The Allure & The Absurd: Curious Tales from Art, Music, Film, Sports & More

REVIEWS“Michael Burk recounts bizarre, fascinating, and tragic vignettes from cultural history… with a beguiling voice that is informative, respectful when necessary, and delightfully mischievous.”– Kirkus Reviews“A carnival where the popcorn is stale, the rides are dangerous, and yet somehow, we can’t look away.”– Kirkus ReviewsThe Allure & The Absurd: Curious Tales from Art, Music, Film, Sports & More invites readers to dive into a world of quirky, often bizarre stories that shape the cultural landscape. From the tragic to the whimsical, this collection of tales explores the fascinating, the hidden, and the downright absurd in art, music, film, TV, games, and sports. Discover the untold struggles of icons like James Dean, Robin Williams, and John Candy, and the absurdities that follow the greatest disasters in pop culture history, such as the infamous lion attacks on the set of Roar and the tragic deaths linked to the Twilight Zone movie. It’s a rollicking, behind-the-scenes look at moments that left an indelible mark on entertainment history, along with obscure details concerning objects of everyday family fun.Whether it's the drama lurking behind Hollywood’s facade, the musical genius of Beethoven, Freddie Mercury, Dolly Parton or Danny Gatton, or the unexplained phenomenon of deadly slip 'n slides and Cabbage Patch dolls, these stories span decades of unforgettable events. With a blend of tragedy, triumph, and shocking trivia, this book offers a unique lens through which to view the unpredictable and often hazardous world of entertainment. Every chapter delivers an intriguing mix of historical events, offbeat facts, and a deep dive into the lives of entertainers (or victims), and their enduring legacies. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when diversion, fame and folly collide, The Allure & The Absurd is the book for you.ContentsIntroductionPart 1—The Big (and little) ScreensAlgonquin Round TableThe Great Flood in Film & LifeWired for Stardom, Tuned for GeniusSteve AllenJames DeanMister Roberts quarrelsTony Curtis Kissing HitlerLeave it to Wally & BeaverHogan, Bygone Hero?A Tale of Two DarrinsInger StevensGet SmartThe Poseidon AdventureMcLean StevensonJean SebergThe Mysterious Death of Bon ScottCast Attacked by LionsTwilight Zone MovieAlias Smith and JonesBack to the ShueBrandon LeeRiver PhoenixJohn CandySpy vs. SpyHeath LedgerRobin WilliamsTyler SkaggsScrubs, Cougars and SingersPart 2—Art and MusicBeethoven’s LastFranz SchubertFrédéric ChopinStarry, Starving ArtistScriabinTchaikovskyNijinsky, Stravinsky, DiagalevLili BoulangerThe Woman Who Grokked RavelEdith PiafBuddy HollyBillie HolidayStu SutcliffDecca v. The BeatlesJimi HendrixLenny BruceBadfinger, Bad ManagerPatty Donohue and The WaitressesRichard JeniGreg GiraldoPete BestStephen StillsHappy, Bad Jim CroceKaren CarpenterBest Bass Player in the World?Freddie MercuryBill HicksWho the F-sharp Is Danny Gatton?John DenverThe Cars and Benjamin OrrMitch HedbergPrince Rogers NelsonFountains of Adam SchlesingerEmitt RhodesDebbie “Blondie” HarryThe PretendersSteve VaiDolly PartonPart 3—Sports, Games and ToysThe Mechanical TurkDeadly PigskinThe Monopoly MonopoliesThe Cursed Ouija BoardThe Radioactive Educational ToyRugby Players Do What They MustThe Deadly Slip ‘N SlideLawn DartsLen BiasWhen Dolls AttackThe Crash That Changed NASCARRobot ChessDeadly Water BeadsGansu ultramarathonBibliographyEND NOTES Read more