Show Business by Boyd Ellanby (1953)
Show Business is a novel by Boyd Ellanby that follows the story of a young man named Jack, who is determined to make it in the entertainment industry. After graduating from college, Jack moves to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming a successful actor. He quickly finds himself in the middle of a cutthroat world of agents, producers, and casting directors, all vying for the same roles. Jack soon discovers that the entertainment industry is a ruthless business, and he must learn to navigate the politics and backstabbing in order to make it. Along the way, he meets a variety of colorful characters, including a washed-up actor, a powerful agent, and a mysterious woman. As Jack struggles to make it in the business, he learns valuable lessons about the power of ambition, the importance of networking, and the need to stay true to himself. Show Business is a fast-paced and entertaining novel that offers an insider's look at the entertainment industry. It is a story of ambition, determination, and the power of dreams.
By Boyd Ellanby · First published 1953 · Genre: Satire, Humor, Drama · 3,727 words
First lines
Except for old Dworken, Kotha's bar was deserted when I dropped in shortly after midnight. The ship from Earth was still two days away, and the Martian flagship would get in next morning, with seven hundred passengers for Earth on it. Dworken must have been waiting in Luna City a whole week -- at six thousand credits a day. That's as steep to me as it is to you, but money never seemed to worry Dworken.
He raised the heavy green lids from his protruding brown eyes as I came in. He waved his tail.
What this Textopian page supports
Show Business is listed on Textopian as a short story by Boyd Ellanby, dated 1953 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Boyd Ellanby
- Date: 1953 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Humor, Drama, Romance
- Length: 3,727 words
- Structure: 1 section, 65 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Show Business by Boyd Ellanby
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Show Business?
- How does this short story by Boyd Ellanby fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Satire — The book is a humorous take on the entertainment industry, making it a satire.
- Humor — The book is filled with humorous moments and characters, making it a comedy.
- Drama — The book follows the lives of several characters in the entertainment industry, making it a drama.
- Romance — The book follows the romantic relationships of several characters, making it a romance.
Tags
Science Fiction · Short stories · act · air · animals · dat · de · dey · dworken · earth · even · friend