Tim Holt [Hardcover]

David Rothel (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 285 pages
• Publisher: Empire Pub (June 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944019137
• ISBN-13: 978-0944019139
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #479,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Author David Rothel's lifelong fascination with show business began with frequent visits to the three movie theatres in Elyria, Ohio, where he was intrigued and inspired by what he saw on the silver screen. He has since gone from youthful observer to published authority on various aspects of popular entertainment, all of which is reflected in his twelve books on show business history. Through the years David has been an educator teaching speech, drama, and language arts in both Ohio and Florida. He was director of the federally-funded Sarasota Visual and Performing Arts Center, a magnet school for students interested in the arts. From the 1970s through 2003, David interviewed dozens of show business personalities for his radio program "Nostalgia Newsbreak" in Sarasota, Florida,and for "Guest Star" panels at film festivals where he was the moderator. He has drawn from those interviews/conversations for his latest book, "Opened Time Capsules: My Vintage Conversations with Show Business Personalities." David has been a professional theatre producer/director in Florida for the Players Theatre and from 2004 to 2008 in Georgia for the Black Bear Dinner Theatre. He has produced and directed such shows as "Hello Dolly," "Irving Berlin's White Christmas," "Oliver!," "The Music Man," "Disney's Beauty and the Beast," and in 2007 directed and performed the role of King Arthur in a Black Bear Dinner Theatre production of the musical "Camelot." David's fascination with the western film genre caused him to research and write books on many of the leading stars of those films. He had the opportunity to personally interview Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and other leading and supporting players for his books. David's book on western film locations, "An Ambush of Ghosts: a Personal Guide to Favorite Western Film Locations," was twice featured in Leonard Maltin segments on "Entertainment Tonight." His book "The Singing Cowboys" led to an appearance on NPR's "All Things Considered." The BBC's "Omnibus" television series featured David's book "The Great Show Business Animals" on one of its programs. David Rothel is currently working on a new book which he has entitled "The Case Files of the Oriental Sleuths: Charlie Chan, Mr. Moto, and Mr. Wong."
David and his wife Nancy live in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Dahlonega, Georgia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional, all-around book about the great cowboy star., July 7, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tim Holt (Hardcover)

"I was five years old...I tried to sit up straight in the saddle as (my father) did, and every once in awhile I'd look down at my new cowboy boots...and I made up my mind that I'd never wear regular shoes again as long as I lived. I was going to be a cowboy for the rest of my life." Those are the words of Tim Holt later in his career, quoted in this magnificent book by author David Rothel. Tim Holt was a great "B" western movie cowboy star of the 1930's-1950's. His post-WWII western movie series that ran up until 1952 has to rate as the best series of "B" westerns ever made, with good acting, directing & production values, a lot of action, and great on-location photography. In many cases the RKO films made from 1947-52 should be more accurately referred to as "A-" westerns. The stories are always enjoyable and pleasing, and you can tell the good guys from the bad guys. Tim Holt was a fine actor and also appeared in several first class films such as Orson Welles' "The Magnificent Amersons," and with Humphrey Bogart in "Treasure of Sierra Madre." In his westerns he presents himself as a warm, easygoing & friendly cowboy with a good sense of right and wrong, a real hero. He is often drifting between jobs when the stories begin. This book is the first and only book about his life and films. I was born after his last westerns were filmed, and happened to discover the movies in the mid-1970's, after Tim Holt had already passed away (at age 54). I took an immediate liking to him as he presented himself in the movies, and when I later went to libraries and book stores to try to find information about him, found nothing except a few brief sections in several western film books. One paperback I found, "Great Western Heroes," published in the 1970's, gave more information than the other books, but not enough. Tim Holt has been a western hero to me since I saw the first movie, and it was a real joy to discover that this book existed when I found it on amazon.com. It's well worth the price. The book is well-written and is solidly bound with excellent print & photographic reproduction, has a great color cover of a more recent painting of Tim Holt, and is just loaded with a treasure trove of information on him. Childhood photos, reviews of all his films with accompanying pictures, copies of newspaper articles and his obituary, interviews and commentaries with his co-stars and fellow actors and family members, even copies of articles and interviews from western film magazines of the 1940's-50's. And some mysteries about his family life, his work after he walked away from acting (at age 33!) and did the rodeo circuit and shows, and the cancer that killed him are revealed here too. It's impossible to really express what a great book this is, and the author David Rothel deserves all the credit for the extensive research and effort he put into this magnificent volume. Highly recommended.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Tribute To A Great Man, January 25, 2000

By 

Kennedy Holt (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tim Holt (Hardcover)

Being the granddaughter of Tim Holt, I know a lot about him. But for someone who doesn't, this is the best book to read and learn about him. My favorite part of the whole book are all the wonderful pictures! David Rothel is a great writer, and he did a wonderful job writing this book! If anyone has any questions that aren't answeredby the book, e-mail me. Thanks! Happy Reading!

5.0 out of 5 stars Tim Holt, November 15, 2009

By 

Judith A. Brett (crookwell nsw australia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tim Holt (Hardcover)

An awesome book about my favourite western star. Well written and it gives a different perspective of this great actor.