BearManor Media

Release Date: October 12, 2005

The Library of Congress announced this week the release of Jack
French's book, "Private Eyelashes: Radio's Lady Detectives" as a
Talking Book, through their National Library Service. The blind, sight
impaired, and disabled who qualify for this free distribution program
can order it through their local participating libraries under
catalogue number RC 58854.

French's non-fiction book chronicles the forty-four network radio
series that featured a feminine sleuth in the lead or co-lead, and is
based upon audio copies of these programs, original scripts, and
interviews with surviving cast and crew members from the Golden Age of
Radio. Several historic photographs of the ladies who starred in these
programs complement the text.

Selection by the Library of Congress into their Talking Books program
is a unique honor, as less than half of one percent of the books
copyrighted yearly in the United States are chosen for this expensive
and complicated process of narration. French's book was narrated for
the Library of Congress by Nicola Daval, a prominent Washington, DC
actress.

This is the third significant honor accorded to "Private Eyelashes",
which has received universal acclaim from both the Old-Time Radio
community and detective/mystery field. The book has been reviewed
favorably in dozens of Old Time Radio journals as well as premiere
mystery publications, including "Mystery Scene Magazine." French and
his book received the Ray Stanich Award for best vintage radio
literature last fall and the Agatha Award for Best Non-Fiction this
spring from Malice Domestic, the largest mystery convention on the East
Coast.

Book is available on-line from most internet book sellers, including
the publisher at <www.bearmanormedia.com>

For further information, contact Ben Ohmart of Bear Manor Media at
(814) 466-7555 or <benohmart@yahoo.com>

Asimov's Science Fiction, March 2005. Paul Di Filippo

"We are indebted to author Ben Ohmart for providing a breezy, yet comprehensive biography of Frees. Here we get to witness Frees's early days in radio, his transition to the big screen, his involvement with animation, and his dubbing and advertising work. But aside from the professional aspects of Frees' life, we are privy to his offstage personality and shenanigans (Frees was a true eccentric), thanks to extensive interviews with surviving friends, relatives and co-workers. It's a balanced, warts-and-all kind of treatment, neither excessively reverential nor sniping, and makes for fascinating reading."

Welcome, Foolish Mortals... was also named one of the Year's Best Books by Classic Images.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 5, 2004

Radio/Film Publisher Hears Voices

Boalsburg, PA - Radio and cartoon fans are thrilled that a new publisher is in town, specializing in the one type of star that hasn't yet had enough recognition: the voice actor.

Ben Ohmart, 34, began his BearManor Media three years ago with the publication of The Great Gildersleeve, a biography of the beloved radio show. "From there," says Ohmart, "it just took off. I realized that I enjoy the publishing side more than the writing, so I encouraged others to write more about radio, voice actors and those wonderful supporting players that never really got their due. I mean, I'd rather see a first book on the Ritz Brothers than the fiftieth book on James Dean!"

In the space of just a few short years BearManor Media's catalogue has grown to an impressive size that boasts some major works. Current and coming books include biographies on Guy Williams (Disney's Zorro, father on Lost in Space), the Ritz Brothers (foreword by Mel Brooks), Jerry Colonna (written by his son), Dolores Fuller (Ed Wood's girlfriend; foreword by Johnny Depp), Daws Butler (voice of Yogi Bear, Elroy Jetson and hundreds more Hanna-Barbera cartoons; foreword by Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson), Paul Frees (voice of Bullwinkle's Boris Badenov, the Pillsbury Doughboy, Disneyland's The Haunted Mansion), The Bickersons (foreword by Frances Langford), Albert Salmi, Peggy Ann Garner (Oscar-winning child actress of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn), Walter Tetley (voice of Sherman on Rocky and Bullwinkle's Peabody and Sherman), Jane Kean (Trixie on The Honeymooners), Joel Rapp (Gilligan's Island, etc. writer) Sybil Jason (Warner Bros.' first child star), Russell Arms (Your Hit Parade! host), Russ Columbo, Verna Felton (voice of the Queen of Hearts in Disney's Alice in Wonderland), Agnes Moorehead, George Raft, Underdog (written by its creators), and many more.

"There are far too many great voices and actors out there," says Ohmart, "that haven't been recognized with full biographies. What I wouldn't give for a book submission on Allen Jenkins, Mantan Moreland or Wally Cox - names that are far from Harrison Ford but just as important."

Ohmart is currently writing biographies on Don Ameche (foreword by John Landis), Shirley Booth and Disney composer Buddy Baker.

For further information, contact:
Ben Ohmart, BearManor Media, P O Box 750, Boalsburg, PA 16827

ben@ritzbros.com 814-466-7555 bearmanormedia.com

Otto Penzler, founder of Mysterious Press and publisher of The Armchair Detective, wrote in the New York Sun: "A fascinating study of lady detectives....lots of fun....written in a pleasing, off-hand manner, but much intense research was needed to produce it."

Dennis W. Crow, Elderhostel lecturer on radio history, calls it: "A narrative style that is fast-paced and easy to follow. (French) organizes his multitude of facts with a sense of fun and packs his extensive research with memorable anecdotes."

Ron Lackmann, OTR historian and author, writes: "I just couldn't put it down. It was such fun to read and so informative. I learned a lot of things that I didn't know."

Nan Cinnater, a reviewer for the bulletin, Books To Watch Out For, commented: "It's just chock full of fascinating stuff...for mystery lovers, radio lovers, and film buffs for that matter..."

Jim Snyder, OTR columnist, will have his review in the May issue of The Illustrated Press, the publication of the OTR Club of Western NY, in which he says: "Jack is one of the most knowledgeable historians in the radio field and that knowledge is always backed up by careful research. PRIVATE EYELASHES is down-to-earth and enjoyable, as well as informative."

Lou Genco, Webmaster of www.old-time.com, concluded his rave with: "Thoroughly researched....Jack's writing style melds the facts into a very readable and enjoyable document....Do not take this book to bed with you; the continuity is such, you may stay up all night enjoying it."

Jim Cox, prominent OTR historian and author of "Radio Crime Fighters", calls it "....a great read. Jack's supplied us with some anecdotes along with factual data and put it together in a fascinating style."

Stephen Jansen, OTR collector and writer, reports: "This is a superb book covering the oft-neglected topic of radio's female crimefighters....very informative and a FUN read....a well-researched book that belongs on the OTR bookshelf along with Dunning, Grams, Cox, Hickerson, Harmon, and Stone."

Martin Grams, Jr., well-known OTR author, says: "...just read Jack French's PRIVATE EYELASHES and it's wonderful! Informative and entertaining at the same time....Recommended."

Ivan Shreve, Jr. of "Thrilling Days of Yesteryear" predicts: "...a book that is destined to become the definitive reference on the fabulous female detectives of old-time radio."

Robert W. Wade, retired FBI Agent and counterintelligence supervisor, relates: "Jack is an acknowledged expert and historian in the field; his book shows an expertise that is admirable. This book is....full of stories, anecdotes about cast members and what became of them, as well as excerpts from...the scripts."