Shirley & Marty: An Unlikely Love Story

by Shirley Jones, Marty Ingels, Mickey Herskowitz

Two hard-working Hollywood professionals--Oscar winner Shirley Jones and comedian, actor, and superagent Marty Ingels--offer a personal look at their life together

335 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1990

About the author

Shirley Mae Jones is an American actress, singer and writer. She is best known for her role as the widowed mother of five children in the television series The Partridge Family, and her appearance in musical movies such as Oklahoma!, Carousel, and The Music Man. In 1960 she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing a prostitute in Elmer Gantry .

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wonder if I'm the only one who does this? I'll pick up some random biography and will keep at it like it's a bag of potato chips. I'll chow down until I finish it up. Then, I'll wonder why. Yes, I'm a binge reader of non-fiction drug store paperbacks.

I found this book on open library after I had a passing thought about Shirley Jones' autobiography. You know the one. It's the book where Shirley gives masturbation instructions. So, so weird. I might still be a little traumatized.

Anyway, I started this and didn't put it down. What am I left with? Well, a little more respect for Marty Ingel. He understood anxiety and mental illness in a surprisingly modern way.

This book uses Marty's voice, Shirley's voice and a third person's commentary. It's super confusing sometimes to tell who is doing the narration.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book sale book....I like both actors...(Before reading) sadly somehow I'm not expecting much from this book.

After reading!!!

The title is perfect. Two very different personalities from very different places. How they hooked up and stayed that way is amazing.

The story is told in mini narratives from Shirley, Marty and the author. A little seemed out of sequence, but mostly in order. It starts out about Jack Cassidy, which I appreciated. I did want to know about him, and I still wonder what would have happened if he accepted Ted’s role on The Mary Tyler Moore show.

It was all very tragic. Now how Shirley went from Jack to Marty is still amazing to me. And how Marty managed to exist with such a debilitating problem is even more fantastic. Then Jack’s and Shirley’s kids…they had problems.

This is a fast read. I’m a fan of all them. I didn’t expect much of this book, but I was quickly won over and drawn in. You just never know what goes on behind the façade in the world of show biz.

[Thomas Schulte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly, this biography of husband and wife entertainers feels disorganized for the several voices. Shirley, Marty Engels, and their co-writer Mickey Herskowitz interrupt each. At times, it is obvious the same story is being told before it is clear by whom. Others make cameos. The telling of their lives reveals Ingels' crippling anxiety, at times leading to stage fright, agoraphobia, etc. Ingels' success is despite these handicaps while Jones comes across as the strong, vivacious one. The alcoholic travesty of Jack Cassidy is background as, surprisingly, The Partridge Family years and the Cassidy brothers despite a chapter on Ryan's enforced drug treatment. The book end anti-climactically with an accounting of Ingel's publically unveiled cash savings and a trite listing of commandments for a good marriage.