General Hospital Store

General Hospital cast photo from ABC

 

Buy GH Merchandise here!

Click on the title to get information about the book and to buy it from Amazon. com!

These make great gifts for your favorite GH fan and help out our site, too…

In Association with Amazon.com

  • General GH Books etc.

General Hospital: The Complete Scrapbook cover
General Hospital: The Complete Scrapbook [Hardcover]

General Hospital: Night Shift - Complete First Season DVD cover

General Hospital: Night Shift – Complete First Season
3 disc DVD set – 530 minutes
DVD

Love, Honor, and Cherish cover
Love, Honor and Cherish: The Greatest Wedding Moments from All My Children, General Hospital, and One Life to Live by Gary Warner (Hardcover)

The Music of General Hospital CD cover

The Music of General Hospital (CD)
with Wally Kurth (Ned), Brad Maule (Tony), and Vanita Harbour (Dara).

The Official General Hospital Trivia Book by Gerard J. Waggett (Paperback)
The Official General Hospital Trivia Book by Gerard J. Waggett (Paperback)
Soap Opera Digest - General Hospital Turns 60 cover Soap Opera Digest – General Hospital Turns 60
General Hospital Quizzes: How Well Do You Know General Hospital? book cover General Hospital Quizzes: How Well Do You Know General Hospital? by Mr Joshua Fealing
PEOPLE General Hospital 60th Anniversary magazine cover PEOPLE General Hospital 60th Anniversary
TV GUIDE MAGAZINE - MAR. 27 / APR. 9, 2023 - GENERAL HOSPITAL HITS 60! cover TV GUIDE MAGAZINE – MAR. 27 / APR. 9, 2023 – GENERAL HOSPITAL HITS 60!

An Insider's Guide to the GH Fan Club Weekend
An Insider’s Guide to the
General Hospital Fan Club Weekend
by Katrina Rasbold

People Celebrates GH

People Celebrates General Hospital
(Hardcover) 50th Anniversary Special by the Editors of People Magazine

Daytime's Greatest Weddings: General Hospital VHS

Daytime’s Greatest Weddings: General Hospital
(September 8, 1993)
VHS

Love Affair CD
Love Affair CD
Timeless love songs performed by ABC’s stars, including GH’s Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Sonya Eddy (Epiphany), Tony Geary (Luke), and Rick Hearst (Ric).

ABC: A Holiday Affair CD

ABC: A Holiday Affair CD
Performances by GH’s Jason Thompson (Patrick) and Scott Clifton (Dillon).

Soap Dishes: The Cookbook-- Collectors Edition
Soap
Dishes: The Cookbook
GH’s Steve Burton (Jason) & Derk Cheetwood (Max), Co-Creators
Contains many recipes from 35 soap stars, including GH’s Kelly Monaco (Sam), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Drew Cheetwood (Milo), Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), Rick Hearst (ex-Ric), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane), Scott Reeves (Steve), Tyler Christopher (Nikolas), Laura Wright (Carly), and Brandon Barash (Johnny).

Hot Guys of AMC, OLTL, and GH 2009 Calendar
Hot Guys of AMC, OLTL, and GH 2009 Calendar
featuring Maurice Benard (Sonny), Jason Thompson (Patrick), Greg Vaughan (Lucky), Brandon Barash (Johnny), Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), and Steve Burton (Jason).

Carpool Guy DVD cover

Carpool Guy
Movie directed by Corbin Bernsen (John Durant), starring Bernsen, Tony Geary (Luke), Rick Hearst (Ric), Sean Kanan (ex-A.J.), Lesli Kay (ex-Lois), Sharon Case (ex-Dawn) and other soap stars!

DVD


Port Chuck Volume 2
[Audio CD]
Port Chuck Volume 1
    • Maurice Benard (Sonny)

screenshot of Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Diane (Carolyn Hennesy) on GH


The Ghost and the Whale [Amazon Video]
Maurice Benard (Sonny) May 17, 2016
Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital by Maurice Benard book cover Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital by Maurice Benard Kindle Hardback Paperback
Maurice Benard Notebook cover Maurice Benard Notebook

 

  • Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) Books

The Secret Life of Damian Spinelli [Hardcover]

The Secret Life of Damian Spinelli
[Hardcover] by Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) As the finest computer hacker in Port Charles, Spinelli has decided to put his talent to good use as a private detective.
Here are his tales of intrigue, kidnapping, murder, and more.


Pandora Gets Greedy
[Hardcover] (The Mythic Misadventures) by Carolyn Hennesy (Diane)


Pandora Gets Angry
[Paperback] by Carolyn Hennesy (Diane)


Pandora Gets Heart
[Paperback] by Carolyn Hennesy (Diane)


Pandora Gets Vain
[Paperback] by Carolyn Hennesy (Diane)


Pandora Gets Lazy
[Paperback] by Carolyn Hennesy (Diane)


Pandora Gets Jealous
[Hardcover] by Carolyn Hennesy (Diane)
Pandora Gets Frightened cover Pandora Gets Frightened  by Carolyn Hennesy (Diane)
A Snow White Christmas key art A Snow White Christmas Starring: Michelle Randolph, Carolyn Hennesy, Liam McNeill, et al.
  • Michael Easton (Finn/Silas/John) Books

Michael Easton (Finn/Silas/John) from his site


Credence [Paperback] by Michael Easton April 1, 2014


Soul Stealer: The Collector’s Edition
[Hardcover] by Michael Easton  February 1, 2014
The Green Woman (Hardcover) The Green Woman (Hardcover) by Peter Straub, Michael Easton and John Bolton
18 Straight Whiskeys paperback by Michael Easton (cover) Eighteen Straight Whiskeys Paperback by Michael Easton
  • Rick Springfield (ex-Noah/Eli) CDs

Rick Springfield (ex-Noah/Eli) on GH from his site



An Affair of the Heart
[DVD] [2-disc Blu-ray] Documentary film by Rick Springfield & Sylvia Caminer


Magnificent Vibration: A Novel
[Hardcover] by Rick Springfield

Rick Springfield: Live in Rockford

Rick Springfield: Live in Rockford
 DVDFeaturing 17 of his greatest hits including “Jessie’s Girl” as well as bonus material.

Rick Springfield CD
Rick
Springfield – The Day After Yesterday
Late, Late at Night by Rick Springfield cover Late, Late at Night by Rick Springfield (Hardcover)
Original Album Classics CD Box Set Rick Springfield Original Album Classics CD Box Set
Working Class Dog: 40th Anniversary Special Live Edition Working Class Dog: 40th Anniversary Special Live Edition
Springfield - Deluxe Edition CD Springfield – Deluxe Edition CD
Extended Play, Reissued, Extra Tracks, Remastered
Mission Magic CD Mission Magic CD
Rick Springfield - Greatest Hits Rick Springfield – Greatest Hits
Nick Knight (movie) Nick Knight (movie) Prime DVD
Ricki and the Flash (movie) Ricki and the Flash (movie)

Prime DVD  Blu-Ray

Rick Springfield - To The Beat of the Live Drum Rick Springfield – To The Beat of the Live Drum

Prime  DVD

Confessions of a Rick Springfield Fan Paperback by Michele L. Mathews cover Confessions of a Rick Springfield Fan Paperback by Michele L. Mathews

Buy more Rick Springfield Merchandise on his site!

 

  • Sean Kanan (ex-AJ)

Sean Kanan as AJ on GH and now

Way of the Cobra: Unleash Your Inner Badass book cover Way of the Cobra: Unleash Your Inner Badass (Paperback) by Sean Kanan (Author), Michele Kanan (Editor), and Jason Gonzalez (Illustrator)
The Modern Gentleman: Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan book cover The Modern Gentleman: Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan (Paperback)
Success Factor X: Inspiration, Wisdom, and Advice from 50 of America's Best book cover Success Factor X: Inspiration, Wisdom, and Advice from 50 of America’s Best (Hardcover) by Jill Liberman and Sean Kanan (Author)
Studio City on Prime Video Studio City starring Sean Kanan (AJ), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane), Tristan Rogers (Robert), Sarah Joy Brown (Carly) and Lilly Melgar (Lily)
  • Thaao Penghlis (ex-Victor)

DAYS OF OUR LIVES -- “Day of Days” -- Pictured: Thaao Penghlis at the Xbox Plaza at L.A. Live on November 12, 2022 -- (Photo by: Todd Williamson/Peacock)


Places: The Journey of My Days, My Lives
by Thaao Penghlis (ex-Victor)
Paperback

Kindle Edition
July 15, 2014
Seducing Celebrities One Meal at a Time Hardcover by Thaao Penghlis book cover Seducing Celebrities One Meal at a Time (Hardcover) by Thaao Penghlis
  • Adrienne Barbeau (ex-Suzanne)

There Are Worse Things I Could Do book cover

There Are Worse Things I Could Do
by Adrienne Barbeau (Suzanne)

Love Bites [Hardcover]

Love Bites
[Hardcover] by Adrienne Barbeau (Suzanne)

Vampyres of Hollywood [Paperback]

Vampyres of Hollywood
[Paperback] by Adrienne Barbeau (Suzanne)
  • Other GH stars

Anna Lee: Memoir of a Career on General Hospital and in Film (Paperback)

Anna Lee: Memoir of a Career on General Hospital and in Film
(Paperback) by Barbara
Cooper.   Email the author at PenInc1@aol.com

Amazon Prime Video: Marc Anthony Samuel (Felix) and Kathleen Gati (Obrecht) star in “Ladies of the Lake” and the sequel, “Ladies of the Lake: Return to Avalon.”


Miles Away
[Paperback] by Anthony Montgomery (ex-AndrĂŠ)May 28, 2013


Girl Go Home
[Audio CD] by Scott Clifton (ex-Dillon)January 27, 2015

Main Squeeze
Maine Squeeze (Kindle Edition) by GH’s Molly Lansing-Davis

Love in Maine

Love in Maine
(Paperback) by GH’s Connie Falconeri


Baby, It’s Cold Outside
[Audio CD] Jen Lilley (ex-Maxie, GH) & Eric Martsolf (Brady, Days)

Radio Cinematic CD

Radio Cinematic
[CD] By Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky) & Enation


How We Got Away With It
(DVD) Jon Lindstrom (Kevin) directs and stars (or watch it on
Amazon Instant Video
)

Dead Extra (Episode 1 of 6) (A Liberty Strong Series) [Kindle Edition] by Michael Saucedo (ex-Juan)

Robin's Diary by Claire Labine, Judith Pinsker (Paperback)
Robin’s Diary by Claire Labine, Judith Pinsker (Paperback)

Luke and Laura, Vol. 1: Lovers on the Run VHS

Luke and Laura, Vol. 1: Lovers on the Run

VHS

Luke & Laura Vol.2:Greatest Love of (1994) VHS cover

Luke & Laura Vol.2:Greatest Love of (1994)

VHS

Undisputed III: Redemption DVD cover

Undisputed III: Redemption

DVD
Movie starring Mykel Shannon Jenkins (ex-Officer Murphy)

On the Brink of Bliss and Insanity (Paperback)

On the Brink of Bliss and Insanity
(Paperback) by Lisa Cerasoli (ex-V.)A novel about Annie, a self-deprecating, authentically-raw, 28-year-old who freefalls from an all-time low to rock bottom.

Greatest Hits? 1993-2010
Greatest Hits? 1993-2010 Kurth & Taylor CDFeaturing Wally Kurth (ex-Ned)

Live Kurth & Taylor CD
Live Kurth & Taylor CD Featuring Wally Kurth (ex-Ned)

I’m Not Done With U Yet [MP3 Music]
by Ilene Kristen (Delia)

Daytime's Greatest Weddings DVD cover

Daytime’s Greatest Weddings
 
DVD

Jacob Young CD

Jacob Young
CD (ex-Lucky)

Palo Alto Stories [Hardcover]

Palo Alto Stories
[Hardcover]
by James Franco (Franco)

Keeper of the Wind cover
Keeper of the Wind  (Paperback) by Charlotte Boyett-Compo
The heroine of this saga is based on Vanessa Marcil (Brenda)

35 Daytime Stars One Scandalous Secret

 

Also check out our stores for Various Soaps, All My Children, Another World, As the World Turns, Bold & the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, Guiding Light, One Life to Live, Passions, Port Charles, The Young and the Restless, & Primetime!

We get nothing from the sale of the items below, and we have no idea if they all are still for sale or not. Please let us know if you find that one is not working or is no longer for sale. Thanks!

Search here for posters for GH actors Jack Wagner, James Franco, Elizabeth Taylor, John Franco, Richard Dean Anderson, Ricky Martin and more!

Click here for your favorite eBay items  Search Ebay for General Hospital collectibles!

Buy CD’s and DVD’s of Jen Lilley (ex-Maxie) music and movies on iTunes

Buy the GH 2014 Nurses’ Ball Soundtrack on iTunes

Ingo Rademacher (ex-Jax) and his Hawaiian wife, Ehiku, sell colorful, original Mahiku Activewear at http://www.mahiku.com/.

Tony Geary movie

Amsterdam: On the move with Anthony Geary (ex-Luke) [DVD]

To purchase a 25-minute whirlwind tour of Amsterdam (Tony’s adopted Dutch city), send a $20 money order to Jim Warren, PO Box 3555, Hollywood, CA 90078.

 

The Stafford Project

The Stafford Project: Season One [DVD]
by Michelle Stafford (Nina)

 

 

 

Wally Kurth (Justin, Days; ex-Ned, GH) and Christian Taylor have released their first new song in five years. An homage to Kurth’s home state of Montana, “Big Sky Country” features their trademark harmonies over a bed of electric and acoustic guitars. The tagline of the chorus, “The Last Best Place You Can Find,” is Montana’s state tourism slogan. It’s available as a digital download on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby. View a lyric video on YouTube, featuring historical concert footage of the band’s more than 20 years of live performances as well as footage of Kurth shot in Montana.

Some of the offers below may not still be available…we don’t know, sorry! If you find a bad link or an offer has gone, please let us know.

In celebration of GH’s 50th anniversary, ABC has released prints capturing iconic moments from past decades, including the 50th anniversary cast photo at http://officialabcprints.com/.

See excerpts and order the book “YOU (and Me!) at the General Hospital Fan Club Weekend” by Katrina Rasbold. It’s an insider’s guide to surviving the GH Fan Club Weekend without making an ass of yourself and getting talked about like a dog all over the Internet.

Shades of ElvisShades of Elvis: John Stamos (ex-Blackie), Rick Springfield (Noah) and many other celebrities are in this photo book!

Brandon Barash (Johnny) takes beautiful photographs, which he sells on his website http://www.brandonbarashphotography.com

Candles made by Chad Brannon’s wife, Carly. Chad played Zander on GH.

General Hospital music – Fundraiser CD!
Title of CD: “Stretch Productions: The Answer”
Part of EACH sale goes to ACD research. Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia is a rare & fatal infant lung disease. (This is a great CD for anyone who is a ‘General Hospital’ or a ‘Kurth & Taylor Band’ fan! This is a compilation CD- and there is also a song given to us from the wedding episode from TLC’s ‘The Duggars: 19 Kids & Counting’.)
Wally Kurth & Christian Taylor are very popular from ABC’s ‘General Hospital’ and gave 3 songs to be used on this compilation fundraising CD. (Christian Taylor has been faithfully working with us since 2006, and is really behind this project.)
Over the years, these songs became very popular from the show but were not commercially recorded until now. Track #1 – “The Answer”, Track #2 – “Only One I Love”, & Track #7 – “Let It Go”.
You will be very uplifted by this music, and will be helping out a very worthy cause at the same time! The Kurth and Taylor Band are playing on the CD. We provided the singers but they are playing the music.
You can hear clips and order downloads here:  ITunes  And you can also order a physical CD through our website (I can mail anyplace in the world- just be sure to either click on “USA” or “International” when you order!) Also, let me know if you want to put a few CDs in a store- and I’ll give you the wholesale price. – Cami McCraw

Maurice Benard & Steve Burton Photo BooksMaurice Benard & Steve Burton Photo Books
New pocket-size photo books with over 40 pages of the best of Steve Burton and Maurice Benard, printed in the USA. Many never before seen photos, more than half in full color, as well as actor favorites, all taken by Jim Warren.

Brandon Barash Photography
Photos that Barash (ex-Johnny) takes and sells for charity.

Enation -- The Future is a Memory: Live from the Northwest

ENATION — The Future is a Memory: Live from the Northwest
Download Album (MP3)
Released: 2009

Featuring Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky)

Benefiting the Desi Geestman Foundation, which provides financial and emotional support to young cancer victims and their families, Steve Burton (GH’s Jason) & Derk Cheetwood (GH’s Max) have co-created “Soap Dishes:  The Cookbook,” featuring 35 of your favorite daytime soap opera stars who have come together with their most delicious recipes on over 200 pages with exclusive intimate interviews that will take you through a behind the scenes look at the private lives of your favorite actors with gorgeous color photos. To pre-order this special hardcover collectible first-run edition for $39.95, click here.  The estimated ship date is between November 15 and December 1.

ABC is releasing some favorite songs from GH that mirror the storylines of the show about undying love, heartbreak, lust, and loss. Some of the songs which have been themes for couples are: “Ours to Keep” (Jason and Elizabeth), “So Right” (Luke and Tracy), “Patience” (Jax and Carly), “Something About You” (Lulu and Logan), “Just Close Your Eyes” (Nikolas and Nadine), and “One Thing On My Mind” (Ric and Claudia).  Log on to www.abc.com/daytime, www.generalhospital.com or www.itunes.com to buy each song for $.99 starting December 15.

Book coverPublicist Tommy Garrett, who represented General Hospital’s Anna Lee (ex-Lila)  and still represents Constance Towers (Helena) and many other TV and film stars, wrote the book, “The Making of Hollywood Stars.”  Get the gossip on your favorite stars!  Tommy Lightfoot Garrett, the author of “So, You Want To Be In Pictures: The Making Of Hollywood Idols, also wrote his second in a series of four tell-all books. Titled “The Making Of Hollywood Stars,” this tome from the press agent/television and radio show host ties the biggest performers of today to their counterparts of yesteryear. Included amongst the list of Tinseltown A-listers are daytime celebrities:  Las Vegas’ Josh Duhamel (ex-Leo, AMC), Susan Flannery (Stephanie, B&B), Ingo Rademacher (Jax, GH), and Cameron Mathison (Ryan, AMC). “Mathison is a star. He’s handsome and talented. But I think people would be shocked to know that his almost Canadian blue blood breeding makes him one of the most genuine and interesting people I have ever worked with,” Garrett relates. “Dancing his heart out on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars is a dream come true for him… he’s come a long way from being a disabled child in a leg brace.” The Making Of Hollywood Stars, which retails for $16.95, is available from http://www.wastelandpress.com, http://www.amazon.com, and retail.

Stretch Productions in Texas records some of the Kurth & Taylor music (Wally Kurth, Ned of GH, is half of this duo). There are several versions of “Only One I Love” available (a beautiful song!), and one new release of the duet “The Answer”, which was written by Christian Taylor for Wally Kurth’s wedding. The CD is only 5.00 USA dollars. You can send a message to the following website for ordering details: http://www.myspace.com/stretchproductions  -and to hear the songs before you order a CD: http://www.myspace.com/rebekahnjordan  -and to see the video of “The Answer”: http://video.yahoo.com/video/profile?sid=1869381

Buy a T-shirt with an almost-naked Jason Thompson (Patrick) to help fight skin cancer:  http://www.ghfanclub.com/indextshirt.html

Stretch Productions in Texas records some of the Kurth & Taylor music (Wally Kurth, Ned of GH, is half of this duo). There are several versions of “Only One I Love” available (a beautiful song!), and one new release of the duet “The Answer”, which was written by Christian Taylor for Wally Kurth’s wedding. The CD is only 5.00 USA dollars. You can send a message to the following website for ordering details: http://www.myspace.com/stretchproductions  and to hear the songs before you order a CD: http://www.myspace.com/rebekahnjordan  and to see the video of “The Answer”: http://video.yahoo.com/video/profile?sid=1869381

Download Rie Sinclair songs played on GH and GH: Nightshift!

Scott Clifton (ex-Dillon) has released a CD, UNTITLED. To order, send $16.95 (check or money order payable to Brother Wolfe Inc.) for U.S. orders or $17.95 in Canada to UNTITLED c/o Jeff Pescetto Music, P.O. Box 1781, Agoura Hills, CA 91376, or visit http://www.scottclifton.com/Music.html

GH Nurses’ Ball Soundtrack! 2 CDs! 1994-2000! Complete collection of songs (and a couple speeches) from all Nurse’s Balls. Custom made compilation! Choose the tracks you want included. 39 tracks to choose from. (Future Nurse’s Ball tracks will be sold at discount for those who buy first set). Price: $22 (includes shipping costs). May accept trades! http://www.angelfire.com/mi3/GeneralHospitalPage/cd.html

Daytime Treasures

Buy Ricky Martin and other calendars  cal_rickymartin_full.jpg (85862 bytes)

So Love Returns

So Love Returns–  new indie movie based on Robert Nathan’s book of the same name. Nathan was Anna Lee’s husband and the film was made by relatives of Suzanne, our president/founder.

 

1. A bunch of the actors contributed recipes to a charity “cuisine recipe card collection” for raising breast cancer awareness. Brad Maule (Tony) also created the artwork for the cover of the collection. You can order them by sending $20.00 to Promotion Management Network, 1125 Lindero Canyon Rd. Suite A8229, Westlake Village, CA 91362. California residents must add sales tax.

2. Here’s a special you might be interested in:
“As you know GH has been using Janis Ian’s song “When Angels Cry” in key scenes when Stone died. We’d like to introduce as many GH fans to Janis’ new album Revenge as possible. We’d like to offer a giveaway to fans – which is buy a copy of Revenge, send us the receipt and we’ll give you a free cassette copy of the record to give to a friend. If you’re interested, give me a call 213. 653. 4269. or you can Email me at Chevy1994 @ AOL. Com I hope to hear from you. Thank you, Len Fico – Beacon Records, Ltd.”

6. Brad Maule has two albums, “Living it Up” and “Chameleon”, and a video 1-800-964-brad

7. videos: Luke and Laura I: Lovers on the Run, Luke and Laura II: The Greatest Love of All, GH’s Greatest Weddings, and Daytimes’ Most Wanted: Men of Passion $14.95 or 3/$34.95 Premeire Marketing P.O. Box 2284 South Burlington, VT 05407 1-800-225-5222

8. Steve Burton autographed poster $10.00 + $2.00 S&H Red Star 3555 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90078

9. The High Lonesome album “Feel Free to Do So” $13.98 – CD, $9.98 – cassette 1-800-653-7720 or Spark Records 8391 Beverly Blvd. Suite 252 Los Angeles, CA 90048

10. Kurth and Taylor album Awareness Records P.O. Box 7401 255 Studio City, CA 91604 $12.00/$9.00 + $2.00 S&H

11. Prepaid phone cards:

b. Brad Maule’s: Personal Calling Card with messages from him 5 min. of phone usage and proceeds go to the Brad Maule Scholarship for Fine Arts $5.00 each or 2/$8.00. Brad Maule Fan Club C/O Eileen Bengelsdorf 1658 Tahoe Circle Dr. Wheeling, IL 60090

12. Ashenafi Senait’s (ex-Keesha) Egyptian Goddess skin and hair care products; botanically-based. Free color brochure: 1-800-987-9999

13. GH Snowglobes. See your favorite character’s photo inside a snowglobe!  Turn upside down & back again to see the snow(glitter) fall! Really Cute.  $15.00 plus shipping/handling. E-mail me to place your order or if you have questions….. MManx @worldnet.att.net. (Can also make custom globes with your favorite photo!)

Back to the Main GH Page

 

Jackie Zeman, Blake Coleman, Rick Hearst and John J. York of "General Hospital" on ABC

Review of “James Cagney Was My Babysitter”

TV Book Review!

"James Cagney Was My Babysitter" by Ryan Cassidy book cover

Review of “James Cagney Was My Babysitter” by Suzanne 3/3/23

This is a cute children’s book that any child should love, but especially those who enjoy stories about fairies, elves, animals, etc. or those who are in need of a little encouragement.

Ryan, Shaun and David Cassidy - photo from a fan pageThe book, co-written by Ryan Cassidy (son of Shirley Jones, brother of David, Shaun and Patrick Cassidy), is about how he visited the late and legendary actor James Cagney as a boy when his father left him there one afternoon. Cagney and his wife baby-sat Ryan when his dad, actor/singer Jack Cassidy, was called away. Although he was nervous about being there with the big movie star, he soon found that Cagney was a wonderful man with a lot of imagination and love for animals.  This book was written about that visit.

The forward was written by his mom, Shirley Jones. When I was a child, I loved watching her act and sing in movies, like “The Music Man,” “Oklahoma,” and “Carousel.” I was also  a great fan of her and David in the TV show “The Partridge Family.” Later, she played John Black’s grandmother on “Days of Our Lives.” I’ve seen Ryan’s other brothers in many shows as well. Shaun Cassidy (most famous for starring in “The Hardy Boys” when I was in high school) played Dusty on “General Hospital” in 1987 (I’ve been watching that show since 1984). I was a huge David Cassidy fan and had his photo on my wall. I saw him perform twice in Las Vegas, too. I’ve seen Patrick Cassidy in many TV shows over the years. The whole family did a fun show called “Ruby and the Rockets” in 2009. Of course, I also saw many of James Cagney’s movies on late night TV when I was growing up. He was pretty amazing.

I’m glad to read this book and help introduce it to others. If you have children, nephews, grandchildren, etc. this would make a wonderful gift for them.

MORE INFORMATION:

The Cassidy Family - from Patrick Cassidy's Instagram

Born into a powerhouse Hollywood family, RYAN CASSIDY, the youngest son of SHIRLEY JONES and JACK CASSIDY, was surrounded by the glitz and glam of Tinseltown from a young age. From his time on The Partridge Family set, to spending time with famous friends of his parents, he was used to being around actors. But having legendary Hollywood actor JAMES CAGNEY babysit him is a memory that still sticks with him even today. James Cagney accepts the 2nd AFI Life Achievement Award (1974). From YouTube
“My husband Jack and I remained friends with [James] and his dear wife, Billie, all through the years,” Shirley Jones says. “We once invited them to our house for drinks and dinner, and that evening Jimmy rolled back the rug in our den and performed all the dance numbers from Yankee Doodle Dandy! He was such a spirit.”
Encouraged by the impact the story of his afternoon with Cagney had on his own daughter, Ryan shares it in his sweet children’s book James Cagney Was My Babysitter [GoodKnight Books, March 14, 2023]. With a Foreword and Afterword by SHIRLEY JONES, and co-written with noted Partridge Family biographer JOHNNY RAY MILLER, it’s the tender tale of how in one afternoon away from the pressures of a perfectionist father, a shy 7-year-old falls under the spell of a wonderful babysitter who made him feel special. Hours later, he leaves an enthusiastic young man who’s infused with self-confidence and ready for life’s next adventure.
Perfect for both children who need a bit of encouragement as well as grandparents hoping to tap into the nostalgia of a bygone era, the book appeals to audiences of all ages with its whimsical illustrations and powerful messages: using your imagination throughout your life, cultivating meaningful friendships even as a child, and connecting and engaging with the world around you in an impactful way.
About the Authors Ryan Cassidy and Johnny Ray Miller

 

Buy the book here!

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

Back to the Main Reviews Page

The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

Young James Cagney (photo from TCM)

Interview with William B. Davis

TV Interview!

 

William B. Davis, author, actor, director and more!

Interview with William B. Davis of “Upload” on Amazon by Suzanne 4/13/22

It was great to speak with Bill again, this time about a new book. I interviewed him 12 years ago about his first book. Most of us know him well as the Cigarette Smoking Man (CSM) on “The X-Files,” but he’s been in many scifi and other shows, including the current series “Upload” on Amazon where he plays the villainous David Choak. I love this show and can’t wait to see more.

He is very candid. Watch the video – he tells whether he thinks there will be more “X-FIles” or not, and why, whom he keeps in contact with from X-Files, why there are fewer episodes of “Upload” in season 2, and about the future of that show.

 

MORE INFO:

On Acting... and Life by William B. DavisOn Acting …and life, the new book by Acclaimed Actor/Director/Author William B. Davis will be released on May 3, 2022

Best known as the Cigarette Smoking Man on TV’s The X-Files William’s book is part memoir and part master class

For immediate release: Acclaimed award-winning actor William B. Davis, best known as the Cigarette Smoking Man on TV’s The X-Files, is pleased to announce that his second book ‘On Acting …and life will be released on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.  With over 135 IMDb credits and not one to slow down, William’s current roles include the villain David Choak in Uploadnow airing on Amazon. He can also be seen in the upcoming Netflix TV series from Mike Flanagan entitled The Midnight Club. This fall Davis will play a major role in Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land on stage in Vancouver, BC.

About the Book: 

Dozens of books on acting exist, but none of them are quite like this. Part memoir and part master class, modeled after Stephen King’s bestseller, On Writing, the book is divided into two parts. 

Part one takes readers on a seventy-year journey that begins with William B. Davis, at age twelve, riding his bicycle through the streets of Toronto to his first acting classes, and eventually leads to him starring in the long-running television series, The X-Files, starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. From a summer theatre in Ontario to the National Theatre of Great Britain to the National Theatre School of Canada to the William Davis Centre for Actors’ Study in Vancouver, few have traveled such a colorful journey. Along the way, Davis met all sorts of familiar faces, including Donald Sutherland, Brian Cox, Albert Finney, Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, David Duchovny, and Gillian Anderson, among others. 

Although there is a lot about acting in part one, the heart of the book for an aspiring or working actor is in part two. What has Davis learned in seventy years of working both in the theatre and in film and television? A lot, as you will see. Davis’s grasp of the art of acting is vast and practical. And in some ways, original.

In his final chapter, Davis explores the underlying philosophy of acting and actor training and argues for bringing the work into the twenty-first century.

Praise for On Acting …and life.

“This book celebrates a lifetime’s passion and commitment to the mysterious realm of acting. It’s not a tale of fame, fortune, and gossip, but instead, it documents the twists and turns of an artist’s determined engagement with making and sustaining a career in Canada for over sixty years. It’s a history lesson and an inspiration, reminding the discouraged actor that you never know what’s coming round the corner so be prepared and keep the faith. The discussion of what makes for good acting is a wealth of practical, clear advice, mined and honed in decades of devoted exploration as an actor, director, and teacher. Gold!”  Rosemary Dunsmore (Award-winning Actor, Director, and Acting teacher)

“Before he was my cigarette smoking nemesis for over 25 years before he incarnated one of TV’s great villains, William Davis was an acting teacher. It’s not true that those who can’t do, teach because Bill can do both. And he can write. Like all good teachers, the wisdom and stories that Bill elaborates upon in his book are really lessons about life. It’s possible you will become a better actor after reading Bill; it’s also possible you will become a better person. For fans of The X-Files or just people who enjoy listening to a no-nonsense craftsman and lifer talk about his craft with none of the usual humble-brag or sensational Hollywood bullshit.”  David Duchovny (Novelist and Star of The X-Files)

“Bill Davis’s ‘On Acting’ is a fascinating tapestry of a life dedicated not only to the Art, but also to a deeper philosophical grasp of our work. Bill chronicles a highly personal journey that is founded in the search for a truth that truly illuminates the mystery of our craft!”  Brian Cox (Bafta Award Winner and Star of Succession)

“Bill’s vast experience, on stage, screen and as a teacher is more than impressive, it’s a rarity in our culture of instant fame. I cast him as a villain 30 years ago, but little did I know he’d always played to win.”  Chris Carter (Creator of The X-Files)

About the Author:

After decades of working as a theatre director and actor in Canada, the UK, and the US, William B. Davis rose to prominence as the Cigarette Smoking Man on TV’s The X-Files. Besides appearing in numerous other TV shows and movies, most recently, Upload and Midnight Club, Davis also founded his own acting school, the William Davis Centre for Actors’ Study. 

Davis has written one other book, a memoir entitled Where There’s Smoke . . . The Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man. He lives in Vancouver, B.C., with his wife, Emmanuelle Davis. 

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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William B. Davis in "Upload" on Prime

Interview with Leslie Lehr

TV Interview!

Leslie Lehr, author of "A Boob's Life: How America's Obsession Shaped Me―and You"

Interview with author Leslie Lehr of “A Boob’s Life: How America’s Obsession Shaped Me―and You” (soon to be a TV series on HBO Max) by Suzanne 2/11/21

It was so great to speak with Leslie! We had a fun chat.  Salma Hayek will be making her book into a TV series for HBO Max. As you can tell from the interview, she is quite passionate about her book. I haven’t read it yet, but it sounds great.

We started out talking about the weather because it’s been very cold here in Arkansas (and this was before we got a foot of snow!).

Suzanne: It doesn’t usually get or stay this cold like it’s been lately.

Leslie: Oh no, I’m so sorry. Well, you have to come visit me when the pandemic is over.

Suzanne: Yeah. Where are you located?

Leslie: I’m in California.

Suzanne: I’m actually from San Diego, so it kind of ruined me for living anywhere else.

Leslie: San Diego is like always 42 degrees; it’s perfect. How did you get from San Diego to Arkansas?

Suzanne: Well, I moved around a lot for my husband’s jobs. I haven’t actually lived in San Diego since 1982.

Leslie: Oh, I was there then.

Suzanne: Oh, yeah?

Leslie: Yeah. Oh, my gosh.

Suzanne: Are you from there?

Leslie: No, I changed colleges a couple times and went down there for a year. It was the best place I’ve ever lived, for sure.

Suzanne: Yeah, it’s nice. Which college did you go to down there?

Leslie: Actually, I came from Ohio. I was mad at my dad. If you have the book, you’ll see; I used my boobs to get out of going and then came to California.

So, I started at UCLA, and I ended up at USC film school, but in between, I took a quarter off and then moved to San Diego with a boyfriend and then ended up going to San Diego State for, I guess, maybe a year, not quite a year probably. I lived on the beach, and it was fabulous.

Suzanne: Oh, that’s nice.

Leslie: And I went back up to LA for film school.

Suzanne: My husband went to State briefly, and he ended up going to UCSD and graduated from there.

Leslie: There’re some great schools down there. San Diego State, actually, they had one of the big, you know, women in film study things that was after me, but I definitely took some great classes there. It’s known as a party school, but they had a great telecommunications [department]. Although this one TV teacher, I remember he said, “You’re never going to make it, blah, blah, blah. So, that was the day I applied to film school and went back to LA. It’s like, this guy’s a loser; I’m out.

Suzanne: Oh, no.  Did you have a house on the beach?

Leslie: I shared an apartment with three other girls on the beach. Actually, there’s a story in the book…two had really big boobs. One had really big boobs and then got a reduction…It was on Mission Beach. That was so nice.

Now I’ve been down there, because my daughter lived there a little bit a couple of years ago. She lived there for a year. Now it’s all bars and restaurants. In ‘82 certainly it was much more of a little beach town.

Suzanne: Yeah, that whole Southern California area has has been built up so much over the last twenty, thirty years.

Leslie: Yeah, it’s kind of sad, because you can’t get a new beach place. I remember, Hooters was just being built when I left. It might have been there when you were there. No, it’s this big giant double decker bar.

Suzanne: Actually, speaking of both boobs and warm weather, before we lived here, we lived in Honolulu for three years.

Leslie: Oh, my gosh. Wow.

Suzanne: It was very expensive, but they paid my husband well, fortunately. But we used to go down to the Hooters – we lived downtown near Chinatown – it was the only sports bar in the area, and if you wanted to watch mainland sports, you had to go really early in the morning…They served breakfast and stuff.

Leslie: Did the girls with the low cut tops serve breakfast, or did they have different uniforms then?

Suzanne: No, I think they served breakfast. I think they wore the same thing. It was it was funny, because it was a lot of his students.

Leslie: Oh, great! [laughs]

Suzanne: You can’t really leer at your students! Not that he’s the leering type anyway…

Leslie: That’s so funny. Did you just wear a bikini the whole time you were there?

Suzanne: No, I’m not a bikini type.

Leslie: Yeah, I like one pieces too.

Suzanne: It’s funny, even though I grew up in San Diego and lived in Hawaii, I did not go in the ocean or the water that much.

Leslie: Those are probably the two places in the country that aren’t totally shark infested like Florida, and the water’s warm. If you’re not going to go in there, then you’re just not going to go in.

Suzanne: I love the ocean. I like the beach. I just like having it there more than actually going in.

Leslie: I hear you. I was a swimmer, and I live about a mile and a half from the beach now, and I go down and I always think, “Oh, I’m gonna go swimming.” I see people swimming, and I was just curious all my life, but I really don’t want to be in the water as much as I want to look at it. So, I hear you. I like to walk and look at the ocean and look at the dolphins. When you’re under water, you can’t really see much.

Suzanne: Yeah, and we used to like going down to Waikiki and sitting in an nice outdoor bar having dinner and drinks, listening to the ocean and that kind of thing.

Leslie: Exactly. My mom loves the Pink Hotel.

Suzanne: Oh, yeah, it’s crazy.

Leslie: That’s where she wants to be, her ashes scattered when she dies. It’s like, “Okay, mom. That’s fine we’ll do that; we can do that.” [laughs]

Suzanne: If you ever get back there, there’s a great restaurant called Top of Waikiki. It’s got a revolving restaurant, and it looks right down on all of that. It’s beautiful from up there.

Leslie: Oh my gosh. Well, as soon as the pandemic’s over, I’ll put that on the top of my list.

Suzanne: I mean, I’m not saying it’s a great restaurant food-wise. It’s okay food-wise.

Leslie: They probably have good pu-pu. We went to place that was named Dukes. That was near the Pink Hotel. Oh, man, now, I really want to go on vacation.

Suzanne: I know what you mean. I’ve wanted to go back there ever since we moved here.

Leslie: Yeah. Well, you would think he would want to do that too, just to visit.

Suzanne: Yeah, he does. It’s just… he’s an administrator, so finding the time to go back there, especially now with the pandemic, of course…it’s crazy.

Leslie: Of course, yeah.

Suzanne: We probably would have gone if not for the pandemic this year.

Leslie: We actually went to [Hawaii] last February. I had been working on the book, and my husband is also a writer, and we were so busy we didn’t go anywhere during holidays at all. So, we went on a vacation around Valentine’s Day but not actually on it; it’s too expensive then. So, we were lucky to have been in Hawaii right before the [pandemic]. Now we’ve been home, and I was like, “Thank God, at least went on a vacation.”

Suzanne: Yeah.

Leslie: We were on the Big Island, I think.

Suzanne: Oh, that’s nice. Yeah, actually we never went to the Big Island, [laughs] but we were only there three years, you know?

Leslie: Three years is a lot, though.

Suzanne: You would think. I don’t know. It’s island time; that’s different.

Leslie: That’s true. There’s a Thai restaurant. In fact, I say to my husband, “We need to get take out [from] this Thai restaurant,” and it’s a little bit of a drive that even with the pandemic, you go, you pick up your boxes, and they have a TV that, I don’t know why, but it only plays a surf channel. It’s always so relaxing. It’s people surfing in Hawaii. They have it on a loop. It’s so fun to watch.

Pre-Order Leslie’s Book here!

Suzanne: That is cool.   When did you decide to write this book, and how long did it take you?

Leslie: I actually had no intention of ever writing a book about boobs, until the moment I realized that I could track my whole life by how I felt about my boobs, and I wasn’t the only one.

I mean, every morning, every woman gets up and has to do something with their boobs. It’s a pretty common experience, but I got out the shower one night, and my boobs were crooked, and I was so mad. We had just moved to this really cool place, and we were going to have a date night. There were still boxes and everywhere. I was a couple years out of breast cancer, which was horrific. I’d had my boobs redone a bunch of times, and they were so crooked. I was so mad that my husband accused me of being obsessed. I thought, “No way, I’m a girl. No way could I be obsessed with breasts; that’s just wrong.” So, he said, “Just calm down.” I wanted to call my plastic surgeon and [be] like, “Fix them,” which kind of troubled me, that I felt like that, because I’d always considered myself a feminist.

Then, he had taped the last week of David David Letterman’s The Late Show, and David Letterman had all these stars on. I mean, he was this famous guy, thirty eight years on TV, and he was known as the intellectual guy. So, what does he do on one of the most watched episodes of his entire TV career? He tells a big joke.

So, my husband and I looked at each other, and it was like, “I am not the only one who’s obsessed.” This is totally not my fault, but it was really troubling. And date night was off. He went to sleep.

I started unpacking boxes, and I saw this picture of one of my favorite pictures I had. It was the first one I took out. It’s this old picture. It’s actually in the book, and it’s of me and my sister and my mom. I was three, and we’re all wearing red bikinis, and for me and my sister, who was one, there are these tiny red strips of fabric. I remember, I always laugh and look at the picture, because my sister could not keep the fabric [covering] her nipple, because she was, you know, one or something, but I thought it was the funniest thing. Then I realized, “Oh, my gosh, at three years old, I knew that nipples were taboo,” and that said something about the culture.

So, I kind of was like being a detective. First of all, I wanted to prove to my husband, A, that I wasn’t obsessed, or B, that it was okay, because everyone was obsessed, and then I wanted to know why. So, I went through, and I did a whole lot of research and went through my whole life, and I realized that I could connect all the dots of my life from when I was a little girl wanting breasts, a teenage girl wanting bigger breasts to be a cheerleader. My dad had Playboy. Then in college, you know, having breasts meant you were pretty. Then, if you then went [to get] a job, you had to hide your breasts to look professional, you know, and then having a babies and getting big breasts that were gorgeous for breastfeeding, and then having them so ugly and saggy that my mom called me deformed. After I got a divorce, she wanted me to get a boob job, because she thought I’d be lonely without breasts. Then eventually, I got a new job a couple years later, completely unrelated, and I did feel more confident, because that’s how the culture was. It really did make me feel more like a woman.

Then I got breast cancer, and it’s like I did all this, and still they weren’t perfect. And I realized that 300,000 women a year get breast augmentation. It’s the most popular elective surgeries. The same amount of women get breast cancer every year. It’s like, breasts can feed our babies; they can kill us. I could see my whole life now, as according to my breasts.

I looked for other books that covered this. I mean, breasts literally turn blood into milk, and there is not a medical specialty. Here in Oregon, by definition, there’s no medical specialty about breasts. There are books on breast cancer, books on breastfeeding, and, of course, if you google “boobs,” you’ll find porn. If you google “breasts,” you find cancer and chicken recipes. Seriously, I could not believe it, but there was no book that connected the dots.

Then I realized that my life – because I was born right at the edge of 1960, and my life completely parallels the moment when breasts became exponentially important for men and not for babies. It had to do with this historical thing of like – I mean, this is probably too much detail for you, but women had to go back to the kitchen. There had been child care during World War Two, and then [Uncle Sam] closed them. Then suddenly, the sciences were pushing baby formula, so, women weren’t using them for breastfeeding.

Then, Playboy came out that same year, so advertising rose. TV suddenly was in everyone’s homes. Those were the couple years where TV overnight was in everyone’s homes. A man’s eyes – I found the scientific research – look at a woman’s chest within two hundred milliseconds of her walking into the room. So, for advertising eyeballs, of course they’re gonna have women with big breasts on TV, and so we were raised in this culture.

Then the society plastic surgeon said small breasts were diseased. Suddenly, women, actresses had to be in Playboy; Victoria’s Secret came up later. Even beauty queens, everyone had big breasts.

So, my life really paralleled this culture of breast obsession, and since America really sets the tone media-wise for the rest of the world, we were influencing everyone. My life at every stage had been influenced by the songs and the commercials and the news and the fashion and the censorship.

So, that night I like was like, “This is my next book.” I never intended to write about boobs or ever intended to write a memoir. I mean, I’m a novelist; I’d written some screenplays.

And honestly, I wasn’t sure after chemo that I would be able to write another book. My analytic side came back really easily. I was working with other writers, I taught stuff, and that side, my brain was great, but creatively, it just wasn’t flowing for a long time. I was on meds for years, and suddenly, this idea was just fully formed in my head; like I had to write this book.

So, I actually started it when we thought Hillary was going to be president and kind of thought, “Oh, this is so important,” and then that didn’t happen. And I pitched the book, and nobody wanted it. Everyone was was like, “Oh, breasts aren’t important.” It was so, insidious, I guess is the word. We take breasts for granted that we don’t realize how much they affect our whole lives and men’s lives, too.

We all get into these roles, and especially now with a pandemic, women are like, “Our breasts definitely are defining us.” It’s harder to work. If we have children, we need childcare. We’re not taking care of ourselves, because we’re taking care of everyone else. We’re getting sick. So, it just told this bigger story.

I actually started the book in 2016, and then I wrote a query, and I wrote a proposal, and they didn’t sell. Then finally, I read the whole book, and I thought, TV. I got interest from a producer, actually, pretty early on, when somebody read the manuscript, but it still didn’t rate; it still didn’t sell this book. I mean, I had so many rejections. Now, I’m getting these rave reviews from publishers weekly; [unintelligible] is like the holy grail of the book industry.

The problem was too, it’s a memoir, but it has cultural analysis. I’m using my life, my personal emotional experience, in relation to the wider lens of our nation with a lot of humor and a lot of research. It shows the power of biology is something we can’t change, but also the way we react to it, that we can kind of change the culture. So, it was kind of unusual. It wasn’t like strictly memoir, and I’m certainly not a celebrity. So, who would buy it, right? And now, those are the very things about the book that people are really praising, and it’s just thrilling.

I just had so many moments of doubt, like, “Oh, maybe it’s not a book.” But it’s clearly a book, and now, obviously, it’s going to be a TV show. I couldn’t be more thrilled to get this message out for everyone to stop judging ourselves and each other and understand what the realities are about living in a woman’s body and how it affects everybody.

Suzanne: So, even though you’d already gotten books published, it didn’t matter. They didn’t want this.

Leslie: Yeah. They were like, “Oh, Leslie’s such a great writer, but this is not for us.” I just hope all those people are watching now! [laughs] Not in a mean way, just be more open minded, because people are calling this a really important book.

There’re really only five big publishing houses, and there’re lots of imprints, and they have to sell sure things. They need a sure thing, and this was kind of an unusual book, and boobs are like, “eww.” I mean, I even lost my first agent. She said she just wasn’t a boob person, and I thought, “That’s how important this book is, because you’re in denial that this is really important.” She’s smart, she actually had gotten an offer to go to a bigger agency and handle people like Kamala Harris…bigger people. But I got a new agent immediately and totally understood.

Then, it was just a challenge, because people just take boobs for granted. Yet every morning, we get up and we decide, are we wearing a bra or a sports bra? Are we showing them? Are we not? Are we wearing no bra? [unintelligible] So, they are a big deal, and that’s what I’m just thrilled about, that that’s a real thing now.

Suzanne: You know, I never really thought about any of this before. I guess, I don’t really think about it.

Leslie: Exactly, nobody does. Honestly, I would not have, and my whole life – like all my friends from high school – I grew up in Ohio – they’re all like, “Oh, Leslie, boobs.” You know, it’s it’s like, “Yeah, well…” Didn’t mean it.

There’s serious stuff in this too, but there’s plenty of humor, because boobs are funny, and that’s why I didn’t name it A Breast’s Life. It’s like, why so serious? Boobs are funny, and yet they’re the same thing. And then, Oprah Winfrey calls them “The Girls.” We objectify our own bodies. It’s really interesting.

So, that’s my point, for regular great women like you who just don’t think about boobs: we take them for granted. So, I’m just trying to say, “Hey, the way we think about boobs affects how we live.”

Suzanne: Somewhere I read you said that you had wanted bigger boobs when you were younger. Was that because you just hadn’t matured yet, or did you think you had ones that were too small?

Leslie: Both. I used to watch we watch Miss America every year, and I would put socks in my little bathing suit, parade around like Miss America with a towel and my cape and a tinfoil crown. I wanted to be beautiful.

I have the statistics in my book; I have all these kind of pages of facts in between the chapters, and one is about Miss America and Miss USA beauty pageants. By 1999, so many beauty queens, entrants of Miss USA particularly, the majority of them had breast implants. I mean, it’s a big deal. Breasts are important.

When I was little, I was just dying to get a bra, and then suddenly, when I was big enough to get a bra, it was Vietnam and women’s lib, and if you had to not wear a bra to be against the war – I was like, “Okay, now my breasts are political. I want to wear a bra, but I don’t want boys to get killed.”

It’s like breasts meant everything, and then they weren’t big enough. The boy I liked, you know, my best friend had big boobs, and I was sure he was gonna ask her to the dance. He asked me, and I was like, “Why me?” She had the big boobs.

You know, boobs were really important. Cheerleaders had big boobs, and I wanted bigger ones. Then when I had babies, I had giant ones, and then, it was great, but then there were the babies, and then I was just completely flat.

And you had to pretend you didn’t have boobs to get a job, wear suit coats and those shirts with floppy bows. I always wondered what it would be like to have really nice, not like giant boobs, because here’s the thing: if you have giant boobs, then you’re a bimbo, and I didn’t want to be a bimbo. I mean, we definitely judge women by how big or smaller boobs are. I didn’t realize – I did an interview the other day and someone said, “Well, of course you got breast cancer, because you’re all about boobs.” I was like, “No, no, no, no, no.”

Suzanne: Really?

Leslie: Yeah, exactly. Why?

I had no idea that my life had any through-line about boobs until I actually sat down and thought about that night, when I was like, “Why do I care so much? Why do I want to fix my boobs? Are they broken? What does that mean?” When I have a body part that I think is broken, what does that mean?

Suzanne: Did your mom at all – and I’m not saying you should blame her, but what was her attitude about boobs? Did she influence you at all?

Leslie: My mom was beautiful. She also got a PhD while I was in elementary school, and she worked for Planned Parenthood. My mom was totally smart and pretty. She was the whole package, and yet my dad cheated on her with girlfriends with big boobs. He married several women with big boobs who were not as smart as my mom. My mom was raised in the 50s, and it was really important to be beautiful, and being smart didn’t help her keep her husband. That was part of a woman’s identity then, and she was really affected by the culture as well. She still to this day feels that beauty is really important. She gives both my daughters a little allowance each month – my daughters are now in their late twenties – to get their hair done or their nails or something, because how we present to the world is how we are judged from the world. I hate that, and yet I acknowledge it as a truth.

So, she felt like when I got divorced, I had really saggy little boobs; my nipples pointed down…I wore a camisole all the time; I never took off, and when she saw me, she first thought, “Men like boobs, and you’re going to be lonely, because nobody wants to look at that.” It was because she never nursed, and her mother also was gorgeous and very well built, and my mom still had great boobs.

It was like she just wanted me to have every advantage, and as a woman, being smart isn’t the whole advantage. I mean, you have to be pretty too. It used to be you were smart or pretty, but nowadays, I feel like the new generation who is having more opportunity, they have to be smart and pretty.

Even this whole body positivity movement is fabulous, but I think it’s bigger in the media than it is in real life, and it’s gonna take a long time for real life to catch up. I think men look at women, and it’s just biological imperative. If you want someone who can give you children, whether you’re consciously aware of that or not, that’s the biology of it. A woman with a curvy figure and big hips can have babies, boobs, you know, make milk. So, part of it is valid, you can’t fight that. So, what I want is for people to just be aware of it, so that we stop being hard on ourselves, and we stop judging other people. I think I feel like when we know better, we do better, and that’s my message, I guess.

Suzanne: That makes sense. And now it’s being turned into a TV series?

Leslie: Yeah. The pilot’s being written now, and I’m executive producer, so I’ll have some say on who plays Leslie, but Salma Hayek is just this genius producer. I really feel like she and Dolly Parton have the biggest boob power in the world. They they use their boobs for good, because people love their boobs, and they use their power, because they are brilliant women, and Salma Hayek is a genius. I mean, we see her for her movies, but she produced Frida; she was executive producer of Ugly Betty. She has this huge Spanish language hit called Monarca. She has so many projects, and she’s such a humanitarian, and we don’t hear this part of it, because it’s kind of unusual; she’s doesn’t get acknowledged for it. I think she got an Emmy for something and then didn’t work for a while; after she produced or directed something. It’s like, people like the boob part, but she’s really, really smart.

And she told me that she’s obsessed with my book, and she has a first look deal at HBO Max, and they are making it into a TV series. It’s going to be a comedy, and yet, it’s going to be about the reality of living in a woman’s body. After talking to her, I completely trust her. It won’t be exactly the same as the book, and it also will take a long time, especially with this pandemic, until it happens.

So, I really want people to read the book. There’s tons more in the book, and there’s sixteen pages of pictures and six pages of footnotes, and a lot of funny stories that won’t be in the [series]. The [series] will start present day, and then we’ll have some flashbacks, and hopefully they’ll cover everything in many seasons. Also, I have two daughters. It might be a daughter and a son. They’re going to do what’s best to make it a really great show. So, I’m thrilled, and really excited about that.

Suzanne: When do you think the pilot’s going to be finished? Do they have an idea yet?

Leslie: Right now it’s just being written. Then, I get to read it, and the other producers get to read it. It goes back and forth for a while until it gets approved and then has to be greenlit for the series. So, it’s a long process, just like the book. It’s been five years since I started this book. It won’t take that long for this TV show; I’m guessing like a year, so, anybody can really look forward to it. So, read the book, then you’ll get a preview for sure.

Suzanne: They’re a lot faster now making a series and I think, because of the pandemic, they got really fast. They’re churning out things now.

Leslie: They had a lot in the pipeline, so they’re trying to get stuff out. It’s definitely difficult to shoot and to cast, and just the project, the process of actually making TV, takes a long time, because there’re so many people and so many steps involved and so much money involved. So, she’s going to be very careful and make sure that this is a good show that can last a long time. So, they’re not going to rush it out.

Suzanne: Oh, no, I didn’t mean rush in a bad way. I just meant, they’ve gotten much more efficient, because they had a time crunch. Just from some of the interviews I’ve been on lately, I’ve been hearing about that. Yesterday, actually, HBO Max had a whole day for the TCA online, and one of the shows, they’re saying normally they have a whole week to shoot an episode, and they did this only two days per episode, which is really cool.

Leslie: Yes. That’s just because of getting everyone in the room healthy; they only have so much time. So, that is a really tricky thing.

Suzanne: Some of these movies they do on TV, like Lifetime and everything, they’ve got them so fast now. They’ve got it down to a fine art.

Leslie: Well, that’d be great. I’m looking forward to seeing who they get to play me.

Suzanne: I’ll bet; that would be exciting.

Leslie: Yeah, and they’re using my name, too. I was thinking last night, “Do I want to switch the name?” Then again, it is my story. It will be fictionalized; it’s not really me. I don’t know; we’ll see.

Fingers crossed. I hope it happens for me. Just right now, I really want people to [read the book]. The book comes out in two weeks. I don’t know when you’re going to publish this, but I definitely want people to preorder. I think the success of the book also will help the success of the TV show. For me, it will help me keep writing. Also, there’s just so much in the book that I’m not sure what all will be in the TV show, but I know it’ll be good.

Suzanne: So, right now you’re just working on helping out with the TV show? You haven’t started writing another book or thinking about another book?

Leslie: Well, I’m waiting until I see the pilot script, and then I’ll be working with the TV show, but I’m definitely working on another book. And right now, I’m trying to do my best to help people get the message of A Boob’s Life and understand to love your boobs and all that. So, I’ll be busy with this book for a while, but I definitely am working on another book, which has some similar themes, but it’s a novel. Hopefully, I’ll finish that and take few months. I mean, I’m a very careful writer; I’m a very craft oriented writer, so it needs to be really good for me to show it to anyone, so it’ll be a little bit, but I’m on the third draft of it.

Here is the audio version of it.

Interview Transcribed by Jamie of http://www.scifivision.com

MORE INFO:

From her prize-winning fiction to her viral New York Times Modern Love essay, exploring the challenges facing contemporary women has been author Leslie Lehr‘s life-long passion. In her upcoming book, A Boob’s Life: How America’s Obsession Shaped Me – and You (March 2nd, 2020; pre-order here), her first project since breast cancer treatment, she continues this mission, taking readers on a wildly informative, deeply personal, and utterly relatable journey.

No matter your gender, you’ll never view this sexy and sacred body part the same way again. The book has already caught the attention of the literary and entertainment industries alike. We would love to set up an interview with you and the author to discuss the book timed to Breast Cancer Awareness month next month.
“As women we are always asking ourselves, are we enough? Leslie Lehr‘s witty, wise, and sometimes heartbreaking memoirs, A Boob’s Life, uses our relationship with breasts, and the ways others define us through them, to explore what it means to live in a woman’s body. Original, thought-provoking, and with an elegant sense of humor, A Boob’s Life is a must-read.”

Salma Hayek
 
Author Leslie Lehr wants to talk about boobs. She’s gone from size AA to DDD and everything between, from puberty to motherhood, enhancement to cancer, and beyond. And she’s not alone-these are classic life stages for women today. A Boob’s Life explores the surprising truth about women’s most popular body part with vulnerable, witty frankness and true nuggets of American culture that will resonate with everyone who has breasts-or loves them. At turns funny and heartbreaking, A Boob’s Life explores both the joys and hazards inherent to living in a woman’s body. Lehr deftly blends her personal narrative with national history, starting in the 1960s with the women’s liberation movement and moving to the current feminist dialogue and what it means to be a woman. Her insightful and clever writing analyzes how America’s obsession with the female form has affected her own life’s journey and the psyche of all women today. Lehr explores the duality of today’s women to navigate a new path between sexy and sacred.
Lehr is a prize-winning novelist and non-fiction writer whose books include What A Mother Knows, a Target Recommended Read, Wife Goes On, and 66 Laps, winner of the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Prize. Her nonfiction books include Welcome to Club Mom, Club Grandma, excerpted on FisherPrice.com, and Wendy Bellissimo: Nesting, featured on Oprah. Her personal essays have appeared in the New York Times Modern Love column (narrated by Katie Couric on NPR), HuffPost, Yourtango, and in anthologies Mommy Wars, The Honeymoon’s Over, and On Becoming Fearless. She wrote the original screenplay for the romantic thriller, HEARTLESS, and the comedy-drama, “Club Divorce”, for Lifetime. Lehr is a member of PEN, the Authors Guild, WGA, Women In Film, and the Women’s Leadership Council. She has a BA from the School of Cinematic Arts at USC and an MFA from Antioch. Lehr is a breast cancer survivor, the mother of two daughters, and lives in Southern California.
We would love to send a galley if interested and/or set up an interview with you and Leslie Lehr to discuss her latest book, A Boob’s Life, and her career as a whole.

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Leslie Lehr, author of "A Boob's Life: How America's Obsession Shaped Me―and You"

Primetime TV Book Review: “Conversations with Legendary Television Stars”

Book Review!




Conversations with Legendary Television Stars: Interviews from the First Fifty Years (Screen Classics) book cover

“Conversations with Legendary Television Stars: Interviews from the First Fifty Years” by James Bawden and Ronald G. Miller Review by Suzanne 7/23/20

This is a very enjoyable book for any fan of classic TV and movies. These two journalists (fans themselves) have interviewed 39 stars from TV of the 50’s and 60’s, over many years, and put them in this book form.  As someone who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s (and watched many re-runs), I loved to read it. The stars don’t hold back, either, about themselves or others in show business. There is a lot of juicy gossip.

For instance, I knew MacDonald Carey (Tom Horton of “Days of Our Lives“) was an alcoholic, but I had no idea that Bea Arthur and Deanna Durbin both were, too. I also had no idea that Gregory Peck was bothered by the fact that Audrey Hepburn got more attention for her role in “Roman Holiday” than he did. There are many, many of these types of tidbits included in the book.

The only thing I would complain about is that there aren’t more stars and more photos (in color).  Yes, all the photos are in black-and-white — just like TV back then.

This is the third book by these two authors! Check them all out on Amazon.  Conversations with Legendary Television Stars: Interviews from the First Fifty Years     Conversations with Classic Film Stars: Interviews from Hollywood’s Golden Era  and You Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet: Interviews with Stars from Hollywood’s Golden Era)

MORE INFORMATION:

Conversations with Legendary Television Stars: Interviews from the First Fifty Years
James Bawden and Ron Miller

During television’s first fifty years—long before cable networks, Hulu, Netflix, and the like—families would gather around their television sets nightly to watch entertaining shows such as I Love Lucy, Gunsmoke, M*A*S*H, The Beverly Hillbillies, Fantasy Island, and The Rockford Files. Many of the stars of these beloved shows have passed away, but their presence remains intact—not only through their television show performances, which are still viewed and appreciated today, but also through stories they told in interviews over the years.

Seasoned journalists and authors James Bawden and Ron Miller have captured provocative and entertaining interviews with important figures from TV’s first fifty years. These thirty-nine interviews, selected from conversations conducted from 1971–1998, present a fascinating glimpse of some of television’s most influential performers. Featured are exclusive interviews with major stars (including Donna Reed, James Garner, and Ricardo Montalban), icons of comedy (including Lucille Ball, George Burns, and Milton Berle), TV hosts (including Dick Clark and Ed Sullivan), and notable musical entertainers (such as Glen Campbell, Mary Martin, and Lawrence Welk). Each chapter of this volume explores the subject’s television work—with detailed behind-the-scenes disclosures—and includes additional information about the subject’s performances in film and on stage.

Praise for Conversations with Legendary Television Stars

“Make room on your bookshelf for Bawden and Miller’s latest release, Conversations with Legendary Television Stars. They’ve brought back the lost art of conversation, and their style creates an intimate setting, like having a chat with a famous actor or actress over dinner or drinks. Dirt is kicked up and fun, informative, and surprising nuggets are exposed.”—Robert Crane, coauthor of Crane and My Life as a Mankiewicz

Conversations with Legendary Television Stars includes interviews based on Q&A sessions Bawden and Miller undertook with an impressive array of stars and leading character players from US television and films over the years. The coauthors’ professionalism as reporters and experience with the interviewing process make this an engaging, informative, and fascinating sequel to their other works.”—James Robert Parish, author of Hollywood Divas: The Good, the Bad, and the Fabulous

“Readers can turn to any page of this treasure chest of recollections and find insightful, often humorous, and always fascinating remembrances by some of the greatest names in entertainment history. Bawden and Miller have expertly crafted a collage of the industry’s most vital voices as they reminisce about their lengthy television careers, as well as their adventures in film, on radio, and onstage. This work is an essential tome for entertainment historians and casual film and television buffs, offering a vibrant portrait of a bygone era and a keen reminder of the wild changes in public tastes and entertainment styles during the twentieth century.”—Brent Phillips, author of Charles Walters: The Director Who Made Hollywood Dance

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The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.


Dick Clark photo in book