Becoming Carole Lombard: Stardom, Comedy, and Legacy

Abstract

met Groucho Marx and got invited to the famous club, the first one for Jewish people in Los Angeles, regaling his readers with the tales that tickled him when he first heard them from George Burns, Jack Benny, and Danny Thomas, but the movement from 1969 to 1987 is almost instantaneous, and it is unclear exactly why he goes back to the 1960s and early 1970s before closing out this chapter. The rest of the book follows the same pattern—recollections of specific moments in history in the context of a thematic overview. Though Steinberg’s groupings are logical and the tales throughout his memoir are captivating, the narrative moving around in time confuses, like a joke that does not land well. The problem is understandable, especially when considering that David Steinberg has been active since the 1960s, has met many of the most highly regarded Canadian and American comedians since the 1930s, and tells stories from across almost a century of comedy. Nevertheless, arranging all the chapters either thematically or chronologically would have made this valuable memoir easier to follow. Overall, this book is a must read if one wants to learn more about not only David Steinberg but also the many brilliant, talented people he has known over the course of his life. He clearly treasures the many friendships he has with those still living as well as the memories he made with those who have passed on. For anyone who wishes for stories from behind the scenes, reading the memoir is worth the time.