Not a month goes by that I do not received a package at my front doorstep containing a book that the author or the publisher asked me to review. Somehow I feel obligated because they went to all the time and expense to ship it to me, and write the customized letter requesting the favor. The most recent box came from Bear Manor Media and contained four biographies about actors and actresses that are long overdue.
GRANT WILLIAMSBy Giancarlo Stampalia
An accomplished actor in film, theater, television, and old-time radio, Grant Williams, best-known for playing the title role in The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), gradually shrank away from the world. His film work reads like a Who’s Who of Hollywood’s Golden Years, with such famous filmmakers as director Jack Arnold, writer Richard Matheson, and producer Walt Disney.
After gaining experience in theater and studying with Lee Strasberg, Grant graduated to live American television, and then to small roles in film, such as Written on the Wind (1956) and dozens of television series, such as Gunsmoke (1959), Hawaiian Eye (1960-1963), The Outer Limits (1965), Bonanza (1960-1965), and Perry Mason (1964-1965), among many others. A melancholy loner despite being surrounded by Hollywood hullabaloo, his gradual fade from films and fame left him as an enigma . . . until now.
Through archival and personal documents, the author now divulges details never known by the public and dispels the myths about the man that were created by columnists of the 1950s and 1960s, such as Rual Askew, Emily Belser, Harrison Carroll, Mel Heimer, Hedda Hopper, and Bob Thomas.
I recall his role in The Monolith Monsters (1957) when I grew up, not The Incredible Shrinking Man, but I do hear his name credited on Suspense and Johnny Dollar radio shows from time to time. Grant Williams may be known today only as the Incredible Shrinking Man, but his legacy now finally enlarges again through this titanic tribute to a tallest of talents. Illustrated with 122 photos, many never before seen, including portraits, candid or personal photos, behind-the-scenes photos, publicity and production stills, and frame captures from films and television shows. Bibliography, a List of Film and Television Credits, and an Index.
Giancarlo Stampalia did an excellent job with this book, helping to preserve the life and career of Grant Williams, who might otherwise have fallen into obscurity by now.
UNCREDITED: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF ACTRES VIRGINIA GREGGBy Lona Bailey
She had one of the most recognizable faces and voices in American media for over 40 years. On the Have Gun - Will Travel radio program, she was Missy Wong. On I Led Three Lives, she was a villainous Comrade of the Communist Party who kept close eyes on Herbert A. Philbrick. But her voice remains largely uncredited and it seems unlikely all of her radio work will ever be fully documented. Consider her legendary performance as the voice of "Norma Bates" from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 classic Psycho, who provides the closing narration of the movie but is never credited on screen.
In radio she was a semi-regular on classics like Dragnet, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, and Richard Diamond, Private Detective. On television she made guest appearances on Gunsmoke and The Twilight Zone. In film she gave her most memorable performances in productions including Operation Petticoat, and Spencer's Mountain.
The character actress was well-loved by those who worked with her and I was pleased to see someone went to the trouble of documenting her career in a book.
GONE TOO SOON: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF RISING STAR STEVE IHNATBy Linda Alexander
In 1967, Steve Ihnat was on top of the world in Hollywood, an actor on the precipice of true stardom. He was seen as both a heavy and a leading-man type, an actor who could fit into any role that came his way. He was making excellent money as a guest star on virtually every episodic show on television, seen on the screen most every night. Star Trek, The Virginian, The Outer Limits, and many other shows were already part of his resume. He’d branched off into movies, finding himself up against heavy-hitting superstars. Casting directors rang his phone constantly, and he never wanted for work. He was moving into writing and directing movies, and his personal life was turning the page into a deeper, more meaningful story. He was just beginning to live the life he’d always wanted for himself.
Five years later, Steve Ihnat was dead. He was a man of international mystery, from the country of his birth, Czechoslovakia, to his home country, Canada, to his adopted country, the United States. His existence proved to be one of intrigue, not only in a great many of the roles he played, but in some of the underlying tones of his personal life. This was the late ‘60s and into the early 1970s. The world was in great turmoil with much change going on. Certain things were happening behind the scenes that would alter the direction of Steve Ihnat’s story, one which became a tale not even Steve could have imagined. Not even he could have written such a script if he had been trying to put together a movie with him in the starring role ... and that’s exactly what he had been doing. To this day, Steve Ihnat stars in a mystery which continues to develop.
Linda Alexander contacted his family and thus scored what is always essential for writing a biography: going directly to the source. She also interviewed people who worked with him. Through exclusive never-before-published photographs to exclusive recollections from colleagues, her biography about Steve Ihnat will be the quintessential book you ever need.
WHEN A GIRL’S BEAUTIFUL: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF JOI LANSINGBy Richard Koper
Joi Lansing made a career in Hollywood at a time when being blonde and curvy was much appreciated. Although she never became as successful as Jayne Mansfield or Mamie Van Doren, let alone Marilyn Monroe, she carved out a path for herself, appearing in several iconic television shows. In the 1960s, she took a new route by becoming a singer, earning praise for her newfound talents.
Insecurity about her looks and talent plagued her all her life. In growing older, she did everything to stay young and beautiful. Nevertheless, Joi was also acute enough to know that it had taken more than good looks to become famous. In 1965 she stated that, “Looks are important, of course. But after the looks go, what does a girl have? What I mean is, a girl has to have more than just looks to succeed in Hollywood.”
“When a Girl’s Beautiful” — The Life and Career of Joi Lansing tells the story of a vulnerable, sweet and talented woman, who gave her all to become famous and struggled to survive in the harsh world of show business. With an overview of Joi Lansing’s film and television appearances, it also contains rare pictures and many never-before-seen photographs from family albums. It’s enlivened with quotes and anecdotes of people who knew and worked with her. If you wanted to know anything about the actress, this book covers her entire life and career and is illustrated heavily with lots of photographs.
