Ep. 27 - Let's discuss Phyllis Diller and The Magic of Believing by Claude M. Bristol

In Episode 27 of Idea Diary - Today, I talk about reading the book,“Like a Lampshade In a Whorehouse: My Life In Comedy” by Phyllis Diller. She famously has talked about the book, “The Magic of Believing” by Claude M. Bristol, and said the book changed her life, and helped her get everything she ever dreamed for herself.

Phyllis was born in 1917. When she was 35 years old she had her first thought that she would like to be a professional comedian. Even though she was the bread-winner of her family, because her husband refused to work, she quit a $5000 a year job from a radio station as an advertising copy writer. Shortly after she quit her job with no backup plan, she had her first professional comedy gig on March, 7, 1955.

She was a touring comedian, but at 39 years old, she was at such a low point she had to put her young children in the care of their grandmother, and had to borrow money from her oldest son to pay $60 in rent in 1958. By 1960, she was a very popular touring comedian, getting movie roles, and had television appearances, and by 1962, she was making several thousand dollars a week being a comedian.

Later in life she was able to tour with a symphony orchestra playing as a concert pianist, she also became a professional painter, and after two failed marriages, fell in love with her true love at 68 years old.

Phyllis performed 125 club gigs in her 70’s, while also starring in television and movie rolls. She worked well into her 90’s, and it

seems like Phyllis never stopped working until the day she passed in 2012 at a nice age of 95 years old.

Thank you so much for listening today!

"Idea Diary" is a business lifestyle podcast about creative entrepreneurship. "Idea Diary" focuses on building creative businesses, and chronicles how Valerie Aiello uses multiple skills to create products, illustrations, film, music, and businesses.

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Valerie Aiello is a multi-hyphenate brand expert from Austin, Texas.

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