bhryun Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 Hello fellow movie lovers, I'm happy to say that my new book, I Love the Illusion: The Life and Career of Agnes Moorehead, has been published. It is 428 pages and costs $19.95. I was fortunate to have access to Miss Moorehead's papers stored at the State Historical Society of Madison, Wisconsin (159 boxes of scripts with her jottings, scrapbooks, letters, invitations, notes, ect). I also interviewed such friends and co-workers as Jane Wyman, Karl Malden, Debbie Reynolds, Himan Brown, William Windom, William Asher, Norman Corwin, Jane Wyatt, Rose Marie, Carol Lynley, Laraine Day,and a frequent contributor to this board--Larry Russell, among many others. The book can also be ordered on Amazon and BN.Com and at the publishers website: www.bearmanormedia.com I don't have to tell all of you what a great actress Miss Moorehead was. She excelled in all aspects of show business. On stage in "Don Juan in Hell"; in the movies earning four Oscar nominations--including her great part in "The Magnificent Ambersons", on radio as part of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre and of course, "Sorry, Wrong Number" and on televison as "Endora" on "Bewitched". She did it all. I hope too that this book will shed some light on the private person behind the public facade. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bansi4 Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 Chuck, I'm looking forward to this book since I always admired Agnes Moorehead. I always heard that she and Debbie Reynolds were close friends however when Debbie was down on her luck and living in a car with her kids I often wondered why Miss moorehead didn't invite her to live in her home. I also heard that Miss Moorehead didn't leave Debbie, but a broach or pin, in her will. Perhaps you put these rumors to rest. Mongo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted June 9, 2005 Author Share Posted June 9, 2005 Debbie had very loving memories of her friend Agnes Moorehead. Not only when she spoke to me but in her own book, Debbie: My Life. She did mention to me that when she left New York in January 1974 after the run of "Irene" and while Agnes was still in NY in "Gigi" (before leaving for the Mayo Clinic, and her hospitalization), that she and her children did stay at Agnes' Beverly Hills home due to trouble that Debbie was having with her husband, Harry Karl. Also, I think that Agnes had already died (4/30/74) before Debbie had the devastating financial problems that you mention. Debbie did believe that Agnes' will was changed at the last minute to favor Agnes' lawyer (by leaving him her Beverly Hills home)and that it was a "death bed change", that is not the case. Agnes signed her last will in August, 1973--eight months before she died. The only celebrity that Agnes remembered in her will was to leave a brooch to Elizabeth Montgomery. Debbie was the executor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 the grave of Agnes Moorehead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bansi4 Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 Many thanks for clearing that up, Chuck. Sorry. I see that Miss Moorehead's lawyer made out like a bandit (as most do). I for one can't wait to get this book, since I like your style. And lot's of luck with it. Mongo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted June 9, 2005 Author Share Posted June 9, 2005 No, but I understand it is very nice. It is in Dayton, Ohio and she is surrounded now by her father who was a minister and died while at the pulpit in 1938. Her sister, Margaret who died in 1928. And her mother, Mollie, who died in 1990 at the grand age of 106. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 quite nice and is in Dayton Memorial Park if you did not know, which is off Dixie Drive in Harrison Township in Dayton and Agnes is in a beautiful mausoleum type crypt that looks like a small churchlike structure. This is an easy place to find, if you come off I-75, near Vandalia and the airport exits and just swing down to the Dixie Drive area heading south towards downtown Dayton. Agnes used to come give lessons to young students of drama in the city, and was very kind and giving during all her visits in the 1970's. Dayton Memorial Park is in very nice rural setting, even though quite close to activities and traffic and the cemetery bears the distinction of having a witch buried there, said with most jocularity by those in the know. I was there recently, and enjoyed walking through the place, as it is quite lovely and much befitting of a resting place for the wonderful Miss Moorehead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vecchiolarry Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 Hi Chuck, Glad to see you on the boards! I posted your book information on "New Books" under the 'Your Favourites' category already but it doesn't hurt to publicize, does it!!!!! Hope the book does well. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted June 9, 2005 Author Share Posted June 9, 2005 Good to hear from you Larry. Your insight on Sean was a real asset to the Moorehead book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erzbet Posted June 10, 2005 Share Posted June 10, 2005 Congratulations on your book on Miss Moorehead - good to see that a character actress has a volume devoted to her life and work. Miss Moorehead was certainly a fine actress - underrated I think and not given her full due. Many years ago TV GUIDE interviewed her (during the BEWITCHED years) and I remember a quote attributed to her: "You have to have the hide of a crocodile and the guile of a general". A wonderful talent -- nobody around today can touch her! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsybangles Posted June 10, 2005 Share Posted June 10, 2005 Hi Chuck, I look forward to reading your book as Agnes Morehead was someone whose performances I always thoroughly enjoyed, and would like to know more about her. She seemed to me to be absolutely fearless in her choice of roles, running the gamut from glamour to hag effortlessly, and not caring either way as long as the part was good. That to me is a good actor. Character actors, Miss Morehead being one of the best, added a certain texture and dimension to their films which I think is lacking in some films today. Who today can replace Miss Morehead, Thelma Ritter, Dame Judith Anderson, Florence Bates, Marjorie Main, Edna May Oliver, Flora Robson, Anne Revere...to name just a few. Kathy Bates is the only current female actor I can think of with the ability to walk in their shoes. Sorry, I guess I went a little off track, as the thread was specifically about your book regarding Agnes Morehead. Best of luck with it, and hope you did her proud; she was definitely one of a kind. Gypsy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted June 10, 2005 Author Share Posted June 10, 2005 Absolutely--character actors often made a film more worthwhile than the nominal stars did. Often overshadowing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted June 10, 2005 Author Share Posted June 10, 2005 that is a great quote from TV Guide--and so true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moviejoe79 Posted June 10, 2005 Share Posted June 10, 2005 Congratulations on your book Chuck, it sounds great. I've always been a big fan of Ms. Moorehead, ever since I saw her in "Pollyanna" as a kid. I also loved her in the films "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte," and "Dark Passage." And of course she was great in "Citizen Kane," a small but powerful role. I would love to know more about her life, and I'm going to request your book at my library. This way they'll buy a copy and others will have the chance to read it as well. And if our friend Larry contributed to the book, then I know it's gonna be good! Congrats again, and thanks for posting with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shainablue1 Posted June 10, 2005 Share Posted June 10, 2005 I first got to know Ms. Moorehead on " Bewitched" as a child, only now do I appreciate her earlier work in movies. I love in that movie Mrs.Parkington how she ( as a Countess) lets the light into her room to reveal to Mr. Parkington how she wasn't a spring chicken anymore. I love that about her- she could play anything. Your book sounds great- I would love to read more about her! BTW- was that Agnes in the Twilight Zone episode with the little spacemen attacking? Or a look alike? I may be dreadming, but I always thought it could be her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybrspacy Posted June 10, 2005 Share Posted June 10, 2005 Dear Chuck, I am a huge fan of Charles Boyer and I wonder if your book covers his work with Ms. Moorehead in Don Juan in Hell. I've read he did the best work of his career in it. I'm also hoping to find a recording of the play, which I'm told does exist! Have you heard it? Congratulations and best wishes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted June 11, 2005 Author Share Posted June 11, 2005 Thanks for doing that. I love it if libraries will carry it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted June 11, 2005 Author Share Posted June 11, 2005 yes, the Twilight Zone episode with Agnes was titled, "The Invaders" and she was justly proud of her work in that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted June 11, 2005 Author Share Posted June 11, 2005 Hi and I'm a huge fan of Charles Boyer as well. Yes, there is a full chapter devoted to "Don Juan in Hell" the chapter is titled, "The Highlight of my Career" which Agnes believed the 'Don Juan' tour with Boyer, Charles Laughton and Sir Cedric Hardwicke to be. I also have a few pages about the other Boyer-Moorehead collaboration--the 1962 play "Lord Pengo." Yes, there are recordings of "Don Juan in Hell" from the original show, and I did listen to one at the Wisconsin State Historical Society--it was everything I expected it to be--quite simply brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybrspacy Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 I believe I also read there's a copy of the recording at a NYC library. I'd love to listen to it. Next time I'm there, I'm going to try to gain access to it. Sartre was said to be very unhappy with the production. Do you comment on that aspect at all in your book? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted June 13, 2005 Author Share Posted June 13, 2005 yes, I'm sure there would be one there too. No I don't comment Jean-Paul Sarte's opinion of the production in the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vecchiolarry Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 Hi, From what I've heard about Sartre, he was a consistantly negative person. He was described in the fifties as a "contrare" meaning a contrarary person - one who takes the opposite position to whatever is discussed. He started every sentence with the word "No". A real bundle of laughs, eh!!?? Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 thought about her significant other, Sartre. Simone seemed to find Jean-Paul a laugh a minute, but for specialized tastes of course. All one need do is read "The Second Sex", to get a handle on that male-female relationship, existentially and how unique it was. The comedian who is on always, is usually the dour one, and the grave philosopher will often be the really amusing one in everyday reality. Just like when Louise Lasser said she had to divorce Woody Allen, because he was not funny at home at all, and she married him for some laughs. I'd rather sit drinking with Sartre for a good time, than someone like Red Buttons. But then that's just the wacky existential film fan that I am...LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bggalaxy Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 A little off the subject, but the current version of the "Columbia Pictures" torch lady reminds of a young Agnes Moorehead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted June 15, 2005 Author Share Posted June 15, 2005 Really? I'm going to have to take a close look next time I see it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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