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| I just finished "Up with the Sun," the historical fiction novel about Dick Kallman | |
| Posted by: Ann 07:19 pm EDT 04/10/23 | |
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| Really enjoyed this book by Thomas Mallon, which I listened to as an audiobook. I wasn't crazy about the narrator, Lowell Byers, especially when he did different voices, but it was still quicker for me to listen and I'm glad I did. It alternates chapter by chapter, alternating between the era of Dick Kallman's life, career and death, which is presented in the book from the point of view of an omniscient narrator. The other part is narrated by the fictional pit pianist Matt Lianetto, who knew Kallman from Seventeen in 1951 and was with Kallman the evening died in 1980. Some of Lianetto's part is remembrances from the years Kallman was alive, but a lot takes place after Kalllman was murdered, as the search for and prosecution of those responsible take place, plus there is a good bit about Lianetto's personal life (including a semi-friendship with Delores Gray). The book is full of dropped names in various situations, as well as references to plays and musicals, TV shows, etc. The name-dropping is a natural thing because of the subject of the book and I think is fun for theatre fans. Those not so interested in Golden Age showbiz may not care so much. Lots about Lucille Ball, Dyan Cannon, Sophie Tucker, Kaye Ballard, and Dolores Gray (in the book, and maybe in real life - I haven't looked a lot into what is true here - she was in the antiques business [a shady one] Kallman was operating when he and his partner Steven Szladek were murdered). A lot - a whole lot - is made of Kallman secretly falling in love with and pining for (okay, obsessing over) actor Kenneth Nelson (of Boys in the Band fame, among other things, including Seventeen in wich he played Willy Baxter, with Kallman as his understudy - that's true). It seems kind of unfair to Nelson's memory if none of this part took place. The book isn't groundbreaking, but it is really fun from a theatre fan perspective. The character of Matt Liannetto is more than just a method of telling that part of the story - he's likeable and an interesting part of the fictional side of the book. And Kallman is extremely unlikeable, which I'm not sure is completely true. He's a petty social climbing self-promoter who is very bitter about not having had success, though he comes close a couple times (meanwhile, everybody likes Kenny, who has much more success). |
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| re: I just finished "Up with the Sun," the historical fiction novel about Dick Kallman | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 07:26 pm EDT 04/10/23 | |
| In reply to: I just finished "Up with the Sun," the historical fiction novel about Dick Kallman - Ann 07:19 pm EDT 04/10/23 | |
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| Is anything made of Kallman starring in the first national of Half a Sixpence, while Nelson does the bus and truck? | |
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| re: I just finished "Up with the Sun," the historical fiction novel about Dick Kallman | |
| Posted by: Billhaven 07:32 pm EDT 04/10/23 | |
| In reply to: re: I just finished "Up with the Sun," the historical fiction novel about Dick Kallman - AlanScott 07:26 pm EDT 04/10/23 | |
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| Yes. It’s part of the rivalry/attraction that Kalimantan had for Nelson. What is NOT included is Kallman’s participation in the backer’s audition for Saturday Night. Surprising that such juicy characters like Sondheim and Jack Cassidy were left unexplored. | |
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| re: I just finished "Up with the Sun," the historical fiction novel about Dick Kallman | |
| Last Edit: AlanScott 07:39 pm EDT 04/10/23 | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 07:38 pm EDT 04/10/23 | |
| In reply to: re: I just finished "Up with the Sun," the historical fiction novel about Dick Kallman - Billhaven 07:32 pm EDT 04/10/23 | |
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| Yes, I've asked about that here and in some other places, and was told that it wasn't. Thanks for the answer! |
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