Radiogram Review, Sept. 2008

September 2008

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New Biography is Valentine Card to Shirley Booth by Thomas A. DeLong uthor Jim Manago’s presentation reads stated. “I think I’m one of the few happy like a heartfelt Valentine card to actress people I know. I feel sorry for people that Shirley Booth from her friends, associates and cannot be alone. I feel very sorry for people fans. It’s loving and upbeat that cannot find things to do.” Those things included with fond recollections and reviews of a much-honored walking her dogs, redecoratperformer on stage, radio ing her homes, shifting furniture from room to room, and and television. At times a cleaning out closets. cut-and-paste approach, the Manago had culled a story brings to the reader a realm of published intercareer long, multifaceted and rewarding. views to tap Booth’s thoughts With background in on a variety of topics: on bestock, Booth (1898-1992), ing a “reluctant star,” on easing other people’s pain, on stage-struck at an early age, selecting a role, on her two made her Broadway bow in marriages, on Hollywood, on 1925 in Hell’s Bells opposite a pre-Hollywood Humphrey housework. Bogart. Her appearances in The book features illusLove is the Reason for It All The Shirley Booth Story trations from Booth’s later undistinguished, short-run Jim Manago career, but there are few plays never discourage this 276 pages • Softcover • $24.95 photos before 1951. Namely, undaunted trouper. Finally, BearManor Media for such Broadway hits as My a decade later, her break cam ISBN-10: 1593931468 with Three Men and a Horse, Sister Eileen, Tomorrow, the a George Abbott comedy World, Goodbye, My Fancy, that ran 835 performances. The Theatre and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, in which she Guild’s Philadelphia Story starring Katharine introduced the Arthur Schwartz-Dorothy Hepburn followed. Booth is best remembered Fields song that is the title of this book.[ for her Tony-winning role as the frumpy Thomas A. DeLong is a frequent contribuhousewife Lola in Come Back, Little Sheba—a tor to Radiogram. He is the author of Radio part she reprised in the film version and for Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary which she collected an Oscar. of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960, first She married radio actor-director Ed published in 1996 and recently in paperback. Gardner, and he cast her as lighthearted His latest work is a biography of Madame Miss Duffy, a memorable 1940s character Chiang Kai-shekd, the first lady of Nationalist with a Brooklyn twang on Duffy’s Tavern. Ed China from 1928 to 1975. played Archie the manager, of course. Booth soon added other radio assignments on all networks, and a half-dozen pages of broadcast credits will please radio fans. Booth won every major acting award with“Suspense,” CBS’s Thursday out formal dramatic or musical training, notes night thrill series, has been voted Manago. When a youngster, he “discovered” best dramatic show on the air by Shirley in the role of smart, sassy, take-charge German listeners who hear the maid in the TV sitcom Hazel that placed high program via the Armed Forces in the ratings. The series brought her two best network. The series was awarded a actress Emmys in the 1960s. “Kilroy,” the equivalent to HollyThe off-stage aspects of Booth’s life rewood’s Oscar. veal an introversion unusual for one in the brightest limelight. She described herself as a “loner” but not lonely. “I’m not an exuberant person but I am a happy person,” Booth sperdvac

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