Lon Davis has spent most of his life as a movie buff, with a particular fondness for silent film. He has written several fine books on motion picture history — including the recent Ma and Pa Kettle on Film— often in collaboration with his wife Debra. With Stumbling Into Film History (BearManor Media), he now gives us an engaging collection of essays that not only cover some of his favorite performers, but also serve as a memoir of sorts.
The opening chapter gives us a vivid portrait of silent film star Beverly Bayne, whom the author met as a teenager. His depiction of her as “alternately charming and imperious, and given to sudden bursts of volatility” is intriguing. I also liked the chapter on Diana Serra Cary (“Baby Peggy”), which provides a detailed account of her career as a child star, but is enriched by Davis’ memories of their longtime friendship. Another strong essay lets us get better acquainted with film historian Kevin Brownlow, author of the seminal work The Parade’s Gone By.Monday, April 8, 2024
Silents, Please
Friday, March 8, 2024
Penny in Your Thoughts
Penny Singleton (1908-2003) is the kind of performer who may never be the subject of more than one biography. Luckily for her — and us — Steve Randisi’s Penny Singleton: A Biography (BearManor Media) does her justice. Miss Singleton is best-known, of course, for spending a substantial part of her career playing Chic Young’s comic strip character Blondie Bumstead, both in a long-running Columbia B-movie series, as well as a popular radio show. She also voiced Jane in the popular TV cartoon The Jetsons, and, as readers of this book may be surprised to learn, was a labor leader who took on demanding work with the American Guild of Variety Artists.
In a sense, author Randisi has been working on this comprehensive biography and career chronicle for some 40 years. Back in the 80s, he conducted interviews not only with Miss Singleton herself, but with her Blondie colleagues Arthur Lake and Larry Simms. He stayed in contact with the actress for many years afterward, and later spoke with her daughter. That groundwork reaps substantial rewards in the book, enriching it with knowledge and insight, and making it impressively thorough. It also allows Randisi to address issues years after the fact, such as the rumors that “Blondie” and “Dagwood” didn’t get along. Some have held Arthur Lake accountable for his leading lady being fired from the Blondie radio show. Randisi’s solid research allows him to point the finger at another, slightly unexpected culprit.
It should be noted, though, that the book isn’t just for Blondie fans. The entirety of Miss Singleton’s career in film, theater, radio and television is covered, as is her private life, which included four trips to the altar and the birth of two daughters. Satisfying in its content, Penny Singleton: A Biography is also a very attractive volume, nicely laid out and rich with interesting photos, sharply reproduced.
Randisi isn’t a terribly prolific author; his last book, about Merv Griffin, was published five years ago. But books as comprehensive and lovingly done as this one are worth the wait.
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Sweet Seventeen
I still remember the thrill (along with a little trepidation) I felt when I opened my first letter from McFarland and found a contract enclosed for my signature. (Yes, it was actual snail mail back then).
As a reader and librarian, I’d long admired the excellent books on performing arts published by McFarland. To become one of their authors was a dream come true. It was a joy to write the book, which entailed interviewing two wonderful ladies no longer with us, Gale Storm and Betty White, as well as the likes of TV notables Robert Fuller (about working with Spring Byington) and Sherwood Schwartz (about writing for Joan Davis).
And what other publisher would not only still keep this book in print 17 years later, but have given me the opportunity to write ten more? I am one grateful author.
Monday, January 29, 2024
“A Recommended Read”
Many thanks to the distinguished film historian Stephen Michael Shearer for contributing this review of Rochelle Hudson: A Biography and Career Record.
And if you haven’t read his fine books on Patricia Neal and Hedy Lamarr, among others, what are you waiting for?
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
New Book for the New Year
More details soon.
Monday, July 17, 2023
Soldier’s Story
Twenty-five years after its release, Paul W.S. Anderson’s Soldier (1998) is a film that, despite its initial mixed reception, has acquired a cult following. Now, thanks to author Danny Stewart’s Soldier: From Script to Screen (BearManor Media) readers who appreciate it — or want to better understand it — can learn quite a bit about the creation and production of what Stewart describes as “part military movie, part Western, and part outsider allegory.”
The heart and meat of this book are Stewart’s interviews with more than a dozen film professionals who worked on the project, notably screenwriter David Webb Peoples. They are presented much in the style of Tom Weaver’s acclaimed books on older sci-fi and horror films, allowing us to hear the interviewees’ voices even from the printed page. While one or two of them have little of interest to say, on the whole they provide a substantial amount of behind-the-scenes information of the kind that warms a film buff’s heart. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone had done this with so many classic films while the opportunity was there? Stewart deserves kudos for capturing this information in a timely way; the clock of motion picture history is always ticking away, more rapidly than we realize.Sunday, July 9, 2023
“The Review is In!”
Color me flattered by veteran film historian James L. Neibaur’s recent review of Rochelle Hudson: A Biography and Career Record. Jim calls it “an interesting, enlightening, and impressive portrait of both the person and the actress,” one that “gives us a truly thorough understanding of Hudson’s screen career as well as her life.” He adds that it’s “highly recommended for libraries, research centers, and fans of classic Hollywood.” (Are you listening, librarians, archivists, and readers?)
You can read the review in its entirety here. While you’re there, check out the impressive list of film books Jim has published over the course of a noteworthy career.