Customer Reviews

Swingin' Chicks of the 60's

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I remember looking at the author's Swingin' Chicks of the 60's web site in '98, and thinking, Man, this would make a great book, if it was handled right. This book has not only been handled right, it's been handled superbly.

The packaging and design of this book, a little over 200 pages, is perfect (hey, it's got Ann-Margret on the cover, so to me at least, it's perfect)- colorful, with those groovy 60's flowers all inside and out. It's also a great price for a paperback of coffee-table book quality. I may sound like a pimp saying that, but take a look at what other books of the same quality and size cost and you'll appreciate it.

Each chick has such a nice section devoted to them that if you're only really into, say, Barbara Eden and Julie Newmar, it's worth picking up just for that... and you'll probably find yourself reading the rest of the book anyway, discovering chicks you never knew about, or chicks you had only seen before but never found out their name. You liked that chick in the Elvis Movie Spinout , the tomboy drummer who fell for him? Here's everything you ever wanted to know about Deborah Walley (filed under "the beach girls" section of the book).
Nearly all of them get a two page spread.

Each swingin' chick's section includes photos (some of the chicks actually loaned the author personal photos from their collection) most in color, Her Swingin' 60's Credentials (briefly explaining why they've been included in the book), Workin' It, (describing their career) behind the scenes (their personal life) and important dates in the 60's for each chick. It also includes my favorite to read, Her 60's Look, describing their personal style. Most of them have bonus swingability sections including their real name (they get extra points for changing their name) and little known facts (Raquel Welch supposedly almost became a Bond Girl and signed for Thunderball, but bowed out). If you're really a fan of the chick, you might know most of them, but I consider myself pretty well informed about Sophia Loren, and never knew until I read the book that she was originally going to play the love interest in North by Northwest instead of Eva Marie Saint. If the chick has a web site, the URL is included-- you'd be surprised how many of them have official web sites and not just fan or tribute sites.

The 60's chicks are diced up into categories, by the way, so the book has sections for The Beach Girls, The Bond Beauties, The Elvis Girls! Girls! Girls!, The Look, The Movie Stars (a section for the all-americans such as Stella Stevens and another section for the British invasion)The TV Stars, and way more than I have the energy to type out. It's obvious that a lot of care went into this book; not only does the author genuinely care about each chick, and discuss them with the respect they deserve that is sorely lacking from many similar books, but it's incredibly well researched and documented. In most articles or features about Ann-Margret, I usually find a mistake. Here, I discover Ann-Margret and longtime husband Roger Smith's first date was to see Ike and Tina Turner show (talk about a date you wish you had double dated on). Though I thought I'd read most of the biographies and books about the area, there's a selected bibliography that included books I never knew existed that I'm gonna be running to the library with a list of.

Into Angie Dickinson? There's a great foreword where she answers 20 questions, and thank God, the author asked all the right ones (what was the best party she attended in the 60's, for instance) The interview, and the book itself, just make me feel everything I do when I immerse myself in that time: how incredibly cool everyone looked, how great the music was, how fun and entertaining the movies were, and the little bit of sadness I get knowing that the decade is over, and there'll never be another one like it, including the wake-up jolt that these women don't look like this anymore (though some of them, like Julie Newmar and Barbara Eden, come pretty damn close) and are in their late 50's or older. Angie Dickinson says she has a favorite 60's pink crocheted mini dress, which doesn't fit anymore but she loves to look at it.

The only omissions I can think of are Yvonne DiCarlo (Lily Munster) though it wouldn't surprise me if she's in there and I just spaced out and missed it, and Candy Johnson (main go-go girl from most of the beach party movies-- if you've seen her, you won't forget her), which I can't fault the author for because trust me, I've dug and dug and spent hours on the net trying to find info for and coming up with absolutely zip other than her filmography. I got all excited when the IMDB had some brief info on her, only to find out they had her mixed up with another actress of the same name.

Maybe one of the best compliments I can give this books is that, if someone asked me, 'so why are you so into the 60's?' I could hand them this book and all they'd have to do is flip through it briefly before saying, 'Oh. Okay." If you're at all into 60's pop culture, even mildly interested, this book is worth picking up. If you're really into 60's pop culture, you probably already have it. If you don't (shame!) go to your favorite online bookstore right now, and pick up a copy fast. You'll be blown away.

Groovy.

Who says nostalgia ain't what it used to be? This book is a heart-warming experience for a survivor of the so-called Love Generation. It reinforces cherished memories that the Sixties was an era in which girls could be girls (or even chicks) and you could even get away with calling them that.

This book is not politically correct - and all the better for it. My only complaint is that it's not bigger. But the hundred chicks who grace its pages are treated with the worshipful respect they so richly deserve: colour illustrations, biographical notes, anecdotes - just about all you would want to know about such icons as Raquel Welch, Julie Christie, Natalie Wood, Twiggy, Britt Ekland, Ann-Margret, to name but a few.

The book is divided into categories and tends to rather heavily favour American girls, which is slightly unfortunate as the Sixties was the first truly international decade when it came to things like entertainment and glamour. And a couple of descriptions seem to be stretching a point - Jacqueline Bisset as a Bond Girl, for example, or Elizabeth Taylor as a British Babe. And everyone will have a few favourites who are not included - Charlotte Rampling, Susannah York, Gina Lollobrigida. Perhaps Chris Strodder is saving them for Volume Two. I hope so because this is a wonderful book - both for those of us who remember the Sixties and others who wish they had been there. And possibly also for those who were there but can't remember it.

A great chick book that even some chicks will enjoy - if only to marvel over the fashions.

I love this kicky, colorful tribute to fabulous 60's chicks. The photos are great fun, and the information is so detailed. I learned a lot about ladies I was already familiar with, and was introduced to some amazing stories, such as Chris Noel--a starlet who gave up her career to devote herself to entertaining vets in Viet Nam. It was also great to read that so many of the women went on to brilliant careers as writers, producers or businesswomen. There are very few "crash-and-burn" stories. This book is great for any one who loves the 60's, entertainment history, or powerful stories about great women.

This is a wonderful exploration of the "Groovy" girls of the 60's, now elevated to "Swingin' Chicks" status by the author! (Why does that sound like something Frank would have said -- or sung?)

Gee, I seem to meet all the criteria that would entitle me to being immortalized by Chris Stodder. But, maybe that's because I'm so old I actually remember the 60's. Wait a minute, that might only be a flashback. You see: proof positive that I really was there!

However, I am willing to forgive Mr. Stodder, toast his fine accomplishment with bong water, and add his truly Groovy book to my collection.

It's a happenin' thing. Love you, babe.

Length:: 1:00 Mins

This book follows a great format.

The clothes are really different.

I miss girls in dresses. The hair styles and all those false lashes add more charm to these girls. The "mods" and the "dolls".

Chris Strodder's "Swingin' Chicks of the 60's" is a well-researched, fact-filled and very humourous trip down memory lane. Even if you don't remember the 60's or know all 101 of the girls, this book is for you. Strodder gives the 60's lowdown on the careers and lives of these women but also fully chronicles their lives from their early beginnings to what they are doing today. The book includes the big names you'd expect to see like Marilyn Monroe, Ann-Margret, Cher and Twiggy but also includes models Veruschka and Edie Sedgwick, singers Nico and Joey Heatherton and TV stars Barbara Feldon and Angela Cartwright (the author's first crush and the inspiration for his web-site). Many of these swingin' chicks have lived the 60's ideal that one person can indeed change the world for the better: Julie Newmar's political activism, Chris Noel's lifelong commitment to Vietnam Vets, Mary Tyler Moore's tireless work for the Diabetes Foundation, Tina Louise's school literacy programs and Cathy Rigby's involvement with the Special Olympics. This lively, informative book has chapters which include Beach Girls, Bond Beauties, Elvis Girls, Movie Stars of America, Britain and International, Songbird, TV Stars and even Cartoon Cuties. You'll discover the early careers of Carolyn Jones of TV's The Adams Family (Texas disc jockey) and Deborah Walley of Gidget fame (Ice Capades skater) while learning the secret behind Natalie Wood's ever-present bracelets (read the book!). The book is a large-format trade paperback with colorful graphics which capture the 60's look and the text is enhanced with over 300 photos. This book is a must-have for everyone!

This book is great. It covers all the beautiful, swinging women from the late 50's-60's. On each girl is about 2 or 3 pics with about a 1 page bio on her. While this is nothing extraordinary, as you might've seen the pics of one of your fave star before, or the bio tells you nothing new, this book is great bcz it houses all these women into one book. There are many women you never knew about, & will discover in this book. Overall I enjoyed it & like it.

A good book and there are many photos and info about actresses and the best of the book is there are 3 photos of Barbara Eden in the book.

I've been stuck at the swinginchicks.com website all night, fascinating stuff. But how, how, did the author possibly leave out the stylish and trend-setting and beautiful Marilyn McCoo of the 5th Dimension, who won the Grammy for Album of the Year in '68???? Anyone out there agree?