Built to resemble an old New England barn, the Boothbay Playhouse operated from 1937 to 1974, under two separate managements, as a professional summer theatre. In the old-resident-company tradition, a different play was presented each week from June to September- and at prices that seem unbelievable today. But even then the challenge of filling seats was a perennial uphill battle that led to ongoing financial crunches for both managements until surmounting losses forced its closure. This is the story of that landmark theatre's trials, triumphs and tribulations, told by someone who was there for five of those 37 years. Illustrated with 60 photos, the volume also features casts and credits for all Playhouse productions

Blonde, vivacious Jean Arthur is best remembered today for her unizue, childlike voice and for the handful of classic Thirties and Forties movies she made for directors Frank Capra and George Stevens, such as You Can't Take It With You, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The More the Merrier and her last picture Shane, released in 1953. But not many know that her 30-year film career dates from the early Twenties, when she was an inexperienced contract player at Fox. In fact, Arthur appeared in more movies of the silent era (mostly program Westerns and minor comedies) than she made after the advent of sound. Born with the name Gladys Greene in 19-00, Jean Arthur renamed and reinvented herself when she arrived in Hollywood in 1922, fictionizing her background and subtracting eight years from her actual age. Colleagues have recalled the eccentric personality and behind-the-scenes insecurities that negated her popularity with the press and inhibited her later career as a stage and TV star, prompting her eventual retreat into seclusion. All of these exploits and more are detailed in this comprehensive biofilmography by Jerry Vermilye, a much published author who tells his story in a brisk non-judgmental style that has drawn critical praise for his volumes on such legendary film personalities as Cary Grant, Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, Charles Bronson, Audrey Hepburn, Buster Crabbe, Lawrence Olivier. and Elizabeth Taylor. This book includes casts, production credits and critical commentary on Jean Arthur's many films, as well as 100 scene stills, portraits and candids, many of them are photographs from the author's private collection.

Built to resemble an old New England barn, the Boothbay Playhouse operated from 1937 to 1974, under two separate managements, as a professional summer theatre. In the old-resident-company tradition, a different play was presented each week from June to September- and at prices that seem unbelievable today. But even then the challenge of filling seats was a perennial uphill battle that led to ongoing financial crunches for both managements until surmounting losses forced its closure. This is the story of that landmark theatre's trials, triumphs and tribulations, told by someone who was there for five of those 37 years. Illustrated with 60 photos, the volume also features casts and credits for all Playhouse productions

This book dispels the notion that psychic powers are beyond the reach of the ordinary person. Carl Rider, a clairvoyant who specializes in psychic research, argues persuasively that everyone is born with psychic powers, although few people ever develop them. In this unique guidebook he reveals how the average person can discover and cultivate his or her psychic abilities.

The book includes step-by-step exercise in which people can discover the exciting possibilies of clairvoyance, psychic awareness, sounds, auras, insights, energy, games, dreaming, and astral travel. It also discusses traditional divination techniques, such as crystal gazing, automatic writing and the reading of tea leaves.

"How to Improve Your Psychic Power" is an excellent introduction for newcomers to the psychic field. It will be of interest to everyone who wishes to develop everyday events into actual psychic experience.

Buster Crabbe's chief claim to fame, aside from his Olympic gold medal (for the 400-meter freestyle event in 1932), rests in the trio of movie serials in which he played the popular science-fiction hero Flash Gordon. Crabbe was the only actor to play the roles of Tarzan (in one movie), Flash Gordon, and Buck Rogers, the top three pulp action heroes of the 1930s. Crabbe carved out a career that would also include more than 100 B-movies and program Westerns, a television adventure series, and a successful physical fitness enterprise. All of this and more is detailed in this book, which includes a complete filmography providing cast and crew information for each of his 103 feature films and serials.