Bravo to Carla Valderrama for her first book, "This Was Hollywood Forgotten Stars and & Stories," a 2020 book with sharp vintage fashion and enlightening tales of the actors and crew who paved the way for today's stars.
The author on the back cover of 2020s "This Was Hollywood."
More than 200 pages of photos and words are laden throughout this book from the silent era of film making, to shots of the 2018 remake of "A Star is Born" with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga.
Child star Cora Sue from the 1930s was one of 11 people Valderrama talked to for acquiring delicious and devious details from the Hollywood heavy weights of the past. Cora Sue was born in 1927, the year before Shirley Temple. Before she was 8-years-old, she was in movies with MGM's queen of the screen, Norma Shearer. During this time frame she also appeared in movies with Fay Wray, the lead female in 1933s "King Kong" and Claudette Colbert, William Powell, Greta Garbo and Loretta Young. Her last movie was "Weekend at the Waldorf" when she was 15 or 16-years-old.
She left Hollywood on her own accord because 50-year-old writer Harry Ruskin wanted to have sex with her when she was 15 years-old in exchange for a major film role.
Cora Sue said five of her friends acquiesced themselves sexually for movie rolls, and even their own mothers were telling their young daughters; do whatever they ask, you need the part. This book is the first time Cora Sue has shared her full story of her experience with sexual harassment in Hollywood.
The bottom picture is Cora Sue when she was 15 or 16-years-old.
Writer, director, actress, film editor and Mayor of Universal City during the silent era of movies, Lois Weber was a real force for women in the movies and a true pioneer for today's women in the film industry. She was the first woman to direct a feature film, 1914s, "The Merchant of Venice. In 1915, Weber said the future of movies is color and 3-D.
Because of this book I want to see 1915s "Hypocrites," a feature film Weber wrote and directed. the first film in which she received full credit for writing and directing. "Hypocrites" was an art film featuring a nude woman who holds up a mirror to politics, love, modesty and the home life. No one else has attempted as much or gone as far. After seeing "Hypocrites." you cannot forget the name Lois Weber, a writer for "Variety" magazine said upon the movies initial release. "Hypocrites" was still a major draw for movie goers six months after its release.
"Hop, the Devil's Brew," a 1916 film Lois Weber directed dealt with drug trafficking and contained segments of opium use. Her film, 1916s "Where Are My Children?" advocated the use of birth control and women's rights to abortion, both of which were illegal in the United States at the time. "Where Are My Children?" was the highest grossing picture in 1916 for Universal Pictures.
Silent film director D.W. Griffith was vastly overrated, while Lois Weber was snubbed by the industry. In 1926, a book was released about the major accounts in Hollywood, and praised D.W. Griffith, and barley mentioned Lois Weber, and the book's writer or writers never said she was a director. In 1927, writer's for "Motion Picture Magazine" praised her 1921 movie "Blot," about economic inequality of the middle class. Her film "Where are My Children?" was also given accolades, and the writer said the success of her films has proven she has kept up with the times unlike D.W. Griffith.
Writer, actress and director Lois Weber on pages 68-69.
"This Was Hollywood Forgotten Stars & Stories" contains 30 chapters about vintage fashion and various stars including Rudolph Valentino, Paul Newman, Gracie Allen, the Nicholas Brothers, Loretta Young and many more. The sexual liaisons of Clark Gable, Loretta Young and several others are detailed in Carla Valdrrama's book. No spoilers from me, read this amazing book if you want the gritty gossip.
Actress Susan Peters rocking 1940s fashion on page 179.
The chapter about the Nicholas Brothers detailed the rampant racism in Hollywood back in the day. Regardless, Fayard and Harold Nicholas were amazing dancers. Watch their astounding dance moves in 1943s "Stormy Weather."
"They weren't writing anything for blacks unless it was a shoeshine or something. Rather than do that, we just did our dance routine," Harold Nicholas said. Film producer Richard D. Zanuck said just five minutes of the Nicholas Brothers could make any clunker of a flick a box office success.
I've simply scratched the surface of this book. Valderrama details the lives of both male and female sex symbols of Hollywood yesteryear and so much more.
The last chapter features Paul Newman and his 1954 movie, "Silver Chalice," so bad its hilarious, critics said upon its release.
A five-star book, only my 3rd or 4th five-star rating, including movies.
Valderrama's chapter on Loretta Young was great stuff. I own several of her early 1930s films, and they've withstood the test of time, especially 1931s "Big Business Girl," in which Young portrays a college business degree graduate who moves to New York in hopes of a career and paying off her $2,000 student debt.
Valderrama delves into the past with aplomb and vigor, and I no longer think I'm the only one fascinated by the amazing stars of the silent and early sound era of film making.
There is a dark side to Hollywood, and "This Was Hollywood..." mention's the tragic ends to past stars of the screen.
Mark Izzy Schurr
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