First published 2015
Bob Palmer grew up staring at the HOLLYWOODLAND sign from his bedroom window, dreaming of the movie world beyond. He started as a teenage extra and worked his way into publicity, representing some of Hollywood's biggest names. Palmer formed close friendships with Dick Van Dyke, Anthony Hopkins, Joan Crawford, and Truman Capote while working alongside legends like Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Lana Turner, and John Wayne. He met U.S. Presidents and World War II heroes, earned thanks at the Academy Awards, and believed in his clients more than he believed in himself. But Palmer's career nearly collapsed under the weight of drinking, drugs, and a destructive attitude. Fired repeatedly from publicity jobs, he spiraled into heavy substance abuse before accepting help from fellow industry professionals. Through it all, his marriage to Nancy endured the chaos, impossibility, and unexpected humor of their shared life. This memoir captures the human side of stardom from someone who lived in the background but saw everything up close.
Genres: drama, american-fiction, addiction, 20th-century, memoir, biography-memoir, 21st-century, film
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: rags-to-riches, redemption-arc
Setting: Hollywood, HOLLYWOODLAND
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
162 pages · Paperback · Lolo Barker Press
Content warnings: addiction, substance-abuse