Rocks on the Roof

1958, possibly first edition, from G. P. Putnam's Sons
Jim Backus
Rocks on the Roof
Original price unknown, purchase price $2.75
Worn hardcover
B-

Backus writes about radio, TV, and the movies, as well as his adored wife Henny and various homes they've had, including the place where rocks kept mysteriously appearing on their roof.  Since I grew up with Mr. Magoo and Gilligan's Island, I wanted to like this book more on the reread than I did, but a lot of his humor falls flat.  The funniest part is actually the series of quotes for Hubert Updyke III, his popular radio character, the richest man in the world, so sort of a proto-Thurston-Howell.  The tribute to James Dean, whose father Backus played in Rebel without a Cause (which I still need to see someday), is probably the most interesting aspect of the book to a modern reader.