Price Break

Martha Raye: Film and Television Clown is now available at a new, lower price of $29.95. But you still get all the stories, all the films, all the photos ... all the husbands!

An Encouraging Word

After a long week of researching and writing  (I'm actually working on two books simultaneously), this was a sight for weary eyes. Thank you, Classic Images and Laura Wagner! My fellow McFarland author Derek Sculthorpe, whose books I've spotlighted in reviews on this blog, gets a well-deserved shout-out in the same column.

Keep this sort of thing up, and I just might write more books!

What James Said

Film historian James L. Neibaur has written a few books -- okay, more than a few -- about the movies and stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. He's especially noted for his expertise on classic comedy. (I consulted his book The Bob Hope Films while writing about Martha). So it was a delight to read his review of Martha Raye: Film and Television Clown, which he says "cover(s) her life and her work with insight and with detail." Thanks, Jim!

To read his full review, as well as his informed assessments of other recent performing arts books, go here.

A Raye Review

Thank you, "LA," for this Amazon customer review of Martha Raye: Film and Television Clown:

I wasn’t a Martha Raye fan before I read MARTHA RAYE: FILM AND TELEVISION CLOWN, but I come away with sympathy and admiration—AND a desire to explore her films, videos, and recordings. This is a credit to David C. Tucker’s thorough, even-handed biography [which also] includes a ... filmography, and TV episode guide. The biography is an entertaining read that describes Raye’s long entertainment career including vaudeville, film, television, and numerous USO tours. It also includes information on her up and down personal life ... The filmography and TV episode guide are thoroughly researched and meticulously detailed ... Also included are many black-and-white photos depicting all stages of Raye’s life and career. All in all, it adds up to an impressive, enjoyable book that expertly sums up the life and career of Martha Raye.

E-Martha

And here comes the eBook version of Martha Raye: Film and Television Clown! Props to Barnes & Noble for being first out of the gate, with the Nook edition now on the market; Amazon and other providers surely won't be far behind.

Power on, and happy reading!

Friday Fun with Martha

As I said in the preface to my new book on Martha Raye, I chose to focus primarily on her career as a comedienne in film and television, as opposed to her private life. Still, it's fair to say that marriage came up pretty often in the book, given her seven trips to the altar.

Just for the fun of it, see if you can guess which of those lucky gentlemen is pictured in the vintage photo at right. We'll even make it a multiple choice question. Which groom is pictured here?

a. Edward Begley
b. Nick Condos
c. Mark Harris
d. Neal Lang
e. Robert O'Shea
f. David Rose
g. Bud Westmore

Correct answer on Monday, unless someone posts it in the comments first. Have a great weekend!

She's Here!

My sixth book, Martha Raye: Film and Television Clown, has just been published by McFarland and Company. It's been a privilege to learn about this lady's fascinating life, talk to people who knew and worked with her, and have a good excuse to revisit her hilarious performances. To learn more about the book, or order your copy, please visit the publisher's website. You can also get it at Amazon, or Barnes & Noble. An eBook version isn't yet available, but it should be shortly.

If you read the book, I hope you'll drop me a line and let me know how you like it.

Oh, Boy!

Spread the word! My newest book, Martha Raye: Film and Television Clown, is only days away from publication. It's available for pre-order from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or directly from the publisher. I hope you'll enjoy exploring the life and career of this timelessly funny lady, as much as I did researching and writing it. And with the centennial of her birth only a few weeks away, what better time to pay her tribute?

The Proof is in the Pages

They're called "page proofs," and I recently received a whole bundle of them from my publisher. Once upon a time, page proofs came in a cardboard box that landed on my doorstep; now, I get an email, directing me to where I can download the images from an FTP server. They represent the last chance to correct any errors or typos in a book being readied for publication.

So if they're "proofs," what do they prove, exactly? In this case, they represent pretty compelling evidence that my book on Martha Raye should be out shortly. It's available for pre-order on Amazon and elsewhere. I hope you'll check it out.