from Funny Face to Eloise

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Hilary Knight Sketches Sam Irvin & Eloise for Vanity Fair Hollywood director Sam Irvin, author of Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise, reads chapter and verse to Eloise, in a charming new illustration by Hilary Knight (who did the drawings for Thompson’s Eloise books). NPR Celebrates Kay Thompson Book Click on the audio link to hear National Public Radio (NPR) host Scott Simon’s interview with author Sam Irvin, featuring excerpts of Kay Thompson songs. New Kay Thompson Biography, Los Angeles Times  In the November 15, 2010, edition of the Los Angeles Times, Susan King devotes her Classic Hollywood column to Kay Thompson, featuring interviews with biographer Sam Irvin, Eloise illustrator Hilary Knight, and entertainer / musicologist Michael Feinstein. Kay Thompson Vs. Patti LuPone, The New Yorker In the November 8, 2010, issue of The New Yorker, journalist Hilton Als and illustrator  Dan Zalkus ponder the similarities between two seemingly disparate showbiz icons. Loulou de la Falaise as Kay Thompson, Vanity Fair In the November 2010 issue of Vanity Fair, editor-at-large Michael Roberts cast Loulou de la Falaise, legendary muse of Yves Saint Laurent, to channel Kay Thompson. Michael Musto Dishes Thompson Bio Highlights In his La Daily Musto blog, Village Voice columnist Michael Musto quotes his favorite anecdotes from Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise.  Kay Thompson Photo Gallery, Los Angeles Times To celebrate the publication of Sam Irvin’sKay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise, the Los Angeles Times created a photo gallery highlighting Thompson’s larger-than-life story. Kay Thompson Biography Endorsed Twice on Turner Classic Movies For Turner Classic Movies’ presentations of Good News, the classic 1947 MGM musical that featured rousing vocal arrangements by Kay Thompson, TCM host Robert Osborne endorsed Sam Irvin’s biography Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise. Original Essay by Sam Irvin at Powells.com Read an original essay by author Sam Irvin about his behind-the-scenes investigative research for Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise, posted exclusively on the Powell’s Books website blog. TV Interview with Sam Irvin, Part 1 TV Interview with Sam Irvin, Part 2 On December 16, 2010, Sam Irvin discussed Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise on Conversations with Gloria Greer, Time Warner Cable’s popular Southern California talk show. Connie Martinson Interviews Sam Irvin, Part 1 Connie Martinson Interviews Sam Irvin, Part 2 On December 7, 2011, Sam Irvin discussed Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise on Connie Martinson Talks Books, broadcast in Southern California on L.A. City View 35 and syndicated throughout the country. Kay Thompson Celebration, Part 1 Kay Thompson Celebration, Part 2 Kay Thompson Celebration, Part 3 On November 9, 2010 – which would have been Kay Thompson’s 101 st  birthday – the publication of Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise was celebrated at NYC’s Barnes & Noble Lincoln Plaza with author Sam Irvin and special guests: Hilary Knight, illustrator of Eloise; nightclub legend Julie Wilson; and Dori Legg & Her Boys performing the “Eloise” song. Video of Sam Irvin’s Presentation at Book Soup On November 3, 2010, Bill Reed captured video  highlights of Sam Irvin’s presentation for Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise at Book Soup in West Hollywood. Kay Thompson on “Best Biographies of 2010” List Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise was among the top thirteen books selected by Kirkus Reviews for its annual list of “The Best Biographies of 2010.” Theatre Library Association Award Finalist Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise was nominated among the ten finalists for books of exceptional scholarship in the field of recorded performance. Thompson Book Makes Deep Dish Year-End Best List Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise was named as one of the Grooviest Books of the Year chosen by Marc Harshbarger for Deep Dish: Groovy Gay Pop Culture. Profile of Author Sam Irvin, Biltmore Beacon Biltmore Beacon journalist Mark Bennett interviews the author of Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise. Thompson Book Ranked No. 1 on Gift Guide List Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise lands at the top o’ the heap on the “All I Want for Christmas… a Cabaret Gift Guide” by Cabaret Confessional. Radio Interview with Hilary Knight, Sam Irvin, and Patty Farmer During Alec Baldwin’s Authors Night 2012 in East Hampton, New York, Bonnie Grice conducted live interviews with many authors for her show on 88.3 WPPB Public Radio. Knight, Irvin and Farmer discuss Eloise, Kay Thompson and the Plaza Hotel during the last third of the broadcast. “No Guts! The Gospel According to Kay Thompson” Newly uncovered Kay Thompson anecdotes by Hart Leavitt and Ned Leavitt, published exclusively on this website with the help and generosity of Hilary Knight Eloise Meets Mr. Magoo How Jim Backus Got His Start in Radio with Kay Thompson. Sidebar essay by Thompson biographer Sam Irvin. "Stop Performing in Slacks!" Sam Irvin exposes Kay Thompson's love/hate relationship with drag impressionists, from Danny Kaye to Lynne Carter. Frank Sinatra as Kay Thompson?! Thompson biographer Sam Irvin examines the troubled making of Howard Hughes’ Two Tickets to Broadway. Rita Hayworth, Kay Thompson and Eloise… Thompson biographer Sam Irvin examines Kay Thompson’s enduring friendship with Rita Hayworth, from Kay’s coaching on Gilda to Rita’s cameo appearance in Eloise at Christmastime. The Rawther Definitive History of the Eloise Doll This archive article by Sam Irvin originally appeared as the cover story of Antique Doll Collector, August 2001. The Kay Thompson / Funny Face Doll… Meet “The Quality Woman,” the official doll of “Maggie Prescott,” editor of Quality magazine, the fashionista Kay Thompson played in Funny Face, sporting three authentic ensembles from the movie.

Liz Smith, wowOwow.com Joanne Kaufman, The Wall Street Journal Patrick McGuire, Chicago Sun-Times Leonard Maltin, Movie Crazy Craig Wilson, USA Today Nora Dunne, The Christian Science Monitor Joe Meyers, Connecticut Post Peter Filichia, Broadway Radio Kirkus Reviews Claire Kelley, [tk] reviews Kathleen Hughes, Booklist Joanne Latimer, Maclean’s Evelyn Renold, AARP Magazine David Marshall James, Yahoo! Shine The Advocate Brent Hartinger, AfterElton.com Steve Weinstein, Edge David Noh, Gay City News Kevin Killian, author of Impossible Princess Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times David Del Valle, Films in Review Steven Suskin, Playbill BroadwayWorld.com Peter Filichia, theatermania.com