I grew up watching classic films from the 1940s and 1950s with my dad. We were mesmerized by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing across the screen. We watched Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron in An American In Paris perform ballet “pas de deux” dances for two while we listened to incredible symphonic music. Debbie Reynolds was amazing in The Unsinkable Molly Brown as a singer and dancer. She started out with Mr. Kelly in Singing in the Rain, another favorite. I loved Judy Garland, who became a star in The Wizard of Oz. I could watch Shirley Jones in Oklahoma and Carousel again and again because of her beautiful soprano singing voice. Another favorite was South Pacific for which I could sing all the words to “Some Enchanted Evening” or “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair” because I had heard them so often. I wanted to be like Eliza Doolittle and become the belle of the ball on the arm of Professor Higgins. Because of this influence, I have become a romantic when it comes to films. I want to believe in fairytales with happy endings. There are still beautiful or good stories that need to be shared.
You understand now that writing allows me to express my view of the world through rose-colored glasses instead of one that is dark and full of shadows. I try to maintain a sense of innocence and goodness in the world. I would like to see quality films again. With a few exceptions, the movies of today lack originality. They lack good morals and decency. They lack the feel good, singing of songs as you exit the theater quality. Encore material in films is gone when it is devoid of these characteristics.
I have written three books. I have had very few sales. Yet, I have had a lot of interest from publishers. They either want me to sell my rights to another publisher or buy into another marketing scheme to sell books. I have even gotten inquiries from those claiming to be able to turn my autobiographical stories into a movie sensation. I am sad to say that most have been scammers and their intent was pure trickery with the intent to exploit and take advantage of my innocent attempts to share my hard earned lessons and hardships through stories with the world. I have been naive at times. I have thought that Hollywood really is looking for good, new material. Sadly, I do not believe this is the case any longer.
My Favorite Stories 