Customer Reviews

I Love the Illusion: The Life and Career of Agnes Moorehead, 2nd edition

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I am thrilled to see this definitive biography on Agnes Moorehead in print again. I enjoy having both editions since the covers are different. There is also new material in the back of the book. I especially liked Tranberg's lecture material being added to the book. This is a must-have collectible for fans of radio, TV, and any of Agnes's film projects.

Because of her preeminence in the realm of "character actress" portrayals on both large and small screen and radio, it's a bit surprising that Charles Tranberg's I Love the Illusion is the first full length, fully researched biography of this remarkable actress (best remembered these days as that mother-in-law joke extraordinaire Endora on Bewitched in the 1960s).
The book recounts her youth, early training and struggles, and swift rise to the top in radio, a show biz medium perfect for less than gorgeous people with gorgeous vocal equipment. Her triumphs onstage, in film and on radio are well recounted, and the amazing performance in Magnificent Ambersons is given its due, alongside her string of stunning appearances on Suspense (none moreso than "Suddenly, Last Summer", wherein she shows a genuinely nasty bedridden rich lady who's suddenly aware that she's lost all of her control over events; it's a much juicier conception of the murder victim than what the censors allowed in the 1948 film).
And the monumental experience of Don Juan in Hell is also explained at length. (I was lucky enough to see the 1970s revival. She was amazing.)
Her marital misadventures are also addressed, but for those expecting shocking bisexual tidbits, forget it; this is the story of a rock ribbed minister's daughter, who believed the Bible and prayer provided all the answers, a teetotaler who annually threw one of the classiest, unfussiest Christmas parties given in Beverly Hills, where too much was rarely ever enough, in the 1950s and 1960s.
The book also shows how inadequate famous actors can be in the role of parent, since you know right away that her foster son Sean is doomed to be a prop that doesn't work properly in her life, rather than a real live child with real live issues about a mother he hardly saw due to her touring, and his foreign schooling.
The only problem with the book is that it is truly poorly proofread, with some howler homonym typos (an "irreparable breech" between mother and son? That's half a pair of unmendable pants), but that's a problem with modern publishing in general.
If you admired Miss Aggie and her work before this, you'll enjoy the book.
Would she have approved? Well, not entirely, but then, she didn't prefer plain old reality (but has anyone ever looked plainer onscreen?).

For those who didn't think Tranberg could improve on the perfection of the first edition - guess again! There are even more tidbits of information contained in these pages, including an amazing epilogue by premiere Bewitched historian Herbie J. Pilato Bewitched Forever: 40th Anniversary Edition. A great addition to the collections of both those who have read/own the first one as well as those who haven't gotten around to buying one yet.

BearManor Media presents "I LOVE THE ILLUSION:THE LIFE & CAREER OF AGNES MOOREHEAD" (Paperback), by Charles Tranberg (Author).

As a collector of OTR (Old Time Radio), became aware of Agnes Moorehead through her radio broadcasts "Mercury Theatre" with the great Orson Welles. But it was 'The Shadow', in which she was Lamont Cranston's (Welles) "friend and companion, the lovely Margot Lane (Moorehead), the only person who knows to whom the voice of the invisible Shadow belongs", in this book we find Moorehead was signed for this plum role ~ one created solely for the radio show, and not included in the novels. Also appeared on the 'March of Time' and "Les Miserables", Welles had much admiration for Agnes, recognizing her great talent and voices, and she had both.

But when I think of her, the role of Mrs Elbert Stevenson in "SORRY WRONG NUMBER", comes to mind. As an avid collector of OTR, when the introduction of "The Man In Black", would introduce each episode of "SUSPENSE", the best drama of the radio years with producer William Spier at the helm.

Agnes was a true star and radio was her medium, no would could act with just her voice the way she did, it simply immortalized her for all time. It's no wonder she was labeled as "THE FIRST LADY OF SUSPENSE", and the shoe fit.

Totally agree with author Tranberg ~ Moorehead was one of the most successful and well known character actresses in show business, and that even if she never essayed the role of Endora on 'Bewitched', her place in show business history is secure. He also brings out the human side of one of the most private of all Hollywood celebrities. The persona she wanted to be seen as was that of a glamorous Hollywood star and dedicated actress.

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)

Introduction & Acknowledgements --- 1
Chapter 1: Religion Softens The Edges --- 5
Chapter 2: "Who Are You Today, Agnes?"
Chapter 3: "There Goes The Straightest Back I've Ever Seen" --- 23
Chapter 4: Orson & the Mercury Theatre --- 46
Chapter 5: Fanny --- 68
Chapter 6: "The First Lady of Suspense" --- 87
Chapter 7: Hollywood's Leading Character Actress --- 106
Chapter 8: "The Highlight of My Career" --- 129
Chapter 9: "The Fabulous Redhead" (1952-1956) --- 154
Chapter 10: Rivalry, Tempest & Ginger (1957-1960) --- 177
Chapter 11: Debbie, Columbo & Pengo (1960-1962) --- 194
Chapter 12: The Witch of Endor (1963-1964) --- 216
Chapter 13: A Star Is Born (1965-1967) --- 239
Chapter 14: The Lioness in Winter (1968-1971) --- 276
Chapter 15: Curtain (1972-1974) --- 301
Afterword --- 318
Sources & Notes --- 325
Appendix --- 359
Epilogue --- 417
Lecture --- 419
Index --- 425

BIOS:
Agnes Moorehead
Date of Birth: 6 December 1900 - Clinton, Massachusetts
Date of Death: 30 April 1974 - Rochester, Minnesota

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, author Charles Tranberg, with his painstaking research on her professional career and private life, plus many of Moorehead's accomplishments written with a flowing style for the readers enjoyment.

If you enjoyed this Bio, check out Robert Taylor: A Biography... also Fred MacMurray ... also The Thin Man Films Murder over Cocktails ... also by author Charles Tranberg.

Highly recommend - a good read!

Total Page: 436 Pages ~ BearManor Media #ISBN-13: 978-1593930950 ~ (August 31, 2007 2nd edition)

Mr. Tranberg, who wrote so well about the vastly underrated Fred MacMurray, has created a much needed three dimensional portrait of a great talent in "I Love the Illusion." Tranberg's daunting research and his enthusiastic appreciation of this actress, especially in her less well known roles as well as her popular work in Bewitched, allows the reader a fuller understanding of this lady's career and private life. The book is both informative and entertaining. I hope that Charles Tranberg writes more of them.

I really enjoyed this thoroughly researched book that covers all of Ms. Moorehead's career in theater, films, television, and radio as well as getting intimate details on her private life aided by interviews from scores of her friends and associates. Her triumphs, her disappointments, her great capacity for friendship, her gallant last days - it's all here.

Agnes Moorehead was always one of the most private stars and truth be told, being a character actress, the media wasn't that interested in her as opposed to the more high profile, headline seeking actresses from her time, thus after her death there has been a lot of speculation about her most of which seems to have been completely misguided and no basis in fact. Agnes was pretty hard to peg down - a Bible-thumping woman best known for starring in a supernatural TV series, a prude who knew how to have a good time, and a loving woman who had a terrible relationship with her only child. This is certainly one of the best star biographies in many years and refreshingly written without exploitation or axe to grind.

Although I believe this to be a good book (typos excepted), and I was all prepared to like Moorehead even more than I did before I read it, I actually came away from it not really liking her at all. And I mean AT ALL. She just comes across as vain, arrogant, and shallow. To be sure, the author presents as balanced a tale as he could, but the insufferable "star" attitude comes across loudly, as does her (dare I write it?) bad manners. Sure, she had talent, but she took herself way too seriously. Of course, many actors do, but by the time I got to the last couple of chapters, I was over her. The author relates many anecdotes from people who knew her relating how dissimilar she was to the characters she often played. After reading this book, I disagree. She seemed to me to actually be shades of several characters, including Aunt Fanny, the awful shrew from "Dark Passage", and the mother in "Citizen Kane". Ugh. And I mean UGH.
By the time I reached page 285, where the author quotes Miss Moorhead's response to an unfavorable Kansas City Star article, which several times noted how obviously dismissive she was and how she sneered several times. I laughed out loud at her saying she couldn't believe what had been written about her because she had been raised a Christian and she never 'sneered' at anyone. Some of the all-time best sneerers have been Christians, and based on the biography, I can just see her doing it. In fact, I see her looking down on just about anyone who didn't come up to her standards. What an insufferable snob.
I believe Tranberg did a fine job. I just really find Agnes Moorehead a pompous bore. Would I have wanted to be invited to her Christmas party? No. Would I have been? Well, if I had name recognition I would've, even though the servants were included - how egalitarian of her. Would I have cared one way or another? No.
I will never be able to enjoy her appearances again, knowing what a phony baloney prig she was. YUK.