Scrapbooks of My Mind: A Hollywood Autobiography - Softcover

Jason, Rick

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0970162405 ISBN 13: 9780970162403

Publisher: Strange New World, 2000

Synopsis

Star of TV's longest-running World War II series, "Combat!", Rick Jason has conquered television, stage, and film in a career that spans five decades. In his autobiography, "Scrapbooks of My Mind," Rick provides an intimate look at Hollywood's star machine, sharing his unique perspective and memories of MGM, 20th Century Fox, and the other big studios in their heydey.

Rick Jason recounts with wit and humor his youth in Depression-era New York and his WWII army life, where he narrowly escaped imprisonment at Fort Leavenworth. From Broadway in the '40s to Hollywood in the '50s, Rick worked beside the stars of the day: Orson Welles, Jayne Mansfield, Hume Cronyn, Linda Darnell, Ricardo Montalban, Charles Bronson, and more! He shares behind-the-scenes stories of his film and TV work, especially on "Combat!" with co-star Vic Morrow. A feast for fans, this autobiography captures Rick Jason's taste for life, as he even shares his favorite recipes.

About this title

From the Author

FROM THE INTRODUCTION:

My wife doesn’t come from the entertainment business and was singularly uninformed about it when I was introduced to her in Hong Kong. The first time she was on a movie set, I was guest starring in the TV series 'Air Wolf.' When I introduced her to one of the co-stars, and an old pal, Ernie Borgnine, she told him he looked familiar. Ernie started giving her a list of his credits and she kept shaking her head. He finally gave up and picked an apple from a tray, handed it to her and said, 'Have one, sweetheart. That ended the subject.

The first few years of our marriage, I regaled her with stories of Hollywood and my experiences in the business; mostly during dinner and over a bottle of wine. She was always attentive and occasionally asked a question. The conversations always ended with, 'You should write this down, for your autobiography.' It was hard to believe anybody would be interested in my life even though I still receive fan mail from avid 'Combat!' fans who grew up watching the show with their parents and now sit in front of the TV looking at it with their kids. [...] Then an interesting thing happened. A package arrived one day in 1995. Until then, I knew 'Combat!' had been in reruns all over the country, but I wasn’t aware of any organized effort to unite its fans. This was a package from a group of fans, and it opened my eyes to a 'Combat!' world I had no idea existed. A website visited by thousands each month, and a 'Combat!' convention that they dubbed a 'recon,' along with a Carribbean cruise. The enthusiasm of the 'Combat!' devotees has been staggering. I’ve been informed, in no uncertain terms, that there are a lot more people besides my lovely wife who would like to read about my beginning in television, when it was in its infancy. To all of you who’ve insisted and encouraged me, to all whom I’ve entertained, thanks for making my life that much more fulfilled. -- Rick Jason

Review

Rick Jason has done it all, from stock to stage to screens large and small. -- Charles Champlin, Former Arts Editor, Los Angeles Times

Edition details

• Publisher: Strange New World
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0970162405
• ISBN 13: 9780970162403
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320