Anthony J. Mohr

ABOUT THE BOOK

“A powerful and profound exploration of love, resilience, and the bonds that shape us…Whether delving into the alluring world of cinema or navigating the ups-and-downs of high school relationships, [Mohr’s] storytelling captivates with its depth and intensity.” —The Prairies Book Review

In Every Other Weekend: Coming of Age with Two Different Dads, Anthony Mohr describes living in the shadow of two larger-than-life men in an age where divorce and blended families weren’t the norm. Anthony’s father, Gerald Mohr, was a popular radio actor and onscreen villain in classic westerns who struggled to replicate his success onscreen during the advent of television. Good-looking, fun-loving, and passionate, Gerald Mohr was a man who lived large and loved large; regaled young Anthony with stories of Hollywood parties and beautiful women; and ultimately, left Anthony and his mother for another woman. And in a time not unlike the present, where political affiliations ran deep, Gerald was an enthusiastic Democrat. He worked for Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign and was in the ballroom of the Ambassador Hotel when RFK was shot.   

Gerald Mohr stands in stark contrast to Anthony’s stepdad, Stanley Dashew – an innovative entrepreneur whose contributions to the credit card industry earned him a mention in You Only Have to Get Rich Once and, when he died, a Milestone in Time Magazine. A staunch Republican, Stanley was part of a group of businessmen who recruited Gerald Ford to run for Congress and was offered a position in Richard Nixon’s administration (he declined). 

As Stanley’s star rises, Gerald’s falters. Anthony describes spending weekends on his stepfather’s catamaran only to visit his father’s home and have his stepmother announce that they are poor. With stunning compassion and empathy, Every Other Weekend offers a portrait of two very different men and the pivotal role they played in shaping Anthony into the man and the Superior Court Judge he later became.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anthony J. Mohr served for 26 years as a judge on the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. He also sat as a judge pro tem on the California Court of Appeal. In January 2021, he became a fellow at the Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University and is now a senior editor of the Harvard ALI Social Impact Review. His stories and essays have received six Pushcart Prize nominations. He has worked on the staffs of Evening Street Review, Fifth Wednesday Journal, Hippocampus Magazine, and Under the Sun.

TALKING POINTS

• What does it really mean for children of divorced parents to live their lives “Every Other Weekend?”
• The realities of growing up in the shadow of a famous father and powerful and influential stepfather: Entertainment vs. Business.
• How to navigate family relationships when dealing with opposing political views or disparate economic status.  
• Growing up in Beverly Hills during the Golden Age of Hollywood and the advent of television.
• What parents should keep in mind if they’re planning a divorce.   
• How can parents (on both sides) support kids’ dreams and aspirations no matter the arena they choose to pursue. 
• When and when not to urge your children to go into your line of work.