Book Review: Of All the Gin Joints: Stumbling Through Hollywood History by Mark Bailey (2014)
Synopsis: Ever since movies became a form of entertainment, alcohol has been part of film history. In some cases, it has even been the cause of film history. This non-fiction book, which is illustrated by Edward Hemingway, shares drinking stories involving Hollywood actors, the places they frequented and even recipes for their favorite drinks.
Review: As someone who loves classic, black-and-white films, I have taken a real interest in Hollywood history and the behind-the-scenes stuff that didn't necessarily make it into the newspapers when they happened. That's why, when I came across Of All the Gin Joints at my library, I decided it was worth taking the time to read.
I finished it this morning and am pleased to say I made a good reading choice.
There were a few things I found I liked about this book. One of them was the variety of actors, writers, producers, etc. that the stories were about. It was a good mix of well-known names and people I honestly had never heard about before but now would like to know more. I learned a lot about some of Hollywood's players I didn't already know and there was a surprising amount of information that didn't even have anything to do with alcohol.
The drinking stories themselves had a nice balance of funny and sad. For example, there were some humorous and entertaining tales about a famous actor's binge drinking escapade with a stuffed panda and a studio executive who tried to ruin a famous boozing actor's career by loaning him to rival film company only to have him star in an Oscar-winning movie. At the same time, there were stories that were more somber, discussing the dark side of alcohol and how it ruined certain careers and even took lives.
In other words, it was a book that covered all angles but had just enough happy stories to keep it from getting too dark.
While the actors' stories were interesting, I found I was even more entertained by the histories of multiple well-known drinking establishments. I liked how the author covered their stories as well, starting with who owned them, why they were popular and what happened to them - the last one including everything from the business still being around to now being a school or strip mall.
I don't personally drink but my wife does on occasion and sometimes likes to experiment with something new, so I also took note of some of the celebrity-inspired drink recipes that were shared. Some of them seemed a bit too complicated or bizarre but I did find a few I think she would like and may order one or more for her the next time we go out (or just buy the ingredients and make it at home).
Final Opinion: This was an entertaining and educational read. If you like celebrity gossip, history or just drinking, this is a book that is worth taking the time to read.
My Grade: A
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Here are some reviews of other Hollywood-related books:
Book Review: Inventing the It Girl by Hilary A. Hallett (2022)
Book Review: I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (2022)
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