Arts and Entertainment Books

I worked indirectly for Bryan. He was in charge of the Financial Advisors in the region I worked .I was a dual employee of a bank as well as brokerage. He held a monthly meeting for all the Advisors and Licensed Financial Sales Consultants .He made all his meeting very interesting and productive. I always took away a valuable lesson from these sessions. He is a powerful public speaker and always delivered tips and points that made me an excellent sales person. Because of Bryan I am now working for the largest mutual fund company in the Nation. I highly recommend reading his book.

An easy to read style which gives hands on and practical advice everyone in sales (regardless of your industry ) should read. It is Head and Shoulders above the other sales books in which I have read. Mr. Mitchell's approach to planning and executing sales strategies are simple but brilliant! Top Producer will give you the edge necessary to increase sales performance. I myself have 17 years of sales experience behind me and feel that Top Producer has given me insight into what I have been missing all these years!

It's high time Bryan shared his ideas. I have 17+ years in sales experience as a financial consultant, and for a brief while, worked under Mr. Mitchell as my sales manager. I felt at the time that his sales meetings stood apart from those of other managers. Rather then just berate the staff about "increased production" Bryan brought useful, pragmatic material to his meetings to increase our sales. These came in the form of fresh ideas, or new spins on old sales techniques. His suggestions are interesting and useful. I integrated several of his ideas into practice and had a very successful career. One point Bryan made that I found to be true is that many sales professionals have no plan, and "any plan is better then no plan at all". Bryan takes this a step further by outlining a specific plan that anyone can use sprinkled with interesting, practical ideas. Furthermore, Bryan is not just driven by revenue, a mistake many managers make, he was the only sales manager I had ( and I had many) that openly spoke of, and concerned himself with "the good of the shareholders", a sentiment rarely heard in an era of upper management corruption these days. I encourage anyone in sales, or interested in a sales career to read this book.

This is an excellent book packed with photos and information. I don't know why Amazon has this book listed at a whopping $85. I just met Noel Neill at Wonder-Con in San Francisco where Noel Neill & the author Larry Thomas Ward both signed it and it cost me $30 which is the retail price printed on the back page. 1-800-574-7438 is the number listed on the inside cover for ordering additional copies. I'd try that number before paying $85 through Amazon for it even though it is well worth it at that price too.

'Truth, Justice, & The American Way: The Life And Times Of Noel Neill' by Larry Thomas Ward is an absolute, must have book for afficionados of the classic television series 'The Adventures Of Superman' (1951 - 1957), which starred George Reeves and Noel Neill.

Movie fans will discover that Noel Neill had made over 80 feature films, and starred as Lois Lane in two Columbia studios serials, 'Superman' (1948) and 'Atom Man Vs Superman' (1950), prior to the famed TV show. Ms. Neill joined the watershed series in it's second season and made 78 episodes, a special U.S. Treasury Dept. 'Superman' film selling savings bonds, as well as extensive personal appearances with Reeves and the TV cast!

This book contains hundreds of rare and never before published photographs from Ms. Neill's personal collection. It also has an exhaustive and detailed listing of Noel Neill's film, TV, and stage credits! Mr. Ward's writing skillfully transports the reader back to the golden days of Hollywood, and in the delicate footsteps of Noel Neill!

Noel Neill does not place herself in the controversy surrounding the mysterious death of George Reeves, as to whether it was a homicide or suicide. However, she does describe in detail the final days of Mr. Reeves and the television series, leaving unmistakable clues to the discerning reader to follow. Several books have been written on the bizarre, violent death of George Reeves, but Noel Neill and author Larry Thomas Ward recommend only one for the reader interested in seeking the truth!

"Truth Justice & The American Way' covers the fascinating life of Noel Neill and readers will enjoy this journey.

"Truth, Justice and the American Way" is a must-have book for fans of the original Superman TV series. Written by Larry Thomas Ward in close collaboration with Noel Neill, the book gives an insider's view into the making of one of the most famous TV series of all time - not to mention the two Superman serials that preceded it. The book is a quick, breezy read, and my only complaint is that when I finished it, I wanted more. The portrait of Noel Neill that emerges from this book is of an independent but upbeat and relentlessly cheerful actress. Readers who remember her only as Lois Lane will be suprised to learn of her career as a singer and dancer. If only that cut scene from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" could be found...

Absolutely incredible! This is the book of my favorite show I've been waiting for for years. The detail is unmatched as is the genuine love the author brings across for this one-of-a-kind series. This book has answered questions that I've wondered about forever. Thank you Martin, worth every penny and much more!
Also, love George Clayton Johnson's forward, met him at the Twilight Zone convention in LA in '04. Helluva great guy!!!

The size of a phone book, the core of the paperweight is the episode guide broken down by season. Among the essentials are production dates; production costs; complete cast credits; music score and stock cues; alternative narrations; proposed casting; talent fees and story origin. This is not a critical analysis of the episodes, thank goodness. Tired of reading that. Facts are presented in an easy to read format. Revealing bloopers are nice.

I was a long-time subscriber to THE TWILIGHT ZONE MAGAZINE which was responsible for publicizing Marc Scott Zicree's book. For years that book was the Bible of all things Twilight Zone. Of recent I discovered there were errors. "Long Distance Call" had the wrong broadcast date. William Froug mis-credited the cost of "Owl Creek Bridge." Very little facts and the author devoted too much opinion. His book has become "obsolete."

Reprints of advertisements at a science-fiction convention in Chicago in the early sixties are a nice touch. So is the forword by George Clayton Johnson. Thank goodness someone took the time to do justice and do it right. Stay in the Zone and buy this today. Or as Talky Tina said in "Living Doll," . . . . . "You'll be sorry."

The shelf in my bedroom is inundated with all things Twilight Zone. I have every book, magazine and DVD featuring Twilight Zone. I am highly qualified to judge a good book versus bad bearing the Twilight Zone name. And I am proud to say this is the best d*** book ever written on the subject. As far as price goes, it made my wallet creak, but I just ordered a second copy because I know I am going to wear this out.

In his introduction, the author makes it apparent that this is not a biography about Rod Serling. It focuses solely on Twilight Zone. Chapter One begins with Serling winning the "Dr. Christian" script writing contest, featuring in script form the dialogue exchange between Jean Hersholt and Serling on the May 18, 1949 broadcast. From there the history picks up momentum.

The detail level is freakin' exceptional. Proposed summer rerun schedules. CBS contract terms. Short stories and plot summaries proposed and purchased that never became Zone episodes. Day-by-day chronology of Serling's publicity tours. Neilsen ratings. Hugo Awards. Sponsor contracts. The contents of each 60s and 70s comic book. List of network affiliates. Telegrams and letters from Theodore Sturgeon, Steve Allen, Phil Baker and others are reprinted. (As far back as 1958, Sturgeon suggested "To Serve Man" to Serling for adaptation!)

While this kind of detail may not interest casual fans, the trivia will. Why the first season features two different openers. The battle between Kuppenheimer and Eagle Clothing for wardrobe credit. Community Fund spots and radio promos. How "Playboy" magazine got involved. Details behind the six taped shows in the second season. Serling's failed attempt to bring "The Time Element" to the big screen with Kirk Douglas. Why Hirschman quit producing the hour-long season (he was fired, if one wants to call it that). Why Republic Studios was considered a prime source for wardrobe, props and sets. Censorship battles. Princess Twilight Zone on tour in 1963 was apparently interviewed with great behind-the-scenes stories. Reprints of comic strips spoofing Twilight Zone.

The best part of the book is the episode guide. Each entry in detail with production costs (broken down -- director fees, talent fees, script fees, etc.). Dates each episode was filmed and rehearsed. Complete cast lists (who played who) includes actors not credited onscreen. Studio lots and sound stages. Production credits. All of the music scores and cues, names of composers, length of time, in the order they appear. Props and costumes that were reused for multiple episodes. Proposed casting that was never assigned. In-jokes that can be found on screen. Bloopers and microphones that appear on screen.

Serling wrote an unproduced screenplay in the mid-sixties based on "The Lonely." A casting call sheet is reprinted. Explanation why "Eye of the Beholder" also features the onscreen title of "A Private World of Darkness." Lawsuits brought about from various episodes. The automobile featured in "Third From the Sun" was a George Barris custom initially created for "The Time Machine." The 1951 radio script, "The Button Pushers" was the influence for "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street." "The Mighty Casey," "To Serve Man" "No Time Like the Past" "It's a Good Life" and "I Sing the Body Electric" were refilmed after rough cuts were viewed, adding further expense to ensure quality. Robert Cummings loved "King Nine Will Not Return" so much he was disappointed when it was not submitted to the Academy for the Emmy Awards, losing Serling's chance to feature Cummings as the star of "The Loner." The space ship in "Probe 7 - Over and Out" was originally constructed for "Specimen: Unknown" on "The Outer Limits." Origin of stock footage. Why Bernard Herrmann composed the music score for "Little Girl Lost" from Paris, France. Story origins that remained a mystery are finally revealed.

The book was clearly written with a labor of love. Serling's generosity as an exceptional human being shines. When a viewer in New Jersey wrote to him asking for the chance to learn how involved set decoration was, and promised to arrive in California once she graduated from art school, he mailed her his personal home number and arranged with set decorator Ralph Nelson to give her the required tour. When Theodore Bikel was verbally attacked on a talk program, Serling as a guest the week after on the same program defended Bikel in a manner that would make any racist blush. I always thought the Zicree book was the closest thing to a complete reference guide, even with the errors. I was wrong. This is the best book ever written and it will never be surpassed.

THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY BOOK, SO FULL OF THE LOVE OF LIFE, AND WILL MAKE AN ENGROSSING AND VERY PROFITABLE MOVIE!

Reading Vision in the Desert is a wonderful Trip in Time
The honesty and sincerity of Vassili capture your Heart and Mind and can't put the book down. Wishing some Producer will make a Movie there is enough Memories and Emotions to be an Academy Award.

This is the story of Vassili Sulich, written by him, in his own words. You can hear his voice as you read it. Dancer, choreographer, painter, & poet; it's a fasinating life story of a man filled with many famous names in dance and theatre. For anyone interested in the world of dance, classical or theatrical, it's filled with stories involving many legendary names. For someone that worked with Vassili for many years, it's a revelation. His story is a part of the heritage that makes the dancers of today. And finally, the entire book is an affirmation of his drive to communicate life through dance and the great joy that he has in it.

Roger Miller sang "England Swings(like a pendulum do. . . " back in the sixties . . . and Roger hit on something "special" about England . . . "it swings"! . . .

England gave us Shakespeare . . . Hayley Mills . . . The Beatles . . . and Ms Wendy Richard MBE!!! . . .

Wendy has been a "presence" in British theater and television since the sixties . . . and continues even today in a long-running role as Pauline on "The Eastenders" on the BBC and on Public Television in America.

But i remember (and still watch) Wendy as "Shirley Brahms" in "Are You Being Served?" . . . one of the all time great "classic comedies" which began it's run in 1972 . . and which continues to be aired and enjoyed here in "the States" over Public Television. Wendy will always "be" Miss Brahms!

In this book, Wendy recounts her most intersting life . . . from childhood to adult "fame" . . . and it is obvious that "fame" to Wendy is not what it seems to so many of us. She is quite normal . . quite "human" . . . and quiye unimpressed with ther artifice of "fame" . . . She is proud of her success as an actress . . prouder still of her care and concern for animals . . . and happy that her "work" and "talent" and "person' has brought so much joy and pleasure and delight to so many who have watched her on "the tele" . . . so many who look upon her as a person they "know" though never actually met.

Wendy can make you laugh hysterically . . . smile gleefully . .and even "cry" with sympathetic recognition . .. in her filmed work and art . . . but she can accomplish these same effects by recounting her real actual life as well . . and she does this in this volume. (There is a photograph of Wendy, as a child, standing outside a pub which her parents operated . . . and then, she stands outside that very same pub as a full grown successful adult . . . after reading this book, this photograph is so telling . . . and one wonders what thoughts must have ran through Wendy's recollections as she stood there for this most recent photo . . .

One thing becomes perfectly clear: Wendy Richard is a Londoner . . she loves "her city" . . and is faithful to it. (And now she's "Wendy Richard MBE"! :)

This book is a great read . . and you'll meet a great person when you begin reading it: Miss Wendy Richard (no "S")!

Whether one is familiar with her as Miss Brahms on Are You Being Served? or as Pauline on Eastenders, fans of either show are sure to enjoy this lively and very personal memoir of (and by) actress Wendy Richard.

From her early years as the only child of somewhat nomadic parents in the licensing trade through to her courageous (and successful) battle in 1996 with breast cancer and her recent MBE award, Wendy is very frank and upfront in chronicling both her personal life and her career. She tells of her deep love for her parents and how the tragic loss of her father while she was still a child resulted in hardship for her and her mother. Following the deterioration and death of her mother around 1973, Wendy embarked on a series of disastrous relationships (three of which were marriages) that spanned a period of more than twenty years, and Wendy takes us through it all.

As an interesting touch, Wendy chronicles the story of Pauline (the character whom she has portrayed on the soap opera Eastenders since 1985) at the same time as she chronicles her own life story. Pauline has been a huge part of Wendy's life and she seems to feel a real attachment to the character. I am not a soap fan and have never seen Eastenders; nevertheless, Wendy's own life reads so much like a soap opera itself that the parallel story is somewhat appropriate, and I rather enjoyed her account of it.

The book contains 24 pages of photos (colour and b/w). There are a few stills from AYBS?, but most of the photos are from Wendy's own collection--photos of her parents, of her as a child, of friends and fellow cast members, of her precious pooch named Shirley (Wendy is a committed animal lover!), and of her at various functions and events.

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed this autobiography--so much so that I had trouble putting it down. Wendy comes across as a very down-to-earth and caring person, and one can practically hear that distinctive (and delightful) "Cockney" accent as one reads! When I finished the book, I felt, quite honestly, like I'd just finished a lovely letter from a dear friend. Very highly recommended to fans of AYBS? or of Eastenders.

Wendy Richard is one of Britain's beloved maternal figures better known for Pauline than Miss Brahms. This autobiography shows us her life up close and personal. She is one of those people who deserves more from life. If she was a mother, I bet she would have been a fantastic mother to any child. Unfortunately, she has had three marriages all ending in divorce for one reason or another. She now has love with John Burns but I think she could get married again. She has fought for her career and life and I think she is a wonderful role model. She is honest and candid and is aware of hurting others. When she thought about turning down an M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire), I wanted to reach in and slap on the television set. Of course, she deserves it. So what if she's a Conservative Monarchist and the Prime Minister is Labour. It doesn't matter, she has provided both great comic and dramatic moments. She has also had another bout of breast cancer since then and she has come through. God Bless you, Wendy.

Peter Wooley obviously loved working in the film industry as his enthusiasm for the business is on every page. This is a light-hearted look at what happens behind the scenes when a film is being made.
He tells some very funny as well as some very touching anecdotes.
Many people write sour books about their experiences making films. I'm ceratain that Wooley had some of those moments but he prefers to remember the funny, interesting moments -- the ones that made him stay in the business for life.

Fans of Hollywood gossip will find this an entertaining memoir which examines what part is played in the movies and television by production designers. The author has been a production designer for over thirty years: he's worked with many talents and his job is to make locations realistic - from the actors to the scenery. Gossip and tall tales abound here.

A hiliarious peek at what happens behind the scenes, this funny book tells the stories that don't even make it to the "Making Of..." books and movies. Peter Wooley talks about Blazing Saddles, The Day After, High Anxiety and more. This is the great stuff that goes on in the movie industry, not just behind the camera, but behind the behind the camera!

Best of all, it's the really funny stuff and the quick-witted one-liners and stories that make it a hilarious read.

About the only negative thing I can say is that I would have loved to hear more about Blazing Saddles, one of my favorite movies of all time: "The sherrif's a..."

This is an absolutely delightful book.
Through Tony Randall's gift of "perfect recall" we can relive the wonderful days when Hollywood was still big studios with contract actors.
So many antecdotes about many famous people (actors, writers, producers, directors) I was laughing out loud many, many times.
After reading this book I feel like Tony Randall is a good friend and I have spent an afternoon chatting with him on the porch.

I read the Publishers Weekly review at the top of the page and was stunned at the criticism. Whoever wrote that review has no sense of humor, or is just an idiot. This book is the funniest, most enjoyable book I've ever owned. It was a gift in 1990 and is still entertaining me, my family, and my friends 14 years later. The stories are short and concise, so you can pick it up and start reading anywhere in the book. Maybe it's because I've done some theater and film work that I can identify so easily with the stories in the book. But I believe anyone could read this gem and get endless hours of laughter out of it. BUY THE BOOK!

Tony Randall's wit,intelligence and remarkable memory including photographs of his remarkable life and career is demonstrated in this beautifully entertaining collection of show business stories.Along with co-writer Micheal Mindlin begin with Tony Randall as a young, eager acting student at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York then his superb theatrical Career with such legends as Ethel Barrymore,Lilli Palmer,Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Paul Muni and on the screen with Rock Hudson,Doris Day,David Niven,Marilyn Monroe and Debbie Reynolds.He became a household name starting in the TV series Mr. Peepers with Wally Cox and the marvelous portrayal of Felix Unger in the long running series The Odd Couple.This book makes wonderful reading!!

only 4 words, It Is The Best

I LIKE THIS BOOK!! Oh yeah by the way Sammy Sosa is going to win the homerun chase.He is going to kick mark mcgwire's behind back to Oakland where he belongs. Sammy deserves to win he doesn't take sterioids he takes flinston vitimans. GO SOSA!!

I read this book at a difficult time in my life. My mother had died days before, and I was sitting in the closest weeping, when by my foot lay a copy of Will Power! I wiped away the tears and began to read, expectantly, looking for answers.

I was inspired and enraptured to say the least, and my life suddenly took on new meaning. I could breath again, I could sing again. I began to rap involuntarily. I could not stop rapping, until musical ecstacy permeated every pour of my being. I was liberated at last from the sorrows of my recent loss.

Thank you Will Power! for changing my life forever.

A superb biography of a complicated person who was not only a key figure in the development of ballet in America, but a cultural leader in a wide sweep of artistic endeavors over most of the last century. While his creative partnership with George Balanchine is central to this book, Lincoln Kirstein also had important early roles in introducing many modern painters to the public and with various fine literary endeavors.

The author, Mr. Duberman, does not flinch from Mr. Kirstein's "own varied sexual-affectionate history." Potential readers should know this is an unusually candid account of a notable person's private life.

While not a high-lighted part of this book, I especially admire Mr. Kirstein's service in World War II as one of the "Monuments Men", who helped save a large part of European art at the end of World War II. Readers interested in this overall effort might wish to read "Rescuing Da Vinci" by Edsel.

(The book's jacket design by Chip Kidd is first rate.)

Anyone attending performances of New York City Ballet will benefit from reading Martin Duberman's book. The Worlds of Lincoln Kirstein details the history and the development of the company and illuminates Lincoln's contribution to City Ballet's standing as one of the best dance companies in the world.

The Worlds of Lincoln Kirstein is terrifically detailed and sweeps the reader into the best years of New York, especially. I could not put it down and walked around carrying this massive tome everywhere because I could not be parted from it. He truly crossed paths with EVERYONE, and it was enthralling to realize how one did that then. Duberman is frank and honest about the material that causes unease, particularly about fascism and social ambitions of some of Kirstein's colleagues over the years. His life was so layered, like a mille-fleur pastry, that Duberman has to keep sweeping back across the same period of months again and again to get it all, which takes some getting used to, but, by 1934, seems as natural a way as any to make the portrait complete.

I love this book. It's brilliant! The limericks outline the entire history of the band. The bio is there as well to fill in any gaps. The limericks are just great. Anyone who loves this band as much as I do will really enjoy this book.

YesTales is both informative and enjoyable (a rare combination, indeed). It is not encumbered with ranting opinion. I found it to be punchy, poignant and colorful ... a lively account of three decades of Yes. And the Limericks are hilarious! I have been a Yes fan for many years, and love all eras of Yes music. A Yes fan of any era would really enjoy this book, and any real Yes fan will know that says a lot! Three decades is a lot of music, and very distinctive eras. I loved it!

YesTales is both informative and enjoyable (a rare combination, indeed). It is not encumbered with ranting opinion. I found it to be punchy, poignant and colorful ... a lively account of three decades of Yes. And the Limericks are hilarious! I have been a Yes fan for many years, and love all eras of Yes music. A Yes fan of any era would really enjoy this book, and any real Yes fan will know that says a lot! Three decades is a lot of music, and very distintive eras. I loved it!