As most of you know, I am obsessed with the original movie musical "West Side Story." So when I learned that one of the stars from that Oscar-winning film would be at the Larry Edmunds Bookshop in Hollywood to sign copies of his book for fans, I made time in my busy schedule to attend!
Last April, on the first day of the TCM Film Festival, I joined a dedicated group of classic Hollywood fans at Larry Edmunds Bookstore for a highly anticipated book signing with the legendary Russ Tamblyn, known for his iconic role as 'Riff' in "West Side Story." The line of enthusiastic fans waiting to buy his book and get an autograph extended down the street, reflecting our commitment to this moment. I stood in that line for a solid 45 minutes before finally entering the store. It was a bit chaotic, but I can confidently say it was absolutely worth every moment of the wait!
From the moment I saw Mr. Tamblyn signing his newly published autobiography, "Dancing on the Edge," at a long table positioned strategically in front of a movie poster for "West Side Story", I couldn't stop thinking about how I was about to meet a true Hollywood legend in person!
As I approached the table where Mr. Tamblyn was seated, my palms began to sweat, and I got the worst case of cottonmouth. When I handed him my copy of his book, he looked straight into my eyes and said, “Hello.” All I could think was, “OMG, Riff, the leader of the Jets gang, just said hello to me!” LOL.
Suddenly, I regained my ability to speak and gushed about how it was an honor to meet him. I shared that as a kid, all I ever wanted was to play Riff or Bernardo in “West Side Story” on Broadway. That dream never came true, but my dream of meeting the Academy Award-nominated actor who played Riff in my favorite movie musical did! Needless to say, I enjoyed every minute of our encounter. Little did I know that I would be interviewing him for my podcast six months later. Dreams do come true!
*********************************************
"DANCING ON THE EDGE"
Russ' memoir, which I read from cover to cover, is an intimate and powerful account of the remarkable life of one of our most gifted storytellers, artists, and stars of the silver screen.
With more than eighty years as a celebrated artist and actor under his belt, Russ Tamblyn is a cherished figure to cinephiles and pop culture fans alike, working with such legendary directors as Robert Wise, David Lynch, and Quentin Tarantino. He tumbled through his acclaimed starring role in the original "West Side Story" as an actor and acrobatic dancer, taught Elvis Presley some signature dance moves, and became an unlikely visionary in the counterculture movement of the sixties alongside peers and friends Henry Miller and Dennis Hopper.
In his memoir, Russ deftly guides readers through his star-studded life and his search for a deeper, more connected existence: attending school with Elizabeth Taylor, earning an Academy Award nomination for "Peyton Place", dropping out of Hollywood at the height of his career to become a fine artist in Topanga Canyon, and forging a lifelong friendship with Neil Young. He shares the painful breakup of a twenty-year marriage and the joy of finding true love and inspiration as a husband, father, and mentor in his own right.
If you love Hollywood history (like me), I highly suggest you pick up a copy of Russ's wonderful book "Dancing On The Edge". You can purchase at your local bookstore or online.
*********************************************
THE LARRY EDMUNDS BOOKSHOP
Larry Edmunds Bookshop was founded in 1938 in Hollywood and has specialized in cinema ever since. This makes it almost as old as Hollywood itself! The store quickly discovered that people from around the world share a common love for movies. Since 1955, it has been located on Hollywood Boulevard and has become a beloved resource for books, posters, lobby cards, photos, and more related to the history of film.
Over the years, the bookshop has welcomed legendary patrons including Henry Miller, Larry McMurtry, Michael Jackson, J.J. Abrams, John Landis, and Joe Dante. Notably, Quentin Tarantino shopped at Larry Edmunds when he was just 15 years old and later featured the storefront in his Oscar®-winning film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019)!
Larry Edmunds Bookshop boasts a collection of more than 20,000 books—both used and new—and 500,000 movie photos. This collection continues to grow each day. You can now shop both online and in person.
The shop is open from 11 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday and from 11 AM to 6 PM on Saturday!
*********************************************
Don’t miss listening to my captivating interview with legendary movie star Russ Tamblyn in the latest two episodes of the Hollywood Obsessed podcast! Where you get exclusive insights and stories you won’t find anywhere else!
Click the links below to listen now and be inspired!
Episode 105 - HERE
Episode 106 - HERE
