You know the face. You know the credit list: Lost in Space, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Kung Fu, The Twilight Zone and hundreds more... But who was Albert Salmi? Born of Finnish parents in the Finnish section of Brooklyn, Albert Salmi had a childhood he would recall fondly, even though it was plagued by the hardships of the Great Depression. In an attempt to earn money as a teenager, he broke the law; and the very wise judge gave him a sentence that turned his life around. Salmi set his sights for an acting career and, thanks to the GI Bill, got the best training possible. The result was that for forty years he appeared on the Broadway stage (Bus Stop, etc.), national television (Alfred Hitchcock Presents, I Spy, That Girl, Dallas, etc., etc.), and in countless films (The Unforgiven, Caddyshack, etc.). Sandra Grabman's biography is a frank and loving tribute, combined with many memories from Salmi's family, friends, and co-stars, and includes never-before-published memoirs from the man himself. From humble beginnings -- to a highly successful acting career -- to a tragic death that shocked the world -- Albert Salmi's story is unlike any other you'll ever read.
Writing about others is easier than writing about myself, so I would like to start out by publicly thanking my beautiful teacher at Grandin Court Elementary School in Roanoke, Virginia, for encouraging that awkward little kid to follow her dream and write stories. There have been many very kind people in my life, but Mrs. Sherman deserves an award for allowing me to read that day's offerings to my classmates each afternoon.
It couldn't have been easy for her. In retrospect, I realize those 1-2 page stories about everyday occurrences must have been awfully boring to her. Mrs. Sherman, I'd like for you to know that my writing style has improved since then.
Richmond Professional Institute (now known as Virginia Commonwealth University) gave me wonderful training in the secretarial realm, and it has served me well over the years. When not burning the midnight oil writing a book or article, I work as a church secretary; so that training is being used day and night. Being a secretary (nowadays referred to as an Administrative Assistant) is a key that opens many doors. As a secretary, I have seen firsthand behind-the-scenes operations in the aluminum industry, the worlds of insurance and banking, the medical field, a radio station, and churches, both large and small. I'd say my best education came from the six years I spent as a Legal Assistant to a personal-injury attorney. One learns much about human nature by being the liaison between the injured party and his lawyer.
After living all my life in Virginia, we moved to the southwest in 1980. The difference in the cultures of the two regions is vast, and I'm afraid I still haven't become properly southwesternized. Early training leaves a profound imprint on us for life, it seems.
As mother to two grown sons, I've found this to be the most fulfilling time of life. Please stop by my website at www.sandragrabman.com and say "Howdy!"
