Andy Milligan

Andy Milligan was unique character. Living in Manhattan in the late 1950's and early 1960's he was one of the people who was there at the start of the Off Broadway scene before moving off to make a series of really bad exploitation films. Milligan was also something of a monster taking great delight in pushing people to the edge and so was both loved and hated by his "friends".

This book is framed as Andy's story, told by a late in life friend, who interviewed Andy before he died as well as anyone else who knew the man and was willing to talk. Its a chilling portrait of a sad monster of a man who ran a dress shop by day and put on plays or made movies at night. It will also explain why his movies are as bad as they are.

The book is also a portrait of the embryonic Off Broadway scene in Greenwich Village in the late 1950's and early 1960's as well as the exploitation film industry that supplied films for grindhouses across America and in Times Square in particular. If you've ever wanted to know about how the films ended up on the Deuce, here's the book to tell you. Its an amazing tale and its here away from Milligan (who often disappears for long stretches) that the book shines. Its a wonderful snapshot of a time and a place now no longer with us. Its the portrait of the world around Andy that you'll remember more than Milligan himself.

If you're fan of exploitation or a fan of theater and want to know about a fringe figure from either and the world he moved in this is a must read book.