Name: The Decade
Brand: Gabrielle B. Means
SKU: 9781467117203
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Gabrielle B. Means

The Decade

9781467117203

$24.99

The Decade was the birthplace of rock 'n' roll in Pittsburgh, at the corner of Atwood and Sennott. The eclectic bar with parachutes covering the ceiling was home base for local bands such as the Iron City Houserockers, but it also served as a showcase for rising international recording acts, including the Police, U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Ramones. Under the shadow of the University of Pittsburgh, The Decade was an oasis of live rock and blues music in the 1970s to the early 1990s. The small venue had wide appeal to bands who felt they could intimately connect with their audience. Owned and operated by Dom DiSilvio, The Decade will forever be a home to many Pittsburghers, and Images of Modern America: The Decade is a home for their stories.

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Richard Zelade

Austin in the Jazz Age

9781626199187

$24.99

Though renowned, Austin's contemporary music scene pales in comparison with the explosion of creative talent the city spawned during the Jazz Age. Dozens of musicians who started out in the capital city attained national and international fame—but music was just one form of artistic expression that marked that time of upheaval. World War I's death and destruction bred a vehement rejection of the status quo. In its place, an enthusiastic adherence to life lived without question or consequence took root. The sentiment found fertile soil in Austin, with the University of Texas at the epicenter. Students indulged in the debauchery that typified the era, scandalizing Austin and Texas at large as they introduced a freewheeling, individualistic attitude that now defines the city. Join author Richard Zelade in a raucous investigation of the day and its most outstanding and outlandish characters.

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Larry E. Morris

Ernest Hemingway & Gary Cooper in Idaho

9781467137188

$21.99

An account of the decades-long friendship between the iconic author and the famed actor.

In the autumn of 1940, two icons of American culture met in Sun Valley, Idaho—writer Ernest Hemingway and actor Gary Cooper. Although Hem was known as brash, larger-than-life and hard-drinking and Coop as courteous, non-confrontational and taciturn, the two became good friends.

And though they would see each other over the years in Hollywood, Cuba, New York and Paris, it was to Idaho they always returned. Here they hunted together, waded through marshes and hiked sagebrush-covered hills, sometimes talking and sometimes not but continually forging a close comradeship. That bond sustained them through the highs and lows of stardom, through personal trials and triumphs and from their first conversation to their deaths seven weeks apart in 1961.

Author Larry Morris celebrates the story of that unforgettable friendship.

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Bob Perlow

The Warmup Guy

9781455629312

$23.99

A hilarious behind-the-scenes book from “the best warmup guy in the business” who kept live studio audiences engaged and laughing on TV sets (Jay Leno).

A comedy show where no one is laughing is anything but funny, so from the late 1970s to the early 2000s, stand-up comedian Robert Perlow made it his mission to keep the energy flowing on television sets. Perlow perfected his routine as a warmup guy on the sets of some of television’s most popular shows, including Friends, Will & Grace, Growing Pains, Cheers, Full House, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. From an improv class with Robin Williams to a heated encounter with Tim Allen, Perlow saw it all. He uses his trademark humor to reveal personal recollections from both behind and in front of the camera in this hilarious tell-all book.

“You’re going to like Bob Perlow. It is impossible not to like him. He tells a great tale, spins a great joke, and will get under your skin before you know he’s there.” —Jason Alexander

“One of the best.” —Garry Marshall

“A must read for anyone wanting an insider’s look at comedy, TV, and celebrities.” —Fred Willard

“An inherently fascinating and consistently compelling read from beginning to end, The Warmup Guy is impressively well written, organized and presented, giving the appreciative reader true insights in the creation of television programming.” —Midwest Book Review

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Chris Epting

Hidden History of Orange County, California

9781467170895

$24.99

A buffalo ranch, banana stand wars, and the world’s largest surfboard.

Since its founding in 1889, Orange County has captured the world's attention with its iconic attractions, stunning beaches, and vibrant communities. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a treasure-trove of hidden gems. From lion safaris and an alligator farm to roaming buffalo, the theme parks of Orange County once offered a wide variety of thrills before fading into obscurity. The county is also the site of one of the most infamous UFO sightings in history, documented by Rex Heflin’s Polaroid camera in 1965. A plethora of famous rock stars, athletes, and actors have left their mark, although many of their local haunts have long since disappeared. Social justice movements and dramatic showdowns are woven into the tapestry of the county’s history alongside tales of aviation, agriculture, and the innovative businesses that took root here.

Join author and historian Chris Epting as he shines a light on offbeat and exotic tales of the O.C.

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Elks Opera House Foundation (A)

The Elks Opera House

9780738585420

$24.99

For over 100 years, the Elks Opera House has been a landmark of the cultural scene in Prescott, Arizona, and the western United States. In 1904, the people of Prescott raised $15,000 toward a performance hall to be included in the Elks Building. The original structure featured opera boxes that were later removed to adapt to the demands of motion pictures, and the entire proscenium arch was covered with wood paneling. In 2010, the Elks Opera House Foundation completed major renovations to restore the original 1905 grandeur of the theater and the 1928 marquee, which was paid for by grants from local charitable foundations, Arizona historic preservation funds, and generous participation by businesses and individuals. The Elks Building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

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Don "Ramblin" Rhodes

Entertainment in Augusta and the CSRA

9780738516219

$24.99

Augusta, Georgia, and the surrounding towns in the Central Savannah River Area boast more than 200 years of entertainment history, including performances by late 18th-century musicians and many of the nation's first superstars. Some of the most memorable moments in the history of the Garden City are captured in the pages of this unique volume. Entertainment in Augusta and the CSRA reveals many famous faces that have made appearances-either for a short time or for life-in the CSRA. Captured in striking vintage images, most of which were culled from the archives of The Augusta Chronicle, are unforgettable visitors ranging from Charlie Chaplin to Elvis Presley. In addition to nationally recognized celebrities-such as Amy Grant, Jayne Mansfield, Hulk Hogan, Jessye Norman, Butterfly McQueen, and The Godfather of Soul, James Brown-this collection pays tribute to local and regional talents, from singers and dancers to athletes and politicians.

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Kimberly M. Davenport

Tacoma's Theater District

9781467134026

$24.99

The history of Tacoma's Theater District is nearly as long as that of the city of Tacoma itself, spanning from the opening of the Tacoma Theater in 1890 to the present day, with restored historical facilities anchoring a renewed cultural district. This telling of the district's history reflects a range of engaging topics, including the boundless enthusiasm of the initial residents of Tacoma (the City of Destiny), the changing ways in which culture was shared and experienced over the decades of the 20th century, and a community working together through difficult times to save and restore historical buildings as gathering spaces for the benefit of future generations. The story is told through historical photographs of the theater venues themselves, as well as images capturing a myriad of cultural and community events taking place in those facilities and in the surrounding district.

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D. Anthony Rivenbark

Thalian Hall

9781467121224

$24.99

Thalian Hall is one of the oldest and most beautiful theaters in America. Forming the east wing of Wilmington's iconic city hall, this dual-purpose building has been at the center of the community's cultural and political life since it first opened in 1858. Thalian Hall is the only surviving theater designed by John Montague Trimble, one of America's foremost 19th-century theater architects. It was built at a time when Wilmington was the largest city in North Carolina. Thalian Hall is the embodiment of a tradition of performance that stretches back for over two centuries. It has hosted Shakespearean tragedies, musical concerts, and even boxing and wrestling events. For generations, Wilmington audiences have witnessed touring stars, local actors, musicians, dancers, and movies in a parade of performances and celebratory events. The story of Thalian Hall is an embroidered tapestry reflecting the history of the American theater and the community that built it.

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Kimberly A. Kenney

Canton Entertainment

9781467110846

$24.99

Everyone loves to have fun! Over the years, Cantonians have enjoyed a wide variety of amusements, from traveling theatrical shows to community-wide celebrations. Louis Schaefer opened the town's first opera house in 1868, attracting some of the 19th century's biggest stars to Canton. The tradition of first-rate entertainment continued in the 20th century, with stars like Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Guy Lombardo gracing the stage of the Moonlight Ballroom. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, Canton enjoyed a cultural renaissance with the development of many arts organizations still cherished today, including the Players' Guild, Canton Symphony Orchestra, and Canton Museum of Art. In 1955, the city celebrated its sesquicentennial with the biggest parade in Canton's history.

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Clair DeLune

South Carolina Blues

9781467114721

$24.99

The history of South Carolina blues is a long, deep—and sometimes painful—story. However, it is a narrative with aspects as compelling as the music itself. Geographical differences in America led to variations in the styles of music that developed from African rhythms. The wet, marshy landscape and hot, muggy weather of the Carolina Lowcountry combined to cultivate not only rice, but a Gullah-based style of South Carolina blues. In drier climates, toward the Midlands and the Upstate, the combination of European influences led to the emergence of Piedmont blues, which in turn spawned country music as well as bluegrass. Those same Gullah roots resulted in four major dance crazes, starting with the Charleston.

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Doug Taylor

Toronto Theatres and the Golden Age of the Silver Screen

9781626194502

$21.99

The history, heritage, and architectural significance of Toronto's most notable theatres and movie houses. Movie houses first started popping up around Toronto in the 1910s and '20s, in an era without television and before radio had permeated every household. Dozens of these grand structures were built and soon became an important part of the cultural and architectural fabric of the city. A century later the surviving, defunct, and reinvented movie houses of Toronto's past are filled with captivating stories. Explore fifty historic Toronto movie houses and theaters, and discover their roles as repositories of memories for a city that continues to grow its cinema legacy. Features stunning historic photography.

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Zhana Morris

The Music Hall, Portsmouth

9780738512495

$24.99

On Christmas Eve 1876, Portsmouth citizens watched flames reduce their largest meetinghouse and entertainment hall to ashes. During the following year, local families, businessmen, and craftsmen combined their resources to build a new auditorium with state-of-the-art lighting, rigging, staging, and seating-a comfortable venue for public addresses, charity functions, and international entertainment. The Music Hall, Portsmouth, was born.

Twain spoke from her stage, Sousa's brass echoed from her walls, and Edison's films brought her silver screen to life. Enduring war, depression, and multiple threats of destruction, this grand hall today stands as New Hampshire's oldest operating theater. Showcasing the world's finest stage and screen talent, offering artistic education to young and old, and hosting fundraisers and private events, the Music Hall is a testament to the necessity of arts in local culture and the strength of a community's resolve.