Frank: I was pretty behind the times growing up. I never saw him on SNL (Either I wasn’t allowed to watch it, or to stay up that late, I can’t recall. But then, I was an easy-going kid, so it didn’t matter to me. Heck, maybe I simply didn’t care … )

Anyhoo, I do remember the first time I saw Martin: Dad was watching the Gong Show, and I sat down to join him. One of the celeb judges was wearing twisty balloons on his head.

“Who’s the guy wearing twisty balloons on his head?”

“Steve Martin.”

“Name’s familiar. Who is he?”

“Some comedian.”

“Pass the chips, Dad?”

I was always behind the trends. (Class of ‘79, just FYI.) But like I said, easy going, so it didn’t bother me none.

I was interested to hear recently that Martin worked for the Brothers Smothers. They’ll be here in January. I hope to check ‘em out. Maybe bring the kids. Heck, maybe they’ll do Waist Deep in the Big Muddy, just for old times’ sake. (Some things never change.)

I have to laugh, because I did the very same thing: I was wandering through B&N with my family when I saw the book on display. I picked it up, started reading . . . and was totally sucked in.

Initially I started reading for selfish reasons not related to Martin’s writing skills: (1) I’m a fan and have been since his start. (2) We grew up not far from each other (I’m a few years younger), so I was curious to see how he treated growing up in Orange County (after his family’s move from LA). (3) I grew up about a mile from Disneyland, and my dad had business connections there, almost from its beginnings in 1955, so I essentially grew up at “the Park;” and I, too, worked there when I was in college.

However, like I said, I got sucked in by his skill as a writer and by his story. I thought I knew a lot about him, but I was fascinated by the Stormie Omartian, Mitzi Trumbo and Aaron Copland stories, etc., as well as his extensive time (and depth) as a real live Philosophy student.

I had long suspected that he had at least dabbled in philosophy — especially after reading Cruel Shoes — but this memoir fleshed it out.

And, he even cracks a couple of jokes — but just a couple.

Martin may not be a Christian (who knows, now?), but this book’s certainly an entertaining inside look at growing up in the “entertainment capital of the world” during the sixties and seventies.

All Of Me also, one I overlooked that was quite good.

Of the Steve Martin movies I’ve seen (which admittedly isn’t all of them), I liked All of Me and My Blue Heaven best.

Leap of Faith was good, too.

He’s very good when he has good material to work from.