# Goddam. Great Book Idea Just Fell Through. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 23, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659 "2003-04-23T18:55:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/41 "2003-04-25T16:44:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UncleBeer \* > \*\*Books by Eve: > [Platinum Girl: The Life and Legends of Jean Harlow](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=0KJYP6MWFP&isbn=1558592148&itm=1) > [Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld’s Broadway](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=0KJYP6MWFP&isbn=0813121531&itm=2) > [Golden Images: 41 Essays on Silent Film Stars](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=0KJYP6MWFP&isbn=0786408340&itm=4) > [Vamp](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=0KJYP6MWFP&isbn=1879511320&itm=5) & > [Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=0KJYP6MWFP&isbn=0813122511&itm=3) > > Buy 'em now. \*\* A bio on Harlow _and_ Theda? I’m SO there. They’ve all been added to my list since I’m really trying to snap up some good bios on actors and actresses from the days of yore. (And build a movie collection too!) Thanks to Eve too for writing these books and hopefully many more! I cannot wait to get them! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/42 "2003-04-25T19:17:50Z")
Ooooh, thanks, dear—hope you like 'em! Even if you don’t like my writing, they’re all packed with photos. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/43 "2003-04-28T04:29:22Z")
Skinner: Well…maybe it was for the best. Now I…I finally have time to do what I’ve always wanted: write the great American novel. Mine is about a futuristic amusement park where dinosaurs are brought to life through advanced cloning techniques. I call it “Billy and the Cloneasaurus.” Apu: Oh, you have _got_ to be kidding, sir. First you think of an idea that has already been done. Then you give it a title that nobody could possibly like. Didn’t you think this through…[later]…was on the bestseller list for eighteen months! Every magazine cover had…[later]…most popular movies of all time, sir! What were you thinking?! [realizing] I mean, thank you, come again. ---
**Author:** ![Jester\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jester\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jester_Boy)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/44 "2003-04-28T05:16:11Z")
Has anyone done a full book on just the sign? It’s starred in lots of movies, and had lots of ups and downs, city council fights, prank changes of color… ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/45 "2003-04-28T05:25:17Z")
Eve, if you’ve ever considered taking “requests . . .” I’d love to see a good biography of [Frances Farmer.](http://www.cchr.org/art/eng/page34.htm) I once did a search, and all of them seemed to date from the 1970’s. She seems like such a fascinating subject to me, that I can’t imagine why more books haven’t been done about her. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/46 "2003-04-28T05:34:00Z")
[quote] I already have a collection of my silent-movie star articles in a book, but I can’t get the sequel (the talkie stars, including Peg) published, as those books are such a hard sell. In fact, the silents one has just been remaindered and is heading for the shredder. [quote] Very unfortunate. “Golden Images” is an excellent book and I’ve been waiting for the sequel. And it’s the source of my ultimate “stump the movie buff” trivia question: “What was the first movie Harrison Ford appeared in?” > [@](#): > > I have another bio idea on the back burner, now being shifted carefully to a front burner (with my oven mitts on). Perhaps that Cameron Diaz book we’ve all been waiting for? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/47 "2003-04-28T05:35:46Z")
Okay, that should’ve looked like this. > [@](#): > > I already have a collection of my silent-movie star articles in a book, but I can’t get the sequel (the talkie stars, including Peg) published, as those books are such a hard sell. In fact, the silents one has just been remaindered and is heading for the shredder. Very unfortunate. “Golden Images” is an excellent book and I’ve been waiting for the sequel. And it’s the source of my ultimate “stump the movie buff” trivia question: “What was the first movie Harrison Ford appeared in?” > [@](#): > > I have another bio idea on the back burner, now being shifted carefully to a front burner (with my oven mitts on). Perhaps that Cameron Diaz book we’ve all been waiting for? ---
**Author:** ![Edwardina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Edwardina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edwardina)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/48 "2003-04-28T06:12:06Z")
If you don’t like mixing fiction and non-fiction, maybe you could do a fictional story similar to hers, or incorporating similar elements to those that captivate you the most about her story … without actually drawing from the specifics of her story … or is that still a docudrama? _sigh_ I’ll show myself out. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/49 "2003-12-25T22:18:23Z")
Out of the blue, I heard from Peg Entwistle’s grand-nephew (the grandson of her brother Milt). He is visiting both of Peg’s surviving brothers over the holidays, and will press to see if there are indeed any letters, scrapbooks, etc.! I still really want to write her story . . . Don’t want to get my hopes up, but when he said “Milt is a real pack rat,” I nearly fainted dead away . . . ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/50 "2003-12-26T06:09:24Z")
Oooh, that’s great, **Eve**!!! BTW, whatever happened to the LAND part of the sign? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/51 "2003-12-26T12:14:48Z")
Hurray! I’m happy for Eve, being the published writer that I never will be, hehe. I’ll live vicariously through her. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/52 "2003-12-26T16:27:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*BTW, whatever happened to the LAND part of the sign? \*\* According to [this page](http://www.beachwoodcanyon.org/HISTORY.htm), the illuminated sign was constructed in 1924 as a promotion for a housing development. Although built to last only 18 months, the sign stayed up, even though all of its lightbulbs had long since been stolen. By 1949, the sign was in disrepair, and the government of the City of Los Angeles began to remove it. Although a public outcry saved most of the landmark, the “LAND” portion was removed during the refurbishing. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/53 "2003-12-26T16:33:32Z")
If there isn’t a scrapbook and you can’t write a biography, why not try your hand at a novel based on her life? I know novels are not your style, but you’d have enough knowledge of the industry at that time to make it a good read. ---
**Author:** ![GKW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@GKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GKW)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/54 "2003-12-27T00:11:14Z")
Hey **Eve** how about writing bios on Margaret Rutherford or Margaret Dumont? I’d love to read about those funny ladies. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/55 "2003-12-27T04:17:33Z")
Actually, I lust for an Eve Golden biography of Thelma Todd. I said that once before and she didn’t jump on it as a great idea, so I’m guessing it doesn’t float her boat. But I hope this one works out for you, Eve! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/56 "2003-12-27T07:07:55Z")
I wouldn’t mind seeing a book about Evelyn Nesbit, by **Eve**. The original super model, the “Girl in the Red Velvet Swing”. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/57 "2003-12-28T17:46:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > **If there isn’t a scrapbook and you can’t write a biography, why not try your hand at a novel based on her life?** No, no, _no!_ Fictionalized “biographies” make the Baby Jesus cry. Even I don’t think a publisher will go for bios of Margarets Dumont or Rutherford; and there already are good books on Thelma Todd and Evelyn Nesbit . . . ---
**Author:** ![Stage\_Manager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stage_manager/32/7267_2.png) [@Stage\_Manager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stage_Manager)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/58 "2003-12-28T18:22:08Z")
[hijack] I am working (albeit _verrrrry_ slowly) on a bio of Harper Lee. There isn’t one, you know. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/59 "2003-12-28T21:16:03Z")
Really? Get _out!_ Do you have her permission? Any of her family/friends helping you? Hindering you? _Very_ hard and frustrating, doing a bio of someone living who doesn’t want it done. ---
**Author:** ![Stage\_Manager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stage_manager/32/7267_2.png) [@Stage\_Manager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stage_Manager)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659/60 "2003-12-28T21:21:19Z")
I do not have her permission…yet. I’ve not asked. I’m waiting to get a window of time to travel there before I ask. I’ve also not contacted anyone, same reason. I’ve done lots of reading and research. LBJ wrote her a letter wishing her well after the auto accident. Now tell me how to find out more about _that._ :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-great-book-idea-just-fell-through/170659.md?page=4)