Customer Reviews

An original Dead End Kid presents: dead end yells, wedding bells, cockle shells, and dizzy spells

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Leo Gorcey is best known today for his work as part of two groups: The Dead End Kids and the Bowrey Boys. He went from playing decently sized roles in A-pictures but his behavior led him straight into B-movies. He didn't seem to mind; he worked with friends and made decent money doing it. Plus, he had lots of fun. Well known for his drinking and troubles with women, Gorcey had an image as a bad-boy, but his true colors ran deeper than the image gave him credit for. This is his only book, written only a few years before his death.

Unfortunately for collectors and enthusiasts, this book had a limited printing of 1000 copies. It is considered to be the most sought-after movie biography and will cost you hundreds (if not thousands) for an original. Fortunately for me and others, Gorcey's son recently rereleased the book (again with a limited printing of 1000 copies) with a forward and some notes. Now those of you who always wanted to read the book but never had access to one can find this gem.

Nothing in this book is properly covered; at 130 pages including notes it hardly has time to go into detail about anything. However, what it lacks in depth it more than makes up for in humor. Gorcey is a surprisingly good writer and a very funny man. His pranks are legendary in Hollywood history and that same mischievious spirit prevails in his writing. Dead End Yells, Wedding Bells, Cockle Shells and Dizzy Spells is a book best supplemented with Leo Gorcey Jr.'s book Me and the Dead End Kid. The extra background information will make this books' writing all the more alive in context.

This book is awesome if you know The Bowery Boys, Dead End Kids, etc. I grew up watching them on Sunday mornings. I always loved Slip or... Mugs Mahoney, aka Leo Gorcey. His book is true to his life...the gloves are off. A heavy drinker, several wives, he got like a 100 traffic violations in his first year in Hollywood at like the tender age of 20ish..when few people drove back then....and did a week in jail. He tells his story, with no sugar coating....playing pranks on the older hollywood stars like Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney as well as the directors/producers. ..just the true stuff good and bad. It's an easy book to read. Very short chapters of his life and very very funny. Sadly the man died at a very early age but is remembered by all who loved him. Probably as I have read before, one of the best if not the best and TRUE Hollywood biographies...by the original DEAD END KID!! Hopefully you can find this book cheaper than I am seeing it on Amazon. I know his son republished it and released another 1000 copies...i paid 29 dollars for it and according to the prices I am seeing...it's already worth a lot more..but the value is really in the story and the book...very cool