CHECK IT OUT:

For television trivia buffs, we just celebrated an anniversary of sorts — Sept. 14, 1985, was the television premiere of “The Golden Girls.” Estelle Getty, Betty White, Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan starred in this award-winning comedy for seven seasons.

The highly acclaimed sitcom showcased the concerns and escapades of four distinctive, aging women. When Estelle Getty died this summer, fans everywhere mourned her loss. Reruns of the “The Golden Girls” can still be seen on television and DVD, of course.

But if you want to go behind-the-scenes and learn more about these and other talented comediennes, you need look no further than the Newport Beach Public Library.

“If I Knew Then What I Know Now…So What?” by Estelle Getty is a hilarious, irreverent autobiography of the actress who played Sophia on “The Golden Girls.” Winner of the very first Helen Hayes Award for Best Supporting Actress in “Torch Song Trilogy,” Getty also appeared in the films “Mask” and “Copacabana.” Estelle’s witty recollections include tongue-in-cheek advice on marriage, motherhood and retirement. Her candid revelations are punctuated with warmth and humor.

“Here We Go Again: My Life in Television” by Betty White is another entertaining autobiography penned by one of “The Golden Girls.” After a brief start in radio, Betty first appeared on television in 1949. Best known for her roles as Sue Ann on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and Rose on “The Golden Girls,” she was also on several other programs. White reminisces about the early days of television, tells anecdotes about the fascinating personalities she’s worked with and talks about her personal life in this upbeat memoir.

In “My First Five Husbands…And the Ones Who Got Away” by Rue McClanahan, the actress shares her turbulent professional and private life.

Most noted for her role as a Southern vixen on “The Golden Girls,” McClanahan also starred in other television programs and on Broadway. Raised in a small Oklahoma town, she developed her passions for theater and men at an early age. Like her television alter ego Blanche, Rue dishes up the dirt on the men in her life, even going so far as to assign them ratings.

“After All” by Mary Tyler Moore is a candid autobiography of another one of America’s favorite television comediennes.

Her starring roles on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” earned the actress several Emmy Awards. Moore also gained critical acclaim for her work on Broadway and in film.

Mary holds nothing back as she recounts her traumatic childhood, failed relationships, struggles with diabetes and alcoholism, the painful death of her son, and her successful third marriage to a man 18 years her junior.

“Today I Am a Ma’am: and Other Musings on Life, Beauty, and Growing Older” by Valerie Harper is an outrageously funny guide for women of a certain age.

Harper played Rhoda Morgenstern on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and on her own successful spin-off series, “Rhoda.” During those nine years, she won numerous awards, including four Emmys and a Golden Globe.

Harper shares her wry insights on dieting, menopause, plastic surgery and bad hair days as she encourages women to celebrate getting older. She also talks about why her TV persona was so popular with female viewers who didn’t fit the perky “Mary” stereotype.

These are just a handful of the thousands of biographical titles available at the Newport Beach Public Library. For additional biographical information, visit newportbeachlibrary.org to access the Biography Resource Center database using your library card.

CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at www.newportbeachlibrary.org. For more information on the Central Library or any of the branches, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.