ELLENBERGER, Allan R. 1956-

PERSONAL: Born September 9, 1956, in Tyrone, PA; son of Ralph (a paper mill worker) and Mabel (a homemaker; maiden name, Keller) Ellenberger. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Ivy School of Professional Art, A.A., 1976. Politics: Independent. Religion: Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Films, theater, cemeteries, collecting.

ADDRESSES: Home—15445 Ventura Blvd., No. 78, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-3005. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Zenith Insurance Co., Woodland Hills, CA, special projects coordinator, 1987—. Hollywood Studio Museum, docent/historian, 1990-96; appeared on television programs, including Mysteries and Scandals, broadcast by E! Entertainment Television, Good vs. Evil, broadcast by the Sci-Fi Channel, and the syndicated National Enquirer Show.

MEMBER: Authors Guild, Authors League of America.

AWARDS, HONORS: Bronze Halo Awards, Southern California Motion Picture Council, 1999, for Ramon Novarro: A Biography of the Silent Film Idol, 1899-1968, and 2000, for Margaret O'Brien: A Career Chronicle and Biography.

WRITINGS:

Ramon Novarro: A Biography of the Silent Film Idol, 1899-1968, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 1999.

Margaret O'Brien: A Career Chronicle and Biography, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2000.

Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2001.

Contributor to periodicals, including Classic Images and Films of the Golden Age.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Rudolph Valentino: A PostMortem (working title), for McFarland; a screenplay based on the life of Ramon Novarro; research for a book on actress Miriam Hopkins.

SIDELIGHTS: Allan R. Ellenberger told CA: "I have always been interested in the history behind films, more so than some of the actual films themselves. I love to find the story behind a person or an event. I am also interested in the history of the city of Hollywood and collect Hollywood memorabilia. When I write, I usually spend several months doing research before I actually sit down to write.

"I like to write about people who interest me and about whom no one has ever written before. I don't think I could do a book about Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley, for example, unless I could find a different angle of approach, such as I am doing for my book on Rudolph Valentino."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, June 1, 1999, Brad Hooper, review of RamonNovarro: A Biography of the Silent Film Idol, 1899-1968, p. 1783; January 1, 2002, review of Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory, p. 886.

Lambda Book Report, December, 1999, Deborah Peifer, review of Ramon Novarro, p. 24.