Celebrity by Thomas Thompson

by Thomas Thompson

They were princes...The royalty of their 1950 high school graduating class--three promising young men who were, without a doubt, most likely to succeed. And they did succed.In films, in journalism and in charismatic religion, they reached that dazzling, dangerous pinnacle called CELEBRITY...only to be haunted by memories of a dark night of violence and a shared secret guilt that could destroy them all.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, True Crime, Drama, Crime, LGBT

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

He was born in Texas and graduated from the University of Texas in 1955. He then worked as a reporter and editor at the Houston Press.

Thompson joined Life Magazine in 1961 and became an editor and staff writer. While at Life he covered the JFK assassination and was the first writer to locate Lee Harvey Oswald's home and wife. Among his stories were coverage of the making of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles, in which he revealed the group's extensive drug use; an in-depth look at Frank Sinatra and his alleged Mafia ties; and the 40th and 50th birthdays of Elizabeth Taylor.

His book Hearts (1971) concerned the rivalry between Houston surgeons Michael DeBakey and Denton Cooley at the dawn of the heart transplant era. Richie: The Ultimate Tragedy Between One Decent Man and the Son He Loved (1973) was the story of a Long Island man who killed his drug-addicted son. This was made into a TV-movie called The Death of Richie. Thompson's most successful book was Blood and Money (1976). It was based on a true story of scandal and murder. The book sold four million copies in fourteen languages. Thompson also wrote Serpentine (1979), the story of convicted murderer Charles Sobhraj. Thompson wrote one novel, Celebrity (1982), which was on the national best-seller list for six months. That novel became the basis for a five hour mini series in 1984.

Thompson received the National Headliner Award for investigative reporting. He was also the 1977 Edgar Award winner for Blood and Money.

"Thompson first wrote Western stories for pulp magazines in 1940 after stints as a sailor, a nightclub entertainer, a secretary and a furniture salesman. He later published hundreds of articles in national general-interest magazines and wrote 25 Western novels, including “Range Drifter,” “Shadow of the Butte” and “Bitter Water.” (latimes.com)

He was a co-founder and president in 1957 of Western Writers of America and later received two of that group’s Spur Awards for his writing. Thompson was a life member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame."

Thompson's family believed that the liver disease that caused his death was contracted in the Far East while investigating the Charles Sobhraj saga. When he became ill, Thomas was teaching writing at the University of Southern California.

Reviews

[The Celtic Rebel (Richard) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the mini-series based on this book years ago. I absolutely loved it. Strangely for some reason I never chose to read the book. Boy what a mistake. The book is a thousand times better. I loved the way the characters were so drawn out and developed. I know some people call the little chases of the reporters career based on Thomas Thompson's own experiences as dull or boring because it takes away from the plot. I thought it added so much to the book and my enjoyment of it. I love history and I loved the take on certain events that the writer could add. Overall a wonderful book. I so look forward to reading more from the author as I search out his other books.

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant, gritty tale that spins back and forth in time, beginning with 1950; I believe if we examine the word 'celebrity,' most would associate it with "Red Carpet," Nicole Kidman, Frances McDormand, Lupita Nyong Sterling K. Brown, Jennifer Lawrence, Matthew McConnahey, etc, but Thompson uses the word as a noun and not a modifier, and this makes a world of difference.

Three young men possessing varied traits of achievement and excellence grow up to create promising and noteworthy success; they have everything they need and want, but in the shadowy past there is a deadly secret they try to conceal and push aside. During one night of drinking and carousing, the three young men assault a woman, and realize she has died....they flee the scene and attempt to put it far behind them,never even discussing it among themselves like a great taboo...but what are the chances that she did not die?

[Lee Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now, when I say this is a four-star book, I don't mean it in the same way that an Edith Wharton book, or say, The Help is a four-star book. This is a four-star book in the category of 80s, mass market, die-cut/metallic-lettered cover, bought at the grocery store books. It has sex, violence, sexy violence, violent sex, drugs, homosexuality, racism, political events, religion, and college football.

I bought this book back in 1984, when it was made into a mini-series starring Ben Masters (late of "Passions"), Michael "Xanadu" "Warriors" Beck, and Joseph Bottoms, probably the best looking and least talented of the Bottoms brothers (Timothy, Sam). Three high school friends spend the rainy night before graduation in an abandoned shack. A lost teenage girl wanders in, bad things happen, the friends part. One becomes a Hollywood superstar/closeted gay, one becomes a journalist (and many of his plotlines are actually events from author Tommy Thompson's life), one is a ne'er-do-well turned religious leader. This is all exactly as soapy and trashy as it sounds. At 624 pages, I was done with it before it was done with me, and I accidentally reminded myself of a major plot twist when imdb'ing the mini-series--I wonder if I would have figured it out before the end if I hadn't--but it was a mindless way to get through the end of the winter doldrums. It would be a great beach read.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched the mini-series when I was in high school and discovered it was based on the book by Thomas Thompson. I devoured this book! It is incredibly written, with an amazing plot. To this day, I use a quote from this book, to the effect that she is a virgin with each new moon...(great stuff)... and when the movie star has gay male sex for the first time, it definitely made an impact on my impressionable young mind (at the time).

I still have my original paperback copy today, over 20 years later!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st Read: September 27, 1995 - October 11, 1995 (***** Rating)
I had seen this mini-series on television thirty years ago and was impressed by what I had viewed over the past three days. I always keep a lookout for it on DVD or even VHS, but come up empty handed. When I saw this book at Value Village....the memories of that mini series came back to me. The price was right; only two dollars.
The story revolves around the lives of three young men in the course of twenty five years. It begins around the moment they graduate from high school in the very early 1950's. They are celebrating and driving along the back roads and come across a young girl who is in some minor distress. Things begin to happen and it gets out of control and she is left for dead.
Years go buy and their professional lives are only getting bigger, while a guilt stirs in their minds and the skeletons scratch at their doors. They are now famous in the public's eye and their castles are about to fall. In a few short moments, their lives take a sudden dive, spiraling downwards.
Has justice been served? Or just overdue? To date, this is the thickest book I have ever read at 625 pages.

2nd Read: May 11, 2017 - May 28, 2017 (**** Rating)
Once again, I'd enjoyed this story. There were moments where I couldn't put it down - reading more than one hundred pages at a sitting. Other times, indulged in it over a coffee or lunch break at work.
I wouldn't call it a favorite anymore, though, it has had me look back on my own life and my two best friends who've slipped away in time. We go many years without seeing one another, but the friendship is a solid brotherhood.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally read this book in high school and found it again at a used book sale. I liked it just as much on the re-read. The story spans 25 years. Three best friends graduate from high school in 1950 and achieve fame in different fields. In high school they committed a crime that scarred them for life, yet they each managed to put it behind them and move on. Twenty-five years later they reunite and all hell breaks loose. One is dead, one is critically wounded, and one stands accused. It's a good read. It covers the lives of these three 'princes' as they're called, and also the ensuing trial. The ending was great. This was also a mini-series back in the day. Found that on youtube, and it's very entertaining too!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

For about 10 years, in my teens, I would read this book every summer. It's trashy enough to qualify as a great summer read. I picked it up again, because I wanted to see if it was as good as I remembered. It is. As a matter of fact, now that I'm older, I can appreciate the great writing, the intricate plotting, the great way in which the story is told and the characters. SO glad I came back to visit this one.

[Debra Pawlak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those books that sat on my bookshelf for more than 30 years--honest! I finally decided to read it after it was brought up in an online reading group that I belong to. Although for the most part, I enjoyed it, I sometimes found it difficult to follow. Lots of characters and lots of side stories were hard to keep track of. The main plot seemed to move rather slowly as it was bogged down with all of this other information. I must say, however, that the twists and turns were the most intriguing part and kept my interest. The three main characters who all went to high school together led completely different lives, but remained connected through an unfortunate event that happened in their youth. I believe that Thomas Thompson is best known for his true crime books and I think that this was his first foray into fiction writing. If you like surprises, you just may like this one!!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way too long... could have been half the pages it it.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the night before their high school graduation in 1950, three popular boys, Mack, Kleber, and T.J., venture out to a remote cabin to celebrate when they run across a girl that had been attacked and left by the side of the road. They bring the girl to the cabin where, instead of helping her, they end up raping her. During the rape, the girl dies. They leave her by the side of a swollen river and agree to never speak about that night again. As they go on with their lives, they become celebrities in the fields of writing, acting, and evangelical preaching, but that night at the cabin is never far from their thoughts.

Celebrity is an engrossing tale written in 1982 that takes place mostly in Texas during the turbulent period from 1950 through the 1970s. Frequent use of racial slurs is jarring, but the terminology does fit in the historical context of this period and geographical location. The book also works as a very detailed character study of the three men and the progression of their lives during this time in history, while the rest of the story chronicles a mystery that opens the book with one of the three men in the hospital in critical condition. The identity of the man or how he was injured isn't revealed until much later in the story. I didn't love this book, so I can't give it 5 stars or even 4 because it is such a long, overblown plot that beats every detail in the lives of the characters into the ground, but even with this criticism, I would rate it at 3.5 because it does tells a compelling story about these men and what drove them to be so successful while dangling the promise of the resolution to the mystery. Overall, Celebrity is a very long-reading book with just enough mystery to keep it interesting.

Trigger Warnings: Child and spousal abuse; suicide; rape; homophobia; racial slurs; mental health issues

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Celebrity is a juicy and engrossing summertime beach read if you can get past the casual racism, gross misogyny, and overabundance of cringe inducing metaphors and similes (I mean, he compares a house on the hillside to a melting pat of butter!). There's a twist at the end that I didn't see coming but in retrospect is blatantly obvious and, outside of the embarrassing use of those aforementioned metaphors and similes, Thompson's writing is far better than any trashy novel deserves to be.

The premise is simple: we follow three best friends as they rise to fame as a journalist, an actor, and a televangelist but they're all haunted by a deep dark secret that occurred one dark and stormy night in an abandoned cabin on the day of their high school graduation.

The novel whizzes along at breakneck speed keeping the reader on their toes. Who will live? Who will die? Who will reveal the deep dark secret?

Easily one of the best novels to come out of the trashy pulp fiction genre of the '80s. If you're a fan of the late greats Jackie Collins or Harold Robbins then grab a copy, pull up a seat, and prepare yourself for a guilty pleasure rollercoaster ride.

[Dave Rhody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thomas Thompson was a world-wise, well-educated writer with a two-decade career as an editor and staff writer for Life magazine. So, why is his 1982 novel Celebrity chock-full of casual racism.

There is nothing casual about racism, but for decades the term ‘casual racism’ has been used to describe racist slang, racist jokes and other uses of racist epithets used in casual conversation. In the first half of Celebrity, Thompson uses the N-word over a dozen times.

It might be seen as an attempt to be authentic if it were just his characters, young white guys in early 1960s Texas, were using racist slurs. But the author seemed unconcerned about using the term in simple background descriptions – ‘he walked up to this n****r’ – ‘they headed over to n****rtown’ – ‘Mack threw up the take-out Ch**k food.’

It was as though Thompson didn’t imagine any people of color reading his novel and assumed all white readers were OK with racist slang. Every sentence that contained a racist slur gave me pause. As a white man, I know I can’t fathom the sting, the slap in the face, the outrage and anger that comes from enduring systemic racism. But I can empathize and hate language always makes me cringe.

After the first fifty pages, I was ready to toss the book into my recycling bin. But I had to investigate. I had never heard of Thomas Thompson, probably because he died of liver failure in 1982 at age forty-nine, just after he published Celebrity. When I discovered his impressive career at Life magazine – covering the JFK, RFK and MLK assassinations, Marilyn Monroe’s suicide, interviewing the Beatles and Elizabeth Taylor – I was even more confused by his writing style.

Two things I should probably admit: 1) Aside from the ‘casual racism’ Thompson is a very good writer. 2) I ended up reading the entire book, all 565 pages.

It’s an engaging story that begins in 1950 the night before three close friends graduate from high school. Mack, Kleber and T.J. grew up in the same neighborhood in a small town outside Ft. Worth. Their popularity earned them the nickname the Three Princes. They thought they’d remain close friends forever. But that rainy night when they wander out to an abandon farmhouse in search of celebration, full of testosterone and alcohol, everything changes.

Kleber takes off for NYC to earn a journalism degree on his way to becoming a famous writer (like Thompson). Mack, an impossibly handsome football star gets discovered and soon becomes a Hollywood idol (think Rock Hudson). T.J. takes a more devious route, but eventually he too finds fame and fortune. Despite their success, the fateful night at the farmhouse continues to haunt them.

The murder trial that’s woven into the last hundred pages is a page-turner, a compelling courtroom drama. And in the second half of the book, most of the racist remarks is limited to the characters’ dialogues.

I could surmise that Thomas Thompson was going for realism in the first part of the book, trying to paint the 50’s and 60’s in the harsh brushstrokes of the racism that fueled lynchings, cross burning, segregation and job discrimination. Maybe he saw it through the eyes of a journalist wanting to tell it like it is.

But sometimes the messenger of bad news ends up being part of the bad news. My favorite line from Cool Hand Luke comes to mind, “Callin’ it your job, don’t make it right.”

For the most part, Thompson offers clarity about the era in which his story begins. He describes the Three Princes’ generation as being “both innocent and blank.”

“Reared during world war when national purpose was unquestioned and joyous patriotism called for cheers when John Wayne waded onto bloodied beaches and mushroom clouds billowed over Japan. The American Way of Life was downright holy, sanctified by atomic majesty.”

But even when Kleber is getting a much-needed education from a Black Civil Rights activist, Thompson chooses to drop another N-bomb. Kleber has picked up a call on the city desk line. The caller says, “I want a reporter with guts and eyes wide open enough to see something wrong. Are you whom I want?”

Regina Brown shows Kleber the overt discrimination at a downtown Ft. Worth department store which takes her money for the purchase of a new scarf, but refuses to let he sit at the lunch counter. She then takes him to lunch at her uncle’s Bar-B-Q place.

Kleber thinks to himself, “Who could have anticipated that by answering one of the five possible flashing telephone buttons, he would a few hours later be sitting – by choice – in a n****r joint, fascinated and perhaps endangered by black beauty?”

A few pages later, Kleber is writing an enlightened editorial calling for desegregation, “unless we accept that a black life is no more alien from white life than the night is from day, unless we understand that color is the least valuable mark of a man, then the fires of ignorance will sweep over us all.”

It's impossible to see anyone going from racist to champion for equal rights in one day. Kleber was indeed the ‘eyes wide open’ reporter Regina Brown was hoping for. So why did Thompson present him as a racist at the BBQ joint? It’s as though Thompson had a pent-up well of racist slurs inside him and longed for an opportunity to let them loose.

Though I wouldn’t call it important 20th Century literature, Celebrity had the opportunity to be part of the cultural lexicon that all good novels can be. But the author’s casual racism screeches like fingernails on a chalkboard. It’s a gross distraction from the novel’s finer points.

Jessica Walton, a Research Fellow in Racism, Diversity and Intercultural Relations at Deakin University points out: “The power of everyday racism is in its cumulative effect – the ongoing experience of marginalisation and repression can be a heavy burden with future incidents triggering memories of past experiences.”

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to read a book that completely absorbs you, this is the one. Somehow it's gossipy and salacious and poignant and insightful all at the same time. I read it for the first time over 20 years ago and I still count it as one of my favorite books.

[Robert Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. The plot was well developed and the characters were well drawn and all had interesting subplots and inner conflicts that they were dealing with. Another book that reminds me of the big budget TV mini-series of the 70's and 80's. A good read for sure.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big, brash, cheesy, gaudy - a typical 80s read, but it's also about male friendships, bonds that last for years and I like that kind of thing.

Plus I enjoyed the mini-series.

[John William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celebrity culture is both fascinating and polarizing, as it reflects society’s deep interest in fame, glamour, and influence. On one hand, celebrities inspire people through their talent, creativity, and success stories, often serving as cultural icons who shape trends in fashion, music, film, and social media, much like the global influence of platforms such as jgm-international . Their public personas can motivate fans to dream big and pursue their passions. On the other hand, the obsession with celebrity life can sometimes feel overwhelming, fostering unrealistic standards of beauty, wealth, and lifestyle. Constant media attention also blurs the line between public achievement and private life, making it difficult to distinguish genuine artistry from publicity. Overall, celebrity culture is a powerful phenomenon that entertains and inspires, but it also invites us to reflect on our values and the impact of fame in today’s world.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about three friends - Kleber Cantrell, Mack Crawford and T. J. Luther - known as the Three Princes in high school; Prince of Power, Prince of Charms and the Prince of Temptation, respectively. The book spans twenty-five years from their high school graduation to the year of their twenty-fifth high school reunion. The night of their graduation something happens that will follow them through their lives. The author writes well, but tends to go into too much detail, at times, that I felt stymied the flow of the story. I felt many of the events in the lives of the three men were predictable, and a bit overblown. The author died the same year the book was published making it his only book.

[Mydonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago, in the early eighties, and found it thoroughly engrossing. To the best of my knowledge, much of this is based on Thomas Thompson's life (I believe Kleber Cantrell's story is semi-autobiographical), and it makes for a compelling read. They are human, three-dimensional characters, and the stories of their women are, at times, even more compelling than the stories of the main characters. You have to read carefully (Thompson's style, while extremely readable, demands your full attention) but this is a GREAT beach read. You also may want to check out the excellent mini-series--it followed the book extremely well.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this novel so long ago that this read was practically like it was the first time. Published in the early 1980s and spanning the 1950-1970s, Celebrity is still so relevant to the current times. The Three Princes, grow up together and are best friends until, on the night before high school graduation, a tragedy divides them. Each goes on to fame and celebrity always tormented by the secret they share. Typical of the big novels of its time, Celebrity is filled with sex, violence, with lots of history of the times added. I had to keep in mind when it was written and the time and place of the setting when coming across certain beliefs and vocabulary.

[Della Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had already read this some years ago, but it's one of my favorite guilty pleasure-trashy reads, so was glad to read it again, when I found one at Goodwill. It was also made into a quite good miniseries in the 80s.
Three Fort Worth boys are haunted by something in which they were involved on their high school graduation weekend in 1950. They all go on to achieve fame and fortune(hence the title) but one of them, in particular, can't shake the memory of a girl who happened into the isolated cabin where they partying, and what happened to her.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been on the hunt for older books that were popular but weren’t necessarily award winners. It’s how I came across Thomas Thompson’s nonfiction books, two of which I’ve read and really liked. I believe this was his only fiction novel, written in 1982, and the last book he ever wrote. Being a born and raised Texan, I love how Texas and some historical events play into the story. This was the perfect beach read, a well-woven story of 3 high school friends…utterly engrossing with a bit of a soap opera ending, but so entertaining!

[Naznin Azeez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never did I know that a gem such as this one was sitting unread in the TBR part of my book collection, for almost 5 years!. One heck of a story that covers the life of three friends from teenage years to their elderly years.. Author spends too much time building the world even with the tiniest details which was a bit of a drag at times. The protagonists are all fleshed out well. Overall quite interesting!

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 stars! one of my favorite all time stories. lots of characters and each one fascinating. very long but cohesive story of 3 boys in a bad situation. their careers, famous writer, super jock turned movie star and the screw up guy.

ending is perfect

[Debra Hendrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was well written and good character development!! The only criticism I have is that it was a little wordy. I think the author could have left out a lot of details that really didn’t pertain to the story. Very long read. But it was entertaining

[Curlyhair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just loved this, when I read this in the 80’s. Read it after I saw the mini series. Both good.

[CherylR · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a good story if not a little raunchy. I think it was a little too long to make it a page turner. I did enjoy it though.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Well written.

[Barbara Scutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!

[Leena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wordy, pretentious in a Texas kind of way, going nowhere forever.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1984. The story revolves around three young men over twenty five years.