Customer Reviews

Starstruck: Photographs from a Fan

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I love this book! Infact I could not put it down until I had turned every single page and looked at every single picture and read every single "Starstruck" Story. It's a facinating look at the world of celebrity in the 70's and one obssessed fan's photographic and anecdotal record of it all. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is in here. From Liz Taylor to JFK Jr. to Warren Beatty to Richard Nixon. The scope is unbelievable....and the stories, the little glimpses of what life and "stargazing" was like back then really make the book exceptional...seeing Barry Manilow when he was Bette Midler's piano player in the New York bath houses....staking out Gretta Garbo and dancing with Ginger Rodgers...this is the "must have" coffee table book of the century- anyone who picks it up will not be able to put it down. I bought three and gave them away- definitely a hot gift item. And every page is in color! A great pick, I absolutely recommend it.

Like a wildlife photographer patiently waiting for hours in the freezing cold for the first sighting of a rare breed of animal, so has Gary Boas patiently waited for sightings of the most elusive of stars, resulting in once-in-a-lifetime photographs depicting an era where glamour was expected of our most beloved and inspiring movie and stage stars. What separates Gary from the rest of us is his dogged determination to do whatever it takes to meet a celebrity and take the photograph. At first glance, you might think the photos in the book are the work of a "kid with a cheap camera", and you probably wouldn't be far from wrong. Many of the early pictures were taken with a brownie camera when Gary was a teenager. But as he grew older, so did his photographic talent grow. That talent, and the relationships that developed over time with Hollywood and New York celebrities, is what makes Gary and his work so intriguing. You cannot truly appreciate the photographs unless you read the introduction to the book and Gary's biography, and then move on to Gary's personal memories that accompany many of the photographs. That is when you begin to understand that this is the work of an ordinary man living an extraordinary life. Each time I read the book I enjoy it more than the last. This book is a rare piece of celebrity history, and is one that I won't be loaning out to anyone any time soon. This one is mine to keep. Thanks, Gary.

Small-town photographer passionately tracking some of the most beautiful, talented and influential celebrities back in the days of Studio 54! Photographs are sometimes fuzzy, but most have this profoundly artistic quality about them. Anecdotes are at once poignant and hilarious (read the one about Geraldine Page)! Even an idiot would appreciate Boas' genius--he is leading a life that most of us mere mortals can only dream about! Can't wait for further volumes!

Being a star struck fan myself, having taken many photos of my favorites, and having had the good fortune to have my photo taken with many of my favorite stars, many of whom are deceased, I found Gary's book fascinating. It brought back memories and having known Gary personally since 1975, I can vouch for the fact that he is a true, loyal and devoted fan. He and I spent countless hours waiting for favorites including Kate Hepburn when she appeared in Philadelphia theater. Having done so myself, I appreciate all the hours, pleasure and work that Gary put into compiling the photos which grace this book. Celebrity photography can be exciting but also tiring, especially the long hours spent waiting around. Sometimes the bitter winter weather can be a deterrent but even then the fun never goes out of it. So, if you are someone who appreciates the arts and deep down inside harbors dreams of becoming a famous actor, singer, dancer or musician, etc. but the closest you ever came to your dream was meeting the stars, this book is for you. Also, if you are starstruck but never had the time or geographical proximity to see the stars in person, this book is for you, too. Anyway, to all enjoy.

I just bought two copies of this and I already need more. This book is an incredible collection of photos, memories and observations that I am grateful the author wanted to share with us.

Fantastic: this book is an amazing slice of a true fan's life. Short texts and beautifully reproduced images reveal the depth of this man's obsession. The book is a sure conversation piece.

This book is one of the most touching things I have ever read about what it's like to be a show business fan. Gary Lee Boas has taken thousands of snapshots of celebrities from Ronald Reagan to Tina Turner, Lynn Fontanne to Loretta Lynn - most of the time taking just one or two pictures at a time!! This is an amazing story about his hobby that anybody who ever had a crush on a movie star or made a celebrity scrapbook, collected memorabilia or even just had a favorite actor will probably see a bit of themselves. As pointed out in the foreward, this was an innocent era, the 60's and 70's (and a few from the early 80's), when stars were much more approachable although it could be argued since most of those pictured here were a bit past their glory days they were perhaps more within reach than had they been box office superstars at the time (although a few here were really big at the time of the photos). From porn stars to Miss Americas, Hollywood icons to commercial pitchmen, Boas discriminated not a bit and took pictures of them all. There are also some moving stories of some of the encounters along the way; Richard Nixon seemingly eager for the company, Hedy Lamarr startled that anyone would recognize her, Elizabeth Montgomery stumbling upon her father's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and asking Gary to take a picture of her with it and send it to her. It does seem though that the publishers deliberately went for the "amateur photo" look and chose many pictures somewhat out of focus, red eyes, and/or wind-blown hair. The dozens of mini pix unidentified on the front and back end pages suggest he had a better average at taking good pictures than the bigger shots in the book would have you believe. It's a one of a kind collection and thanks to Gary the world can see it now.

The breadth of what Boas has done is unmatched, especially in that his quest to photograph stars in the 1970s was earnestly as a fan and not a sa memorabilia dealer. His anecdotes are wonderfully written and occasionally insightful, he should just do a whole book of them.

Mr. Boas has taken entertainment history and captured it within the pages of this book. It is truly inspirational for those working towards a career in professional acting as well as the actors themselves. The photos contained within bring back memories for all, I recommend it to all looking to gain an insight into entertainments most viable celebrities, actors, hosts and models!!!

Mr. Boas has taken entertainment history and captured it within the pages of this book. It is truly inspirational for those working towards a career in professional acting as well as the actors themselves. The photos contained within bring back memories for all, I recommend it to all looking to gain an insight into entertainments most viable celebrities, actors, hosts and models!!!