The Silver Screen Oasis

"In an era of breadlines, depression and wars, I tried to help people get away from all the misery...to turn their minds to something else. I wanted to make people happy, if only for an hour."
- Busby Berkeley

Jeffrey Spivak, the author of "Buzz: The Life and Art of Busby Berkeley," will be our guest for an online Q & A at The Silver Screen Oasis on Aug. 22nd and 23rd. Drawing on personal letters, interviews, studio memoranda, and Berkeley’s private memoirs, our visiting author created a nuanced portrait of this natural talent, whose development of the kinetic aspects of film continues to influence filmmakers to this day.



This thoughtful book reveals Busby Berkeley as a person without formal dance training but exceptional drive and ability who could never describe exactly how his creativity worked. Without whitewashing or indulging in unnecessary speculation, the author touches on Berkeley's intense closeness to his mother, Gertrude Berkeley, his six marriages, and the tumult in his personal life that nearly cost him everything. After reading his book, the reader can see the real life sources that inspired "The Lullaby of Broadway" in all its variations over the decades of his career at various studios.



Please join us here to post your own questions about Busby Berkeley and his films or to enjoy reading the exchanges. All are welcome.

For detailed information on this book and our visitor, please visit the following links:

Jeffrey Spivak's publisher, The University Press of Kentucky:

http://www.kentuckypress.com/live/title ... dOORLJVikp

Jeffrey Spivak at Amazon:



Facebook Page for Buzz: The Life and Art of Busby Berkeley:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Buzz-The ... 41?fref=ts

The Hollywood Reporter on Ryan Gosling's purchase of the rights to our guest's book for a biopic:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/r ... tar-689801

I can't wait! This is wonderful!

Is this the book which came out in 2010?
Look forward to talking to the author.

Yes, Vienna if you are thinking of the biography that was published in 2011 and spotlighted by TCM that year on their website. I hope you (and everyone) will post more than one question for Jeff Spivak if you would like.