Hollywood Death and Scandal Sites: Sixteen Driving Tours with Directions and the Full Story, from Tallulah Bankhead to River Phoenix

Rating:
Summary: too morbid for my taste...
Review: first things first, it is a very good book with great research but just too morbid for my taste. I prefer sight seeing of star homes, movie studios, the Chinese theater, the wax museum, etc.... where celebrities met their mortality has never interested me...

Rating:
Summary: You have to do it to believe it
Review: I have family that lives in the L.A. area and when I visit them, they know we will do a "Death Tour". They teased me at first and then when we started seeing the sites, they stopped!! Now they look forward to the next tour that we will take. This book is an interesting compilation of not only where events have taken place, but also the history behind them. Although, the title can seem a bit ominous, there are a lot of other sites to see in the book besides "DEATH" (stars homes, arrest locations, homes used for TV shows, etc.). So, as for the previous review about this being too morbid, I completely disagree. Besides, death is after all a part of life. Enjoy...I certainly have!

Rating:
Summary: You have to do it to believe it
Review: I have family that lives in the L.A. area and when I visit them, they know we will do a "Death Tour". They teased me at first and then when we started seeing the sites, they stopped!! Now they look forward to the next tour that we will take. This book is an interesting compilation of not only where events have taken place, but also the history behind them. Although, the title can seem a bit ominous, there are a lot of other sites to see in the book besides "DEATH" (stars homes, arrest locations, homes used for TV shows, etc.). So, as for the previous review about this being too morbid, I completely disagree. Besides, death is after all a part of life. Enjoy...I certainly have!

Rating:
Summary: Things To Do On Your Vacation (or a free Saturday in L.A.)
Review: Several years ago an L.A. cemetery worker told me that a Chicago area resident was researching a book about Hollywood cemeteries and death sites. I am assuming this is it. This is a chatty gem of a tour book that examines some uncoventional tourist attractions ----- predominantly suicide, death and scandal sites ----- and is loaded with information. Having done my own bizarre self-designed tours in L.A., I wish I had this book in the past as I would have saved myself much time and trouble. The narrative was informative and well-written and provided a lot of facts, along with some excellent (and fairly current) pictures. For the most part the information was accurate, but I did identify some questionable facts mostly involving dates. My immediate impression was that this book probably should have been proofed better before it went to print, but it is quite apparent that the author really does know his/her subject matter and did a fairly thorough job researching the subject matter. Is it worth the $35 price tag.......definitely! It provided me with a full day's worth of enjoyment and was a lot cheaper and more fun than a trip to Disneyland. Will I use it again? Absolutely........I have only done a couple of the tours so far!

Rating:
Summary: Don't Let The Title Fool You - More Than Just a Tour Book
Review: While there's no denying the book's hook - and the morbid allure - of Hollywood death voyeurism, this book is much more. It's a fascinating look at Hollywood history. Check out the 7 page bibliography; this is not just an address list, the author has done his homework. Looking for someone or something in particular, or to create your own tour; there's an incredibly detailed 17 page index! Every stop on each tour is documented with an easy to read, sometimes lengthy STORY. It's the Britannica of Hollywood tour books. I did much of the "Old Hollywoodland" Tour - once I got my bearings at Hollywood Memorial Park, I was OK. I loved Whitley Heights. Forget about finding anything in the canyons without these directions; though the author doesn't mention the need to stand on the trunk of your car to be able to see into Falcon's Lair! BTW, not every site is gruesome...Timothy Leary's last launching pad is on the Benedict Canyon tour! The book is not cheap; but it's a great read whether you're driving or not.