Donna C. (karmagirl) -
Helpful Score: 2
I'm sure this book was written to shock people, (and it does), it was a little hard for me to believe that the author could remember such exact details from 50 plus years ago. Many of his stories are quite disturbing, like his encounters with priests as a boy. And it was a little sad that he felt the only fulfillment in his life was bringing people together for a sexual encounter. In the end, I felt sorry for Mr Bowers.
Fara L. (farazon) -
Helpful Score: 2
After a few disturbing chapters I scanned through the rest and gave up. This was an exploitive book . How much is true and how much may be blown out of proportion (?) I have a co-worker that turned 30 minutes at the police station into hard time in his own mind ; and that is what it reminds me of. The photos are previously published studio shots. The stories are not witty , they are only meant to titillate and I would have to believe that everyone Scotty ever met had sexual issues. Just not my kind of book.
Becky W. reviewed Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars on + 41 more book reviews
this is such a good book! I am already 1/2 way thru it! although it might be off putting for some people because of the 'candid' details of his life and adventures, it is an easy read, that takes you along on a adventure of learning about some of the biggest stars in hollywood.
Elizabeth R. (esjro) -
This book was a page turner, because it seems that every page contains some seedy new revelation about the sex lives of well-known people (actors, actresses, politicians) or those in outer Hollywood circles (makeup artists, etc.) The author tells his story in a charming and humorous tone. Though at times it occured to me that he might be morally bankrupt (or at least could have treated his wives better), it is hard not to like him because of his generous and fun-loving attitude. I did feel guilty reading all those dirty secrets (and frankly I wished I would have skipped one of the annecdotes in the fetish chapter), but the only part of the book that made me truly uncomfortable was the author's discussion of his early years. His early sexual experiences were with adults (a father's friend and a number of priests), and although he seems to think there is nothing wrong with that my personal opinion is that there is a lot wrong!
Nonetheless, Full Service offers fascinating insights into a time when sex was in some ways easier (e.g. pre-AIDS), yet in many ways more complicated (homosexual and lesbian relationships were publicly frowned upon and had to be carried out discretely). The book should especially appeal to film buffs who are familiar with the names Scotty Bowers drops.
Nonetheless, Full Service offers fascinating insights into a time when sex was in some ways easier (e.g. pre-AIDS), yet in many ways more complicated (homosexual and lesbian relationships were publicly frowned upon and had to be carried out discretely). The book should especially appeal to film buffs who are familiar with the names Scotty Bowers drops.
jjares reviewed Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars on + 3413 more book reviews
After lawyers cleaned this up (according to Scotty, he served as an unpaid pimp), I suspect most of this book is fairly accurate. This is an interesting sojourn into the up-tight world of Hollywood in the 1940s and later. The post World War II years were far more decadent than we imagined. One fact that Bowers talks about, how the LA police stopped chasing and trying to convict the "queens" in town, really sounds realistic and probable.
Scotty Bowers was definitely into free love. Dealing with Scotty must have been a relief for the Hollywood-types. He was totally nonjudgmental and that must have been quite freeing for people constantly afraid of losing their livelihoods because of the morality police.
One thing that surprised me was the pseudo-relationship between Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. I was surprised by the revelations about the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson. And the author was correct; a royal couldn't rule England and be a homosexual. He would be vulnerable to rumor and innuendo.
After reading about Ramon Novarro, I googled around and found out that the story this author tells is probably on-the-mark. I'd read a bio or autobio of Laurence Olivier and in that book, he admitted he was bisexual. I knew Anthony Perkins and Rock Hudson were gay years before they came out because of hints others told about the pair. Another gay man was the fabulous singer Johnny Mathis (not mentioned in this book) but mentioned by several other men over the years.
To sum the book up: Sometimes the info was amazing and at other times, it was way too much information.
Scotty Bowers was definitely into free love. Dealing with Scotty must have been a relief for the Hollywood-types. He was totally nonjudgmental and that must have been quite freeing for people constantly afraid of losing their livelihoods because of the morality police.
One thing that surprised me was the pseudo-relationship between Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. I was surprised by the revelations about the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson. And the author was correct; a royal couldn't rule England and be a homosexual. He would be vulnerable to rumor and innuendo.
After reading about Ramon Novarro, I googled around and found out that the story this author tells is probably on-the-mark. I'd read a bio or autobio of Laurence Olivier and in that book, he admitted he was bisexual. I knew Anthony Perkins and Rock Hudson were gay years before they came out because of hints others told about the pair. Another gay man was the fabulous singer Johnny Mathis (not mentioned in this book) but mentioned by several other men over the years.
To sum the book up: Sometimes the info was amazing and at other times, it was way too much information.
JoAnne M. (joannefm2) - , reviewed Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars on + 10 more book reviews
I have a very hard time believing people like Walter Pidgeon ran around looking for male prostitutes. Considering Mr. Pidgeon had two very happy marriages (one until her death, the second until his) and neither of them ever had any scandal associated with them, I believe much of this to be lies. If these two are lies, how much of the rest of the book is? On top of that, while the author includes photos, NONE OF THEM are with the author and his "friends." That alone is suspicious. Too much sounds fake and exaggerated for me to believe.
