A note to US-based customers: All Lit Up is pausing print orders to the USA until further notice. Read more

When Variety Was King

By (author): Frank Peppiatt

A television producer’s fascinating memoir of the golden age of the variety show

“Full of behind-the-scenes stories . . . For fans of TV history, there’s a gold mine here.” — Booklist

A humble Canadian boy who grew up to create iconic American TV shows featuring the Hollywood celebrities of the day, Frank Peppiatt made his breakthrough by developing the rock TV show Hullabuloo with his partner, John Aylesworth. That led to a writing gig for Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé — and then to the long-running smash hit Hee Haw.

In this autobiography, he recounts a career that spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s, writing comedy and turning entertainers into household names on variety shows hosted by Jackie Gleason, Andy Williams, Judy Garland, Julie Andrews, Sonny and Cher, and Perry Como. This anecdote-filled memoir of a bygone era will enthrall anyone interested in the early decades of television.

Reviews

“For fans of TV history, there’s a gold mine here.” — Booklist
“[These] stories are informative and interesting, especially for those are hooked on celebrities.” — Winnipeg Free Press
When Variety Was King is an enjoyable look back at a long lost TV genre from behind the typewriter of a harried, talented, humble Canadian writer who modestly carved a niche for himself as an unsung hero of the golden age of television, who had a lot of fun and had very few regrets throughout such an impressive showbiz career.” — West End Times

Awards

There are no awards found for this book.
Excerpts & Samples ×

A television producer’s fascinating memoir of the golden age of the variety show

“Full of behind-the-scenes stories . . . For fans of TV history, there’s a gold mine here.” — Booklist

A humble Canadian boy who grew up to create iconic American TV shows featuring the Hollywood celebrities of the day, Frank Peppiatt made his breakthrough by developing the rock TV show Hullabuloo with his partner, John Aylesworth. That led to a writing gig for Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé — and then to the long-running smash hit Hee Haw.

In this autobiography, he recounts a career that spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s, writing comedy and turning entertainers into household names on variety shows hosted by Jackie Gleason, Andy Williams, Judy Garland, Julie Andrews, Sonny and Cher, and Perry Como. This anecdote-filled memoir of a bygone era will enthrall anyone interested in the early decades of television.

Reader Reviews

Details

Dimensions:

300 Pages
9in * 6in *
1.05lb

Published:

April 01, 2013

City of Publication:

Toronto

Country of Publication:

CA

Publisher:

ECW Press

ISBN:

9781770410299

Featured In:

All Books

Language:

eng

No author posts found.

Related Blog Posts

There are no posts with this book.

Other books by Frank Peppiatt