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Singing to A Bulldog: Life Lessons a Fellow Janitor Taught Me: My Journey from Happy Days to Hollywood and Beyond
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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About this ebook
Growing up in 1950s California, young Anson William Heimlich showed very little promise. Clumsy, unsure of himself, and made to feel like a failure by his disappointed artist of a dad, Anson started working odd jobs as a teenager to help support his family. His boss at one of these jobs, an aging African-American janitor named Willie, unexpectedly became a mentor—and the lessons he taught young Anson proved to be invaluable throughout his subsequent career as an actor, director, and entrepreneur.
In Singing to a Bulldog, Anson Williams (as he came to be known) relates both these lessons and the never-before-revealed stories of the many seminal TV series he has worked on and the famous (and not-so-famous) folks he’s encountered during his 40 years in Hollywood, including: • being directed by Steven Spielberg in his first dramatic role • getting kidnapped by Gerald Ford’s daughter at the White House • subbing for Sammy Davis, Jr., as a headliner with Bill Cosby • being humbled by Sunny, a young volunteer for the Cerebral Palsy National Organization • mentoring Shailene Woodley on the set of The Secret Life of the American Teenager and many more.
This compelling read has a cross-generational and broad appeal, combining all the fun of a celebrity memoir with the emotional impact of an inspirational bestseller. With Singing to a Bulldog, Anson Williams brings his gift of storytelling to a new medium in a book that is sure to touch readers’ hearts and lives as profoundly as Willie once touched his.
In Singing to a Bulldog, Anson Williams (as he came to be known) relates both these lessons and the never-before-revealed stories of the many seminal TV series he has worked on and the famous (and not-so-famous) folks he’s encountered during his 40 years in Hollywood, including: • being directed by Steven Spielberg in his first dramatic role • getting kidnapped by Gerald Ford’s daughter at the White House • subbing for Sammy Davis, Jr., as a headliner with Bill Cosby • being humbled by Sunny, a young volunteer for the Cerebral Palsy National Organization • mentoring Shailene Woodley on the set of The Secret Life of the American Teenager and many more.
This compelling read has a cross-generational and broad appeal, combining all the fun of a celebrity memoir with the emotional impact of an inspirational bestseller. With Singing to a Bulldog, Anson Williams brings his gift of storytelling to a new medium in a book that is sure to touch readers’ hearts and lives as profoundly as Willie once touched his.
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Author
Anson Williams
He lives with his wife and five daughters in Los Angeles, California.
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Reviews for Singing to A Bulldog
Rating: 4.500001666666667 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
6 ratings4 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anson Williams (best known as Potsie Webber from Happy Days) relates life lessons he learned from his janitorial co-worker at his first job. What results are a series of heartwarming essays that convey down home truths via stories that show ways Anson incorporated each piece of advice into his life.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The beginning of a new year is a great time to reflect on your life and the lessons you have learned over the past year. In SINGING TO A BULLDOG, Anson Williams, better known as "Potsie" from the popular TV Series, Happy Days, shares his life lessons. The lessons that carried him to stardom came from an African American janitor that become Williams mentor and friend. Willie Turner may have been an alcoholic, depending on whiskey to keep him going, but the lessons he shares with Williams during a critical point in his life have shaped him into the man he has become today.Anson Williams shares his life growing up in a home where his parents didn't expect him to amount to much. A chance job in a department store, working as a janitor with Willie Turner, set him on the path to stardom. With Willie's nudging and guidance, Williams had the fortitude to go to auditions and keep going until he finally got the break he needed.Each chapter shares a lesson he learned from Willie and a personal story that relates to the lesson. Williams shares his experiences from singing in night clubs, to when he realized he was a "star", to chance meetings with famous people like President Ford's daughter, Robin Williams, Dolly Parton and John Lennon. His stories are inspirational, heartfelt, and uplifting. Every time Williams was given a break, he found a way to also give back, remembering an important lesson from Willie.Anson Williams gives a lot of credit for his success to fellow actor/director Ron Howard. Williams shares numerous examples of Howard's kindness, selflessness, and wisdom while acting and directing together. One day, Williams complained to Ron Howard about always being known as "Potsie". Howard states, "What are you complaining about? I'm stuck with two, Opie and Richie." Howard goes on to explain, "Of course they are going to call us by our character's names; that's how they know us. We have to earn our real names. We need to accomplish things as individuals." After reading this book, it is obvious Ron Howard and Anson Williams have definitely accomplished that.Readers can learn a lot from Willie's wisdom and how Anson Williams used those lessons to create an amazing life, capitalizing on opportunities, and giving back to others. Fans of the show, Happy Days, will appreciate the inside stories from the show and its characters. Those looking for an uplifting read will find ways to make their days "happy" with Williams's anecdotes.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5√ "You Gonna Do Somethin' Great in Life"
You might think this is a book about Anson Williams, but it's not. Instead, SINGING TO A BULLDOG is about IDEAS, or "Life Lessons" as the author describes them. Sure, there are fun stories about the author's meeting with John Wayne, or Elvis, or even President Ronald Reagan. And the date with Sudan Ford, the president's daughter, are fun and endearing. Nevertheless, those events are just window dressing to what the author is trying to convey.
Anson Williams started his work life as a janitor--technically an "Assistant Janitor." He worked at Leonard's department store in Burbank, along side a much-older African-American, "Willie." When not working, they sat in "Dey talk room," where the alcoholic Willie gave young Anson words of adv ice.
Strangely enough, this black janitor provided more useful life lessons than Anson's own father, who made it clear that Anson was an impediment to his own dreams: "If it wasn't for you, I'd have my own art galley, wouldn't have to feed your stupid face." In contrast, Willie encouraged the young janitor's apprentice, and proclaimed, "You gonna do somethin' great in life. Just a feelin' I got."
Well, Anson Williams did go places--a lot of them. We know the author as "Potsie," but of course, his career has spanned a much broader set of roles than just "Happy Days." He started his own business, and went to direct many episodes of successful television shows. I was surprised to learn that Anson Williams is actually an accomplished singer, and has sang publicly numerous times, including singing the National Anthem at sports fields.
As a grown man, the author finally realized the value of the lessons that Willie had conveyed. "And it all became suddenly clear. I needed to pay Willie's wisdom forward so that everyone can have their talks in 'Dey Talk Room,' so that everyone has that chance."
And so, Anson Williams is now sharing these encouraging words from that old janitor, from decades ago, sitting in "Dey Talk" room: "That's the reason for this book, to inspire you to stop looking at your mountain and to start climbing it, just like Willie did for me."
SINGING TO A BULLDOG is a heartfelt, fun story. The lessons from that old black janitor are still relevant today: "You gonna do somethin' great in life. Just a feelin' I got." - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anson Williams, better known as Potsie on the TV series “Happy Days” has written a memoir based on the advice he received from a janitor named Willie when he was an ignored and unloved fifteen year old. The advice from Willie resounds through his life, and becomes more important when he thinks he may fail or is unsure of his next move. What I like is that we got a look into William’s life through snippets as he remembered what Willie told him and how he used that to succeed. We learn about the people he met worked with and others that inspired him. Also, his transition from actor, singer to director and business owner is explained. What Id didn’t like is that it was too short; not only the book, but the chapters. I feel he could have added more meat to some of his experiences.