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The Opening Act: The Love Story Of Augie and Margo Rodriguez
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The Opening Act: The Love Story Of Augie and Margo Rodriguez

This is a love story about an extraordinary young couple who put Latin dance on the map at New York's Palladium. Turning the world of ballroom dancing and the nightlife in the city upside down, they went on to be the highest paid dance duo in the world, opening acts for numerous celebrities. Many of them became lifelong friends, particularly Sammy Davis Jr. whose close relationship with Augie and Margo forms an integral part of the story. Their memories and insights into some of the world's icons are sometimes hilarious, sometimes surprising, sometimes sad or tender; but always revealing.

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Product Details:
Author: Christine Hamer-Hodges
Paperback: 292 pages
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
Publication Date: July 25, 2006
ISBN: 1419642758
Package Length: 8.7 inches
Package Width: 6.0 inches
Package Height: 0.8 inches
Package Weight: 1.0 pounds
Average Customer Rating: based on 10 reviews
 
 

Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Review:5.0
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5Former Reader's Digest Editor rates Opening Act 5 Stars  Jun 30, 2007
The Opening Act: The Love Story Of Augie and Margo Rodriguez Augie and Margo dance off the pages of "The Opening Act" through the magic and brilliance of a natural writer. Christine Hamer-Hodges has captured every step of their extraodinary lives with honesty, truth and the beat of lives worth living, worth watching, worth reading about. When I worked as an editor of the Reader's Digest, we had something called "the slush pile" ... a mound of unsolicited manuscripts sent to us by hopeful authors. In all my years at the Digest, I only discovered three writers who rose to the top of that pile ... diamonds sparkling to be published. Here now is a fourth. Christine Hamer-Hodges has taken the written word and wrapped it around an extraordinary event ... the love story of Augie and Margo Rodriguez.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

5LOVED THIS BOOK  May 22, 2007
This book was given to me as a gift, but my wife started to read it first and wouldn't give it back to me until she was finished. After reading the book I would have done the same. This book is FANTASTIC! I'm not a dancer and I'm not a frequent reader of books. I never even heard of Augie and Margo. Now I know who they are. Everyone should know who they are. I started reading the book one Sunday morning and couldn't put it down until I was done reading it the same Sunday. The detail in the book is fascinating. There is information in this book that I'm sure hasn't been written before. I hope a Broadway play is made of Augie and Margo's life, with Christine Hamer-Hodges assisting the production team. Hopefully this is "The Opening Act" for Christine Hamer-Hodges.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

5A Must read you can not put down!  Jan 14, 2007
Hamer-Hodges has done a great job transporting the reader to another place and time. You feel the beat of the music and you are anxious to turn the page. The life of Augie and Margo is not only captivating but engaging to the point you want to see them dance! A must read. I am looking forward to the next book by Ms.Hamer-Hodges.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

5A page turner; a window into another world...  Jan 10, 2007
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and devoured it over a few days. I felt what it was like to be there in the 50s, 60s and beyond at the Latin dancing nights at the hot NYC clubs. It was before my time, and I knew it was "a scene," but that's about it. Now I "get it."

This makes a nice companion to Hijuelos' "The Mambo Kings..." But instead of the band's perspective, here you get the dancers' persepctive.

As I read the book, I pictured two movies that could stem from this book. First, the story of Augie and Margo. That's a story anyone -- especially anyone with the dancing bug -- will enjoy. And second, the bittersweet side of Sammy Davis Jr's life, as seen through the eyes of his close friends.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

5You may want to buy more than one!  Jan 04, 2007
Hamer-Hodges can certainly keep you entertained while you learn about dancers and associated celebrities. This book covered an era of dancing and entertainment that I hardly knew existed, and left me with a thirst and desire for more, more, more. My wife started reading this book first, and I looked forward to reading it myself. She was too slow in completing it though, so I started reading the book whenever she put it down. It was hard for me to let her have it back, and I was so involved with the story that I finished it well before her. The one thing that was missing was being able to see Augie and Margo perform in those early years. [...]. Get the book, read it, and then watch them dance.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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