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Hollywood Stories: a Book about Celebrities, Movie Stars, Gossip, Directors, Famous People, History, and more! Kindle Edition

3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 1,038 ratings

2012 Global Ebook Award Winner - Entertainment and Performing Arts Non-Fiction

“A WILD, FUN RIDE THROUGH TINSEL TOWN, PAST AND PRESENT!”
-- Jan Wahl, KCBS AM/FM & KRON-TV

At high noon on a cold November day in 1974, sixty-seven-year-old John Wayne faced off with the staff of the Harvard Lampoon on the famous campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The students had issued their challenge by calling the beloved American icon a fraud. Wayne, who had his new movie McQ to promote, responded by saying he would be happy to show his film in the pseudo-intellectual swamps of Harvard Square. After the screening, without writers, the former USC footballer delivered a classic performance. When one smart young man asked where he got his phony toupee, Wayne insisted the hair was real. It wasn't his, but it was real. The appreciative underclassmen loved him and after the Q and A session, they all sat down to dinner. Later Wayne, who was suffering greatly from both gout and the after effects of lung cancer (sadly the Duke only had five years to live), said that day at Harvard was the best time he ever had.


Just when you thought you've heard everything about Hollywood comes a totally original new book -- a special blend of biography, history and lore.

Hollywood Stories is packed with wild, wonderful short tales about famous stars, movies, directors and many others who have been a part of the world's most fascinating, unpredictable industry!

What makes the book unique is that the reader can go to any page and find a completely engaging and illuminating yarn. Sometimes people won't realize that they are reading about The Three Stooges or Popeye the Sailor until they come to the end of the story. The Midwest Book Review says Hollywood Stories is, "packed from cover to cover with fascinating tales."

A professional tour guide in Hollywood, Stephen Schochet has researched and told thousands of entertaining anecdotes for over twenty years. He is also the author and narrator of two audiobooks Tales of Hollywood and Fascinating Walt Disney. Tim Sika, host of the radio show Celluloid Dreams on KSJS in San Jose has called Stephen," The best storyteller about Hollywood we have ever heard."

Full of funny moments and twist endings, Hollywood Stories features an amazing, all-star cast of legendary characters and icons and will keep you totally entertained!

If you are interested in stories about Hollywood Celebrities, Movie Stars, Movie Gossip, Directors, Famous People, and Movie History, this book is for you!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Hollywood Stories: Short, Entertaining Anecdotes About the Stars and Legends of the Movies! is a treasure trove for the casual reader looking for a few quick reads as well as the serious fan looking for information
--Blog Critics

This book is an entertainment smorgasbord of short stories that you'll find yourself not wanting to put down. --Daniel L. Carter

Stephen Schochet has created a special treat for movie fans with his entertaining book,
Hollywood Stories. --Betty Jo Tucker

The book is great fun to read on many levels. --Alan Caruba's Book Views

Hollywood Stories is a thoroughly entertaining read. With many humorous parts, you find yourself laughing out loud, feeling connected with the individual being presented. --From Book Pleasures:

From the Back Cover


"Stephen really knows Hollywood! In all the times I've had him on my nighttime Jim Bohannon Show, he ALWAYS surprised me with at least one amazing tidbit of information I'd never have suspected. Usually, it's half a dozen or more."

--Jim Bohannon, Host of the Nationally Syndicated Jim Bohannon Show and America in the Morning.

"What would you expect from Hollywood's best storyteller? Amazing tales about actors, directors, writers and producers, brought to you with incredible research style and wit by a guy who knows it all, Stephen Schochet!"

--Jordan Rich, Host of The Jordan Rich Show, WBZ Radio, Boston.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004EEPNKU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hollywood Stories Publishing; 1st edition (February 20, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 20, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2223 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 334 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 1,038 ratings

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Stephen Schochet
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“At high noon on a cold November day in 1974, sixty-seven-year-old John Wayne faced off with the staff of the Harvard Lampoon on the famous campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The students had issued their challenge by calling the beloved American icon a fraud. Wayne, who had his new movie McQ to promote, responded by saying he would be happy to show his flm in the pseudo- intellectual swamps of Harvard Square. After the screening, without writers, the former USC footballer delivered a classic performance. When one smart young man asked where he got his phony toupee, Wayne insisted the hair was real. It wasn’t his, but it was real. The appreciative underclassmen loved him and after the Q and A session, they all sat down to dinner. Later Wayne, who was suffering greatly from both gout and the after effects of lung cancer (sadly the Duke only had fve years to live), said that day at Harvard was the best time he ever had.”

Hollywood, CA--Just when you thought you've heard everything about Hollywood comes a totally original new book. Hollywood Stories: Short, Entertaining Anecdotes About the Stars and Legends of the Movies! by Stephen Schochet contains a timeless treasure trove of colorful vignettes featuring an amazing all-star cast of icons including John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, Jack Nicholson, Johnny Depp, Shirley Temple, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Errol Flynn and many others both past and contemporary.

A special blend of biography, history and lore Hollywood Stories is full of humorous tales often with unexpected endings. What makes the book unique is that the reader can go to any page and find a completely engaging and illuminating yarn. Sometimes people won't realize that they are reading about The Three Stooges or Popeye the Sailor until they come to the end of the story.

A professional tour guide in Hollywood, Stephen Schochet has researched and told thousands of entertaining anecdotes for over twenty years. He is also the author and narrator of two audiobooks Tales of Hollywood and Fascinating Walt Disney. Tim Sika, host of the radio show Celluloid Dreams on KSJS in San Jose has called Stephen,” The best storyteller about Hollywood we have ever heard.” For more information about Hollywood Stories, or to schedule an interview, please contact Stephen Schochet at (310) 876-1400 or go to www.hollywoodstories.com

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
1,038 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and informative. They describe it as a light, easy read that can be picked up and started reading on any page. The storyline provides interesting tidbits about Hollywood personalities and industries. Readers appreciate the short stories that are easy to share. The format makes it easy to pick up and put down.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

217 customers mention "Enjoyment"217 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find the stories entertaining and lighthearted, with anecdotes about Hollywood celebrities. The writing style is described as enjoyable and good for reading on a rainy day.

"...Some are sad, but for the most part they are funny or quirky. Expect errors such as slip ups in movie characters names and misspellings...." Read more

"...of tidbits about Hollywood personalities and industries along with some history and little known facts...." Read more

"...A good enough read." Read more

"...It is a broad and wonderful collection of anecdotes, reflective of Stephen's love of, and respect for, his subject matter...." Read more

110 customers mention "Information content"106 positive4 negative

Customers find the book informative and enjoyable. They appreciate the interesting stories and facts about Hollywood. The subject matter is fun and revealing, with lots of characters. Readers like the insights into behaviors provided.

"...Some pieces are mere minutes long, and always provide insights into behaviors, often capped off with "Extra" brief descriptions of..." Read more

"...familiarity with Stephen's storytelling ability, work ethic and research skills that I can wholeheartedly urge anyone, from those who are skeptical..." Read more

"...Some of the stories are surprising, and most of them are interesting...." Read more

"This book was full of flashbacks for me. Some of the information was familiar; some I'd never seen...." Read more

82 customers mention "Readability"62 positive20 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well-written. They say it's a great handbook for anyone interested in the history of entertainment. The quick-look format and good bibliography make it easy to pick up and start reading on any page. While some find the index unhelpful, most consider it a handy book to have on their Kindle for when they need some quick reading.

"...It is not great literature and it isn't intended to be. It is an easy read and covers way more than what a Starline tour can or would compress in a..." Read more

"...comedians, and shows us both their private and public sides in quick-look format...." Read more

"This is a great book to have on my Kindle for when I'm in the mood for some quick, lighthearted reading...." Read more

"...All the little "Extra" paragraphs were annoying...kind of like getting a letter (now I'm dating myself) with a bunch of "PS" notes..." Read more

72 customers mention "Storyline"66 positive6 negative

Customers enjoy the book's storyline. They find it provides interesting tidbits about Hollywood personalities and industries. The stories are arranged in a flow, making them an entertaining quick read. Readers appreciate the access into the lives and personalities of famous people.

"...STORIES...isn't quite gossip but it does provide a lot of tidbits about Hollywood personalities and industries along with some history and little..." Read more

"This author packs tidbits about past and present actors and comedians, and shows us both their private and public sides in quick-look format...." Read more

"Schochet took the unprecedented path of presenting insight into various personalities without using "The Dirt"...." Read more

"An assortment of bite-size nuggets on Hollywood stars, stories about everyone from early movies up to the makers of modern blockbusters...." Read more

39 customers mention "Short stories"30 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the short stories in the book. They find them easy to read and share, with some being familiar and others surprising. The stories are concise and insightful, providing insights into celebrities' behaviors.

"...A good story and indicative of Carey's spontaneous and offbeat approach to ad libbing, it is typical of the type of things found in this book...." Read more

"...Some pieces are mere minutes long, and always provide insights into behaviors, often capped off with "Extra" brief descriptions of..." Read more

"This book has lots of short stories about mostly old time Hollywood...." Read more

"...It could probably have been about 50 pages shorter with better editing...." Read more

14 customers mention "Ease of pick up"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to pick up and read any section. They say it's a light read that you can pick up and put down easily without needing to keep track of it.

"I enjoyed the short blurb-like format of the book, easy to peruse and very entertaining...." Read more

"...nice thing about this book is that it is short segments making it easy to put down and pick back up, especially when your attention span is short or..." Read more

"...It's a fun read and you can put it down and pick it up easily. It would be a great vacation book." Read more

"...Just a light read that you can pick up and not need to keep track of where you are. Since I am a huge movie fan, I enjoyed it...." Read more

31 customers mention "Gossip content"18 positive13 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the gossip content. Some find it extensive and interesting, mentioning old stories from old sources. However, others feel the stories are anecdotal, disjointed, and questionable as to their veracity. They also mention that the information is shallow and not very informative.

"...personalities and industries along with some history and little known facts...." Read more

"...There is a good bibliography, but the index isn't at all useful for the Kindle edition where page numbers have no meaning." Read more

"...It has a number of amusing stories and anecdotes about the Hollywood crowd, mostly of the entertainers from several years back...." Read more

"...The stories seemed disjointed -, perhaps necessarily so and did not illuminate very much informative or interesting about Hollywood or stars...." Read more

28 customers mention "Enlightened content"0 positive28 negative

Customers find the book's content uninteresting, dull, and forgettable. They say the anecdotes are not amusing or enlightening. The book is described as a waste of time and not well-written.

"...It is not great literature and it isn't intended to be...." Read more

"...Interesting and entertaining, however not a life changing subject. Idle curiosity motivated the read and was worth the time...." Read more

"...This is not one of them. Its an infuriating read as one immediately becomes aware of its lack of content, like a poorly made jam it oozes from the..." Read more

"This was time and money wasted, and I skipped over large parts. It's not really a book, and the author cannot write...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2012
    Think of this as a Hollywood tour without the bus or the tourists. Written by a Hollywood tour guide, this book contains 13 chapters that begins with Comedians and winds its way through directors, stars, etc. No one is spared here.
    While I have heard some of these stories, there is undoubtedly something in this collection of Hollywood related tales that will appeal to most movie lovers. While the vast majority of these stories relate to old Hollywood, there is a smattering of contemporary stories. One I really liked involved emerging comedian Jim Carey making a surprise appearance at the Psycho house on the Universal Studio tour. A good story and indicative of Carey's spontaneous and offbeat approach to ad libbing, it is typical of the type of things found in this book. Another good one concerns how George Burns got Jack Benny to treat to breakfast.
    The anecdotes vary in length as well as tone though none are particularly long. Some are sad, but for the most part they are funny or quirky.
    Expect errors such as slip ups in movie characters names and misspellings. Nothing to drive a reader crazy since the errors are easy to spot and self-correctable for a movie fan.
    This book is a cross between celebrity stories and movie trivia. Light reading, yes! As far as I'm concerned, this book is a great diversion from the daily grind. It is not great literature and it isn't intended to be. It is an easy read and covers way more than what a Starline tour can or would compress in a limited amount of time.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2013
    HOLLYWOOD STORIES...isn't quite gossip but it does provide a lot of tidbits about Hollywood personalities and industries along with some history and little known facts. It covers comedians, science fiction, westerns, Walt Disney, directors, the transition from silent films to talkies, television, leading men and women, and lots more.
    We read about famous actors who were notorious for coming to the job late, drunk, and or unprepared. Several famous ones never learned their lines and read them from some very unusual sites. Marlon Brando never learned his lines for his 10 minutes of screen time. He read them from the bottom of Superman's diaper and was paid $19 million.
    Ad-libbing was very common. Many of them remained in the finished product. For example, during the filming of Young Frankenstein, Marty Feldman kept moving the hump on his back. Co-workers didn't notice it for a few days and it remained in the movie.
    Some actors were enjoyed being accessible to the public. Others did not. Some were very generous and known for being big tippers. Others, again, were the opposite. When a security guard who protected several celebrities was off work and hospitalized for six weeks after breaking his leg, only Sammy Davis, Jr. continued to pay him.
    As a rule, actors resented other actors stealing the scene but that didn't stop the antics, sometimes very subtle.
    Actors were often injured during production, sometimes seriously enough to require hospitalization. During his career, Slim Pickens broke almost every bone in his body.
    Some people thought that at the beginning of A Christmas Carol Scrooge was a "well-meaning entrepreneur and a contributor to society."
    W.C. Fields was so moved by the generosity of a clerk at the Kent, Ohio train station that he burst into tears.
    When he was a boy, Jackie Vernon sent fan letters to Charlie Chaplin every week for ten years, never getting a reply. Decades later, Vernon saw Chaplin in a restaurant, went up to him, and introduced himself. Chaplin replied, "Vernon...So why did you stop writing?"
    Buddy Hackett turned down a chance to replace Curly Howard with the Three Stooges because he thought they were too violent.
    When Will Rogers said "I never yet met a man I didn't like," he was referring to Leon Trotsky, whom he hadn't met. The forgotten beginning of the sentence explains Rogers' philosophy.
    Dracula (Latin for Son of Dragon) was originally a love story and Bela Lugosi was a bigger sex symbol than Clark Gable.
    General Patton regretted slapping the soldier when he realized the man was genuinely shell shocked. General Eisenhower ordered him to apologize to his troops, but their behavior prevented him from doing so.
    Samuel Leroy Jackson became the highest grossing actor in movie box office history.
    The construction of the bridge over the River Kwai caused the deaths of 13,000 POWs. Unlike in the movie, Philip Toosey did everything he could to sabotage the mission. Had he collaborated, his own men would have killed him.
    The von Trapp family left Austria with a tourist visa in 1938. The children disspised their music careers.
    For good reason, "Jaws" was nicknamed "Flaws" by its behind-the-seen staff.
    While filming The Passion of the Christ, Jim Cavaziel, on the cross, was struck by lightning. He looked up and asked, "What, you didn't like that take?" Steven Spielberg was, in many ways, a child with serious behavior problems.
    Gangsters went to see Scarface to learn how to dress and behave.
    Jesse and Frank James had a reason to be upset with the Pinkerton detectives.
    In the first three months of 1938, Snow White made $8,000,000. Tickets cost 25 cents for adults and a dime for kids.
    In the late 1940, employees of the major movie studios could be fired for owning a television set.
    The day Disneyland opened was a disaster when three times as many people showed up and the grounds weren't finished.
    When Adolph Zukor was asked how he managed to live to 103, he said, "I gave up smoking two years ago."
    After patenting the motion picture camera, Thomas Edison required all producers to pay him a fee before they could show a movie.
    Florence Lawrence (1886-1938) was the first movie star. She risked her life to save an actor on the set when a fire broke out. She became temporarily paralyzed and had to sit on the sidelines while Mary Pickford and Gloria Swanson become the silent film stars.
    Before the building of indoor soundproof sets, movies had to be filmed at night because it was quieter.
    Adolph Hitler adopted Charlie Chaplin's mustache.
    Bing Crosby was originally asked to play Lieutenant Columbo. He chose to stay retired.
    In Superman, Superman would not be harmed by bullets hitting his chest but would duck a gun thrown at him.
    In 1944, Ward Bond was hit by a car and fractured his left shin. The hospital staff was ready to amputate his leg until they recognized him and decided to repair it instead.
    Albert Einstein believed that imagination was more important than knowledge.
    Shirley Temple was a slingshot expert.
    In The Alamo, John Wayne equated the battle with the fight of the US against the Communists.
    Popeye was based on Frank Fiegel.
    Louis B. Mayer would not distribute Mickey Mouse cartoons because they were too scary and dealt with rape and murder. He said, "All the pregnant women would flee into the streets."
    Ronald Reagan became more interested in politics when his acting career stopped being profitable. He resented being in the 90% bracket at his career peak.
    Joan Crawford's relationship with her fans was her top priority. She'd invite correspondents to stay at her home and fix breakfast for them.
    Frank Sinatra told Sophia Loren that foul language showed endearment to Americans.
    The King and I was banned in Thailand because of the way it misrepresented the king.
    More skin was shown in movies to move people away from television.
    HOLLYWOOD STORIES...has a lot more to offer in addition to the tidbits I've quoted above. While it covers a lot of the earlier days, it does include more recent examples as well.
    This book was a free Amazon download.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2014
    This author packs tidbits about past and present actors and comedians, and shows us both their private and public sides in quick-look format. You can put it down and pick it up again weeks later without losing the flavor and enjoyment. Some pieces are mere minutes long, and always provide insights into behaviors, often capped off with "Extra" brief descriptions of behaviors showing the real person. A good enough read.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2010
    First, full disclosure: Stephen Schochet is a long time colleague and friend, with whom I have co-hosted a radio show. In addition, I have had the opportunity to actually hear Stephen read aloud every story featured in the book -- before publication.

    It is because of my familiarity with Stephen's storytelling ability, work ethic and research skills that I can wholeheartedly urge anyone, from those who are skeptical of Hollywood, to those who worship the stars -- and everyone in between -- to buy this book.

    It is a broad and wonderful collection of anecdotes, reflective of Stephen's love of, and respect for, his subject matter.

    The tales offer endless fascinating insights into the lives, attitudes, experiences and even politics of a vast range of Hollywood players. The book is information-packed and thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end.

    Whether devoured cover-to-cover, used as a reference book, given as a gift, or placed on a coffee table to leisurely open and enjoy, "Hollywood Stories" is a must-read, must-have book.

    Anyone who knows Stephen, knows the level of care and professionalism he applies to every project.

    He has done it again.

    What a terrific book.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2014
    While I found some of the stories to be fun reading, I was really thrown by the chopped up structure of the book. It could probably have been about 50 pages shorter with better editing. All the little "Extra" paragraphs were annoying...kind of like getting a letter (now I'm dating myself) with a bunch of "PS" notes at its end. If the content is important, include it in the main story. And if not, then leave it out. I just overall it was poorly written.

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Kevin McSweeney
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2024
    Fascinating and amusing. So easy to read even though it jumps around time periods and characters. Really enjoyed it. Thanks
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun facts about favorite stars
    Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2017
    Loved this entertaining read....simple and easy to follow mini stories about hollywood celebrities. Perfect for bedtime escape or to share good gossip with friends!
  • Luigi Basagaluppi
    1.0 out of 5 stars Hollywood stories
    Reviewed in Italy on November 10, 2014
    Libro mediocre che racconta fatti non veri ma solo battute dell'autore! Sono pieno di libri sul cinema americano! che non dicono cose come quelle che dice Stephen Schochet perché quelle che ho sono riferite o dalle persone interessate o da seri autori!
  • Peter
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
    Reviewed in Australia on December 22, 2014
    As someone who is into the old old Hollywood I found this book an interesting read with some things I did not know.
  • Mrs. D.P. Lewis
    4.0 out of 5 stars I have enjoyed this book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 4, 2017
    I have enjoyed this book. Some of the information might not be recognised by younger readers but was glad I downloaded it.

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