Profiles in Curry
Subtitle: A Spicy Variety of Conversations and Stories
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Published: October 2001
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 260
ISBN-13: 9781401011505
Subjects: Biography: general; Editors, Journalists, Publishers; General; Biography & Autobiography; Biography / Autobiography; Biography/Autobiography
Description: If you’ve ever wanted to meet an astronaut, a famous musician or actor or even a wolfman, welcome to “Profiles in Curry, A Spicy Variety of Conversations and Stories.”  Broadcaster and talk show host Biff Jannuzzi spent about 25 years talking to people like Wolfman Jack, Steve Allen, Sonny Bono, Johnnie Cochran Jr. as well as Barry Goldwater and gymnast Cathy Rigby.  In his career his interviews have included the coroner of Munchkinland, the pilot of the B-17 Memphis Belle, country music rockers “Alabama” and one of the first humans to see the far side of the moon, astronaut James Lovell.  Inside you’ll find how the author of “The Perfect Storm” almost found out first hand what it feels like to drown.  You’ll meet a famous stunt pilot who took every safety precaution only to die filming the movie “Top Gun.”  Madeleine Brown will tell you about the son she had with Lyndon Johnson and his words to her the day before JFK was killed.  If you love the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” you’ll love meeting a cast member who knows what happens each time a bell rings.  Karolyn Grimes will also take us behind the scenes for a glimpse of Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant as seen through the eyes of a child.   

    “Profiles in Curry” will introduce you to a woman who walked from her home in California, not to the corner store, but to Chicago.  You’ll meet the man who knows Gomez Addams better than anyone, the creator of the character, character actor John Astin.   

   If you enjoy aviation history you’ll want to know how Memphis Belle pilot Robert Morgan and waist gunner Bill Winchell viewed Hollywood’s portrayal of their World War II experiences.  Winchell tells how he viewed air combat, while Morgan will fill you in on his view of flying and how the United States was truly united during the war.  If your interests are more on the sea than in the air, take to the Atlantic Ocean with World War II German battleship Bismarck survivor Bruno Rzonca as he describes the bodies piled on the ship’s deck and water, red with blood.  He lived to tell Biff Jannuzzi about it as did Lucas Brandolino, who more than ten years later survived the sinking of the cruise ship Andrea Doria.   

    Sonny Bono knew what people first said about him when he went from TV star to congressman.  He talks about that in “Profiles in Curry” as well as how an actor with a character name of “Tattoo” helped convince Bono to leave his show business career, or what was left of it.  Find out too how bureaucracy with a capital “B” drove him into politics. 

    But “Profiles in Curry” does more than let you eavesdrop on conversations with famous or just plain fascinating folks.  In a sometimes serious, sometimes funny and whimsical way, Biff Jannuzzi takes you along on his radio adventure.  He’ll let you know what a reporter goes through to cover a presidential visit, why some folks are all too happy to talk to media and why it’s not a good idea to talk to the person sitting next to you at a murder trial.  He’ll take you inside a Mexican penitentiary and fortunately back out.  Join him and feel the frustration as his station broadcasts a pretty much silent bicycle race on the radio as the racers go ’round, and ‘round, and ‘round…Find how saxophonist David Sanborn feels about those who try to label jazz. You´ll also get a glimpse of a national political figure who used to travel the long roads of Wyoming. Before he was Secretary of Defense or Vice President of the United States, Biff Jannuzzi covered then-Congressman Dick Cheney and had him on his talk show. Debunker of psychics James "The Amazing" Randi will tell you about one well-known scam he uncovered at a purported faith healing, while "The Amazing" Kreskin will talk to you about the power of suggestion and why there was nothing magical about that flying table. You can go with Biff Jannuzzi behind the scenes of three television shows and find out what it´s like to be that not so highly regarded, little more than "moving furniture" warm body called an "extra." It´ll give you a better appreciation for that person you see standing or talking behind the main actors, or at least pretending to talk and pretending to hear the music you hear. You´ll also read how one extra, properly used, can actually be more than one person in the same scene. You´ll learn how to tell if your local DJ is live in your city or broadcasting from miles away by satellite. "Profiles in Curry" will take you inside the studios of legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey where you can watch him work up close. "Profiles in Curry, A Spicy Variety of Conversations and Stories" is the story of a man on a radio quest, traveling the country following his bliss, pulling a U-Haul trailer along the way. You can come too, if you chip in for gas.