NEW KID BOOTS & SPECIAL DELIVERY on DVD
Those two great silent films plus amazing bonus material now available!
NEW EDDIE CANTOR IN PERSON on DVD
Here is a special DVD of the Eddie Cantor one man show. Order your copy now!
WALKING TOUR FEATURES EDDIE
If you take a walking tour of NYC, you will love this special addition. Call 1 800-644-3545 and then selecting 4 and then the pound sign, you will hear something special.
MY LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS & TAKE MY LIFE BACK IN PRINT!
Eddie Cantor's two autobiographies My Life Is In Your Hands (1928) and Take My Life (1957) have been reprinted as one complete volume by Cooper Square Press due to the tenacity of yours truly and your masses of letters. A big thank you to all those who wrote--it just proves that our letters do work! The new printing also includes the additional chapter for the 1928 book written in 1932. Leonard Maltin wrote the foreword. It was a very perceptive Michael Dorr at Cooper Square who made the decision to acquire these very collectable books and make them accessible for today's market. They also include all the photographs utilized in all previous printings. Click here to order your copy. It was nice to be able to bring the good news to Eddie's Take My Life collaborator, Jane Ardmore, who sadly, passed away at 88.
IF YOU KNEW JUDY
Judy Garland impersonates our Eddie doing IF YOU KNEW SUSIE in the BE MY GUEST segment with Donald O'Connor on the new DVD release of THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW Vol. 5 (which also has the legendary Ethel Merman and Barbra Streisand segments!) A must have for all entertainment lovers!
LOST CANTOR SHORT FOUND!
We are thrilled to report that a long lost Paramount short entitled Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic has been located in New Jersey. The film is in excellent condition and shows Eddie in blackface performing three songs on the Rooftop Theater of the New Amsterdam. Now if only we could find Cockeyed News and That Party In Person.
EDDIE INDUCTED INTO CHICAGO'S RADIO HALL OF FAME!
The Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago inducted Eddie Cantor on November 18th . This induction was long overdue and we are very proud that he has his rightful place in radio history. Don't forget he was number one for many years.
Eddie Cantor had a sister! Through the investigative efforts of ECAS member Russell Chase we have found out that Lena Iskowitz was born on June 20th, 1894 but died on August 6th. His mother died in July. We have also concluded that his father was Max Itzkowitz who did indeed pass away as well in March of 1896. Quite a sad beginning for young Eddie.
In the 1900-1919 part of Variety Magazine's 100 Top Stars of the 20th century, Eddie is there among his friends George M. Cohan & Fanny Brice--just where he should be!
The Eddie Cantor Appreciation Society has reprinted the Cantor authored books CAUGHT SHORT and YOO HOO PROSPERITY for 8 bucks a piece--what a deal! Write to them to order.
KINO VIDEO has released a video compilation entitled CALVALCADE OF COMEDY featuring 8 Paramount shorts. GETTING A TICKET, the 1929 sound Cantor short is included. Call Kino to order 1 800 562-3330. By the way, they are considering releasing KID BOOTS and SPECIAL DELIVERY in the future. Tell them you want those films!
SPECIAL LETTER
We have been receiving a great number of wonderful letters about Eddie and how he added so much to people's lives. I'd like to share one of those with you.
As a Black-American female, I have always abhorred the blackface tradition and everything that goes with it. But I have always loved Eddie Cantor.
Even as a child, I thought his movies were hilarious, and Eddie to be a fine actor and a charming and dynamic singer. Unlike Al Jolson, a palpable warmth shines through Eddie's performances.
Over the years, I have read stories of Eddie's humanity, which further seemed to soften the blow, which even Eddie's performances in blackface inevitably bring.
I recently purchased the Eddie penned books, "My Life Is In Your Hands", and "Take My Life". Besides being completely interesting and laugh out loud funny, his books thoroughly indicate Eddie's generosity of spirit, and his deeds, thoughts and actions, were beautiful, and at times, for me, tear inducing.
Although Eddie Cantor was in many ways a performer of his time, he was also lightyears ahead of his time in many important ways.
Eddie Cantor's heart is every bit as enormous as his talent.
Thank You.
Kia