This book cool yo , peace out homey g i wanna give a shout out to my man purple sweta
Keep rollin.

Death of a Transvestite is Ed Wood's sequel to his previous pulp novel, Killer in Drag. As in Killer, the main character is angora-loving, cross-dressing, professional killer Glen Marker who is now sitting on death row. Mere hours before his execution, Glen agrees to provide the sympathetic the Warden with a confession to his crimes in return for one thing. What is Glen's price? He wants to be allowed to meet his fate not as Glen but as Glenda. As Charlie, another sympathetic guard, goes off to ransack his daughter's bedroom for a proper outfit (yes, the entire book is like this and God bless it), Glen gives the details of his sordid final days of freedom in Hollywood. And from there, Wood spins a tale of two cross-dressing killers, a young actress with sadomasochistic tendencies, and hippies (though Wood, unknowingly proving just how endearingly unhip he really was, insists on referring to them as not Beatniks but just simply 'niks). The hippie subplot (essentially having to do with outside agitators slipping LSD to Hollywood teenagers in order to turn them into cop-hating zombies) is perhaps indicative of the style of the book as a whole -- it comes out of nowhere, is obviously the product of an out-of-touch mind desperately trying to make a socially relavent statement, and it somehow works within the demented world that Wood creates in this book. No, this is not an undiscovered masterpiece of a book. In fact, its pretty sordid and at times, one can see signs of the alcoholic dementia that would destroy Wood in his later years. But, if you're an Ed Wood fan, its a must-read. And, unlike Killer in Drag, Death actually does (in its own twisted way) work even if separated from the campy reputation of the man who wrote it.

Death of a Transvestite picks up directly where Killer in Drag ends and features most of the same character but in style, it is a very different book. Written two years after Killer, Death of a Transvestite has a streak of fear and paranoia running through it as well as several caustic and bitter comments on the state of the Hollywood film industry. Whereas Killer featured a bizarre sincerity to its plea for tolerance, Death is almost a work of nihilism. As such, in tone and style, it is far different from the work that proceeded it. In that way, it resembles the first two Frankenstien films directed by another bitter casualty of Hollywood, James Whale. Whereas the first Frankenstien was almost somber, Whale's Bride of Frankenstien, while obviously continuing the story of the first film, was a deliberately insane, middle finger to the Hollywood establishment. The same analogy can be applied to Wood's two Glen Marker books (though he'd, undoubtly, perfer an analogy involving Bela Lugosi's Dracula as opposed to the classic Karloff films). If Killer was one of Wood's last attempts to turn pulp into art, Death of a Transvestite was his final admission that sometimes, pure trash is preferable to both.

L.A. POLICE REPORT #9

Patrolman Kelton: "Why do I always get hooked up with these spook details? Monsters, graves, bodies, drag queens. There's a full fledged riot going on and I have to investigate the DEATH OF A TRANSVESTITE, not to mention a KILLER IN DRAG lying wounded next to him, his blood oozing out like whiskey from a broken bottle."

Lieutenant John Harper: "No doubt about it, that's the ugliest drag queen I've ever seen. He's dead...murdered...and somebody's responsible!"

Patrolman Kelton: "The ambulance is on the way but, with the riot going on, the traffic is jammed up tighter than this drag queen's sweater. Do you think the rioters will let the ambulance through? What do you think will be the next obstacle they'll put in our way?"

Lieutenant John Harper: "Well, as long as they can think we'll have our problems. I don't believe what I'm seeing!"

Inspector Daniel Clay, recently shot dead in the line of duty, is approaching them. He is a huge hulk of a man. Although he was buried in his finest suit, he is wearing red high heels, pink capri pants and a pink angora sweater. Atop his huge, bald head is a disheveled blonde wig. He approaches them in a menacing manner and, acting on instinct, they begin shooting at him. They empty several rounds into him at point blank range, but it has no effect on him.

Patrolman Kelton: "Clay is dead, and we buried him. How are we going to kill somebody that's already dead? Dead! And yet there he stands! I don't believe what I'm seeing!"

Just then a flying saucer buzzes them. It projects a beam of blue light on the scene as an ambulance screeches into view.

Ambulance Driver Criswell: "That flying saucer has been following us since we left the hospital. It guided us right to this spot."

Lieutenant John Harper: "I don't see a flying saucer. I see a weather balloon surrounded by swamp gas, and that's all I see."

Ambulance Driver Criswell: "You see? You see? Your stupid minds...stupid! Stupid!"

What a wonderful trash wallow!!! This represents the best (or worst, I guess) of pulp fiction. It's all here-- the mob, a redhead who gets thrown into the East River in a weighted bag, lots of kinky sex, plenty of murder, and a truckload of hookers with and without hearts of gold. But Ed Wood gives the whole package a new twist with his genuinely fascinating and complex portrayals of transvestites(something not easy to find when this book was written, nor when the movie (Glen or Glenda, and it is essentially the same character) was made.) Ed Wood comes across as a potentially brilliant writer who, unfortunately, never had the chance to develop his craft in a disciplined way. READ THIS BOOK!

Once you open the pages of this fine book, you are taken into the world of one interesting man and the wild and wacky and, ultimately, sad world he lived in. Of course, I'm talking about Edward D. Wood, Jr. This is the man who gave us "Bride Of The Monster", "Glen Or Glenda?", and the ultimate classic, "Plan 9 From Outer Space", among others. There was no one else in the film business, or in the world, like Ed. This interesting, page turning book, by Rudolph Grey, is written in a much differnt way than the usual autobiography. The whole book, and Ed's whole story, is told in interviews from his friends, co-workers, wives, family, and even Ed Wood himself. This book, written in a different fashion, is very suiting to Ed, because he was quite different himself. Ed was accused of being the worst filmmaker in the world and made the worst films to ever be captured on film. Were they bad?. Yes. But you see, to Ed, they were masterpieces. This is what he wanted to do. Ed was just like any other person who dreamed of one day getting into the movie business and living his dream. He went to the movies all the time and even made his own. He was just like everybody else. Well, I guess not like EVERYONE else. Ed liked to wear angora sweaters and dress up in other women's clothing. He wasn't gay, it was just something he liked to do. The parts in the book dealing with how he got to like it and how he would ask and beg women for their angora items is funny. He was a real ladie's man. He loved them. He was married quite a few times. Besides Ed's life, the book also tells how the movie industry was and what it took to get movies made. Since Ed was a nobody and didn't have money, his movie making days were not the same as an actual star's. The book gives great insight into the art and money making side of the industry. Ed's struggles to find money and get his fillms made are intriguing. The guy might not of been a businessman or an all together competent filmmaker, but he knew what he wanted and how to get it. People might laugh nowadays about how cheep things looked, or how certain things were made out of any ordinary thing, but that was the genius of Ed. He was always thinking. In between shots he could make a tombstone or a coffin and have it ready to go. This is more inspirational than any young, hot shot director of today working with the top of line CGI effects. That may be cool and fun, but Ed was a real director. He made what he wanted. As with the usual 'infamous' type celebrity, the happy story quickly goes downhill. Ed's last years were awful and dreary. No money, no nothing, and no health. It was sad to see this guy who seemed to be filled with joy, even if everything he did was laughed at and ridiculed, turn into such a sad character. This is a book that will have you flipping to each page to read more about Ed's crazy life and his incredible time in the biz. This is a great book. Yoou need to get it.

Nightmare in Ecstacy is an oral history of Edward D. Wood, Jr., the infamous filmmaker who has somewhat unfairly become known as the worst filmmaker of all time. The book's author, Rudolph Grey, tells Wood's story through the recollections of Wood's associates, a motely crew of dreamers, self-promoters, and minor celebrities who -- while clear-eyed about Wood's lack of talent -- all seem to retain a rather touching loyalty to the memory of the hapless friend. Through their recollections, we get a sad but strangely uplifting story of a professional misfit (amongst his many eccentricities, Wood's most notorious hobby was wearing women's clothing and developing a fetish for angora sweaters) who sought the approval of society the only way he could imagine -- by making it big in Hollywood! What's truly amazing is that Wood managed to produce a recognizable oevure of films that are still watched and tracked down by film lovers today. Grey's book shows how Wood managed to accomplish this while also giving us a warts-and-all portrait of one of the most unique men to ever find himself living in the usually unexplored dark corners of Hollywood. Along with revealing the true Ed Wood, the book also gives us fascinating character portraits of the gang of eccentrics that surrounded Wood -- everyone from wrestler Tor Johnson, psychic Criswell, the delightfully caustic Vampira, to the tragically declining Bela Lugosi. Grey's book becomes a valuable, vivid record of the underside of Hollywood; a portrait of the side of the entertainment capitol of the world that the rest of the world is rarely allowed to see.

Edward D. Wood, Jr. specialized in making movies that weren't really all that good. In fact, the majority of them have recieved a sort of fame based on the assumption that they represent the worst films ever to come out of Hollywood. As his films have recently achieved a sort of camp appreciation, so has the late Mr. Wood. In fact, he has become such a legendary figure of incompetent amusement that it is easy to forget that, at one time, Ed Wood was no different than any other aspiring filmmaker -- he wanted to make films, he had next to no money or important connections in the film industry, and nobody took him all that seriously. Yet, unlike the majority of others who come to Hollywood without a prayer, Ed Wood actually succeeded in making a sizeable number of films (regardless of their quality) and ultimately, died a rather tragic, early death as a result of pursuing his dream. It's easy to forget that before he became a figure of camp amusement, Ed Wood was an actual human being and that's why we're lucky to have Rudolph Grey's humorous yet ultimately melancholy biography Nightmare in Ecstacy to remind us of that.

This oral biography of the late Mr. Wood states things nicely, entertainingly, and with the humor AND respect it requires. The basis for the Burton picture, it is actually a deserved appreciation of a man derided as a hack who, though it was true, loved the busines, and thus deserves our aforementioned respect. OK--you can laugh now--as he would have. Buy this.

Ed Wood is famous as "the world's worst director." That title was never true, because his movies were always interesting even on a shoestring budget. In this book, the Great Man offers his [intentionally] hilarious advice for those aspiring to Hollywood. "Stay home," he insists. "You can be a devoted actor or actress there as well as any place."

All of his favorite fetishes are here in this book as he explores the [1960s version of] seedy Hollywood. He manages to mention "angora sweaters" nearly a dozen times throughout the book. Mr. Wood warns starlets that there isn't any film in that screen test camera. He explains how to seem like a bigshot while living a dive apartment-- have all your meetings downstairs at the complex's POOL. He brags that all of his movies got RELEASED [wow]-- unlike some other cheapie
directors. He even explains how to live for FREE in Hollywood [sleep in the park-- but don't forget blankets].

Chapter Ten: How to Make a Cheap Picture and Fail. "This is the easiest chapter of all to write,"-- Ed's implied admission that maybe he isn't the Hollywood BigWig he pretends to be.

Ed wrote his books as a stream of consciousness-- and it shows. But "Hollywood Rat Race" is like having a great three hour conversion with someone who's seen it all... and can still laugh about it!

It seems too good to be true-Ed Wood actually wrote a book on how to make it in Hollywood!It would be funny if it weren't so sad.Actually,Ed has some good advice on what to do once you get to tinseltown.He wrote the book in the 60's,but much of his advice still holds up.If you are an Ed Wood fan,you MUST read this book.