I rarely check on my past books on Amazon, but guess I should - this review showed up in March and I'm just seeing it - have no idea who wrote it:
GuessHoo57
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and insightful memoir
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2020
Verified Purchase
This was a great peak into the life of a Hollywood presence who was prominent in the 1970s. I vividly remember Mr. Kimmel's appearances on TV from when I was a kid, and I'm a huge fan of "The First Nudie Musical," which I saw on cable when I was a teenager. That movie shaped who I am as a person, really (which is probably not something I should be so open about admitting, I suppose). I know people who are friends with, or work with, Mr. Kimmel and I've met him and seen some of the great shows he's directed, though I don't actually know him personally. I jumped at the chance to read more about his life and the making of his film(s) when I recently found out about this book. The book describes life in Hollywood for a (successful) working performer in the 70s and 80s (with some hints of what happened when things changed in the 90s), a time when the biz seemed particularly fascinating. It's a dense book, packed with information, a quality I appreciated. The author is, or at least seems to be, unflinching in his confessions, which include a brief dalliance with a noteworthy celebrity, desire for many other women, troubled personal relationships with marriage, family life and dating, and some starkly unpleasant career crises. I cannot honestly imagine what it takes to be an actor, or what drives these performers, and so it makes for riveting reading. There's a clear trajectory that I've seen in the experiences of people I know who dwell in Hollywood, a story I've heard time and again--the first "hit" really is free, and is often followed by trials that test one's interest in remaining in the business, or even in the town, literally. One needs an ego of steel, a lot of luck, and maybe a dash of naivete, to persevere. This book proves what I've long believed, personally (cliche though it may be); for some people there simply is no other way of life imaginable than show business, for whatever rewards it offers, and for someone creative, who feels compelled to create, it's a fairly obvious place to settle, for all its ups and downs. I appreciated going on a compelling ride with someone who has done so many interesting things and had such experiences as are worthy of writing a book about, and look forward to checking out his other work. Highly recommended to fans of the 70s, the "Nudie Musical" movie, showbiz memoirs, and actors in particular.
