The Golden Ham: A Candid Biography Of Jackie Gleason Paperback – 15 Oct. 2011

I chose to read this book, because I bought Burt Reynolds' and Sally Field's books and was going through a, I suppose one could call it, a Smokey and the Bandit phase. I had the Reynolds book, found the Sally Fields one, tried looking for a biography of Jerry Reed, which I couldn't find one, which led me to this one on Jackie Gleason. Nothing needs changing to this script, but this biography only covers 1916-54, what it needs, if it hasn't already been done, is for someone in the same style to cover the years 1955-87. It is an excellent biography and it deserves its 4 stars.

Simply and by far the best book on Jackie Gleason ever written. You feel you’re living every moment intimately in his circle. Filled with honesty, the ugly and the beautiful. Although it leaves off in 1955 (time of publication), no contemporary book, even Bacon’s, will have you feeling a deeper connection and understanding of Jackie Gleason than this one. Just finished it, and impulse is to go right back to page one. A great book deserving of “The Great One.”

Gleason waived all rights to change anything in the book. He didn't and it is a very true, personal book.He is everything they say about him...but he was a genius..and everything was HIM.Loved it.

Very good portrait of the man on his way up. He seems to live by the Honeymooner's phrase "Be kind to the people you meet on the way up....'cause they're gonna be the same people you meet on the way down". As a kid, starting out, he bet that he was gonna be bigger than Berle, but when he got his own television show he sent a suitcase of clothes to a club he worked in just in case he needed to be there again "on the way down". The only problem I have for this book is the fact that it had many typos.

I was disappointed with where the book ended. I was really wanting to find out more about his love life and the latter years of his life. It basically stopped when his career was taking off. His personal life was in shambles and there are so many questions left unanswered. He was a genius in comedy, music, film, and many other venues. Why didn't Bishop wrote an addendum to his book. Also what happened to Gen and his daughters? Why did he marry someone other than Marilyn before he married her? I will be searching for more info elsewhere.

Love the biography. I'm a huge fan of Jackie Gleason. The Honey Mooners aired nightly in NYC at 11:30 years ago and I never missed the show. I was aware of his musical talents but did not know the albums were so popular or that he had such a struggle getting them produced. I have two of his albums. I'm glad it was bout his earlier life and ended where it did even though it was melancholy. But the was his life. Very good read.