Book 3: My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business, Completed!

Yesterday morning I completed the memoir, My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business. This book was an easy read and I  probably would have finished it in two days if that thing called "life" didn't get in the way.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Part of me would glaze over as he talked of some older actors or movies/tv shows that I had never heard of. BUT it gave me an appreciation for the time when television was just coming into it own. It was a walk down the memory lane of entertainment technology.

So what did I find so inspiring about Dick Van Dyke? A LOT of things! He is living proof you can do what you love and be successful. When he ventured from home to start his entertaining career, there were times where he was so broke that he and his wife had to stay in hotels because they were evicted from their home. After hard work and sticking to his guns he slowly but surly moved his way from doing shows to being on TV.

It was interesting to read about Van Dyke being an anchorman on the CBS morning show around the same time as The Today Show came on the air. Just last week when I was beginning the book, The Today Show was celebrating their 60th anniversary!

After his break through on the play "Bye Bye Birdie", you could see his hard work finally coming together. I enjoyed reading about his time on "The Dick Van Dyke Show". I can only imagine what it was like to work with such great actors and have awesome time. While this was before my time, I did enjoy watching the reruns on Nick at Nite growing up. He really put all of himself into his work.

Van Dyke liked to do his own stunts and physical comedy. He just wanted to keep doing more once one movie/TV show/play/entertainment type stuff ended. At 81 years old he was doing his own stunts in "A Night at the Museum". Its easy to keep trucking and moving from job to job when you love what you do! That is definitely something to keep in mind. He also only wanted to do movies that he could watch with his children. Sticking with the Family Entertainment worked well for him and his way of acting.

My inner child loved reading about him being a part of "Mary Poppins" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". Apparently Van Dyke kept turning down the roll of Caractacus Potts on "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" but finally gave in. I also didn't know that Van Dyke was disappointed in how the movie turned out even though so many people love it. The second day into reading the book I pulled out our DVD of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and had a movie night with Connor while Kevin went bowling. We laid a blanket out on the floor, ate dinner on it and danced around to the music. Connor enjoyed it and I did too! The next morning Connor found the case to the DVD, brought it to me and said, "Bang Bang". As much as I love the movie I couldn't watch it for a second time for a second day in a row. Thankfully we were on our way out the door to daycare and skipped the watching the movie.

He touched on the topic of him being an alcoholic, the separation of him and his first wife, and him beginning a new life with his long time love.This is just another part of him being true to himself. As soon as he stopped denying he had an issue with alcohol he checked himself into rehab. Even though he did not become sober for several years afterward, he was very aware of the problem. When he and his first wife split, it was after their children were grown and out of the house. He wasn't ready to retire and she was not into the Hollywood lifestyle. It just wasn't going to work. He listened to his heart and went with what he loved.... entertaining. Even though he was still married when he started talking to his long time love, he was honest and upfront when the time came. But again... despite everything, he listened and went with what he loved. Reading this book inspires you to trust your heart.

Overall this was a great book and a highly recommend it. I think I would have enjoyed it a little more had I been in touch with that era of movies and television.

On to the next book!

Book 3: My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business, Started!

Barnes & Noble

Yesterday I started the memoir My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business by Dick Van Dyke. Growing up I was always fascinated by the characters Bert from Mary Poppins and Caractacus Potts from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Later on in life, when I was watching Nick at Nite, I discovered the Dick Van Dyke Show and enjoyed watching the show because "that guy from Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is in it". Dick Van Dyke has always caught my attention if he's in the TV or movie since.

This book popped up in my findings while I was researching autobiographies / biographies / memoirs and developing my list. I thought it would be cool to read about Dick Van Dyke and his path to success. Inspiring AND I've always liked him!

I don't think it is going to take me very long to get through this book. Its only 236 Nook pages and as of lunch today I'm just past 100. Kevin is bowling tonight. Soooo after Connor goes to bed I'm pretty sure I'm going to be reading my little heart out!

I will leave you with some nerdy facts about me and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. First off... I LOVE that movie and probably know all the words. I never realize how long the movie actually is until I start watching it and become absorbed.... I have a copy of the soundtrack on CD because I love pretty much all of the music in the movie. When I met my husband he had never watched the movie or heard of it before. He bought me tickets to see the play when it come to the Hippodrome in Baltimore, MD so of course he was given a copy of the movie for Christmas and we watched it! The guy who played Caractacus Potts in the play had NOTHING on Van Dyke. My very favorite scene in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is when Potts and Truly are dressed up as dolls and given as toys to the Baron as his birthday present. I could watch that over and over again.

Stay Tuned!