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William Karl Thomas was born 1/25/33 in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, a small Gulf Coast town in which Tennessee Williams lived and wrote about in his works. In 1951 Thomas married his former high school teacher and, after a four year childless marriage, was divorced. His checkered background began in 1951- 1952 as a nightclub pianist in New Orleans French Quarter, in 1953-1954 serving a year as a military correspondent in a combat in Korea, and in 1954-1957 finishing his 4 years in the Air Force while serving in El Paso, Texas; Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Oxford, England. His screen writing collaboration with Frank Ray Perilli began in New Orleans in 1951 and led eventually to Hollywood where Perilli had begun to manage the then unknown Lenny Bruce in 1956. Bruce admired Thomas's multi-talents which led to collaborating in a variety of capacities including comedy writing, screen writing, album cover photos, cinematography, theatrical booking, publicity, and more in a collaboration that lasted ten years until Bruces' death in 1966, as chronicled in Thomas' memoir, "Lenny Bruce: The Making of a Prophet." Thomas' life and work cover the historical high and low points of the twentieth century and his fiction and non-fiction provide accurate historical background, often with reference and annotation, and provide excellent reading materials for history and social studies. Thomas spent twenty years in Hollywood as a screen writer, cinematographer, industrial film producer, photographer, journalist, and public relations executive. He currently lives in Tucson, Arizona, where he occasionally teaches writing and film production.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Piano Lover: The Movie is a work of fiction penned by author William Karl Thomas in the interpersonal drama, romance, and intrigue subgenres. It is best suited for adult readers owing to some of its themes and a few moderately described adult scenes. Continuing the Piano Lover saga, we find ourselves back with pianist David Wales and his group of entertainers as they take their successful musical from the New Orleans French Quarter to Hollywood. The transition to a film adaptation proves to be as challenging and controversial as their Broadway venture. David faces the struggle of maintaining the integrity of his musical as screenwriters attempt to morph it into stereotypical film plots and sensational themes.
Author William Karl Thomas has crafted a fantastic addition to the series that’s just like stepping into the vibrant world of showbiz and Hollywood's glorious golden era. Thomas weaves a narrative that captures the glamour, challenges, and controversies of the entertainment industry with smooth pacing that takes us from one scene to the next without any wasted time, always chasing the next twist in the plot. The clashes between David and the screenwriting team add layers of drama and are superbly penned with their dialogue and emotional intent, while the diverse cast of characters around David are accurately drawn and deeply resonant with the different attitudes of the era. The book also shows off its research as it delves into the intricacies of filmmaking, which are fascinating to discover. I particularly enjoyed the way Thomas paints a vivid picture of the social scene, with encounters with celebrities of the time. Overall, I would certainly recommend Piano Lover: The Movie as a captivating narrative that blends the glitz of Hollywood with the personal struggles of the characters, making it an engaging and entertaining read.
