From his early beginnings as a not so eager student, James Aurness, was an adventurer. While in his teens, he train hopped, he toured Cuba, and later as a young man, he served in the war at Anzio. He drifted into radio and by 1947, he found himself acting with a bit part in "The Farmers Daughter."
In addition to his acting, James Arness discovered surfing, a passion which was to play a major role in his life. Living in California suited James fine, and every spare moment was spent on the beach. During his single years, his adventuresome spirit found him piloting his own plane to beaches and ski resorts all over the United States.
His early roles were diverse, and in 1951, James starred in the cult classic, "The Thing." John Wayne came calling, and he became part of the 'company'. His biggest break came when John Wayne suggested him for the title role in a televison adaptation of the radio series, "Gunsmoke." The rest, is history. For 20 years, Gunsmoke was a stable part of the western invasion of television. Gunsmoke both started, and survived until the end. "How the West Was Won" called him back for three more years, and five Gunsmoke movies returned him to the role of Matt Dillon.
In this book, James Arness opens up his memories. Filled with rare photographs from the Arness Collection, fan mail from his web page, a filmography, and a deep deep affection for living life to the utmost characterize this book.
"James Arness: An Autobiography" is available from:
McFarland & Company Inc
Box 611
Jefferson, NC 28640
1-800-253-2187
Learn About Movie Posters
Ed and Susan Poole
The hobby of movie poster collecting is great! With the influence of Ebay, and the internet the hobby is growing by leaps and bounds. With growth as the hobby as seen, there are dangers. Frauds, fakes, and reproduction s abound as digital technologies can produce excellent forgeries.
Ed and Susan Poole are your teachers. In "Learn About Movie Posters", they guide you through the history, the formats movie posters take, the distribution system, international editions, movie poster care and restoration, poster identification, and artist appreciation.
Illustrated with black and white images, and examples of rare and common posters, this guide is an indispensible part of any poster collectors arsenal. Knowledge is your best defence against being taken by dealers. This book will help you take the risk out of investing in movie posters, and help you gain confidence in this growing hobby.
