Marv Balousek

When I initally reviewed "Alex Jordan: Architect of his own Dream" I mistook it for this bk wch I must've read around the same time. I'd forgotten that I'd read TWO biographies of Jordan. Oopsie! This is the UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY in wch Jordan is accused of having briefly attempted to be a blackmailer. Here's the relevant excerpt from that 1st review transplanted here (wch I've now rewritten as is appropriate in its original location):

"This biography of the HOTR's creator is not particularly flattering (wch is fine w/ me since it's, therefore, not a puff piece) insofar as it implicates the young Jordan in a blackmail scheme, but Jordan comes across as an extremely remarkable & positive person ANYWAY."

On the title page of this bk I wrote in pencil I wrote "(pretty lousy book..)". I reckon Balousek had it in for him a little bit or got tired of hearing Jordan praised when he knew about Jordan's more sordid side or whatever but if his intention was to get people turned against Jordan it sure didn't work w/ me. Even though I think blackmailing is utterly repulsive, as my friend the prison activist says: "people are more than the worst thing they've ever done" & that's esp clear in Alex Jordan's case. He was clearly a visionary.

I don't remember wch of the 2 bios went into Dr. Evermore (aka Tom Every - creator of the Forevertron in Baraboo, WI & one of the main workers on House on the Rock - esp the "Organ Room") & Syd Boyum (another major contributor to the place) but it seems that it's this one. This bio probably gets into interpersonal squabbles & makes it seem like everybody hates each other & maybe they do but having had many a volatile collaborative relationship myself, I say FUCK IT!, ultimately it's the work itself that counts & the House on the Rock is an incredible place. More from my original review of the other bio:

"Besides, the bk mentions Dr. Evermore, who created much of the Organ Room in the HOTR - a truly amazing place - & Dr. Evermore is one of my favorite humans on the planet."

… (altro)