Gray & Company

Cleveland Memories

DonnaLeave a comment

 

If you grew up in Cleveland during the 60s, 70s, or 80s, you have to recognize the name Big Chuck. His book, Big Chuck! : My Favorite Stories from 47 Years on Cleveland TV by Chuck Schodowski with Tom Feran is a delicious, thoroughly entertaining and easy-to-read memoir. Big Chuck shares hundreds of hilarious stories about his work on and behind the scenes of Cleveland television especially at Channel 8(now known as Fox 8 News). He has been a writer of skits for Ernie “Ghoulardi” Anderson and the Ghoulardi Show, a co-host with Bob “Hoolihan” Wells and “Lil” John Rinaldi and a producer and director. The new paperback edition is even more of a treat to read since he added another chapter to include some other memorable stories that were not in the original hardcover edition. The photographs throughout the book are also a treat to savor and enjoy. Delightful and amusing, this book should not be missed by Cleveland fans or any fan interested in the world of television.
This book was provided to our library for review by the publisher.

Happy Reading!  Donna

Cleveland’s Last Newspaper Era

ChrisLeave a comment

Remember having a choice of great local newspapers with which to start and end your day? Let John H. Tidyman remind you.

In his newest book, “Gimme Rewrite, Sweetheart…” Tales from the Last Glory Days of Cleveland Newspapers,* Tidyman lets you listen in as veteran newspaper men and women talk about what it was like to write for Cleveland’s major metropolitan dailies—the Cleveland Press, the Cleveland News and the Plain Dealer—during the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. What makes this book a good read is hearing the reporters describe in their own words the joys and agonies of competing to break a story, to tell it better, to make it memorable. So does hearing the story behind the story of some our local-turned-national news events: the Kent State shootings, the Sam Sheppard trial, the Beverly Jarosz case plus plenty of community happenings like the Hough Riot, Cleveland’s mafia fights and more. These wonderful reporters, editors, photographers, writers, critics all help to bring back yesterday’s headlines. The black-and-white photos of the newsrooms with typewriters, teletype machines, and very few women, present the realities of the past. The way we were. And who better to share this story than Tidyman, an ex-reporter of the Cleveland Press, and Cleveland publisher, Gray & Company.

~Chris

*Given by the publisher to our library for the purpose, and pleasure, of reviewing.

What Makes Lebron Tick?

DoriLeave a comment

With the Cleveland Cavaliers on their way to an NBA Championship and the question hovering in the air of whether their star player, Lebron James, will be around next season, this is the perfect time to read the new Gray & Company biography of James entitled Lebron James: The Making of an MVP. Given to us by the publisher to review and written by Plain Dealer sportswriters Terry Pluto and Brian Windhorst, this biography of James combines details of his life, along with tons of insider basketball facts (a whole chapter on “Free Throws” anyone?), a slew of photos and lots of personality.

From the first pages, Pluto and Windhorst emphasize that James’ talent lies not just in his physical gifts, but also in his grasp of the importance of self-discipline, teamwork, structure and humility. Using interviews and stories, they explain that these values began in his youth as a response to his chaotic early life. They were strengthened by his loving relationship with his mother, his close and consistent friendships and mentoring by coaches and teachers throughout his high school career. Later, after the Cavs drafted him, his relationships with Coaches Paul Silas and Mike Brown and various teammates continued to give him stability and guidance.

Chapters about his successful football career in high school, the influence of and comparisons to Michael Jordan, his rookie year, his Olympic experience and his media savvy flesh out the personal portrait of James. Let’s, though, not leave out the basketball stats. As mentioned above, there is a chapter on James’ free throw shooting, another on his outside shot and another on his workout routine, including his poolside yoga.  Throughout the book there are insets called “MVP Season Moments” that offer game insights and “The Lebron File” which outline fun personal and statistical facts – did you know that one of Lebron’s favorite movies is Gladiator and that in his first home game he scored only seven points?

Well written, detailed but easy-to-read, this book is perfect for all those basketball junkies from pre-teen to adult who want to get a personal and professional glimpse of our hometown basketball hero.

~ Dori

Ohio: The Heart of It All!

carolLeave a comment

During tough economic times, we have to make sacrifices. This might mean postponing or cancelling your summer vacation plans. Why not make the best of your ‘staycation’ right here in Ohio, where there is plenty to do and see–all within a few hours drive.

Need some help planning that staycation? Pick up Neil Zurcher’s Ohio Road Trips for some wonderful suggestions. Local publishers Gray and Co. have provided a copy of this book to our library for review. Mr. Zurcher has written a useful resource for Ohioans and Ohio-lovers. Now in its 2nd edition, this guidebook is chock-full of  Zurcher’s personal favorite destination ideas. Our local king of the ‘one-tank-trip’ lets folks decide how far they want to travel in order to seek out some of the Buckeye state’s most popular tourist destinations, like Amish country, Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Cleveland’s Rock Hall. Ohio Road Trips is arranged by region, and includes addresses and phone numbers, for those smart cookies who plan their trip and/or call ahead to inquire about any costs & hours of operation for each destination.

Readers and potential travelers won’t be bored reading this cleverly written guide! Even lifelong Ohio residents will be surprised by some of the offerings included. For example, did you know there is an accordion museum right here in Rocky River, a wild safari in Port Clinton, a bicycle museum in New Bremen? Whether you are a city mouse, or a country mouse, Zurcher includes 52 irresistible locations you’ll want to visit, revisit, or discover, including: canoeing in Loudonville; antiquing throughout the state; visiting the State’s Prehistoric Indian mounds; touring the Mansfield Reformatory, where “The Shawshank Redemption” was filmed; or sampling the fare at the wineries in Ohio. A word of warning, however, reading Mr. Zurcher’s book might make you hungry, as he also highlights some of the state’s ice cream shops, homemade chocolatiers, burger joints, and potato chip factories to name a few. In fact, I think this reviewer better go have a snack. While I’m snacking, I think I’ll plan my next trip–in Ohio!                                                                                                                                                                             ~Carol

Rainy Days in Cleveland

MeganLeave a comment

Spring has arrived, which means chilly rainy days in our fair city of Cleveland! It’s the perfect time to enjoy a good book. It’s difficult to image how that could be any better, but there is a way. Support your local library by cozying up with one of their books or pick up a book from a local publisher…or do both! One local publishing house in Cleveland is Gray & Company Publishers. Throughout the month of April we will be posting reviews of books that have been provided by Gray & Company. The first  is Cleveland’s Greatest Disasters: 16 Tragic True Tales of Death and Destruction by John Stark Bellamy, II. 

In this newest anthology by local historian John Stark Bellamy II the author deviates from his usual historical crime writing to share some of Cleveland’s most destructive and deadly man-made disasters. Among the sixteen tales of tragedy are reports of fires, explosions, and bridge, building and other structural collapses.

Bellamy skillfully sets the stage for each disaster, impartially outlining the facts and reporting the events that led to each tragedy. First person accounts, photographs and copies of newspaper headlines transport the reader to the scene of the tragedy

What makes this collection interesting and readable are the witty remarks and observations of irony that the author includes in each story. In addition, these stories are not solely about fires or bridge collapses. They provide insight into Cleveland’s history from a unique point of view: the working class. The majority of the victims of these deadly disasters were part of the lower and working classes and these tragedies were often the result political or corporate corruption. Finally, these stories are also about the local heroes, the men and women who risked their lives to help others.

The stories in this anthology are fascinating, horrifying, and even uplifting at times. Cleveland’s Greatest Disasters! is a must read for local history buffs.

˜Megan