Customer Reviews

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: From the Secret Files of Harry Pennypacker

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Using the framework of old Hollywood columns that never saw the light of day, Michael B. Druxman has fashioned an unblinking satire of golden age Hollywood reporting and Confidential magazine.

Harry Pennypacker had the lowdown - and I do mean LOW - on several high profile screen personalities. Druxman reports what HP wrote and lets us decide for ourselves what we want to think about it.

No star is safe. From Clark Gable to Marilyn Monroe to James Dean - the angles that Pennypacker had on each of them is unique.

Your jaw will drop. You will think and wonder. And in the end, you will know you have been in the presence of the pen of a man who knows more than you do about Hollywood and its citizens.

Complete with photos - which are as funny as the text - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a fun quick read. If you are tired of the dry, dusty tomes that purport to give you Hollywood history, then this little book is for you.

As Ripley says - Believe it or not....and I didn't....but I was glad to get the chance to know. Just in case.

I thought I knew just about every scandalous secret of the lives of the stars in Hollywood's Golden Age - until I came across this gem of an expose. It turns out that a forgotten gossip columnist, Harry Pennypacker, really knew where all the bodies were buried, but his stories were killed because the dirt he dishes on Tinseltown's biggest stars was at that time considered unfit to print. But now the truth can be told, and the story of Pennypacker's sleuthing is as outrageous and funny as his shocking revelations. Michael Druxman's witty "truth is stranger than fiction" tour de force is an irresistible page turner.

I LOVED IT! I am still reeling from the incredible secrets you revealed about some of my favorite Hollywood stars. The stories are so hot that I had no alternative but to read your book while wearing my oven mitts!

I'm not from Hollywood and never heard of Harry Pennypacker. But, I found this book to be funny and very interesting too. I am not sure I believe any of the stories Mr. Druxman has shared in this book, but I definitely enjoyed reading them. I would recommend ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD to anyone that wants to get away from their reality for a couple of hours and just have a rollicking good time.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is the perfect gift - since most of us have a short attention span - live where time is at a premium - you can read one chapter at a time and feel satisfied - and at a reasonable price - perfect for our tanked economic situation. It's clever and upbeat and so one can forget the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and have a wonderful dose of humor and wit. A perfect gift for that difficult to buy-for friend. Thank you Michael for making the world a nicer place. My favorite was the Elvis Presley story.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a fun ride through the back alleys and hidden shadows of Hollywood during a time when legends of show biz like Clark Gable, James Dean, Mae West and Marilyn Monroe were major stars. Salacious gossip comes from the pen of Harry Pennypacker, a determined reporter whose scoops are so salacious they are not fit to print. Michael Druxman, a longtime Hollywood PR agent, has created a Walter Winchell-like character who showcases old time Hollywood as studio bosses squelch scandals about their biggest stars and the stars who keep giving them cause to pull their hair out. This book is riveting and titillating, like a car crash you can't take your eyes away from.

Save your money and do NOT buy this book. It is humorous to be sure, but is totally tongue-in-cheek! It is NOT for anyone wanting 'real' information on Hollywood --- I would say it is actually a HOAX; and a total waste of good money. --- One of the inside 'scoops' is that W.C. Fields and Mae West were the same person --- that is the level of "inside information" contained in this book. If it were marketed as a complete put-on that would be fine, but this is sold as if it is a "legitimate" inside look at old Hollywood. The description is completely misleading --- I can only assume the other "reviews" were written by friends of the author to help with sales --- SAVE YOUR MONEY AND DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK.