As I Remember Them

by Eddie Cantor

144 pages

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final book published by Eddie Cantor before his death in 1964 is a warm, gentle, and funny remembrance of some of his favorite personalities and best friends from his 50+ years in show business. There are sections on W.C. Fields, Fanny Brice, Bert Williams, Jolson, Ziegfeld, Groucho, Judy Garland, Milton Berle, Jack Benny, James Cagney, Garbo, Jimmy Durante, and many others. Some sections were taken from magazine profiles he had written over the years, so they are brief and filled with one-liners, gags, and funny stories. Perfect for a short, relaxing read in the evening. He saves the final profile as an homage to Will Rogers, concluding the book by relating a stunning story about a chance moment that may very well have led to the fateful airplane crash that took Rogers' life in 1935. This is a must-read for fans of vaudeville, comedy, and classic Hollywood.

[Amy Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful treasure trove of memories of some of the top vaudeville and golden age stars! My only complaint is that the book wasn't longer! Cantor's writing is entertaining and friendly but simple so it's an easy read. Each performer or place gets their own chapter, I was most excited to read about Jimmy Durante, but all of the people covered were so interesting! There's many great stories here, I especially found some of the song origins fascinating for Eddie and Al Jolson.
If you're an Eddie fan or a fan of anyone in the book, this is worth the read, it's also perfect for vaudeville and Follies enthusiasts. Great book!

[Victoria & David Williams]

signed