William Styron called Barnaby Conrad's "Name Dropping" one of the most enjoyable books he had ever read. This is an entertaining book, witty, filled with great anecdotes and a blast to read. And Conrad's sketches of John Steinbeck, Marilyn Monroe, Bing Crosby, William f. Buckley Jr., Alex Haley, Robert Mitchum and many of his other friends are a wonderful bonus. The following editorial reviews agree:
From Library Journal--
Diplomat, bullfighter, writer, artist, saloon keeper, Conrad has led a colorful life. This aptly titled memoir contains anecdotes about well-known friends and acquaintances, including Bing Crosby, Truman Capote, David Niven, Lucille Ball, and Sinclair Lewis. Many of the stories recount evenings at El Matador, the San Francisco carbaret Conrad opened with the proceeds from his best-selling novel Matador (1952). In keeping with the saloon's taurine motif, Conrad includes portraits of renowned bullfighters Manolete and Juan Belmonte. When Conrad pokes fun at his subjects, his thrust is usually gentle. An unflattering portrait of Trader Vic is an exception. Gossipy memoirs on celebrities abound, but Conrad's book is cut above the rest. William Gargan, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist--
It's refreshing to find a book whose title accurately conveys its contents. In delightfully witty style, Conrad ushers us into the world of his hip 1950s literary salon, the Barbary Coast Saloon. Guest stars include authors, singers, musicians, and actors too numerous to mention but all of them popular culture luminaries and icons. The sections on Alex Haley and Bing Crosby--to drop just a couple of the names Conrad does--are incredibly juicy both for tidbits of gossip and for what they reveal about two well-known media stars. Never catty, just damned informative throughout, this is one well-crafted, entertaining little volume, the kind of thing that shows what gossip can be in the hands of an artist. Mike Tribby
--This text refers to the
Kindle Edition
edition.
From Library Journal--
Diplomat, bullfighter, writer, artist, saloon keeper, Conrad has led a colorful life. This aptly titled memoir contains anecdotes about well-known friends and acquaintances, including Bing Crosby, Truman Capote, David Niven, Lucille Ball, and Sinclair Lewis. Many of the stories recount evenings at El Matador, the San Francisco carbaret Conrad opened with the proceeds from his best-selling novel Matador (1952). In keeping with the saloon's taurine motif, Conrad includes portraits of renowned bullfighters Manolete and Juan Belmonte. When Conrad pokes fun at his subjects, his thrust is usually gentle. An unflattering portrait of Trader Vic is an exception. Gossipy memoirs on celebrities abound, but Conrad's book is cut above the rest. William Gargan, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist--
It's refreshing to find a book whose title accurately conveys its contents. In delightfully witty style, Conrad ushers us into the world of his hip 1950s literary salon, the Barbary Coast Saloon. Guest stars include authors, singers, musicians, and actors too numerous to mention but all of them popular culture luminaries and icons. The sections on Alex Haley and Bing Crosby--to drop just a couple of the names Conrad does--are incredibly juicy both for tidbits of gossip and for what they reveal about two well-known media stars. Never catty, just damned informative throughout, this is one well-crafted, entertaining little volume, the kind of thing that shows what gossip can be in the hands of an artist. Mike Tribby
