I have read and re-read this book. It gives great insight to the sad and tumultuous life of Mario Lanza. There are many wonderful pictures and a discography of recordings for the avid collector. This book is a must for any Lanza fan!

I recently sailed from N.Y. to Southampton, England on the Q.E.II and was knocked overboard when I discovered that Chris Costello, Lou's daughter would be presenting her slide and clip show entitled "Lou's On First." What a magnificent journey Chris took me on during her 1 hour show. I immediately purchased her book in their bookstore and for the remaining voyage could not put it down! Bravo Chris Costello for your wonderful, beautiful and candid insight into a man I adored, your father!

Pamela J. Wise

Chris Costello's bio of her Dad is a charming, funny and more often than not, touching memoir. Lou and Bud were terrific men and wonderful comedians and this book is a warm salute to them, not only as comics, but as men, husbands and fathers!

In this bio.Chris Costello(Lou's Costello's third daughter)tells the true story of her father's life.And gives us all real insight into who Lou Costello really was.She covers his life from his humble beginnings in Patterson,New Jersey to his cross country trek to Los Angeles,Cal. to try and be a movie star.To his difficult days as a studio laborer(Studio set designer)and stuntman to his early days as a Burlesque clown working with several partners and the true story of how Lou Costello first met Bud Abbott and how they really teamed up.She also tells what caused the problems between the two men and the actual events that lead to the untimely death of the little brother that she never really knew(Lou Costello Jr."Little Butch")and the real cause of the team's second and final breakup.There are also insights into Lou's family.His relationship with his Wife Ann(Which was not as bad as what was depicted in Mr.Bob Thomas'book:Bud & Lou)and his three daughters.And the problems that were instigaited by Lou's mother:Mrs.Helen(Lolly)Cristillo and the team's manager:Eddie Sherman.Both Mrs.Cristillo and Mr.Sherman made an effort to destroy Poor Lou's career and personal life.This is one of the few bios on a famous performer that shows us a more three dimenstional look at this talented but troubled clown.Without the book turning into an ugly scathology.A book worth having.Bravo Chris! Kevin S.Butler.

I bought this book back in 1979 and I have not put it down since. It is the true story of a clown that had his heart broken more than once but always had a smile and a warm heart for those he loved and those he never knew. I live one town over from Paterson NJ where Lou was from and I had the pleasure to meet his daughter Chris at a fan club gathering and if Lou were with us today he would be very proud of his little girl. God bless Lou and Bud and God Bless Chris for sharing her very special story with us.

As one of the critics says; this i s indeed a pageturner... However, there are numerous faults facts in this book. Among them includes that the film IT`S A PLEASURE was a Fox film. Wrong, it was produced by International and released by RKO. Several critical comments on her films are stolen from among others Leslie Halliwell, a notable filmcritic and the ONLY bible for moviebuffs until internet movie database came along. Stories of Sonja and Tyrone are also way over the top; the talk they had in the dressingroom - how did Leif Henie and Raymond Strait get hold of t h a t? Leif was still in Norway at the time. However. There are several items that distinguish this biography; the stories by Sonja`s secretary Dorothy Stevens in particular... It is true that in creating the ice-skating star Sonja Henie, her father created a monster. But in the long run Sonja suffered from it. She was never taught to be a normal person. And indeed: She gave Norway a place in the sun and donated with her third husband Niels Onstad the Henie-Onstad ArtGallery near Oslo. U should visit it if u came to Norway. All of Sonja`s medals and trophies are in a well-guarded room and photos etc from her films are displayed in a huge basement. It must never be forgotten that she gave our nation a great deal - indeed giving the community of Bærum a home for retired people. U WILL see this reading this book that she was a trouper - a woman who was taught to fight and be competetive. And everything she tried her hands on - became lucrative. See my MORE ABOUT ME page about my thoughts of SONJA HENIE

I know and have known quite a people who worked with Sonja or were as close a friend as she would permit and this book seems to confirm all that I've heard over the last 40 years. I met Sonja in 1963 in Pittsburgh at the opening of the Pittsburgh Arena. Despite all her shortcomings as a person, there was something about her that fascinates me as a skater and as a person. Anyone interested in skating should read this book.

For those who loved to watch Sonja Heine, this book is a must, showing her amazing rise to fame, volatile temperment and unbelievable perserverance. You won't be able to put it down from start to finish.

The author does an excellent job of pulling together material from many sources to provide interesting insights into one of Hollywoood's most popular actors. Unfortunately, Mr. Garner did not provide an interview for the author and very little of his private life is revealed.

It is enjoyable to hear the background behind his various movies and TV series as well as his other business ventures.

The reader is left with an impression that Mr. Garner is a much deeper and more complex man than one would suspect.

This book was written in 1985 and so much of Mr. Garner's life is not covered. After a mid-life crisis involving numerous lawsuits, a troubled marriage, poor health, deep depression, and the "cancelled" Rockford Files, Mr. Garner seems to have mellowed considerably. It would be very interesting to update this bio with current info.

Yeah right. I'm sooo sure Lana Turner secretley confided into her "friend" and asked him to "tell it... tell it all" AFTER her death. Only so she couldn't SUE him. This book isn't even a guilty pleasure, it's just plain stupid and a waste of time. I believe it to be a bunch of lies because he wants to be a big part of the scandal. No one cares. He's a joke.

Lana Turner had a weakness for getting involved with chislers, louses, and other assorted lowlifes. With Root she hit rock bottom. I picked up a book version of this thing in a book store and almost immediately wanted to get some strong disinfectant for my hands. Cheryl Crane, Turner's daughter, considered suing. Mr. Root's "revelations" about Ms. Turner include the assertion that she confessed to him that she had murdered Johnny Stompanato and allowed her daughter to take the blame. He also claims that the bedroom where Stompanato died was an incredibly gory scene which resembled a hog butchering. Read the testimony of the police, medical examiners, and other assorted witnesses which appeared in contemporary newspaper accounts of the tragedy. Root's charges are garbage. When Lana Turner became ill, her daughter apparently cut off Root's access to her mother. Smart girl!

I found Mr. Root's book fascinating. I could just hear Lana's high heels clicking along that marble hallway on her way out the door to meet her public! Mr. Root's style is perfect to tell the tale of Hollywood's greatest glamour queen. My only suggestion is that he keep up the good work!