Fanfare; Behind The Scenes of Theatre | First Edition

FANFARE: THE CONFESSIONS OF A PRESS AGENT

Richard Maney

Harper, 1957 - Broadway (New York, N.Y.) - 374 pages

First Printing - Great Condition - Some wear on D.J.

"Fanfare" is a volume of reminiscences by leading American theatrical press agent Richard Maney. Born on the northern plains in Chinook, Montana, he became involved in the theatre as an usher after the family moved to Seattle. From this vantage point he noted that press agents seemed to work only three hours per day, while actors sometimes put in four or five. He instantly decided to become a press agent, and after finding his way to New York City, spent twenty plus years in the game. Immortalized in the play "Twentieth Century" by his friends Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, he can rightly be called "Mr. Theatre." As a writer in the Sunday theatrical sections of New York newspapers, his anecdotes are devoured eagerly by readers. He loves theatre people, but after a career of 250 productions (crowned by handling "My Fair Lady"), he is disenchanted without being bitter. Hardly a figure of stature on stage or screen fails to appear in these pages, and his 'confessions' bring the reader closer to the peculiar feel of the contemporary commercial theatre than does any other book. Mr. Maney's book is like a career in the theatre, and to those who read it the space between footlights and audience will seem smaller from now on.

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