Peter Janos had recently turned eighteen when he heard rumours that a demonstration was going to take place that day in Budapest. He and his classmates in the sixth form of his prestigious school were instructed not to attend, which naturally made them all the more eager to do so. They could not have known that this 'demonstration' would turn into a major uprising which was to change forever the lives of those involved. The date was October 23rd 1956. "John Peter has the most extraordinary tale to tell. He was one of the most powerful critics of his time, and so it's good to see his love of theatre shine through his writing; but what is more surprising is the nature of the battles he had to fight to achieve his preeminence." Simon Russell Beale How I Became An Englishman is John Peter's astounding account of childhood in a Soviet State and his hair-raising escape from Hungary after the 1956 Uprising, to safety in England, and his gradual transformation into John Peter, Oxford graduate, author of Vladimir's Carrot: Modern Drama and the Modern Imagination, and Chief Drama Critic of The Sunday Times. 'Anybody who came across John Peter was instantly charmed by a puckish individual with a perpetual twinkle in the eye who drew people in by whispering quiet witticisms that were equally perceptive and funny. Even though he left his native Hungary in the late 1950s and completed his education at Oxford, the accent remained, but beyond that, the man became as Anglicised as his name. What readers of this thrilling, slim tome will discover is that, before Peter even came of age, he had lived through torrid times, lucky to escape alive and intact from a childhood and youth that contained many terrifying moments. Indeed, his hidden Jewish ancestry meant that, had a stray word been misplaced, Peter might have become a victim of the Nazis or their local collaborators and been murdered or condemned to a concentration camp....a stirring tale.' British Theatre Guide

Final Dress

The Public Is Never Wrong: The Autobiography of Adolph Zukor is a memoir written by Adolph Zukor, one of the most influential figures in the early days of Hollywood. In this book, Zukor recounts his life story, from his humble beginnings as an immigrant in New York City to his rise to fame as the founder of Paramount Pictures.Zukor's narrative takes readers on a journey through the early days of the film industry, as he describes his experiences working as a nickelodeon operator and film distributor before ultimately founding his own studio. He also discusses his relationships with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks.Throughout the book, Zukor emphasizes the importance of listening to the audience and giving them what they want. He argues that the public is never wrong and that the key to success in the film industry is to understand and cater to their tastes. He also provides insights into the business side of the industry, discussing topics such as financing, marketing, and distribution.Overall, The Public Is Never Wrong offers a fascinating glimpse into the life and career of one of the most important figures in the history of Hollywood. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the early days of the film industry and the art of storytelling on the big screen.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

"Lupoff writes with intelligence, humor, wisdom, and a zest for life. He had a lot of fun writing this book, and it shows; because of it, we have a lot of fun reading it."Joe Gores, author of Hammett Where Memory Hides is a guided tour through the life and career of mystery and science fiction's most versatile practitioner. Richard A. Lupoff has been a professional author for six decades, and a life-time fan of everything from pulp magazines to comic books, science fiction and mystery, and more. As the extensive bibliography (included in this book) demonstrates, Lupoff's credits run the gamut of fiction, nonfiction, mainstream publishing, and fan journals. In the 1960s, he penned All In Color For a Dime , a foundation-laying work for modern comic book fandom, and Edgar Rice Burroughs: Master of Adventure , a study of Tarzan's creator. The Comic Book Killer and Marblehead are among his best-known novels. His short story 12:01 PM , filmed twice in the 1990s, added a new sub-genre to science fiction and spawned a legion of imitators. In Where Memory Hides , Lupoff regales readers with triumphs and tribulations from his six-decade plus career. He also offers insights on writing, haggling with agents, and literary criticism of authors such as Dashiell Hammett, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and many others. This autobiography is available in two editions -- a standard trade paperback edition, and a paperback collector's edition with color graphics throughout. "... (Lupoff's) books and stories, I can testify, having read a great many of them and published some myself, almost unfailingly display not only his intelligence and perceptivity, but also the grace and charm of his wit, the skill of his narrative technique, and the exemplary individuality of his ideas. That is to say, he's a damned good writer."Robert Silverberg, author of The Book of Skulls "... Although in his 80s, Lupoff still writes with the enthusiasm of a young fan ..." Publisher's Weekly

This text features Sir Peter Ustinov's comments on his own life and others, and a variety of different subjects. The topics range from the funny to the ennobling and wise. For example, on the subject of "Money corrupts - particularly those who don't have any"; on "Spartacus", Ustinov says, "'Spartacus' must be the first film about a historical subject that took longer to make than the event it was about"; and on Audrey Hepburn, "Statistics tell us that Audrey died young. What no statistics can show is that Audrey would have died young at any age."

What if you were supposed to die, but you didn’t? And what if, years later, your precious second chance didn’t turn out anything like you thought it would? That’s the journey Evan Handler experiences, and the one he explores in It’s Only Temporary: The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive. In a collection of funny, offbeat, and poignant autobiographical essays, Handler moves beyond the supposedly "incurable” illness he triumphed over in his mid-twenties--only to tumble through his thirties and forties in search of ever elusive love and happiness. From bold attempts to rekindle his acting career to hapless efforts to run faster around New York’s Central Park reservoir, from bizarre Internet dates to twenty-seven breakups (involving only ten women), Handler careens through his against-all-odds existence. Always searching for meaning in his unlikely survival, he shares stories of sadistic junior high school gym teachers, bullying wannabe Hollywood moguls, returned engagement rings, and Europeans’ fascination with American bathroom habits. Picking up ten years after his first book, Time on Fire, Handler again uses what the New York Times calls his "laceratingly funny and revealing” storytelling skills to weave twenty-one new tales into a defiantly unconventional memoir. Consistently witty and insightful, Handler’s stories shift effortlessly from the comedic to the profound, musing with equal intensity on the existence of God and his experiences with TV stardom. Then, just when it seems he’s failed to make the most of his astonishing second chance, Handler finds his way to miracles even greater than the ones that saved his life. His memoir describes his journey from darkness to light, from yearning to gratitude, and in so doing succeeds as both a stirring love story and a classic coming-of-age tale. It’s Only Temporary celebrates the transformation of a boy to man--even if it look Handler more than forty years to get there.

There have been many books about the strange and exotic world of show business, but rarely has one encompassed so many roles in one person, Sonny Fox. Comedy writer on a daily half-hour TV series in New York, pioneer on the eighth Educational TV station to go on the air, host of the first weekly CBS-TV series to originate a live TV series, Emcee of "The $64,000 Challenge,” Producer of movies for TV and specials for PBS, VP Children’s programming NBC-TV, Chair of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a weekly, four-hour children’s program that set a standard for how to deal with young viewers, Fox ran the gamut, starting in radio in 1947 and lasting until today, that may be unique in TV history. What makes this a must-read is Sonny’s ability to spin narratives that take you inside of this panoply of events and personalities, so you feel their immediacy and experience the kaleidoscope almost as a participant. As he weaves his engaging tales, you will meet Senator Robert Kennedy, Actresses Julie Harris and Colleen Dewhurst, Lyricists Alan Jay Lerner, and Sheldon Harnick, Tom Snyder, and a whole cast of colorful personalities who are presented through the prism of Sonny Fox’s cavalcade that is a history of TV: in fact a history of the 20th century as it will never be taught in schools.

This thoroughly engaging and often hilarious story of the son of Russian immigrants and his journey from an austere childhood of truancy and survival on the streets of Manhattan's lower east side to ubiquitous recognition as a regular fixture in the world of Broadway musicals and TV sitcoms imparts an intimate look at the man behind the characters he portrayed. Written by his son, Paul Jr., this loving tribute brings the author's father back to life with all his talent, idiosyncrasies and humanity. You Grew Up! is a tale of courage, artistry, perseverance and above all, a lion's share of CHUTZPAH!

ON TOUR DRUMMING WITH CELEBRITIES SUCH AS BERTIE HIGGINS AND MANY OTHERS AT AN EARLY AGE, INTRODUCED TO THE WORLD OF DRUGS, JAIL, AND FINALLY THE HOLY SPIRI

Break ups, marriage and moving on. The last two and a half years of Katie Price's life have been anything but quiet. This promises to give her fans the truth behind the headlines, as her unflappable nature, vivaciousness and incredible determination enable her to set the record straight and tell her side of this rollercoaster story.

From my early teens I've been an exhibitionist and from the time I started senior school I was desperate to look different. I ve always gone for clothes that make me stand out, rather than blend in with the rest of the crowd. Nobod

The latest instalment in the fascinating life of the one and only Katie Price. The last three years of Katie Price's life have been some of the most dramatic and startling yet. In this dazzling instalment of her life, Katie reveals the many ups and downs from the highly publicised divorce from Alex Reid, the romance and split from Leo Penna and a whirlwind marriage and surprise pregnancy with Kieran Hayler. And that''s just her love life. Katie has also dealt with increasingly bitter disputes with first husband Peter Andre and her former manager, as well as her public spat with comedian Frankie Boyle who made offensive comments about her disabled son Harvey. Despite her personal life being played out in the public arena, Katie remains true to her heart by always speaking her mind and living life to the full. "Lipstick, Love and Lawsuits" gives her side of the story, once again expressing her humour, passion and strength to her loyal fans.

Easy the Hard Way is a full-life story told with gusto, often hilarious, sometimes touching. It will bring a lump to your throat when you least expect it. Joe Pasternak emerges from the pages of his autobiography as an imaginative and resourceful man of tremendous drive and honesty, who is also a warm and deeply human talent. Pasternak's early life reads like the script of an American dream picture: born in a tiny town in Transylvania, son of the shammas at the local synagogue, at seventeen Joe threw off the shackles and made his way to Philadelphia. He knew no English, knew in fact little of anything, but he had sense enough, he writes, to go to New York. The rise of Joe Pasternak was not always in a straight ascending line, but sooner or later it always landed him one rung higher. From Paramount in Jamaica he went to Universal in Hollywood and thence to Europe to supervise Universal's operations abroad before the war. Those were the great days of movie making in Germany and Pasternak played an important part in them. As a producer he is credited with helping such great stars as Deanna Durbin, Judy Garland, Mario Lanza and others to achieve stardom in Hollywood.

"Do You Mind If I Smoke? tells the story of Fenella Fielding's remarkable 65-year career in theatre, radio, TV and film. Best known for her 1960s film appearances in classic comedies such as Carry On Screaming, Doctor in Clover and Carry On Regardless, Fielding's sublime talents also brought her success in serious roles on the stage, including title roles in Hedda Gabler and Colette. Spiced with star-studded anecdotes and personalized with moving stories about innocence and experience, the early struggles of an aspiring actress and later professional rivalries, Do You Mind If I Smoke? is a witty, warm and wonderfully recounted memoir of an extraordinary life."--

"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players ..." But how do we take our place in the drama and understand our ever-changing roles? From Shakespeare's infant, "mewling and puking in the nurse's arms" through to the "second childishness and mere oblivion" of old age, Braham Murray draws on over half a century of experience in the theatre, to reflect, through the prism of the world's greatest drama and its most insightful philosophers, on what it is to be human. Curious and compassionate in equal measure, he takes a contemporary voyage through the Seven Ages of Man, isolating what gives each one its unique character, mining each for enlightenment, inspiration and hope. And in the end of this eventful history, he does find hope - if, like the great dramatists he cites - we acknowledge the choices we have, both for ourselves and for mankind; and we acknowledge, as the theatre has always done, that what binds us together is a shared humanity greater than the powers that seek to drive us apart.

The true life story of Michael Elihu Colby and his childhood days at Manhattan's Algonquin Hotel. His grandparents Mary and Ben B. Bodne had traded their southern oil fortune for the legendary but faded Algonquin and restored the hotel's former glory. Their efforts led to a remarkable renaissance and attracted an overflow of celebrities from the ridiculous to the sublime. Michael weaves a vivid tapestry of encounters with glittering Broadway and Hollywood celebrities in a kaleidoscopic memoir of illustrious figures-some on a meteoric rise, some in tragic decline-while he found his own place in the topsy turvy world of the Broadway theatre and musicals. Nearly 200 rare photographs and illustrations, a Bibliography, Appendixes, and an Index.

"This book is intended for people to whom nothing is sacred, people who are not afraid to ask pointed and critical questions about anything, be it the contents of the Torah or the contents of their own lives. It is intended for people willing to make every critical effort possible to get at the truth; for that is what the Torah demands of the Jew - to be a student of life so that he may learn to recognize and distinguish between that which is true and that which is false." -- Introduction.

"Never Quote the Weather to a Sea Lion (and other uncommon tales from the founder of the Big Apple Circus) is a celebration of Paul Binder's life in and around the circus. Drawing on thirty-five years with the show he created, the Big Apple Circus' founder and founding Artistic Director invites us inside the fence every kid peers through for an intimate look at the uncommon life of circus artists, their animal partners, and the roustabouts who spend their days in a world that is both close-knit and international, high-minded and low comedy, death-defying and ludicrous. Never Quote the Weather to a Sea Lion (and other uncommon tales from the founder of the Big Apple Circus) balances the weird and the workaday, the curious and the commonplace, the exhilaration and the exhaustion of life in the circus, with simple portrayals of ordinary people going about the business of achieving the extraordinary."--Publisher's description.