You Must Remember This

December 9, 2013
With great affection and a twinkle in his eye, veteran actor Wagner (A Kiss Before Dying; Hart to Hart) recalls Hollywood’s glory days of the 1940s and early 1950s, when class, manners, friendship, and a code of values ruled the city of stars. Although Wagner regales readers with tales of many of his Hollywood friends—from Mary Pickford and Harold Lloyd to Andy Williams and Jimmy Stewart—he never stoops to kiss-and-tell gossip about the stars nor does he wax nostalgic about a past for which he desperately longs. An expert storyteller, Wagner entertains with tale of restaurants like the Brown Derby—where the Cobb Salad was invented—the Trocadero, and the Mocambo, where elegance, entertainment, and great food filled a triple bill every night; in their day, restaurateurs such as Mike Romanoff and Dave Chasen were stars as big as Frank Sinatra and Bette Davis. Wagner fondly recalls growing up in a Hollywood where there was still land and space enough for him to have a horse named Sonny, and he looks back warmly on the various hotels and houses that sprang up in Hollywood and Beverly Hills as the area became a magnet for the movies. As he takes us on a trip down memory lane, showing us how deeply Hollywood has changed, he concludes that “nothing lasts forever, except the movies.”Eyman also worked with Wagner on the actor’s autobiography, Pieces of My Heart, published in 2008. Agent: Mort Janklow, Janklow & Nesbit.

June 1, 2014

The story Wagner tells is not really about himself but about the glamorous world of Hollywood from the 1930s to the 1950s. The actor shares some details from of his own life but focuses mainly on the unique aspects that made this time in Hollywood's history so fascinating, avoiding big scandals and shocking revelations common in today's celebrity tell-alls. However, there are still plenty of memorable names mentioned including Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Fred Astaire, and Elizabeth Taylor. Architecture, restaurants, fashion, interior design, and leisure activities are just a few of the topics explored. Sometimes the minutiae are overly specific, such as the preferred length of Frank Sinatra's cuffs, while other descriptions leave the listener wanting to know more. Wagner's skill as an actor is apparent, as his reading gives the narrative a true feel for the times. VERDICT Those looking for dirt on the author or any other veteran stars should look elsewhere, while those who appreciate a nostalgic look at Hollywood will enjoy. ["Despite the pedestrian writing style, the insider's view that Wagner provides may well appeal to nostalgia buffs, and he does offer the occasional illuminating insight on that long-vanished time," read the review of the Viking hc, LJ 2/15/14.]--Theresa Horn, St. Joseph Cty. P.L., South Bend, IN

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