Hollywood Be Thy Name: An Inside Look at Hollywood Actors and Extras [Paperback]

Jeff Lawrence (Author), Shirley Lawrence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 16, 2006

What it takes to become an actor in Hollywood films This book is for those who aspire to become an actor in Hollywood, a re-actor in the background as an extra, or just enjoy reading about the business. In Part 1 Shirley & Jeff each tell their many chances for stardom and why they decided to work as extras. Part 2 is about the movie business: how it was in the beginning and what it is like now. In Part 3 you will meet some interesting extras and also read true untold stories about stars, and directors. You can pick up a rag sheet and read all sorts of things that may or may not be true, but in this book are only the true accounts as seen and heard first hand. This may be the only book about both actors and extras - something that should be informative and fun reading for everyone. Our promise: You will be entertained!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeff, born Lawrence Volkert, and Shirley Blackwell met and married while working in Hollywood Studios.
Jeff had been a chaplain's assistant in the army, an organist and singer.
Shirley sang in operas & musicals. As runner-up for a screen test, was invited to come to Hollywood.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

We were able to drive on the Fox lot and park by the first business building on the left. I asked Rodney to go in with me, but the guard stopped him. There was a pass for just me; that I was to go out the back door and a car would be waiting to take me to Ben Bard's office. It was starting to get dark out and that made me more uncomfortable. The driver took me to some back lot buildings and told me to go in one at the left. "But," I stammered, "it looks dark in there."

"Its okay. There are offices inside and once you go inside the door you'll see lights on in the offices. Mr. Bard's is the last one down on the left."

Slowly and hesitantly I left the car and walked towards the dark building. There was a light inside, so I walked back to the last one and knocked on the door. A smiling secretary greeted me with, "Mr. Bard is waiting for you." At that, the inner doors opened, and with a big smile he invited me in to his office.

!

"Let me see you." And he looked at my new profile. "You look wonderful," he said as he gave me a hug. "And how is the voice?"

Then he took out a book; said it was the India Love Lyrics, and wanted me to read from it. It was in script form and he read one part, and I the other. After we read awhile I saw my next lines that were coming up: "Take my breasts and fondle them; they're yours." I knew what he would do if I read that line so I quickly looked at my watch and said,

"Oh my it is late. I really have to go. My boyfriend is waiting for me to take me to Cinerama."

At that he reached out for me, and I moved away behind a desk. He caught me and gave me such a tight hug I could feel every part of his body against mine. I just ran out the door without saying goodbye and I never heard from him again.

Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (June 16, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598001558
• ISBN-13: 978-1598001556
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,471,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I adored my parents. My mother came from Sweden with her family when she was just 15, but already a concert violinist. My father was from Oklahoma and also musical. He and his brother made their own musical instruments and played them quite well. Both mom and dad were born psychic, so they were more spiritual in their thinking than most.
My mother looked forward to my playing the accompaniments for her concertos, so I began piano studies when I was 8. At 12 I asked to study voice. From then on I was in every musical and play throughout my school years. Music was my major in college: 2 years at Montana State in Missoula, and 3 years at San Diego State where I attained my bachelors degree.
Just before graduation I entered and was runner-up for a screen test at Fox Studios. The head of talent invited me to his office, saying he had me in mind for many musicals coming up. But after a chase around a desk I ran out, realizing it would take more than singing talent to get anywhere there. I moved to Hollywood to continue my voice study with a prominent vocal coach, and moved into the historic Studio Club where stars like Marilyn Monroe and Kim Novak had lived.
Soon I had an agent who sent me on interviews for movies and TV. One producer cast me as the lead in his movie; only he expected intimacy and I didn't want stardom if that was part of the contract; so I left. A casting person tried to unclothe me. So I started working as an extra. A director said he would be proud to have me as his prot'g' and groom me for stardom, but I learned that too required intimacy, so I continued working as an extra. I didn't care. I was singing in concerts and musicals, and was also one of three singers in Ted Bowers' Turn-of the Century Show' where I was the accompanist as well.
I met my musically talented husband on a movie set, and together we had several shows that we performed for clubs from San Diego to San Francisco, singing light opera songs and highlighting the beautiful sweetheart years of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, whom we resembled, plus cute novelty numbers from the early 1900s. Jeff plays the organ as well as piano, and has a beautiful baritone voice that attracted the mafia who wanted to make him a star. I took notes for a later book.
During this time I had a number of psychic experiences that led me to study the meaning of numbers. When I saw how accurate my numerology chart was, and those of my husband and three children, I wanted to know WHY it worked, but no book on numerology explained it. After 5 years of research, I wrote of my findings and my first book was published in 1989: Behind Numerology. I studied with William Eisen, author of the many English Cabalah books, and wrote my second book, Numerology and the English Cabalah. When my publisher died, Career Press/ New Page Books bought his company and republished my first book as 'The Secret Science of Numerology,' and then asked me to write a simpler book on the subject for the average person. They titled it 'Exploring Numerology, Life by the Numbers.'
In the early 90's I wrote two theses to earn my doctorate in metaphysics. Soon after, I left the movie business and became an administrative assistant for Dr. Masters in his University where I worked until my retirement about 10 years later. It was then that I was able to gather my 35-plus years of notes and together we wrote our book on our Hollywood adventures just published in July 2006, 'Hollywood Be Thy Name: An Inside Look at Hollywood Actors and Extras.' There you will learn what actors have to go through to make it in Hollywood, what it is like to work on movie sets, as well as meeting many extras and hearing their fascinating stories about working in 'the business.' The book is full of surprises and untold stories.
We are now retired and living in Florida near our three children: Jennifer, David and Julianne, and their families.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hollywood Seen Through Eyes of the Extras, November 5, 2006

By 

Barbara M. Morse "movie fan" (Prescott, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hollywood Be Thy Name: An Inside Look at Hollywood Actors and Extras (Paperback)

Entertaining, easy to read, episodes in the lives of two Hollywood extras. Reveals facts and heresay about many famous movie personalities, actors, producers, directors, etc. It is refreshing to read of two people who fell in love and felt that living in accord with moral principles was more important than a quick way to success.

Barbara Morse

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Seeing the otherside of Hollywood, August 24, 2006

By 

Pam R (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hollywood Be Thy Name: An Inside Look at Hollywood Actors and Extras (Paperback)

This is a fast enjoyable read. Through their eyes, we are exposed to a very different Hollywood. Vastly different from the one we fantasize about. Through the eyes of Hollywood extras, we are shown what it takes to "break" into show business. The ancedotes are light and entertaining, but also offer a darker picture of the realities of an actor. Many of the Hollywood elite consider an extra a moving prop. It is through Shirley & Jeff's eyes, that the every day humaness of the extra is shown to us.

5.0 out of 5 stars Hollywood Revealed!, April 10, 2008

By 

Lee Mellott "Skin Care For Wrinkles" (Frederick, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hollywood Be Thy Name: An Inside Look at Hollywood Actors and Extras (Paperback)

Shirley and Jeff Lawrence worked for years in the entertainment industry and share their experiences in this 420 page book. The book contains 3 sections: Part 1 "My Story - His Story - Our Story". This section shares their collective and individual experiences. How they got in the business, people they worked with etc. Part II "Working in Movies". This section describes films in the beginning, the life of film extras, casting couch stories and stunt work etc. Part III "Extras, Directors and Stars". In this section Shirley and Jeff share more stories about people in the industry.

The book is written in a an easy to read style, with the names of the stars, extras etc in bold black text so they pop out.

It's a very interesting read. Shirley and Jeff name names and share the good, the bad and the ugly. Because of the era they worked in most of the names would be recognized by many baby boomers but not by today's younger generation. But though the names of the famous have changed the scenarios have not. Shirley and Jeff describe what it is like to work in the business with an emphasis on what it is like to be an "extra". They describe how extras are may be treated poorly, taken advantage of and not given that break because they uphold good values.Though I had heard about the "casting couch" in Hollywood, I never realized that it was so prevelent. They vividly describe the heartache and ups and downs of the business. One minute you think you have a deal and the next you don't.

It's an eye opening read and highly recommended if your intent is to try and make it in the industry or if you want to read about what goes on behind the scenes in Hollywoodland!

~Lee Mellott