Hollywood Stories

Short, Entertaining Anecdotes about the Stars and Legends of the Movies

By: Stephen Schochet

Narrated by: Chaz Allen

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.

©2010 Stephen Schochet (P)2013 Stephen Schochet

Critic reviews

"The best storyteller about Hollywood we have ever heard." (Tim Sika, Celluloid Dreams)

The book is great for Hollywood History buffs!

Where does Hollywood Stories rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would say in the top ten out of 50 or so books.

What did you like best about this story?

The behind the scene anecdotes I had never heard before.

Which scene was your favorite?

Wow, too many to choose!!!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"The Handbook of Hollywood History".

A 5 hour issue of People magazine

If you keep your expectations low this book can entertain you with short 1-2 min anecdotes from old Hollywood stars. Most of the material is from the 20-50s and even as a fan of that period I did not recognize several names.

The production is incredibly annoying--the reader has sycophantic tone and every story is punctuated by a burst of "ditty" music ("da-deet-deet-da-da"). You will hear that ditty about 200 times by the end of the book.

The stories are the sort you would hear from the PR department of a movie studio--not TMZ. There's no real dirty laundry, just funny stories and the occasional "Oh you scamp!" moment, but the author is clearly infatuated with his subjects--probably a little too much.

All the stories are short

I liked this book overall. It was good that there was a range of stories from the different eras of Hollywood. But it could have been peppered with longer maybe more complex, and insightful stories. These were anecdote rather than stories. I enjoyed the way the narrator told them as if you were having a conversation.

Entertaining short stories and trivia

I wasn't sure I would enjoy this book. First off, it started with loud, jolting music between each tidbit, and secondly, the stories tended to be mostly about old Hollywood.

Once I got into the book though, I liked it. The music changes with each chapter, and the stories are interesting. I found myself googling photos of 1940's movie stars just to see what they looked like. There are modern stories, and I wish more would have been added. But it's still a fun book to pass the time.

Good

Well, it's a book. i honestly have never experienced anything like it before and I wasn't sure of the format.

Arghhh

What would have made Hollywood Stories better?

A different narrator.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The stories. Nothing not interesting.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Chaz Allen?

Anyone. His voice is horrible doing this kind of narration.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Hollywood Stories?

None

Any additional comments?

I have this book in my kindle library. Reading it is fine. Listening hurts my ears.

Hanna Barbra? Goodfellows?

What made the experience of listening to Hollywood Stories the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the little snippets of info and quick stories of the talent involved with filming everything from Birth of a Nation, Intolerance to Gladiator, Jaws and Unforgiven.

What did you like best about this story?

Humor and trivia of the history of film.

How could the performance have been better?

Not as annoyed at the voice as much, but "Goodellows"? Narration doesn't necessarily require expertise of the subject, but there were many instances of names, movie titles, etc. that were bungled. At some point there should be some quality checking, right? Someone in the studio who may have said --umm... maybe we should pronounce things correctly?

The music in between the anecdotes to tell you the joke was over is horrible. If I hear the Raiders of the Lost Ark story about Indy shooting the guy in the market instead of fighting him one more time I'm going to hear that stupid little 2 second music clip banging around in my head.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No, just fun to hear the mini stories.

Enjoyable for when you just wany something light

What made the experience of listening to Hollywood Stories the most enjoyable?

Fun little stories about celebrities past and present. No pretense no drama just pure entertainment

What did you like best about this story?

It was upbeat and entertaining. It is a group of anecdotes that is relatable to everyone. Nothing salacious just a glimpse into the wit and wisdom of stars we all know.

What does Chaz Allen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice, enthusiasm and inflection. I enjoyed listening to him very much.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it certainly isn't that type of book. I usually listen when I am walking or doing something else. It doesn't require concentration or attention. I use it as filler mainly.

Any additional comments?

Love to see more books of this type

Annoying music!

There is annoying music in between each story. The narrator also mispronounces names constantly. The whole thing was hard to listen to.

Blah Blah Blah

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I don't know who would enjoy this very annoying book. The format features anecdotes about the film industry in quick sound bytes. The narrator has a high pitched sing song voice and each anecdote is ended with a quick burst of music. And, the anecdotes are dated and uninteresting. For example, in one George Burns sticks Jack Benny with a lunch bill because Jack was known to be cheap. Da dum dum. No thanks.

Would you ever listen to anything by Stephen Schochet again?

I'd have to read other reviews first.

Would you be willing to try another one of Chaz Allen’s performances?

No. He should look for another job.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Annoyance