My long awaited tribute book on Carol Lynley is now available for purchase via BearManor Media.
17 thoughts on “Carol Lynley”
Sounds great, I’ve ordered a copy from Amazon. It may arrive as soon as this Friday. I’ll probably read it slowly, perhaps one film or TV review per day. I’m currently reading another Bear Manor book very slowly, Mark McGee’s recent book about 1950’s juvenile delinquent films. I’m reading one review per day, just to make the pleasure last as long as possible.
Thanks so much for getting a copy. Hope you enjoy. Even if you do not, please would appreciate an Amazon review. Helps build up awareness of the book. BTW, I have Teenage Thunder and love it. That is my solo Amazon review for it listed. BearManor did a beautiful job with it and I love those movies too.
Both of those books are books that I will be reading very slowly (just one review per day, to “prolong the joy”), so it may be awhile before I review CAROL LYNLEY on Amazon, or TEENAGE THUNDER for that matter.
Off the subject, I just saw a short quote from you in the new book DAD MADE DIRTY MOVIES, about Stephen Apostolof. You are identified as a film historian, and there’s a one-line quote attributed to you.
I’m really enjoying the Lynley book, although I’m only reading a few pages a day (I’ve just passed the page 300 point. I saw most of her theatrical films in theaters, other than HARLOW and NORWOOD. By the same token, I missed most of her TV performances, due to being away at college during 1971-1975, so it’s interesting to read about those.
I was surprised by how hefty this book is. I thought it would be like a “typical” McFarland or Bear Manor paperback, but it’s more like a college textbook at 700-pjus pages.
I’m reading it now and cannot get over how extensively researched and thorough it is. You uncovered a lot of interesting facts about her career that I had never heard before. Carol as Cora in Fantastic Voyage? Wow. I wasn’t aware of her impressive and extensive work on the stage either, but it explains how she was able to continue working in film and television and give solid performances time and time again. She knew her craft and she was reliably professional and prepared. Hers is in some respects a textbook case of someone having talent and beauty but missing out on a breakthrough role in a major film. I thought your perspective on why she never achieved huge stardom was entirely convincing and fair, all of which makes her even more fascinating. Oh, to have spent an evening with her to hear stories about living at Chateau Marmont in the seventies. Great job and I’ll hop over to Amazon and write a review shortly.
Thank you and so glad you enjoyed it. I tried to give a fair and balanced look at her career even after admitting what a fanboy I was. Glad it came through.
I’m really enjoying reading about the end of Lynley’s career, in oddball projects like DARK TOWER, BLACKOUT, and the play FATAL ATTRACTION. I might have to find a boot of BLACKOUT, as it sounds like a “horror hag” film with the aging actress cast as an unbalanced and possibly lethal character.
When I finish the Carol Lynley book, my next book will be another 700 page book about a blonde actress, namely PEEKABOO about Veronica Lake. Oddly, both Lynley and Lake enacted deranged scientists at the end of their careers (Lynley in the thriller about the rats, and Lake as a maggot-breeding neo Nazi in FLESH FEAST).
It’s too bad that Lynley let so many “romances” interfere with her career, but I gather that she was able to live the life that she wanted to lead, and enjoyed doing so.
Glad you are liking it. If I knew it would have been 700 pages I would have cut it but it is what it is. Yes, though Lynley claimed always to be an independent woman, she let the men in her life effect her career. Blackout is definitely worth a look.
Speaking of DARK TOWER, I see that it will be released on Blu-ray on January 26th, 2021, from Vinegar Syndrome. I don’t know if it’s worth a purchase to me, but the Blu-ray should be vastly better quality than previous releases of this title. I wish they had picked BLACKOUT instead.
Right now, I’m enjoying reading about Lynley’s many appearances on game shows and other TV shows. I’m still in the 60’s era at present.
Dark Tower is not worth it. I so wish Blackout would come out on Blu-ray. There was talk per its cinematographer that I interviewed for my book but Doug Adams disappeared. We were suppose to speak for my book but he ghosted me and never responded to any of my emails to pick a date and time.tryng
Really enjoyed the supplementary section of TV appearances, which was amazingly complete. You even had some online interviews listed, so the research was amazing. Were there even more appearances than those listed?
A few memories were jogged for me in this section. One, I used to watch The Move Game, to see which stars were knowledgeable about films. Some were, but others only seemed to know about their own credits. Two of the most knowledgeable celebrity panelists were John Saxon and Larry Blyden. I liked Army Archerd on that show, but found Sonny Fox to be smarmy, if not downright creepy.
Two, I actually watched that Democratic Party Telethon back in 1972. The only celebrity I recall seeing on it was Paul Newman, whom you didn’t mention. I considered myself a Republican back then, although I was still shy of 21 then and couldn’t vote. It was Ronald Reagan who later “convinced” me to become a Democrat.
Three, I watched some of The Tonight Show when David Steinberg was the guest host, for a week or possibly two in 1971. The only blondes I remember seeing during his reign were a couple of Roller Derby skaters, including the famous “Blonde Amazon” Joan Weston.
Unfortunately, I missed seeing Lynley on those specific shows, but your “Carol Lynley for the Block” appendix has brought back a lot of memories for me. Great fun to read!
Finished the book and have submitted a review on Amazon. I deliberately didn’t read the other reviews before submitting mine, so that my comments wouldn’t be affected by the other reviewers.
Tom – I can’t thank you enough for the thoroughly researched, fair, and entertaining book on Carol Lynley and I am SO glad it WAS 700 pages long. I could have still remained absorbed if it was twice that long!
It’s become a cliche for someone to say ‘I was JUST like you’ but when it came to Carol – as a fan – I WAS just like you. I related so much to your excitement and fascination with her.
For me (as with you and many others) it all started with Poseidon Adventure- a movie that from that first screening at a theatre when I was 13 forever effected my life and interest in films, ships and Carol Lynley. . When she came on singing the Morning After I was agog. Despite my movie-going regularity in the ‘70s being dominated by actresses like Jane Fonda, Barbra Streisand, Faye Dunaway and Sally Field – I only was interested in Carol.
When I came across a picture of her in a Rona Barrett magazine, that was the start of a scrapbook where I’d paste in anything I ever came across about her.
I saw her at the movies (I’m in Australia) in ‘The Cat & the Canary’, on video in ‘Bad Georgia Road’ and in Poseidon so many times I can quote most of the script off the top of my head.
I had a dream come true in 2005 and flew half way around the world to an autograph signing event at a hotel in London to meet her. Good grief, it was like (as she’d done so many times) living a dream on ‘Fantasy Island’. I treasure the picture I have of the two of us. I wanted to chat to her for ages, and had amassed about 78 questions I wanted to ask her (and got in about 3 before I had to move along and give others behind me a chance to meet her).
I moved away and stood in the doorway looking back at her like I was looking at a unicorn- unable to take in that I’d just met her after following her career for more than 30 years.
I too saw her in the Movieland Wax Museum on a trip to the US in 2000, I read ‘Heroines of the Horrors’ (the most comprehensive piece written about her until you came along), and read your ‘Duelling Harlows’ (and loved it).
I am so glad I was around to read your treasure trove on Carol (which I read slowly as I rewatched many of her films & TV roles on YouTube so the book came even more alive).
I’ve still got the MAD satire ‘Bubby Lake Missed … By A Mile’ (& the MAD Poseidon one you mentioned), as well as Cracked’s ‘The Perspirin’ Adventure’ (in which the artist perfectly draws Carol). And I still have the scrapbook, plus years of memories of how much I enjoyed seeing her work.
You honoured her well with your book – a considerable and heart warming achievement- well done!
Thank you so much for sharing. I am glad you so enjoyed the book. You are right our experience being a fan of Carol Lynley is so similar. I had no idea Mad did a spoof on Bunny Lake. If you are able to put a short review on Amazon or Goodreads I would appreciate it. And thank you again for your kind words about the book. Best, Tom
Sounds great, I’ve ordered a copy from Amazon. It may arrive as soon as this Friday. I’ll probably read it slowly, perhaps one film or TV review per day. I’m currently reading another Bear Manor book very slowly, Mark McGee’s recent book about 1950’s juvenile delinquent films. I’m reading one review per day, just to make the pleasure last as long as possible.
Thanks so much for getting a copy. Hope you enjoy. Even if you do not, please would appreciate an Amazon review. Helps build up awareness of the book. BTW, I have Teenage Thunder and love it. That is my solo Amazon review for it listed. BearManor did a beautiful job with it and I love those movies too.
Both of those books are books that I will be reading very slowly (just one review per day, to “prolong the joy”), so it may be awhile before I review CAROL LYNLEY on Amazon, or TEENAGE THUNDER for that matter.
Off the subject, I just saw a short quote from you in the new book DAD MADE DIRTY MOVIES, about Stephen Apostolof. You are identified as a film historian, and there’s a one-line quote attributed to you.
Hope you enjoy the books! I am not familiar with that book I was quoted in. Probably a quote from one of my former books. Thanks for sharing.
I’m really enjoying the Lynley book, although I’m only reading a few pages a day (I’ve just passed the page 300 point. I saw most of her theatrical films in theaters, other than HARLOW and NORWOOD. By the same token, I missed most of her TV performances, due to being away at college during 1971-1975, so it’s interesting to read about those.
I was surprised by how hefty this book is. I thought it would be like a “typical” McFarland or Bear Manor paperback, but it’s more like a college textbook at 700-pjus pages.
Glad you are enjoying. I was surprised as well of the length and was never informed. I probably would have made cuts but it is what it is.
I’m reading it now and cannot get over how extensively researched and thorough it is. You uncovered a lot of interesting facts about her career that I had never heard before. Carol as Cora in Fantastic Voyage? Wow. I wasn’t aware of her impressive and extensive work on the stage either, but it explains how she was able to continue working in film and television and give solid performances time and time again. She knew her craft and she was reliably professional and prepared. Hers is in some respects a textbook case of someone having talent and beauty but missing out on a breakthrough role in a major film. I thought your perspective on why she never achieved huge stardom was entirely convincing and fair, all of which makes her even more fascinating. Oh, to have spent an evening with her to hear stories about living at Chateau Marmont in the seventies. Great job and I’ll hop over to Amazon and write a review shortly.
Thank you and so glad you enjoyed it. I tried to give a fair and balanced look at her career even after admitting what a fanboy I was. Glad it came through.
I’m really enjoying reading about the end of Lynley’s career, in oddball projects like DARK TOWER, BLACKOUT, and the play FATAL ATTRACTION. I might have to find a boot of BLACKOUT, as it sounds like a “horror hag” film with the aging actress cast as an unbalanced and possibly lethal character.
When I finish the Carol Lynley book, my next book will be another 700 page book about a blonde actress, namely PEEKABOO about Veronica Lake. Oddly, both Lynley and Lake enacted deranged scientists at the end of their careers (Lynley in the thriller about the rats, and Lake as a maggot-breeding neo Nazi in FLESH FEAST).
It’s too bad that Lynley let so many “romances” interfere with her career, but I gather that she was able to live the life that she wanted to lead, and enjoyed doing so.
Glad you are liking it. If I knew it would have been 700 pages I would have cut it but it is what it is. Yes, though Lynley claimed always to be an independent woman, she let the men in her life effect her career. Blackout is definitely worth a look.
Speaking of DARK TOWER, I see that it will be released on Blu-ray on January 26th, 2021, from Vinegar Syndrome. I don’t know if it’s worth a purchase to me, but the Blu-ray should be vastly better quality than previous releases of this title. I wish they had picked BLACKOUT instead.
Right now, I’m enjoying reading about Lynley’s many appearances on game shows and other TV shows. I’m still in the 60’s era at present.
Dark Tower is not worth it. I so wish Blackout would come out on Blu-ray. There was talk per its cinematographer that I interviewed for my book but Doug Adams disappeared. We were suppose to speak for my book but he ghosted me and never responded to any of my emails to pick a date and time.tryng
Really enjoyed the supplementary section of TV appearances, which was amazingly complete. You even had some online interviews listed, so the research was amazing. Were there even more appearances than those listed?
A few memories were jogged for me in this section. One, I used to watch The Move Game, to see which stars were knowledgeable about films. Some were, but others only seemed to know about their own credits. Two of the most knowledgeable celebrity panelists were John Saxon and Larry Blyden. I liked Army Archerd on that show, but found Sonny Fox to be smarmy, if not downright creepy.
Two, I actually watched that Democratic Party Telethon back in 1972. The only celebrity I recall seeing on it was Paul Newman, whom you didn’t mention. I considered myself a Republican back then, although I was still shy of 21 then and couldn’t vote. It was Ronald Reagan who later “convinced” me to become a Democrat.
Three, I watched some of The Tonight Show when David Steinberg was the guest host, for a week or possibly two in 1971. The only blondes I remember seeing during his reign were a couple of Roller Derby skaters, including the famous “Blonde Amazon” Joan Weston.
Unfortunately, I missed seeing Lynley on those specific shows, but your “Carol Lynley for the Block” appendix has brought back a lot of memories for me. Great fun to read!
Finished the book and have submitted a review on Amazon. I deliberately didn’t read the other reviews before submitting mine, so that my comments wouldn’t be affected by the other reviewers.
Thank you so much and for the kind words. It posted. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the continued support.
Tom – I can’t thank you enough for the thoroughly researched, fair, and entertaining book on Carol Lynley and I am SO glad it WAS 700 pages long. I could have still remained absorbed if it was twice that long!
It’s become a cliche for someone to say ‘I was JUST like you’ but when it came to Carol – as a fan – I WAS just like you. I related so much to your excitement and fascination with her.
For me (as with you and many others) it all started with Poseidon Adventure- a movie that from that first screening at a theatre when I was 13 forever effected my life and interest in films, ships and Carol Lynley. . When she came on singing the Morning After I was agog. Despite my movie-going regularity in the ‘70s being dominated by actresses like Jane Fonda, Barbra Streisand, Faye Dunaway and Sally Field – I only was interested in Carol.
When I came across a picture of her in a Rona Barrett magazine, that was the start of a scrapbook where I’d paste in anything I ever came across about her.
I saw her at the movies (I’m in Australia) in ‘The Cat & the Canary’, on video in ‘Bad Georgia Road’ and in Poseidon so many times I can quote most of the script off the top of my head.
I had a dream come true in 2005 and flew half way around the world to an autograph signing event at a hotel in London to meet her. Good grief, it was like (as she’d done so many times) living a dream on ‘Fantasy Island’. I treasure the picture I have of the two of us. I wanted to chat to her for ages, and had amassed about 78 questions I wanted to ask her (and got in about 3 before I had to move along and give others behind me a chance to meet her).
I moved away and stood in the doorway looking back at her like I was looking at a unicorn- unable to take in that I’d just met her after following her career for more than 30 years.
I too saw her in the Movieland Wax Museum on a trip to the US in 2000, I read ‘Heroines of the Horrors’ (the most comprehensive piece written about her until you came along), and read your ‘Duelling Harlows’ (and loved it).
I am so glad I was around to read your treasure trove on Carol (which I read slowly as I rewatched many of her films & TV roles on YouTube so the book came even more alive).
I’ve still got the MAD satire ‘Bubby Lake Missed … By A Mile’ (& the MAD Poseidon one you mentioned), as well as Cracked’s ‘The Perspirin’ Adventure’ (in which the artist perfectly draws Carol). And I still have the scrapbook, plus years of memories of how much I enjoyed seeing her work.
You honoured her well with your book – a considerable and heart warming achievement- well done!
Thank you so much for sharing. I am glad you so enjoyed the book. You are right our experience being a fan of Carol Lynley is so similar. I had no idea Mad did a spoof on Bunny Lake. If you are able to put a short review on Amazon or Goodreads I would appreciate it. And thank you again for your kind words about the book. Best, Tom