Maltin's and Bann's book....

[classixrbest]

I'm just curious.... who here has read it?

I'll have to admit... I have read that book until it fell apart. Literally. ;D

[rascalwatcher]

I wore out several copies of it and had to buy new. I have the 1992 version, and would purchase an updated copy if one were published.

[bigears]

I have this book, too. It has a lot of information, not only about the Gang but about Hollywood history in general. I wish Maltin and Bann would publish an updated version.

[RJH]

This book is one of the very few impulse purchases I made in my life. I saw it in a bookstore, starting reading it, and had to buy it. I didn't know anything about the silent era before that. The book is mostly fallen apart, but I have been hoping Maltin and Bann would write an updated version, with corrections as noted in theluckycorner.com website.

[mickeygubitosifan]

Most bookstores near where I live don't seem to carry this book in-store, though they can order it. I haven't taken the time to purchase a copy by that method yet, though I definitely will eventually. It's just too indispensable a resource for Our Gang fans not to have at their fingertips.

[bigears]

Amazon has it, I think. That's where I got mine.

[booklover]

It's awesome! How can any Rascals fan not love it? First discovered it in my school library when I was in junior-high. I remember being floored that there were actual silent Rascals comedies, and bummed out that so many of the performers died so young. Several years before the revised edition came out, I wrote to Maltin, practically begging him to update the book and explaining why it needed to be updated (as if he didn't know already!). He wrote me a very nice letter (which I still have), agreeing with me and explaining that he just didn't have the time to get it done, and that if he did revise it, he would have to get together with co-writer Richard Bann. I think he was implying that they had different schedules/priorities and would have to find a way to work on it together.
Not long after the Buckwheat imposter incident, a friend who was in the know told me that Maltin and Bann were planning on updating the book. We both agreed that the whole 20/20 fiasco was what finally pushed the two writers to say, "We've got to get this thing done, already!"

[myhomeo]

First read a relative's copy in junior high, then special-ordered a library copy, then finally got my own, which I then exchanged for the most recent update several years ago. Wonderful book, rarely shelved in my apartment because I'm always pulling it out to either read something I remembered or to look something up, then taking forever to put it back.

Kinda wish Bann and Maltin (or someone) would do a book about other kid-series or child stars. It's so hard to find good, reliable data on 'em and looking for it on the Internet tends to take a turn for the creepy if you're not careful ("Hey, why do they have all these pictures of Jon Provost with his shirt off?").

[rascalstooge]

I've had it since 2001, not long after AMC started showing the films. I'd like to see more books on LR/OG.

[collibosher]

I know it wouldn't be a best seller, but for the sake of history alone, I'd like to see the book updated.

The internet era's instant access to to genealogy and public records has exposed a number of errors that should be corrected. Even Harry Spear was eventually found hiding behind a door in San Diego, and Chubby's long overdue headstone has his correct year of birth on it.

As all but a few of the featured kids have now since died, it would also be nice to have complete histories of their lives in the book.