[Palance Picture]

Jack Palance

Palance gets rave reviews from folks at book-signing

by Aimee Tabor, Standard-Speaker

A line of people formed at a littie desk inside Waldenbooks and extended out to the mall area.

The desk sat waiting for its guest, well prepared with a felt-tip marker and a water glass.

Down the line, people talked among each other as the line continued to grow.

All at once the crowd fell silent and looked toward the direction of Kmart.

"Oh my God, there he is," one woman from the line whispered.

As the crowd continued to look, smiles appeared on each face as Jack Palance walked into the book store.

[He was admired] for his many movies and television shows, was on hand Sunday to sign copies of his new poetry book, "The Forest of Love, A Love Story in Blank Verse", from 2 to 4 p.m.

The book was done entirely by Palance from cover to cover. The 87-page romantic poetry book has an oil painting of a country scene painted by Palance on the front cover.

The inside of the book is filled with poetry and drawings done by Palance.

He explained that the book was written for one purpose, "the need to say something."

The many fans who waited in line were pleased with their autographed copies from the superstar.

"I was really nervous," Marietta Klinetop of Hazleton said. "I like him a lot. He signed my book 'lots oflove' with a little face."

Klinetop added that she hasn't read the book yet but will begin to as soon as she gets home.

A Nesquehoning woman who took several pictures of Palance also was pleased with her copy.

"I always watch his movies," Tami Weaver said. "My husband met him 15 years ago and he signed a dollar bill for him."

Weaver said that in addition to having her book signed, she was excited to meet him.

"He's a local person," Weaver said smiling. "I'm a big fan. I like his voice, that deep voice of his."

Palance is a Lattimer native, and still owns a farm near Drums.

Bertha Doleiden of Weatherly, who was one of the first people to have her copy autographed, enjoyed meeting the local star.

"He's really nice and friendly," Doleiden said. "He's smart and very intelligent."

Palance's presence affected a Tamaqua woman who said she felt weak in the knees when she was having her copy signed.

"I saw TV shows with the Beatles and there were screaming girls who were passing out after seeing them," Elaine Betư said. "I thought, come on, but now I understand."

Betz, who had four copies signed, added that she admires that Palance comes back to the area.

"He's a local person that keeps in touch with the area," Betz said. "He's a local person who gets out and shares his experiences with the local people."

Thomas Racho of Beaver Meadows had his copy signed after he read the book and found, it well written.

"I'm very interested in writing and poetry," Racho said. "I saw the book and decided to pick it up. I read it and it was very interesting."

Racho added he also enjoyed [attending the meeting].

From: Hazleton Standard-Speaker, Sept. 15, 1997