Product Description
PARTY THEME "NIGHT OUT"PARTY FAVORS;PARTY BEVERAGE;PARTY INVITATION;DECORATIONS;CHECKER TABLE CLOTH;PARTY MENU;PARTY GLO ACTIVITY;MUSIC WITH WORDS. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

Part Salinger, Part Palahniuk, All Awesomeness
I am not a big fan of most recent fiction. It is so often just whiny, self-aggrandizing crap that glorifies debauchery and pretends to carry a greater message. I picked this book off the shelf because the title and the cover are hard to dismiss. Reading the first page, even though the subject material seems conventional, it was immediately clear that I held a novel wholly different from any of the other two dozen recent novels I'd opened that day.

This book is a real story with real character, real fear, real consequences, and a real philosophy. It begins like The Catcher in the Rye but ends like Fight Club. It takes place in 1976, which seems perfectly poised between those two works, and almost feels like a transition between Holden Caulfield's tired hopelessness, and Tyler Durden's wreckless self-serving activism.

I adore this work, and if you have a soul, I suspect you will, too. This is literature.

Where Is Paradise?
When a college in San Diego asks Edgar Donahoe to leave due to his drunk bellowing from his dorm room window at 4 in the morning, he resolves a decision to embark upon a journey which he has romanticized for some time. Throughout his journey his goal is to rid himself of the corruption of America by his discovery of paradise. Until he received a postcard from his best friend Mountain, he never had a destination in mind. With the discovery of Poisson Rouge, Edgar now sets out to the island where he intends to become one with nature and return to a more natural version of man.

However, Edgar makes the mistake of assuming that a change of ambience will help him live a meditated life. At the end of the novel the readers realize true peace of mind can not be achieved through paradise, but solely through one?s personal efforts. An external change will only change surroundings; it can not balance or improve one?s inner-self. As Edgar works through his internal and external problems he becomes captured in the same corruptive and influenced behavior he hoped to leave behind in America. Some of the adversity Edgar is faced with is a love triangle with his best friend Mountain, and Mountain?s girlfriend Kate. He is also stalked by an island native. Ironically, it takes a hurricane to remove protagonist Edgar from this complex lifestyle.

Poe Ballantine creates the image of a youthful character by breaking us down with complex tragedies and then building us up with his unique sense of humor. It is the story of a hero who attempts to regain paradise. Ballantine?s fast paced style keeps you interested from the beginning to the end and then craving for more. His detailed descriptions and vivid scenes make you feel as if you were following Edgar on his journey to paradise. Once Edgar reaches the island, the culture shock seems so grave that you wonder whether it is a direct representation of the society or a delirious description due to an unhealthy mix of heat and alcohol. However, this quickly forces Edgar to realize that civilization is not as overrated as he perceived. Ballantine also maintains an intriguingly relaxed and almost conversational tone throughout the novel which provides a level of comfort between Edgar, the author, and the audience. With this said, Ballantine has proved himself to be a contemporary spokesperson of today?s society with a strong sense of wit.

Despite the fact that the novel takes place in 1976, I believe it is still a good reflection of today?s younger generation. Edgar helps to open the minds of an older more structured generation to a more simple and fanciful mentality but also aids the youth in recognizing the demand for direction. Edgar?s whimsical idea of a simpler life, his endless craving for alcohol, and his yearning for unity with nature will leave you wishing to return to the days of youth or a motivation to improve upon them.

Ballantine's Second Novel Fills the Bill.
I suspect Edgar Donohoe, the twenty-one year old anti-hero and warped protagonist of "Decline of the Lawrence Welk Empire" may have walked straight out of the 1976 edition of the author himself and into the pages of this novel. Or maybe I would just like to think so. Perhaps it is a slight to think there is an autobiographical foundation to the character, but Ballantine clearly knows Edgar very, very well.

The action begins in San Diego, but the bulk of the story occurs on the blighted Caribbean island of Poisson Rouge, where no one is who they first seem to be.

Edgar, a young man without a moral compass, has a hearty appetite for booze and an appreciative eye for the ladies.His bawdy descriptions of the female anatomy punctuate the narrative thoroughly and consistently.

Immersed in Ballantine's descriptive power and offbeat imagery, the reader follows Edgar at a safe distance, keeping an eye out for Legion, a crazy loner who first wants to kill Edgar with a machete, shadows him relentlessly around the island and, ultimately, saves Edgar from his murderously jealous best friend, Mountain.

As Edgar lurchesfrom one mishap to another, you'll feel torpid from the oppressive heat, your mouth will be sour from last night's Scotch and your head will throb with the dull ache of a hangover.

If you wish to revisit your own wasted youth--or if you are currently youthful and wish to get some good ideas--this book will fill the bill.

Conrad of the Caribbean
Once again, Poe Ballantine will crack you up, break your heart, and make you wish you had half his verbal skill. In his second novel, Ballantine follows his hero, Edgar Donahoe from God Clobbers Us All, on an ill-conceived attempt to simplify his life in a tropical paradise, only to discover that paradise exists solely in the mind. Traveling through his own personal heart of darkness, Edgar finds himself entangled by all the base desires and jealousies he'd hoped to escape by leaving the western world behind. Ballantine makes the island of Poisson Rouge come alive with explosions of language and vivid descriptions that border on hallucinatory. After reading a scene in which Edgar's love affair with his best friend's girlfriend is consummated in a graveyard, you'll never look at a headstone the same way again.

fast-paced, visually/emotionally descriptive...simply a joy to read
I'd never read anything by Ballantine before I purchased this novel. I was browsing a bookstore in Cambridge when I saw its cover proudly displayed in the window. Of course, I had to investigate. Needless to say, this book is fantastic. It is both a belated coming-of-age story and an adventure story, coupled with tinges of lust. I've loved every single page thus far, and unfortunately, I've nearly finished it (20 pages to go). "Decline" seems to be one of those novels you can read over and over, without getting tired of it. I love the pace and description in the narrative. Ballantine is certainly a welcome writer on my "favourite books" shelf. Do yourself a favour and read it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

excellent seller and product
Item as described and received in a timely manner... an excellent buying experience!

DELIGHTFUL!!! I'M SURPRISED THERE'S NOT ALREADY A REVIEW!!!!
I'm not even a big Lawrence Welk fan (though my dad is.When he went to the U. of Chicago, he would pay 25 cents to dance to LW live each Saturday night).

This book is an Autobiography of Lawrence Welk, so it tells much about his private life from birth on up.He got into having his own band during the 1920's when radio was new and he had to really struggle to get anybody to hear him at all.It was worse than a Gypsy's life on the road.

He tells many very interesting stories of playing engagements, how they were promoted, what different audiences were like, etc.

One story that made me laugh out loud was how in certain areas of the country it was not uncommon for people to bring a gun to a dance, and if someone's girlfriend got looked at by an undesireable competitor, shots would be fired.LW and his band got to where they didn't even bother getting off the stage.They would just hide behind the piano until the shooting was over, then they would get out and keep playing, while members of the crowd would haul off the injured parties.I don't think anybody died at any of his concerts, but it seems clear that the spirit of the American Frontier was still alive into the 30's, at least.

I gained a real appreciation for Lawrence Welk after reading this book.

--George Stancliffe ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I love Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk and his orchestra family are icons in American history.We are all indebted to his wonderful entertainment, talent, hard work and morality that supports good family life and continues to inspire us for over 50 years on television.His autobiography and other books are very enjoyable reading and bring back many memories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Book With Good Values
Being a fan of the Lennon Sisters, I wanted to get this book as part of my collection. I really enjoyed reading it. I am an adult, but I enjoy reading children's books sometimes because of the good values that underline many themes in these books. I found this one to bring out these good values as well.As you can figure from the title of the book, this book focuses on Janet and her last summer vacation before "growing up".The other family members are just referenced briefly at the beginning of the book. Good values dealing with diversity, consideration of others, friendship, and thoughtfulness are shown throughout the readings of this book. If you enjoy children's books as I do, are a Lennon Sisters fan, or are a child yourself, I think you will enjoy this book as much as I have. I also have bought the other Lennon Sisters books in the series, but I have not read them yet. I will write reviews on them as I complete them. ... Read more

Product Description
51 great songs made famous by Lawrence Welk, including: Apples and Bananas* Bubbles In The Wine* Calcutta* Liechtensteiner Polka* Mack The Knife* The PoorPeople Of Paris* The Wayward Wind* more. ... Read more

Product Description

"P.O.P.", better known as "Pacific Ocean Park", opened on July 22, 1958 on South Barnard Way, Venice, California. This project was a co-venture of the "Los Angeles Turf Club", (a.k.a. Santa Anita and the Lake Arrowhead resort) and "C.B.S.", (Colombia Broadcasting Systems) in reaction to the overwhelming success of "Disneyland" which had opened just 3 years prior. This concept required the joining of two completely separate piers, in two different cities, Santa Monica and Los Angeles, and the rehabilitation of an existing "Amusement Zone" that dated back to the turn of the 19th century! "P.O.P", unfortunately succumbed, and closed, due to bad management and changing demographics in 1967. Presented here are series of paintings and simple phrases. Which I hope will inspire an understanding of the difference between the directly honest "P.O.P." contribution of an experience that is "Here and Now" as opposed to its competitors that rely on Nostalgia or "Remember when" as their theme and selling base.

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Customer Reviews (1)

Historic "Pacific Ocean Park," of Santa Monice, California
Palisadian's 'P.O.P.' Culture Book

Author/Illustrator Shares Amusement Park Memories

October 09, 2008

Michael Aushenker , Staff Writer

You might call it 'a nostalgic book back''

In 'There Once Was a Place Called P.O.P.,' author/illustrator Dave Doherty revives Pacific Palisades-childhood memories of Pacific Ocean Park, a beachside amusement park that loomed over the Venice/Santa Monica border from 1958 to 1967, before languishing for another eight years.

'It had that 'Scooby-Doo' old abandoned amusement park thing,' says Doherty, pithily summing up its appeal in baby-boomer fashion. 'I went there when I was three years old. The most memorable time was when it was torn down. That's when I became obsessed with it. I could see it from my roof. It was always on the horizon.

'I still remember that elevator ride that scared the hell out of me. The Banana Train Ride at the very end of the pier was an amazing experience,' continues Doherty, whose family home shared the Riviera Country Club's view.

Doherty, 46, attended Corpus Christi Elementary (class of '76) and Palisades High School (class of '80). P.O.P.'s owner from 1959 through 1964, John 'Jack' Morehart, also lived in the Palisades with his wife Frannie and their nine children.

Doherty has always loved amusement parks, including Disneyland, but there was something about the nautical-themed P.O.P. that set it apart.

'You entered Neptune's Kingdom, and the rest of the park played off of that attraction,' he says. After the park peaked, 'It sat there for nine years on the beach falling apart. I thought, 'Someone should clean this up.' But I'm glad it wasn't.'

Lingering memories of P.O.P. ultimately influenced Doherty's career path. A former theme park creative executive, Doherty worked on the Las Vegas Star Trek simulation ride for Landmark Entertainment, and has done visual design research and project management for Universal.

'It's the science of fun,' says Doherty, who moved from the Palisades in 1985 to Atlanta, followed by 13 years in Glendale. Retired, he now resides with his German shepherd Jake and pit bull Rhoda near Palm Springs in the very house used in Tears for Fear's video for the 1985 hit song, 'Everyone Wants to Rule the World' (years before he moved in).

'I've painted my whole life,' Doherty says, who for one season created backgrounds for the long-running prime-time cartoon 'King of the Hill.' 'It wasn't till I moved here that I really got into it.'

His debut book, 'P.O.P.' features illustrations combining acrylics, pastels and charcoals to create a whimsical, impressionistic, Chagall-meets-Wayne Thiebaud effect.

While 'P.O.P.' is technically a children's book, Doherty sees it as a family book.

'It's for kids,' he explains, 'and for parents who enjoy reading a storybook and say, 'I actually went there!''

He's met many people in random fashion with a P.O.P. connection'past employees, patrons.

'Everyone I talked to has the most unbelievable memories of this place,' says Doherty, who has done his share of P.O.P. research. Ben O'Dorisio was the creative guy behind the L.A. Turf Club, which originally created the park in conjunction with CBS for $10 million. Fred Harpman, an MGM art director whose credits include Woody Allen's 'Take the Money and Run,' conceptualized the amusement park.

Doherty found his visual inspiration while on assignment.

'I have never seen a good collection of photographs of this place,' he says. 'The photographs I worked from on this book I found in Warner Bros.' archives.

'It was designed by a bunch of people who were film designers. Jay North led the parade in 1962, Fabian performed there, Wink Martindale had a show there. It's like a jewelry box of another time.'

Visit www.rippop.com for P.O.P. archival photos and Doherty's illustrations.

... Read more

Product Description
More than 50 famous polkas, schottisches and waltzes featured by the maestro himself, Lawrence Welk. Some of tunes are: Clarinet Polka
* Cuckoo Polka
* Favorite Strauss Waltzes
* Helena Polka and many, many more. ... Read more

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Filmed on Location in Branson at the Champagne Theatre.Lawrence Welk Precious Memories is an all-new special that abounds with spiritual hymns, inspirational songs and gospel medleys reminding viewers of their shared family values based on loving and heartfelt beliefs. This nostalgic special will lift your spirits, heal your heart and take you into the safe haven of your past with promises for a brighter tomorrow ... Read more