2016 Author Events for Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography

Here's the 2016 Author Event Schedule (to date). New events are being scheduled regularly, so check back here, as well as the Events section of Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography or Vote For Bob Crane Facebook pages, for up-to-date listings!

• June 11-12: Liberty Aviation Museum (includes presentation both days), Port Clinton, Ohio
• June 25: Barnes & Noble, Waterbury, Connecticut
• June 26: Barnes & Noble, Stamford, Connecticut
• September 12: Gloucester County Library (includes presentation), Mullica Hill, New Jersey
• September 15-17: Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention, Hunt Valley, Maryland
• October 1: Collingswood Book Festival, Collingswood, New Jersey

Behind the Scenes: Researching the Life and Times of Bob Crane

If you research something or someone for most of your life, chances are, you're going to have stories about the actual research process. I have traveled all over the globe seeking to discover the truth about Bob Crane. And yes, I do have stories! I'll start sharing them here because they are perhaps just as important as the book itself. These stories show the heart and soul at the core of this endeavor, that it wasn't something done on a whim or to make a quick buck. My two coauthors and I genuinely wanted to learn the truth, and for me personally, those seeds of determination go way back.

When I was a kid back in the mid-1980s, once school let out for the summer, I used to stay with my grandparents for several weeks in the Poconos. One day, my Nana and I went to KMart to do some shopping. While she went off to get the necessities, I found myself over in the records department. And sitting right there, in the very limited soundtracks section, was this album. It was like striking gold! I was amazed by the description of the Hogan's Heroes Theme, which credited Bob Crane as the conductor. Later, I'd learn it was from his album, Bob Crane: His Drums & Orchestra Play the Funny Side of TV. But I didn't know that then! Yes, Nana bought me the record without skipping a beat, and it became a cherished possession of my youth. 

If you look at the back of Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography, you'll notice the photo is the same as the one used on the record album. I never wanted the cover photo to be of Hogan because Bob was more than just Colonel Hogan. But I did want and need a picture of Hogan on the back. I chose this photo because not only is it one of my favorite Hogan pictures (and that's tough to chisel down!), it also represents a lifelong dream finally coming true. 

It will also always remind me of childhood summers spent with my grandparents, shopping that day with Nana, and discovering this album—a little golden nugget that would one day lead to something far more profound than I could ever possibly imagine.

Back of Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography cover jacket.

Twenty Things You Didn’t Know about 'Hogan's Heroes' Star Bob Crane

Everybody has a history to his or her life.

Let’s not paint Bob’s life by—what shall we say?—the moments in his life.

I say these things that are the flaws are like specks on the Parthenon.

Let’s look at the Parthenon and let’s not look at the specks.

Let’s lift our eyes up to the man’s eyes and soul and life, and not look

down on the gutter.

—Joe Cosgrove, former staff announcer, KPOL, Los Angeles, and owner, KTHL, Lake Tahoe, CA; the first person to greet Bob when he arrived in Hollywood in August 1956.

As published in Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography

©2015 Carol M. Ford, Dee Young, & Linda J. Groundwater

~~~

When you spend decades researching something or somebody, you are going to learn a lot.

Such is the case with Bob Crane. After decades of research, my colleagues and I uncovered so much new and noteworthy information about Bob, we were, in a word, amazed. Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography is more than 600 pages in length because there was just so much to tell. And there was also so much to fix. Over the years, the facts about Bob's life have been twisted around and exaggerated, or worse, fabricated. These inaccuracies had to be corrected and then retold properly or debunked completely.

I've compiled a list of important facts about Bob here, with details contained in Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography. Some people are afraid of what they might find in the book because Bob's reputation precedes him. But rest assured, the general public has not been given the whole story or even the true story. After reading through this chiseled-down list of facts, please check out Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography. It will change the way you think about Bob Crane, and I think you will be happily surprised.

~~~

1. Bob Crane was born in Waterbury, CT, on July 13, 1928. He grew up in Stamford, CT, and graduated from Stamford High School in 1946. He was one of the most popular kids in school.

2. Bob was inspired to play drums by watching Gene Krupa at the 1939 World’s Fair. From that time on, he was never without his drumsticks. He played drums throughout his life.

3. Bob’s older brother Alfred served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Al was badly injured during the war but survived. Al’s wartime experiences had a dramatic and lasting impact on Bob.

4. Following high school graduation, Bob served in the U.S. National Guard in Stamford, CT, and worked in a jewelry store.

5. Bob played with many name bands on the East Coast while working in radio. He was eventually able to sit in and play with his idols, including The Stan Kenton Orchestra, the New Tommy Dorsey Band, and the Harry James Orchestra. He performed a drum battle with Gene Krupa over KNX-CBS Radio. He was a good friend of Buddy Rich, and he would occasionally perform with Rich in various venues, such as at Disneyland.

6. Bob spent fifteen consecutive years in radio, transforming the industry, and was considered a radio genius by his broadcasting colleagues. His radio show was so successful that by the time he was working at KNX in Hollywood, there was a premium for advertisers to buy time during his program, and they had to buy other time slots in addition to Bob's. In addition to doing things in radio that had rarely, if ever, been done before, Bob was also a gifted voice impersonator. KNX dubbed him radio’s Man of a Thousand Voices.

7. Bob interviewed thousands of celebrities on his KNX radio show, including Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Ronald Reagan, Jonathan Winters, Dick Clark, Jayne Mansfield, Ron Howard, Jerry Lewis, Richard Dawson, Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, and more. Because he wanted to act, he turned down countless offers to transition his radio show to television, including to take over as host for The Tonight Show. It then went to Johnny Carson.

8. In 1964, Bob took an acting course taught by Stella Adler. He also took acting advice from Donna Reed during at least the first season of Hogan’s Heroes.

9. Bob left The Donna Reed Show because he was bored with the premise. He remained friends with Donna Reed and her producer/husband Tony Owen following his departure from her series.

10. Bob was a great supporter of U.S. veterans and active duty service personnel. Before accepting the role of Colonel Hogan on Hogan’s Heroes, Bob insisted that a trailer of the series be shown to veterans and former POWs. He wanted to be sure they approved of the premise before signing because he didn’t want to offend them. They loved Hogan’s Heroes, claiming without humor, they never would have made it through the war. Bob was sold, and the rest was history.

11. Before agreeing to star on Hogan’s Heroes, Bob was inundated with offers for the lead in many other series, including Please Don’t Eat the Daisies and My Mother the Car.

12. Bob got his acting start in 1959 in a community theatre production of Tunnel of Love. He performed in theatre throughout much of his life, even during the height of his career on Hogan’s Heroes. He received rave critical reviews for nearly every one of his theatre productions. 

13. After being cast as the lead in The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz, Bob urged director George Marshall to hire as many cast members from Hogan’s Heroes as he could so they would have work during their hiatus. Those who accepted roles in the film included Werner Klemperer, John Banner, and Leon Askin.

14. Bob wrote an ending to Hogan’s Heroes, entitled Hogan’s Heroes Revue, which was a variety act to have been performed in Las Vegas. Robert Clary and Werner Klemperer were signed on to star with him in the live show, as well as John Thompson, Bob’s close friend and a magician who today is the magic consultant to Penn & Teller and Criss Angel, among others. Hogan’s Heroes Revue was never produced because Bob did not agree with what he considered a dishonest business contract with the casino.

15. During the 1970s, Bob turned down many offers to star in television shows and emcee game shows and talk shows. Instead, he accepted the leading role in Second Start, which was retitled The Bob Crane Show. He also co-wrote Mobile Two, the pilot movie for the series Mobile One, starring Jackie Cooper. 

16. When Bob breaks down in tears on his episode of The Love Boat, he is acting. It was not an indication of his state of mind at the time. In between takes, he was friendly, affable, and got along well with the cast. This performance shows how Bob was evolving as an actor, not as someone who couldn't hold it together at work. He was planning on taking on more serious roles such as his character on The Love Boat, but he didn't have the chance because he was murdered.

17. Bob Crane did not exhibit any inappropriate behavior on Celebrity Cooks. That he did is completely false, a story fabricated for ratings and profit. Celebrity Cooks has officially gone on record to dispute any claims that Bob behaved inappropriately in the episode. They state Bob was one of their best guests, and the way his episode is depicted in Auto Focus is totally incorrect and never happened.

18. Bob was a selfless philanthropist who gave generously of his time and money to many different charities, and he receives very little recognition for it. These included: U.S. Armed Forces Radio Network, United Cerebral Palsy, the Arthritis Foundation, and Operation Entertainment, to name a few. He also met regularly with U.S. veterans groups and entertained at military bases across the country.

19. At the time of his murder on June 29, 1978, Bob had a new television series in the works and was focused on bettering his life and overcoming his addiction. NOTE: Bob Crane is only "guilty" of consensual sex with adult women, whom he occasionally photographed or video recorded. Keep in mind the key words here are consensual and adult. And yes, the women knew they were being photographed and/or filmed. This was investigated by authorities following Bob's murder and proven as fact.

20. Bob loved and adored his family and friends, and especially his children. His legacy lives on through all of them. In 2013, his grandson, Max William Crane, made his acting debut in Fast & Furious 6 as little baby Jack.

~~~

The Wise and Beautiful Arlene Martel (Tiger, 'Hogan's Heroes')

Arlene Martel's birthday was yesterday (April 14), and she passed away a couple of years ago, on August 12, 2014. Arlene, who played Tiger regularly on Hogan's Heroes, was a tremendous supporter of Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography and telling Bob Crane's true story.

Arlene Martel, right, with Carol Ford,
author of Bob Crane: The Definitive
Biography, at the ICON Convention,
Stony Brook, NY (2007).

I had the honor of meeting Arlene in March 2007 at the ICON Convention in Stony Brook, New York. She was a beautiful soul, inside and out. Happy Birthday and rest in peace, Arlene. You are missed.

Below is an excerpt from our interview with Arlene, which was conducted on September 8, 2006, and published in Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography: 

“I never heard Bob Crane say anything that was shoddy, shabby, or rude. I never saw him throw a little hissy fit, or start doing a diva kind of act. I never saw him fling his ego around that way. He seemed very patient. Like, ‘Okay,’—like a shrug. You’d see him kind of shrugging, like, ‘Well, we gotta wait till they set up the lights some more,’ or whatever. I never saw him throw any kind of tantrum. He didn’t use the show, I think, as an opportunity to demonstrate his power in any way. If you had walked on the set, you wouldn’t think that he was the star necessarily. It was ensemble acting. I think everyone liked that idea. It seemed that there was good will among everyone. Everyone sort of rooted for everyone else. That’s why I always celebrated when they said, ‘You’re gonna work on Hogan’s this week.’ That was a big celebration to me. That it was so pleasant on the set. And so warm and friendly and family. And I loved the character I played, too. I loved playing Tiger because it was so opposite of other roles I played, like Mr. Spock’s wife [on Star Trek].” 

© 2015 Carol M. Ford

In 2015, Shine on Hollywood Magazine published a special tribute issue to Arlene. It is an open access publication that does not require a subscription to view. 

Click Here to View the Tribute Issue

Bob Crane in the News: WICC Articles from 1955

Bob Crane loved being in the limelight, and throughout most of his life, he was a friend to the press, enjoying being interviewed and talking with reporters. Ever since his growing-up years in Stamford, Connecticut, Bob kept meticulous records of everything he did. As a kid, he organized parades with his music pals, and played football, baseball, and basketball games with his sports buddies. When they marched or played a scrimmage game, he made sure to notify the local press (in this case, The Stamford Advocate). When his articles showed up in print, Bob would be elated.

He would also become quite miffed if a reporter got something wrong, often pointing out the error in future articles. I can understand this completely. The last thing anybody wants is to be misrepresented. In 1965, a TV Guide reporter mistakenly wrote that he quit The Donna Reed Show over money and that Donna Reed's husband and producer Tony Owen was furious over it and glad he was gone, stating they wouldn't even miss him. Bob was hurt by the article. In fact, he was so upset that in another TV Guide article published shortly after Hogan's Heroes premiered, Bob made sure to correct the information, claiming it was completely inaccurate, and that he and Donna Reed and Tony Owen had remained friends since his departure (which, incidentally, was not over money, but rather, Bob's boredom with the role). And this is proven to be true. Donna Reed and Tony Own sent Bob a Western Union Telegram right after the premiere of Hogan's Heroes congratulating him, signing it "Love, Donna and Tony." And throughout at least the first year of Hogan's Heroes, Donna talked with Bob immediately following the airing of each episode to discuss his acting technique. (For more about this, read Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography).

After becoming a popular disc jockey/radio personality (and Bob preferred the term radio personality), newspaper articles and advertisements started appearing in news outlets locally and across the country praising Bob for his broadcasting accomplishments. Here are a few from 1955, concerning his work at WICC in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Note that in the first article from The Bridgeport Post, the the mistake in the TV Radio Mirror article is mentioned. (Double click on each for easier reading.)

'It Belongs in a Museum!' An Open Letter to Private Collectors of 'Hogan's Heroes' Props, Artifacts

I admit, there is nothing quite like holding, let alone actually owning, a piece of your favorite television show or movie. There's something magical about it. First you find it, then bid on it, and if you're lucky and have the financial means, you can win that iconic treasure. 

I know. I've done it. 

Your prize arrives, and you experience that moment of joy and elation. No matter what the item is, it was used on screen in your favorite show or movie, and now, it's in your hands and soon to be proudly displayed in your living room or den or office. You vow to take care of it, treating it like gold, knowing how important it is, not only to you, but to fans and collectors worldwide.

The official Hogan's Heroes display at the
Liberty Aviation Museum, Port Clinton, Ohio.

And there it sits. For awhile, you'll walk past it, and you can't help but grin. Yes, it's a valuable momento that represents your youth or a certain time in your life. The show means something to you, and now, you own a piece of it.

And there it sits. Maybe you'll showcase it when friends or relatives who visit. And it's truly awesome and cool!

And there it sits. In a private home. With only a handful of people able to enjoy it. Eventually, like all materialistic things, its novelty wears off. But it's still important, so it's really difficult to part with it.

So there it sits.

Last year, the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton, Ohio, acquired several key items from Hogan's Heroes: Colonel Hogan's A-2 leather bomber jacket, Colonel Klink's uniform, and Sergeant Schultz's overcoat. In addition, other items have been secured to add to the display. I have personally donated authentic props from the series I had in my collection, along with several original photographs autographed by the show's stars. After all, Hogan's Heroes is not only a television show, but now, more than fifty years old, it is a piece of Americana and our television history. These props belong in a museum, where they can be properly preserved and available for the public to enjoy.

Do you have Colonel Hogan's coffee pot? The Liberty Aviation Museum would love to hear from you!

The Liberty Aviation Museum is not holding back in creating a world-class and official Hogan's Heroes display. They are currently building a large case to house the items, and for the uniforms, they have commissioned lifelike mannequins in the likeness of the actors who portrayed the characters. It will be, without a doubt, a beautiful showcase and one that does justice to the series and those who were a part of it.

Do you agree that iconic props and artifacts from nostalgic
television shows belong in a museum?
Contact us if you own a Hogan's Heroes prop!

Personally, I can't imagine a better place for Hogan's Heroes artifacts and props to call their official home. The CEO of the Liberty Aviation Museum is an honest, true-blue Hogan's Heroes fan, and he's doing right by the series by putting all of his TLC into the display. Further, events and displays such as this help raise money for the museum, and funds go directly to helping U.S. veterans and active duty service members. When I do my book signing of Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography at the museum in June, I will be donating my profits from the event's sales to the museum because of the good work these folks are doing.

Here's where you come in. Are you the owner/private collector of a Hogan's Heroes prop or artifact? We'd love to hear from you. We understand how much these props mean to you. But sit back and think for a minute — wouldn't it be wonderful and amazing for your Hogan's Heroes prop to be preserved and back together with other series artifacts for the public to enjoy? Whether you loan it to the museum or decide to sell it to them, as long as you can provide accurate and official authentication documents, they are interested in hearing from you. You can contact them directly via their website, or click the link below to send a message through us that we'll pass along to them.

And yes, my last name is Ford, so I get to say in true Indiana Jones fashion, "It belongs in a museum!" as much as I want! 

Click here to contact us.

Book Signing Set for Bob Crane's Biography at Liberty Aviation Museum/Port Clinton, Ohio

Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography Book Signing with author Carol Ford
Dates: June 11 & 12, 2016
Location: Liberty Aviation Museum
Times: TBA
Carol will have a Q & A in addition to the book signing covering Bob Crane’s life & his role in the TV show, Hogan's Heroes. The museum's display of Hogan's Heroes uniforms are currently on display within the museum and will be on display during the book signing.
To learn more about the book, Bob Crane, or the author Carol Ford, please visit http://www.vote4bobcrane.org/book.html

~~~~~

I am honored and delighted to announce that I will be visiting the Liberty Aviation Museum on Saturday and Sunday, June 11-12, 2016, for a book signing of Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography.

You may remember that in September, the Liberty Aviation Museum acquired Colonel Hogan's leather A-2 bomber jacket,  owned by Bob Crane and worn throughout the run of Hogan's Heroes, as well as worn by Frank Sinatra in Von Ryan's Express. The museum also acquired Colonel Klink's uniform and Sergeant Schultz's overcoat. The Hogan's Heroes exhibit is growing, and as more original props and show memorabilia are acquired/donated, the goal is to make this the official Hogan's Heroes exhibit. The current display is temporary, with a much larger display being constructed in the museum.

In addition to preserving these iconic pieces of television history, the Liberty Aviation Museum has also been a loyal supporter of Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography and all of our efforts to see Bob Craned recognized properly. If you are in the Port Clinton, Ohio, area or can make the trip from afar, I hope you plan to join us in June for my book signing and to view the Hogan's Heroes display. 

Special note: My author profits from this signing will be donated to the Liberty Aviation Museum, whose mission is "to provide an adequate organization for historians, aircraft and vehicle preservationists and collectors interested in encouraging internationally the acquisition, restoration, operation, preservation, public education and display of historic aircraft, vehicles and related items." Through their efforts, the Liberty Aviation Museum is able to help and support our American veterans and active duty members serving in the United States Armed Forces.