Arlene Francis: A Memoir

As a very young child when Miss Arlene Francis was beginning her exit and retirement from the public's eye, I missed the opportunity to be exposed to her many theatrical and TV performances. In fact, I was not really exposed to Miss Francis until I happened to tune into "What's My Line?" reruns in the past year. After watching several shows, I decided I wanted to know more about a lovely woman who clearly established herself at the foundation of American television. ARLENE FRANCIS, A MEMOIR, is an excellent source of information for anybody who wants to learn about the trials and tribulations of an extremely charming woman who has her heart set on becoming a Broadway star. I learned so much more about her accomplishments beyond the success of "What's My Line?" and the exciting and balanced life she led. Arlene had such an extensive acting career that "What's My Line?", which she is so know for, takes only a dozen pages in the book. The book is well written in such a style that educates and entertains. Miss Francis has included several photos from her lifetime which complement her story. We also learn quite a bit about her family, second husband Martin Gabel and their rather successful son, Peter Gabel. After completing the book, I had a newfound respect and admiration for Miss Francis. It is no wonder she was so popular in my parents' and grandparent's generation. She is truly an American icon of yesteryear from whom today's stars could learn a great deal on charm, integrity, and class. (Miss Francis's memoir was published in 1978, since then she has turned 92 in Oct. 2000, and sadly lost her husband in 1986.)