Hollywood Stories: Short, Entertaining Anecdotes about the Stars and Legends of the Movies
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Hollywood Stories: Short, Entertaining Anecdotes about the Stars and Legends of the Movies Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Stephen Schochet (Author, Publisher), Chaz Allen (Narrator)
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 1,028 ratings
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Just when you thought you've heard it all about Hollywood, comes a completely 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. This includes: John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, Jack Nicholson, Johnny Depp, Shirley Temple, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Errol Flynn, and many others.

A special blend of biography, history, and lore, Hollywood Stories is full of humorous , engaging, and illuminating tales often with unexpected endings. Sometimes people won't realize that they are hearing about The Three Stooges or Popeye the Sailor until they come to the end of the story.

For example: 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 a 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, and 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 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.

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.

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  1. Listening Length
    11 hours and 13 minutes
  2. Author
    Stephen Schochet
  3. Narrator
    Chaz Allen
  4. Audible release date
    April 25, 2013
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Stephen Schochet
  7. ASIN
    B00CJ43Y5I
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 11 hours and 13 minutes
Author Stephen Schochet
Narrator Chaz Allen
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date April 25, 2013
Publisher Stephen Schochet
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B00CJ43Y5I
Best Sellers Rank #266,828 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#767 in Art (Audible Books & Originals)
#790 in Film & TV
#1,737 in Art of Film & Video

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8 out of 5
1,028 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

R PRIUS
5.0 out of 5 stars A Compendium of Movie Tales
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2012
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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
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Lover.of.Books
4.0 out of 5 stars Lighthearted Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2014
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This is a great book to have on my Kindle for when I'm in the mood for some quick, lighthearted reading. Some of the stories are surprising, and most of them are interesting. The only thing I would say is that the book jumps around in time rather erratically, rather than being more organized by stars of certain eras. So there may be one story of a star from the 80s and then 2 or 3 from the Charlie Chaplin era. I didn't grow up watching people from the Charlie Chaplin era and so are really not interested in stories about them, but I kind of have to wade through those stories in order to hit upon one of someone I'm familiar with.

Still, it's a fun read.
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Pop Bop
3.0 out of 5 stars O.K., I'll read one more. Well, maybe one more. O.K. Just one more. So, one more then.
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2016
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I'm a sucker for "bathroom book" collections, but they're a lot harder to do well than you might suspect. This one turned out to be very entertaining, mainly because the author didn't try to muscle his way into the stories and the tales were about stars with whom I am familiar. I'm not sure if younger readers would recognize most of these performers, but I could be wrong there.

In any event, the beauty of this sort of project is that if some bit, paragraph, snippet or short tale doesn't grab you, then another is coming right down the line after it. For what it's worth I had a real potato chip experience with this, and kept saying "Just one more" as I tried to move on. High praise indeed.
2 people found this helpful
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JMP
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have Book Authored By a Hollywood Pro
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2010
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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
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Top reviews from other countries

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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun facts about favorite stars
Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2017
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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!
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Mr Trevor P Coulton
5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute winner
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2015
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An interesting compilation... The book suffered not at all from being a series of vignettes. It allows the reader to stroll through the book, breaking off at any time to return later & pick up the story line again...
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Luigi Basagaluppi
1.0 out of 5 stars Hollywood stories
Reviewed in Italy on November 10, 2014
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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!
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Peter
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
Reviewed in Australia on December 22, 2014
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As someone who is into the old old Hollywood I found this book an interesting read with some things I did not know.
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Devere Wolfe
4.0 out of 5 stars Just read and enjoy it for what it is
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 21, 2015
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Who, as a film buff, is not interested in the lives of their Heroes. Scandals aside this book shows Hollywood in a mixed light. Careers are made and broken in Hollywood. Just read and enjoy it for what it is.
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