Virtual: A Real Life Love Story From Hollywood's Golden Age

 

On Tuesday May 25th at 6 pm, author Victoria Riskin will join us on Zoom to discuss her recent book Fay Wray and Robert Riskin: A Hollywood Memoir. A love story, memoir, and dual biography of two of Hollywood’s most famous figures, this book explores the fascinating lives of two exceptionally talented people at the center of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Author Vicki Riskin, who is the daughter of Fay Wray and Robert Riskin, will be interviewed by personality Arnie Reisman for what is sure to be most entertaining evening.  

Fay Wray (1907–2004) enjoyed a long, sterling career, but achieved cinematic immortality for her role in King Kong (1933). Robert Riskin (1897–1955) was an Academy Award-winning writer and producer whose collaboration with Frank Capra yielded films such as It Happened One Night (1934) and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), among many others. In this moving and masterful work, Wray and Riskin’s daughter interweaves the story of their lives and connects them to one of the most interesting periods in Hollywood history. At the heart of this biography is a great love story, backed by a cast of characters that includes the greatest stars, filmmakers, screenwriters, and moguls of the era. Readers should not miss this touching and highly acclaimed book. 

Author Victoria Riskin adapted Willa Cather’s My Ántonia for television and was a producer of Carson McCullers’s The Member of the Wedding as well as The Last Best Year, based on her years as a psychologist. Riskin was president of the Writers Guild of America West and served for twelve years on the Board of Directors of Human Rights Watch. She lives on Martha’s Vineyard with her husband, the writer David W. Rintels.

Arnie Reisman started as a print journalist, and moved into radio, TV, and film (acting, directing, and producing). He recently added playwright and poet (and Martha’s Vineyard poet laureate) to his résumé.  Both Reisman and his wife Paula Lyons have been mainstays on Says You!, a wacky national radio quiz show slated for its 20th season.