Jump to content

Bob Thomas (reporter)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Entertainment Buff (talk | contribs) at 16:41, 21 September 2009 (→Bibliography: added {{EndMultiCol}}). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Bob Thomas (1922 - ) is an American Hollywood film industry biographer and reporter who has worked for the Associated Press since 1944.

Personal life

Born in San Diego, he grew up in Los Angeles, where his father was a film publicist. He attended UCLA. He lives in Encino with his wife, Patricia. They have three daughters.[1]

Writing career

Thomas made his mark by engaging celebrities in activities that brought out their personalities, whether by measuring their waistline after childbirth (as he did with Betty Grable) or testing just how tall a leading lady needed to be by kissing her himself (as he did with June Haver). Acclaimed as the dean of Hollywood reporters, Bob Thomas has been writing about the movie business for the Associated Press since the days when Hollywood was run by the men who founded it: Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck, Harry Cohn and Louis B. Mayer.

During his long history of reporting for the AP, Thomas authored at least 30 books. Many in the film industry credit his 1969 biography of producer Irving G. Thalberg as sparking their interest in pursuing a career behind the scenes. Other Thomas biographies include Joan Crawford, Marlon Brando, David O. Selznick, Walter Winchell, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Howard Hughes, Abbott & Costello, Walt Disney, and a children's book, Walt Disney: Magician of the Movies.[1]

His biographies on Howard Hughes[2] and Abbott & Costello[3] have been made into television movies.[1]

Bibliography

Template:MultiCol

Nonfiction

  • If I Knew When (with Debbie Reynolds)
  • The Art of Animation
  • The Massie Case (with Peter Packer)
  • King Cohn
  • Thalberg
  • Selznick
  • The Secret Boss of California: The Life and High Times of Art Samish (with Arthur Samish)
  • The Heart of Hollywood
  • Winchell
  • Howard, the Amazing Mr. Hughes (with Noah Dietrich)
  • Marlon: Portrait of the Rebel as an Artist
  • Joan Crawford[1]

| class="col-break " |

  • The Road to Hollywood (with Bob Hope)
  • Bud & Lou: The Abbott and Costello Story
  • The One and Only Bing

Fiction

  • The Flesh Merchants
  • Weekend 33

For Children

  • Walt Disney: Magician of the Movies
  • Donna DeVarona, Gold Medal Winner

Anthology

  • Directors in Action[1]

Template:EndMultiCol

Awards

For contributions to the motion picture industry, Bob Thomas was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6879 Hollywood Boulevard.[4]

In 2009, in recognition of over 60 years of covering the entertainment business for the Associated Press, the Publicists Guild awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Thomas, Bob (1978). Joan Crawford: A Biography. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-67124033-1. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help) (author notes from end jacket cover)
  2. ^ "The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977 TV movie)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  3. ^ "Bud and Lou (1978 TV movie)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  4. ^ "Hollywood Walk of Fame database". HWOF.com.
  5. ^ Cohen, Sandy (Feb. 19, 2009). "AP's Bob Thomas Wins Lifetime Achievement Award". AP, ABC News. Retrieved 4 July 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  • Bob Thomas, Los Angeles Times, Steve Proffitt, March 21, 1999
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Thomas_(reporter)&oldid=315321057"