Perfectly Amanda: Gunsmoke’s Miss Kitty, To Dodge and Beyond

Perfectly Amanda, Gunsmoke's Miss Kitty: To Dodge and Beyond is the biography of Amanda Blake, who portrayed Kitty Russell on television's Gunsmoke for nearly 20 years, as told by Beckey Burgoyne, an Illinois elementary school teacher and an avid Miss Kitty fan. As a farmer's daughter, Burgoyne can certainly appreciate the value of hard work and self-reliance, characteristics that came to life in Amanda Blake's portrayal of Miss Kitty. In Perfectly Amanda, Burgoyne celebrates everything the character of Kitty Russell stood for: strength, grace, intelligence, independence and so much more. The book provides readers with a chronological look into Amanda Blake's life both on- and off-screen. Readers will also enjoy many wonderful anecdotes and personal reflections as told by Blake's friends and colleagues, as well an extensive collection of photographs, both formal and candid. Full of tales of travel and adventure, as well as heartwarming stories of Blake's devotion to a wide variety of charities, there is something in Perfectly Amanda for everyone - young or old, male or female. More than just a typical biography, this is a tale of strength, courage and compassion. It's the story of a legendary character that sparked a generation of women to challenge conventional views on the traditional roles they were expected to play in society. Burgoyne has done an excellent job of telling the complex story of Buffalo-born Beverly Louise Neill who paid her dues in Hollywood before landing the role of Kitty Russell, owner of the Long Branch Saloon and whose sideline gig as a hooker was apparent to alert viewers. Bob Sanders Sidebars.typepad.com Bob Sanders' career as an award winning public relations professional and journalist for many esteemed employers including the Chicago Tribune and TV Guide have provided him with a plethora of amazing memories that he shares with Internet Readers at Sidebars. Follow the links for his recent review of Perfectly Amanda and his most interesting tale of Baltimore Jack, Hazel, Amanda Blake and her fellow Zebra Ladies of the Phoenix Zoo with a few Playboy Bunnies in the mix, too! Full of tales of adventure and travel, as well as more heartwarming information on Blake's battle with cancer and her unending devotion to a wide variety of charities, there is something in this book for everyone. However, this is more than just an ordinary biography. It's a tale of strength, courage and compassion. It's the story of a legendary character that changed the way women saw the world and their roles in society. Miss Kitty's independence and business know-how sparked a generation of women to challenge conventional views on the traditional roles women were expected to play in society. Independent Publisher A Highlighted Title An intriguing read, and one not to be missed for Hollywood biography collections - 5 Stars on Amazon In Perfectly Amanda, Gunsmoke's Miss Kitty: To Dodge and Beyond, Burgoyne celebrates everything the character of Kitty Russell stood for: strength, grace, intelligence, independence and so much more. The biography provides readers with a chronological look into Amanda Blake's life both on-and off-screen, even telling of her ancestry tracing back to 1600 England, Scotland and Ireland. Perfectly Amanda also includes many wonderful anecdotes and personal reflections from Blake's friends and colleagues, as well as an extensive collection of photographs, both formal and candid. ...this is more than just an ordinary biography. It's a tale of strength, courage and compassion. It's the story of a legendary character that changed the way women saw the world and their roles in society. Read more