- Paperback: 151 pages
- Publisher: Serendipity; 1st edition (18 Jun 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1843942283
- ISBN-13: 978-1843942283
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 13.8 x 1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
492,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7 in Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Performing Arts > Variety Shows & Cabaret
- #45 in Books > Biography > Theatre & Performance Art > Cabaret
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Product Description
Synopsis
'One of the very best show business autobiographies I have ever read.' - Roy Hudd, OBE. With her movie star looks and glamorous attire, Joan Rhodes shot to stardom in the post war years with her unique act involving remarkable feats of strength. She was heralded as 'The Strongest Woman in the World'. She bent bars, ripped phone books in two and manhandled stars like Bob Hope. "Coming on Strong" is Joan's story in her own words. It charts her incredible journey from the humblest of beginnings as a teenage runaway of the streets of London to a global celebrity on stage and screen. She performed for royalty, was offered a lucrative Hollywood movie contract [which she turned down] and rubbed sequinned shoulders with some of the great names of the 20th Century such as Marlene Dietrich, Quentin Crisp, Henry Moore and Dame Laura Knight to name but a few.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
TOTAL RUBBISH
I saw Joan Rhodes on stage back in the 1960's she was one of the last great variety acts. So the publishers had the potential for a good read but they blew it 100%. The book is packed full with stupid mistakes, the is no excuse for such poor publishing.
Joan says she worked on the film "The Man in Grey" with Stewart Granger (She spells it Grainger) in 1935 really.? That film wasn't made until 1948. She appeared in a show in 1937 with Dickie Valentine topping the bill well he would have been about seven at the time; he became a star in the mid 1950's. She worked with the superstar of the 1950's Johnnie Ray (She spells it Johnny). Apart from all this and a lot more she has the annoying habit of starting to tell you about something then cutting it short by saying "Anyway that's another story" leaving the reader in midair, and when she relates something sad or tragic in her life she adds" So I just laughed and laughed and walked away" Why Joan.?
She boast's about getting out of war service from 1939 to 45 by pretending to be a conscientious objector. And would you believe she just laughed at the air raids and walked about London that happened to be on fire at the time in bare feet. Sorry Joan I don't believe a word of this rubbish. It's only a small book 151 pages. Just as well I couldn't take any more. What a shame with a lot more effort and care by the publisher it could have been an interesting read.
I saw Joan Rhodes on stage back in the 1960's she was one of the last great variety acts. So the publishers had the potential for a good read but they blew it 100%. The book is packed full with stupid mistakes, the is no excuse for such poor publishing.
Joan says she worked on the film "The Man in Grey" with Stewart Granger (She spells it Grainger) in 1935 really.? That film wasn't made until 1948. She appeared in a show in 1937 with Dickie Valentine topping the bill well he would have been about seven at the time; he became a star in the mid 1950's. She worked with the superstar of the 1950's Johnnie Ray (She spells it Johnny). Apart from all this and a lot more she has the annoying habit of starting to tell you about something then cutting it short by saying "Anyway that's another story" leaving the reader in midair, and when she relates something sad or tragic in her life she adds" So I just laughed and laughed and walked away" Why Joan.?
She boast's about getting out of war service from 1939 to 45 by pretending to be a conscientious objector. And would you believe she just laughed at the air raids and walked about London that happened to be on fire at the time in bare feet. Sorry Joan I don't believe a word of this rubbish. It's only a small book 151 pages. Just as well I couldn't take any more. What a shame with a lot more effort and care by the publisher it could have been an interesting read.
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I remember seeing Joan Rhodes on TV as a kid. and I always wondered where such a slight woman got her strength from because she didn't look as if she trained with weights. there must be a secret method of getting such strength. The book 'Coming on Strong' was very interesting, but it didn't explain where her strength came from.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Fans of Joan Rhodes will especially enjoy the stories and many photos of her act that haven't been seen before, or not been published in many years. It's definitely not a professional autobiography and the storytelling definitely meanders quite a bit, but one thing is for certain, there has never been an entertainer quite like Joan Rhodes before or since. With a professional writer involved there is no doubt her life story would make a fascinating film. It's a shame more people do not know about her. If you're curious to learn more, Google her name and do an image search, check YouTube for some very grainy but interesting footage of her amazing glamorous strongwoman act. I guarantee its like nothing you've seen before.
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