2 comments about Public Relations Campaign Strategies: Planning for Implementation (2nd Edition).

1. Professor Kendall, recently retired from active teaching at the University of Florida, crafted an excellent text for those serious about a systematic approach to meeting an organization's public relations goals. Dr. Kendall includes research methods and case studies to aid the PR practitioner in conducting a campaign and the student in understanding how effective public relations ought to be conducted. As an ex-student of Dr. Kendall and a contributer of a small case study he included in his 2nd edition, I am pleased this book has received favor in the public relations community.



2. Robert Kendall was absolutely superb in applying many of the basic concepts of public relations to actual campaign implementation strategies. His Public Relations Campaign Strategies, a book devoted entirely to the RACE model of public relations with which all PR majors are familiar, teaches those pursuing a career in public relations how to put the basic and the not-so-basic concepts of the model to practice. While emphasizing the important role research plays in PR campaign planning, implementation, and evaluation without condemning creativity, Kendall created a guide that should be on the desk or bookshelf of every working practitioner of public relations. And as if these weren't enough, Kendall provides case studies to bring his concepts to life. To say the least, Public Relations Campaign Strategies is fun, educational, and applyable reading.

1 comments about The Articulate Voice: An Introduction to Voice and Diction (4th Edition).

1. This book has helped increase my vocabulary and improve my diction greatly, I heartily recommend.

5 comments about Back to the Batcave.

1. It is hard to be sympathetic to television stars who complain about being typecast in the role that made them famous. The probabilities are overwhelming that if it were not for their landing that role, they would have had another, much more anonymous career. Adam West certainly fits into the mold of being typecast, his role as Batman forever labeled him, making it hard for anyone to ever see him in any other way. West is also like so many others in his position, they complain about the problems, only to eventually capitalize on it every way they can. In preparing this review, I went to the website adamwest.com. It is Batman all the way; the opening page pays the first part of the Batman themes. The page after that contains the entries:
   
   *) BatSightings
   *) Bat Scrapbook
   *) BatComputer
   *) BatPhone
   *) BatMail
   *) BatStore
   *) BatFanClub
   
   Fortunately, this book, a recapitulation of West's life, contains very little whining about his being typecast. It appears that West has sensibly come to terms with that, realizing that nothing he can say can change the public's perception of him. That is one of the reasons why this book was very fun to read. His perceptions of some of the guest stars, and they were many and significant, made the book worth reading. Although I have seen all the episodes, I had forgotten some of the big stars who played a villain or made a cameo.
   The Batman television show was an incredible cultural phenomenon when it took place, in some ways it was a victim of its' own incredible early success. It rose to the top so quickly that it was destined to go nowhere but down. In some ways, it was also like the original Star Trek series in that the producers were so focused on keeping the production costs down that quality was sacrificed. Like Star Trek, it only lasted three seasons, with the last being one of clear decline.
   If you are a fan of the show, then the last section of the book, which contains a synopsis of each show, makes it something that you will want to have. It brought back a lot of pleasant memories for me.



2. Maybe I'm in the minority hear but I just didn't fall all over this autobiography. Yes, I loved the show and the comdic takes on the Dynamic Duo. This book however was nothing spectacular, we don't get any real behind-the-scenes stories, just some light brief anecdotes. West covers his life in quick jumps and says this book was written for the fans of the Batman show. He's admirable in not badmouthing people and keeping it light and wispy reading but there's no meat to his bio. It's rather bland and he seems to think his acting was much better than it ever was. He seemed more focused on telling you, which women he met were the hottest and teases at romantic interludes. I truly appreciate the effort Mr. West put into his story and it's certainly fun to read and you'll read it quickly. The best chapter is his life after Batman is cancelled and how he reacted to being stereotyped. At the end of the bio is an episodic guide for the three seasons of the series with comments by the author.



3. If you follow my reviews, you know that I like Batman on a whole which probably makes me biased. Now to be sure, this book is probably not for you if you aren't a fan of the old 60s series. Well, that said, the book is absolutely phenomenal. I apologize for the cliche, but I 'just couldn't put it down.' The book is nicely divided into several chapters, and Adam talks about the different aspects of his life. A little bit on his childhood, some of his work before Batman, a moment in his life that foreshadowed his role as Batman, and elements of his domestic life. One thing you will notice in this book is that West is NOT uptight and stiff like his most famous character. He writes very flowingly and at times he touches us closely with his experiences. Some things have a comical aspect. (Like how the mask compromised his vision, so he had to get familiar with the set to avoid tripping.) He also explains that to do a character convincingly, the actor has to understand and know who he is portraying; another amusing thing was he reveals that one of the reasons he often made exaggerated gestures was to compensate for the fact that for obvious reasons, facial expressions were not so much an option for him. He also gives a generous amount of time to the other cast members. (Another thing that shows Adam's abilites as a writer is that while he will admit that his favorite villains were Newmar as Catwoman and Gorshin as the Riddler, he explains why the Joker (Romero) and the Penguin (Meredith) held the most popular villain spots. The only guest star he really knocks is Otto Preminger as Mr. Freeze. He also talks a little about the equipment like the Batmobile. (It wasn't so easy to drive.) Another thing that shows his ability to write well is that while he liked Yvonne Craig as a person, he explains (without knocking her) that he was not overly delighted at the presence of her character. Some other significant chapters focus on his personal life. (How his domestic life was affected for the worse, how being famous came with some negative elements, and how he was affected when Batman was cancelled.) There is a deep sadness in how his life was brought to a sudden detour when this happened, and how he realized that being Batman gave him some years of fame but made it difficult to find work afterwards. To be sure, he did some work in movies and telvision, but nothing really gave him the popularity of the batdays. He later tells about an experience where he had to become Batman for real one day when on a vacation, someone attacked a girl with a machete. All in all, this is an absolute MUST for fans of the 60s Batman series. Perhaps one of the greatest chapters is where he explains why he was hurt at not being asked to do Batman in the Burton movies. (And it wasn't just jealousy.) He had some really understandable reasons for being angered and hurt. (I did notice one glitch. He said he voiced a 'villain' Grey Ghost in the animated series.) Well, the Grey Ghost was not a villain. He was the childhood hero of Kevin Conroy's Batman, and on top of that Adam West's Grey Ghost helped Kevin Conroy's Batman stop the villain in that episode. A final passage that ties the book together is that even though playing Batman came with a price, he accepted that everything comes with good and bad, and that when he thinks of the good, he didn't regret it at all. This is NOT AT ALL the work of someone looking for a few dollars. This is a book full of interesting experiences, and written with honest heart felt emotions. Sometimes they are comical, sad, or objective. Good luck trying to put this book down once you pick it up. If you enjoy this book, be sure to get the dvd "Return to the Batcave." Many of the events in this book will be seen in that recent movie.



4. West shows us here how he became the comic book super hero for the ABC series which aired in 1966! Its all here the shows the casts and directors and each series plot. I think West was a great actor acting the part.



5. First, let me start off by saying that if you go to Mr. West's website, "www.adamwest.com"; you can get a personally autographed copy of his book. I think this is an absolutely great treasure to give to any "Batman" fan.
   
   Second, my opinion of his tome. Simply stated, it's a fun ride back to your childhood. It gave me the scoop on everything and anything that was "bat-ified" because of that show. The only thing I wished was that there were more stories, even if little ones.
   
   It was like a peek over the shoulder of one of my heroes from my youth. The difference now is that I can appreciate the reality of what went on outside the fantasy of Batman; what Mr. West sacrificed for the character. If you have the chance to see him in any other role, you would then understand "what could have been" in his career, though I think that he was born to be "The Caped Crusader".
   
   What a look into the 60's and what was happening! Some of it delicious, and other parts, sobering. It seems that fame and fortune truly do have a price, but dealing with its effects is what made Mr. West a real man. He does this by being humble, quite honest, and quite funny, depending what part of his on-screen/off-screen life you're reading.
   
   Some of his tales are pleasantly quirky, and others, detailed enough to feel like you were there; you remember an episode he speaks of, then you begin to think about what went on while he was filming it (the cast, the guests, etc.). Pure reading pleasure. Even the story surrounding the movie was wonderful.
   
   I feel that he respected the reader enough, as well as himself, to describe the events of his life before, during, and after "Batman" by giving you insight that spins the yarn of all that was good and not-so-good, without having to give some of the harsh details. I make great mention of this because his co-star, Burt Ward, wrote his own version of life during "Batman" and if you have any morals or sense of respect for yourself or the show, DO NOT waste your time with his book. Mr. West was most gracious in his storytelling, and he deserves all your attention.
   Get the book because "we haven't one moment to lose!".

5 comments about The 7 Steps to Stardom: How to Become a Working Actor in Movies, TV, and Commercials.

1. I have several books along these lines, and this is probably one of the easiest to follow. It is a good general overview to the business of acting. The DVD enhances the book as you watch Christina talk with her students about the seven steps; I felt I was right in the class with them. At the end of each step is a brief recap of the key points by Wink Martindale. Thanks to Christina's examples of good and bad photos and resumes, I now know what to do at my next headshot session and I've already redone my resume. I will be taking some classes from The Actor's Edge after I move, and I will definitely be submitting myself to her casting agency!



2. Co-written by founder and president of "The Acting Edge", one of Hollywood's leading acting schools for 15 years, The 7 Steps To Stardom: How To Become A Working Actor In Movies, TV, And Commercials is an easy-to-use workbook-and-DVD set that gives the practical advice on earning success in the entertainment business. Printed in color with photographs and a number of consumable pages, the workbook covers how to network and find an agent, avoiding scams, taking appropriate headshot photographs, writing an actor's resume, the business side of acting, honing one's acting skills and more. The two-hour DVD is divided into seven lesson segments: You are the Product, Acting Skills, Your Photograph, Your Resume, Your Agent, Your Unions, and Networking. Written in a direct, no-nonsense instructional, The 7 Steps To Stardom is a "must-have" for anyone contemplating or getting started in a profitable career in acting.



3. Usually, when one is looking for information on what you need to really make it in Hollywood costs a lot of money. This little book with a 2-hour DVD is amazing for what it costs! Sure, the production is a bit cheesy, but the content is amazing.
   
   Now that I have redone my headshot, and worked out my resume, I feel that I am much better prepared to deal with what I will be up against at my next audition.
   
   Thanks Christina!



4. This book is a very quick read yet its pages contain some very helpful, specific tips to enhance your resume, headshots and acting skills.
   
   I am grateful that Ms. Ferra-Gilmore is willing to share her expersites with up and coming actors.



5. This book is really well put-together - easy to use. Some of the tips and suggestions may seem like no-brainers, but there are a lot of little things you may not think of when marketing yourself in the entertainment industry. Resumes, agents, your photo, Ferra-Gilmore breaks it all down and gets you to rack your brain for other attributes you can use. A reference/workbook in one, with a two hour DVD.

4 comments about Hairspray: The Roots.

1. I was intorduced to this musical in the Fall of 2006, well after the hoop-la surrounding the original cast. I bought this book and was very happy with the care and detail that went into its production. WHile it focuses on the original cast, any true fan of this show will be amazingly happy to see behind-the-scenes of the show, hear thoughts from the creators and original stars and see pictures, pictures, and more pictures of the Nicest Kids in Town and those close to them!



2. Okay I love this book alot. It includes almost if not the entire show but I think its ridiculous how much they are charging. I bought it for literally $1.07 at the Dollar Tree, so I bought 3 for family and friends.
   But I just wanted to say that the book is awesome. If you get the book, you won't regret it. It has so many pictures and little extras so go to the dollar tree and buy it!



3. I have loved this show since I first listenend to the recording, and after seeing the show I think I may be obsessed with it. The show is completely fun and entertaining and this book does a good job at capturing the spirit and energy of the show. I particularly like all the full color photos and candids of the cast offstage as well as the "diary" entries from Marisa Jaret Winokur (Tracy) and Harvey Firestein (Edna). This book is worth it!



4. If you're a fan of the Broadway musical Hairspray, then you need this book. It's really that simple. In addition to a detailed history of the show, tons of photos, insider information, detailed analyses of previous versions of the script and the script that was eventually used, and even more information in general than you could possibly digest in one (or even two) readings, it's full of exactly the same kind of wacky, irreverant style and humor that's found in the show and that's helped to make it such a big success on Broadway. Hairspray: The Roots is hip, hilarious, colorful, and, in its own way, very musical.

   Only one thing prevents the book from being the perfect example of its kind and earning a five star rating: it does not preserve the entire complete libretto of the show, choosing instead to eliminate the dialogue in places and replace it with scene descriptions. While this is unthinkable and incomprehensible given the sheer amount of information that was included and the great care that has been put into every other element of it, in the end, this particular frustration remains minor. If you can live with that, you'll find no other flaw in this remarkable, must-own volume.

5 comments about Rod Serling's Night Gallery: An After-Hours Tour (The Television Series).

1. This book is everything that a book about a television series should be. It's smart, well-written, well organized, and entertaining. Great job!



2. Maybe I am missing something, I ordered this and expected the book to be great, reading most of these positive reviews. WRONG! I would at least expect the book to have color pictures of the titled stories. NONE exist, this is not worth the price!



3. . . . a public comment on a bizarre book, displayed here on Amazon. Each chapter is unique in its own way -- not because of any special literary quality, but because each entry captures in words, suspends in the human imagination, some frozen moments of a classic television series.
   This commentary -- a small, ordinary piece in black and white. A piece of writing known as the customer review. Offered to you now, thirty-nine simple words of a reader's reaction to a 397-page nightmare . . . "
   
   A MUST READ for any Rod Serling fan! Skelton and Benson have written a wonderful book. Their commentary reflects a brutal honesty, lauding the Gallery's outstanding stories while panning its weaker entries. A fine tribute to an underrated series!



4. I could not be any more annoyed with this extremely opinionated book. The authors inject their lousy brand-X criticism about each show and miss the mark on about every one: e.g. Patty Duke was outstanding in her episode and it was essentially the same brilliant character she played in "Valley of the Dolls". The moon landing mousetrap episode is hilariousy goofy in a way that only Serling could have pulled off. Then, on the other hand, you have them fawning over "They're Closing Down Tom Riley's Bar" -- an excellent piece to be sure, but my God do they oversell it; in the end it too has some problems. One extra star simply because they did do some research.



5. Im 24 , And most of what I recall about Night Gallery was what I initially saw chopped up on the sci-fi channel when I'd stay up late during my summer breaks . Needless to say when the first season dvd came out, I purchased without hesitation. I loved it. They just dont make TV shows like it anymore folks, and while it may not be as highly regarded as The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery holds a special place in my heart. So I was very frustrated when I looked around the net for information and came up a little less than empty handed for my troubles. I stumbled upon this book one night while trying to see if there was a release date for season 2 (there isn't) and at first worried that the book wouldn't warrant the 54$ price tag ...Well I couldn't have been more wrong in my assumption. If you are a fan of the series this book is worth well over that. This book covers almost every single aspect of the show from its inception to the years following its cancellation, and everything in between. You can tell from reading this the authors really took the time and care to gather information that this often misunderstood series deserves . I dont regret this purchase at all. It'll make a beautiful addition to any classic horror, or just television in general fan's bookshelf.

5 comments about The Girl Who Walked Home Alone: Bette Davis - A Personal Biography.

1. This is a beautifully written biography by someone who knew the legend her self. Unlike Sikov's biography, Chandler is able to give us more insight than we can gather by watching her films. The details are extraordinary, but there is something else which strikes the reader. It is Bette's voice which comes through the pages clear as a bell.
   
   Davis requested that Chandler write her biography, and the result is powerful. No one delivers the story of Bette's life better than she can her self, and Chandler allows her to do that. All of Bette's wit, spunk and vitality are intact in this engrossing biography. Bravo!



2. I ran across this book in the library when I was doing some research on old Hollywood and the title "The Girl Who Walked Home Alone" really struck me. Being as this was the first I've ever read about Bette Davis, I can't really say how true to form or redundant it may be in relation to previous biographies or accounts of her life. What I liked most about this book was the perspective it gave, the fact that it encompassed not just Miss Davis's take on things but those around her as well. She really had a larger-than-life life, which you really can't help but admire her for living through. I found myself with great sympathy and respect for her after reading this book. Many may be turned off by the fact that the entire biography is a mere compiling of quotes with little narrative by the author herself, but I rather liked it that way. No false second-hand impressions here. I've never been a fan of biographers who try to get into the heads of their subjects and recount from their own imagination as if they themselves were the authority in the matter, all knowing and telling. Here, all concerned spoke for themselves (assuming they were accurately quoted) and the interpretation is left to the reader basically. I thought Miss Davis herself came across rather intelligent and forthright in looking into her own life, though of course not entirely unbiased in her own way. But it gave her a very human quality that I found quite endearing. And with age comes insight it seems, as she detailed the events in her life. However, the amount of typos and grammatical errors in the book was distracting. I mean, it wasn't riddled with them but definitely made me think were there no editors around or did they all just snooze on the job? But overall, a pretty engrossing read about a thoroughly interesting person of substance.



3. The Girl Who Walked Home Alone: Bette Davis, A Personal Biography is a recommended pick for any collection strong in movie star biographies, especially those which aren't overstocked on Bette Davis coverage's already. Film biographer Charlotte Chandler interviewed Davis extensively in the last decade of her life, so this biography includes many of Davis' own words and insights, rather than the usual third-party analysis from those who just have had her films and reference materials to work from. A centerfold of black and white photos completes a wonderful coverage, highly recommended for any library strong in film biography.



4. I agree with the reviewer below who said there is nothing new here. The author breezes through Davis' life with Davis interjecting here and there. Its been done before and a lot better (notably Whitney Stine's book 'Mother Goddam'). The author writes very poorly as well and the book is labyrinthical and very confusing. One doesn't know when Davis is talking, when the author is talking, or when one of the people whom the author interviewed is talking. Skip this one. Davis deserves better.



5. I casually opened this book, thinking it would be just like every other biography, and didn't put it down until I finished it the next day. It was just as if Bette Davis was talking in person. It gives a real insight into her life, which wasn't as glamorous as we probably all imagined. Very very interesting!!

No comments about Othello (Cambridge School Shakespeare).

1 comments about Dance As a Theatre Art: Source Readings in Dance History from 1581 to the Present.

1. Dance As A Theatre Art provides an over-all view of the history of theatrical dance in Europe and America during the last four centuries. Source readings, consisting of theoretical essays, librottos, and excerpts from technical manuals, combine with Dr. Cohen's introductions and headnotes to cover every major trend and personality of the period. Many selections have never been reprinted before and six appear for the first time in English translation.

5 comments about Let's Dance: Learn to Swing, Foxtrot, Rumba, Tango, Line Dance, Lambada, Cha-Cha, Waltz, Two-Step, Jitterbug and Salsa With Style, Elegance and Ease.

1. BEWARE: This book describes the International Style of ballroom dance. NOT the American style. Perhaps 10% of American dance students are learning International.

   EXAMPLE: THE WALTZ

   American Waltz:
   The basic figure is a square in which the man starts by stepping forward with the left foot and the dancers return to the starting position in 6 beats, making a square.

   International Waltz:
   The basic figure is a zig-zag. The man starts with the RIGHT foot and the dancers travel around the dance floor in a zig-zag pattern.

   It would be great if Paul Bottomer would write a similar beautiful book for American ballroom dancers.

   Dave Palmer




2. Many of the dances taught in this book are international style. If you plan to dance in the USA, you should know that social dancing is mainly American style for beginners.

   The book is richly illustrated with photos. However, the angle of the photos changes randomly. So if you see a dance couple facing different directions in consecutive photos, maybe they have turned, or maybe the photographer moved. You have to read the accompanying text to tell.

   I think this book is a good complement for beginning to advance-beginnning international dancers. You cannot completely rely on the book to learn techniques because while it does touches on them somewhat, it mostly concentrates on dance patterns. It will give you a rough idea of what a particular step looks like and give you the name of the step. If you have learned the step before, this would serve as a good review.




3. It's a good reference book if you know how to dance. If you're a beginner and try to learn from this book, you're in deep trouble. Unless you can translate "move you left foot to left, reflex your right knee, shift your weight on to the left on beat 3" description into movement right away, you'll go through one basic movement in hours. If you want to improve your dance skill, it may be helpful. Since I'm a total beginner, I can't say that for sure.



4. This book outlines most of the ballroom dances from a pictorial point of view with the assistance of footstep illustrations. Its virtue is it is pretty comprehensive, with most of the ballroom dances discussed. Even some dances considered a little risque, such as the lambada, are discussed in the book. No doubt that professional instructors will find areas of disagreement in the advice and the patterns developed, but no book can cover all the idiosyncrasies of styling that exist in ballroom classes. A good book to have when learning ballroom, and the price is very reasonable.



5. Disappointed

   It looked like a very easy reading book, and it turned out to be a very confusing bunch of steps and pictures. And by the way, I have asked my swing instructor about the steps and he had found some mistakes.