Leiby, Bruce R. 1947-

PERSONAL:

Born August 30, 1947, in Media, PA; son of Edward Charles (in law enforcement) and Margaret Ellen (in sales) Leiby; married Linda Flounders (a sales representative and assistant manager), June 26, 1971. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Tusculum College, B.S., 1969; West Chester University, graduate study, 1970, 1972. Politics: Republican. Religion: United Methodist. Hobbies and other interests: Collecting show business memorabilia, travel.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Media, PA. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Interboro School District, Prospect Park, PA, teacher, 1969-70; Upper Darby School District, Drexel Hill, PA, high school teacher, 1970-2006, instructor at adult school, 1970-88, staff assistant at high school, 1987-2006. Delaware County Community College, instructor, 1974.

MEMBER:

International Doris Day Society, International Friends of Gordon MacRae (honorary member).

WRITINGS:

Gordon MacRae: A Bio-Bibliography, Greenwood Press (Westport, CT), 1991.

Howard Keel: A Bio-Bibliography, Greenwood Press (Westport, CT), 1995.

(With wife, Linda F. Leiby) A Reference Guide to Television's Bonanza, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2001.

Contributor to reference books.

SIDELIGHTS:

Bruce R. Leiby told CA: "Influenced by my appearance in the play Oklahoma! as a high school senior, I began collecting memorabilia on singer-actor Gordon MacRae [who starred in the film version of the musical]. He had major achievements in every field open to an entertainer. I felt Mr. MacRae deserved a book chronicling his life and career. After shelving my first attempt, an opportunity presented itself through an ad in a paper called Classic Images. Entertainment author Robert Parish was looking for new and established authors for a performing arts series being published by Greenwood Press. At the urging of my wife Linda, I responded to the ad. Mr. Parish approved my topic. I had to sell the topic to the publisher, and fortunately I was offered a contract. I chose Howard Keel as my second entry for the same series. Next, my wife, whose favorite television show was Bonanza, suggested we coauthor a book on that show.

"I enjoy writing in the entertainment field, as it has become a major interest. I was fortunate to have a publisher before writing my books but would advise future writers to hang in there and not become discouraged.

"The main goal of my writing is to try and chronicle the most extensive record of my topic as I can for readers, fans, and researchers."