Customer Reviews

Hollywood's Made-to-Order Punks: The Dead End Kids, Little Tough Guys, East Side Kids and the Bowery Boys

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2 star:		(1)
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If you are a fan of the boys, I assure you you will not be disappointed with this book. What to know what the actors did after leaving the series? It's here. Want terrific photos of the boys? It's here. Want behind the scenes information on the making of the movies? It's here. Want to learn little known but fascinating facts about the actors? It's here. Want to know what the critics wrote about the films when they were released? It's here. What places this above other film books is that the author knew many of his subjects personally, so you don't just get the facts, you get to know the actors better as people. Whether you love the Dead End Kids or Bowery Boys, or are a fan of all 4 film series, you cannot be without this book.

For the longest time, Bowery Boys fans (and fans of their other incarnations) have had little in the way of home media to enjoy. The first major breakthrough happened in the late 80's with the release of "The Films of The Bowery Boys", a book authored by David Hayes and Brent Walker.

The Films of the Bowery Boys

This book is an excellent filmography. Biographies are a secondary feature.

Ten years later another book was published entitled: "From Broadway To The Bowery" by Len Getz.

From Broadway to the Bowery: A History and Filmography of the Dead End Kids, Little Tough Guys, East Side Kids and Bowery Boys Films, with Cast Biographies

It too is primarily a filmography. Biographies are more comprehensive than the aforementioned book but still remain a secondary feature.

Both books are excellent and rate 5 stars.

This book however highlights the lives of the actors (from major players to those making only one appearance)as told by someone who knew many of the actors personally. That someone is Richard Roat. He shares many of the experiences and conversations with his friends...former Bowery Boys. The bios are chock full of interesting anecdotes and surprises. Filmography takes a serious backseat to the great biographies that Richard presents to the reader. Each film is denoted by the review given by Variety.

If you are a fan, you must have this book. Even if you have either of the filmographies mentioned above (or like me...have both), you should get this book as a must-have companion.

Thank you Richard for sharing these personal stories and photos.

Now if we can only get Warner Brothers to release these films on DVD...

Hollywood's Made-to-Order Punks: The Dead End Kids, Little Tough Guys, East Side Kids and the Bowery BoysVery complete, easy to read with facts most common people will not know.

Brings the boys to life.

The book and pictures are phenomenal! Take a cup of coffee and just spend the afternoon reading and looking at the memorabilia. There is no lack of pictures, Roat did a superb job with this book. I certainly had an enjoyable trip down memory lane and I learned a lot on the trip. The book is well written and easy to read. The reader gets lost in the memories of the years gone by. This book would make a wonderful gift.

East Side Kid Mendy Koenig and Leo's daughter Brandy highlight the early part of the book with honest and revealing comments. Once you get started, your eyes will be fixed to some of the most amazing biographies of the Boys.

I was stunned by the tons of pictures featured in the 230 + pages. Amazing facts about a bunch of talented kids performing for audiences from the 1930s on, and, between two cups of coffee, you sense the maturity as the kids grow up and make, sometimes difficult decisions about their future.

I enjoyed reading the book which is a must for all connoisseurs or not, with many facts since the author spent time with some of them.

Enjoy!

Mike from Montreal

Yes, there are extensive biographies of all the actors appearing as Kids/Little Guys/Boys. They are simply quick overviews and tell you nothing more than you can find out almost anywhere. There are quite a few pictures, many publicity shots and all of them posed. I was hoping for something more. There are no interesting stories involving the actors either on the set or in their personal lives. Where did they go? What did they do? How did they get along with each other and their adult co-stars? Likes, dislikes? There's nothing here. I wanted something more in depth, to learn more about the people who made such enjoyable films for over two decades. Sadly disappointing that this book fell far short of expectations.

BearManor Media presents "HOLLYWOOD'S MADE-TO-ORDER PUNKS: THE DEAD END KIDS, LITTLE TOUGH GUYS, EAST SIDE KIDS & THE BOWERY BOYS" (Paperback), by Richard Roat, with forewords by Mendi Koenig and Brandy Gorcey-Ziesemer.

Can't remember when I wasn't a fan of the 'Hollywood's Made to Order Punks', and many of my friends were too. We would go to the Saturday matinée and share all of the experiences what saw on the screen, the rest of the week.

The author Richard Roat leaves no stone unturned with behind the scenes, unknown facts about each actor and his persona. It's difficult to select which film series was the favorite, because each one was either heavy drama or light comedy, both were enjoyable.

Loaded with photographs, private and studio stills ~ many seen for the first time, all in chronology order I might add. This is complete from the beginning with 'The Dead End Kids', 'Little Tough Guys', 'East Side Kids', and the final series 'The Bowery Boys', with this talented closely knit group of actors, which had their highs and lows over the years.

Very reasonable and a good value for the price --- For product description and editorial review check this out on the Amazon site above my review.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: (Chapter, Title and Page Numbers)

FOREWORD --- 1

by Mendi Koenig & Brandy Gorcey-Ziesemer

INTRODUCTION --- 1

HOLLYWOOD'S MADE-TO-ORDER PUNKS --- 3

by Richard Roat, Jr.

CAST BIOGRAPHIES --- 7

Bernard Punsly --- 9

Billy Halop --- 11

Bobby Jordan --- 15

Gabriel Dell --- 19

Huntz Hall --- 23

Leo B. Gorcey --- 27

Bernard Gorcey --- 27

Dick Chandlee --- 31

Mendie Koenig --- 33

Halley Chester --- 37

Stanley Clements --- 41

Buddy Gorman --- 45

David Gorcey --- 53

Charles Duncan --- 57

Harris Berger --- 59

David Durand --- 63

Donald Haines --- 67

Eugene Francis --- 69

Frankie Burke --- 71

Billy Benedict --- 75

Benjamin "Bennie" Bartlett --- 79

Frankie Thomas --- 81

James McCallion --- 85

John Duncan --- 89

Ernest Frederick Morrison (Sunshine Sammy) --- 91

Bobby Stone --- 93

Norman Abbott --- 95

Eddie LeRoy --- 99

William (Bill) Lawrence --- 101

Sam & Jack Edwards --- 103

Mickey Martin & Wesley Giraud --- 105

SUPPORTING PLAYERS --- 107

Charles Peck --- 109

Ronald Sinclair --- 111

Ward Wood --- 113

Kenneth Howell --- 115

George Offerman --- 117

Jackie Searl --- 119

Gil Stratton --- 121

William Tracy --- 123

LOST PLAYERS --- 125

Eddie Brian, Jimmy Strand, Eddie Mills,

William Frambes, Bill Channey, Bill Bates,

Leo Borden, Al Stone, Jimmy Murphy,

Lester Jay

PHOTO GALLERY --- 129

THE FEATURE FILMS --- 145

REVIVALS --- 227

TRIVIA --- 231

Big thank you to Ben Ohmart and his staff at BearManor Media, a small press that publishes BIG books. They pride themselves on publishing quality entertainment biographies, so they often put out the first book on unique subjects -- plus specializing in books with nostalgic themes and keeping classic Hollywood alive not only thru his publishing house, but thru his own books.

In closing, the author Richard Roat spent what seems a lifetime gathering all of the pertinent facts about our Hollywood boys ~ taking each actor within their character putting it on paper, so that we the fans could soak up and enjoy the times and lives of these young actors -- a must read for any and all fans of films during that era -- Highly recommend - a good read!

Total Page: 244 Pages ~ BearManor Media #ISBN-13: 978-1593934675 ~ (October 7, 2009)

For anyone who has a nostalgic inclination, Mr Roat's book The Complete Film History of

tbe Dead End Kids, little Tough Guys, East Side Kids and the Bowery Boys is must have.

Or anyone wanting an historical perspective of the movie industry reflecting the values

of the times of which our grandparents refer as The Good Old Days the book is a must. It has biographies

of the principals and supporing cast. Following this is a photo gallery. The film gallery is

a chronology of the films the Kids starred in with such notables asw James Cagey, Bing Crosby,

Edward G. Robinson etc.The feature section is not just logging names, as they are wovened and

intergated into a whole providing the readers with a history of the Kids and the era.

The book is a characterization of the author who spent a virtual life time in acquiring the

material that culminated in the publishing of the book.

This is a must for everyone's library.