Leslie Zemeckis's Blog - Posts Tagged "library"
Grandes Horizontales
Finally, a well-researched in depth look at these women that shaped much of fashion in their day. They had extraordinary independence that the married women did not
Going Clear
Fascinating. I resisted reading this for awhile - I studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, and Milton Katselas was a mentor. This book was hard to put down. Very well researched.
Publishers Weekly
http://reviews.publishersweekly.com/9...
Filmmaker Zemeckis offers a narrative version of her 2010 documentary film of the same name in this comprehensive history of the golden age of burlesque. Drawing from extensive interviews conducted for the film, Zemeckis profiles a host of colorful dancers, from 4’11” Tiny Kline—a former circus performer turned burlesque star turned Disneyland’s first Tinker Bell—to Sherry Britton, who was named an honorary Brigadier for entertaining troops during WWII and who went on to get a law degree from Fordham University. The author also describes some of the most famous acts, including Kitty West emerging from a giant oyster shell and Gypsy Rose Lee’s “reverse strip,” in which she dressed other women in the clothes she removed. Some stories are nearly too tragic to bear, like that of Faith Bacon, who had her routine stolen from her, survived two freak accidents, became addicted to barbiturates, and finally killed herself. Rounding out Zemeckis’s oral history are profiles of those connected to the burlesque circuit—like comedians Abbott and Costello—and examinations of the legal and social furors and fevers kicked off by the “Burly Q.” This rich history, rife with vibrant quotes and first-hand insights from burlesque’s biggest dancers, is indispensable for fans of the ribald pastime. 80 b&w photos. Agent: Danny Passman, Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown. (June)
Filmmaker Zemeckis offers a narrative version of her 2010 documentary film of the same name in this comprehensive history of the golden age of burlesque. Drawing from extensive interviews conducted for the film, Zemeckis profiles a host of colorful dancers, from 4’11” Tiny Kline—a former circus performer turned burlesque star turned Disneyland’s first Tinker Bell—to Sherry Britton, who was named an honorary Brigadier for entertaining troops during WWII and who went on to get a law degree from Fordham University. The author also describes some of the most famous acts, including Kitty West emerging from a giant oyster shell and Gypsy Rose Lee’s “reverse strip,” in which she dressed other women in the clothes she removed. Some stories are nearly too tragic to bear, like that of Faith Bacon, who had her routine stolen from her, survived two freak accidents, became addicted to barbiturates, and finally killed herself. Rounding out Zemeckis’s oral history are profiles of those connected to the burlesque circuit—like comedians Abbott and Costello—and examinations of the legal and social furors and fevers kicked off by the “Burly Q.” This rich history, rife with vibrant quotes and first-hand insights from burlesque’s biggest dancers, is indispensable for fans of the ribald pastime. 80 b&w photos. Agent: Danny Passman, Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown. (June)
Zelda
First start with a pitcher of Orange Blossom Cocktails: 10T oj 10 T Grand marnier, 10 T Absolute Mandarian, 2 1/2 tsp. orange flower water and 5 cups prosecco. Then sit back in your favorite string of pearls and shift dress, kick of your mules and enjoy slipping back to the 1920s with a heart-felt Zelda telling her side of the story. Sad yet infused (like our cocktails) with the scents of Magnolia blossoms from Montgomery, the sound of jazz from the New York speakeasies and the lights of Paris. This book is a delight.
The Lives and Loves of Daisy and Violet Hilton
The sidecar:
1 1/2 oz Cognac
1 oz triple sec orange liqueur
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
Lemon twist for garnish
Rim a chilled cocktail glass with sugar.
Shake ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Strain, pour and garnish with twist.
Sit back and read Dean Jensen's loving bio.
Another fascinating glimpse into a bygone era of American entertainment. Incredibly written and researched. I love Dean's voice.I was haunted by this work. I had never heard of Daisy and Violet Hilton. Boy do I know about them now (I would devote a couple years to making a documentary on them and interviewing Mr. Jensen who has an incredible brain for dates and names). From their beginnings in 1901 in Brighton, England through their deaths in 1969 Jensen is enthralling in this biography.
Like the author himself the book is articulate, funny, sad, non-judgmental. Jensen recreates the world of carnivals and vaudeville. The twins lives themselves is ultimately sad, but their spirit and those around them – for better or worse shines through.
1 1/2 oz Cognac
1 oz triple sec orange liqueur
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
Lemon twist for garnish
Rim a chilled cocktail glass with sugar.
Shake ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Strain, pour and garnish with twist.
Sit back and read Dean Jensen's loving bio.
Another fascinating glimpse into a bygone era of American entertainment. Incredibly written and researched. I love Dean's voice.I was haunted by this work. I had never heard of Daisy and Violet Hilton. Boy do I know about them now (I would devote a couple years to making a documentary on them and interviewing Mr. Jensen who has an incredible brain for dates and names). From their beginnings in 1901 in Brighton, England through their deaths in 1969 Jensen is enthralling in this biography.
Like the author himself the book is articulate, funny, sad, non-judgmental. Jensen recreates the world of carnivals and vaudeville. The twins lives themselves is ultimately sad, but their spirit and those around them – for better or worse shines through.
Night Circus
1 cup sugar
1 c water
1/4 light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. white vinegar
9 c popped pop corn
tiny white marshmellow pieces
black licorice cut up into pieces
red vines cut into little pices
mix together and sit down and enjoy the most creative, stunningly original voice in fiction in years. A magical circus comes to town and sucks the reader in from the get go. I did not want this book to end and cannot wait for the author's next venture. I don't want to give anything away except to say the characters are heartbreaking, original, sensual - and I love all things circus - even if it only appears at night.
1 c water
1/4 light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. white vinegar
9 c popped pop corn
tiny white marshmellow pieces
black licorice cut up into pieces
red vines cut into little pices
mix together and sit down and enjoy the most creative, stunningly original voice in fiction in years. A magical circus comes to town and sucks the reader in from the get go. I did not want this book to end and cannot wait for the author's next venture. I don't want to give anything away except to say the characters are heartbreaking, original, sensual - and I love all things circus - even if it only appears at night.
Behind Closed Doors
Pour a Cucumber Pimm's Cup
2 c lemondae
1 lrge cucumber sliced
1 c Pimm's No. 1
1 c ginger ale
crushed mint
mix and refrigerate - then settle down to this fascinating story of the last days of the Duchess of Windsor. Whatever you may have thought of her you will feel sorry for how taken advantage she was - kept prisoner - her jewels etc stolen - by her atty and staff. We perhaps will never know everything that went on as she lay in bed shuttered in the house but Vickers does a wonderful job of ferreting out Wallis' sad unhappy and unhealthy ending.
2 c lemondae
1 lrge cucumber sliced
1 c Pimm's No. 1
1 c ginger ale
crushed mint
mix and refrigerate - then settle down to this fascinating story of the last days of the Duchess of Windsor. Whatever you may have thought of her you will feel sorry for how taken advantage she was - kept prisoner - her jewels etc stolen - by her atty and staff. We perhaps will never know everything that went on as she lay in bed shuttered in the house but Vickers does a wonderful job of ferreting out Wallis' sad unhappy and unhealthy ending.
Beautiful Ruins
start with a gin and tonic, add equal part grapefruit juice, dash of bitters (more if you feel as I do about the book) and salt the rim - this drink is appropriate for this bitter ruin of what could have been a much more cohesive book. Well written (grammatically and descriptively)but I didn't know where to focus. Who's story is this? The pregnant - thinking-shes-dying Dee? Or the young hotel owner? Or - flash forward - the disillusioned alcoholic musician? Or worse yet, Claire of the strip-club boyfriend and a job working for an old producer? I would care about the characters in spurts then I was thrust back to 1962 Italy, then forward to Beverly Hills, then to past-current day UK - the book was all over the place for me. But I did enjoy my cocktail!
Cutting for Stone
This is the reason we write books. This is the reason we read books. A story about something; love, sacrifice, spirituality and belief, set in an exotic setting of Ethiopia. So pour a coffee martini (coffee's their drink, martini is a tribute to the book when it moves to NY). I was hooked - no pun intended - by this story of Siamese Twins (my documentary Bound by Flesh is on the Hilton twins). But this book and its doctor(s) heros moved me like I haven't been moved in so long. The love the author poured into taking his time with his characters, and the turbulent political setting makes me wonder why I didn't pick up this book before. As you know - I don't give away plot, just suggest the drink to go with it and say "yes" don't wait like I did. A great - and I mean great - book.
