26. Storm Child. New York: John C. Yorston. (1937).
First Edition. Hollywood novel of a young woman who sells the story of her childhood to a movie producer. Near Fine in Very Good plus dustjacket. Item #15072
First Edition. Hollywood novel of a young woman who sells the story of her childhood to a movie producer. Near Fine in Very Good plus dustjacket. Item #15072
First Edition. "There were three things Steve Greene wanted to do, and in the order of their importance they were: Get away from his Great Mistake (Vivian), Write the last movement of his symphony, and [fish] for record breaking bass and pike. And so he bought a trailer. How Gloria Newcombe, late of the metropolitan, and currently of Hollywood, running away from a new contract and an expensive and utterly unwanted husband, found herself in such a predicament, must not be explained here. At that moment, however, her disappearance had been ballooned into a sensational kidnapping that was not a publicity stunt. While Department of Justice men, State Troopers and assorted country sheriffs comb the trails for her, affairs inside the trailer grow ever more complicated, intimate, tempestuous, musical and enjoyable". Near Fine in Very Good dustjacket, some edge nicks and tiny closed tears. Item #29084
First Edition. Tall octavo, original printed stiff wrappers. Uncommon Hollywood item, 32 pages, "Being an exact and complete copy of the allegations of one of the youngest wife and mother complainants ever to place on record her grievances against an older husband: of his extraordinary and immoral demands on her before, during and after her becoming a mother: of his public and private allegations against her: altogether the most sensational divorce plea ever made before the superior court of Los Angeles, California." Privately printed edition of the divorce complaint of Lita Grey Chaplin. In 1924, when she was 16 years old, she became pregnant by Charles Chaplin, who was then 35. Chaplin, who could have been imprisoned for having sexual relations with a minor, married her in secret in Mexico to avoid a scandal. The marriage lasted three years before collapsing in a sensational divorce in 1928 which was one of the most sensationalized media scandals of its day, with Chaplin hit with the largest divorce settlement ever awarded. The legal complaint, with details of the star's sexual life, infidelities and proclivities as published here, tame as they may seem today, were at the time considered near pornography and sold 'under the counter' at the shocking price of $5 (near $50 in today's terms). Near Fine. Item #16886
First Edition. H. M. Bateman dustjacket art and illustrations. Early humorous look at Hollywood filmmaking, including jibes at the actors, movie plots, and clichés of the Hollywood society. Clark was a longtime writer for Punch [magazine]. A very scarce Hollywood title. Very Good, first several pages and most margins with foxing, lacks front free end paper, in Very Good dustjacket, few small edge chips, top rear panel with few short closed tears and quarter sized chip. Item #11343
First Edition. F. Rodewald dustjacket art. Story of a young woman's success and struggles in Hollywood. Very Good in a Very Good plus dustjacket with some staining to lower spine end and few creases and short closed tears. Item #18595
First Edition. The earliest known novel to deal with the movie business and extremely scarce in original dustjacket. Anonymously written but sometimes attributed to the publisher Edward Clode. "The title character is a film player named Nella who has an affair with and is then rejected by a fellow actor. To hide her grief, she works hard at building her career, often participating in dangerous stunts, and ponders what type of love life future actresses will enjoy." (Slide's The Hollywood Novel p. 25) The movie industry would in the next few years make their move out west to Hollywood and thus future fiction on the subject would take place mostly in that locale. This is simultaneously one of the first and last movie industry titles to be set on the east coast. Near Fine in an attractive dustjacket with few small edge chips, a long tear runs vertically across the front panel and is mended at verso with scotch tape. Item #27551
First Edition. The earliest known novel to deal with the movie business and extremely scarce in original dustjacket. Anonymously written but sometimes attributed to the publisher Edward Clode. "The title character is a film player named Nella who has an affair with and is then rejected by a fellow actor. To hide her grief, she works hard at building her career, often participating in dangerous stunts, and ponders what type of love life future actresses will enjoy." (Slide's The Hollywood Novel p. 25) The movie industry would in the next few years make their move out west to Hollywood and thus future fiction on the subject would take place mostly in that locale. This is simultaneously one of the first and last movie industry titles to be set on the east coast. Very Good attractive copy, couple of small splits at front inner hinge, in Good, modestly soiled dustjacket, shallow chipping at spine ends, quarter sized chip at lower front panel, some splitting at front flap edge, dime sized chip at top front flap corner. Item #32876
First Edition. Early Hollywood fiction collection concerning African American film-makers and actors of the Midnight Pictures Corporation. "This book deals with the successes and mishaps - mostly the latter- of various members of the Midnight Pictures Corporation, a moving pictures company of Negroes who made such excellent two-reel comic pictures in Birmingham, Alabama, that they were shown in over a hundred first run high grade houses through out the country". Near Fine in Very Good plus dustjacket with mild stain to top spine end and edges, mild staining to verso of top front edge and spine, tape to verso of bottom spine end, and general shelf wear. Item #15177
First Edition. The Midnight Pictures Corporation, Inc., of Birmingham, Alabama, sought the Old World new backgrounds for their slapstick comedies. Through Italy, Northern Africa and France, wandered the movie actors. Near Fine in Very Good dustjacket, nicks and short closed tears at top spine end, modest shelf wear. Item #34332
Second Printing. Margaret Freeman dustjacket art. Humorous but demeaning novel of an African-American owned and operated film production company converting their studio for sound pictures. Near Fine in attractive Very Good dustjacket, deep price-clipping at lower front flap affecting text of flap, spine lightly faded. Item #26276
First Edition. Comedy play by this Hollywood actor who appeared in 38 films, including Son of Dracula, Penrod and Sam, and State Fair. Craven also directed two films including the 1934 film production of That's Gratitude starring Frank Craven and Arthur Byron. Near Fine in Very Good-Near Fine dustjacket. Item #6454
First Edition. Comedy play by this Hollywood actor who appeared in 38 films, including Son of Dracula, Penrod and Sam, and State Fair. Craven also directed two films including the 1934 film production of That's Gratitude starring Frank Craven and Arthur Byron. Near Fine in Very Good plus dustjacket, darkening to spine, few tiny nicks at spine ends. Item #14888
First Edition. Signed and inscribed warmly by the Hollywood actor, playwright and novelist, also with three printed holiday greeting cards from the author. Craven appeared in 38 films, including Son of Dracula, Penrod and Sam, and State Fair. Craven also directed two films including the 1934 film production of this title starring himself and Arthur Byron. Near Fine in Very Good plus dustjacket with soiling and spine mildly darkened. Item #14733
First Edition. Novel of young woman who becomes obsessed with beauty and with a dream of becoming a Hollywood starlet. Near Fine in Very Good dustjacket, cm sized chip at lower spine end, very shallow chips at top spine end, narrow chips at few flap edges. Item #12014
First Edition stated. "Aubrey Nash, suave, capable gentleman investigator, was called into the case by a telegram from Harriet Henard on the Pacific Coast; the dead man's cousin, Buckley, flew east from his California movie studio' Twinky Tyler found it necessary to hid in a strange man's apartment because of Blaine's death; and Steve Rawley deserted his sophisticated New York night club life to go snooping in a Connecticut suburb". Very Good, modest cocking, in Very Good dustjacket, nicking and rubbing at spine ends and flap corners. Item #27405
First Edition. Small octavo. DeMille's personal copy of the Oxford Dictionary, with his ownership signature at front free endpaper and personal bookplate at inside front cover. Judging from the condition of this dictionary, one can only imagine its considerable use by this genius and pioneering Hollywood film mogul. Lacks most of spine cloth, front cover and front endpapers detached. SOLD TOGETHER with The Rules and Regulations for the Government and Guidance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Force. Ottawa: F. A. Acland. 1928. Small octavo, red cloth. Numerous hand typed additions laid or tipped in. This copy with following inked at front free endpaper: Frank E. Calvin / c/o DeMille Productions / Paramount Studios / Hollywood - Calif. / 1939. Very likely this book was used during the production of one of DeMille's Mounty adventures. Front inner hinge broken. Item #17059
First Edition. Collection of essays by famous people concerning their favorite poems. Includes James M. Flagg, John Golden, Harold MacGrath, Channing Pollock, Upton Sinclair, Rex Beach, David Belasco, Homer Croy,.and others. Near Fine in Near Fine dustjacket, few nicks and light rubbing to spine ends. Item #6459
First Edition. This copy inscribed and signed by the editor, Donald Hayne, and with a christmas card signed by DeMille laid in, as well as an unsigned Christmas card with printed greeting from DeMille. Good, lower cloth edge worn, rear inner hinge broken. Sold together with a collection of books from DeMille's personal library, several with his 3" by 2 1/2" personal bookplate, attractively designed with red and gold with an open winged black bird at center. The books include: Drawn and Quartered by Charles Adams. New York: Random House, no printing statement. Forward by Boris Karloff. Very Good, spine end and corner wear. ; Wild Animals I have Known by Ernest Thompson Seton. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1942. Later Printing. Very Good in Very Good dustjacket. This volume with alternate paradise bird bookplate. ; Four Volumes from the Little Nature Library Published by Doubleday, Page and Co. in 1923. Birds, Trees; Butterflies; and Wild Flowers Worth Knowing. All with DeMille bookplate, two with additional stamp from DeMille's Production company. ; Four Volumes from the Gentleman's Companion series, two on exotic drinking and two on exotic cooking, two dated 1946, and two dated 1951. Published by Crown Publishers in New York. Two of the four with paradise bird bookplate. Good, staining and wear to cloth. Item #17058
First Edition stated. Edward A. Wilson dustjacket art. Novel of a young woman growing up in Laguna Vista in the California hills. Under the guidance of an infamous foster mother "Adrienne grows to womanhood, ignorant of her rich heritage. Meanwhile her foster mother "maneuvers to bring destruction upon the objects of her jealous hate". Author was also a Hollywood actor and made his film acting debut in 1934 in "The Painted Veil." He would later have supporting roles in "The Good Earth" (1937) and "Across The Pacific" (1943). Near Fine in almost Near Fine dustjacket. Item #31406
First Edition. Hollywood set murder mystery found in Anthony Slide's The Hollywood Novel, of a murdered film star. This copy is something of an advance copy with publishers paper label at front panel stating: "Notice! This Book is Being Serialized for Newspaper Release. For Sample Installments and Terms Write or Wire The Ledger Syndicated. Independence Square, Philadelphia." Basis for the 1929 talking film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Fredric March and Doris Hill. Good-Very Good, cloth at spine edges and corners becoming worn, paper label darkened, lacking dustjacket. Item #10252
Early Reprint Edition, just 15 days after First Edition. Self-help book to happiness, success and good-living by successful American actor, screenwriter, producer and director, who later became founding member of the United Artists and the Motion Picture Academy, and first host of the Oscars Ceremony in 1929. Illustrated black and white plates of stills of author acting in many popular films. Very Good with modest foxing in a Very Good dustjacket with modest chipping to spine ends, moderate spotting to front dustjacket panel and light soling to rear panel. Item #18886
First Edition. Interesting look at Fairbanks' career through his own eyes, and illustrated with stills from a number of his films. Very Good, personal bookplate at front free endpaper, in Very Good plus dustjacket. Item #14559
Second Edition. Illustrated with stills from some of Fairbank's films. Near Fine in Very Good dustjacket with mild soiling to panels and spine, shallow chipping to spine ends, and light stain spots to rear panel. Item #16354
First Edition. Fairbanks' self-help book of inspirational stories. Includes several stills of Fairbanks from his various film roles. Near Fine in Very Good price-clipped dustjacket, few small edge chips, small abrasion at front panel. Item #22622
First Edition. Theatrical drama of modern Manhattan life with scenes set on Coney Island and Broadway. The play also includes the theme of movie making. Faragoh is best known as a successful screenwriter, co-writing the screenplay for the now classic 1931 James Whale directed version of Frankenstein. He also co-wrote the 1931 classic, Little Caesar starring Edward G. Robinson. An extremely scarce play by this most famous of screenwriters. Near Fine in fragile Very Good plus dustjacket, few nicks at spine ends, spine mildly darkened. Item #14469