Tour guide literally spills the beans with his ten-year collection of priceless tales on the lives of Hollywood icons
After collecting literally hundreds of vintage tales of Hollywood legends over the years, Stephen Schochet not only wrote a book that everyone could enjoy on the glamorous, and not so glamorous, stories of Hollywood icons, but also created audiobooks. As explained in an interview with Reuters, this entrepreneur told two kinds of stories on his tour bus; origin stories – telling how things we take for granted came to be, and funny anecdotes. He not only read a lot of books to find his material, but also tried to meet people who were connected to the famous – like housekeepers – that he could garner some tidbits from! His book is a special blend of biography, history and legends and covers scandalous yarns on some of Hollywood’s greatest characters – from Shirley Temple and Lucille Ball to Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney and Michael Jackson.
Hollywood Stories: Short, Entertaining Anecdotes About the Stars and Legends of the Movies! (Hollywood Publishing) is packed with wild and wonderful short tales on many famous stars, movies and directors – anyone who has been a part of the world’s most fascinating and unpredictable industry!
Schochet is also the author and narrator of two audiobooks. The first is Tales of Hollywood which started as a way to highlight the origins of how famous things in Hollywood began, combined with humorous tales about the stars – for which he masterfully provided background music and sound effects to add realism. The second project, Fascinating Walt Disney, was a huge hit – telling stories of how Walt created Mickey Mouse, Disneyland, Snow White and all his endearing characters, causing the host of one radio show to dub Schochet ‘The best storyteller about Hollywood we have ever heard.’
The author covers the gamut when it comes to situational stories; from the one about a bus full of tourists at Universal Studies who were viewing the famous motel from the movie Psycho and who screamed in terror as a tall man, dressed in drag, carrying a large knife and looking remarkably like Norman Bates, charged the tram with a convincing maniacal expression– only to find out it was actor Jim Carrey having some fun – to the story of how Walt Disney overprotected his two daughters from the limelight in fear of their being kidnapped, to the point that when one daughter found out from a classmate that her father was THE Walt Disney, she went home and asked for his autograph!
Hollywood Stories truly has something for everyone. It is a thoroughly entertaining book that features a remarkable cast of Hollywood’s legendary characters and icons and is jam-packed with surprising and funny tales with often unpredictable endings. No matter which page the book is opened on, there will be some fascinating part of Hollywood history to be savored! Check out this author’s website at: www.hollywoodstories.com.
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TIP SHEET:
Stephen Schochet is willing to do in-studio interviews as well as on location at famous Hollywood sights, such as Grauman’s Chinese Theater, the Chateau Marmont Hotel, etc.; places that will serve as the perfect backdrop to some of his best stories.
Recent television interviews at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meR7u-5V2N4 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXsWrwVnoFo.
Interview with Blog Critics: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/interview-with-stephen-schochet-author-of/ and http://technorati.com/entertainment/article/the-ten-most-interesting-people – Critic picks Stephen Schochet as one the Top Ten Most Interesting People in Books in 2010!
LA Times article: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-trivia-tour-20100804,0,3645826.story
Jan Wahl, KRON TV San Francisco: “A wild, fun ride through Tinsel Town, past and present!”
The Midwest Book Review: “Hollywood Stories is packed from cover to cover with fascinating tales.”
Tim Sika, Host of the radio show Celluloid dreams on KSJS in San Jose: “The best storyteller about Hollywood we have ever heard.”
Joe Mazza, King of Late Night Radio, Genesis Radio Network: “Probably one of the most entertaining and knowledgeable guests in regards to the movies.”
Jordan Rich, WBZ in Boston: “Stephen is a remarkable guest with instant recall of Hollywood Stories that keep audiences glued to the radio. He makes regular appearances on my show and never fails to entertain.”
Jim Bohannon, Host of the Nationally Syndicated Jim Bohannon Show and America in the Morning: “Stephen really knows Hollywood! In all the times I’ve had him on my night time Jim Bohannon Show, he ALWAYS surprised me with at least one amazing tidbit of information I’d never have suspected. Usually, it’s half a dozen or more.”
