Product Description
He soared form the wrong side of Brooklyn to the top of the world. And he's still hot six decades later. Now, with crackling wisdom and great humor, Mickey takes us back and tells us about: The early days, the wild parties, and squandered fortunes . . . The dark days on the downside of
fame . . . The fabled friendships, torrid romances, and legendary marriages . . . The blockbuster films and head-busting moguls . . . Inside stories about Ava Gardner, Judy Garland, Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin, Spencer Tracy, and a host of others.
Mickey Rooney opens a wide window into an extraordinary life, one of startling adventure, tremendous excess, flagrant hedonism, heart-wrenching love, and an immense and giving talent that looms larger than life itself.
"LIFE IS TOO SHORT is a little masterpiece . . . . Fascinating." --Los Angeles Daily News
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Customer Reviews (15)

You Don't Have to be Tall to Have a Big Life
Very interesting book.There were lots of tidbits and juicy gossip which makes for a delicious read!Mr. Rooney details his many marriages with humor, candor and graphics.I enjoyed this book very much.

Mickey creates Magic (AGAIN),but w/ Some shadows..
..IN his autobio.LIFE IS TOO SHORT. Certainly a winning volume in the Bright and Shadowy side of Vaudeville and Hollywood, and he details heavily his struggles as the "Grown Up" "Andy Hardy". The ONLY place I warn readers about it, be prepared to read unsavory details about manyGreat, Classic Hollywood Stars. Mr Rooney's remembrances are, of course, one opinion, so take it with a grain of salt , but if your illusions over Great Names like Spencer Tracy, Fred Astaire, Clark Gable and etc matter, then let this one go.(Drunken orgies are Not much fun to read about orimagine, esp when QUALITY mattered in Hollywood. Imagining Rooney, Tracy, Mr AStaire and Gable all passed out on a bed, is NOT my idea of entertainment, and I seriously doubt his voracity here. Also intimate details of his bedroom dalliances are not needed either..
There is NO DOUBT Mickey Rooney is a LEGEND,also according to himself,in the bedroom too (Face it the man has had 8 marriages);his "Love Affair"/Deep Friendship with his beloved Judy Garland is touching to read of here..but I can't see picking this volumeup to read a second time.

Hollywoods Little Giant
I loved the book read it over several times as well as some other bios on him. Mickey has lived through quite a lot, some good times & some very hard times that could break a lesser man. He is probably one of the most under rated, Greatest talents ever to step into Hollywood.
Sure he might of been a little graphic in some of his sexual experiences but he was telling it like it was. Hollywood back then was really no different from the way it is now. A famous kid with lots of dough in his pockets & girls throwing themselves at him, The older stars showing him the ropes its quite a temptation not to be part of the crowd. When a young man is brought up in an atmosphere such as he was, for instance being seduced by Norma Shearer a woman almost twice his age, He learned about sex early on of course it would have had some impact on his life as he grew older.

Mickey talked a lot about his very close relationship with Judy, How they would goof around all the time on the sets trying to trip each other up. They would often hang out & talk of doing their own show together, He even hinted that maybe he let right one get away by saying what might of been if they would have gotten together. How he respected Judy in a way he didn't most other women & that respect might have kept him on the straight and narrow when everything around him might have tempted him to stray. Even to go as far as to say what there kids would be like.
He told of his rise to the top and how MGM made them a star, but also made millions off them in the process leaving Judy & Mickey with minimal salaries.

Mickey first met Sam Stiefel while he was on tour with Judy promoting Girl Crazy a nice guy with a great line. Sam impressed Mickey so much that they became good friends the kind of friend that would lend you money with no question. Sam would talk him into becoming his manager and eventually into leaving MGM altogether and starting his own production company. He could get him pictures making twice what he was making for MGM. Mick himself would be President and Sam would be his secretary/treasurer taking care of his finances & his mom while he was away in the army, only to end up robbing him blind & all but ruin his career with MGM.

Mickey did have a very addictive behavior pills, gambling, & beautiful women would become his downfall. There would be many more setbacks in his life personally, Financially, as well as physically before he found his faith that would eventually pick him back up & lead him in the right direction. Mickey lives for an audience that's where he feels truly needed & loved I believe he will never stop working, for that's what keeps him going. Now 89 yrs old Mickey Is a True Survivor!!!!!

BEAUTIFUL STORY ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL MAN
This book is awesome...if you read a bad review...IGNORE IT!!!!

It's TOTALLY TRUE...ALL OF IT!

What a LIFE, WHAT A LEGEND!

5 STARS FOR MICKEY, my idol!

I LOVE YOU MICkEY!

MUCH Better Than I Expected
This is a breezy, warm, disarming, candid, brief autobiography.

The Mickey Rooney life itself is pure legend. Born-in-a-trunk vaudeville kid, silent movie star before the age of 10, star, has-been, comeback kid -- one of the longest performing careers ever. And one of the greatest workhorses of the 20th century!

He certainly isn't a writer and, surely, most of this book was dictated into a machine and then shaped by a ghostwriter. Here are some pleasant surprises...

- There's virtually no lecturing or "life lessons"
- He's willing to take shots at the Hollywood system and the agents that screwed him while acknowledging that he was very happy with most of his years at MGM
- He's got a potty mouth
- He devotes several sentences to describing exactly what Ava Gardner's [...] was like to, uh, "interact" with
- He isn't the rambling, erratic, bizarre character he appeared to be in his public appearances in the 1990's and 2000's
- He absolutely "gets" Judy Garland
- He utterly owns his obsessive, manic, spend-thrift, addictive personality
- The book putters along at a pleasant clip

And there are some stories that sound totally false, but, hey, this is a great entertainer and spinner of tales.
- Walt Disney named Mickey Mouse after him?
- One evening he dated the daughter and then did her mother in a car?
- Etc., etc.

Read it! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An Absolutely Essential Biography
Since no one has yet come along and written a comprehensive biography of Rooney, it is unfortunate that this has become a sort of "lost book." For this is a terrific piece of work and, for some periods of Rooney's life, is the authoritative record.

Rooney's life is one that is unparalleled in the history of 20th century performance. This remarkable career is made more interesting by his hyperbolic, troubling, and winning personality. And don't get me started on all his wives!

Yet all we have in terms of real biographical works are this one, Rooney's first autobiography, I.E., and his second, Life is Too Short. And Rooney -- even though he names names and tells tales -- is not a reliable reporter.

The early part of Rooney's life through his time with MGM is handled decently but there isn't much ground-breaking research. However, this book truly shines in capturing Rooney in the 1950's through this triumph in Sugar Babies in the late 1970's. These were some troubling times for Mickey Rooney and Marx takes us through these with finesse.

We get incredible disclosures from people important in Rooney's life. His 5th wife's wide-eyed and balanced perspective. Roger Kahn's hysterically troubled time trying to craft an autobiography with Rooney. Many reports from friends, managers, insiders. Marx's own experiences working with Rooney on one of his failed sitcoms.

Most importantly, we learn about the performer at work -- Rooney's methods of working on the set and on the stage -- some of them incredibly productive and individual, others sloppy and offhanded.

Rooney is inseparable from performing and this book captures the man in performance and the performance in the man.

The Nine Lives of Mickey Rooney
The book arrived in the condition stated in the write-up. ... Read more

Product Description
Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
The author of Life is Too Short presents a novel about former child star Sunny Skies who lives in the delusionary world of his past and falls victim to a journalist's misguided attempt to readjust him to the present. 100,000 first printing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Simple Little Boy in a Screen Test
Richards is a sleezy ex-alcoholic who got himself into a libel suit at his pornographic magazine, so he's currently out of a job. He spends most of his time meeting with the Backstabbers, his group of poker buddies. One day, his friend gets ahold of some old MGM footage, everything from naked ladies flirting with the camera to a little boy's screen test. The screen test interests him, and it takes him on a whirlwind ride. Elle McBrien is a reporter for HMO doing a story on Sonny Skies, the only American actor to die during WWII. She finds out that Richards is in possession of Sonny's screen test, and requests to use it. He weasels his way into working with her on the project, and the two slowly fall for each other. Along the way, they find out that there is a lot more to the Sonny Skies story than meets the eye, and what began as easy research becomes messy very fast.

It is obvious by the way he illustrates the fact that Sonny was used and abused by the studio system that Rooney feels he was taken advantage of too. As is typical of his ego, Rooney name-drops himself, a lot. It can be rather annoying, but one has to remember his reputation. It is likely that readers will be fans, because this book is not masterpiece of writing. It is certainly fun and entertaining, but it isn't challenging or terribly thought-provoking.

It is funny that there is so much sex in this book considering how outspoken Rooney is about the amount of sex in modern pop culture. Perhaps his inclusion is out of mockery; the ending certainly is off-putting. However, sex is sprinkled throughout the novel, and it is completely unneccesary. Sure, it is a fact of life, and certainly one that Rooney is no stranger to, but it in no way moves the plot along.

Hazy Skies and Mild
The Search for Sonny Skies is a novel where the readin' is easy. The Richards character is a sleezeball with a heart of gold.. Sonny Skies is a sympathetic, mentall,y traumatized former moviestar. He thinks he's only eight years old. He's supposed to have died inWorld War II combat fifty years ago. The movie giants of those days knewhow to make things happen or not happen.Mickey Rooney makes it allhappen in his own burlesque and vaudevilleway. ... Read more

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Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
Mickey Rooney Was Right is D. W. Paone's autobiography with the emphasis on his quest to achieve success as both a writer and assistant cameraman in the entertainment industry. However, no matter how hard he tried, and he tried very hard, long-term success in both these aspects of the industry continued to elude him. While he had the opportunity to work on Law & Order and a handful of other high-profile jobs, and even sold a joke to Jay Leno, his career was a roller coaster ride of highs and lows in a fickle industry with no rhyme or reason. This book is for anyone who has attempted, or even considered a career in the entertainment industry, or followed a dream even when logic and those around him said to stop. ... Read more

Product Description
Diminutive Mickey Rooney has been in show business for more than 80 years as actor, producer, writer, composer, and director. His still-active career spans vaudeville, radio, television, the stage, and movies such as It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, The Black Stallion, and The Bridges at Toko-Ri. He won two Golden Globes and an Emmy and has received or been nominated for many other awards. From leading a 17-piece band to writing a novel, Rooney has been dispensing earthy wisdom and good humor in the public eye for many decades.

Part biography and part reference tool, this richly illustrated work covers Rooney’s life from his birth in 1920 and first stage appearance 16 months later to his television and film appearances in 2004. It discusses both his professional and personal life and includes information drawn from interviews with his peers, including Spring Byington, Jackie Cooper, and Ann Rutherford. Five appendices conclude the work: a detailed filmography of his more than 170 features and 65 shorts, each listing credits and a brief commentary, plus assorted reviews; listings of all his radio, television, and stage work; and a discography of his recorded work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Mickey Rooney From A to Z
An impressive documentation and tribute to the extraordinarily rich career of a legendary Hollywood survivor ... Read more

Product Description
Would Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts be the superstars they are today if they had not been turned down for roles on soap operas?Would Everybody Loves Raymond ever have been created if Ray Romano hadn't been fired from Newsradio?Would the character of Fonzie have become such a pop culture icon in the 1970s if it had been played by Micky Dolenz?How different would Lisa Kudrow's career have turned out if she had not been turned down for a spot on Saturday Night Live?MICKEY ROONEY AS ARCHIE BUNKER and Other TV Casting Almosts answers these questions and many more.Mickey Rooney was producer Norman Lear's first choice for the starring role of Archie Bunker on All in the Family. Worried about the public's reaction to the bigoted character, he turned the role down. Carroll O'Connor was cast and became a star.TV's most famous and infamous casting decisions are explored in MICKEY ROONEY AS ARCHIE BUNKER and Other TV Casting Almosts. You'll read the stories behind the choices that have altered the course of TV history. Inside you'll learn many fun facts including:Katie Holmes was the first choice to play Buffy the Vampire SlayerRosie O'Donnell auditioned for Elaine on SeinfeldGene Hackman was rejected for the part of Mike BradySandra Bullock didn't have the right look for BaywatchLara Flynn Boyle was considered to play Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the CityThe shows are listed alphabetically from According to Jim to Zorro. This book lets you imagine how different your favorite shows could have been. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Casting Hits and Misses!
Eila Mell's 2008 book is a compendium of TV series and TV movie casting decisions that television and trivia buffs should love. Mell casts a pretty wide net so casting decisions for winners like ALL IN THE FAMILY, ST. ELSEWHERE, THE FUGITIVE, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, GENERAL HOSPITAL and THE VIEW compete with also-rans like HAWAII, THE JOB and BABY BOOM. As 524 pages, it's one hefty dose of trivia.

Mell's book is alphabetically organized. Entry length can vary from a few sentences to three-four pages. A small number of entries come with photos so that, for instance, you can see what Kennneth Johnson - producer of THE INCREDIBLE HULK - looks like. Eight pages of 'Random Quotes' on casting choices follow the main text.

I'm ambivalent about MICKEY ROONEY AS ARCHIE BUNKER AND OTHER TV CASTING ALMOSTS. I gave it four stars but still wonder about that. The trivia buff in me applauds the completeness of Mell's book. The leisure reader in me counters with "too much, too much."

Most entries in the book are interesting enough, furnishing background info on different casting judgement calls. Some of the bare bone entries are about as exciting as the back of a cereal box. They cross the line from "That's interesting" to "So what?" For instance, the entry for IT'S ALL RELATIVE reads as follows: "Christine Lakin tested for the role of Maddy O'Neil in the ABC comedy, IT'S ALL RELATIVE. The role went to Paige Moss instead." Christine Who? Maddy What? See my point?

The best way to approach this book is to dip into it. Pick a favorite show or TV movie and see what Mell has to say. There is some interesting television history here so jump in and have a ball! Recommended.

really bad book
this book was a bore.it isn't interesting. it isn't written well.it is a list of shows, most I've never heard of with no interesting side notes or anything but a cold list of facts.there's no story behind the choices, just this actor was considered for the role and didn't get it.If I could help some one else not spend their money on this book, I would as it was a big waste of money and I've thrown the book out as it has no value.

What if...
A great source book.Who was NOT cast in so many of our favorite TV series.

The Ultimate Reference Book for TV Lovers
This book is fun to read! It's very conveniently arranged with almost 500 shows alphabetically listed, as well as an index so we can search for our favorite stars. The shows range from early TV to current series, so everyone's favorites are bound to be in there. As "whipped cream on the top," there's an appendix of random quotes about auditions. These quotes enable the reader to see this facet of show biz through the actors' and casting directors' eyes.

MICKEY ROONEY AS ARCHIE BUNKER would be of particular interest to writers of celebrity biographies. ... Read more

Product Description
MGM studio publicity photo for the 1974 film "That's Entertainment" featuring Judy Garland and Micky Rooney.Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule, Jr. on September 23, 1920), is an Academy Award-, Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning American film actor and entertainer whose film, television and stage appearances span his lifetime.Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American Academy Award-, Tony Award-, Grammy Award-, and Golden Globe-winning actress (film and stage) and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years, Garland attained international stardom as an actress in both musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage.Garland was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a teenager. There she made over two dozen films, including nine with Mickey Rooney ... Read more

Product Description
Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 ? June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years, Garland attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist, and on the concert stage. Respected for her versatility, she received a Juvenile Academy Award, won a Golden Globe Award, received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for her work in films, as well as Grammy Awards and a Special Tony Award. She had a contralto singing range. After appearing in vaudeville with her sisters, Garland was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a teenager. There she made more than two dozen films, including nine with Mickey Rooney, and the film with which she would be most identified, The Wizard of Oz (1939). After 15 years, Garland was released from the studio but gained renewed success through record-breaking concert appearances, including a critically acclaimed Carnegie Hall concert, a well-regarded but short-lived television series, and a return to film acting beginning with A Star Is Born (1954). Despite her professional triumphs, Garland battled personal problems throughout her life. ... Read more