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***** (FIVE STARS) What better a way to spend an
afternoon than with a good book. And I've been having such a great time
with a brand new one, I thought you might like to hear about it. It's about
the man who literally owned Thursday nights on NBC for years and years.
Jerry Seinfield? No, I'm talking about NBC in the 60s and 70s, and in case
your memory is a little rusty, the title is BACKSTAGE AT THE DEAN MARTIN
SHOW.
Dean Martin, who made a dozen movies during that
period, but by insisting on working only one day a week, Sunday, was able
to pre-tape and star in one of the most genuinely entertaining and highly
rated variety shows in the history of television.The author, Lee Hale, who
year by year remembers the show with its spectacular roster of famous guest
stars was the top special material writer and, get this, Dean's actual stand-in
during the rehearsals. And he has fascinating on-the-spot stories about
Dean's working with the likes of Orson Welles (who couldn't believe the
whole concept was possible), Frank Sinatra, Jonathan Winters, Alice Faye,
Raquel Welch and dozens more.
Hale must have kept a fabulous diary because BACKSTAGE
AT THE DEAN MARTIN SHOW is the most downright authentic chronicle, not to
mention the most delightfully written one about variety television that
I have ever read. How in the world did they do it, with the star available
on stage 4 in Burbank only on tape day? Well, it helps if your star is as
versatile and quick on his feet as Dean Martin, and working every week with
famed producer Greg Garrison AND the author of this book.
It's brand new, and I can't tell you how much fun
it is to read. BACKSTAGE AT THE DEAN MARTIN SHOW, by Lee Hale with Richard
D. Neely, from Taylor Publishing.
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***** (FIVE STARS) This is a must read for any admirer
of all those great television variety shows, as well as the many fans of
Rat Packer Dean Martin. The ONLY book written by anyone who EVEN MET Dean
Martin, author Lee Hale spent nearly two decades with him as musical director
and later his producer. Aptly titled, "Backstage at the Dean Martin
Show" is an exciting and loving inside look behind the scenes documenting
this great top ten show and its star, with fascinating anecdotes of the
biggest names in the business. I caught myself laughing out loud, then I
would turn a page and be totally blown away by something that I didn't expect.
Lee Hale divides his book into one chapter for each
TV season, with extra ones going beyond to'The Golddiggers', 'The Roasts'
and 'The Specials', with over 200 color and b&w photos of great stars,
most never before seen. The index itself lists hundreds of celebrities from
Hank Aaron to Ed Wynn.
As president of the 'Dean Martin Fan Center', and
someone who was actually there at NBC during those golden years, I was lucky
to have a firsthand look at the Dean Martin Show phenomenon, but Lee Hale
uses a magnifying lens... and no one can get closer than this! It is truly
a wonderful story from the bizaare beginnings to the touching end. I can't
say enough!
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Lee Hale captured all of Dean... it's a wonderful
book of the times. I was there. I know what's where, who did what and when...
a hell of a story. If I gave it to the "Washington Post" and Ben
Bradlee was still there, he would read it, turn around, and say, "Print
it."
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Lee Hale, who worked with Dean for years, has captured
in written word the heart and soul of the man; his music and his humor and
the backstage fun that made Dean's show unique. "Backstage at The Dean
Martin Show" has 'Bestseller' written all over it.
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Lee Hale has written a witty, incredibly interesting
book about Dean's show... It's a book that tells America's young audience
what that lost, wonderful world of TV variety was all about. And those of
us who were a part of it will love remembering it all.
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Lee Hale has written a wonderful book about "The
Dean Martin Show". I appeared on the show many times, and it was always
a lovely experience. I just know that Lee's book about the show will be
appreciated by everybody in the business... as well as Dean's many, many
fans around the world.
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I'm so happy that Lee Hale has put the comings
and goings of Dean's show into a book. "The Dean Martin Show"
was unique, and it's good that we can all discover it again.
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