Book Review: Martha Raye: Film and Television Clown.

So much is written on some, and too little is written about others. This is why we excitedly welcome a book on the great entertainer Martha Raye, covering her life and her work with insight and detail.

Author David C. Tucker weaves us through the story of Martha’s early life, her initial forays into show business, her success on stage, in movies, and on television, and her triumphant entertaining of the troops along with friend Bob Hope. But we also gain insight into the person beneath the performer, one whose cheerful enthusiasm often masked lonliness and unhappiness. Her story concludes with her odd marriage to the much younger Mark Harris, whom she met in the 1990s when she was frail and in need of company.

While we are learning more about Martha the person and the performer, we are also offered an interesting look at showbiz history, as Martha had been active for decades and over different social eras. And with the unhappiness of failed marriages, being fired from her TV show, and estranged from her daughter, we also read about her massive popularity in movies, and her dedication to servicemen to the very end.

The end of her life was sad. Health problems resulted in amputations of both legs, lawsuits against everyone from Bette Midler to David Letterman abounded. But as her life closes peacefully, her legacy is then discussed with a complete filmography including her television appearances. Not merely a reference portion, author Tucker offers an analysis of each movie and TV show, giving us further insights into Martha Raye’s far reaching impact.

Martha Raye worked with W.C. Fields, Abbott and Costello, Bob Hope and others in performances that continue to resonate with excitement and humor to this day. She is one of the most beloved entertainers of the 20th century, and this welcome book is most highly recommended for libraries, research centers, and fans.

The book is available here.