Starstruck: Photographs from a Fan

by Michael Musto and Gary Lee Boas

Book Overview

"Remarkable...compulsively absorbing."-- Ken Johnson, The New York Times

"Starstruck unexpectedly celebrates the beauty of the amateur-one whose vocation is not driven by a hunger for money, but by love. The book is a breath of fresh air."--Warren Beatty

"...wildly entertaining...An obligatory purchase for all pop culture collections."--Library Journal

This pop culture classic unearths candid photos of the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0966427254
• ISBN13: 9780966427257
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Dilettante Press
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 8.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

You're going to love it!

Being a star struck fan myself, having taken many photos of my favorites, and having had the good fortune to have my photo taken with many of my favorite stars, many of whom are deceased, I found Gary's book fascinating. It brought back memories and having known Gary personally since 1975, I can vouch for the fact that he is a true, loyal and devoted fan. He and I spent countless hours waiting for favorites including Kate Hepburn when she appeared in Philadelphia theater. Having done so myself, I appreciate all the hours, pleasure and work that Gary put into compiling the photos which grace this book. Celebrity photography can be exciting but also tiring, especially the long hours spent waiting around. Sometimes the bitter winter weather can be a deterrent but even then the fun never goes out of it. So, if you are someone who appreciates the arts and deep down inside harbors dreams of becoming a famous actor, singer, dancer or musician, etc. but the closest you ever came to your dream was meeting the stars, this book is for you. Also, if you are starstruck but never had the time or geographical proximity to see the stars in person, this book is for you, too. Anyway, to all enjoy.

An Extraordinary Life

Like a wildlife photographer patiently waiting for hours in the freezing cold for the first sighting of a rare breed of animal, so has Gary Boas patiently waited for sightings of the most elusive of stars, resulting in once-in-a-lifetime photographs depicting an era where glamour was expected of our most beloved and inspiring movie and stage stars. What separates Gary from the rest of us is his dogged determination to do whatever it takes to meet a celebrity and take the photograph. At first glance, you might think the photos in the book are the work of a "kid with a cheap camera", and you probably wouldn't be far from wrong. Many of the early pictures were taken with a brownie camera when Gary was a teenager. But as he grew older, so did his photographic talent grow. That talent, and the relationships that developed over time with Hollywood and New York celebrities, is what makes Gary and his work so intriguing. You cannot truly appreciate the photographs unless you read the introduction to the book and Gary's biography, and then move on to Gary's personal memories that accompany many of the photographs. That is when you begin to understand that this is the work of an ordinary man living an extraordinary life. Each time I read the book I enjoy it more than the last. This book is a rare piece of celebrity history, and is one that I won't be loaning out to anyone any time soon. This one is mine to keep. Thanks, Gary.

Completely fascinating

I just bought two copies of this and I already need more. This book is an incredible collection of photos, memories and observations that I am grateful the author wanted to share with us.

Starstruck over Starstruck

I love this book! Infact I could not put it down until I had turned every single page and looked at every single picture and read every single "Starstruck" Story. It's a facinating look at the world of celebrity in the 70's and one obssessed fan's photographic and anecdotal record of it all. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is in here. From Liz Taylor to JFK Jr. to Warren Beatty to Richard Nixon. The scope is unbelievable....and the stories, the little glimpses of what life and "stargazing" was like back then really make the book exceptional...seeing Barry Manilow when he was Bette Midler's piano player in the New York bath houses....staking out Gretta Garbo and dancing with Ginger Rodgers...this is the "must have" coffee table book of the century- anyone who picks it up will not be able to put it down. I bought three and gave them away- definitely a hot gift item. And every page is in color! A great pick, I absolutely recommend it.

Even an idiot will understand Boas' genius!

Small-town photographer passionately tracking some of the most beautiful, talented and influential celebrities back in the days of Studio 54! Photographs are sometimes fuzzy, but most have this profoundly artistic quality about them. Anecdotes are at once poignant and hilarious (read the one about Geraldine Page)! Even an idiot would appreciate Boas' genius--he is leading a life that most of us mere mortals can only dream about! Can't wait for further volumes!