I Love the Illusion [Paperback]

Charles Tranberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2005

This book is based on more than three years of research and include more than 30 interviews conducted by the author with such friends and co-workers as Debbie Reynolds, Jane Wyman and Karl Malden. The author had access to more than 150 boxes of Agnes Moorehead papers which are stored at the Wisconsin State Historical Society in Madison. He also had access to the Orson Welles papers held at the Lily Library in Bloomington, Indiana and the Paul Gregory (who produced Moorehead's acclaimed stage productions) Papers held at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming. The author also quotes from private letters between Agnes Moorehead and her secretary over the course of two decades--letters which give Moorehead's biting critiques of the social morals of the 60's; her television series "Bewitched"; and other aspects of her private and professional lives. In addition the author provides the reader with a comprehensive listing of the many sources he used as well as a comprehensive listing of Moorehead stage, screen, radio and television appearances. This is the first comprehensive biography of one of the most acclaimed actresses of her time with never before revealed tidbits which will delight her many fans.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...First-time writer Charles Tranberg succeeds greatly...I liked this book tremendously." -- Laura Wagner, Classic Images Magazine, January, 2006

"...One of THE most comprehensive and intelligently-written biographies out there, Bewitched-related or otherwise..." -- Herbie J. Pilato, Author of

From the Author

Volume Two of I LOVE THE ILLUSION: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF AGNES MOOREHEAD IS OUT! It can be ordered here on Amazon--check it out in BOOKS listed as I LOVE THE ILLUSION: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF AGNES MOOREHEAD VOL 2. There is new material not in the first volume. The price is $24.95. The book listed on this page is out of print but due to popular demand a second volume has been printed by the publisher.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 428 pages
• Publisher: Bearmanor Media (April 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593930291
• ISBN-13: 978-1593930295
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,804,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charles Tranberg is the author of books on Agnes Moorehead, Marie Wilson, Fred MacMurray and the Thin Man Films. He also contributes to Classic Images and Films of the Golden Age. He is currently at work on biographies of Robert Taylor and the Disney Studios. Tranberg has a degree in Marketing and lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love the Illusion, Too!, August 23, 2005

By 

FlickFan (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Love the Illusion (Paperback)

Charles Tranberg's epic biography of Agnes Moorehead
is one of the most thorough and interesting books I've
ever had the pleasure of reading. Although she was one
of Hollywood's most gifted and enduring character
actresses, Miss Moorehead was a very private person
and consequently very little was previously known
about her personal life. Through interviews with
Agnes' friends and co-workers and unprecedented access
to Miss Moorehead's vast archive of personal documents
and correspondence, Charles Tranberg has created a
comprehensive portrait of this enigmatic star,
allowing the reader to gain a much better
understanding of both the life and career of Agnes
Moorehead. The book contains numerous surprises, and
Agnes emerges as a fascinating contradiction in terms,
very much like her best known role as Endora on the
classic sitcom "Bewitched". Unlike most biographers,
Mr. Tranberg wisely refrains from judging and
interpreting Miss Moorehead's actions, allowing his
readers to draw their own conclusions instead. This is
a refreshing approach to a biography, as many
biographers pass judgement on their subjects and taint
their narrative with personal opinion. Mr. Tranberg
also doesn't shy away from controversial subject
matter, and he approaches the topic of Moorehead's
long-rumoured lesbian proclivities with factual
honesty and respect. In addition to countless rare
photographs, the book also contains a meticulously
researched section of Miss Moorehead's numerous acting
credits, covering her prolific career on radio, stage,
television and film with impressive scope and detail.
Ultimately, "I Love the Illusion" is a revealing and
very satisfying biography, and I highly recommend it
to anyone interested in learning about the life and
career of this legendary star.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Biography of an Elusive Subject, August 14, 2006

By 

M. Schwinn (Huber Heights, OH, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Love the Illusion (Paperback)

What makes this book a standout are the extensive quotes included from people who knew Miss Moorehead well and for a lengthy period. Mr. Tranberg even managed to find a friend of her mother, who contributed some charming memories about Miss Moorehead's parents. Photographs are plentiful, and most I had never seen before. The number of sources is impressive, and the book is well organized, seamlessly interweaving biographical details with an assessment of her work. The editorial eerrors were jarring but not a major detraction.

Here and elsewhere I've read that Agnes Moorehead tried hard to keep her private life private. Previous treatments of Miss Moorehead have either dealt with her career almost exclusively ("Good Dames" and Lynn Kear's excellent chronicle of her work) or else have focused on select aspects of her personal life ("Agnes Moorehead: A Very Private Person" and "Hollywood Lesbians"). If the portrait still seems incomplete, it's not owing to Mr. Tranberg's thorough research but rather the difficulty of his subject: Most of Miss Moorehead's contemporaries are no longer available for interviews, contemporary interviews with Miss Moorehead are scarce, she seemed aloof to many of her colleagues, and in all likelihood Miss Moorehead left behind no diaries or personal letters. That considered, it's surprising that Mr. Tranberg was able to flesh out her personal life to the extent that he did.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, December 31, 2005

By 

C. Kuehl - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Love the Illusion (Paperback)

If you are a fan or practitioner of the art of acting, this book belongs on your wish list. My favorite parts explore Moorehead's acting training in New York City, her collaboration with the brilliant Orson Welles, and her grande dame turn as Endora on "Bewitched." Because biographer Charles Tranberg doesn't sugarcoat Moorehead's failures on stage, screen, and in relationships, I now respect her tenacity and spirit as well as her talent. This is an extensively researched, inspiring portrait of a complex woman who accomplished remarkable things in her time.