Two New Offerings by Brandow, Katzinger Hit Bay City History Book Market
Authors Group Holds "Sign-In" of New, Old Local Books at Museum
December 12, 2004
By: Dave Rogers
Author Jay Brandow cavorts with fully decked-out leprechaun Cecil Cunningham as he attends a book signing for his recently published "The Captain's Chair."
Leon Katzinger signs copies of his third book, "Then and Now Bay City."
The list of published authors from Bay City is mounting with the addition of two new ones in the past year or so, Leon Katzinger and Jay Brandow.
Mr. Brandow has written and published the widely publicized "The Captain's Chair," a fascinating account of an old ship captain whose home Mr. Brandow acquired. His account of the ordeal of Capt. William Neal, of Bay City, only survivor of a crew of 18 that went down off Lake Superior's Whitefish Point with the steamer Myron in 1919 is a breath-taking tale.
Mr. Katzinger has found a niche in postcard books, pushing his publishing total to three with the most recent edition, "Then and Now, Bay City." The first two were: "Bay City: 1900-1940 In Vintage Postcards," and "Bay Cityand Beyond in Vintage Postcards."
Mr. Katzinger has ferreted out photos featuring rare glimpses of old Bay City including a spectacular shot showing pioneer pilot Lionel DeRemer over the Saginaw River in a Wright monoplane in 1912.
The two new authors join the growing list including Dr. Jeremy Kilar, "Michigan Lumbertowns," and "Bay City Logbook," Dale Wolicki, "Architecture of Bay City," Patricia Drury and Ron Bloomfield, "Recipe for a Community," and D. Laurence Rogers, "Paul Bunyan: How A Terrible Timber Feller Became a Legend."
Books on the history of Bay City seem to be gaining in popularity as Mr. Brandow reports sales of his book nearing the 1,000 mark and Mr. Katzinger noting that he signed about 100 books in a recent session at Monitor Pharmacy.
The other books still enjoy steady popularity in the book store of the Bay County Historical Museum and local antique stores and specialty shops.
Mr. Brandow, who has 30 years experience in radio and television, is working on a masters degree in Broadcasting at Central Michigan University and is an adjunct instructor of Broadcast History at Delta College.
Mr. Katzinger is principal of Auburn Elementary School, a past president of the Bay County Historical Society and has long been a collector of postcards, stereoview cards and other Bay County history artifacts.
For more information on these and other Bay City history books available at the Bay County Historical Museum please contact bookstore manager Donna Lowe, 893-5733.###