Book Description
The Seesaw Girl and Me is a revealing, sometimes heartbreaking, ultimately hope-affirming book. Dick York, a talented actor, proves himself a gifted storyteller and memoirist as he takes readers on a candid tour of his poverty-stricken Chicago boyhood, his rise as a juvenile radio actor, his successes on Broadway and in film, and his star turn on Bewitched. His abrupt fall from sitcom stardom due to pain pill dependence has become a pop-cultural milestone. Yet this book is far from a standard, cautionary showbiz tale. Funny, playful, and passionate, York the author takes creative leaps and emotional risks. The result is an exceptionally honest, surprising, and intimate portrait of a man who lived generously, loved devotedly, and faced misfortune with grace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

An unusual, hopeful, strange, wonderful read
Dick York had had a great career. He was on the radio as a teenager, then on Broadway, and he appeared in a number of films and television shows before he landed the role we all know him best for. York starred as Darrin Stevens--the "first Darrin"--in 156 episodes of the sitcom Bewitched, which first aired in 1964. But York's stint on the series ended abruptly one day in 1969 when he had a seizure on the set. He had in fact been suffering from chronic back pain during the show's entire run, the result of an injury he sustained while filming the 1959 western They Came to Cordura. The spry Darrin Stevens, who looked the picture of health, often had to be helped on and off the set.

The seizure effectively marked the end of York's show business career. While still in the hospital he resigned from the series. He subsequently became addicted to painkillers, ballooned to more than 300 pounds, and lost all but two of his teeth. Money was scarce enough that paying the rent was a hardship. But by the mid-1980s things were looking up. He'd overcome his addiction, lost 150 pounds, bought some false teeth, and gotten a few acting roles. Then, in the spring of 1986, he was diagnosed with emphysema. He died in 1992 at the age of 63.

In August of 1985, with rent coming due and having no way to pay it, York settled on the implausible scheme of raising the money by writing his autobiography. In nine days. Actually, he didn't "write" anything. On August 20th--between 3:30 and 6:00 in the morning, he tells us--York began dictating his memoir into a tape recorder. Finishing the book of course took him longer than nine days: his final chapter was dictated on September 6th.

The product of York's feverish burst of creativity is an unusual book. York tell the story of his life in a series of vignettes--growing up in the Chicago slums, falling in love with his wife, overcoming his addiction. There are stories about his parents and grandmother, his children, about his Huckleberry Finnish cousin, who did something I wouldn't have thought possible while walking with York one summer. He writes about Gene Kelly and Gary Cooper and Van Johnson:

"But at this point Van's an actor and has been an actor for a long time and dances very little, except in his heart, where he lives.

"We're in the lobby of this hotel and it is my birthday, only I'm in Holland and they're at home. The people who Van loves and who love him, they're at home and he's in Holland. We're sitting in the lobby and I'm reading him the letter I've received from Kim, age four-and-a-half years old. It says, 'Dear Daddy. From out of my pocket I send you all the love I have. And you know what important things I keep in my pocket. Love, Kimmy. Kisses kisses kisses.' Joey adds, 'She wrote this all by herself. I love you, darling.'

"Van Johnson is crying in a hotel lobby with his friend Dick York. They are both about nine years old."

There is very little about acting or show business. There is a great deal about his wife, Joey, the star around whom his life orbited.

York was an excellent storyteller. These vignettes are moving, sometimes surprising, and very well-written. Wrapped around them are some strange bits--conversations between York and his wife written in dialogue form, York chatting with his alternate self, imaginary audience members commenting on his work. It doesn't all make sense, but most of it does.

In addition to its individual parts being well-composed, York has managed to bind the narrative into a cohesive whole with threads that drift in and out of his reminiscences. Considering York's method of composition, this is remarkable: the book in no way reads like something that was dashed off. It is thoughtfully constructed, honest, rich. (It is unclear how much editing the book underwent after the first draft was dictated, but the implication is that there wasn't much done to the text.)

Dick York did not have an easy life. He lived in poverty for a good part of it, both as a child and in his post-Bewitched years. He lived with chronic back pain for decades. He died too young. Knowing this, one understands, upon entering the book, that York's story will be a tragedy. Except....

Except that York had parents who walked from the South Side of Chicago to the North Side in the winter of 1936 to bring him oranges in the hospital. He had a house brimming with children and a wife whom he never stopped adoring. He had friends who came through when it mattered. And he believed--despite all evidence to the contrary--that the world is the sort of place where miracles happen when you need them.

So I think that maybe Dick York was among the happiest of men.

A classy book by a loving man
Most actors writing their own books are not nearly as revealing as Dick York is in "The Seesaw Girl and Me".He doesn't shy away from his turmoils--some brought on by himself.But he doesn't shy away from life either.He comes across as a good, kind and loving man--yes a bit frenetic--but overall a man who sees beauty in all especially his seesaw girl and life partner Joan York.I loved reading their story.

One of the sweetest, most wonderful books I've ever read!
If you're a Bewitched fan, this book really isn't chock full of behind the scenes Bewitched stuff. Dick does tell us the story of the day he met Elizabeth Montgomery, and he makes a few references here and there to the last day on the show or something else about it, but its basically not about Bewitched.

Instead, this is a fantastic opportunity to literally be in the same room with Dick York and listen to him (and maybe even talk back sometimes) as he tells us all about some of the memorable things that happened in his life up until the point that the book was written. He was 56 then. He did this in 1985, and he died in 1992.

He dictated this book into a tape recorder and it has a wonderful feeling like he's talking to you like a friend would. He tells you many stories; some happy and some sad and some made up. He doesn't go on and on with a "whoa is me" attitude. He makes light of most of the hardships he's had. He manages to tell any of the sad stories without making us stop and cry each time.

I actually lost it when I read the part where he was having an imaginary conversation with a fireplug on the street about why he resumed smoking after being smoke free for over a year. I have cried many a tear about his senseless death to emphysema before, but to think he might still be with us today if he had remained quit all those years ago, is more than I could deal with.

Dick York was not just an actor. He was a deep thinking, caring, humanitarian. He was the kind of person this world is in dire need of having more of. He has the overflowing compassion of a Buddhist and an obvious understanding of the interconnectiveness of all life.

In his final few years, on oxygen, struggling to breathe, he used his little remaining time to help others. He helped feed the hungry and cloth the poor with nothing but a pad, pen and telephone. Using his celebrity, he managed to help a lot of people, even though he himself was poor. In fact, this book was done in an effort to pay one month's rent in 1985 when he didn't have it. His selflessness is an inspiration. And so I can't help but cry for him when I think of how he (and so many other good people) have died younger than necessary thanks to tobacco.

What shines through the most is how much he loves his wife and his children. This is a love story above all. In fact, if you're going to cry over anything, it might be his immense love for his wife and family rather than any tragedy he might have endured.

Unlike some autobiographies or biographies which go in direct order of a person's life history, this is nonlinear. Again, its really like sitting with an old friend and listening to his stories. If you read this with his voice in your head, you can really feel like you are just there with him as he jokes and makes light of himself and his life and shares intimate feelings and ideas.

As a bonus, there are some great pictures in the middle of the book. What a gorgeous man he is. His big, dark eyes really reflect the kindness and gentleness within.

This book can be read by somebody who's never even watched Bewitched or heard of him and you would come away feeling like you just got done spending an evening reminiscing with an old friend. Dick York is not one of those untouchable celebrities. He doesn't have Hollywood written all over him. He's just a regular guy who was an actor by profession.

This book is worth every penny and then some. I can't recommend it enough.

An unforgettable experience
I loved the experience of reading this funny, original, and intense book. It made me feel alive. There were surprising insights and emotional discoveries in every chapter. I admire and respect Dick York for being so honest. It's obvious he had a huge heart. The four themes of this book are basic to being human: love, loss, survival, and hope. If any of those themes interest you, I say read this book and live life in Dick York's shoes for a while. You'll be enriched and inspired.

A Rollercoaster Ride
Upon completing the article in Filmfax magazine entitled: Dick York: A Farewell Interview, I could not wait for the entire manuscript of his autobiography to be published. Although I consider York to be among my favorite actors, the man was truly wired and somewhat of a self destruction personality. I grew angry when I read that he did not handle his back problem the way he should have. And upon learning he was suffering from Emphysema, he continued to smoke.

The book was indeed a rollercoaster ride. One must read the book 2 or 3 times to keep up with York's ramblings. It was an interesting read that also gave me a headache at times. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Review of the Above Review
Nina Antonia's book on Johnny Thunders is excellent, she had first hand access to him, he recognized her as his only biographer.Anyone who has to put her book down to recommend another one makes this book - Trash - seem highly suspect to me by association.You do no honor to the excellent memory of Arthur Kane either.No one took the time to write biographies of Johnny or the Dolls for years but Antonia, and your remarks are catty and embarrassing.

Nevertheless, this book is recommended by all fans also with the warning that it contains inaccuracies, and lacks the emotion and affection for its subject that Nina Antonia's books have.

ONE MANS TRASH IS ANOTHER MANS TREASURE!!!!
BY FAR THE BEST BOOK ON SYLVAIN SYLVAIN AND CREW.A GREAT LOOK UP THE DRESS OF THE DOLLS.

The bestNYD Biography so far
This is a dense and thorough yet very readable history of the group. It is more substatial than Nina Antonia's also excellent book "Too Much Too Soon." If you have the time and the desire to learn about the history of the NYD, "Trash" is probably the better choice.

Of course, why should any of us care about the history of the New York Dolls? My answer to this retorical question has to do with my "adult" 46 year old recognition that New York was a fascinating place to be growing up in in the 1970s. Reading either of these histories will almost bring you back to the days when Times Square was not a safe place to visit and there was no sense that anything was going to get better. While risking a knifing to walk from the subway to CBGBs at Bleeker and Bowery had it's downside, remembering the Dolls and the other bands that defined the New York Scene in the 1970s gives me a warm feeling inside. Enjoy the book.

TRASH! The Complete New York DollsBOOK
Great overview and accurate account of this great band. Highly recommended for the Dolls fanatic or novice. Greg Prevost/Outasite

A saga of a flamboyant group
Exclusive interviews with the New York Dolls accompanies a saga of a flamboyant group which set the agenda and sound of 1970s rock. Their gender-bending quintet changed the rock world, fostered punk, and flaunted outrageous extremes. Interviews with the New York Dolls are accompanied by firsthand reminiscences by guitarists and those who knew them well.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch ... Read more

Product Description
Poem titles include With Their Silks, Buckingham Street, City Zen and more. Limited edition of 500. Heavy paper. Printed in Great Britain. ... Read more

Product Description
11x9 ppbd 84pages illustrated cover kids page autograph pg photos stories ... Read more

Book Description
Over 30 books covering individual states!

How to Incorporate and Start a Business in... covers every essential topic you need to understand to start a business right. Protect yourself and your business with expert knowledge provided in this book. The easy-to-follow steps and worksheets guide you through every aspect of incorporation and starting your own business. This book discusses in detail:

Selecting an operating entity-which one is best for you? Learn the pros and cons of each type:
Sole proprietorships
Partnership-general and limited
"S" corporations
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)

The five necessary steps to incorporation-five essential moves you must know and follow:
Choose a name: learn the legal ramifications of this simple step
Prepare the Articles of Incorporation
Write the bylaws
Hold the organizational meeting
Issue the stock

Raising Capital-Avoid costly mistakes and financing pitfalls that leave other business owners behind:
Identify potential investors
Sell stocks, notes, bonds, or convertibles
Borrow money from banks, credit unions, and venture capital firms

Dealing with the law-Legal issues always come up, so be prepared:
Learn how to arm yourself with knowledge
Handle disputes
Tips to keep you out of court

Preparing Contracts and Leases-Learn the tricks of the trade to save you time and money:
Identify the essential elements
Master unique aspects of your business
Negotiate a lease for maximum benefit, minimum risk

Understanding copyrights, trademarks, and patents-How does this apply to you?
Learn how to copyright material
Identify the key elements of a trademark
Navigate the patent process

Mastering your taxes-Save money by following advice outlined in this chapter:
Choose an accounting method
Keep accurate records
Learn what you can deduct, and what you can't

How to Incorporate and Start a Business in... will also each you how to hire the best employees, extend credit to your customer, acquire the proper insurance for your business, and maximize corporate and executive benefits.

Don't be left out in the cold! How to Incorporate and Start a Business in... How to Incorporate and Start a Business in...will guide you past common snares and pitfalls that hamper the efforts of many new business owners. This book contains dozens of profit strategies engineered to maximize your profit and prevent common mistakes. Plus, this book outlines specific laws and procedures you need to be aware of to do business in your state. It's specifically designed for you. How to Incorporate and Start a Business in...is easy to read, informative, and will save your business both time and money. Use its expert advice to get you started and keep you business on the path to success! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Outstanding book - Thank you Mr. Dicks!
I thought forming a corporation would be a major deal after my first consultation with an attorney. Mr. Dicks writes in an easy to undertand way and provides all the forms to get started. When I went back to my attorney, I was armed with the right information and was in control.

Thank you Mr. Dicks! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

This is not a "mountain bike" book!
Do not buy this book if you are looking for mountain bike trails and descriptions of such.This guy likes to tell you every minute detail of the fire roads and dirt roads that he took (including telling you where to stop for a rest, and weather or not to take a right here or a left there, as if you were taking the book with you on the trail!) and tells little to nothing of the single track that these areas may or may not offer.Anyway, the way he describes these back roads and the views from them, you have not need to explore them.

Gnôthi seauton.

Biking this trail can be hazardous to your wallet.
I thumbed through this book at a bike shop in Geneva and shared my storywith the owner there.Briefly stated, let me assure readers that bikerswill be stopped and fined on the Finger Lakes trails.Most or all of themare now clearly marked to prohibit bikes.(This wasn't the case asarecently as three years ago.)Despite the postings and at the invitationof one of the trail workers, I decided to sample about a 1/2 mile stretchthat I had not hiked before at the north end of the Interlokken Trail. Sure enough, there was a ranger at the end of the jaunt who would hearnothing of my protests (an informal okay from one of the workers) andcircumstances (I walked my bike more than half way).After an appeal andfifty fine dollars, I stay clear of the Interlokken Trail, open to horsesbut not to bikes which are deemed to destroy the paths.The headrangerette told me that some of the trails closer to Ithaca may eventuallybe open to bikes, but there is a committee looking into it.However, atpresent the prescribed path is a rapidly travelled road with narrow andsometimes no shoulders (Route 89).

Anyone out there know of legaloff-road places to bike near Auburn, Skaneateles, or environs??

This book tells you to go break the law
Throughout this book, the author suggests riding on the finger Lakes Trail.This is illegal.This book, with such inaccuate information, has put bask the job of bike advocacy back a few steps in NY.Do not buy this book.It is full of inaccurate information, and hurts the cause of getting more trails open to bikes. ... Read more

Product Description
This is one of the most loved Alger stories and one that brought him initial fame. The street urchin Richard Hunter, known as Ragged Dick, lives and sleeps in the streets of New York City. He meets all kinds of people, from kind and helpful to swindlers and thieves. The nineteenth century descriptions of the city are great. ... Read more

Product Description
Souvenir program illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Features: Dorothy Hamill (in a shampoo ad), Linda Fratianne, Jo Jo Starbuck, Ken Shelley, Toller Cranston, Beatrix Loughran, Colleen O'Connor, Jim Millns, Tai Babilonia, Randy Gardner, Charles Tickner, Robin Cousins, Susan Driano, Susan Kalley, Andrew Stroukoff, Vicki Heasley, Robert Wagenhoffer, Katherine Siobhan Healy, Vivi-Anne Hulten, & article by Dick Button. ... Read more