Earl Bostic: Forgotten Alto Sax King

   

   My latest book is about Earl Bostic, an influential alto saxophonist whose hard driving playing style encompassed rhythm and blues, rock 'n' roll and jazz. Although popular in his heyday in the 1950s and cited by musicians from Bill Haley to David Bowie, he has become obscure. Nevertheless, with his innovative approach, Bostic blurred the boundary lines between genres and was a mentor to upcoming musicians, notably the great John Coltrane. Moreover, the Bostic orchestra was, in the words of Art Blakey, a "university of the saxophone" whose influence in popular music can still be felt today. Sixty years after his death, Earl Bostic King of the Alto Sax is the first ever biography of a talented but neglected musician, and is published by McFarland & Co. of Jefferson, NC. With details here. See also the mention at earlbostic.com and a great review here.

Time for Levity

A Welcome New Look at the films of Laurel and Hardy

    I well remember one Christmas when I received The Films of Laurel and Hardy by William K. Everson. I guess I was about 14 at the time. By then I was a seasoned fan of the duo who beguiled me during childhood when their comedies were constantly shown on British television. Everson's book was originally published years before in the 1960s, and was widely considered a pioneering work. It is with enthusiasm then that I now welcome the arrival of The Laurel and Hardy Films (Bear Manor Media) by the distinguished film historian James L. Neibaur.

    Although he is an incredibly prolific author of more than 35 books, Neibaur regards this as his most important so far. He has written extensively about screen comedy, and is no stranger to Laurel & Hardy, having co-authored Stan Without Ollie with Ted Okuda. He brings acuity and a lifetime of experience to bear to illuminate the ouevre of the greatest double act of all time. 

    Theirs was the comedy of failure, frustration and hope against the odds; it spoke for the human condition. Timeless and universal, their humour has inspired not only countless comedians, but also a Nobel literature laureate. More than anything else they are simply beloved. 

     Here, in a film-by-film guide, the author charts their development from the genesis of their partnership in Duck Soup (1927), their transition from silents to sound films, then from shorts to features. He gives an unusual insight into the way their films were in some cases almost remade for foreign markets. Moreover, he offers a thoughtful reappraisal of their difficult years at Fox in the 1940s, a period that has previously been dismissed by many scholars. The images throughout are a sheer delight. Who can fail to be cheered by the sight of 'the Boys' in their many scrapes. The human essence of their comedy has never faded with the passing years, and they are just as funny today. Hopefully, the book will inspire a whole new generation to discover their magic for themselves. The Laurel and Hardy Films is a timely addition to the extensive canon and is highly recommended for libraries, universities, film fans, and everyone in need of a tonic.

See details here

John Hodiak - Centre Stage at Last

   There are some fine actors who die relatively young and as a consequence end up being unjustly neglected by film historians. This was the fate of John Hodiak, but I am happy to say he has now been given his due in David C. Tucker's excellent new book John Hodiak: The Life and Career on Film, Stage and Radio (McFarland & Co., Inc.) 

   At his best delineating intense characters, the handsome Hodiak first commanded attention as the surly sailor in Hitchcock's Lifeboat (1944) and thereafter crafted an interesting career in which he ran the gamut from light comedy to gritty war films. He made a distinct impression in Film Noir, notably as the troubled returning hero in Joseph Mankiewicz's Somewhere in the Night (1946). 

   Tucker has written many acclaimed books on showbusiness history and again does a remarkable job in rekindling interest in a largely forgotten star. Impeccable research, balance and humour are the hallmarks of his work. He gives a considered account of Hodiak's six-year marriage to Anne Baxter, which played out in the glare of the spotlight when both were probably at their most famous. Hodiak comes across as a principled, rather reserved, almost shy gentleman, somewhat at odds with stardom and the studio system. I found it surprising just how important radio was in his story. The author does him credit with an in-depth appraisal of his radio career, alongside that on screen, and both are given equal weight. This is most welcome, because radio is often relegated to the sidelines, or in some cases barely touched upon. The many photos that grace the text are especially well-chosen. 

   Disillusioned by the declining roles he was being offered in Hollywood, Hodiak made a successful transition to the stage in the early-1950s in a celebrated production of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. Sadly, he died suddenly at the age of only 41 while making the science fiction movie On the Threshold of Space (1956). There is no telling where his career might have gone from there and just what he might have achieved. It is heartening to see him remembered at last and I recommend this entertaining biography for everyone interested in film history and popular culture. See details here and details of the publisher's website here: McFarlandBooks.com

Never Say Die: Arthur 'Baby' Gore The Oldest Wimbledon Champion

My new book the first ever about a great character of lawn tennis before the Great War

   The national yearning for a Wimbledon champion from the British Isles became an annual obsession during the long periods when it seemed as though it would never happen again. And yet there was a time when such an occurrence was taken for granted. In the days when the Doherty brothers won all before them interest in lawn tennis was at its height. It is that era which I find fascinating.

   A. W. Gore played throughout that time, but his career stretched back much further and went on much longer. He did not become a player of the front rank until he was past thirty, but achieved perhaps his greatest feats after 40. Feats that no one has so far matched in 150 years of the game. 

   What attracted me to write about Gore was his character and fighting spirit. He was often counted out, but he refused to give in, and triumphed against the odds. I discuss those he played with and against and especially his great sporting rivalry with the gallant New Zealander Anthony Wilding. There is an appendix containing his results, and 32 rarely-seen photos. Above all I hope that I do justice to Gore and the wider struggle of the players of his time to establish tennis as one the greatest of sports in the public imagination. 

   The book is published by Pitch Publishing of Chichester on 10 June. See publisher's details here See reviews here

Warner Baxter

Rediscovering a Forgotten Star of Hollywood's Golden Age

    When I visited Rio a few years ago I happened to find myself in a bar and was surprised to see the walls adorned with large photos of old Hollywood movie stars mostly dating from the inter-war years. Among the famous names were some less familiar faces, and prominently displayed was Warner Baxter with his pencil moustache. I had not realised until then how big a name he had been, but as Dan Van Neste expertly displays in his definitive biography, The Accidental Star: The Life and Films of Warner Baxter, he was one of the biggest.

    Although Baxter came to prominence in the silent 1925 version of The Great Gatsby he made his name in talkies with The Cisco Kid, receiving an Academy Award for the follow-up In Old Arizona. Thereafter he had a string of successes and was outstanding in John Ford's The Prisoner of Shark Island as Dr Mudd. By 1938 Baxter was the highest paid actor in Hollywood. On the face of it, he had everything going for him - professional success, a stable marriage, beautiful houses, the esteem of his peers, and the dedication of his fans. Despite everything, he never found personal happiness and was beset by doubts and insecurities, not to mention a series of unfortunate accidents and brushes with death. The author's long experience as a film historian shines through. His research is impeccable and he writes with great insight and understanding, balancing admirably the professional and personal aspects of Baxter's life. The second half of the book is dedicated to an in-depth guide to his films, including valuable information about the many silents which are sadly lost. The text is adorned with numerous excellent photos throughout. 

    As the author acknowledges (and I know from experience) there are numerous difficulties associated with taking the road less travelled in biography and film scholarship, but long may he continue to do so. Dan Van Neste deserves the appreciation of all for bringing back to life for current and future generations an unfairly forgotten star of the Golden Age. The Accidental Star is, like his previous works, another lasting contribution to film history.

See full details here

Mr Bolbos

   Mr Bolbos is a satiric fable that I wrote long ago. What is it about? It is in some ways about a Kakistocracy, namely "government by the worst, least-qualified or most unscrupulous." Of course it is a comedy, but deeply ironic. Those without a sense of humour or a sense of irony need not apply. How best to describe the style? Kafka in Wonderland perhaps, or George Orwell rewrites The Beano. There are lots of odd and eccentric characters in this freewheeling fantasy and I hope it is as much fun to read as it was to write. Hardly anyone has seen it even now, only family and friends. I have a few copies available. If you are interested please message me below.

A Podcast Interview: Steve Rubin's Saturday Night at the Movies

I was happy to receive an invitation to take part in a podcast interview with Steve Rubin for his series Saturday Night at the Movies. This came about thanks mainly to Budd Burton Moss, to whom I am eternally grateful. Follow the link below. Can be heard on Apple, Spotify and Google too.

https://steverubinssaturdaynightatthemovies.podbean.com/e/episode-51-derek-schulthorpe/

Ruth Roman A Career Portrait

One of the most underrated actresses of the 1950s, Ruth Roman deserves credit for carving a career in Hollywood during the latter part of its Golden Age. Hailing from a poverty-stricken background in the East End of Boston, she tenaciously followed her dream despite constant setbacks and being told she would never make the big time. After a breakthrough with key roles in The Window and Champion she reached star status at Warner Bros. as the last contract player. Thereafter she made an impact in a wide range of parts, including as a modern-day Lady Macbeth in Joe Macbeth and an independent career woman in the Klondike in The Far Country opposite Jimmy Stewart. Later she found great success on television and made a memorable return to the screen in the cult psycho-horror The Baby. Along the way she was married four times and almost lost her life in a disaster at sea. Ruth Roman A Career Portrait is the first book ever written about her and is published by McFarland & Co. to celebrate the centenary of her birth. See details here

 

Malcolm Scott "The Woman Who Knows"

Belated tribute to a forgotten star of music hall

   Malcolm Scott was a leading comedian in the Edwardian era who developed a highly satirical act dressed as a female figure of history, be it Elizabeth I or Katherine Parr. Highly popular in his day, he is now practically forgotten, but over ninety years after his death I hope to rekindle interest in him, with my book now published by Bear Manor Media. 

Scott in his send up of the Directoire style

   Scott came from a good family with a brother who became a famous admiral. However, when he was orphaned at 13, he was forced to take his fate in his own hands and eventually made his way to the stage, where he became a successful actor and found his metier in comedy dressed in female attire. He was a hugely successful pantomime dame, and by 1903 a star of music hall. His approach was far different to that of his fellow female impersonators in that he was not trying to fool anyone, but effectively sending himself up - along with everything else. Nothing was off-limits to him and he made a hit in London and New York with his satire of Maud Allan as Salome, at a time when the play was still banned. Throughout his career he was the doyen of Pierrot shows and later found fame on radio before his untimely death in his fifties.

   

   His recordings are sadly few and his sole film would appear to be lost, but I hope this belated tribute elevates him to share the limelight with the other greats of music hall. My book is the first to cover his life in some detail, and includes extensive lists of his performances, songs and monologues. It is available in hardback, softback and ebook directly from Bear Manor Media and other outlets. See details here A review here

https://bearmanor-digital.myshopify.com/products/malcolm-scott-the-woman-who-knows-hardback 

The Lost World of Music Hall

    After several years and a number of false starts, my book about music hall has now been released. The Lost World of Music Hall is published by Bear Manor Media. It covers ten individuals who each represented some aspect of the national character during the heyday of the halls and the way they adapted to the many and rapid changes of the twentieth century. Among the names are Nellie Wallace, Lily Morris, Billy Bennett, Charlie Higgins and Norman Long. Several found a new lease of life on radio and others recorded extensively. Included is an in-depth discography and catalogues of the songs they sang but never committed to shellac. I hope the book stands as a fitting tribute to some forgotten stars and an introduction to the subject for those intrigued to know more about our entertainment past.

Follow Link Below

https://bearmanor-digital.myshopify.com/products/the-lost-world-of-music-hall-hardback?_pos=1&_sid=6c569452b&_ss=r&fbclid=IwAR1Zo-gL_faEJ9COYHHjxUDED2ml5DiGF0joKO_35d4d6QI5lpjecz21ybU

Margaret Cooper The Diva of the Humorous Song

 

   Margaret Cooper (1877-1922) was an entertainer at the piano, popular in the first quarter of the twentieth century and at one time reputedly the highest paid female star. She sang her light and witty ballads in a light soprano, but much of her appeal was in the way she presented her art, which was a performance in itself. There has hitherto been no substantial profile of any kind about her, since she published her own slim volume of memoirs in 1909. Until now, that is, because she is one of the principal subjects of my book The Lost World of Music Hall (Bear Manor Media, 2021). La Cooper was a fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, who found success against all the odds on the vaudeville stage. See details here

 Alfred Lester "Always Merry and Bright"

One of the subjects of my forthcoming book The Lost World of Music Hall (Bear Manor Media, 2021). Excerpt below:

"Alfred Lester was a lugubrious comedian who avoided the jolly idiot approach and perfected the persona of the ultimate pessimist. It could be argued that he channelled the underlying fatalism of Music-Hall into his stage characters, although much of that outlook was decidedly his own. He found his greatest popularity in Britain on the revue stage from the Great War up until his sudden death in 1925. If he had been reincarnated as a film comedian it would have been one in the Buster Keaton mould. Unlike Keaton, Lester is almost completely forgotten and liable to remain so. However, he was a good example of a different type of comic approach and one who successfully straddled the music hall and revue stage, pointing the way forward for others."

Follow link below:

https://bearmanor-digital.myshopify.com/products/the-lost-world-of-music-hall-hardback?_pos=1&_sid=6c569452b&_ss=r&fbclid=IwAR1Zo-gL_faEJ9COYHHjxUDED2ml5DiGF0joKO_35d4d6QI5lpjecz21ybU

Lily Morris 

Much-loved Cockney Comedienne 

Lily Morris was one of the great Variety artistes who is celebrated in my forthcoming book, The Lost World of Music Hall (Bear Manor Media, 2021)

"Lily Morris was a great Cockney comedienne. On stage from childhood, she was something of a teenage phenomenon. She was a doyen of pantomime and enjoyed her greatest popularity on the variety stage in the immediate post-war era. In her prime she presented a blousy figure and had a great way with a song, in the tradition of Marie Lloyd, with whom she was often compared. Usually, Morris in character was one over the eight, and delivered her songs in a disarming way but they were true gems of social comment, and she did full justice to them."  

(From the introduction)

Above right: Lily in character, c1922. Left: A young Lily during her years as a pantomime favourite.

See link:

https://bearmanor-digital.myshopify.com/products/the-lost-world-of-music-hall-hardback?_pos=1&_sid=6c569452b&_ss=r&fbclid=IwAR1Zo-gL_faEJ9COYHHjxUDED2ml5DiGF0joKO_35d4d6QI5lpjecz21ybU

 

 Carel Weight

Land of the Birds, A Dream (1987-88)

Edmond O'Brien: Everyman of Film Noir

"I want to report a murder..."

"Who was murdered?"

"I was."

 With these words began D.O.A. (1949) in which Edmond O'Brien played a man investigating his own murder. For me, few others encapsulated the confusion of the ordinary Joe in post-war western society better than O'Brien in a run of classic films.

 After a brilliant stage career, O'Brien went to Hollywood for a key role in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), but it was not until he appeared in Robert Siodmak's The Killers (1946) that he began to carve a niche as one of the foremost interpreters of film noir. He went on to have a successful career on film, television and radio, winning a much deserved Oscar for his portrayal of the sycophantic press agent in The Barefoot Contessa. At long last there is a biography about him, written by yours truly which I hope is a fitting tribute to this unique actor.

Edmond O'Brien: Everyman of Film Noir is published by McFarland & Co, Inc. See link below:

https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/edmond-obrien/

"The songs that saved your life..."

   After all these years I still love vinyl records and the recent ones issued by Morrissey and The Smiths are hard to resist if just for the covers alone. I bought The Queen is Dead 12" (right) recently at a record fair. If I'm not mistaken that cover shot is from Passolini's The Gospel According to St Matthew, a film which had an impact on me when I first saw it at the age of about eighteen. Unlike some of the post-Smiths releases, this one and the Albert Finney were chosen by Stephen Patrick himself, and show all the signs because they just look like Smiths covers.

    I wonder what Finney thinks of being the cover star of The Boy With the Thorn in His Side (left). Presumably he didn't take umbrage the way Terence Stamp did over adorning the front of What Difference Does it Make? I never understood quite what he objected to about that.

   Few of Morrissey's later songs have the same resonance as the ones he did with The Smiths for those of us who were around at the time. How could they have? These were "the songs that saved your life." Even so, I do have a fondness for some of his recent offerings including It's Hard to Walk Tall When You're Small and The World is Full of Crashing Bores. It's noticeable that the forthcoming compilation This is Morrissey is mostly comprised of songs from the earlier part of his solo career with the evocative Every Day is Like Sunday a highlight. The new single (left) has the added attraction of a cover version of Rose Garden on the B-side.

   Morrissey still seems to be able to get people's backs up merely by having his own ideas. As he said recently "The most offensive thing you can do in modern Britain is to have an opinion and talk clearly." There are few if any real individualists these days in any sphere of life, let alone in the realm of pop music which is so anodyne. Long may he continue to infuriate and enthrall in equal measure.

Ian Hendry: "... a ruined genius,"

Revealing biography of a misunderstood talent

   Ian Hendry was an outstanding actor of his generation who until now has not been given his due. Send in the Clowns: The Yo-Yo Life of Ian Hendry elevates him to his rightful position. It is a warm and revealing portrait of a great but mis-understood talent who was self-destructive but was also saddled with bad luck and an almost moribund British film industry.

   There were many surprises in this fascinating biography, not least the sheer volume of Hendry's work on television. He starred in the first series of The Avengers which should have made his name. Unfortunately, as the author reveals, that series was never sold to the US, and most episodes were wiped. On the big screen, he showed to great effect in Live Now, Pay Later and The Beauty Jungle. He gave his finest film performance as the sadistic Staff Sergeant in Sidney Lumet's powerful drama The Hill (1965) which ought to have at least brought him an Oscar nomination. Thereafter he was often cast as a heavy but he was an actor of wide range who displayed a penchant for comedy in such films as the thoroughly enjoyable Grand Guignol Theatre of Blood (1973) opposite Vincent Price. Hendry's earliest ambition was to be a clown and one can see definite parallels with such tortured comedians as Tony Hancock.

   Hendry was unlucky to miss out on the role of Bromhead in Zulu, which was handed to Michael Caine, giving him the kick-start to international stardom. Caine also netted the title role in Get Carter (1971) which was intended for Hendry. Although he was brilliant as the sinister chauffeur what wouldn't we give to have seen his interpretation of Carter?

   Hershman writes with great honesty and perception about Hendry's often chaotic private life, his chronic alcoholism and his marriages, especially that to Janet Munro which was volatile. There are many insights from his family, friends and colleagues and evocative photographs throughout. This entertaining and thoroughly researched book should be required reading for all those interested in classic British film, television and the art of acting.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Send-Clowns-Life-Ian-Hendry/dp/1291270973/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1529929059&sr=8-2&keywords=ian+hendry

Gale Storm: Texas Rose

   I first encountered Gale Storm as a singer when I heard her evocative song "Dark Moon" on the radio one rainy Sunday. Shortly afterwards I realized that she was an actress when I caught her in an Audie Murphy film. As David C. Tucker's entertaining new book about her proves she was all this and more - a versatile performer who not only had a fulfilling career as an actress and singer but balanced it with a happy home life as wife and mother.

   Blessed with a strong work ethic and a sunny disposition, the Texas-born Josephine Cottle won a talent contest and, after a name change, landed a contract with RKO. Although often cast in B-movies she proved her worth in different genres and found perhaps her greatest success on television in such fondly-remembered shows as My Little Margie. Tucker's fascinating and brilliantly-researched book reveals Gale to have been a thoroughly grounded person who seemed to be able to turn her hand to anything. In acting alone she could be effortlessly charming in such fluff as Let's Go Collegiate, or suffer with Dan Duryea in film noir The Underworld Story. As her career faded she managed to rise above the alcoholism that blighted her life and helped many others by talking about it.

   Gale's heartening story is well-told by the author who writes with great balance and humour. There is extensive coverage of her work across the mediums, including an episode guide to all her TV shows which must have taken a prodigious amount of research to compile and will prove invaluable. Highly recommended for libraries and for anyone and everyone interested in classic film, television, singers of the 1950s, or indeed of a life well lived.

Gale Storm: A Biography and Career Record by David C. Tucker is published by McFarland & Co, Inc. See link below:

https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/gale-storm/

Claire Trevor

"As cute as lace pants..." Claire Trevor (1910–2000) is best remembered as the alluring blonde femme fatale in such iconic noir films as Murder, My Sweet (1944) and Raw Deal (1948). Yet she was a versatile performer who brought rare emotional depth to her craft. She was effective in a range of diverse roles, from Dallas, the social outcast, in John Ford’s classic Stagecoach (1939) to the ambitious tennis mother in Hard, Fast and Beautiful (1951) to the embittered wife of a landowner in William Wellman’s overlooked gem My Man and I (1952). Nominated for three Oscars, she deservedly won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Gaye Dawn, a gangster’s broken-down moll in Key Largo (1948). I hope my book stands as a fitting tribute to one of the finest but overlooked actresses of her generation.

Claire Trevor: The Life and Career of the Queen of Noir is published by McFarland & Co, Inc. 

https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/claire-trevor/

A book trailer for The Life and Times of Sydney Greenstreet (Bear Manor Media, 2018) which features many rare photographs. http://www.bearmanormedia.com/life-and-times-of-sydney-greenstreet-hardcover-edition-by-derek-sculthorpe