New Releases by Jeff Lenburg

ONLY IN HOLLYWOOD COULD THINGS THIS UNBELIEVABLE HAPPEN As any actor, producer, director, or screenwriter can attest, working in the movie business isn''t easy. After Jack Nicholson filmed his first screen test for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, studio mogul Louis B. Mayer politely told him afterwards: \"I don''t know what we can use you for, but if we ever do need you, we''ll need you real bad.\" In the late 1960s, Paul, John, George, and Ringo–better known as The Beatles–were set to star in a movie version of J.R.R. Tolkien''s epic fantasy novel, The Lord of the Rings, until Tolkien objected over the loudness of their music. Steven Spielberg snubbed Charlton Heston for the lead role in Jaws believing his \"save the day\" disaster movie performances would overshadow the movie''s real star–the killer shark. In prepping for his role of the psychotic Vietnam veteran-turned cab driver in Martin Scorsese''s Taxi Driver, Robert De Niro obtained a New York taxicab driver''s license and learned how to drive a cab working 12-hour shifts and picking up passengers for a New York cab company. What does this unbelievable stuff have in common? Scores of these and other tantalizing tidbits and scintillating stories that really happened to famous film stars and in the movies are meticulously detailed in one fun, fact-filled volume, REEL FACTS. This fascinating, full-color copiously illustrated treasury offers an inside the Hollywood grapevine look at it all—classic movie star rejections, remarkable movie ideas that misfired (or the greatest movies never made), amazing extremes actors have undertaken in preparing for film roles, unforeseen calamities that disrupted or delayed movies in production, fantastic film foolery perpetrated in popular movies on audiences, notable casting mishaps, the worst screen kissers, and much more. For avid movie lovers and film buffs alike, this entertaining chronicle shows filmdom''s favorite stars and movies in general like you have never seen them before.

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED NOVEL, SCARED TO DEATH, COMES HIS LATEST PAGE-TURNER Luke Beckett is anything but your average Hollywood vice squad detective. A cop who refuses to play the game, he is like some Avenging Angel always quick to judge, and to punish with his rock-hard fists those who don’t see his way. Forced to resign after a prostitute bust goes awry, he accepts a police lieutenant position in that God-forsaken place, Palm Springs, where there is hardly enough action to keep his blood circulating. That all changes when his ex-wife Marcia, since re-married to an aging American tycoon and one of Palm Springs’ wealthiest, most influential residents, is found murdered at a swank party under suspicious circumstances with hardly a clue. Assigned to investigate her murder, this short-tempered, superbly trained former big city cop finds more than he expects—a secret romance with a lesbian lover and possible mob connections to her untimely death and assassination attempt on his own life—in this engaging, thought-provoking original hard-boiled mystery.

BACK IN PRINT AND BESSER THAN EVER! For more than six decades, Joe Besser brought gales of laughter to millions—in vaudeville, on Broadway, on radio, in motion pictures, and on television. From his days working as a bumbling assistant to the world-famous Thurston the Magician, he carved out success with his own act—that of a childlike sissy who brandished his foils with a flick of the wrist and such hilarious verbal assaults as “Ooh, you crazy you!” and “Not so f-a-s-t!” From stage to film and television screens, the famed roly-poly comedian left an indelible mark–from starring in his own feature films and short-subject series for Columbia Pictures, to dishing out huge laughs on scores of popular programs of the day, most notably as the malevolent brat “Stinky” on The Abbott and Costello Show, to stepping in to replace Shemp Howard after his death as a member of Three Stooges comedy team. Followed by countless more laugh out-loud performances in movies and on television, from playing the frustrated superintendent, Jillson, on The Joey Bishop Show to voicing Saturday morning cartoons, his legacy still lives on today, thanks to reruns of his classic work. Illustrating a passing age of American humor, ONCE A STOOGE, ALWAYS A STOOGE tells the whole story. Jam-packed with timeless remembrances, Besser vividly recounts it all–the personal ups and downs, the classic skits and routines that became his hallmark, and behind-the-scenes stories of show business icons who enriched his life and career, including Abbott and Costello, Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jerry Lewis, Olsen and Johnson, and many others. Previously unpublished anecdotes incorporated throughout, plus hundreds of new, many rare and one-of-a-kind illustrations and extensive appendices of the legendary funnyman’s stage, film, radio and TV appearances, round out this charming and thoughtfully written memoir. PRAISE FOR THE ORIGINAL EDITION: “An affectionate, thoroughly enjoyable remembrance of a lifetime spent on the road and on the screen.” -- LOS ANGELES TIMES “A fascinating look at the development of American entertainment from a person who managed to experience it all . . .” --PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

In the 1940s, Veronica Lake stirred a nation of filmgoers with her memorable performances. The sultry blond bombshell rocketed to stardom for Paramount Pictures only for her life and career to spiral out of control. By age twentynine, Veronica was washed up, broke, and destitute, and her career on the ash heap. Her fall from grace started with her dominating mother, who saw her insecure daughter as her meal ticket, only to end tragically after Veronica''s years of struggling with paranoid schizophrenia and alcoholism. This fully authorized, expanded edition, featuring interviews with friends and family and 100 stunning illustrations, tells the complete unvarnished truth of the rise and fall of one of the screen''s most beloved stars.

Twentysomething ex-swimsuit model-turned television news anchor Lori Matrix wants to prove her producers wrong: She can do hard news. The tall, blonde, blue-eyed journalist, hired to boost her station''s ratings, gets her chance when legendary actor Rex Hampton turns up dead at the first gathering of six Hollywood movie legends during the screening of his favorite movie. Hampton becomes the first in a series of macabre murders. Three more movie giants from the group drop dead, under mysterious circumstances, at successive film screenings. Something on the screen, something in those movies, made their hearts stop. An unexplained phenomenon? A ghost? What? Believing all four deaths are related, Matrix proves it, as she unmasks the perpetrator behind the evil in this original Hollywood whodunit. REVIEWS: \"SCARED TO DEATH is a delightful Hollywood cozy mystery written from the inside. Although Lenburg''s characters are fictional, his extensive knowledge of the lifestyle of the rich and famous comes into play. His characters are recognizable without being real, and the mystery itself is a plot that weaves in and out of the Hollywood mystique.\" -- Midwest Book Review \"Fans of Old Hollywood know Jeff Lenburg as a first-class chronicler of long-ago Tinseltown and its larger-than-life denizens. SCARED TO DEATH shows that he''s just as adept in a fictional setting, evoking both a sense of wonder and a delicious sense of dread. Anyone who loves classic movies will love this novel!\" - John Wooley, author, AWASH IN BLOOD

PARLAY ONE OF YOUR MOST BASIC NATURAL ASSETS--YOUR VOICE--INTO AN EXCITING CAREER IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY! Now back in print, legendary entertainer Gary Owens draws upon his four decades in radio, TV film and animation to show you how to break into the voiceover business and carve out a million-dollar niche for yourself with your voice. Sprinkled with priceless anecdotes and tips throughout from well-known actors, producers and agents, Owens gives you the inside track on becoming a successful DJ, newscaster, announcer, sportscaster, commercial or cartoon voice, or other type of voice artist. HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW TO: --Zero in on and promote your vocal talents --Develop realistic career goals and an action plan --Produce a demo CD that sells --Find and land an agent --Write winning cover letters and resumes --Ace interviews and auditions Along with updated appendices of voice-over workshops and seminars and talent agencies representing voice-over artists, many never-before published illustrations (not included in the first edition) from the entertainer''s personal collection round out this second edition.

Everyone is guilty of doing it: Committing an act so outlandish, so stupid that the first thought that comes to mind is, “Duuuuuuuh!” “Duh!” moments happen all the time. They can strike at any moment. At any place, at any time of day, when you least expect them: You Super Glue a quarter to your forehead betting a friend it won’t stick . . .”Duh!” Your boss asks you to leave \"early\" to run an errand and then to stay late . . . “Duh!” Your mother-in-law comes to visit after you buy her a “one-way” ticket . . . double “Duh!” Need more examples? Okay, you asked for it. You report a local family disturbance to the police and the officer comes to your door . . . ”Duh!” Your blonde girlfriend hears accidents happen close to home, so she moves . . . ”Duh!” You think becoming a vegetarian means you can’t eat Animal Crackers . . . ”Duh!” Stand up. Take a bow. You are not alone. Now one laugh-filled volume brings them all together…the whole “Duhs!” and nothing but the “Duhs!” . . . THE BOOK OF DUH! This fun-filled treasury features the funniest, most outrageous “Duhs!” of all. Of course, who are we tell you that. You have lived these (and probably more). If not, join the club. It is okay to be “Duh!”

Meet the real Lorenzo Lamas. Lorenzo Lamas has played many roles over the course of his roller coaster career. Star of two major television shows, five-time husband, and reality show star, Lamas has been tabloid fodder for decades. Fans can easily believe they have seen every side of Lamas. But the truth is far more interesting—and surprising. Son of film stars Fernando Lamas and Arlene Dahl, and stepson of swimmer and actress Esther Williams, Lorenzo was born into Hollywood royalty. But his path was not easy. Overweight and aimless as a child, he found it hard to live up to the expectations of his famous father, whose exploits made him the inspiration for the \"most interesting man in the world.\" But Lorenzo surprised everyone, shaping up and ultimately winning countless black belts in tae kwon do and karate. Despite his father''s early discouragement, he pursued acting, starring in Falcon Crest and Renegade. In Renegade at Heart, the Emmy– and Golden Globe–nominated actor pulls back the curtain to share his startling and explosive story—the money and notoriety, the fights and falling outs, his years of battling abandonment and attachment issues after his parents'' divorce, his epic romances and tabloid—making marriages to his four ex-wives. He delves deep into his relationships with his six children and with his famous father, whose penetrating words of wisdom have guided him through turbulent times and to a sense of renewal and new beginnings. Featuring 50 rare, never-before-shared family and personal photographs from his private collection, Renegade at Heart is everything Lamas''s millions of fans have been waiting for—the unvarnished truth and his side of his remarkable journey and fully fleshed rumination of the highs and lows of an extraordinary life and survival of an extraordinary man and actor.

The Facts On File Guide to Research is a comprehensive guide to doing thorough and accurate research. It includes a detailed listing of available resources and explains general research methods and proper citation of sources. An invaluable reference, this book helps researchers make use of the many new resources available today. Divided into four sections, this easy-to-use guide helps students and general readers prepare for research papers and class studies. Step-by-step guides, detailed explanations, and valuable appendixes covering style guides, such as APA. MLA, and The Chicago Manual of Style, combine to create an incredibly authoritative accessible reference.

Examines the career and animation innovations of Japan''s Emperor of Anime. Hayao Miyazaki is one of the world''s most respected Japanese animation filmmakers. He is known for creating compelling characters, engaging stories, and breathtaking animation, all of which have earned him international acclaim while setting box-office records.

Ten-time: Oscar nominee, Walter Lantz was one of Hollywood''s most prolific directors and producers of animation. Spanning six decades, his studio produced more than 800 cartoons, including over 600 theatrically released cartoons, more than any other Hollywood animation studio, and set high standards for the art of animation in its fledgling years. Lantz is renowned for producing cartoons starring the world-famous Woody Woodpecker, whose distinctive laugh is enshrined in the Smithsonian Institute, but he began his career during the silent picture era when he directed, animated, and starred in the landmark animated series, Dinky Doodle. Influencing generations of animators, Lantz also created and/or produced a family of popular characters, including Andy Pandy, Buzz Buzzard, Chilly Willy, Gabby Gator, Inspector willoughby, and Wally Walrus. Animated cartoons have brought joy, laughter, and excitement to countless audiences ever since this lively art first flickered onto movie screens in the early 20th century. Today many classic animated characters are known and loved around the world, and the animators who created them are imitated and admired. The legends of Animation series tells the life stories of the amazing artists who built and shaped the animation industry, created some of animation''s most enduring characters and stories, and influenced the technology of animation. Book jacket.

At the age of seven, Genndy Tartakovsky moved with his family from Russia to the United States, where American cartoons and comic books soon captivated his imagination and inspired him to become an artist. After working as an animator on Batman: The Animated Series, 2 Stupid Dogs, and The Critic, Tartakovsky began to work on his own ideas. Known for fast-paced, action-packed stories and a distinctive animation style, he created the animated sensations Dexter''s Laboratory and Samurai Jack and worked on the breakout hit, The Powerpuff Girls. He then directed the animated microseries Star Wars: The Clone Wars and created the original series Sym-Bionic Titan. Genndy Tartakovsky explores the unique talents of one of the most influential animators working today. Chapters include: Making the Grade Tooning Out a Television Hit Bring on the Clones Changing Direction.

Animation is everywhere—from the Internet to the silver screen—and due to the rapid growth of animation in virtually every field and industry, so are animation jobs. Fueled by the worldwide explosion of film and television productions, new and original animated films, and apps and videos for mobile computing devices, the fields of animation and special effects, video games, and e-learning are all expected to grow. This is in addition to the phenomenal widespread growth of industries like mobile gaming, television advertising, digital media, and science and technology. With the high demand for qualified individuals to work in these industries, there has never been a better time to start or advance a career in animation. Career Opportunities in Animation describes 60 careers in many fields of animation, including art, backgrounds and layouts, design, directing, engineering, film and television animation, game and Web design, painting and texturing, performing, producing, technical production, and writing. Appendixes in this comprehensive new resource include Educational Institutions; Major Trade Periodicals, Newsletters, and Other Publications; Professional, Industry, and Trade Associations; Guilds and Unions; Recommended Animation Industry Web Sites; and U.S. Animation Studios and Production Companies. Career profiles include: Art director Character designer Effects animator Flash animator Graphic artist and graphic designer Inbetweener (cel animation) Layout artist/scene planner Motion graphics artist and motion graphics designer Production designer Software engineer Storyboard artist Visual development artist.

The work of animators has brought joy, laughter, and excitement to countless audiences ever since this lively art first flickered onto movie screens in the early 20th century. Today, classic animated characters are loved around the world and hold an honored place in American pop culture. u003cpu003eEach title in the fascinating new Legends of Animation series chronicles the life of a famous animator selected from animation''s more-than-100-year history, whose technical wizardry and creative inspiration have made him or her a legend. Emphasis is given to each animator''s professional achievements, impact on popular culture, and the innovations pioneered. Readers go behind the scenes with a discussion of the animator''s personal and educational background, early work, styles and influences, key films and television productions, origins of their characters, and much more. Included are full-color and black-and-white photographs and illustrations and further resources. Sure to interest animation fans and reluctant readers alike, this new series offers a captivating look at the world of animation.u003c\pu003e

Profiles the lives and careers of the animation team that created Tom and Jerry and a host of other beloved cartoon characters.

Profiles the life and career of the animator that created Mickey Mouse and founded the Walt Disney Company.

Showcases silent cartoons, theatrical sound cartoon series, full-length animated features, animated television specials, and television cartoon series dating from 1911 to the present.

Looks at the lives and careers of more than three hundred animators.

This is the autobiography of Larry Gatlin, lead singer of the Gatlin Brothers who, after returning to faith, found freedom, not only from drug and alcohol addiction, but also from the demons that drove him to determine his worth by the weight of his success.

An incisive portrait of the Oscar-winning actor discusses Hoffman''s outstanding film and stage career, his acting style, his personal life, and his complex and enigmatic personality

An incisive portrait of the Oscar-winning actor discusses Hoffman''s outstanding film and stage career, his acting style, his personal life, and his complex and enigmatic personality

His acting has been compared to Chaplin and Keaton, critics have lauded his music, virtuosity and his sidesplitting performances have set new standards for fun. Dudley Moore: An Informal Biography examines the life and work of this comic genius and world-famous classical pianist. Lavishly illustrated, this first-ever biography covers Moore''s long, tough climb to fame and fortune, his triumphs and failures on the British stage and BBC network, his offscreen romances and marriages, his string of box-office hits and failures and his dramatic fall from the top as Hollywood''s hottest sex symbol.