Hyperion Press

Disney Press Buys Michael Milken's Story: The junk bond king's autobiography will be ghost-written by William Novak and published by Disney's Hyperion Press, Hyperion Publisher Robert Miller said. He referred to Milken as a "visionary" of the financial world and said he hopes the book will be "one of the most compelling autobiographies in many years," exposing "the white-hot center of a revolution" that took place during Milken's controversial heyday at Drexel Burnham Lambert.

One of the puzzling aspects of this month's Beardstown Ladies fiasco has been how easily Walt Disney Co. and its publishing unit, Hyperion, have gotten off the hook. The two leveraged the elderly Illinois investment club into a cottage industry, reaping the financial and PR rewards that came with selling quaint bestsellers about a bunch of Grandma Buffetts from rural Illinois.

The Beardstown Ladies, those homespun, grandmotherly investors whose supposed success created a mini-industry, are being called frauds. And senior partner Betty Sinnock, who celebrates her 66th birthday Saturday, can't say whether the charge is true. A long-unnoticed disclaimer on the copyright page of the "The Beardstown Ladies' Common-Sense Investment Guide" says the annual return during the decade covered in the book--which the ladies put at 23.

The Beardstown Ladies, those homespun, grandmotherly investors whose supposed success created a mini-industry, are being called frauds. And senior partner Betty Sinnock, who celebrates her 66th birthday Saturday, can't say whether the charge is true. A long-unnoticed disclaimer on the copyright page of the "The Beardstown Ladies' Common-Sense Investment Guide" says the annual return during the decade covered in the book--which the ladies put at 23.

In the decade since Michael D. Eisner took the helm, Walt Disney Co. has been a looky-loo on many deals, passing up opportunities to invest in established record companies, networks--even Mattel, the toy company. Instead of buying, Disney frequently has launched new ventures from scratch. Two of the most notable attempts have been in recorded music and publishing. After six years, Hollywood Records can't take credit for a single hit.

One of the puzzling aspects of this month's Beardstown Ladies fiasco has been how easily Walt Disney Co. and its publishing unit, Hyperion, have gotten off the hook. The two leveraged the elderly Illinois investment club into a cottage industry, reaping the financial and PR rewards that came with selling quaint bestsellers about a bunch of Grandma Buffetts from rural Illinois.

This is the book Titanic buffs have been waiting for. "Titanic: An Illustrated History" is likely to command the best berth in the library, even if one already has a shelf full of ill-fated-liner lore. The lavishly wide format is ideal for Marschall's dramatic paintings, which sweep across page-spreads so vividly you can almost hear the four-funneled ghost gliding through the waves.

Michael Lynton, a top executive from Disney's Hyperion Press publishing unit in New York, is expected to be named the new head of Hollywood Pictures, sources confirmed Friday. The Walt Disney Co., under which Hollywood Pictures hangs its banner, is currently in intense contract negotiations with Lynton and his announcement could come as early as next week when details of his deal are hammered out, sources said. "It's between days and weeks," an insider noted.

Walt Disney Co.'s publishing arm isn't entitled to 1st Amendment protection for allegedly fraudulent claims it made on jacket covers for the "Beardstown Ladies Investment Club" books, because the claims are commercial speech, California's First Appellate District ruled. The decision, which sets a legal precedent in California, means a San Francisco man's false advertising lawsuit against Disney's Buena Vista Books Inc. can proceed to trial.

In the decade since Michael D. Eisner took the helm, Walt Disney Co. has been a looky-loo on many deals, passing up opportunities to invest in established record companies, networks--even Mattel, the toy company. Instead of buying, Disney frequently has launched new ventures from scratch. Two of the most notable attempts have been in recorded music and publishing. After six years, Hollywood Records can't take credit for a single hit.

Disney Press Buys Michael Milken's Story: The junk bond king's autobiography will be ghost-written by William Novak and published by Disney's Hyperion Press, Hyperion Publisher Robert Miller said. He referred to Milken as a "visionary" of the financial world and said he hopes the book will be "one of the most compelling autobiographies in many years," exposing "the white-hot center of a revolution" that took place during Milken's controversial heyday at Drexel Burnham Lambert.

This is the book Titanic buffs have been waiting for. "Titanic: An Illustrated History" is likely to command the best berth in the library, even if one already has a shelf full of ill-fated-liner lore. The lavishly wide format is ideal for Marschall's dramatic paintings, which sweep across page-spreads so vividly you can almost hear the four-funneled ghost gliding through the waves.

The site: www.YummyFun.com If the Food Network were crossed with Nickelodeon, the result might look something like the animated cooking site YummyFun. Whether it's eggs flying into a mixing bowl or bananas dipping themselves in chocolate, the site is a lighthearted and colorful showcase of recipes in action, complete with sound effects. Log on and listen to the buzz of a microwave as it melts chocolate, or hear the cracking of eggs on their way into a cake.