Jan Pippins, author of Henry Darrow: Lightning in the Bottle, explains how he first became involved in writing the biography of veteran actor Henry Darrow, the first actor of Puerto Rican descent to star in an American television series. Chronicling the obstacles and successes of the actor’s fifty-plus years in show business, Pippins (who co-wrote the book with Darrow) combined personal interviews, Internet archives and the actor’s collection of personal memorabilia.

Although Pippins has been writing professionally for many years, this is his first book. Over several careers, he has written legislation, a local newspaper column, short articles for trade publications, and “Where Are They Now?” fan articles But when he met the ALMA and Emmy Award-winning actor on his first trip to Los Angeles, he knew it would be the perfect subject for a book.

“It’s a story of life, work, love and redemption,” says Pippins. “Henry Darrow’s story entertains, inspires and introduces readers to a very human hero who triumphed despite the odds.”

Insider Information on Mid-Century American Showbiz

In particular, the book follows the ups and downs of show business in mid-century America from Darrow’s unique perspective. Provides inside information on how public sentiment, government intervention, publicity projections, and resentments came together to kill the landmark series. The High Chaparral and other television westerns. He also shares his observations on the issues facing Latinos and other minorities before, during, and after the civil rights struggles of the 1960s and how people like Darrow overcame those obstacles. The benefits of stardom, however, often came at great personal cost, such as the alienation of their children.

How did Pippins choose this particular topic? “Actually, the topic matters to me,” she says. “Darrow’s life has all the makings of a good novel: a protagonist with big dreams and even greater talent who overcomes humble beginnings, life-threatening illness, crippling anxiety and prejudice to become an international star. At the height of his fame, he put his own hard-earned career on the line to open doors for others. Hollywood chews people up and spits them out, but Henry was a working actor for over fifty years. When he asked me to write his biography, how could I refuse?

Research and write biography

Darrow’s huge collection of memorabilia helped the author find the correct background and authenticate stories from various sources. “He’s a packrat,” she says. “We cleaned out a garage and two closets, which made his wife, Lauren, very pleased. It was sweaty work, but it was worth it.”

His additional research included reading books on the history of Hispanics in the entertainment industry, television and film westerns, and American history covering relevant time periods. She also credits internet newspaper and trade magazine archives with helping her set the proper context for Darrow’s biography.

Although the research and writing were enjoyable for Pippins, he faced challenges in telling the story of someone who was in the public eye. A particular challenge was structuring a career spanning such a long period. she decided to start Henry Darrow: Lightning in the Bottlefeaturing a scene of the actor aged seventy-five while rehearsing for a demanding role in a stage play of “My Fair Lady”.

Pippins describes the beginning of his book: “His knees are bad, his back hurts, and his memory fails. For the first time in his life, he’s unsure of himself as an actor. From there, we look back on the remarkable life and Henry’s run in three sections, three acts as if it were a play. At the end, we go back to ‘My Fair Lady’ and what happened in that performance.”

The author also recognized the importance of telling someone’s life story with accuracy, attention to detail, and tender loving care. According to Pippins, “As I was writing the book, I was well aware that I had an important responsibility. This kind and charming man, his wonderful wife, his friends and his family entrusted me with their stories. I owe my best work to everyone involved, including potential readers.

book details

Henry Darrow: Lightning in the bottle. Authors: Jan Pippins and Henry Darrow. Publisher: BearManor Media, 2012. Pages: 392. http://www.henrydarrowbook.com. ISBN: 978-1593936884.