Our new catalog is out and it's beautiful! 19 Jul 2010, 10:31 pm

Look at what just came from the printer today! We're very proud of this new - and much improved - catalog.

The Beach Boys! 17 Jul 2010, 12:01 am

There are a great many names in this book because over the course of some thirty-five or so years in the entertainment business, Lloyd worked with, met with, or just talked to a lot of people including celebrities of various ilk. A few became his friends; many were merely business or golfing acquaintances. The time he spent with the Beach Boys surely made them his friends or at least one would hope. Lloyd always made it a point to differentiate between people he designated as friends and those who were merely acquaintances based on, to a very minor degree, who picked up the check or whether or not he was close enough to be invited to their homes. Or even how quickly or even whether they returned phone calls. There are many of each. A lot of what is included in this book has not previously been in print, either because it related to things he shared personally with the people involved or because it was not known to the general public. While this isn't quite a "tell all" book, it is definitely a "tell some" book. Anyway, herein lies an opportunity to live what Jack Lloyd lived and then re-lived as he wrote it. Enjoy the ride.

Nice review & comments on PopSyndicate.com 15 Jul 2010, 9:44 pm

Horror Movies, Music Stars, Artists & More!
“Esoteric” has a couple of meanings, but in the case of Michael McCarty’s book Esoteria-Land (Bear Manor Media) it relates more to the secret lives of celebrity. McCarty, a professional writer since 1983, writing a number of books, short stories, poems and a plenitude of articles, has put together a selection of short interviews and photographs with a variety of famous people, as well as some entertaining articles and essays dealing primarily with the horror field and genre. This should come as no surprise as the preface has an introductory discussion between McCarty and horror author C. Dean Andersson (I Am Dracula) followed by an introduction from Scream Queen Linnea Quigley (Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers). The book also includes other genres and niches. It begins with an interview with Tommy Chong, the famous hippie doper from the infamous comedic duo Cheech & Chong. This is followed with an interview with singer/guitarist/songwriter Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues. A very interesting interview with Alistair Taylor comes soon after. Who is Alistair Taylor you may ask. He was a collaborator with Brian Epstein, the man who became the manager of The Beatles. Taylor helped Epstein in those early formative years with the band but had little hope for them, missing out on an opportunity to own a portion of what would become one of the most influential bands of all time. McCarty also touches on Art as he interviews the fantasy illustration team of Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell. There are also more interviews with other comedians, actors, film makers and authors, including the creator of Discworld, Sir Terry Pratchett and one of science fiction’s greatest writers, Alan Dean Foster. Of the essays, the most fascinating is a look at author Dean Koontz and how he is viewed by other authors. Despite his scary stories, Koontz evidently has a heart of gold and comes across as a very benevolent and kind person. Esoteria-Land is nearly 350 pages in length but most of the interviews are only 3 or 4 pages, so the book makes for a quick, fun read.

Gardner McKay's play to become a movie! 14 Jul 2010, 5:27 pm

From "The Wrap" website
Reporter Jeff Schneider

Oscar-winning filmmaker John G. Avildsen ("Rocky") is set to direct "Me.," an independent feature based on the play by late actor/author Gardner McKay. Joe Dain wrote the screenplay after optioning the rights from McKay's widow, Madeleine, who will serve as executive producer on the project. Dain will produce through his company Shoot Productions. First published in 1998 as a play in two acts, the dark comedy follows the Vickery family as they come together to rally around 12-year-old Tommy after a tragic baseball accident caused by his twin brother leaves him brain damaged and dependent on his family for his every need. The story picks up six years after the accident as the family re-examines the very distinct choices they've made for themselves in order to survive. Dain discovered McKay's play more than a decade ago at a Samuel French book store. "From the minute I read it, I was drawn to the material," said Dain, who at the time was working with two other producers who were interested in raising financing for a theatrical production of "Me." The trio organized a reading for potential financiers and McKay (right) and his wife flew to Los Angeles to attend. "I told him that I thought the play would make an incredible movie and his reply to me was, 'well if you ever get to a place in your career to have a serious discussion about producing this as a film, give me a call.' It was not until many years later that I was in such a position, and sadly, Gardner had passed away," said Dain. Late last year, Dain decided to take a chance and contact McKay's widow, who remembered him and requested he send an example of his work as a movie producer. Dain sent his award-winning 2008 film "Gardens of the Night," and one week later, McKay called Dain and agreed to sell him the rights to the play. "This story is an intense, surprisingly original, funny, dark and yet binding story about family," Dain told TheWrap. UTA is packaging the project and will handle its domestic sales. Avildsen previously directed "The Karate Kid" and "Lean on Me," and his last movie to be given a theatrical wide release was 1994's "8 Seconds." He's attached to direct the sports drama "Stano." Avildsen is represented by UTA, while Gersh represents Dain and The Marton Agency represents McKay.

Another great review 13 Jul 2010, 5:50 pm

Check out the excellent review by Beyond Hollywood.com's Joseph Savitski. It can be seen at http://www.beyondhollywood.com/book-review-just-when-you-thought-it-was-safe-a-jaws-companion/#. Way to go, author Patrick!

Lon Chaney's Dracula Recommended on Psychobabble 12 Jul 2010, 4:10 pm

Here's what the Psychobabble website has to say about Philip J. Riley's new book:


Psychobabble recommends Philip J. Riley’s ‘Lon Chaney as Dracula’
Before Bela Lugosi forged his iconic performance as Count Dracula, another horror legend was slotted to play the role. Having risen to superstardom by playing grotesques in silent pictures such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Phantom of the Opera, and London After Midnight, Lon Chaney Sr. was to play the vampire in what would have been his second talking picture. The film was well past the planning stages—with Tod Browning hired to direct and Dudley Murphy and Louis Bromfield penning the script—when Chaney’s death by throat hemorrhage in 1930 halted it. Losing little time, Universal replaced Chaney with Bela Lugosi and hired Garrett Fort to write a new script in time for the film to be released less than six months after Chaney’s death. Long thought to be lost, Murphy and Bromfield’s unproduced Dracula script is the latest discovery of cinematic archaeologist Philip J. Riley, whose Alternate History for Classic Monster Movies series continues to marvel. This latest volume is a more eclectic affair than the ones about James Whale’s Dracula’s Daughter and Wolfman vs. Dracula. Beginning with Riley’s brief introduction to the subject, the book moves on to Bromfield’s extensive, 50-page treatment, complete with long stretches of dialogue. Chaney was adamant that his film-adaptations remained faithful to the novels on which they were based, and the treatment reveals a picture considerably closer to Bram Stoker than Fort’s script based on the Dracula stage play by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston. The Count is also described in more animalistic terms, with his hairy body, wolfish ears, and long fangs, than Lugosi’s vampire, probably to take better advantage of Chaney’s makeup prowess. After the treatment comes the opening passage of Murphy and Bromfield’s script, which draws out Jonathan Harker’s arrival at Castle Dracula for 20-pages, suggesting a more epic film than the one with Lugosi. The script ends abruptly during Harker’s initial meeting with Dracula because of Chaney’s death, but Riley’s book still has several more treasures in its crypt: a complete cast, crew, and title list for the 1931 Dracula, F.W. Murnau’s complete shooting script for Nosferatu, which includes numerous notes by the director (Bromfield was given a copy of the script to help him along with constructing his vampire tale), and most valuably, Lon Chaney’s 12-page autobiography originally published in the September 1925 issue of Movie Magazine. While any classic horror enthusiast should be sufficiently lured by Bromfield’s fascinating treatment, Chaney’s autobiography is a clincher, offering a rare opportunity to read the man’s story in his own words, not to mention a wealth of terrific pictures.

Great show coming Sunday night 9 Jul 2010, 8:43 pm

Author Pat Jankiewicz will discuss man-eating sharks, summer blockbusters and his book, Just When You Thought It Was Safe: A Jaws Companion, on WGN Radio's "The Nick Digilio Show" on WGN Radio Chicago, 12:30 a.m. Sunday night, July 11th, following The Cubs game. Listen live via the internet! http://www.wgnradio.com/about/listen/

Ann Harding, Cinema's Gallent Lady 8 Jul 2010, 9:20 am

Friday, July 16, at 7:30pm at Castro Theatre, San Francisco, CA

It's all things Dracula! 7 Jul 2010, 10:17 am

The Blackgate's Adventures in Fantasy Literature's page has a wonderful, detailed write-up about Dracula items, including our own Lon Chaney's Dracula book by Philip J. Riley. Check it out at http://www.blackgate.com/2010/07/02/dracula-from-script-to-screen/#more-8803

From the San Francisco Silent Movie Examiner..... 6 Jul 2010, 7:17 pm

[By Thomas Gladysz]
These days, Diana Serra Cary lives a quite life in Gustine, California. It’s a small town in the Valley south of Modesto and east of San Jose, and not so far from Merced, where she was born. There, the 91 year old former movie star is working on a new book – her fifth. It’s to be an insider's account of the movie industry, and according to Cary, a "study of fear and power in working Hollywood."Cary knows of what she speaks. In the 1920’s, she was known as “Baby Peggy,” and was one of the two biggest child actors in the pre-sound era. (The other was Jackie Coogan.) She was, in her day, as famous and as popular as Shirley Temple would become in the following decades.Cary is also one of the last surviving silent film stars. In a recent interview, the one-time actress revealed that work is nearly done on a documentary focusing on her remarkable and troubled life. It is being made in The Netherlands, and should be available in the United States in 2011, if not sooner.And today, two articles appeared about the diminutive actress. One, in the Huffington Post, was my own. It is titled “The Bookseller Who Became an Author and Who Once Had Been the Biggest Little Film Star in the World.” It takes a look at her interesting post-Hollywood career as an accomplished bookseller and well respected author. The other, by Kenneth Turan in the Los Angeles Times, promotes an upcoming event in Los Angeles. On July 7th, Baby Peggy will give a short talk and introduce her 1924 film, Captain January, at the Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theater. It is Turan’s “Pick of the Week.” It’s one of two events Cary is expected to attend this month. She will also be signing copies of her books at the Castro Theater in San Francisco on July 16th as part of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival.If you love the movies, then don't miss one of these two opportunities to meet a real movie star – and a living legend. Or as Turan put it, “Be one of the few to experience a piece of film history both on and off the screen.”

Coming Tuesday on Blog Talk Radio 5 Jul 2010, 11:35 am

Call-in Number: (646) 478-5668
Upcoming Show: 7/6/2010 3:00 PM
Host Name: Betty Jo Tucker
Show Name: Singin' in the Corn!

Something we bet you didn't know about Baby Peggy 2 Jul 2010, 9:49 pm

Did you know that Diana Serra Cary (aka "Baby Peggy") once worked as a bookseller? Now it's her own book that is selling!

Check out this great article about her from the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thomas-gladysz/the-bookseller-who-became_b_631529.html

New from BearManor Media 1 Jul 2010, 5:14 pm

JUST JOAN: A JOAN CRAWFORD APPRECIATION is the ultimate Joan Crawford Bible, examining Crawford’s work, influence, life, and image in meticulous and loving detail.

Illustrated with over 300 photos, many of them rare and never before in print, JUST JOAN is a compilation of over four years of comprehensive research, culled from rare Lincoln Center archives, original magazines and those who knew her. Crawford is examined as a feminist forerunner, a gay icon, a dynamic artist, and as one of the world’s great movie stars. The many anecdotes and quotes within JUST JOAN reveal the sassy, indomitable spirit of this actress who grew up in abject poverty with an indifferent family and yet, against unseemly strife and setbacks, rose from the ashes like a phoenix. Her determination, talent and committed work ethic enabled her to find a career and home with what would be one of the most celebrated and powerful studios in film history, MGM. Hers is the moving, complex story of the pursuit and realization of the American Dream, part sublime, part nightmare, self-actuated. With rich detail and devotion, JUST JOAN bears testament to Crawford’s enduring enigma and powerful star.

Comic strips you don't have to see to enjoy 30 Jun 2010, 9:00 pm

A Fine Tribute - Coming Soon! 29 Jun 2010, 5:24 pm

Cinemassacres: A Tribute to Forrest J. Ackerman and 1980s Horror Films
Introduction by Ingrid Pitt / 6
Kind Comments for Uncle Forry
Interviews
Afterword by Iron Dave / 166
Interviews:
Modern Mythmakers author Michael McCarty / 10
Artist Frank Dietz / 15
Multi-Media artist and Forry's ‘'best pal'' Joe Moe / 18
Michael Mallory - author of ‘'Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy Of Horror'' / 22
John Dimes- actor/artist/author of The Rites of Pretending Tribe / 25
Brian Walker - creator of Brian's Drive-In Theatre / 28
Robert Leininger - producer of The Undying Monsters / 31
Dick Dyszel { Count Gore Devol} host of Creature Feature / 35
Artist Jim McDermott / 38
Lucy Hell of Mystery Island Publications / 39
Rue Morgue Magazine art director ‘'Ghoulish'' Gary Pullin / 41
Special Guest Photos Section
Courtlandt Hull - creator of ‘'The Witch's Dungeon'' Museum in Bristol, CT. / 58
Kevin Sean Michaels - director of Vampira: The Movie / 61
Moebius Models creator Frank Winspur / 65
Dr. Mangor - Antimator, photographer, creator of Suicidal Suzi comic / 67
Scifi-Womanthology editor Pam Keesey / 70
Special Guest Interviews:
East Texas Gothic: Joe R. Lansdale / 74
Gandhi At The Bat author Chet Williamson / 80
Don Calfa - star of Return of the Living Dead / 84
Scalps director Fred Olen Ray / 88
NCIS star Muse Watson / 99
Jason Paul Collum - author of Assault of the Killer Bs / 106
Horror Films of the 1980s author John Kenneth Muir / 113
Strangewood author Christopher Golden / 115
Genre actor/stuntman/screenwriter Jim O'Rear / 120
Sara Karloff - daughter of horror icon Boris Karloff / 123
Interview with Cinemassacres author Iron Dave, conducted by Roberta Lannes / 126
Covenant and The 13th author John Everson / 131
The Amazing Kreskin / 135
Count Gregula / 143
Chopping Mall director Jim Wynorksi / 146
Echoes: Remembering Forrest J. Ackerman / 155

Thumbs Up! 28 Jun 2010, 10:58 pm

Busy, busy author! 25 Jun 2010, 8:00 pm

Think you're overworked? Check out Matt Beckoff's schedule for July:

What's Coming Up at Larry Edmunds Bookshop 24 Jun 2010, 10:52 pm

On Sundan, July 18th, at 1:00 p.m., a Sunday matinee with author Matt Beckoff and scream queens Kathleen Hughes, Carla Laemmle, and Elena Verdugo. Horror-meister Bob Burns will join in on the fun as well.

An Evening With TV Icon Kathy "Cissy" Garver, star of "Family Affair" 22 Jun 2010, 5:06 pm

Tour a collection of some of the most famous fashions from motion pictures and the personal wardrobes of the world's greatest stars, including: Judy Garland. Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Cary Grant.

Kathy will be autographing copies of her new "Family Affair Cookbook" - $25 includes book, autograph and reception.

Thursday, June 24, 2010, 6 to 8 pm. Wine reception at:
Metreon, 101 Fourth Street, Ground Level, San Francisco, CA 94103
Tickets available at the door. Wine courtesy of Jerry Tusan, Classic Wines of California.
RSVP: _Kgarver333@aol.com_ (mailto:Kgarver333@aol.com)
Hope you can make it!

Let's Give a Listen to Martin Grams, Jr. 21 Jun 2010, 3:40 pm

It's the good old days this week on Dave White Presents. Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention organizer and prolific author Martin Grams Jr returns to discuss his latest book covering the adventure hero The Green Hornet. Then The Green Hornet himself, Van Williams, who starred in that role in the television series will share some interesting and fun stories from his career. Actress Dawn Wells will also be a guest discussing her career and talking about the Nostalgia Convention at which both she and Van will be making appearances. The program previews on KSAV radio www.ksav.org Tuesday June 22 at 7:30PM Eastern and 7:30PM Pacific time and will be available 24/7 beginning Wednesday June 23 at www.audioentertainment.org/dwp . Dave White Presents is now on Facebook

Looking For the Leap Home 19 Jun 2010, 1:43 am

Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett, after leading an elite group of scientists to develop a top secret project known as Quantum Leap, prematurely stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished . . .He awoke to find himself trapped in the past, suffering from partial amnesia and facing mirror images that were not his own, driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. His only guide on this journey is Al, the project observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. So Dr. Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap, will be the leap home...In these pages you will discover:* How Don Bellisario got the idea for the show and pitched it to NBC.* What Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell thought about the series and why they consider it to be one of the best and most cherished experiences of their lives.* About the incredible fans, who never gave up hope and sent over 50,000 letters and calla lilies to then NBC president Warren Littlefield to put the show back on the air on Wednesday nights.* Why episodes like "The Color of Truth," "Black On White On Fire" and "Running For Honor" had advertisers pulling out and NBC ready to pull the plug.* How Quantum Leap ended and a look back at all five seasons of the series.With the hope of a new sci-fi or movie on the horizon, let's take a bold leap forward into the adventures of Dr. Sam Beckett and hope that his next leap will be the leap that sends him home.

A Dream Collection of Classic Hollywood Photos 17 Jun 2010, 5:35 pm

Tommy Lightfoot Garrett has been a collector of classic era photographs for years. The difference between Tommy and the people who collect classic photos, is that Tommy over the years has become friends with many of these stars and he also has represented many of them over the years as well. This photo book is one that the reader and admirer of classic stars can enjoy some of the great studio and candid shots of the past century, with Garrett's historical knowledge of Hollywood and the icons who made the entertainment industry so great. There are even some shots signed by stars who are either no longer with us or no longer signing autographs. This book is warm, well put together and offers the reader some new insights into what made the classic era so grand in Hollywood's history.

Hot Off The Press! 16 Jun 2010, 10:25 pm

Will the Real Me Please Stand Up, by Christopher Knopf. Some very talented people have a lot of great things to say about this book. Take a look:

"Christopher Knopf is a consistently superb writer with his body of work a treasury of accomplishment any writer would envy. Here are the personal experiences that formed his keen insight on life and the nimble mind that led him to the Presidency of the Writers Guild of America, West. He speaks with complete honesty of the many people he has worked with and worked for in a vacillating, perilous profession. It makes a helluva read."- John Gay, Oscar nominated Screenwriter, Separate Tables

"Over his 50 year career writing for movies and television, Chris Knopf worked with many of Hollywood's great stars, producers and directors. He is a wonderful story teller and has filled this book with tricks of the trade, inspiring anecdotes, and one entertaining story after another. It's a must read for any aspiring screenwriter." - Tom Schulman, Oscar Winning Screenwriter, Dead Poets Society

"All television writers know who 'wrote the book' on writing Movies and Miniseries for Television -- it was Chris Knopf, and now he's written the warm and engaging story of how he did it while at the same time leading a graceful and rewarding life. Reading this very human memoir reminded me again and again how much I like and admire Chris and why."- David Rintels, playwright, three-time Emmy winning writer, past President, Writers Guild of America West

"Will The Real Me Please Stand Up is a page turner that will earn its way into your library. It's written by a person who grew up in a family of Hollywood Royalty. His father, colorful and charming, as well as domineering and insensitive, was a movie producer during MGM's golden years. I was fully immersed in this fascinating success story of Chris' battle to become his own man and creative force, emerging as an award winning writer."- Jerry Mayer, producer, playwright, television writer for The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Mash

"Old Hollywood lives again in Chris Knopf's engaging life story, which could be subtitled "Sometimes Nepotism Doesn't Work," about his struggle and triumph with a competitive father who lived in the last days of the old studio system.- Del Reisman, story editor Playhouse 90, past President, Writers Guild of America, West.

A very special Dave White Presents 15 Jun 2010, 5:54 pm

This is an Early Bird announcement about the next broadcast of “Dave White Presents” which will debut Tues. June 22. This show will be a very, very special 90 minutes devoted to this fall’s Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention. Three guests include: Van Williams—star of Surfside Six and TV’s Green Hornet (so good, we made it a two-parter), Dawn Welles—“Mary Ann” from Gilligan’s Island, Martin Grams Jr.—author of a new history of The Green Hornet and organizer of the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention. So mark your calendars—the show will debut Tues. June 22 at 7:30 p.m. EST and then 7:30 p.m. Pacific over— www.KSAV.org On Wednesday June 23, the show will become available for 24/7 download access at— www.audioentertainment.org/dwp

Who tried out for which role???? 14 Jun 2010, 11:18 pm

Katie Holmes was the first choice to play Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Rosie O'Donnell auditioned for Elaine on Seinfeld.
Gene Hackman was rejected for the part of Mike Brady.
Sandra Bullock didn't have the right look for Baywatch.
Lara Flynn Boyle was considered to play Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City.

This is only a small sample. The shows are listed alphabetically, so this makes a very easy-to-use research book. You'll be surprised what you find out.