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Hollywood Heyday

75 Candid Interviews with Golden Age Legends

Tom Johnson author David A Fantle author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:McFarland & Co Inc

Published:30th Mar '18

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Hollywood Heyday cover

“What audacity!” exclaimed Robert Wagner when he heard about the authors’ adolescent exploits in nabbing interviews with celebrities of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

In 1978, David Fantle and Tom Johnson, St. Paul teenagers fresh out of high school, boarded a plane to meet with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. On a lark, they had written the two stars requesting interviews—to their amazement, both had agreed. Over the years, more than 250 other stars also agreed—Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, James Cagney, Mickey Rooney, Debbie Reynolds, George Burns, Rod Steiger, Milton Berle, Frank Capra and Hoagy Carmichael, to name a few. Published for the first time and with exclusive photos, this selection of 75 interviews chronicles the authors’ 40-year quest for wisdom, insights and anecdotes from iconic artists who defined 20th century American popular culture.

“Fans of the glamorous Golden Age of Hollywood are in for a delicious treat with the release of the new book/memoir Hollywood Heyday...The story behind the making of this dishy delight is almost as fascinating as the intimate conversations with the legendary stars themselves.”—PROVOKR; “this book is an entertaining collection of vignettes, a mixture of stories from the stars and the authors’ own observations”—The News & Observer (Raleigh, North California); “If you love old Hollywood, chances are your favorite person is in here.”—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; “will change the way you look at some of Hollywood’s classic movies and television shows”—ABC7; “The book was forty years in the making: worth every minute to bring it to fruition.... Start at the beginning and work through, pick and choose at random; either way, you’ll become immersed in this Milky Way of Hollywood luminaries.”—Lavender; “how [Fantle and Johnson] landed these interviews is just as fascinating as what their subjects had to say about their careers as movie stars...deeply fascinating...the list of celebrities who are featured in the book is quite impressive...a riveting collection”—Montreal Times; “This is a fine example of the kind of book I love to have on the bedside table, for bedtime. Also, for morning and for insomnia. These profiles are so well done that it’s hard not to go on to just one more and be late for work. Be a good friend. Get two copies.”—Dick Cavett; “Guys, your book will be with me: in the car, in the bathroom, in the tote to the dentist, to the doctor, to the rehab, to the movies...anywhere that I might want a wonderful ‘lift’ to my day. It’s full of fascinating reminiscences. Thank you!”—Angie Dickinson; “Hollywood Heyday took me back to many a year. Dave and Tom are very good writers.”—Eva Marie Saint; “These are in-depth interviews and not the usual. They’re things that people will really want to know about, not gossip.”—Jane Powell; “In a book that includes Bob Hope, George Burns, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, among others, Don (Rickles) is where he belongs.”—Bob Newhart.

  • Winner of New England Book Festival Award 2018 (United States)

ISBN: 9781476668055

Dimensions: 254mm x 178mm x 11mm

Weight: unknown

305 pages