This is the first blog I have written in a while. I was busy writing and publishing a new book. Anita and I wrote and published, Our Hollywood Tales, a different type of Hollywood story. We like to call it: Hollywood in the trenches. It tells how two young, ambitious ex-New Yorkers turn their lives around to make careers in the entertainment industry. You’ll read about our successes and failures, artistic collaborations, friends and mentors, and favorite things about Hollywood. The setting is the later part of the 20th century when we could still rub elbows with some of Hollywood’s most legendary icons.
The book is available in print and ebook. Many friends and mentors are mentioned in the book. You might be one of them.
I encourage you to buy it at your local bookstore; they can special order it for you if it’s not in stock. Our Crested Butte friends can get it a Townie Books. Anita and I will be doing a reading/signing of the book at Townie Books on September 7th at 7 p.m.
You can always get a copy at Amazon.com and searching for Our Hollywood Tales.
I’m sad to say that during the time I was thinking about writing this blog, three friends passed away. Rest in peace: Roz Taucher (artist), Ermanno Vanino (writer, filmmaker), and Peter Bridges (diplomat, author). They will be missed.
(on the left is the home of the Mountain Theatre)
Besides the publication of our book, the other bright spot was the 50th Anniversary Celebration for the Crested Butte Mountain Theatre on the evening of August 4th at the home of Joel Benisch and Betsy Laux. This magnificent house has a theatre in the backyard. The hosts donate the space to non-profits for free. It was a fundraiser for the theatre, with about 150 people in attendance.
Anita and I love the Mountain Theatre and were on the board of directors for nine years. I also had the pleasure of writing for the theatre and acting and directing. We saw and talked at the party with many of our theatre friends we hadn’t seen in a while. Besides the delicious food and drinks, many of the theatre’s talented people sang, danced, and performed scenes from past plays, as well as a new 10-minute play by our friend Eric Ross, one of the founding members of the theatre. He and George Sibley were instrumental in the early days of the Mountain Theatre. These two gentlemen spoke about the creation of theatre in Crested Butte. Until then, lots of townsfolk just skied, hung out at the local bars, and drank. Eric and George were given awards for their contributions, as was retiring managing director Stan Weil.
Following the celebration, we spent several more days in Crested Butte. One of the other fun things we did was to get together with my former library co-workers at the Almont Resort for dinner. It was also Art’s Fair Weekend, and the fair was celebrating its 50th Anniversary as well. On Saturday, we attended the fair, enjoyed the art, and got to see more friends.
We moved out of Crested Butte almost six years ago, but it still feels like home when we return. We get so much love and good praise from our friends and acquaintances that it is heartwarming, and we always look forward to the next trip.
(on the right is the venue for the 50th Anniversary Celebration)
If you have read our new book Our Hollywood Tales, it will help us if you would please post a review for the book on Amazon.
Until my next blog, stay safe and healthy.
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