Rating: 
Summary: GREAT BOOK, JERRY. A VISIT WITH "OLD FRIENDS".
Review: Jerry, are you out there? I couldn't put your book down, it was like an afternoon with old friends. <SMILE> TERRIFIC !! Seeing pictures of the kids when they were small brought back memories of "Benjie" and the (forever getting lost) "wah-wah" and what a terrific Daddy you were. One might not take my review seriously as I have loved you guys since the 60's. BUT...... to justify the 5 stars, I would not put my name on a review if I didn't believe what I wrote. Got that reader? Reader, buy this book. You will understand the seemingly neurotic "Stiller" and the grounded "Meara". Anne is surely the love of Jerry's life and even after 40 years, he still wonders if "it will last". <smile> Seeing early pictures of Jerry will make the reader do a double take. Many of Jerry's pictures then, look just like Ben now. We see lovely Amy too. A good read and anyone who watched The Ed Sullivan Show will consider it a visit with old friends. Younger ones will think Frank Constanza. Jerry and Anne, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES. I know you remember Ralph, the Announcer of The Sullivan Show.......... well.....check my last name and there you have it.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK, JERRY. A VISIT WITH "OLD FRIENDS".
Review: Jerry, are you out there? I couldn't put your book down, it was like an afternoon with old friends. <SMILE> TERRIFIC !! Seeing pictures of the kids when they were small brought back memories of "Benjie" and the (forever getting lost) "wah-wah" and what a terrific Daddy you were. One might not take my review seriously as I have loved you guys since the 60's. BUT...... to justify the 5 stars, I would not put my name on a review if I didn't believe what I wrote. Got that reader? Reader, buy this book. You will understand the seemingly neurotic "Stiller" and the grounded "Meara". Anne is surely the love of Jerry's life and even after 40 years, he still wonders if "it will last". <smile> Seeing early pictures of Jerry will make the reader do a double take. Many of Jerry's pictures then, look just like Ben now. We see lovely Amy too. A good read and anyone who watched The Ed Sullivan Show will consider it a visit with old friends. Younger ones will think Frank Constanza. Jerry and Anne, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES. I know you remember Ralph, the Announcer of The Sullivan Show.......... well.....check my last name and there you have it.
Rating: 
Summary: There's No Business Like Show Business
Review: For those of you who may only think of Jerry Stiller as Mr. Costanza, George's father on Seinfeld or perhaps as hot young actor Ben Stiller's father, think again because he's so much more. The more is candidly revealed in his highly enjoyable memoir Married To Laughter: A Love Story Featuring Anne Meara. The son of Polish Jews and a child of the Depression, Stiller's boyhood was spent on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Apartments, often in public projects, were changed frequently - the family moved ten times in a dozen years. His mother, Bella, was evidently a premier bargainer as Stiller vividly remembers the day just before his 13th birthday when she took him shopping for a Bar Mitzvah suit. "She took me down to Orchard Street," he writes. "Orchard Street made Baghdad seem like kindergarten when it came to bargains, but my mother's bargaining skills were honed to razor sharpness." They found a wool suit, complete with knickers, one pair of pants and a vest for thirteen dollars. He loved it. She cuffed him for saying that lest the shop keeper know he liked the suit. After offers, counter offers, and a shouting match on the street, she obtained the suit for $6.50. First a taxi driver and then a bus driver, Stiller's father or "Deddy" was often unemployed (who took a cab during the Depression?) To ease the ache of poverty, "Deddy," "a frustrated performer who sometimes played the saxophone" took his son to vaudeville shows. And so, Stiller's love for comedy began. "Laughter seemed to dissipate the pain of being unemployed," Stiller remembers, "Even my mother's anguish subsided when Eddie Cantor sang...........More than anyone else Eddie Cantor made us aware that the entire country was in a Depression and we weren't alone. My mind danced when Eddie was on. I wanted to be Eddie Cantor. I thought he could change the whole world. I too could change the world if I were a comedian." Later, eager to leave an acrimonious home where battles were often fought over the lack of money, Stiller enlisted in the Army. Here, his street learned lesson - "never squeal" - almost got him into trouble when he was falsely accused of buying liquor while on duty. But the guilty party eventually confessed, and a relieved Stiller left the service for drama study at Syracuse University. Professor Sawyer Falk, his lifelong mentor, soon convinced the aspiring actor that he could indeed conquer the stage. Returning to New York to hopefully launch his theatrical career, Stiller met an "angel faced" Irish Catholic girl named Anne Meara. They feel in love, and after she announced that she wanted him to marry her they said their vows at City Hall. The couple never dreamed that they would someday become one of the most popular and successful comedy teams in show business. Early on, each were pursuing individual goals in the theater. But eventually, almost by serendipity, they put together a skit which was in reality a larger than life picture of themselves. Their act debuted in the coffeehouses of Greenwich Village and soon made its way to that day's television mecca - The Ed Sullivan Show, where they appeared numerous times to rave reviews. Two children, Amy and Ben, enriched their lives. They were, as the saying goes, in high clover. Later years brought a series of commercials, most memorably one for Blue Nun wines. Stiller continued to appear in the theater, both on and off Broadway. Then television called again and he became the peace seeking father of George Costanza on Seinfeld. Over fifty years in show business have brought the author lots of laughs and many lessons - all of which he shares in this noteworthy account of an actor's life and marriage. He may not have changed the world as was his boyhood dream, but he surely gives it a great deal of pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: There's No Business Like Show Business
Review: For those of you who may only think of Jerry Stiller as Mr. Costanza, George's father on Seinfeld or perhaps as hot young actor Ben Stiller's father, think again because he's so much more. The more is candidly revealed in his highly enjoyable memoir Married To Laughter: A Love Story Featuring Anne Meara. The son of Polish Jews and a child of the Depression, Stiller's boyhood was spent on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Apartments, often in public projects, were changed frequently - the family moved ten times in a dozen years. His mother, Bella, was evidently a premier bargainer as Stiller vividly remembers the day just before his 13th birthday when she took him shopping for a Bar Mitzvah suit. "She took me down to Orchard Street," he writes. "Orchard Street made Baghdad seem like kindergarten when it came to bargains, but my mother's bargaining skills were honed to razor sharpness." They found a wool suit, complete with knickers, one pair of pants and a vest for thirteen dollars. He loved it. She cuffed him for saying that lest the shop keeper know he liked the suit. After offers, counter offers, and a shouting match on the street, she obtained the suit for $6.50. First a taxi driver and then a bus driver, Stiller's father or "Deddy" was often unemployed (who took a cab during the Depression?) To ease the ache of poverty, "Deddy," "a frustrated performer who sometimes played the saxophone" took his son to vaudeville shows. And so, Stiller's love for comedy began. "Laughter seemed to dissipate the pain of being unemployed," Stiller remembers, "Even my mother's anguish subsided when Eddie Cantor sang...........More than anyone else Eddie Cantor made us aware that the entire country was in a Depression and we weren't alone. My mind danced when Eddie was on. I wanted to be Eddie Cantor. I thought he could change the whole world. I too could change the world if I were a comedian." Later, eager to leave an acrimonious home where battles were often fought over the lack of money, Stiller enlisted in the Army. Here, his street learned lesson - "never squeal" - almost got him into trouble when he was falsely accused of buying liquor while on duty. But the guilty party eventually confessed, and a relieved Stiller left the service for drama study at Syracuse University. Professor Sawyer Falk, his lifelong mentor, soon convinced the aspiring actor that he could indeed conquer the stage. Returning to New York to hopefully launch his theatrical career, Stiller met an "angel faced" Irish Catholic girl named Anne Meara. They feel in love, and after she announced that she wanted him to marry her they said their vows at City Hall. The couple never dreamed that they would someday become one of the most popular and successful comedy teams in show business. Early on, each were pursuing individual goals in the theater. But eventually, almost by serendipity, they put together a skit which was in reality a larger than life picture of themselves. Their act debuted in the coffeehouses of Greenwich Village and soon made its way to that day's television mecca - The Ed Sullivan Show, where they appeared numerous times to rave reviews. Two children, Amy and Ben, enriched their lives. They were, as the saying goes, in high clover. Later years brought a series of commercials, most memorably one for Blue Nun wines. Stiller continued to appear in the theater, both on and off Broadway. Then television called again and he became the peace seeking father of George Costanza on Seinfeld. Over fifty years in show business have brought the author lots of laughs and many lessons - all of which he shares in this noteworthy account of an actor's life and marriage. He may not have changed the world as was his boyhood dream, but he surely gives it a great deal of pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: Fun story about his life....
Review: Great story about the life of Jerry Stiller and his experiences in life and show business. He leads you though his life with stories and lessons learned, and shares his love of his family and friends.
Rating:
Summary: Fun story about his life....
Review: Great story about the life of Jerry Stiller and his experiences in life and show business. He leads you though his life with stories and lessons learned, and shares his love of his family and friends.
Rating:
Summary: Before Costanza.............there was Jerry Stiller
Review: It's truth that Jerry is well known by two generations. But after reading this book, I didn't realize that he had such a wonderful career in the theater. I didn't know that went to the army, attended Syracuse University and worked with Joseph Papp. I also enjoyed reading the early years with his wife Anne and her private dealing with her mother's death and finding true love with Jerry even though their were both stuggling actors trying to make a name for themselvers. In the end, Stiller and Meara are now well-known comedy actors and now a new generation is enjoying the talents of their son, Ben Stiller.
Rating:
Summary: Before Costanza.............there was Jerry Stiller
Review: It's truth that Jerry is well known by two generations. But after reading this book, I didn't realize that he had such a wonderful career in the theater. I didn't know that went to the army, attended Syracuse University and worked with Joseph Papp. I also enjoyed reading the early years with his wife Anne and her private dealing with her mother's death and finding true love with Jerry even though their were both stuggling actors trying to make a name for themselvers. In the end, Stiller and Meara are now well-known comedy actors and now a new generation is enjoying the talents of their son, Ben Stiller.
Rating: 
Summary: Self absorbed,self centered minus insight or introspection
Review: Jerry Stiller has lived a long interesting life which one might think would lead to some internal truths or insights. Instead he reveals himself to be a self-absorbed, self-centered individual from his earliest years. He admits he never "gets" his wife's playwriting - and after almost 50 years of marriage, he wonders if they'll have anything in common if both of their careers come to an end. Even humorous anecdotes are few and far between...the anecdotes about other performers are brief and superficial (Robin Williams and Walter Matthau receive some praise, but only because they were generous performers - generous to Jerry, of course). There are more than a few biggoted and stereotypical remarks about his wife's Irish-American family and background, which would not be tolerated if they were reversed and directed toward *his* ethnic background (Stiller quite matter-of-factly mentions Henny Youngman's reference to Nantucket Island as Goy-ville...) I wish Ann Meara would write her version of their lives.
Rating:
Summary: Self absorbed,self centered minus insight or introspection
Review: Jerry Stiller has lived a long interesting life which one might think would lead to some internal truths or insights. Instead he reveals himself to be a self-absorbed, self-centered individual from his earliest years. He admits he never "gets" his wife's playwriting - and after almost 50 years of marriage, he wonders if they'll have anything in common if both of their careers come to an end. Even humorous anecdotes are few and far between...the anecdotes about other performers are brief and superficial (Robin Williams and Walter Matthau receive some praise, but only because they were generous performers - generous to Jerry, of course). There are more than a few biggoted and stereotypical remarks about his wife's Irish-American family and background, which would not be tolerated if they were reversed and directed toward *his* ethnic background (Stiller quite matter-of-factly mentions Henny Youngman's reference to Nantucket Island as Goy-ville...) I wish Ann Meara would write her version of their lives.
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