Book Review: The Mansion on the Hill

The Mansion On The Hill
Dylan, Young, Geffen, Springsteen and the Head-On Collision of Rock and Commerce
by Fred Goodman
Paperback
432 pages
Random House
9780224050623
1997

This book was recommended to me by Jeff at Larry Edmunds Bookstore in Los Angeles. This is the premier bookstore for hard-to-find books on the movie industry.

I thought I was reading a book that chronicled the history and musicians who lived Laurel Canyon. However, as I started reading, I discovered the book was really about the birth of the commercial music industry. I was more surprised that it started not 45 minutes from where I live!

The year was 1962 and a record distributor salesman named Paul Rothchild walked into Club 47 on Mount Auburn Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Club 47 started the careers of such famous musicians as Joan Baez, Bonnie Raitt, and Joni Mitchell. Even Bob Dylan played unofficially between sets. Rothchild ended up producing and recording the Charles River Valley Boys, one of the club's acts. After selling all 1000 copies of the record, Rothchild began recording and producing more of the clubs acts. Around this time, folk music was starting to go electric, much to the horror of the purists. By 1965, acts were now being paid for playing at the club, an unheard notion in the folk community. Because of this, the club could no afford to have patrons just sitting around, not generating revenue to pay for the musical acts. The time honored activity of spending hours just sitting in a club, talking to your friends, and listening to some music was now over.

It was an unlikely lawyer from Missouri, Ray Riepen, who realized Boston was just the city to start experimenting with rock-and-roll on the radio. He researched failing radio stations and set his sights on WBCN. The station was desperate for money, they sold airtime to pay the bills. He used the purchased time to play rock music from 10pm to 5am and thus was the beginning of the new WBCN, the station I listened to years unaware of its provenance. The new format was a smash and within a few months, all of the music spun was rock-and-roll. The station also reported on non-mainstream news stories and was legendary in introducing The Clash, The Police, The Cars, 'Til Tuesday, The Ramones, and U2 to the world.

The Los Angeles rock-and-roll scene was still in its infancy in 1964. Within 2 years rock-and-roll would explode and cement Los Angeles as the epicenter of not only the music industry, but the movie industry as well. There was a wave of new bands who were starting to become popular, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Sonny & Cher, and The Doors. Paul Rothchild saw the parallels between what happened in Boston and what was about to happen in Los Angeles. Record labels in New York began paying attention and started opening up new offices to capitalize on the new action.

This book delves into the early history of the business and its evolution. The requisite shady characters and unscrupulous agents looking to make a quick buck off unsuspecting bands make several appearances. The shift from the East to West coast in well documented as the business started to look for more and relevant talent. One could submit without the record companies, most bands would have suffered in local obscurity as opposed to basking in international fame.

Book Reviews: The Man Who Seduced Hollywood and Hollywood Godfather

The Man Who Seduced Hollywood
The Life and Loves of Greg Bautzer, Tinseltown's Most Powerful Lawyer
by B. James Gladstone
Hardcover
285 pages
9781613745793
Chicago Review Press
2013

"Get me Greg Bautzer!"

Gregson Edward Bautzer was born on April 3, 1911 in San Pedro, California. In 1918, he applied was accepted to USC and never looked back. He was tall and athletic, in addition he excelled in debate, which would later assist him in his career as a lawyer.

Over the years he would represent the Hollywood elite in the courtroom. Even a future United States President and the richest man in the world at the time sought his advice. In 1950, he handled the biggest divorce of his career, Nancy and Frank Sinatra's.

He had a flair for charming men and more importantly, women. He was the Leonardo Decaprio of his day when it came to dating beautiful and famous women. He would marry four times and divorce three.

There were two pivotal events that set his new life into motion. In 1936, he somehow raised $5,000 ($93,000+ in 2020) and purchased, "the best wardrobe in town". Also in 1936 he rented an office in the Equitable Building on the corner of Hollywood and Vine. This was the crossroads of the young movie industry at the time. Just up Vine was the location of the Brown Derby, a popular eatery for the industry. Greg would make it a point to showcase his $5,000 wardrobe at the Derby and never forgot to generously tip the maítre d'. This resulted in seating at the best table which in turn created new and important business relationships.

Bautzer and Wilkerson crossed paths in 1938, when Bautzer and Lana Turner were engaged and their relationship was cemented as both men were obsessed with gambling.

Unfortunately, underneath the movie star good looks, the highly successful lawyer, and the perfect clothes lie an alcoholic. He would inherited his father's predisposition for alcoholism and everyone around him suffered. The high rigors and stress of his busy and demanding law practice accelerated his consumption and he would pass away on October 26, 1987 from a heart attack.

   


Hollywood Godfather
The Life and Crimes of Billy Wilkerson
by W. R. Wilkerson III
Hardcover, 310 pages
9781613736609
Chicago Review Press, Inc.
2018

"Luck always found Mr. Wilkerson at the last minute."

William "Billy" Wilkerson was born on September 29, 1890 in Nashville, TN. He grew up with a doting mother and a physically abusive father. Instead of alcohol, Wilkerson's father was mired in the compulsion of gambling. One story reveals, how William Sr. won the rights to bottle Coca-Cola in 13 states. Unable to see the future of the soft drink, he swapped the rights for a movie theater. Had he held onto this winning lottery ticket it would have been worth today, conservatively, hundreds of millions of dollars. Coca-Cola would play a huge part in William Jr's. life years later as he drank twenty bottles a day!

His clout in the movies started the day The Hollywood Reporter went to print in 1930. Unfazed by autocratic studio bosses, he would print unbiased, truthful reviews of movies. He would use the power of print to his advantage when he needed something. As the paper became more and more successful, the powerful Wilkerson became. He was notorious for screaming at his employees and his short, explosive temper. The success of the trade paper segued into creating some of the most popular restaurants and clubs in Hollywood; The Vendome, Trocadero, Ciro's, and the Sunset House.

He would follow in his father's footsteps in massive gambling losses; $150,000 minimum for years and in the end he lost over $10 million in 2020 money. He even resorting to funneling company revenue to cover his losses. Finally, a friend suggested building a casino to attempt to recoup some of his losses. This led to his involvement in the construction of the ill-fated casino, The Flamingo.

His addiction to gambling, his long work hours, and his commitment to his restaurants and clubs, culminated in five divorces.

In the end, his 3+ a day cigarette habit and his 20 bottle a day consumption of Coca-Cola compounded by intestinal problems caused his death on September 2, 1962.


There were many famous people in the very early days of Hollywood. However, the names of Bautzer and Wilkerson do not resonate like Cagney or Goldwyn. Both men were involved in the fringes of the movie industry, but did not operate entirely in the movie industry. This what makes their biographies so compelling.

Both these biographies are worth the time and purchase price as they are mere glimpse into how old Hollywood was run, with its womanizing, obtaining illegal liquor from the Mob, blackmail, raids on backroom gambling, and payoffs to the police.

Two reviews for Raquel's Summer Reading Challenge #ClassicFilmReading

2017 Turner Classic Movie Film Festival, Part I: Exploring LA

The first stop after we land is In-N-Out Burger. Fortunately there is a location just outside of LAX. I alway order number #1. My order is top and my wife's is on the bottom as she likes the sauce on her fries. 

We met friends Robby and Zinnia Cress for dinner. Robby suggested Bob's Big Boy in Burbank. Midway through the meal, he tells me they shot a part of Heat here! It's the scenes where Don Breedan shows up to work as part of his parole and when Neil recruits him to drive the getaway car. 

The world famous record store, Amoeba Records. I went in, "just to look around", and walked out with 4 Blu-rays. 

The Griffith Observatory is the sight of many movies and tv shows. Oh, and you can learn about about the cosmos, if you are into that thing.

The Observatory also has amazing views of the city. 

Shhh! Don't tell my wife...

Did she or didn't she?

Larry Edmunds Bookshop 6644 Hollywood Blvd.

My wife and I both hard core bibliophiles and cinephiles. So whenever we visit Los Angeles, we make it a point to visit Larry Edmunds. She always picks up a several books for research and pleasure. I have purchased a few books myself, mostly about the local history of Los Angeles. One cannot underscore the depth of material within the four walls. Not only do they sell books and vintage posters, they hold readings, screenings, and book signings. The shop has been open for 82 years and has been frequented by scores of actors, producers, and directors.  

Charlie Chaplin's old studio is now the home of Jim Henson's Company.

Kat Von D's Tattoo Parlor

Cantor's Deli

Season seven, episode one of Mad Men was filmed here. Don was, "visiting", California and met Pete here for lunch. 

Drinking Herradura Tequila at the infamous rock and roll bar, The Rainbow Bar and Grill, with cousins, Nick and Rod. 

More alcohol consumption with Nick. This one hooked me on Micheladas so now everytime I eat at a Mexican restaurant I order one. Here we are at Oscar's downing 25 ouncers. 

Galbi King Los Angeles

Nick suggested Galbi King Korean BBQ in Westside Plaza for dinner. I haven't this good Korean BBQ since my San Francisco days. 

Book Review - Michael Douglas: A Biography

Michael Douglas: A Biography
by Marc Eliot
Hardcover, 352 pages
9780307952363
Crown Archetype (Random House)
September 2012

This review originally appeared on Out of the Past - A Classic Film Blog. 


My wife knowing how much I admire Michael Douglas secured a copy of his biography and suggested I review it.

From the time I saw Michael Douglas in Romancing the Stone (1984) he became one of my favorite actors. I have seen 22 of his movies, with Wall Street (1987) as my favorite movie for his acting and The Game (1997) as my favorite for the plot.

As I read the book, I came to realize how complicated Michael is as a person and how his life evolved. He was very much a product of his famous father, Kirk Douglas. Not only did he only did he follow his father’s footsteps in his profession but also in his relationships with women. They were both married twice, had numerous affairs and his mother’s name and first wife’s name are almost identical (Diana and Diandra respectively). They both have been awarded accolades for their vast bodies of work over many decades. Unlike his father Michael was involved in drugs and alcohol for a time.

Michael’s first acting break was the television series, The Streets of San Francisco, with Karl Malden. However it was not acting that made Michael famous, it was producing. Michael’s big producing break came courtesy of Kirk. Kirk was acting in a play called One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest for several years. Several attempts were made over the years to take play from the stage to the screen with no success. There was a growing interest in the book and he wanted to capitalize on it. Kirk was practically giving the movie away to anyone just as long he had the main part. No studio would touch it due to the depressing and sad story. Finally Michael interjected and convinced Kirk to let him take over the project. This is where Michael’s life would change forever. Now it had been several years and Kirk was looking for film work. Kirk assumed that since Michael was now producer that he would get the role of McMurphy as he did in the play. The only glitch in the project was that Kirk Douglas was deemed to old for that role. Michael agonized about this decision and the role ultimately went to Jack Nicholson which would win him his first Oscar.

After the monster success of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and the subsequent Oscar for Best Picture, the movie industry was at Michael’s feet. He now had the power to star and/or make any movie he wished. Then in 1986 he starred in his definitive role of Gordon Gecko, in director Oliver Stone’s Wall St. His command performance of the financier would win him his second Oscar, this time for Best Actor.

His life was marred by personal setbacks and tragedy. He suffered the incarceration of his son, Cameron, for drug possession and the death of his half-brother, Eric, to a drug overdose. His first marriage ended in a contemptuous divorce. He even had a brush with stage IV throat cancer. Although through all the tribulations he did manage to find love again with fellow actor, Catherine Zeta-Jones. They married in 2000 and have two children.

Michael Douglas: A Biography by Marc Eliot is an engrossing and intimate look into the life of one of the most popular contemporary actors. The biography details the childhood of Michael growing up with a famous father and how his fragmented upbringing shaped him. The biography moves chronologically through childhood, college, starting in movies, having a child, divorce, and remarrying. Mr. Eliot details the ups and downs of Michael's life with concise thoughts. This book is an informative read for any movie buff or anyone looking to learn more about the famous actor. I was also impressed with Mr. Eliot's biography of Steve McQueen.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Crown Archetype for sending a copy of the book for review.