Who has read Barbara's book?

[CAJeannieFan57]

Anyone read any or all of it and want to comment?

[catlover79]

Me!! I thought it was very sweet. Barbara is a class act.

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...although it's going to cost me an overdue library fine, it's worth it!!!!

The incident that Barbara mentioned about the "one piece bathing suit" (she referred to it as a "two piece bathing suit" on "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT") while being pregnant happened during production of the "JEANNIE" episode "Whatever Became of Baby Custer?" [11/27/65], the last to be filmed before she took her "pregnancy break" in the summer of '65. In the actual episode, the red one piece bathing suit {and I know it's the wrong color in the "colorized" version} she wore was somewhat camouflaged by her resting, on her stomach, on a "floating" beach towel (in an opening long shot, her stand-in, Evelyn Moriarity, doubled for her on the towel). That's also one of the early episodes where some of her dialogue had to be re-dubbed at the end because "test viewers" claimed Jeannie sounded too "defiant" towards "Master", and Barbara had to "soften" her attitude {the lines in question- "Do not bother me, I am choosing a new planet! I will not stay where I am not wanted....I will find a master up there, who does not hate blondes!"}.


I would have loved to read some of Barbara's reminisces about the "condensed" 90 minute version of "Kismet" she taped for ABC in October 1967 (she was "Lalume"). Most people who've seen the black and white kinescope excerpt of her doing the "Not Since Nineveh" number from that production on YouTube have virtually the same opinion- "Wow! I didn't know she could sing and dance THAT well!!". And maybe a little about the two TV pilots she filmed in the early '70s, "THE BARBARA EDEN SHOW" and "TOY GAME".


It's still a great book!

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

That's also one of the early episodes where some of her dialogue had to be re-dubbed at the end because "test viewers" claimed Jeannie sounded too "defiant" towards "Master", and Barbara had to "soften" her attitude {the lines in question- "Do not bother me, I am choosing a new planet! I will not stay where I am not wanted....I will find a master up there, who does not hate blondes!"}.

I wonder how many of those same "viewers" would be caught up in the Women's Lib movement a few years later?

[Celeste.]

i got the book out of the library & loved it!
It was great reading all about her life, the chapter about her son was so sad though.

[catlover79]

It was terribly sad about her son, and also the stillbirth of her second child in 1971.

[ansara1]

Originally Posted by CAJeannieFan57

Anyone read any or all of it and want to comment?

Well, to be honest I have been very pleasently surprised! I love Barbara and have always been a big fan but normally she tells the SAME stories on interviews. Knowing how nice she always is I expected her to tell the same "nice" and cute stories about her bellybutton, Larry and the lion during the first season, etc. To my great surprise and honestly.... shock - I was entranced by her stories of Larry's antics on set with the nuns visiting the set and his swinging an axe, what he said in the limosouine on the first day of shooting the pilot of I Dream of Jeannie during the ride back from filming the beach scene, and the specifics of what he did to Sammy Davis Jr. when he guest starred as well as his treatment toward Milton Berle (or most ANY big name male guest star he thought would "steal the show" from him). It was also interesting to hear Barbara finally reveal the star who treated her less than kindly on her TV show when Barbara made a guest appearance (she usually tells she was terrified to go on I Love Lucy after this experience but was pleasently surprised at how KIND Lucy was when she was her guest). She finally tells that first bad experience she had was with Ann Southern when she guest starred on her TV show! Her stories about meeting JFK, Marilyn Monroe, her second husband's verbal abuse, etc. were fascinating (some parts heart breaking of course - but fascinating!). I was also glad that she finally responded to Sally Field's tasteless story of when Barbara was singing in the makeup room early in the morning. By the way - in her account in the book Barbara NEVER ONCE EVEN mentiones Elizabeth Montgomery AT ALL (it always bothered me that Sally said that Elizabeth made the comments regarding Barbara's singing. Sally states Elizabeth said, "Doesn't she ever shut up." Sally also told the story on more than one talk show with Barbara not there (of course) AND worse - AFTER Elizabeth had died). In the book, Barbara explaines that she was rehearsing her songs she was doing in her Las Vegas act (in-between filming I Dream of Jeannie) whenever she had a free moment. She said in her book something to the effect, "It has come to my attention that Sally Field has gone on talk shows complaining of my singing in the makeup room we shared in the mornings at the Screen Gems lot. Sorry Sally - had you told me it bothered you that much I would have sang in the shower!" I thought Barbara handled it perfectly! She addressed it but sort of answered in a sort an off the cuff, joking manner. My only concern about the book is if the comments Barbara made in it concerning Larry will affect she and Larry's friendship. She counters the "colorful" stories very nicely (and genuinly I think) by repeately stating how great of an actor AND person Larry is as well as her making clear that Larry has already spoken himself about having problems and being unhappy (or troubled) during that period of his life before this book ever came out. Does anyone think this will negatively impact their friendship? I hope not - I certainly don't think Barbara meant to insult or be disrespectful towards him but was just telling it like it happened. Again - any thoughts????

[BarbaraEdenFan]

Just curious but is her stand in on "Jeannie" really Evelyn? I know Evelyn was Barbara's stand in the late 1950s and early 1960s but I have seen photos of her stand in and I do not think it is Evelyn. Evelyn was much older and she had a much different nose, compared to the photos I have seen of Barbara's stand in.
Also in later seasons I have seen photos of Barbara's stand in girls that are even younger then Ms. Eden...

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...although it's going to cost me an overdue library fine, it's worth it!!!!

The incident that Barbara mentioned about the "one piece bathing suit" (she referred to it as a "two piece bathing suit" on "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT") while being pregnant happened during production of the "JEANNIE" episode "Whatever Became of Baby Custer?" [11/27/65], the last to be filmed before she took her "pregnancy break" in the summer of '65. In the actual episode, the red one piece bathing suit {and I know it's the wrong color in the "colorized" version} she wore was somewhat camouflaged by her resting, on her stomach, on a "floating" beach towel (in an opening long shot, her stand-in, Evelyn Moriarity, doubled for her on the towel). That's also one of the early episodes where some of her dialogue had to be re-dubbed at the end because "test viewers" claimed Jeannie sounded too "defiant" towards "Master", and Barbara had to "soften" her attitude {the lines in question- "Do not bother me, I am choosing a new planet! I will not stay where I am not wanted....I will find a master up there, who does not hate blondes!"}.


I would have loved to read some of Barbara's reminisces about the "condensed" 90 minute version of "Kismet" she taped for ABC in October 1967 (she was "Lalume"). Most people who've seen the black and white kinescope excerpt of her doing the "Not Since Nineveh" number from that production on YouTube have virtually the same opinion- "Wow! I didn't know she could sing and dance THAT well!!". And maybe a little about the two TV pilots she filmed in the early '70s, "THE BARBARA EDEN SHOW" and "TOY GAME".


It's still a great book!

[Leigh Ann]

I kind of want to read it. I've been hearing good things about it!

[CAJeannieFan57]

Originally Posted by BarbaraEdenFan

Just curious but is her stand in on "Jeannie" really Evelyn?
Also in later seasons I have seen photos of Barbara's stand in girls that are even younger then Ms. Eden...

Everything in Barbara's book indicated that "Evvie" was Barbara's stand-in through IDOJ. This was also confirmed by Richard D. Barnes, author of a great book called Diary of a Jeannie.



Donna

[old grouch]

I just finished reading this book and thought it was very good. Barbara seems like a fun person. The part about Matthew's addiction and death was hard to read, though.

[Bronson]

I also read her book and it was nice. As for Sally Field, its sounds like she was a petty person. To repeat this story when the one person who can retute or confirm it as since passed away is pretty bad and unnecessary.

[Fallon97]

I have also read the book. It was definitely an interesting read. Barbara Eden seems like a really fun and classy lady.

[Schmoopie]

I know this thread is old but thank you for the reminder that she'd written a book. I need to put it on my list.

[Chocolate Moose]

Are we discussing Out of the Bottle or My Story?