To be honest, it is rather depressing. Even though it has recipes and tries to keep a light tone, all the stories about the way celebrities have ruined their lives and other people's lives by thir drinking is rather a good deterrent to drinking alcohol! On the other hand, some of the tidbits about the making of movies and places in Hollywood are interesting. I think I will use it as a guide to watching some of the older movies I haven't watched yet. ( )

Of All the Gin Joints, is a Great Look at Hollywood's Underbelly

Of All the Gin Joints by Mark Bailey and Edward Hemmingway immediately caught my attention because the title is from one of my all-time favourite movies. Luckily, I was selected by Library Thing to review the book and I am so thankful to them for the opportunity. Now, I know you’ve all heard the line, ‘I couldn’t put this book down!’ In this case, that is definitely true, but not because I was anxious to find out ‘who did it’ or where a mystery thriller might take me next. No, here you will find yourself compelled to keep turning pages to see what misadventures the next star in the catalogue of stars within the pages has managed to get her or himself into.

From the Silent Screen Era to 1979 (the stars since 1979 would require an encyclopaedia to record their antics and besides, they are just not as much fun) we are taken on a rollercoaster ride in the lives of many people whose names are synonymous with entertainment. Be prepared however, if you thought they were all choirboys and innocent little girls, you are about to have your eyes opened, and opened hard. As a great addition to the antidotes, our intrepid writing duo has also included some of the star’s best cocktail recipes as well, along with the aforementioned gin joints.

I never like to quote someone else’s review, but I have to add Walter Kirn’s words from the back cover here: “The perfect cocktail of a book: sweet enough to go down easy, sour enough to cleanse the palate, and strong enough to leave you giddy. When I finished I still wanted more!” That describes it perfectly.

I did attempt, more than once, to count how many of Hollywood’s characters are covered in the pages, but every time I did, something would catch my eye and I’d start to read – losing my place. Suffice it to say, there are LOTS.

Bailey’s terrific writing and Hemmingway’s incredible artwork make this book a must have for anyone who has ever watched a movie and wondered about those people playing the parts or involved in everything else associated with the film. I warn you again though; this one is tough to put down.

Copyright 2014 Daniel L Little www.daniellittle.com ( )

I just couldn't finish this book. Full of gossip and some what cruel stories about drunken Hollywood--it made me feel kind of sad. I think I would have enjoyed the book if they had spent more time on the Hollywood bar scene--over the years. The buildings, the owners, the architecture and less on the salacious stories of the elite of Hollywood. I also expected more of the drink recipes of yore. A disappointment. 1 out of 5 stars. ( )

An entertaining, light read about old Hollywood. Sometimes the stories seemed a little forced to fit in with the alcohol theme and I wished they had been deeper but it was an enjoyable light read. I have not tried any of the cocktail recipes listed but they are on my list to try. ( )

Humphrey Bogart got himself arrested for protecting his drinking buddies, who happened to be a pair of stuffed pandas. Ava Gardner would water-ski to the set of Night of the Iguana holding a towline in one hand and a cocktail in the other. Barely legal Natalie Wood would let Dennis Hopper seduce her if he provided a bathtub full of champagne. Bing Crosby’s ill-mannered antics earned him the nickname “Binge Crosby.” And sweet Mary Pickford stashed liquor in hydrogen peroxide bottles during Prohibition. From the frontier days of silent film up to the wild auteur period of the 1970s, Mark Bailey has pillaged the vaults of Hollywood history and lore to dig up the true—and often surprising—stories of seventy of our most beloved actors, directors, and screenwriters at their most soused.

Bite-size biographies are followed by ribald anecdotes and memorable quotes. If a star had a favorite cocktail, the recipe is included. Films with the most outrageous booze-soaked stories, like Apocalypse Now, From Here to Eternity, and The Misfits, are featured, along with the legendary watering holes of the day (and the recipes for their signature drinks). Edward Hemingway’s portraits complete this spirited look at America’s most iconic silver-screen legends. ( )