Backstage With the Original Hollywood Square

By Peter Marshall

Book Overview

Peter Marshall was the host for 17 years of the phenomenally successfulcelebrity game show, The Hollywood Squares . This is the insidestory from why Peter took the job (he did not want Dan Rowan to get it) to theinner workings of the show (how did Paul Lynde come up with all those jokes?).From stories about regulars Wally Cox, Rose Marie, Cliff Arquette as CharleyWeaver, Nannette Fabray, and Abby Dalton to stories about the guests - BettyGrable, Helen Hayes, George C. Scott, Richard Burton, and everybody else who wasanybody in Hollywood. Hollywood Squares debuted in 1966 and became, along with TheTonight Show , one of the two shows to be on if you wanted to plug a newmovie, show, or book. There are stories of friendships and romances that grew onthe show, stories of what happened when the show taped in Puerto Vallarta,Vancouver, and Jamaica. There are stories of The Hollywood Squares 'funniest moments and bloopers, including those that never got by the censors. The book includes a CD of along-out-of-print album, Zingers from The Hollywood Squares . Backstage with the Original Hollywood Square is an insider's view ofone of the most remarkable television shows of all time. ?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558539808
• ISBN13: 9781558539808
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Rutledge Hill Pr
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 0.8" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Greta Garbo to block...

... is a phrase Peter Marshall admits he would have loved to hear on his hit television show "The Hollywood Squares". That fact, and a thousand others, come in a new and downright funny book, "Backstage with the Original Hollywood Square", written by Peter Marshall and Adrienne Armstrong.Part memoir, part fond walk down memory lane, "Backstage" provides insights to the creation and hosting of one of America's all time successful games. Peter Marshall recants many stories, some of which he told on the E! True Hollywood Story of the "Squares" and others are brand new. He starts off with a quick summation of his early career, and how he was offered the emcee job of a lifetime. Then he delves in to all the people behind the scenes that were important to the show. The book starts running when he reminisces about all the stars we grew to love over the years: Paul Lynde, Wally Cox, Rose Marie. While each section of the star could have been longer, he sheds some light on each one admirably.Throughout the book, Peter comes across very polite and respectful. It's almost his persona on the Squares. He allowed the stars to shine by taking a somewhat backseat approach to hosting, yet you realize after watching it he was the glue that kept them together. In this book, he is the mere storyteller, and showcases everyone else.What's more fantastic about this book is the CD that accompanies it. From an album entitled "Zingers from the Hollywood Squares" that was released in the 70's, this CD holds some of the Squares funniest one liners. That alone is worth the cost of the book. I had the album as a kid, and listened to it constantly, and to this day, recalled many of the jokes still!This book was a long time coming, and needed. For many people, The Hollywood Squares wasn't a showcase for has beens, but a welcome comedic relief during some of our nation's most turbulant times. Thanks to Peter Marshall for writing this, and bringing back all the laughter!

Buy This Book!

You will have hours of entertaining escapist reading!I don't normally read "showbiz" books, but bought this on an impulse, as it had so many great photographs. What was such a nice surprise is that Peter Marshall and his co-author Adrienne Armstrong, are excellent writers. They make the reader feel like he is sitting in a cozy bar with Peter, drink in hand, listening to wonderful tales about the making, and eventual breaking of Hollywood Squares. Peter is refreshingly honest, delightfully candid, yet never disrespectful when discussing the celebrities and contestants who appeared on the show over the years.An added bonus is the CD that comes with the book.I'm a new Peter Marshall fan, who hopes he and his partner write again. Soon.

Paul Lynde to block!

Peter Marshall: Why do Motorcyclists wear leather jackets?Paul Lynde: Because Chiffon Wrinkles.For quite some time now, I have been listening to Peter Marshall on the radio every weekday morning as he hosts "the Music of Your Life" on KLOA a.m. His knowledge of music from that era is extensive and he always adds interesting comments and stories about the songs that he plays. Every once in a while he mentions the Hollywood Squares and you can hear in his voice how he cherishes that part of his life. With his new book, "Backstage With the Original Hollywood Square", he has a chance to reminisce fondly of the much beloved game show that brought joy to lives of so many. The tone of the book is mostly fun, and even when he briefly mentions those few things that are perhaps less than pleasant, he does so with an honest, human candor that puts things in perspective. We get a quick glimpse of Peter's life before, during and after Squares, however, the majority of the book is about all of the celebrities that took part in the show, both those that were regulars like Paul Lynde and the many brief appearances by stars throughout the years as diverse as George C. Scott to Alice Cooper. The inner workings of the show are also presented for our enlightenment, as well as the pleasant announcement that the videos of the show that were once believed lost have recently been uncovered and are now playing on the Game Show Network. My favorite story in the book concerns an amazing letter that Pete received from none other than the Duke himself: John Wayne! As if this fabulous photo packed book were not enough, it comes with a CD of the long out of print album, "Zingers from the Hollywood Squares"! If you liked Hollywood Squares, then you will not be let down by this bargain package.

Great book, the greatest game show I ever saw!

I just bought this book a week ago and read it in two days. Now that Game Show Network has brought the show back, it's nice to also read about it. Peter Marshall has written a book not about his life, but his time on "The Hollywood Squares". He talks about what life was like with Paul Lynde, Rose-Marie, George Gobel and many others that I loved as a kid watching the show. I gave this five stars because of the book. It also includes a wonderful CD with the zingers that we all loved to hear after a question was asked. The only drawback on this CD is hearing Buddy Hackett's laugh for much of the CD, and it's always the same laugh! It's irritating to listen to, but I can get past that. The book answers many questions and gives many secrets of what went on in the heyday of this show. I won't spoil it for others, but it has information on the recently discovered thought to be destroyed episodes that GSN now airs. Plus, you can read about stars of today who were contestants on the show. One secret I'll give away is the fact that Naomi Judd was once a contestant!Buy this book today. You'll find it's worth the money!

Superb book, even better CD

This book is a great look back at the original run of The Hollywood Squares, primarily focusing on how Peter Marshall got the job and his memories of the squares, ranging from the regulars (Paul Lynde, George Gobel, Wally Cox, Cliff Arquette/Charley Weaver) to those that only made a handful of appearances (George C. Scott, Miss Gloria Swanson, Miss Helen Hayes). The book was a very short read, taking me just over 3 hours to read from cover to cover. The pictures in the book are simply amazing, ranging from pictures of celebrities in their cubicles to Peter Marshall and Alex Trebek as celebrity players on The Magnificent Marble Machine. The photo of George Gobel dressed as Little Boy Blue is absolutely priceless.My 2 favorite parts of the book are the complete list of celebrities that occupied the squares and the CD copy of the Zingers album released in 1974. The audio occasionally cracks and pops but the jam packed humor on the CD more than makes up for it. In my opinion, the CD by itself is worth the cost of the book.