I was wondering if any of you guys had some suggestions for any books or other resources about Agnes Moorehead you could suggest. I am a huge fan of Aggie's and would love to keep learning more about her. I have read A Very Private Person, My Travels with Agnes Moodehead, and I Love the Illusion. I have also read Tamela's website. Is there any thing else you would recommend? Did anyone on here know her? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Re: AM Resources?
Posted by Professional Tourist on October 15, 2015, 9:00 pm, in reply to "Resources?"
In terms of books, there are a few others that might be worth a look, especially if you can borrow them from a library or pick up used copies at a bargain price.
3) James Robert Parish's Good Dames has one chapter on AM.
[Note that I do not recommend at all a book published two years ago about AM's film work. If interested, my review can be read at Amazon.]
Here's a vintage magazine article from my personal collection, which you might enjoy, from the British Film Institute's publication Sight and Sound, 1955:
Re: AM Resources?
Posted by Erica on October 16, 2015, 7:57 pm, in reply to "Re: AM Resources?"
Thank you very much for you suggestions Professional Tourist. I will definitely try to check out those books. Also, thanks for sharing the article. Aggie did have so much versatility and was incredibly talented. She was also very beautiful, which I don't think everyone recognized. Thanks for sharing your review of the other book as well. It's also great to know what books not to read, especially when they are written with such antipathy and errors of fact that this book seems to be. Are there any other resources you would reccommend that cover more of her as a person or her personal life? (I know she was very private.)
Re: AM Resources?
Posted by Professional Tourist on October 17, 2015, 1:50 pm, in reply to "Re: AM Resources? "
To learn more of AM as a person or of her personal life is quite an undertaking, not only because of how private she was but because of her chameleon nature -- she tended to be a different person when relating with different people. And when speaking of herself, such as in interviews, sometimes she twisted the truth or fabricated stories. It can be difficult to know what to believe, though research can help to uncover some of the intentional fibs.
Anyway, it's up to the individual as to how much work they want to do, to decipher and decode AM's personal life -- to the extent possible. Regarding resources beyond books, personal interviews -- audio and print -- are a good place to start.
The Mike Steen book I mentioned previously contains a good interview, but it's mostly about her work.
CBC Radio conducted a long interview with AM in 1969. I had posted it here at Harpies a year ago: click here. However, the URL in that post is no longer active. Here is an updated link: click here.
Here is the interview Chuck Schaden conducted with AM in Chicago in 1971: click here.
And here is one more vintage magazine article from my personal collection, from 1968:
Cheers and good luck in your personal research.
Re: AM Resources?
Posted by Erica on October 18, 2015, 11:40 am, in reply to "Re: AM Resources? "
Thank you very much again Professional Tourist! I appreciate you sharing the article from your collection. I think it is a very fitting article. I have listened to the interviews you suggested. They are very interesting to listen to, particularly because one get to hear her opinions in her own voice. I have also seen her episodes on password. While she is playing a game and it isn't really an interview, I think one can still see a bit of who she is, even though she isn't really trying to show it.
You seem to be one of the most knowledgeable people about Agnes and it shows that you have done a ton of research. As you know, I am still in the process of doing some research myself. Would you possibly be willing to allow me to ask you some questions or interview you about Agnes? I completely understand if you don't want to or don't have time. If you are willing, I would be very appreciative of the opportunity. (I will try not to take up too much of your time.) You can email me, I can ask you the questions on this board, or whatever method is easiest for you. Thank you again for all the help, resources, advice, and encouragement you have given me already. I very much appreciate it.