"The author has cleverly inserted nonfictitious charactors such as Spencer Tracy, Ethel Barrymore, Katharine Hepburn and others, into this work of fiction"
Garson Kanin was an American actor, director and writer, working both on stage and screen. He was married to Ruth Gordon, with whom he wrote several screenplays.
Another author I'd give much to have beers with, but probably won't read another of his works; I just didn't care that much about the protagonist's quest.