My new interview book tentatively titled Talking Sixties Drive-In Movies was delivered to BearManor Media 2 weeks ago. It is my first time working with this publisher who has released a number of impressive film books at reasonable prices recently.
Talking Sixties Drive-in Movies is a collection of profiles, interviews, and tributes about actors and films popular with the drive-in movie crowd during the sixties. Genres covered include beach party films, Elvis Presley musicals, spy spoofs, spaghetti westerns, biker films, and alienated youth exploitation movies. Some of the chapters center on one movie or a genre while others are career profiles with a main focus on one or two drive-in movies.
The book is somewhat arranged in chronological order based on the release of the genre or the particular movie the interview with the actor focuses on. It begins with Elvis Presley’s three-time co-star Shelley Fabares and supporting players Arlene Charles, Nancy Czar, Gail Gerber, and Christopher Riordan talking about working with him during his MGM days from 1964-1967 in such films as Viva Las Vegas, Girl Happy, Spinout, and Clambake.
https://youtu.be/lpPP75GVE8k
Bobbi Shaw remembers making her AIP Beach Party films including Pajama Party, Beach Blanket Bingo, Ski Party, and The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini.
Perpetual bikini girl Arlene Charles recalls her fun times in Hollywood working in teenage movies and her adventures in Hawaii shooting I Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew.
Rediscover drive-in heartthrob Steven Rogers from TV’s Combat! to the big screen’s The Girls on the Beach, Ski Party, Wild, Wild Winter, and Angels from Hell with brief observations from the actor.
Jan Watson remembers what is like being a decorative Slaygirl opposite Dean Martin in the Matt Helm spy spoofs The Silencers, Murderers’ Row, and The Ambushers.
Irene Tsu recounts her time in Hawaii with Elvis Presley filming Paramount’s Paradise, Hawaiian Style.
Mimsy Farmer talks about how she went from being the Queen of the Drive-In starring in such movies as Hot Rods to Hell, Riot on Sunset Strip, and Devil’s Angels to working in Europe.
Diane Bond shares memories of going from beach parties and Elvis movies to becoming a Flint Girl opposite James Coburn in the spy spoof In Like Flint.
Italian actress Nicoletta Machiavelli talks about all her spaghetti westerns including Navajo Joe with Burt Reynolds and her experience being under contract to producer Dino De Laurentiis.
https://youtu.be/dB2jMag_H0o
Lara Lindsay recalls her days as a 20th Century-Fox contract player attending their talent school and the making of the last sixties Hollywood surf movie, The Sweet Ride.
Screenwriter Stephen Yafa explains how he came to write the script for Three in the Attic and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this drive-in hit, while co-star Maggie Thrett also shares her stories about the movie and her singing and acting career.
Valerie Starrett relives her time making one of the most popular biker films of the sixties Run, Angel, Run where she was not only the female lead but the screenwriter as well.
https://youtu.be/-2ndWjwYZPU
One of the busiest young dancing actors in Hollywood during the sixties, the outspoken Christopher Riordan dishes on his teenage drive-in movies and his memorable role in the cult comedy The Gay Deceivers. [Photo from ChristopherRiordan.com]
Lada Edmund, Jr., reflects on her career as a dancer on TV’s Hullaballoo; actress, particularly her role opposite Jon Voight in the teenage coming-of-age film Out of It; and stunt woman.
A salute to Edy Williams for giving a wonderfully over-the-top performance in Beyond the Valley of the Dolls with comments from fellow Fox contract player Lara Lindsay and co-star Christopher Riordan.
https://youtu.be/g7-7SOW152M
Should I reserve an autographed copy now?
Sounds like a good move. Bear Manor is much more aggressive in promoting their products than McFarland, and much better at reaching out to their customers.
Would it be better for you if I order the book directly from Bear Manor, rather than purchasing it via Amazon?
I hope they can release it during this summer, since many of the films you’re dealing with are “summer movies.”
Thanks for the interest. Just turned in the manuscript so probably not out until early next year. Whichever is easiest for you to purchase is fine.
Something to look forward to in 2017, then.