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(My Travels with) Agnes Moorehead – The Lavender Lady Quint Benedetti ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fabulous Personal Insight into the life of a Legend
I loved Agnes Moorehead as Endora.The cover of this new book is amazing.I googled the author, Quint Benedetti, (same last name as mine) and found a site where I could read excerpts of this book and see even more photos.What a wonderful movie this would make. ... Read more

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This is the second edition of I LOVE THE ILLUSION: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF AGNES MOOREHEAD.More than three years of research went into this book.The author had access to the Agnes Moorehead papers (159 boxes) at the Wisconsin State Historical Society in Madison. The author interviewed more than three dozen Moorehead friends and associates including Jane Wyman (JOHNNY BELINDA, MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION) Debbie Reynolds (HOW THE WEST WAS WON, THE SINGING NUN) and Karl Malden (POLLYANNA). He also interviewed radio pioneers Himan Brown (who gave Agnes one of her first important parts on radio), Norman Corwin and Arthur Anderson (one of Orson Welles' great stock players) on the actress widely considered as one of the great radio performers of her time. Paul Gregory, Miss Moorehead's theatrical manager and promoter of her acclaimed One-Woman show, provided much spice about this complicated woman. BEWITCHED alumni like producer-director Bill Asher, Kasey (Louise Tate) Rogers, Bernard (Dr. Bombay)Fox and Mrs. Dick York recalled the woman behind the iconic role of "Endora."This is the first full length biography of one of the great actresses of her time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Disappointing
The book is plagued with typos, and it offers only a shallow glimpse at this amazing woman.

Good book, but I was disappointed
Although I believe this to be a good book (typos excepted), and I was all prepared to like Moorehead even more than I did before I read it, I actually came away from it not really liking her at all. And I mean AT ALL. She just comes across as vain, arrogant, and shallow. To be sure, the author presents as balanced a tale as he could, but the insufferable "star" attitude comes across loudly, as does her (dare I write it?) bad manners. Sure, she had talent, but she took herself way too seriously. Of course, many actors do, but by the time I got to the last couple of chapters, I was over her. The author relates many anecdotes from people who knew her relating how dissimilar she was to the characters she often played. After reading this book, I disagree. She seemed to me to actually be shades of several characters, including Aunt Fanny, the awful shrew from "Dark Passage", and the mother in "Citizen Kane". Ugh. And I mean UGH.
By the time I reached page 285, where the author quotes Miss Moorhead's response to an unfavorable Kansas City Star article, which several times noted how obviously dismissive she was and how she sneered several times. I laughed out loud at her saying she couldn't believe what had been written about her because she had been raised a Christian and she never 'sneered' at anyone. Some of the all-time best sneerers have been Christians, and based on the biography, I can just see her doing it. In fact, I see her looking down on just about anyone who didn't come up to her standards. What an insufferable snob.
I believe Tranberg did a fine job. I just really find Agnes Moorehead a pompous bore. Would I have wanted to be invited to her Christmas party? No. Would I have been? Well, if I had name recognition I would've, even though the servants were included - how egalitarian of her. Would I have cared one way or another? No.
I will never be able to enjoy her appearances again, knowing what a phony baloney prig she was. YUK.

Aggie Was A Lady
Because of her preeminence in the realm of "character actress" portrayals on both large and small screen and radio, it's a bit surprising that Charles Tranberg's I Love the Illusion is the first full length, fully researched biography of this remarkable actress (best remembered these days as that mother-in-law joke extraordinaire Endora on Bewitched in the 1960s).
The book recounts her youth, early training and struggles, and swift rise to the top in radio, a show biz medium perfect for less than gorgeous people with gorgeous vocal equipment.Her triumphs onstage, in film and on radio are well recounted, and the amazing performance in Magnificent Ambersons is given its due, alongside her string of stunning appearances on Suspense (none moreso than "Suddenly, Last Summer", wherein she shows a genuinely nasty bedridden rich lady who's suddenly aware that she's lost all of her control over events; it's a much juicier conception of the murder victim than what the censors allowed in the 1948 film).
And the monumental experience of Don Juan in Hell is also explained at length.(I was lucky enough to see the 1970s revival.She was amazing.)
Her marital misadventures are also addressed, but for those expecting shocking bisexual tidbits, forget it; this is the story of a rock ribbed minister's daughter, who believed the Bible and prayer provided all the answers, a teetotaler who annually threw one of the classiest, unfussiest Christmas parties given in Beverly Hills, where too much was rarely ever enough, in the 1950s and 1960s.
The book also shows how inadequate famous actors can be in the role of parent, since you know right away that her foster son Sean is doomed to be a prop that doesn't work properly in her life, rather than a real live child with real live issues about a mother he hardly saw due to her touring, and his foreign schooling.
The only problem with the book is that it is truly poorly proofread, with some howler homonym typos (an "irreparable breech" between mother and son? That's half a pair of unmendable pants), but that's a problem with modern publishing in general.
If you admired Miss Aggie and her work before this, you'll enjoy the book.
Would she have approved?Well, not entirely, but then, she didn't prefer plain old reality (but has anyone ever looked plainer onscreen?).

Should Become a Classic Star Biography
I really enjoyed this thoroughly researched book that covers all of Ms. Moorehead's career in theater, films, television, and radio as well as getting intimate details on her private life aided by interviews from scores of her friends and associates. Her triumphs, her disappointments, her great capacity for friendship, her gallant last days - it's all here.

Agnes Moorehead was always one of the most private stars and truth be told, being a character actress, the media wasn't that interested in her as opposed to the more high profile, headline seeking actresses from her time, thus after her death there has been a lot of speculation about her most of which seems to have been completely misguided and no basis in fact.Agnes was pretty hard to peg down - a Bible-thumping woman best known for starring in a supernatural TV series, a prude who knew how to have a good time, and a loving woman who had a terrible relationship with her only child.This is certainly one of the best star biographies in many years and refreshingly written without exploitation or axe to grind.

A Detailed Portrait
Mr. Tranberg, who wrote so well about the vastly underrated Fred MacMurray, has created a much needed three dimensional portrait of a great talent in "I Love the Illusion." Tranberg's daunting research and his enthusiastic appreciation of this actress, especially in her less well known roles as well as her popular work in Bewitched, allows the reader a fuller understanding of this lady's career and private life. The book is both informative and entertaining. I hope that Charles Tranberg writes more of them. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is based on more than three years of research and include more than 30 interviews conducted by the author with such friends and co-workers as Debbie Reynolds, Jane Wyman and Karl Malden.The author had access to more than 150 boxes of Agnes Moorehead papers which are stored at the Wisconsin State Historical Society in Madison.He also had access to the Orson Welles papers held at the Lily Library in Bloomington, Indiana and the Paul Gregory (who produced Moorehead's acclaimed stage productions) Papers held at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming.The author also quotes from private letters between Agnes Moorehead and her secretary over the course of two decades--letters which give Moorehead's biting critiques of the social morals of the 60's; her television series "Bewitched"; and other aspects of her private and professional lives.In addition the author provides the reader with a comprehensive listing of the many sources he used as well as a comprehensive listing of Moorehead stage, screen, radio and television appearances.This is the first comprehensive biography of one of the most acclaimed actresses of her time with never before revealed tidbits which will delight her many fans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

A great book
This is a great insight into one of Our legends of the big and small screen! A must for any fan!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION RE: THIS BOOK
Just a quick note to let you know that this edition of the book is out of print.The book proved to be very popular and the publisher has put out a second edition, which also can be found here on Amazon for ordering.The second edition of I LOVE THE ILLUSION: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF AGNES MOOREHEAD, 2ND EDITION, includes new material not in the first printing.You can find the new edition, listed at $24.95, here on Amazon!under BOOKS, LISTED AS I LOVE THE ILLUSION: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF AGNES MOOREHEAD, or under the author's name, CHARLES TRANBERG.As the author, I would like to THANK everybody who bought this first edition and I appreciate the reviews that were given it by readers.

Bewitching Star
An extremely interesting book on one of the worlds most underated actresses. Well researched and contains information not previously recorded. The lists of Miss Moorehead's radio, stage, film and television work is extensive. This book proves there is much more to Agnes than Endora.

So much more than Endora
I was delighted to discover this book because Agnes Morehead was successful in every acting venue of her time, but largely remembered today only for her delightful, but campy, Endora on Bewitched.Mr. Tranberg clearly made every effort to cover her long and varied career in depth and to give us as complete a portrait of this private lady as can be hoped for.He made good use of the papers she donated to a library when she died and interviewed people who knew her both professionally and personally.I did not find as many mistakes in grammar, spelling, etc. as other reviewers have mentioned, most likely because I read a paperback edition which apparently was more tightly edited. Or maybe I'm just getting senile and missed them.
I did catch the fact that Mr. Tranberg referred, correctly, to the fact that Julie Andrews won the Oscar the year Ms. Morehead's good friend, Debbie Reynolds, was nominated for Molly Brown, but he incorrectly said that Julie won for The Sound of Music.Her winning performance was in Mary Poppins.
Considering the dreadful state of much of the writing about "celebrities" we are offered today, I can wholeheartedly recommend this fine attempt to help us understand and remember one of the greatest actresses of the 20thcentury.
As a special treat, find Ms. Morehead's "Sorry, Wrong Number" on a recording of classic radio performances.It still stands as one of the outstanding radio moments of all time.

The other side of Endora
I am currently half way through the book. The writer has done his homework and gives an in depth look at the career of this wonderful actress. Prior to reading this biography, I knew that Agnes Moorhead had a film career beginning with Citizen Kane; I did not know about her earlier years on the stage and radio. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Charming book about a charming actress
This book gives you a fascinating peek into the wonderful red-headed actor's life.This woman that is probably best known for playing Endora was a staunch Republican and a conservative Christian.She rubbed elbows with the greatest stars ever to walk on earth. She helped countless new actors and actresses behind the scenes.If you love Agnes Moorehead's acting, you will love this book.

A good read worth your time
The best part of this fascinating little book is the "tour" ofthe Miss Mooreheads house that the author provides.Dr. Sherk takes thereader into Ms. Moorehead's den and libraries and describes everthing fromthe rugs on the floor to the titles of books on the shelves.Also, herelates stores told by friends of Ms Moorehead which describe what a grandlady she must have been.

One word of warning, however. There are at leasta couple of errors.One seems to be a misprint, the other gives credit toactor Tony Randall for having done a voice-over that was actually done bycomedian Paul Lynde.

Charming, Low Key Biography of the Actress Agnes Moorehead
Light, easy going biography focuses on the actress Agnes Moorehead as the author knew her, rather than on her life in general.The book consists of anecdotes from friends, fans and coworkers that focus mainly on Ms. Moorehead's deeply held religious beliefs and the many kindnesses she bestowed on others throughout her life.Those looking for controversy, deep dark secrets or skeletons in the closet will be disappointed, everyone else will find this short, to the point biography both entertaining and informative. ... Read more

Product Description
This bio-bibliography provides an overview of the life and career of the noted actress Agnes Moorehead. A brief biography discusses her midwestern upbringing as well as her academic background and early struggles in acting. The largest portion of the book is devoted to detailed listings of her work in film, television, radio and theatre. Synopses, cast and credits, review excerpts and miscellaneous information relating to her work are provided. The book also contains a general subject index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Great Listing of Miss Moorehead's considerable credits
Lynn Kear's "Agnes Moorehead: A Bio-Bibliography" is a superb reference book.Written in a time before the internet she was able through exhaustive research to compile an incredible listing of Miss Moorehead's considerable credits on stage, screen, radio and television.She also includes synopses of most of these performances along with contemporary reviews.The Biography section is limited (as was expected with this type of book in the series) but includes many interesting nuggets which at that time was not known to many Moorehead fans.Credit Kear for discovering, too, what Agnes' true birth year was--up to that time most people took Agnes at her word that she born in 1906, but Miss Kear came up with the truth. As a fellow writer and biographer of Agnes Moorehead (I Love the Illusion: The Life and Career of Agnes Moorehead) I found this book to be a godsend.

Good, but could have been better
Kear has done fairly well over all, but several of her reference sections are incomplete.Also, she seems to go out of her way to print reviews of Miss Moorehead's films/TV appearances that are negative and in some casesdownright insulting.My overall impression is that Kear, as she did herresearch, began (for whatever reason) to dislike Miss Moorehead.In spiteof these glaring and obvious flaws, there is some good information here, Ijust wish it had been put together by someone with a little more repect andadmiration for her esteemed subject. ... Read more

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Chapters: Deaths From Heart Cancer, Deaths From Uterine Cancer, Ann Dunham, Agnes Moorehead, Anne Bancroft, Eric Carr, Evelyn Keyes, Lurleen Wallace, Rocío Dúrcal, Nancy Lamott, Gwen Guthrie, Sheela Basrur, Kim Stanley, Shari Lewis, Sarah Jacobson, Kage Baker, Diana Sands, Mimi Lerner, Valentina Bartolomasi, Rashid Jahan, Jane Senior, Marta Gonzalez. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 109. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Stanley Ann Dunham (November 29, 1942 November 7, 1995), the mother of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, was an American anthropologist who specialized in economic anthropology and rural development. Dunham was nicknamed Anna, later known as Dr. Stanley Ann Dunham Soetoro, and finally Ann Dunham Sutoro. Born in Kansas, Dunham spent her childhood in California, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas and her teenage years in Mercer Island, Washington, and much of her adult life in Hawaii and Indonesia. Dunham studied at the University of Hawaii and the East-West Center and attained a bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. in anthropology. Interested in craftsmanship, weaving and the role of women in cottage industries, Dunham's research focused on women's work on the island of Java and blacksmithing in Indonesia. To address the problem of poverty in rural villages, she created microcredit programs while working as a consultant for the United States Agency for International Development. Dunham was also employed by the Ford Foundation in Jakarta and she consulted with the Asian Development Bank in Pakistan. Towards the latter part of her life, she worked with Bank Rakyat Indonesia, where she helped apply her research to the largest microfinance program in the world. After her son assumed the presidency, interest renewed in Dunham's work: The University of Hawaii held...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=9478182 ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Ann Dunham, Agnes Moorehead, Anne Bancroft, Evelyn Keyes, Lurleen Wallace, Rocío Dúrcal, Nancy Lamott, Gwen Guthrie, Kim Stanley, Shari Lewis, Sarah Jacobson, Kage Baker, Valentina Bartolomasi, Rashid Jahan, Jane Senior, Marta Gonzalez. Excerpt:Agnes Moorehead Agnes Robertson Moorehead (December 6, 1900 April 30, 1974) was an American actress. Although she began with the Mercury Theatre , appeared in more than seventy films beginning with Citizen Kane and on dozens of television shows during a career that spanned more than thirty years, Moorehead is most widely known to modern audiences for her role as the witch Endora in the series Bewitched . While rarely playing leads in films, Moorehead's skill at character development and range earned her one Emmy Award and two Golden Globe awards in addition to four Academy Award and six Emmy Award nominations. Moorehead's transition to television won acclaim for drama and comedy. She could play many different types, but often portrayed haughty, arrogant characters. Early life Moorehead was born in Clinton , Massachusetts , of English , Irish , Scottish and Welsh ancestry, to a Presbyterian clergyman , John Henderson Moorehead, and his wife, the former Mildred McCauley, who had been a singer. Moorehead later shaved six years off her age by claiming to have been born in 1906. Moorehead recalled her first public performance was at the age of three, reciting "The Lord's Prayer " in her father's church. The family moved to St. Louis , Missouri , and Moorehead's ambition to become an actress grew "very strong". Her mother indulged her active imagination often asking "Who are you today, Agnes?", while Moorehead and her sister would often engage in mimicry, often coming to the dinner table and imitating parishioners. Moorehead noted and was enc... ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: John Glenn, Richard Pipes, Agnes Moorehead, Jon Heacock, William Lawrence, James M. Tunnell, William Rainey Harper, Dick Crum, Jack Hanna, Keith Lockhart, William Oxley Thompson, Annie Glenn, Melville Clyde Kelly, Robert M. Warner, John Willis Menard, Josh Boyer, Philip Caldwell, Earl R. Lewis, C. Ellis Moore, Donald C. Bruce, Dennis D. Berkey, Judy Hahn, Bill Cooper. Excerpt:Agnes Moorehead Agnes Robertson Moorehead (December 6, 1900 April 30, 1974) was an American actress. Although she began with the Mercury Theatre , appeared in more than seventy films beginning with Citizen Kane and on dozens of television shows during a career that spanned more than thirty years, Moorehead is most widely known to modern audiences for her role as the witch Endora in the series Bewitched . While rarely playing leads in films, Moorehead's skill at character development and range earned her one Emmy Award and two Golden Globe awards in addition to four Academy Award and six Emmy Award nominations. Moorehead's transition to television won acclaim for drama and comedy. She could play many different types, but often portrayed haughty, arrogant characters. Early life Moorehead was born in Clinton , Massachusetts , of English , Irish , Scottish and Welsh ancestry, to a Presbyterian clergyman , John Henderson Moorehead, and his wife, the former Mildred McCauley, who had been a singer. Moorehead later shaved six years off her age by claiming to have been born in 1906. Moorehead recalled her first public performance was at the age of three, reciting "The Lord's Prayer " in her father's church. The family moved to St. Louis , Missouri , and Moorehead's ambition to become an actress grew "very strong". Her mother indulged her active imagination often asking "Who are you today, Agnes?", while Moorehead ... ... Read more

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Chapters: John Glenn, Thomas A. Hendricks, Agnes Moorehead, Iolas Huffman, William Rainey Harper, Melvin Mayfield, Annie Glenn, Melville Clyde Kelly, Jay Burson, David W. Stewart, John Jay Adams, Edward Ball, Chalmers Wylie, George Loyd, William H. Longshore, Dave Longaberger, Farmer Vaughn, Francis John Mcconnell, Cornelius S. Hamilton, George Sharrock, James W. Huffman, Gilbert Van Tassel Hamilton. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 87. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: John Herschel Glenn, Jr. (born July 18, 1921) is a retired United States Marine Corps pilot, a former astronaut and United States senator who was the first American and third person to orbit the Earth. Glenn was a Marine Corps fighter pilot before joining NASA's Mercury program as a member of NASA's original astronaut group. He orbited the Earth in Friendship 7 in 1962. After retiring from NASA, he entered politics as a Democrat and represented Ohio in the United States Senate from 1974 to 1999. Glenn received a Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1978 and was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1998, he became the oldest person to fly in space, and the only one to fly in both the Mercury and Shuttle programs, when at age 77, he flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-95). Glenn and M. Scott Carpenter are the last surviving members of the Mercury Seven. Military portrait of John GlennJohn Glenn was born in Cambridge, Ohio, to John Herschel Glenn and his wife Clara Theresa (née Sproat). He was raised in New Concord, Ohio. Glenn studied chemistry at Muskingum College, and received his private pilot's license as physics course credit in 1941. When the attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II, he dropped out of college and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. However, the Army...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=58702 ... Read more

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Agnes Robertson Moorehead (* 6. Dezember 1900 in Clinton, Massachusetts; † 30. April 1974 in Rochester, Minnesota) war eine US-amerikanische Schauspielerin. Agnes Robertson Moorehead wuchs in St. Louis auf. Sie spielte in über siebzig Spielfilmen, zumeist in Nebenrollen, und war vier Mal für einen Oscar nominiert. Ihre letzte Nominierung erhielt sie 1965 als beste Nebendarstellerin für ihre Rolle als Haushälterin Velma Cruther in Wiegenlied für eine Leiche, für die sie im gleichen Jahr mit einem Golden Globe ausgezeichnet wurde. Zudem erhielt sie Anfang der 50er Jahre einen Emmy für ihre Darstellung der Emma Valentine in „Night of the Vicious Valentine". Große Bekanntheit erreichte sie als Endora in der Fernsehserie Verliebt in eine Hexe. ... Read more

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Chapters: Hubert Humphrey, Rudy Perpich, Dave Arneson, Agnes Moorehead, Gregory Corso, Richard S. Arnold, James H. Binger, Floyd B. Olson, Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Dave "Snaker" Ray, Beatrice Ohanessian, Craig Kusick, Eugene Gordon Lee, Charles Nolte, John Majhor, Howie Schultz, Bruce Vento, Bob Casey, Pat Hare, Nikolay Anikin, Stephen Morse, Bill Carlson, Steve Cannon, Terry O'sullivan, Karl Mueller. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 126. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. (May 27, 1911 January 13, 1978) served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Americans for Democratic Action. He also served as Mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota, 19451949. In 1968, Humphrey was the nominee of the Democratic Party in the 1968 presidential election but lost to the Republican nominee, Richard Nixon. Humphrey was born in Wallace, South Dakota. He was the son of Hubert Humphrey, Sr. and Ragnild Kristine Sannes, who was a Norwegian immigrant. Humphrey spent most of his youth in the small town of Doland, South Dakota, on the Dakota prairie; during his years living in Doland the town's population was around 700. His father was the town pharmacist and a community leader; he served as Doland's mayor and as a town council member. In the late 1920s a severe economic downturn hit Doland; both of the town's banks closed and Humphrey's father struggled to keep his drugstore open. After his son graduated from Doland's high school, Hubert, Sr. left Doland and opened a new drugstore in the larger town of Huron, South Dakota (population 11,000), where he hoped to improve his for...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=42636 ... Read more

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Four classic dramas from the Golden Age of Radio. 2 hours of quality radio programming. The First Lady of Suspense on radios's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills is a quartet of tales well calculated to keep you in suspense. Four complete network programs as originally broadcast on CBS, featuring commercials for Roma Wine, AutoLite and others. Sorry Wrong Number Feb. 23, 1944.The Yellow Wallpaper July 29, 1948. The Signal Man March 23, 1953.Don't Call Me Mother Jan. 4, 1959. ... Read more

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SONG FOR VOICE AND PIANO. ... Read more

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Who know what evil lurks in the heart of men? . . . the Shadowknows. This audio brick of all original radio recordings includes fourcassettes. ... Read more

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CD with two Jack Benny Shows from 1943 and 1948. One with Agnes Moorehead. ... Read more