Marjoe [Hardcover]

Steven S. Gaines (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 238 pages
• Publisher: Harper & Row, Publishers; 1st edition (January 1, 1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060114010
• ISBN-13: 978-0060114015
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #563,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steven Gaines is the best-selling author of twelve books, including Philistines at the Hedgerow: Passion and Property in the Hamptons; The Sky's the Limit: Passion and Property in Manhattan; The Love You Make: An Insider's Story of the Beatles; and Marjoe, the biography of evangelist Marjoe Gortner.

The big screen version of his biography Simply Halston starring Brendan Fraser is in pre-production with Killer Films.

His weekly radio interview show, Sunday Brunch Live from the American Hotel in Sag Harbor airs during the summer and fall months on WLIU FM Southampton, New York, a National Public Radio affiliate.

His journalism has appeared in Vanity Fair, the New York Observer, the New York Times, Los Angeles, and Worth, and he is presently a contributing editor at New York magazine. His frequent television appearances include "60 Minutes"; "The Today Show"; "CBS Morning News"; and "Good Morning America."

Mr. Gaines is a co-founder and past vice-chairman of the Hamptons International Film Festival.

He lives in a small hamlet on the East End of Long Island.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Marjoe Gortner - thought prevolking book, August 30, 2001

By 

Brian Wignall (Fishers, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marjoe (Hardcover)

This book was very interesting. It was not interesting because of the writing style however, but more due to the subject. This book chronicles the life of former child evangelist Marjoe Gortner and is a tell-all expose of both his family, upbringing and the corruption that existed within certain areas of the Christian Pentecostal movement. I was disturbed and embarrased at the things which were done "in the name of Jesus". As a Charismatic Christian minister, I felt that this book was not a slam on Christianity, but instead serves to shine the light of truth on the hypocrisy and religious pride that sometimes exists (hidden) within the church. After reading this book, I was left with a curiosity to know more about the current goings on with Marjoe Gortner. I was also sympathetic for the abuse and manipulation Marjoe suffered at the hands of his overbearing and manipulative parents. I highly recommend this book, especially to those people who are currently involved with church service.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Book on a Religious Huckster, October 23, 2010

By 

stoic (Mobile AL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Marjoe: The life of Marjoe Gortner (Mass Market Paperback)

I saw the documentary film Marjoe & I thought that Marjoe Gortner was fascinating. How many barnstorming pentecostal preachers admit that they are fakes and that they copy their "stage moves" from Mick Jagger? Since I wanted to know more, I found an old copy of Steven Gaines' 1974 book on Marjoe. I enjoyed the book, but it's not great.

Marjoe Gortner was born to a pair of evangelists in 1944. Under his mother's strict teaching, Marjoe developed his preaching skills. He was ordained, performing marriages, and traveling the country while still a small child.

As Marjoe grew up, he saw the hypocrisy of fundamentalist leaders, who cared only about money. Marjoe's dysfunctional parents constantly moved the family in search of greener (haha) pastures. By the time Marjoe was a teen, he'd lost his little-boy cuteness, his parents' marriage was kaput, and the family was broke. Marjoe attempted to establish a life outside of evangelism, but eventually returned to preaching.

This book has a lot going for it. There are many colorful scoundrels who charm the masses out of their dollars while secretly living bawdy lives. Marjoe is charismatic and charms people whether he's preaching, working as a carnival barker, or trying to seduce a woman.

Gaines focuses on Marjoe's childhood, while Marjoe the film focuses on his adulthood. I'm an avid reader, so it pains me to say that the film - which shows Marjoe's flamboyant appeal - was better than the book. Also, Gaines should have given his book more structure; the reader gets vignettes from Marjoe's life, but the book meanders to a close.

This is not a bad book, but I can't give it more than three stars.