Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Sweet Seventeen

Happy 17th anniversary to my first published book, The Women Who Made Television Funny: Ten Stars of 1950s Sitcoms

I still remember the thrill (along with a little trepidation) I felt when I opened my first letter from McFarland and found a contract enclosed for my signature. (Yes, it was actual snail mail back then).

As a reader and librarian, I’d long admired the excellent books on performing arts published by McFarland. To become one of their authors was a dream come true. It was a joy to write the book, which entailed interviewing two wonderful ladies no longer with us, Gale Storm and Betty White, as well as the likes of TV notables Robert Fuller (about working with Spring Byington) and Sherwood Schwartz (about writing for Joan Davis). 

And what other publisher would not only still keep this book in print 17 years later, but have given me the opportunity to write ten more? I am one grateful author.

Monday, January 29, 2024

“A Recommended Read”


Many thanks to the distinguished film historian Stephen Michael Shearer for contributing this review of Rochelle Hudson: A Biography and Career Record.

And if you haven’t read his fine books on Patricia Neal and Hedy Lamarr, among others, what are you waiting for?