Scrapbooks of My Mind : A Hollywood Autobiography [Paperback]

Rick Jason (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 29, 2000

Star of TV's longest-running World War II series, "Combat!", Rick Jason has conquered television, stage, and film in a career that spans five decades. In his autobiography, "Scrapbooks of My Mind," Rick provides an intimate look at Hollywood's star machine, sharing his unique perspective and memories of MGM, 20th Century Fox, and the other big studios in their heydey.

Rick Jason recounts with wit and humor his youth in Depression-era New York and his WWII army life, where he narrowly escaped imprisonment at Fort Leavenworth. From Broadway in the '40s to Hollywood in the '50s, Rick worked beside the stars of the day: Orson Welles, Jayne Mansfield, Hume Cronyn, Linda Darnell, Ricardo Montalban, Charles Bronson, and more! He shares behind-the-scenes stories of his film and TV work, especially on "Combat!" with co-star Vic Morrow. A feast for fans, this autobiography captures Rick Jason's taste for life, as he even shares his favorite recipes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Rick Jason has done it all, from stock to stage to screens large and small. -- Charles Champlin, Former Arts Editor, Los Angeles Times

From the Author

FROM THE INTRODUCTION:

My wife doesn’t come from the entertainment business and was singularly uninformed about it when I was introduced to her in Hong Kong. The first time she was on a movie set, I was guest starring in the TV series 'Air Wolf.' When I introduced her to one of the co-stars, and an old pal, Ernie Borgnine, she told him he looked familiar. Ernie started giving her a list of his credits and she kept shaking her head. He finally gave up and picked an apple from a tray, handed it to her and said, 'Have one, sweetheart. That ended the subject.

The first few years of our marriage, I regaled her with stories of Hollywood and my experiences in the business; mostly during dinner and over a bottle of wine. She was always attentive and occasionally asked a question. The conversations always ended with, 'You should write this down, for your autobiography.' It was hard to believe anybody would be interested in my life even though I still receive fan mail from avid 'Combat!' fans who grew up watching the show with their parents and now sit in front of the TV looking at it with their kids. [...] Then an interesting thing happened. A package arrived one day in 1995. Until then, I knew 'Combat!' had been in reruns all over the country, but I wasn’t aware of any organized effort to unite its fans. This was a package from a group of fans, and it opened my eyes to a 'Combat!' world I had no idea existed. A website visited by thousands each month, and a 'Combat!' convention that they dubbed a 'recon,' along with a Carribbean cruise. The enthusiasm of the 'Combat!' devotees has been staggering. I’ve been informed, in no uncertain terms, that there are a lot more people besides my lovely wife who would like to read about my beginning in television, when it was in its infancy. To all of you who’ve insisted and encouraged me, to all whom I’ve entertained, thanks for making my life that much more fulfilled. -- Rick Jason

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Strange New Worlds; First Edition edition (July 29, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970162405
• ISBN-13: 978-0970162403
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,040,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scrapbooks of My Mind - A Joy to the Senses, September 1, 2000

By 

"349hwc" (Walnut Creek, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scrapbooks of My Mind : A Hollywood Autobiography (Paperback)

Whether you've admired Rick Jason since his early roles on stage and film, or first set your eyes on him in "COMBAT!" - the longest-running and only one hour television series about World War Two - you'll love "Scrapbooks of My Mind: A Hollywood Autobiography".

Mr. Jason has had an acting career spanning 50 years. His stage career was launched to impressive critical reviews. He then went on to star and feature in Hollywood films, make two television series, and become a regular in America's longest lasting soap opera, as well as guest starring in numerous television shows.

Mr. Jason is the consummate storyteller and his depiction of the rise and fall, then phoenix-like rebirth of the Jason family fortune offers a fascinating look at urban American life in the 1930s and 40s. And you'll be stunned at how the family's future balanced on the prophecy of a psychic during the Great Depression.

You'll get a kick out of Rick's description of his time in the Army during World War Two. You'll learn how one officer's anti-Semitism landed Rick in the stockade! You'll marvel at how the timely intervention an Army friend and the judicious application of theatrics saved him from a life sentence! What a loss it would have been to movie and television audiences everywhere if Mr. Jason's fascinating talent hadn't been allowed to flower.

Mr. Jason's Hollywood experience demonstrates how the old studio system made or hampered careers, for reasons that had nothing to do with actors' talent. And Rick is refreshingly candid about his five marriages as well. And he reveals for the first time to the public how these women profoundly effected his personal growth and career.

Rick writes about his time on "COMBAT!" and tells us about his relationship with the show's co-star, the late Vic Morrow. Mr. Jason describes the nature of their friendship and how he felt (and still feels) about that actor's tragic death during the making of the 1982, "Twilight Zone: the Movie." In addition, Mr. Jason tells about his longtime friendship with the late Dick Peabody, a fellow cast member on "COMBAT!"

A pleasant surprise awaits you at the end of Rick Jason's autobiography. For this successful entrepreneur is not only a multi-talented actor and craftsman, but a gourmet chef as well. To our everlasting delight, Mr. Jason shares his favorite recipes with his readers. And these are real gems! I've already tried several and can honestly say that I don't know how I could have lived so long without Rick's succulent scones with English Double Devon cream or eaten buffalo (as I do) with Rick's Quick Game Sauce.

Mr. Jason's acting career may not be over yet because as fans from the U.S. and Canada ready themselves to attend the October 6-8 "COMBAT!" cast reunion (aka Recon 2000) in Las Vegas, they also eagerly anticipate the making of a "COMBAT!" movie. A film Bruce Willis has expressed an interest in making, I hear. As one of these fans it is my fervent hope that Mr. Jason will have a theatrical role in the remake of "COMBAT!", the best dang one-hour program to EVER hit television.

But most of all you'll find that Mr. Jason is a man to respect and admire. A man who simply would not compromise his autonomy and integrity!

From Walnut Creek, California, this is your friendly 349th Heavy Weapons Crew (aka Nancy LionStorm) saying good night as I cuddle up to re-read the jubilant, "Scrapbooks of My Mind: A Hollywood Autobiography" by Rick Jason.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Combat! fan likes book, August 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Scrapbooks of My Mind : A Hollywood Autobiography (Paperback)

I am a fan of Rick Jason from when he was a star in the ABC television show, Combat!, which was popular back in the 1960s. I am in the process of reading this book and am enjoying it a lot. I haven't even gotten to the part about when he plays in Combat! and I am relishing reading about Rick's childhood in New York City and his early career. He sounds like a wonderful person, not at all the stern lieutenant he played in Combat! opposite Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders. This is a terrific book, highly readable and a must for Combat!/Rick Jason fans.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fitting Farewell, September 3, 2001

By 

Dana E. Creasy (Bloomsburg, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scrapbooks of My Mind : A Hollywood Autobiography (Paperback)

The late Rick Jason, best known as Lieutenant Gil Hanley of Combat! fame, wrote and released this book shortly before his death (by suicide). In it, the man - who was much more multi-dimensional than simply playing a World War II soldier - breathes life into what many thought was just another Hollywood story. Coming from a New York family of privilege, one of whom was involved in founding the American Stock Exchange, Jason threw it all over for an acting career. Handsome, articulate and talented, Jason impressed many in his early career, eventually leading to his selection as co-star, along with the late Vic Morrow, on Combat!. The stories of Hollywood days gone by, reminisces of family and friends, and the obvious love he had for his wife make this a book well worth reading, not just for the Combat! fan, but for anyone wanting to know more about what an actor is really all about.