A number of former Oscar-nominees and screen legends are now proud owners of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. In the last 72 hours, a flurry of Hollywood’s elite have received an autographed copy of my book. What an exciting turn of events!

On Thursday, during a press conference promoting October’s 13th annual Latino Book and Family Festival, EDWARD JAMES OLMOS accepted his paperback. Olmos was nominated for Best Actor for his role as teacher Jaime Escalante in the outstanding film Stand and Deliver in 1988. He also appeared in Zoot Suit, American Me, Mi Familia, and Selena. The distinguished actor had a starring role in television’s Miami Vice.

On Saturday, Republic Pictures celebrated their 75th Anniversary at the CBS Media Center in Studio City.

Among the famous attendees who now own a copy of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History:

HUGH O’BRIAN - Best known for his title role on television’s The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. Discovered by Ida Lupino in the mid-1940’s, O’Brian has had roles in There’s No Business Like Show Business, In Harm’s Way, and The Shootist (John Wayne’s final picture). O’Brian was inducted into the Western Performer’s Hall of Fame in 1992. The actor has dedicated much of his life to the non-profit Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY). The venture is an innovative developmental program inspired in 1958 by a nine-day visit O’Brian had with famed humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa.  Schweitzer believed the most important thing in education was to teach young people to think for themselves.

JANE WITHERS - One of the best-loved child stars of the 1930’s (behind Shirley Temple, Mickey Rooney, and Judy Garland), Withers was a darling at Fox Studios. She appeared in Bright Eyes and The Farmer Takes A Wife (with Henry Fonda). As an adult, Withers was cast in Giant and Captain Newman, M.D. Today’s television audience best remembers her in  classic Comet ads. She played Josephine the Plummer for almost two decades.

THEODORE BIKEL - A very special character actor who has appeared in a number of A-List films. Bikel had a comedic part in his first movie The African Queen, which starred Humphrey Bogart (in his Oscar-winning performance) and Katharine Hepburn. He co-starred with Susan Hayward in I Want to Live (her Oscar-winning turn). Bikel appeared in the Best Picture of 1964 - My Fair Lady. In between, he was cast in Moulin Rouge, The Pride and the Passion (with Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, and Frank Sinatra), and The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming. In 1958, Bikel earned a well-deserved Academy Award nomination for playing a fair minded Southern sheriff in the important Civil Rights-themed motion picture The Defiant Ones. This movie featured Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier. On stage, Bikel also starred opposite Vivian Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire. Leigh repeated the role on screen (winning her 2nd Oscar in 1951).

I’m truly honored to have my work in the hands of these extraordinary individuals.