“Crane: Sex, Celebrity, and My Father’s Unsolved Murder”
We have Four Books to Giveaway this Month!
CMH is happy to announce our next Classic Movie Book Giveaway as part of our partnership with University Press of Kentucky! This time, we’ll be giving away FOUR COPIES of “Sex, Celebrity, and My Father’s Unsolved Murder” by Robert Crane (and Christoper Fryer).
And — please join us on Aug 22nd for our next Screen Classics Discussion Video Series Event with University Press of Kentucky and co-host Aurora from Once Upon a Screen, in which author Robert Crane will be discussing the book! It will be a live Facebook Chat, so you’ll be able to comment and ask questions!
In the meantime, please don’t forget to check out our other author discussions in the series, embedded for your convenience way down near the bottom of this post: “Jayne Mansfield: The Girl Couldn’t Help It,” “Vitagraph: America’s First Great Motion Picture Studio,” “Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend” and “Growing Up Hollywood”.
…..
In order to qualify to win this book via this contest giveaway, you must complete the below entry task by Saturday, August 28 at 6PM EST. Winners will be chosen via random drawings.
We will announce our four lucky winners on Twitter @ClassicMovieHub on Sunday, August 29, around 9PM EST. And, please note that you don’t have to have a Twitter account to enter; just see below for the details.
To recap, there will be FOUR WINNERS, chosen by random, all to be announced on August 1st.
…..
And now on to the contest!
ENTRY TASK (2-parts) to be completed by Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 6PM EST
1) Answer the below question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog post
2) Then TWEET (not DM) the following message*:
Just entered to win the “Crane: Sex, Celebrity and My Father’s Unsolved Murder” #BookGiveaway courtesy of @KentuckyPress & @ClassicMovieHub – #EnterToWin http://www.classicmoviehub.com/blog/crane-sex-celebrity-and-my-fathers-unsolved-murder-book-giveaway-august/
THE QUESTION:
In addition to starring in Hogan’s Heroes, Bob Crane also played Dr. Kelsy on The Donna Reed Show, and also had his own self-titled show. What is your favorite Bob Crane role and why? And, if you’re not familiar with his work, why do you want to win this book?
*If you do not have a Twitter account, you can still enter the contest by simply answering the above question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog — BUT PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ADD THIS VERBIAGE TO YOUR ANSWER: I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
NOTE: if for any reason you encounter a problem commenting here on this blog, please feel free to tweet or DM us, or send an email to clas…@gmail.com and we will be happy to create the entry for you.
ALSO: Please allow us 48 hours to approve your comments. Sorry about that, but we are being overwhelmed with spam, and must sort through 100s of comments…
…..
If you missed our other chats in the Screen Classics Discussion Series, you can catch them on Facebook and YouTube:
Jayne Mansfield: The Girl Couldn’t Help It — with Author Eve Golden
Vitagraph: America’s First Great Motion Picture Studio – with Author Andrew Erish:
…..
Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend – with Author Christina Rice:
…..
Growing Up Hollywood with Victoria Riskin and William Wellman Jr:
…..
About the Book: On June 29, 1978, Bob Crane, known to Hogan’s Heroes fans as Colonel Hogan, was discovered brutally murdered in his Scottsdale, Arizona, apartment. His eldest son, Robert Crane, was called to the crime scene. In this poignant memoir, Robert Crane discusses that terrible day and how he has lived with the unsolved murder of his father. But this storyline is just one thread in his tale of growing up in Los Angeles, his struggles to reconcile the good and sordid sides of his celebrity father, and his own fascinating life. Crane began his career writing for Oui magazine and spent many years interviewing celebrities for Playboy―stars such as Chevy Chase, Bruce Dern, Joan Rivers, and even Koko the signing gorilla. As a result of a raucous encounter with the cast of Canada’s SCTV, he found himself shelving his notepad and tape recorder to enter the employ of John Candy―first as an on-again, off-again publicist; then as a full-time assistant, confidant, screenwriter, and producer; and finally as one of Candy’s pallbearers. Through disappointment, loss, and heartbreak, Crane’s humor and perseverance shine. Beyond the big stars and behind-the-scenes revelations, this riveting account of death, survival, and renewal in the shadow of the Hollywood sign makes a profound statement about the desire for love and permanence in a life where those things continually slip away. By turns shocking and uplifting, Crane is an unforgettable and deeply human story.
Click here for the full contest rules.
Please note that only United States (excluding the territory of Puerto Rico) and Canada entrants are eligible.
Good Luck!
And if you can’t wait to win the book, you can purchase them on amazon by clicking below:
…..
–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub
,
I got to see Bob in reruns on The Donna Reed show. It was a completely different roll than Colonel Hogan.
In Hogan’s Heroes , Bob was the Ring Leader amongst the POWs of Stalag 13.
A precursor to Mash. His timing was great and the stellar cast fed off each other. Bob was a comic genius , and I am sure , he and Richard Dawson were unscripted and adlibbed.
I saw the Movie about Bob Autofocus with Greg Kinear. I am saddened for Bob’s Kids that his murder was never solved.
I’d love to win this book to learn who Bob was from his son’s view.
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
I liked HOGAN’S HEROES and I’m old enough to remember reading the newspaper stories about Bob Crane’s sad death and the fruitless search for his murderer. I’m interested in learning more about his life and his death.
My favorite Bob Crane roles were Gus and Super Bad because they both were Walt Disney Productions. Gus was his last movie before his death
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
I loved Bob Crane in Hogan’s Heroes. His comic timing and sarcastic humor were both pretty rare in that era of television sitcoms. His untimely death has always intrigued me, and I would love to have this book to see any new insights to the incident.
My favorite role of Bob Crane was of Colonel Hogan! It seems that many of the scripts were tailor-made for Crane; the role fit his personality like a glove. It is also nice to know that he was a Connecticut native, like myself!
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
Hogan’s Heroes was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid and Bob Crane was a big part of that. No matter what else I saw him in I know that would still be my favorite role.
Thanks.
Hogan’s Heroes, by far, is my chief Bob Crane featured vehicle. He played the hero with insouciant sass – I admired his style. He never suffered from second-guessing himself. A I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
I’d really love to win and read this book about Bob Crane. Colonel Hogan is a terrific iconic role but I also loved him on The Donna Reed show as Dr. Kelsey.
Needless to say his story is bound to be s super interesting read!
Hogan’s Heroes
Its Hogan’s heroes, because he is so very funny and his character is very great and amazing, also I think he personally was loved by everyone he worked with.
Hogan is obviously his signature role. Watched it frequently in my childhood, followed the scandal. Would like the whole story.
I enjoyed Gus as a little kid, but I wouldn’t have known Bob Crane when I was six. The obvious answer for me is Hogan’s Heroes, which I watched many times growing up. He was perfect as the clever and funny hero on that series.
My favorite role of Bob Crane’s is Charlie in SuperDad. I saw this movie on my “first date” in 8th grade. 🙂
Several years ago I was stuck in traffic (very late) at night after work and his son was on a radio talk show. His stories were so fascinating I didn’t mind the wait! I didn’t know he had written this book until now. I’d really love to read it.
The only role I believe I could comment on would be Colonel Hogan; can’t recall seeing him in anything else… Always willing to learn something new!
I liked Superdad, but he was great in the guest appearance he made on The Lucy Show.
I watched Hogan’s Heroes first run; but it was imprinted in my brain by watching reruns after school, before dinner. So, I have to go with Col. Hogan. That whole cast (Allied and German) was superb.
Still watch “Hogan’s Hero’s” weeknights. They bring back good memories of my younger years. Bob’s passing brought sorrow to my heart…