book, It's worth it.

After 20+ years of playing the drum set I can hear and feel most standard rock and jazz rhythms fairly easily. But the rhythms in this book are so different that I find myself challenged in each exercise---even the simplest ones! This book will really help the drummer who is comfortable with current and past rock and jazz styles, because it is a huge stretch from the 4/4 and 3/4 that most of us spend virtually all of our time playing. More than anything, this book will help your overall sense of time, because its contents are so different from the American rock-pop-jazz genre, that your brain will have to work overtime to master them. It's helpful if you have some Latin traps in your kit, but not necessary to reap the full benefit. Couple this book with Gary Chester's New Breed, and you'll step into a new phase of musical creativity in your drumming career. The included CD is really essential to understanding the groove of these exercises.

Aggie and Ben is a truly unique book with a universal theme. Three things make this book stand out from other titles about boys and their dogs:

1. The writing. Lori Ries captures the personality of Ben with simple, honest language, and keeps the story moving with clever plot twists. (The scene where Aggie drinks from the toilet is classic!)
2. The format. This book is divided into three short stories, providing natural stopping points when you don't feel like reading everything at once. The format works well for beginning readers, who may be more comfortable taking on a single chapter. It also works well as a read-aloud.
3. Quirky illustrations. Aggie is just so adorable, kids can't resist her.


Review by Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby

There's a discussion on the Amazon boards about that age when kids feel they're beyond picture books, but may not feel ready for chapter books. It's pretty much of a moot point, because there are lots books with pictures AND short easy-to read chapters ("Henry and Mudge," "George and Martha"). However, the thread is a good place for readers to share favorites, and for authors to plug their books ("oh, by the way, you might like MY book....").

"Aggie and Ben" bridges the alleged gap between picture and chapter books with three short chapters about young Ben choosing and playing with a pet animal. The sentences are simple and the words are short, yet author Lori Ries keeps things interesting and cohesive. In the first short chapter, Ben visits a pet store and deliberates over the pros and cons of each animal. He likes birds, mice, cats, and snakes, but he's thoughtful enough to consider the potential negatives: "A cat would chase things. A cat would play. But a cat would not play with me at the park. 'I do not think I want a cat,' I say." The language is straight on, with no twisty clauses or confusing tenses. ANd, as simple as the narrative is, Ries' protagonist actually shares his thoughts with the reader. SOmetimes those thoughts are humorous, especially when coupled with Frank Dormer's light, airy pen and watercolor illustrations: "But a snake might make Mommy scream," says Ben while thinking about a pet snake. We see mommy in the shower (behind a curtain, of course), her hair covered in a huge shower cap as she faces a green snake wrapped around the shower head!

By chapter two, Ben has chosen his pet, a brown and white Beaglish sort of mutt whom he names "Aggie." THey play copycat (or dog): "'Look, I'm a dog,' I tell MOmmy. 'I am just like Aggie....' Aggie sniff the couch. I sniff the couch, too. She sniffs the couch. I sniff the couch too." But Ben must teach Aggie some limites: Daddy's shoe is not a toy, a clothes dryer is not a bed, and, when Aggie drinks out of the toilet (all tastefully drawn), Ries writes this gem: "I am done being a dog." The last chapter is called, "The Scary THing," promising something a little more dangerous. That's another good thing about this book; you can read one chapter and skip others depending on your child's mood. This last story deals with kids' fear of the dark. Aggie gets cozy on Ben's bed, but when the lights go out, they seem to see things, somewhat...scary things. However, Ben and Aggie discover that they're just toys, or shadows (Ben's silhoetted bathrobe looks like a shadowy person),, or Aggie himself pulling on the bed cover! ADults will love the soft, gentle conclusion as they ready their own kids for bed:

Aggie lies down to sleep, too.
There is nothing scary.
Just me and Aggie.

It's difficult to pack so much into a simple story, but Ries and Dormer succeed. A few times, I wished the pictures were somewhat more color saturated, but by the last page, I saw that it fit with the light, comforting tone. This is a book that respects kids' intellectual and emotional needs, and its warmth is palpable.

A boy and his dog. Children's literature is just chock full of such pairings. Of course, when you start hitting the upper end of the age spectrum, such books inevitably lead to a dead dog somewhere along the line. So if you are squeamish, like me, you'll find far more comfort in picture books instead. The "Henry and Mudge" set are always going to be clamoring for more doggy lit. As such "Aggie and Ben: Three Stories" fills a very real need. With simple words perfect for burgeoning readers and pictures that examine every angle and view, there is nothing complicated about this book. It just goes to prove that sometimes the most unencumbered stories are the most satisfying.

Broken into three small tales, the first story in this book is "The Surprise". One day Daddy informs Ben that they're going somewhere to get an unexpected delight. The next moment the two are in a pet store to look for someone perfect. Ben is very good at weighing the pros and cons of each potential animal. In the end, he decides that a dog would be best, and the best dog of the lot is the one that makes him laugh. In story number two, "Just Like Aggie", Ben pretends to be a dog himself as he and Aggie explore the home. Aggie has some pretty funny ideas about what to drink, where to sleep, what to chew, and where she belongs. Fortunately she has Ben nearby to straighten her out. Finally, in the "The Scary Thing" Aggie is afraid of various noises and shadows that appear in Ben's room. In the end, however, Ben (who starts getting a little freaked out by his perpetually on notice pup) is able to convince Aggie that the bedroom is safe. "There is nothing scary. Just me and Aggie."

Author Lori Ries (a dog owner herself) has given the world a very rare item. Picture books with simple words for early readers may sound like they're a dime a dozen, but try locating one for kicks. Go on. You can find plenty of small books like "Frog and Toad" or "Alien and Possum" but try locating a picture book that uses the same simple vocabulary. In 2005 the best book to do this was the truly wonderful, "A Splendid Friend, Indeed", by Suzanne Bloom. This year, the honor falls to "Aggie and Ben". Which is to say that Ms. Ries has that very rare ability to write simply and wittily. At one point in the book, for example, Ben gets Aggie home for the first time and sets about imitating her every move. Then we come to the following: "Aggie goes into the bathroom. I go into the bathroom, too. Aggie sees the toilet." Beat. "I am done being a dog." You don't come across too many droll picture books these days. Credit "Aggie and Ben" then with an understated sense of humor and the ability to hand the viewer some sweet and honest moments.

Sometimes an author will trump their illustrator with their superior wordplay. Other times an artist will put a writer's works to shame with their command of a scintillating palette. In "Aggie and Ben", however, I was relieved to find an equal pairing of talents. If Lori Ries is queen of the sublime passage then Frank Dormer is her undeniably talented king. Drawn in pen and ink with watercolors on (and here I simply MUST quote this to you), "140-lb. cold-press Winsor and Newton paper", Dormer isn't afraid to move beyond the expected. He moves away from single panels or enclosed spreads. Sometimes a character will be featured quite simply against a white background. Other times they'll appeal in a full-page or half-page square. Even better, Dormer likes to shakes things up a bit by changing his angles. At one point you'll be looking down at the characters in the book. The next moment you're at the bottom of a hill and Aggie is racing straight towards you, hell for leather. The simple lines and soft colors are distinctive enough to keep the average reader from confusing Dormer's style with anyone else. Wanna know the kicker? This is his first book. How amazing is that? Talk about an artist "getting it" right from the get-go.

Undoubtedly you could pair "Aggie and Ben" with another new pooch book. My personal favorite is the remarkably wonderful, "Let's Get a Pup, Said Kate" by Bob Graham. Ries's story deals with simpler issues and characters, but that doesn't mean that the story isn't just as engaging in its way. More sophisticated (and palatable) than "Biscuit" and lots of fun to look at, "Aggie and Ben" has no choice but to become loved by child that finds it. There is a very great danger that you may miss this book as it flies under the radar. See that you snatch yourself a copy at the most opportune moment.

I still want the DVD of this exceptional show made and released!! I have been trying to acquire it for years!!!!! The book is complemented most fully by the show. One can only hope......

"America on Wheels: The First 100 Years: 1896-1996" is my favorite automobile book, and also is the companion to the PBS special. Skillfully written by Frank Coffey and Joseph Layden, it has the most beautiful, full color photographs in a single work that I have seen in the last 12 months of my research. From the early days of the automobile in the 1890's and prior to 1996 and beyond, it adeptly covers automotive development decade-by-decade.

The wonderful hardcover version is large, 8-1/2" x 11", covering 11 chapters over three parts. Part I, "Driving Force" solidly reveals the growth of the automobile from the horseless carriage up through Chapter 4, "Labor Pains," which narrates the beginning and early history of automobile labor unions. At first, both sides were bitterly opposed. Fighting occurred. Bloodied and bruised, the workers and the unions gradually united and worked out their differences--for the time being. After all, World War II was approaching. "Social Mobility," Part II, starts at Chapter 5, "The War Machine" and describes how automobile production all but ceased after Pearl Harbor. Automobile manufacturing became manufacturing for vehicles of war. Chapter 6, "The Post War Room" and Chapter 7, "The Open Road" take you through this difficult and trying period so well with the photographs that you can almost smell the factory smoke and rubber tires, and hear the wrenches clinking. Part III, "Car Wars" details the post-war priorities of Detroit: retool the factories, design new automobile bodies--with chrome and fins--and develop new engines and conveniences to welcome the new age of freedom.

Without a doubt, this is the best and most complete source of information about automotive development in America. It is a virtual pool of American Culture, brimming with helpful anecdotes and interviews of personalities who were there as they happened. I cannot imagine anyone interested in Americana or cars in general who would not be fascinated and impressed by this monumental and definitive pictorial of automobility. "America on Wheels" should be required reading by all students of sociology and American History, or for anyone who appreciates the art of quality bookmaking. It is well worth the money, a book you'll want to keep as long as you live. Inset quotes in old-time black and white frames are the chocolate syrup on the ice cream. In this sense, you'll eat it up! Highly recommended for all readers over 8 (exceptional reading level). Buy it today!

This book, the companion to the 1996 PBS series of the same name, gives a straightfoward accounting of the evolution of the automobile in this country. From the first baby steps of the Duryea Auto Wagon to the giant tracks of the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee, America on Wheels chronicles America's tempestuous love affair with their cars and the effects on US society. Everything from mating rituals to education to commerce have been affected by the advent of the auto and the authors chronologically link all together in an easy to understand but not oversimplistic text. If you liked your father's Oldsmobile or your own Mustang, read America On Wheels. - Leila Dunbar, Writer, Mobilia.com

This book has all you want to know about American History. It is well organized, easy to read, and accurate. If you are interested in American History, this book will help you learn everything you want to know.

In "American History: A Survey", Alan Brinkley manages to create a comprehensive survey of American history, devoting in-depth discussion to both political and social history. In the process new insight is shed on familiar events while important aspects of the past which tend to be overlooked, e.g. Native Americans, women and African Americans, are covered in detail. Features like "Where Historians Disagree" not only show and amply discuss different viewpoints on significant issues but also show that the study of history itself is a dynamic and living process. The ideal survey of American history. Balances detail and "the big picture" perfectly, all in a very readable prose

This book has been a great aid in writing my research papers! I really liked the way the book was broken down between chapters and sections, it made choosing a research topic much easier. The book was also very well written and to the point, it was not at boring at all!

Holy cow...the remaining bathroom trauma, the neighbor, the cat, the birdie....don't know what I liked the best. I just know I didn't want it to end! Hats off to a great piece of entertainment!

Mr. Bosworth continues to humor us in AMOK! - Part 3. The main character finds himself in a precarious situation and his trials and tribulations are delightfully described. His challenging relationship with his neighbor Carmen are highlighted, bringing a great opportunity for Mr. Bosworth to further show off his talent for writing humorous pieces. I highly recommend this one!

Act III

Act III always brings the action to a close, along with a resolution for the central characters. Here, Bosworth is in no particular hurry to bring this dynamic story to its conclusion. Part Three is gleefully half again as long as parts one or two - it was like Bosworth himself got a little carried away with his own zany story, and simply couldn't help himself. He still had too much to say before the inevitable confrontation and the climax. You can't help but be a little charmed by his feistiness and wit.

Some of the funniest essays or anecdotes I have ever read have been written by Woody Allen, Steve Martin, Dennis Miller, Dave Barry, Art Buchwald, Andy Rooney and Erma Bombeck. When reading the work of a humorist or a giddy social observer, it's hard not to draw comparisons to one or more of those writers.

Oddly, Frank Bosworth reminded me of none of them. To me, his work read more like the brilliant James Thurber, who's iconoclastic `My Life and Hard Times' was an inventive mix of near-fiction and autobiography, tweaked with just the right amount of dramatization to make the banal laugh-out-loud funny. That's not cheating - that's creating comedy gold from the raw chaff of life. You get the idea that if Joe R. Lansdale had written `Amok,' somebody would have had their eyes pecked out, somebody else would have gone over a ledge, and someone would have caught a BB right in the teeth! It's all a matter of perspective. `Amok' is dear and entertaining because no matter how true the actual story may be (and I believe it is very, very close), the descriptions have all been refracted and lampooned by Frank's burlesque mental prism.

Much of Bosworth's fast paced word-play, sight gags and humor is hit-or-miss (a pellet gun is referred to as an `afternoon special,' and needs to be loaded with tweezers - try doing that in a real firefight!), but as an author, he never loses sight of the target. The jokes are tempered with unexpected moments of compassion, the slapstick comedy is offset by little acts of selfless heroism.

Frank W. Bosworth calls himself a social observer.

James Thurber once said: `Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.'

That could be Bosworth's message as well.

Great stuff!

ERO

There cannot be a more forensic study of the book of John than Culpepper's Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel. This scholarly book opens up the world of the Gospel of John like no other in the protestant world. This book should be mandatory reading for every Doctoral student in Biblical Studies (and probably master's as well).

I was introduced to this book soon after it was published. I return to it first whenever I find myself in a study of John. Culpepper brings a new depth to understanding John as literature. It was this book that helped me appreciate the literary depth of this gospel. Your appreciation of the details will be wonderfully expanded. Highly recommended.

(I came to this site in Amazon hoping to find the book to give to a pastor preaching through John. I was delighted to find it still in print.)

There is no question that any scholar who wishes to understand the Gospel of John will have read this book. Dr. Culpepper provides a scaffolding whereby the reader can approach the literary context of the Gospel on any of its many levels. If I had to reccomend the essential Gospel of John library, and could only include four books, it would include this one (as well as C.H. Dodd's two books and R.E. Brown's commentary). Admittedly, I am biased. Dr. Culpepper is a friend. However, you can verify my words by checking the index of any commentary on John which was written after the publication of this book. Count how many time Dr. Culpepper is mentioned

Sir Stenton has composed a masterpiece of a history text in his most famous book. A caveat, however, in that the text itself was written by someone who was a professional historian. As such, the text is as dry as you would expect. It is, perhaps, the most comprehensive text on the subject available to the open market, but while it is very name, date, and place intensive, there is little in the way of anecdotal information that might interest the merely casual reader. For someone who is interest in more an introduction than an indepth analysis, I would recommend The Anglo-Saxons, edited by James Campbell.

This book is the single best source of information about Anglo-Saxon England. I would only caution that this books is not for the novice historian. Unfamiliarity with the topic will leave you wondering what your reading and completely lost.

This book is filled with factual information, but because Sir Frank Stenton also lends his sagacious opinions the book is both enjoyable and easy to understand. This book is several hundred pages long with tiny print, and so packed with information, that you'll know everything possible about Anglo-Saxon history. Stenton always prefers the probable to the outrageous and does not seem to go with the popular opinions about kings, queens, or events. You must read this, but only if you're really, really interested in the subject. Otherwise, it'll go right over your head.