One of Leonard Maltin's "Top 20 Year-End Picks"!
"Having spent twenty years writing for the indefatigable Bob Hope, and traveling all over the world, Bob Mills is well qualified to salute the famous corps of gag men who kept the comedian knee-deep in jokes. These first-hand recollections summon up the final phase of Hope’s career—and the end of the trail for an entire brand of show business."
www.http://www.leonardmaltin.com/2009YearEndBookSurvey.htm
About THE LAUGH MAKERS
In THE LAUGH MAKERS, you'll be taken on a fascinating and hilarious backstage tour of one of the longest-running variety shows in television history -- to examine the previously classified inner workings of a comedy assembly line that for decades worked as efficiently as any in Detroit.
Veteran Hope script writer -- with credits on 85 specials -- Bob Mills shares his priceless collection of behind-the-scenes stories, anecdotes and photos (many of which he took himself) while recalling often hilarious, sometimes heartwarming and always touching tales of legendary guest stars, near-legendary guest stars, Hope's loyal staff and production crew --- all the while providing new insights into Bob Hope the man and Hope the consummate vaudeville-trained performer.
What was Hope like to work with day-by-day? How much control did he exert over his shows, his guests and his staff? Was he the warm, personable everyman we saw on the screen --- or was he someone else? Travel with Hope and his crew to Peking China in 1979, as they become the first Americans allowed to tape a special there following the historic Trade Agreement between Nixon and Mao --- to Stockholm for a Command performance for King Gustav and Queen Sylvia --- to Perth, Australia for the opening of their Entertainment Center, Hope's first visit Down Under since World War II. You'll be welcomed aboard the "Bounty" anchored in Cook's Bay as Hope and the gang journey to Tahiti for a star-studded special with guests Howard Keel, Jonathan Winters, John Denver and Morgan Brittany. And it's "Talley Ho" as Hope returns to England for several command performances for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
In THE LAUGH MAKERS, you'll come to know Hope's legendary guest stars like George Burns, Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, Danny Thomas, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton -- and sports legends like Billy Martin, "Bear" Bryant, Arnold Palmer, Joe Namath all of whom guested on Hope's many sports themed specials. The book covers nearly two decades -- from the mid-1970s to the mid 1990s when Hope bid viewers goodbye for the final time. Events and honors that continued up until Hope's death in 2003 are recalled in this unique look at one of the greatest entertainers of the past century.
www.http://www.leonardmaltin.com/2009YearEndBookSurvey.htm
About THE LAUGH MAKERS
In THE LAUGH MAKERS, you'll be taken on a fascinating and hilarious backstage tour of one of the longest-running variety shows in television history -- to examine the previously classified inner workings of a comedy assembly line that for decades worked as efficiently as any in Detroit.
Veteran Hope script writer -- with credits on 85 specials -- Bob Mills shares his priceless collection of behind-the-scenes stories, anecdotes and photos (many of which he took himself) while recalling often hilarious, sometimes heartwarming and always touching tales of legendary guest stars, near-legendary guest stars, Hope's loyal staff and production crew --- all the while providing new insights into Bob Hope the man and Hope the consummate vaudeville-trained performer.
What was Hope like to work with day-by-day? How much control did he exert over his shows, his guests and his staff? Was he the warm, personable everyman we saw on the screen --- or was he someone else? Travel with Hope and his crew to Peking China in 1979, as they become the first Americans allowed to tape a special there following the historic Trade Agreement between Nixon and Mao --- to Stockholm for a Command performance for King Gustav and Queen Sylvia --- to Perth, Australia for the opening of their Entertainment Center, Hope's first visit Down Under since World War II. You'll be welcomed aboard the "Bounty" anchored in Cook's Bay as Hope and the gang journey to Tahiti for a star-studded special with guests Howard Keel, Jonathan Winters, John Denver and Morgan Brittany. And it's "Talley Ho" as Hope returns to England for several command performances for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
In THE LAUGH MAKERS, you'll come to know Hope's legendary guest stars like George Burns, Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, Danny Thomas, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton -- and sports legends like Billy Martin, "Bear" Bryant, Arnold Palmer, Joe Namath all of whom guested on Hope's many sports themed specials. The book covers nearly two decades -- from the mid-1970s to the mid 1990s when Hope bid viewers goodbye for the final time. Events and honors that continued up until Hope's death in 2003 are recalled in this unique look at one of the greatest entertainers of the past century.
Says "Laugh-In's" Gary Owens in the Foreword...
I’ve known Bob Mills for years and when I was told he had finished a book about Bob Hope’s writers, I was happy to hear he was reading again — I knew he was having trouble with the big words. But then — then they told me he had written the book... well, you could have knocked me over with a feather dance — uh, duster.
In The Laugh Makers, Bob Mills takes us on a delightful, side-splitting journey back to the slapstick sketch comedy of television’s Golden Age — a long-ago era of variety, song-and-dance, brilliant patter and a seemingly endless parade of laughs — sprung from the genius of “gag men,” that talented group of wit-blessed wordsmiths to whom the book pays well-deserved homage. I was part of it and I have to admit at the time, I didn’t notice — I mean the “golden age” part. Back then, it just seemed like your ordinary, run-of-the-mill age. Hey, what did I know?
What we have here is a failure to communicate — oops, sorry — that’s from a cartoon remake of Hud I’ve been working on. Actually, what we have is a priceless collection of heretofore unpublished recollections revealing untold secrets and goings-on behind the scenes on the Bob Hope Show. It’s a never-before-seen look at the previously classified inner workings of Hope’s well-known comedy assembly line that for decades proved as efficient as any in Detroit.
The Laugh Makers is the book we’ve all been waiting for. It’s jam- Makers packed with stories, anecdotes and un-retouched photos from a fondly remembered past, recalling often hilarious, sometimes heartwarming, and always touching tales of legendary stars, near-legendary stars and one or two complete failures — which happens in show business. You can look it up in your Funk & Wagnalls. I must confess that I couldn’t put the book down. That fly paper on the cover was a clever touch, but I probably wouldn’t have put it down anyway. The book, like its author, is truly one of a kind. So sit back... relax... prepare to laugh and enjoy The Laugh Makers. I know I did. I may even call the library so I can keep it another two weeks.
In The Laugh Makers, Bob Mills takes us on a delightful, side-splitting journey back to the slapstick sketch comedy of television’s Golden Age — a long-ago era of variety, song-and-dance, brilliant patter and a seemingly endless parade of laughs — sprung from the genius of “gag men,” that talented group of wit-blessed wordsmiths to whom the book pays well-deserved homage. I was part of it and I have to admit at the time, I didn’t notice — I mean the “golden age” part. Back then, it just seemed like your ordinary, run-of-the-mill age. Hey, what did I know?
What we have here is a failure to communicate — oops, sorry — that’s from a cartoon remake of Hud I’ve been working on. Actually, what we have is a priceless collection of heretofore unpublished recollections revealing untold secrets and goings-on behind the scenes on the Bob Hope Show. It’s a never-before-seen look at the previously classified inner workings of Hope’s well-known comedy assembly line that for decades proved as efficient as any in Detroit.
The Laugh Makers is the book we’ve all been waiting for. It’s jam- Makers packed with stories, anecdotes and un-retouched photos from a fondly remembered past, recalling often hilarious, sometimes heartwarming, and always touching tales of legendary stars, near-legendary stars and one or two complete failures — which happens in show business. You can look it up in your Funk & Wagnalls. I must confess that I couldn’t put the book down. That fly paper on the cover was a clever touch, but I probably wouldn’t have put it down anyway. The book, like its author, is truly one of a kind. So sit back... relax... prepare to laugh and enjoy The Laugh Makers. I know I did. I may even call the library so I can keep it another two weeks.
Product Details
- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: BearManor Media (February 14, 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1593933231
- ISBN-13: 978-1593933234
- Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars (24 reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #713,137 in Books
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HOW TO ORDER:
To order the book from Amazon, click on this link:
http://www.amazon.com/LAUGH-MAKERS-Behind-Scenes-Incredible/product-reviews/1593933231/ref=cm_cr_pr_link_2?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&pageNumber=2
To download the book to your KINDLE, I-Pad, computer or other reading device for$2.99, click on this link:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0041D9EPO
To order directly from the publisher, click on this link:
www.bearmanormedia.bizland.com/id370.html
To view photos contained in the book in color and enlarged, plus many that couldn't be included due to space limitations, click on this link:
www.bobhopeshowbackstage.weebly.com
