Underfoot in Show Business [Paperback]

Helene Hanff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2007

It's a book about show business, where fame is the stock in trade. Each year there are hundreds of stagestruck kids arrive in New York determined to crash the theatre, firmly convinced they're destined to be famous Broadway stars or playwrights.

Product Details

• Paperback: 177 pages
• Publisher: Moyer Bell and its subsidiaries (July 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559210176
• ISBN-13: 978-1559210171
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #900,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lesson in the possibilities of humor, February 17, 2004

By 

A. Reader (Boise, Idaho United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Underfoot in Show Business (Paperback)

I stumbled across Helene Hanff in a place no devout reader should ever be--a video store. After watching '84 Charing Cross Road' I was enchanted with Miss Hanff's wit and humor, and needed more. After an arduous search, I found a used copy of 'Underfoot...' and read it in less than 2 days. I even found myself laughing aloud at parts, which greatly disturbed the people sitting next to me. Hanff's ability to laugh at herself and to extract the humor from any situation is addictive. The book begins with a note to the reader: 'Each year, hundreds of stagestruck kids arrive in New York determined to crash the theatre, firmly convinced they're destined to be famous Broadway stars or playwrights. One in a thousand turns out to be Noel Coward. This book is about life among the other 999. By one of them.' From there, Miss Hanff takes the reader on a tour of her adventures and experiences as a struggling playwright in an honest and spirited manner. I was left wishing that my life was as unpredictable and ironic as Miss Hanff's struggle to live her dreams.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Broadway misadventures, January 8, 2004

By 

R. Rowan (Scranton, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Underfoot in Show Business (Paperback)

Helene Hanff published this, her first book, in 1961. She shares stories from her years as a struggling playwright in New York City; her good friend Maxine was a struggling actress. Practically penniless, they still managed to see first-run shows and movies regularly. How they did it is one of many memorable and funny tales.

I couldn't help laughing at the merry-go-round of a Broadway agent shopping a play all over town. Ms. Hanff tells how 'Oklahoma!' was named (she was there). One of her many jobs involved speed-reading long novels; her take on Tolkein is slightly different than Peter Jackson's.

I echo a previous reviewer's thought: this book would make a terrific film. 'Underfoot in Show Business' is a gem, a memoir full of magic and wit. Highly recommended.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly, this is the funniest book you'll ever read., June 30, 2000

By 

Anthony Kline (New York, USA.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Underfoot in Show Business (Paperback)

I once had to read a bit of this book out to some strangers on a plane who wanted to know why I was laughing out loud and then we had champagne and it was a great flight and Miss Hanff had even more fans. The tears were running down our faces. [ For those of you who have read it already it was the bit about the funeral parlour].

This book, like all of Miss Hanff's works, makes you feel great to be alive.

I've come to love my native city more and more by seeing it through Miss Hanff's eyes.