Dennis McDougal

Three years ago, I signed with Peter Jones Productions as consulting producer on a two-hour PBS documentary based in part on my biography of Otis Chandler, "Privileged Son: Otis Chandler and the Rise and Fall of the L.A. Times Dynasty." "Inventing L.A.: The Chandlers and their Times" which premieres on "American Experience" on Oct. 5, is an ambitious reprise of the generation by generation history of the once-great Los Angeles Times and its publisher who, arguably, created modern day Los Angeles from a pueblo that Gen. Harrison Otis first called home in 1881. The tale tracks the career of the General's son-in-law Harry Chandler, one of the inspirations for Robert Towne's Noah Cross character in the classic L.A. noir film "Chinatown", followed by the quintessential L.A. power couple Norman and Dorothy Buffum Chandler, and culminates in the ascension of their son Otis to the Publisher's Suite in 1960. It's probably just as well that Otis chose to be cremated following his death last year at 78 or he'd be tossing in his grave over what has become of his beloved newspaper.

It's out in stores now. Here's the pre-publication reviews.

FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:

Taking on not just a legendary subject, but a legendarily private subject—refusing biographers and TV personalities, Nicholson prefers “the occasional magazine Q&A or quickie newspaper interview”—author and New York Times film writer McDougal (Privileged Son) has turned out a model biography: exhaustive, full of action, and startlingly illuminating. Nicholson—flamboyant yet guarded, outrageous yet articulate, charming yet polarizing—has marched to his own drummer for 50 years, heading up a parade of celebrated films and famous women, eliciting strong opinions in just about everyone; as such, McDougal presents an engrossing showcase of big films and bigger personalities. Following a modest, fatherless New Jersey childhood, Nicholson set out on a California odyssey that would require stamina, guts and luck, as “eking out a living” in the early sixties gave way to the career-making premier of Easy Rider: “ ‘I had been around long enough to know while sitting in that audience, I had become a movie star.’ ” Los Angeles plays a starring role, giving Nicholson his wild lifestyle, a loyal, eclectic roster of friends and a long-time neighbor in Marlon Brando. Digging up as many roles offstage as on—hardheaded businessman, softhearted friend, master of rude rejoinders, fanatical sports fan and poetic philosopher—McDougal makes Nicholson’s everyday life just as fascinating as his films, which also get considerable, thoughtful attention; in fact, McDougal’s research is so deep and detailed, his extensive chapter notes could make a fine book of their own. (Oct.)

FROM THE LIBRARY JOURNAL:

"Jack Nicholson has the most Oscar nominations in film history, and only Katharine Hepburn has more wins. He has shunned television interviews and never cooperated with a biographer, though a dozen or so books have been written about him. Journalist McDougal (The Last Mogul: Lew Wasserman, MCA, and the Hidden History of Hollywood) researched Nicholson through friends, associates, court documents, books, and unpublished documents. Raised to believe his mother was his sister, Nicholson spent ten years struggling to make it in Hollywood, toiling in potboilers like The Cry Baby Killer and Hells Angels on Wheels, writing scripts (e.g., The Trip and the Monkees movie, Head), and hanging out with other Hollywood hopefuls like Bob Rafelson and Henry Jaglom (who both became well-known directors and figured prominently in Nicholson’s career). His small but career-changing role came in 1969 with Easy Rider. With lots of interesting tidbits that will surprise fans and almost 60 pages of notes and bibliography, McDougal’s biography is the most definitive to date. Highly recommended."—Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA

In quick links below (Double Cross at the WGA) is the latest on the unfolding scandal at the Writers Guild of America West, plus some blog musings of my own on the next page, in Mac Journal. To check out further the Directors Guild culpability in this mess, read Stefen Avalos' excellent deconstrution in the current Fade In magazine .

Watch for updates here on "The Acid Chronicles," "Five Easy Decades," "Inventing L.A." and other McDougalian projects.