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You guys might have noticed in the Rudolph Valentino Film Festival Store how we have a ton of gorgeous colorized photos of Rudy and some other silent film stars. They were done Claroscureaux and frankly I've already ordered a ton of them...my Mary Pickford shirt came yesterday and its just STUNNING. Well now he has his very own store, chocked full of his beautiful colorized photos including some of Mabel Normand, Buster Keaton, Jean Harlow, and the divine Louise Brooks. Click below to visit:


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Silent Ebay Watch: The Ultimate in Kookiness

I havent done a silent ebay watch in a long time, mainly because it took too long to compile. However I feel this listing is so glorious in its sadness that it might possibly outdo the "Own the Spirit of Rudolph Valentino" post of long ago (btw I dont believe poor Rudy's spirit ever found a buyer...hmm). This kiddies is the kind of thing that makes me laugh and horribly sad at the same time. This is why The Rudolph Valentino Society was so very sorely needed.

Words fail me so lets just do a repost of the extant EBay listing shall we (*note original listing had several cemetery and ghoul graphics*)?

Item: THE SERVANT OF RUDOLPH VALENTINO LORD DJINN AL MOHAMED!
DO NOT DOUBT THE POWER IT CALLS YOU! LISTEN AND BECOME$

*Professor Richmond's Legacy*

If you are new to our auctions, please check our 100% positive feedback. Practically all of our customers are repeat customers. Take a minute and read what they say about our Haunted and Spellcast Vessels.

THIS IS THE NEWS: This incredible, priceless vessel was found stashed away in a newly located safe behind my Father's book shelf. My father has an extensive library and after he died and the discoveries began, we searched his entire library, including behind the bookshelf. This safe is a complete mystery! I don't know how we could have missed it (I'm actually quite certain we couldn't have missed it!) which leads me to believe it was somehow "cloaked" until this present time. As I said, I am still reeling from this discovery.

***LORD AL MOHAMED SERVANT TO RUDOLPH VALENTINO, MY FATHER, & MANY, MANY OTHERS!!!***

Hello Friends! This is ONE INCREDIBLE AUCTION!
I can't quite describe the feeling I have when I look at this ring and imagine its history! It came into my father's possession though an Arabic Street Trader, who was himself a mystery as my father reported that the bearded man appeared strangely before him and after the transaction mysteriously vanished!

This ring is Vessel to the GREAT LORD AL MOHAMED. This Genie is one of the ORIGINAL GENIE'S and his power and presence is OVER 15,000 years old. He comes long before man, and has witnessed more than we could ever imagine! Yet he is willing and humble enough to be Mastered again. My father was the last lucky soul allowed to engage Lord Al Mohamed as his Personal Djinn. Before that, LORD AL MOHAMED was personal Genie to Rudolph Valentino. Valentino achieved his stardom and success through the Power and Guidance and Magickal Road Plow that Lord Al Mohamed is! Rudolph Valentino is a legend, and he led a life of wonder and excitement. He passed away young as his own decision was to be One Of Power on the other-side. He was an actor, a movie star, he wrote books, he was a sex symbol. He was RICH AS RICH AS A MAN CAN BE!!! Are you beginning to understand the power of LORD AL MOHAMED?

As the New Age approaches, his powers become even stronger. This Djinn is for one person of SUPERIOR DISTINCTION and will not be allowed to go to anyone but this true Intended One. This is a DESTINY PIECE, meaning there is one true owner out there, and this intended one will feel the calling. Lord Al Mohamed's Knowledge and understanding of the WAY OF THE DJINN is unparalleled! You're looking at the SOURCE!! We are unclear of his entire history, but HE has vowed to reveal all to his New Master. One thing we do know, is that LORD AL MOHAMED has power over other Djinn. He has an entire work force of Djinn Entities below him, working on his command. WORKING FOR YOU. You won't get MORE POWER THAN THIS!

He has been Vesseled in various ways over his life-time, but this Gorgeous Ring, has been his vessel of choice for the last hundred years or more. This actual ring belonged to my father, and before that, Valentino. You MUST bid and see if you are destined for this HONOR. The ring has been safely cleaned for you. It was very tarnished and rustic before. Now it is ready and revitalized and charged to MAXIMUM. There is Arabic carving on the stone, which I think may be Carnelian. It's very intricately designed, and fits a size 9. The Vessel may be worn on a chain also.

ORD AL MOHMED is coveted by many, but he will only obey YOU. No one else. He will grant all your wishes, and intuitively design for you the life you have dreamed of. The life of Movie Stars, the Rich and Famous! WEALTH, POWER, SUCCESS, TALENTS, LOVE, ADULATION, SUPREME WISDOM, MAGNETIC CHARISMA, ULTIMATE ENLIGHTENMENT, PURE UNADULTERATED JOY!!!! HE IS THE source OF GENIE POWER. He will not let his Master live an inconspicuous, unimportant life of poverty! No, no, no! Expect GREATNESS, GLORY, OPULENCE. The best that money can buy, and all the money you could ever want to buy it with! He can Shape-Shift at will, so you may witness him in familiar terms such a a cloud of smoke, or he may visit you as an animal, a thought, a feeling, or even a person who appears unexpectedly to you (Just how the Merchant who brought him to my Father, appeared and mysteriously disappeared!! Hmmmm) This is TRUE EXCITING MAGICK OF THE HIGHEST REALM. DO NOT LET THIS OPPORTUNITY SLIP BY. You are a seeker, that's why you are here. Bid now and see if you are THE CHOSEN ONE for the GREAT DJINN LORD AL MOHAMED.

f

***********************

Wow. "How did you obtain your personal destiny and great fortune?" "Ebay my good man!" In fairness I'm not sure if this ring actually belonged to Rudy or not...probably not (the seller offers up no proof as such). Saddest part: 2 bids and its already over $50! People...scare me sometimes.

FTT Honor Project:: Save the Motion Picture Home!

Our honor projects have been going splendidly. The Valentino Fest is going strong, and from it spawned the Rudy Society. The Griffith site is being cleaned up and shall launch shortly. There are 2 big Miriam Cooper things in the works; though I cant share yet it should be known soon. Perhaps the hardest of all is our 'honor' honor project: Saving the Motion Picture Home.

You can read all about it here. But in short: douchebaggy Hollywood inbred types who own movie studios, billions, and like to sit on charity boards for fun declared that the Motion Picture fund and home were $10 mil in debt...and 'we cant do anything so lets boot out the old people and shut it down!' Yeah that makes sense.

Ever since the announcement there has been much outrage, and nothing has happened. Spielberg just donated a Torah...to a secular retirement home. Glad he could invest money instead. Though it might not help much may I point your way to the newly launched petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keeptheMPTFhomeopen ? Though petitions may be a hard sell it does show support, and it takes like 2 seconds of your time. So please sign. And please don't forget these people. They are people after all...and they deserve to live out their days in peace after working so hard and contributing a percentage of their paycheck towards such care.

Live Again Bob Mitchell...

Bob Mitchell was a doll. I never talked to him, because I couldn't think of anything to say. But I worshipped him...I probably owe a good chunk of my silent film love to him. Don't know the name? Bob Mitchell was the organist at the Silent Movie Theatre. A sort of legend he was 96 years old...and had played with original silent films in the 1920s (specifically 1924-1928).

Silent films suffer badly with poor crappy scores. Seriously buy the Mary Pickford Collection and go INSANE trying to watch the death scene with the carnival casio loop. There are many renowned silent film composers...but most aren't older than 50...they never played with original silents. Bob was born in 1912, he lived through it all despite his mother's wishes (she was very religious and found flickers distasteful).

For a 96 year old his accompaniments had a level of pep and vigour I have NEVER heard with any silent film accompanist...not even a full out orchestra. Bob would usually play the piano for shorts, then the organ for the feature. He was in huge demand...there was not a respectable silent film event that didn't court his services. Frankly I was praying that he'd live just one more year at the least...The Rudolph Valentino Film Festival needed him.

I started going to the Silent Movie Theatre in March 2008 (yup I'm that green). Bob was there from Day 1 onward. At 95 he blew me away, and I felt privileged just to watch him play. After attending many silent events, some without him playing, I've come to realize just what a treasure he was. The Eagle was one of the first movies I ever seen of Valentino's...yet when Bob played it a year later I sat blown away...his score just made you want to jump out of your seat and cheer. He said it was the same score he used in 1925...something that just blew my mind. Pandora's Box was one of the Bob's last performances, and it also moved me deeply despite the broken projector (meaning we had to wait 5 mins between reels). When I seen it July 2nd it was not the same...Bob was supposed to play but he was ill so someone else stepped in. Despite being at the gorgeous Orpheum on an authentically wonderful organ...it just didn't have that pep. Bob had been ill for a few months...I started fearing what we were about to lose.

Bob died on July 4th...2 days after he was scheduled for Pandora's Box. According to the obituaries he took ill sometime in April with pneumonia, and it weakened him. It was very noticeable as Bob had been the same the entire time I'd been there...but in April he was much weaker and needed a wheel chair. We began to whisper that it didn't look good...we hoped very much so he would get better and live forever.

I hate shorts (ironic I know) so the last time I made my weekly screening was in May which was the Louise Brook's month. Bob didn't play for Beggars of Life (the last film of the month) and we all worried...but the staff assured us he just had another gig. So the last time I seen him to my memory was accompanying was right before my birthday to "Its the Old Army Game". Of course I might be wrong and it might have been the week before, with "Diary of a Lost Girl". Either way I loved it. I don't know if he played through June, but I doubt it. According to his friends he tried to leave the hospital a few times, he just wanted to play one more gig. I dont know why I never did it in life, but when I heard the news I decided I'd clean up his wikipedia. You can read that here.

Bob never played a tune that hadn't been written at the time of the film. He knew everything by heart and never used a prewritten score. He'd play a little roar for the MGM lion (always to much laughter), the choo choo of the train, and explained the story behind what we'd call the 'Indian Rhythm' (he had met the man who created it). He loved Westerns particularly Tom Mix and William S. Hart...last May they did a whole month of Westerns just for him. He played at the death festival of Valentino every year, and when they screened The Sheiks he sang every Rudy song he knew.

He was a funny man too. After Pandora's Box had finished he said, "Well that was a happy little picture wasn't it?" Towards the end when he was so frail they got him up on the bench and people began to fret over him. Bob had a coughing fit and said, "Shows over!" (it hadn't begun yet) then laughed and said no way...he was playing tonight (and he did!) He grew up in a religious Victorian family and told stories about how certain movies and actresses embarrassed him...how his mother found them too naughty. He was a living legend and the acclaim he got for it was well deserved...in fact maybe it wasn't enough. Every silent tinged documentary interviewed him, all sorts of publications did articles on him, and every night after he played the hell out of that organ he'd get a standing ovation usually several minutes long. He always looked like he loved it.

I know they taped many of his performances...what they (or who they were for that matter) did with them I don't know. I know they taped The Eagle and I'd kill for a copy. Any upstanding composer or DVD distributor should consult these tapes before doing a score for ANYTHING...Bob was it. Bob was a legend...and sadly he was the last of his kind.

Bob's funeral is on Friday at 9:30 at at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Los Angeles. He will be buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery where he performed every year. I'm not much a fan of funerals (particularly Christian-y funerals) but I will never forget Bob. I don't think I've explained this before but the phrase 'Live Again' stems from a song by Alex Band by that name. Alex is one of my favorite musicians and there's all sorts of interesting interpretations to his music. When Anita Page died that song was playing...and it seemed apt particularly as I like the belief of reincarnation. Ever since its seemed fitting to play in so and sos honor. Bob lived this life to the fullest, and whatever is beyond I'm sure he'll live it to the fullest one more time.

The Rudolph Valentino Society...has launched!

Dear God if there was ever a project that made me pull my hair out it would be this one...mostly over unbearable suspense. Ironically I ended up doing the site myself...something that has rendered me an insomniac.

As you all better know by now FTT is behind The Rudolph Valentino Film Festival which will be taking place May 2010 here in Los Angeles. I wish I could give you dates, and a location, but lets just say we're choosing between 2 offers right now and they are both glorious. I don't think anyone will be disappointed. I'm quite certain by mid August we'll be able to announce those details. The line up (strictly on literally lining up the films) will come a little later but if it goes anything as planned it will be mind blowing. Lets just say some amazing stuff is already confirmed. I know I'm being vague...ya'll will either have to become volunteers or just wait! The brand new much more gorgeous site is http://therudolphvalentinofilmfestival.com . Don't forget to check out the store http://zazzle.com/rudyfest . Seriously the artists who donated their services did just an amazing job. Kate Gabrielle of Silents and Talkies did both logos and Kevin Scrantz of Claroscureaux did all the colorizations (such as the amazing Young Rajah photo above)!

All profits from merchandise go to help fund the festival. And just for the record I've already ordered a ton...its all sorts of amazing and high quality. Something most silent film stores cant say!

The whole point of The Rudolph Valentino Film Festival was to honor his life and his art over his death and his Sheiky-ness. It dawned on me last month that maybe a Society ala the wonderful Buster Keaton or Louise Brook's ones was in order. I cant believe I hadn't thought of it before! So I'm quite proud to announce the formation of The Rudolph Valentino Society...something way too long overdue for my dear Rudy. The Society will focus on the same goals as the festival, only it will be year round and expand to other projects as well. Please note this particular site is still being pieced together but all the good bits (such as membership and mission statement) are there: http://rudolphvalentino.org . In the next 2 weeks much more content will be added. There is also a top secret store for members. And it has some gorgeous stuff in it...the good stuff!!!

So please do spread the word. And check back for more updates! One Honor project down...3 to go (and all 3 have major updates coming soon too!)

The Demi Widow

When Mary Pickford 'kinda sorta' retired from acting in 1933 she took to writing...or more specifically religious screeching. She wrote several essays which turned into the books "Why not try God?" and "My Rendezvous with Life". At the time Christian Science was what Scientology now is in Hollywood, and Mary was a devout member. Her books were a mix of Jesus loving and a Lillian Gish styled biography (every story fictionalized and painting Mary in a good light).

I think by far my favorite is her 1935 essay "Why Die?" strictly for the title. I guess its impossible to ever know how much a celebrity relies on a ghostwriter but most of these books and essays have the same style and tone...if Mary didn't write them then her helped had to be the same over the years. Personally I think she had a good hand in them, as 20 years later her autobiography "Sunshine and Shadows" also takes the same tone.

Lord knows why but Mary decided being an author was a solid enough career (this writer notes its quite a dull career and does not advocate it at all). In 1935 she published her one and only official work of fiction "The Demi Widow". It sold well enough especially considering the depression but it must not have been satisfying enough for Mary: it was the only novel she ever published.

A lot of authors refer to it as a cutely written celebrity go at writing. I'm not literary critic...it is in fact literally one of the first pieces of fiction I've read in years (I prefer non fiction). However I do love it: the prose is good, the twists are interesting, and she literally had me laughing out loud at points.

In fact I enjoyed the book so much I'm still about 100 pages away from the ending...though I think I can see where its going. What is of particular interest about The Demi Widow is that its like an unmade Pickford film...a Pickford film I would have given my left hand to see made in say...1925. Of course it would have made a good talkie with all its witty banter and singing plot line. However there is one catch: Rudolph Valentino needed to be alive.

Mary had an interesting and cute relationship with Rudy. In the mid teens when he was a nobody and she a superstar he happened upon her and her mother in a cafe in New York. Too shy to introduce himself to her he politely introduced himself to Ma Pickford instead. He asked how to get into movies and Ma Pickford gave him advice. However she never introduced Rudy to Mary, which did not give Mary the chance to politely speak. Rudy left, and Mary was furious at her mother for not introducing her to 'the most handsome man she had ever seen.'

Years later when he was a new sensation and Mary was now part of the first celeb couple with Douglas Fairbanks, Rudy came to Pickfair. Doug had a serious jealous streak to begin with, and quite obviously the Latin lover seemed a threat to him. As Mary put it she had never seen Douglas be so rude to anyone...literally kicking Rudy out. Of course the men eventually became friends, went to each other's premieres, and Rudy joined UA. But Doug was always jealous: its believed he wouldn't even let Mary dance with other men (and thus missing out on one of the greatest chances ever!)

Rudy visited Mary on set, which distracted her so badly she couldn't get back into character. I believe it was for the remake of Tess of Storm County in 1922. When his one man strike from Famous Players-Lasky was underway in 1923 there were many rumors that so and so wanted Rudy to play Romeo in an adaption of Romeo and Juliet. In fact several people were said to be making that film, though none of them did. Depending who you ask his Juliet would have been Norma Talmadge or Mary Pickford. Imagine that!

Mary never did get her chance to act with Valentino...and surely it would have been impossible what with Doug's jealousy...at least until the 30s. However judging by The Demi Widow maybe it was something she always regretted.

The plot is typical Pickford fashion (obviously spoilers ahead, quit reading now if you do not wish to know the plot!!!). There's a aristocratic Californian girl who was raised in France named Coralee. She literally resembles Mary in every way only she has blue/violet eyes (Mary had brown). Her parents died and she had an arranged marriage that produced a child. However her husband died and wiped out his fortune before that. Now in extreme poverty Coralee lives in the slums with her nanna (nanny) and her toddler son named Toni. Coralee's evil rich sister in law wants custody of Toni, as he is the last of the family bloodline. Coralee is desperate for money...so she tries out for what is essentially a Ziegfeld style revue. She sings good but faints causing her to lose out on the audition. However one of the managers takes pity on her and she wins the spot anyways.

Preparing for her second audition she puts grease on her face and does her hair up. Upset over the ultimatum from her sister in law she takes her son and sings him to sleep. Down in the alley a rich Argentine playboy named Camilo hears her singing and is smitten. He buys a basket of groceries for an excuse to go meet the angel behind the voice. However when Coralee answers the door in her state of affairs he runs for the hills accidentally leaving some portraits of himself behind. Coralee is smitten, but eventually she figures out why he was there and why he ran and she gets the Pickford spitfire in her and vows to make him pay for it someday.

As said she wins her spot, the revue men deciding to make her the star of the show. But they must transform her into something more interesting then this timid little peasant girl. So they tell everyone she moved to America and lock her up in a mansion for weeks. They give her a makeover and practice her to death, renaming her Coco after her son's favorite word. Annoyed they cant bring the spitfire out in her one of the men spot the picture of Camilo and use it as a publicity angle saying she had an affair with the man. Coralee is annoyed, but she becomes hysterical when they tell her his plane crashed in the jungle, which will bring much press to her as a grieving ex...a 'Demi Widow'. Eventually Coralee agrees to go along, mostly for her son as he has nice things and cant be taken away now.

She becomes a major star going all Olive Thomas, a new guy on her arm and tons of jewels every day. But then Camilo is found alive and he confronts her about the story. His fiancee was not pleased to hear it and refuses to marry him unless Coralee tells the truth. This particular scene goes extremely Valentino by having Camilo threatening to rape her if she wont recant, though eventually they go into some sort of stare off instead. Camilo leaves and is intrigued, but hes not done with her yet.

Meanwhile evil sister in law has spotted Toni and Nanna in the park, causing Coralee great worry. That very day Camilo happens upon Toni who he takes an instant liking to, see he wants very badly to be a father and husband (also like Valentino). Toni likes him too but as he leaves Nanna freaks saying someone is after them, and Camilo whisks them away in his car. Nana says she cant take Toni out anymore but Camilo offers to drive them to the park everyday and protect them. Hes intrigued by the story about the poor hard working mother...not realizing he is Coralee's son.

Meanwhile still out for revenge he buys up every breakfast, lunch, and dinner date he can with Coralee under assumed names, and catches her in public so she cant confront him about it. He vows to not leave her alone and keep pushing her buttons until she tells the truth. She refuses because secretly she doesn't want him to be with his fiancee, she's still crazy about him.

END SPOILERS!

That's as far as I am in the book now...though I think its safe to assume there's some sort of happy non dead baby ending here. You can snag copies on ebay and amazon pretty cheaply, though one with a gorgeous dust jacket is much harder to find. I'd highly recommend it as it is a good story. However I still find it a shame that Mary never made it into a film...because it would have been an amazing one. Much better than Kiki.

Recommended Silent Film Reading: Dos and Donts

A sweet person wrote me the other day and asked what silent film books I would recommend. I have a very bad reading (and collecting books to read) habit that has only been made worse by the LA Central Library. I cant claim to have read every book ever, and you guys might have some others to recommend. But overall this is my do and donts list. Notes are made to say why one way or the other. I'm trying not to be a picky annoyance with my list, my biggest factors are factual accuracy and a good prose. Simple things to want in a book I guess.

A very important note: this list will be updated. I have only added a few books I did not personally read. So for the serious lack of Harold Lloyd or Buster Keaton that would be the reason: I haven't read much on them yet. I will though!

I cant cover everything, especially when I haven't read it all. But one extremely important note: if it is before 2000 (especially the 1970s) there is a good chance it is outdated. You'd be surprised how much the internet has helped in research. Even if you do pick a 70s/80s era book do remember some films may no longer be lost, some stories may have been changed.

There are 2 main publishers right now for new silent film books. BearManor and Mcfarland. BearManor is not silent exclusive but they do tend to have good output. Mcfarland can be extremely hit or miss. Below you will see several of their books on the do list and several on the don't. I think this is just proof of a lack of oversight especially with the treatment good books get. Bearmanor books are reasonably priced, Mcfarland's never are. Most books can be found via their sites, ebay, or amazon. I would link but it would take forever. Please forgive me for that.


Definitely Do Read:

*The Parade's Gone By by Kevin Brownlow
The only thing to keep in mind here is interviews are in the mind of the beholder...not always accurate. Add to that, the last edition was from the 70s meaning some things may be outdated. However good info none the less!

*When the Movies were Young by Linda Arvidson
This book by Griffith's first wife is indispensable especially for 1910s research. However again things are subjective. Especially her stories about Lillian and Mary.

*My Autobiography by Charlie Chaplin
Again subjective, but overall Charlie tells a good story of his life and most facts seem to match up even to this day. Unfortunately he mostly leaves out somethings...like his disastrous Lita marriage.

*My Father Charlie Chaplin by Charlie Chaplin Jr.
Some interesting stories you wouldn't necessarily hear else wise.

*My Life in Pictures by Charlie Chaplin
OH this is a must! Its beautiful and has funny captions. I particularly like opposing portraits of him and Lita with his caption "beauty and the beast (I look like a serial killer!)".

*Pickford: The Woman who made Hollywood by Eileen Whitfield
WONDERFUL book. Extremely well written and very factually solid. The whole reason I fell in love with silent films! However her Lottie bashing seems unprompted and unnecessary. At least she gets her facts right though...just the tone was unnecessary.

*Mary Pickford Rediscovered by Kevin Brownlow
A beautiful picture book that elaborates on her pictures and their making...goes into a little more detail in that respect than Whitfield's book but both are deliciously good.

*Douglas Fairbanks by Jeffrey Vance and Tony Maietta
A nice pretty book that is mostly like Brownlow's Pickford book: very film based. I wish it were more of a proper biography but I hear one is in the works so I wont complain.

*D.W. Griffith's Intolerance: Its Genesis and Its Vision by William M. Drew
William M. Drew is someone who meticulously researches everything. Anything he writes I would highly recommend.

*Lillian Gish: Her Legend and her life by Charles Affron
Lillian liked to make up her own life story very much like Mary did. She wrote several biographies and even had a hand in one that was released after her death. This one tries to reach behind the myth and I feel it does so in a very even handed way. Very interesting!

*Dark Lady of the Silents by Miriam Cooper
I LOVE Miriam! As one of Griffith's top 3 actresses she was around for a lot of interesting stuff. She is a wonderful writer and curses more then I do! However her viewpoints and facts again are something to be weary of: she was convinced Fatty Arbuckle was guilty and Theda Bara was a fat mooing jew who wanted her husband. However...a very good read its a MUST!

*Swanson on Swanson by Gloria Swanson
I feel I might be missing a little perspective with this book, since Gloria definitely had her point of view on matters. She was also a wonderful writer and admitted to many of her darker sides including the abortions she regretted. I enjoyed her insights and I think most of it was pretty accurate...sometimes its hard to tell with such bios!

*Dark lover by Emily Leider
There is no other Rudolph Valentino biography worth reading! Emily covered it all and she covered it well. Her style is catchy and her facts are solid. I think I will love her forever for the wonderful job she did on this book.

*The Valentino Mystique by Allan Ellenberger
I don't like focusing on Rudy's death, but if you have that curiosity Allan did a wonderful job of researching it. Seriously there is no need to even look at his death (and the circus that followed) after this...Allan literally wrote the book on it! My only complaint is his sligh insertion of his own 'gay for pay' theory. True he didn't say it was fact, but after spending 3 pages debunking every stupid gay rumor that was pointless to insert. Other then that its wonderful though. Oh and the Valentino sites part is a tad out of date (a few buildings have been torn down since 2005 sadly).

*Madam Valentino: The Many Lives of Natacha Rambova by Michael Morris
A wonderfully researched biography on Valentino's second wife. Morris did a wonderful job! However my only complaint would be his Nita Naldi bashing. Yeah yeah yeah Nita mentioned the supposed abortions. But I'm not buying she and Rudy had affairs while a relative of Natacha's listened on. However he does hate Hollywood Babylon as much as I do...so bless him!

*Ramon Novarro: A Biography of the Silent Film Idol, 1899-1968 With a Filmography by Allan R. Ellenberger and Kevin Brownlow
Allan and Kevin strike again!

*Vamp: The Rise and Fall of Theda Bara by Eve Golden
This is one of my favorite biographies though it is admittedly short (well with the lack of things to discuss what can one do?) Eve did a wonderful job and its fantastically researched and well written.

*Lulu in Hollywood by Louise Brooks
A wonderful collection of film essays by Louise Brooks. She had a wonderful prose! How accurate it is might be interpretive but she did have some interesting (and very sound) theories especially on talkies. Frankly its hard to go wrong with a Louise book...most are pretty accurate.

* Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild by David Stenn
OMG I love this book! Well researched, well written, and very sad. He hates Hollywood Babylon as much as I do bless his soul! And poor Clara...this is the type of prose the Florence Lawrence bio lacked. Even if you don't like Clara as an actress this book should indeed touch you.

*Century Girl: 100 Years in the Life of Doris Eaton Travis Last Living Star of the Ziegfeld Follies by Lauren Redniss
A beautiful book with wonderful stories and pictures! Doris is fascinating!



Maybe Dos:

*Silent Movies: The Birth of Film and the Triumph of Movie Culture by Peter Kobel, Martin Scorsese, and Kevin Brownlow
A very pretty picture book, but if you're looking for some hard hitting information its not really here. Seriously its about a wikipedia's worth of information. But still lovely photos.

*Sunshine and Shadows by Mary Pickford
Mary's version of history is extremely whitewashed and sometimes right out false (such as her children's ages, things that happened with her, Jack, and Lottie, so forth). However it is a fun read and some of the anecdotes make it worthwhile

*Douglas Fairbanks: In His Own Words by The Douglas Fairbanks Museum and Keri Leigh
A collection of Doug's essays and writings its good for someone very curious about him. However it might not be very useful to a casual fan.

*D.W. Griffith: An American Life by Richard Schickel
Originally this 800 some paged biography tickled me pink...I literally thought it was the bees knees. Then I realized it was written in the 1980s and had the smallest facts wrong even back then (such as birthdates and certain films being lost). WHY Schickel could not get these things right I do not know. However some of the information is still very valuable (especially Griffith's later years) and his narrative is very entertaining (I particularly liked calling Albert Griffith an idiot for his bad business moves). Just tread with caution when seeking facts out of this book.

*Dorothy and Lillian Gish by Lillian Gish
Very pretty picture book, but does contain a lot of Lillian's self fabricated mythology. Good for hardcore fans though.

*Lillian Gish: The Movies, Mr. Griffith and Me by Lillian Gish
Same problem, but good stuff beyond!

*Lillian Gish: A Life on Stage and Screen by Stuart Oderman
Oderman was a friend of Lillian's and as such that is mostly what this book is about. Anything hard hitting or factually accurate might be lacking here. This is still on my to read list but I hear it is very charming.

*Florence Lawrence, the Biograph Girl: America's First Movie Star by Kelly R. Brown
A pretty well researched biography on dear forgotten Florence. My only complaint is though the prose isn't bad it really doesn't draw you in. Florence's story is so sad but by the end of it I was like 'meh whats for dinner?' I am not a fan of death obsessing but the final chapter covering Florence and her decision to end her life seemed way too simple and matter of fact...very little explanation behind 'this happened, that happened'. Another one needs to be written me thinks. One other problem: I fear though most of the research is good some of it is off. The author mentions the (by her own words) unreliable IMDB yet still sources it. Being written in the mid 90s it might be a bit more excusable but its still curious.

*King of Comedy: The Lively Arts by Mack Sennett
More fiction than fact but he does provide some interesting anecdotes especially about Charlie and Mabel. Fact or fiction they are a fun read.

*Mabel Normand: A Source Book to Her Life and Films by William Thomas Sherman
While I don't agree with the two Mabel's theory, this book is overall very solid information. Basically a collection of interviews and articles on Mabel its really meant for the hardcore silent fan over someone looking to read about Mabel in a biographic form. The fact William put this together in the early days of the internet makes him all the more incredible.

*The Times We Had by Marion Davies
You know...I don't think I like Marion very much. I think too many people are putting gloss over her real story which has yet to be thoroughly told (of note Louise Brooks did write a little about the Davies...interesting stuff!) This book is transcripts of her recordings and it is a very interesting read. How factual it is is up for debate.

*The self-enchanted: Mae Murray,: Image of an era by Jane Kesner Morris Ardmore
This book is for reading ONLY if you keep in mind Mae Murray was nuttier than a box of squirrels. Its fun, its full of itself, and kinda sad considering just how loony she really was. However I like her Olive Thomas anecdotes no matter how fact or fiction they are.

*Frame Up! The Untold Story of Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle by Andy Edmonds
There are basically 3 Fatty Arbuckle biographies out there...all outdated. I think the authors of all 3 books tried their best for what technology allotted them at the time but not only do they fall short on Arbuckle's own scandals but others as well. This being the particular book I've read through I'd like to say it is interesting, mainly because it has a lot of input from Minta Durfee, Roscoe's first wife. However much like Mae Murrary therein lies the trouble: she was apeshit crazy by the 1970s when I'm sure this interview was done (shes thanked as the 'late' Minta Durfee when it was published). If you read/hear any of her interviews uncensored she rambles on like Grampa Simpson..."See I had an onion on my belt...that was the style at the time..." so forth. Don't believe me? She literally thought Roscoe and Mabel swam with a dolphin for a week. Bless her though she was fun! Without becoming a Grampa Simpson rant myself that is the flaw of this book: it just doesn't have the solid facts behind it. However no malice was meant AND it does try to get the story right. Sadly the world is still awaiting a solid bio on Roscoe.



Don't Dos:

*Hollywood Babylon (1, 2, and 3) by Kenneth Anger
We've ranted enough on this. It is toilet paper plain and simple. Do not even TOUCH as it may give you inaccuracies akin to spreading herpes.

*Silent Stars by Jeanine Basinger
I was extremely curious to pick up this book as it is one of the few that Nita Naldi's name comes up in. When I got it I was sorely disappointed. Its probably the best researched book on the don't list but that's not saying much. She uses out of date biographies for her research despite newer and better technology being available (the book was printed in 99 or 00 depending who you ask) and the prose is extremely dry and too self important. Her chapter on Keystone, Mack, and Mabel was useless as was her assessment that Valentino couldn't act. Meanwhile Nita was barely mentioned. I don't know why people recommend this book...definitely not worth your time with the vast amount of individual silent biographies out there that are much better. Ironically she teaches film studies apparently.

*Silent Players: A Biographical and Autobiographical Study of 100 Silent Film Actors and Actresses by Anthony Slide
I'm gonna catch hell for this but I don't like this book one bit. When I first started researching silents I picked it up and found it dry and foreign to me...true its pretty good for mentioning nobodies (John Bunny and Valeska Surrat would be two) but to a new reader it will be off putting. As for an experienced silent reader I find his tone bitchy and I don't care for it (yes pot calling kettle black I know). He compared John Bunny to an Uncle who molests you and his interview with Alice Terry made me vow to dance on that wicked witch's grave. If you do pick it up keep in mind: not only is his tone subjective but the interviews he did were as well (and that was the deluded nobodies faults).

*Olive Thomas: The Life and Death of a Silent Film Beauty by Michelle Vogel
Overpriced, poorly put together (literally), and not very well written or researched. Just not worth the time or money and very little in there is usable for facts. Not even good pictures to make up for it! Poor Olive a new good one is way overdue.

*D.W. Griffith's the Birth of a Nation: A History of the Most Controversial Motion Picture of All Time by Melvyn Stokes
This one is one of the few on this list I have not fully read but I have skimmed it, and gathered other opinions from people who have read it. It's pretty inaccurate and just not worth the time sadly...considering its subject matter that's a shame.

*Valentino: A Dream of Desire by David Bret
Next to Kenneth Anger David Bret is the man I would most like to see set on fire. He is a horrible bitchy queen (wow wonder who that resembles) and likes to write full on trashy books about dead people (his latest attacked dear Jean Harlow). This book is fantasy presented as a biography. He doesn't even have a notes/index section to back up his bullshit and basically he just takes what Anger said, elaborates on his own fantasies, and claims it as fact. A TERRIBLE book that should be burned.

*Hollywood's Silent Closet by Darwin Porter
If I could sue him I would. The only credit I can give this jerk is he loosely classified it as fiction, though he basically goes on to slander every silent star ever as being a gay crackhead with anger issues.

*Valentino: The First Superstar by Noel Botham
Also crap just like Bret's book. Should be suitable toilet paper.

*Valentino Forever: The History of the Valentino Memorial Services by Tracy Ryan Terhune

In fairness its probably not a bad book, but it seems unnecessary especially with Allan's wonderful work.

*FATHER GOOSE - The Story of Mack Sennett by Gene Fowler
Fictional and more fun than fact.

*Mabel: Hollywood's First Don't-Care Girl, the Life of Mabel Normand by Betty Harper Fussell
Working on my own Mabel biography I don't want to look like a catty bitch in this matter. With all do respect to Fussell she just wasn't a good biographer. She had the chance to interview a few still living Mabel acquaintances but didn't ask them anything interesting. She also fictionalized letters and phone calls between Stephen Normand (Mabel's great nephew) and Julia (her nurse) which pretty much paints a novel more than a biography. You don't really get anything much about Mabel Normand from this book, just that Betty thought it'd be fun to look for her but got distracted by something shiny along the way.

*Anna May Wong: From Laundryman's Daughter to Hollywood Legend by Graham Russell Gao Hodges
Inaccurate, full of typos, and stilted in its prose. Seriously avoid.