Product Description
“Noir’s first bombshell”
—Entertainment Weekly

One of Hollywood’s sultriest sirens of the 1940s, Veronica Lake steamed up movie screens with her fragile beauty and exotic hairstyle. A heartthrob of millions during her heyday, she was the hottest ticket around starring in 27 motion pictures, including such film classics as This Gun for Hire with Alan Ladd and the Preston Sturges comedy, Sullivan’s Travels. Offscreen Lake’s life was a disaster—a controlling mother, three failed marriages, extramarital affairs, a secret abortion and downward spiral due to alcoholism and mental illness—ending up broke, destitute and forgotten. Fully authorized, Peekaboo tells why.

Customer Reviews (13)

Awful.Clearly a slandered story influenced by a bitter, selfish stage mom.
I admit up front that I didn't read this entire book.I picked it up at the hairdresser, and I tried to read it to kill some time.I wanted to like it, because the other choice was Highlights Magazine.Sadly, this book was so awful I went with the kid's mag. I had to warn others not to waste a penny on this book.

As an example of lousy & baseless writing:"Connie didn't realize her mother's critical remarks were intended to build character."This is clearly the result of a therapeutic whine session with the mother who sued her own daughter because she was too lazy to support herself.At another point, Lake made friends with some woman named Rita, and the writer jumps to the conclusion that Rita mixed with schizophrenia "may have invoked deviant sexual activity."What?I may go to the moon, but it is unlikely.

It's also rather pathetic to call someone schizophrenic after they've passed and can't defend themselves, with no medical documentation to back the claim and only a shrewish stage mom to provide any insight into the matter.Bottom line, pitiful, slanderous book and a waste of even a nickel.

How did this thing get published?
I will keep this short and sweet.This book reads like it was written by a junior high school student trying to psychoanalyze an adult subject.These ridiculous assertions that if you are ie: withdrawn or depressed that you are a paranoid schizophrenic.Not to say that paranoid schizophrenics can't show some of these signs.Anyway, please don't waste your time on this junk.

Better than nothing - but barely
I've just re-read Jeff Lenburg's Peekaboo, and was reminded how disappointing this book is. It relies far too heavily on Veronica Lake's mother, whose exploitive and tawdry behavior towards her daughter make her assertions suspect at best. There are some interesting anecdotes from co-workers, but the author's fan-magazine-style narrative provides no analytical depth or insight; it also borrows liberally from Veronica's own autobiography (far superior to Peekaboo, and recommended). Any legitimate biography provides detailed notes and sources regarding factual content and quotations - Lenburg only lists the people he interviewed on an "acknowledgements" page. Given the pitiful amount of printed information about Veronica Lake, Peekaboo is possibly better than nothing, but it's subject deserves far better.
If only a first-rate biographer such as A. Scott Berg or David Stenn had essayed this fascinating and sad life, I'm sure all of Miss Lake's fans would have been exultant and grateful.

A Fascinating And Tragic Hollywood Tale
I knew very little about Veronica before I read this book and now I feel like I understand her a lot better. She was a flawed person and the author does not try to sugarcoat her life. He gives us all the details from her childhood, her rise to fame, her marriages, her battles with alcohol and mental illness, to her tragic end. Her mother was the main source for the book and maybe her memories are tainted but there's also a lot of Veronica's own words in here. There are quite a few unpublished photos too. This book has definitely made me a fan of Veronica and I hope more people read it to learn about her tragic story.

Hurtful rubbish ... the lady deserves better
I have the original hardcover edition of this book published in 1983 and it is one of the worst biographies I have ever read. It was virtually co-authored by Veronica's grasping stage-mother who used her as a meal ticket and who also sued her for support once the money dried up. Miss Lake's real problem was alcohol and this book's dubious (and central) theme that she was a paranoid schizophrenic does not seem based on medical fact. The authors provide no proof of this 'diagnosis' -- only hearsay -- with Veronica's redoubtable mother as the only reference. The real truth about this beautiful, tragic actress who was more sinned against than sinning remains to be told, and sadly, may never be. Miss Lake's own autobiography "Veronica", while glossing over a lot, gives a much better sense of her as a person -- flawed, alcoholic, but seeking only love and peace of mind in a much less enlightened world than today. ... Read more

Product Description
A compilation of rare and beautiful photographs of one of the iconic sex symbols of the 1940s. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

VERONICA LAKE
This is an outstanding photo book with many rare pics of the unique VERONICA LAKE.She was a top glamor girl of the 1940's and this fantastic book proves it!

Another bomb...
Ms. Mills should really spend more time 1) researching her subject, 2) obtaining permission from copyright holders for reproduction permission.Over-priced and disappointing; Lake fans should save their money and instead purchsae Lake's autobio.

marvellous!!!
Veronica Lake: A Photo Gallery: The Peekaboo Blonde
a beautiful book,a must for every fanof veronica.plenty of rare pictures!!!highl recommended!!

Veronica Lake: A Photo Gallery
Published cheaply and accompanied by an insignificant text, this book is comprised of movie stills, staged 'glamour' shots, and a few reproductions of magazine covers. No personal or candid photos.

Where's the "peekaboo"?
Very nice photos (color and b&w), many are full page.But as I held the open book in my hands, trying to describe/show a younger co-worker what Veronica Lake's peekaboo hairstyle looked like . . .well, I couldn't!Out of all these lovely photographs, not 1 photo shows her in her peekaboo "hair over the one eye" hairstyle!That's why I couldn't give it a full 5 stars.No peekaboo!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Disagree with first review.......
I am almost finished reading this book which I got from the library.It was the only one on Veronica Lake.Well, I chose to read it even though I was not alive during her hay-day, but my mother was.She had always been a fan and admired Veronica Lake.When I was younger, my mother would say at times my hair looked like Veronica Lake's (it's thick and wavy), whomever that was, and like Veronica says in her book 'can't do a darn thing with it.'All I knew later is that she was an actress.

I think the book clearly expresses her alcoholism.She turned to drinking EVERY time she had a rough spot in her life--one of her marriages going bad, being out of money.In fact, she hung out with the merchant marinemen while dating Andy Elickson--and they all would drink for many hours.

I don't remember about the age thing, but I really think she was honest.She surprised me.She sounds tough, sarcastic and not real nice many times.So, I think you get a clear-cut view of a woman trying to make it from living with an over-bearing mother pushing her to be something she wasn't--she didn't really care about being a 'star'(her real father dying when she was very young).

There were a lot of 'honest' type remarks in there about herself and others, but it's not a show and tell like many other stars or biographers write about.Veronica knows when to name names and when not to.It's sad actually, her story.Her deepest love, Andy--she never married.She was a survivor and I admire her for many things she did even though she was a 'star'.It didn't go to her head at all.She went through a lot.She was a waitress at one time just to make ends meet.Fans sent her money after learning of this, but she returned all their money.A pride thing she said.

I'd like to know the rest of the story--this was written by her 2 years after I was born.I think it's very informative if you are a fan.I was more curious than a fan since I didn't know much about her and don't think I saw any of her films.Apparently, she had a natural gift for acting, especially in comdy, surprisingly.She tells it like it sounds as it was, that's for sure.And don't get me wrong---she seems nice enough, but seems to have a negative view of most things.I think her honesty speaks through loud and clear.Just reading the first chaper will tell you that!And she wasn't a fake.

Great book if you're a fan
Being a Veronica Lake fan will help you get past this book's so-so writing and sometimes obvious exclusion of facts/details.Her alcoholism is mostly denied, the rumors of schizophrenia are not even mentioned, and she listsher birth date in 1922, although many say it's 1919.

The book is stilla good read and offers a look at Hollywood as it was at the end of itsgolden era.Lots of behind the scenes stuff and interaction with otheractors/directors/producers of the day.

Although listed as an"autobiography", the title page says "By Veronica Lake withDonald Bain". ... Read more

Product Description
Surrounded by the peaks of the Andean cordillera, the deep blue waters of Lake Titicaca have long provided refreshment and nourishment to the people who live along its shores. From prehistoric times, the Andean peoples have held Titicaca to be a sacred place, the source from which all life originated and the site where the divine manifests its presence. In this interdisciplinary study, Verónica Salles-Reese explores how Andean myths of cosmic and ethnic origins centered on Lake Titicaca evolved from pre-Inca times to the enthronement of the Virgin of Copacabana in 1583. She begins by describing the myths of the Kolla (pre-Inca) people and shows how their Inca conquerors attempted to establish legitimacy by reconciling their myths of cosmic and ethnic origin with the Kolla myths. She also shows how a similar pattern occurred when the Inca were conquered in turn by the Spanish. This research explains why Lake Titicaca continues to occupy a central place in Andean thought despite the major cultural disruptions that have characterized the region's history. This book will be a touchstone in the field of Colonial literature and an important reference for Andean religious and intellectual history. ... Read more

Product Description
Two original beautiful 8" x 10" Paramount publicity close-up portraits of Veronica Lake. One is from 1943 and the other from 1945 both taken at the height of her popularity. Both are fine and are being sold as a collection only. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from American Decades: Primary Sources, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 1227 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.American Decades Primary Sources provides fresh insight into the decade's most important events, people, and issues. Entries representing a diversity of views that provide insight into the seminal issues, themes, movements and events from the decade. Also included are concise contextual information, notes about the author and further resources. American Decades Primary Sources includes chapters on the arts, medicine and health, media, education, world events, religion, government and politics, lifestyles and social trends, law and justice, religion, business and the economy, and sports. Included to provide unique perspectives and a wealth of understanding are first hand accounts that include oral histories, songs, speeches, advertisements, TV, play and movie scripts, letters, laws, legal decisions, newspaper articles, cartoonsand recipes. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 994 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Signed essays ranging from 500 to 2,500 words, written by subject experts and edited to form a consistent, readable, and straightforward reference. Entries include subject-specific bibliographies and textual cross-references to related essays. ... Read more

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Chapters: Joseph Mccarthy, Danny Kaye, Adolphe Menjou, Veronica Lake, Chet Helms, Paul John Hallinan, John Inman, Edwin O. Reischauer, José Alfredo Jiménez, Stuart M. Kaminsky, Farhad Mehrad, Jorge de Bagration, Rockets Redglare, Jorge Negrete, Tawn Mastrey, Darla Hood, Ralph Renick, Nichita Stănescu, Swede Savage, Shin Sang-Ok, Yootha Joyce, Jeannine Parvati Baker, John Glover, Rainbeaux Smith, Phoebe Cary, Hanumant Singh, Billy Higgins, William Eythe, Timothy Garon, Fujinishiki Takemitsu, Karen Dior, Russell Harty, Melvin Schwartz, Wolfgang Borchert, Yaho Kitabatake, Fred Clark, Ramón Mestre, Morita Sōhei, Shekhar Mehta, Roger Voudouris, Pietro Germi, James Fee, Abu Ubaidah Al-Masri, Randy Turner, Elizabeth Young, Rachid Mimouni, Helen O'connell, Michael Kilian, Charles Halton, Guillermo Rivas, Nimrod Ping, Mitchell Rupe, Giani Esposito, Len Eshmont, Alexei Voropaev, Manuel Pérez, Perry Stephens, Rudy Ivan, Frank Rice, Clint Warwick, Margaret Hayes, Candice Rialson, Paul Atkinson, Allen Cohen, Fernand Gignac. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 289. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Joseph Raymond McCarthy (November 14, 1908 May 2, 1957) was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. Beginning in 1950, McCarthy became the most visible public face of a period in which Cold War tensions fueled fears of widespread Communist subversion. He was noted for making claims that there were large numbers of Communists and Soviet spies and sympathizers inside the United States federal government and elsewhere. Ultimately, McCarthy's tactics and his inability to substantiate his claims led him to be censured by the United States Senate. The term McCarthyism, coined in 1950 in reference to McCarthy's practices, was so...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=16321 ... Read more