Olive Thomas: The Life and Death of a Silent Film Beauty

Product Description

Olive Thomas was one of Hollywood's first true movie stars. Born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, in 1894, she moved to New York at age sixteen and began to pursue an acting career. By 1915, she had landed a job as one of Ziegfeld's famous "Follies" girls. Before long her beauty was discovered by Hollywood, where she quickly became one of the biggest names in motion pictures. Her marriage to film star Jack Pickford further enhanced her popularity. Olive's death by poison on September 10, 1920, created a media circus. This biography begins with Olive's birth, follows her trip to stardom, and covers in detail the circumstances surrounding her mysterious death at age 25. Rare and beautiful photographs and a complete filmography are included.

Customer Reviews:

Well Worth A Read.......2007-08-24

I certainly enjoyed this book. The vicious reviewers love to hack up other people's style of writing and research. They miss the point. That being said, kudos to Vogel for her great book. Olive Thomas was a very enigmatic figure in silent movies and her tragic end worth reading about. I love how Vogel leaves the reader the chance to decide how it all really ended. The book is focused and very in depth. Really enjoyed it. It's not a long read and that's better for stars of the silent era that fans don't remember. When they are not too long, readers really do get a better fix on them. If I could give Vogel and this book more than 5 Stars I would!

Worthwhile.......2007-07-25

As being pretty much the ONLY Olive Thomas biography out there, I can't really say anything bad about it. The book is well written, and there are some very lovely pictures of Olive. But the magazine article quoting got to be too much because it was on every page.

AT LAST! Regaining an almost lost star........2007-06-12

There are so many interesting actors and actresses who have been among the most famous people and have been called great stars at their time which are now almost forgotten in the sands of time.
One of them is beautiful Olive Thomas (1894-1920)- the original Flapper-girl. Her name would probably be completely unknown had not fate provided an early death for her at the young age of 25. Yet most of her films are indeed forgotten or actually lost and have hardly been watched by anybody for more than 85 years.
This book helps to trace the life and career of the charming Follies-girl, the highly gifted movie actress and wife to Mary Pickford's little brother Jack. It gives insight into her life and tries to sketch her personality. Her mysterious death is extensively dealt with as well and you may find an answer for yourself among all the different stories offered regarding what really had happened in that fatal night in Paris when Olive Thomas met her fate.
A very well researched and well written biography with many photos and interesting anecdotes. A biography that has been overdue for decades. Now at last there is a book about this outstanding silent star. And hopefully it will help to keep her name and face from falling into oblivion or being merely remembered for her tragic early death.

Not Worth the Price.......2007-05-01

Olive Thomas is a mystery in modern times to those who are familiar with her story. She began on the Ziegfeld stage as one of the most talked about beauties. Her looks led her to the silver screen where she was hailed as the princess of Selznick Studios. She married into Hollywood royalty when she wed rambunctious Jack Pickford who eventually was the only source for clues to her demise. Thomas died at age 25 thanks to swallowing mercury bichloride pills in a Paris hotel during their second honeymoon. Whether this was a suicide, a murder, or an accident is left to history.

Also included at the end of Olive's story is a filmography for her career including synopsis, cast lists, and the status of the film today.

One major flaw with this book is that Vogel seems unfocused. There is a lot of information about Jack Pickford and Marilyn Miller, information that really has little to do with Thomas. The story jumps around chronologically and suggests many different conclusions to Thomas' death, but no solid explanation. Also, her early life is barely touched upon; her stage and screen career and early death are the focus. Granted, the information is valuable because so little is available, but the format of the book is disappointing, especially for its price. Vogel seemingly did not intend to create the definitive biography on Thomas as she often isolates her information to a time period. She references the "recent" release of The Flapper on DVD and has a fascination with translating dollar amounts into modern prices.

This book is certainly entertaining, though brief, but hardly stands as a worthy evaluation of Olive Thomas' career.

Terrific Tribute To A Forgotten Star.......2007-04-07

Olive Thomas must be thrilled that 87 years after her death there is finally such a wonderful tribute to her. This biography tells you everything you need to know about her rise to fame, her sad marriage to Jack Pickford, her mysterious final hours, and even where you can catch a glimpse of her ghost! After you have finished reading it you feel like you got to know the real Olive. Her fans won't be disappointed and classic movie buffs will love learning about this tragic star. It's an easy book to read filled with rare photos and a very detailed filmography. It's worth every penny of the price.

I would also recommend Michelle's latest book Hollywood Blondes: Golden Girls of the Silver Screen

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Early Cinema literature

The Sounds of Early Cinema
Domitor Conference 1998 (Library of Congress)
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Talkies: American Cinema's Transition to Sound, 1926-1931 (History of the American Cinema, 4)

ASIN: 0253214793

Book Description

This is the first book devoted exclusively to a little known phenomenon: the ubiquitous presence of sound in early cinema. "Silent cinema" may rarely have been silent, but the sheer diversity of sounds characterizing the first twenty years of moving pictures still can astonish us, from barkers and ballyhoos to pianists and orchestras. These twenty-five essays cover a broad range of subjects, including sound practices in production, sound-related exhibition practices film music, and the politics of sound reception.

Customer Reviews:

Early Cinema literature.......2005-10-14

As anticipated, I found the book to have sections pertinent to the use of magic lanterns in theatres. I gave a talk to my retirement club on Music in Silent Films, and was able to use some references from the book. Well researched and full of detail. Also quite readable.

Herr Lubitsch Goes to Hollywood: German and American Film after World War I (Amsterdam University Press - Film Culture in Transition)

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Herr Lubitsch Goes to Hollywood: German and American Film after World War I (Amsterdam University Press - Film Culture in Transition)
Kristin Thompson
Manufacturer: Amsterdam University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A Culture of Light: Cinema and Technology in 1920s Germany
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ASIN: 9053567089

Book Description

Ernst Lubitsch, the German filmmaker who left Berlin for Hollywood in the 1920s, is best remembered today for the famous "Lubitsch touch" in such masterpieces as Ninotchka, which featured Greta Garbo's first-ever screen smile, and Heaven Can Wait. Kristin Thompson's study analyzes Lubitsch's earlier silent films of 1918 to 1927 in order to trace the mutual influences between the classical Hollywood film style as it had evolved in the 1910s and the German film industry of the same period, which had emerged from World War I second in strength only to Hollywood.

During World War I, American firms supplied theaters around the world as French and Italian films had become scarce. Ironically, the war strengthened German filmmaking due to a ban on imports that lasted until 1921. During that period of isolation, Lubitsch became the finest proponent of German filmmaking and once Hollywood films appeared in Germany again Lubitsch was quick to absorb their stylistic traits as well. He soon became the unique master of both styles as the golden ages of the American and German cinema were beginning. This innovative study utilizes Lubitsch's silent films as a means to compare two great national cinemas at a vital formative period in cinema history.

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Silent Music: The Science of Meditation
William Johnston
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060641967

In a Silent Way: A Portrait of Joe Zawinul

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Greatest book buy in the last five years
extraordinary life, but not an extraordinary book
In a Silent way: A Biography of Joe Zawinul by Brian Glasser
Wonderful Book

In a Silent Way: A Portrait of Joe Zawinul
Brian Glasser
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Publishing, Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Forecast: Tomorrow
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Brown Street

ASIN: 1860743269

Book Description

Joe Zawinul pioneered a seismic shift in American jazz, incorporating international rhythms and new electronic tonalities.

Customer Reviews:

Greatest book buy in the last five years.......2003-05-20

Exceptional piece of work: the life of one of the most respected musicians on the entire globe. It's well conceived, well told and the life of the man is amazing "per se".

We find the very early remembrances, since the second world war period, the approach to the piano, the first experiencies with other jazz musicians; then the strong determination that led Joe to cross the ocean and start his magical trip with Dinah Washington, then Cannonball Adderley, his friendship with Coleman Hawkins. Dug the chapter reporting when he said "...not yet" to an astonished Miles Davis (!) and perhaps the most intriguing part: the collaboration with Wayne Shorter and his own considerations about Jaco Pastorius and his contribution to Weather Report; then about his perfect mixing with black people, the marriage with a black woman, his "beige" children (as Davis said!) and his deep and intelligent take on the musical world and keyboard technology. Keith Jarrett says that "the only intelligent thing one can do with a synthesizer is just throwing it out from the window". Joe Zawinul is 180 degrees away from this: when he plays he is basically playing his old accordion, only technically more complex. To better understand this book and the important contribution of the man to the development of the contemporary music, one must buy and listen deeply at least the following CDs: Joe Zawinul, (Weather Report's) Mysterious Traveller, Sweetnighter, Heavy Weather, 8:30, Night Passage, Black Market, (M. Davis') In a silent way. Then you can buy more!!!

Joe, we love you, we love the music you did, we thank you for what you gave to our hearts and to our musical growth! God bless you!

:-) V.

extraordinary life, but not an extraordinary book.......2003-04-04

Joseph Zawinul is arguably one of the more interesting cultural figures of the 20th century, perhaps the only non-American to have a profound effect on the music that we call jazz. Author Brian Glasser argues that this book is a "portrait" rather than a biography, aiming for emotional truth over factual specificity. Whatever the intent, the book views Zawinul very much through the prism of his music with the emphasis on the subject's musical career and very little on his life beyond music making. It is not an authorized biography in the sense of after giving Glasser several interviews, Zawinul apparently withdrew his cooperation, forcing Glasser to cobble together much of the book from previously published interviews and accounts. The result is a certain unevenness to the story - aspects of Zawinul's childhood are covered in a fair amount of detail, but in contrast it is only mentioned in passing that at a certain point Zawinul was married and had a family; later, we again learn in passing that his wife is named Maxine, that she is African-American, similarly the names of their children crop up sort of randomly etc.

In some respects this is not a major drawback - the emphasis is rightly on Zawinul's music, and many (most?) readers will already be acquainted with the basic facts of his life. Yet, it would appear to be an extraordinary life, and it is a pity that it is not the subject of a more polished biography.

In a Silent way: A Biography of Joe Zawinul by Brian Glasser.......2002-11-26

This book is a "must have" for any fans of Fusion or Modern jazz music. It details the extraordinary life and career of JOE ZAWINUL, probably best known as co-leader of the influential Jazz/Fusion band WEATHER REPORT. There is extensive input and recollection from many famous names past and present from the jazz world and the author has left no stone unturned in tracking down these superstars for their oppinions about a personality who always left a mark on their playing and careers. Mr Zawinul himself also has a lot to say about some of his associated musicians and there is some revealing and forthright words about his times with MILES DAVIS. WEATHER REPORT were very much a "musicians" band and to this end the book is written in a way that musicians will be very at home with...there is detail of recording sessions, song structures and even technical information on synthesizer set-ups. This may not be appealing to the general public but their interest is easily engaged with all the other stories of the love/hate relationships that the feisty Joe Zawinul formed with his contemporarys. A sure sign of a genius at work.

Wonderful Book.......2002-01-20

One of the things that makes this such an interesting book is that it is about the music as much as it is about the personality of Joe. It has details such as how two Drummers were used on one of the Black Market Tracks. I so enjoyed listening to the songs after reading about them.

Half the book is about the Weather Report years, the other half is pre and post Weather Report.

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The Piano Man
Debbi Chocolate
Manufacturer: Walker Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0802775780

Book Description

In this beautiful story, poignant prose and lush paintings tell the story of a girl's bond with her grandfather through their shared love of music. Eric Velasquez' stunning picture book debut, for which he received the Coretta Scott King New Talent Award, captures Debbi Chocolate's vivid memories of her grandfather, the piano man, his long career spanning decades of American music history, and his special talent for sharing his passion with generation after generation.

Music and the Silent Film: Contexts and Case Studies, 1895-1924

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Music and the Silent Film: Contexts and Case Studies, 1895-1924
Martin Miller Marks
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0195068912

Book Description

In this book, a leading authority on film music examines scores of the silent film era. The first of three projected volumes investigating music written for films, this thoughtful and pathbreaking study demonstrates the richness of silent film music as it details the way in which scores were often planned from the start as an integral part of the whole cinematic experience. Following an introductory chapter that outlines several key theoretical questions and surveys eight decades of writing on film music, Martin Miller Marks focuses on those scores created between 1895 and 1924. He begins by considering two early examples, one German (written by persons unknown for Skladanowsky's Bioskop exhibitions in 1895 and 1896) and one French (scored by Camille Saint-Saens for the 1908 film L'Assassinat du Duc de Guise). Subsequent chapters fully discuss Walter Cleveland Simon's music for the American film An Arabian Tragedy (1912) as well as the Joseph Breil accompaniment to D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation (1915). As described in this book, Breil's memorable score--though a compilation derived from many sources--was played by an orchestra as Griffith's sweeping images filled the screen, thus contributing significantly to the great film's success while also achieving remarkable power in its own right. Marks then concludes with a look at Erik Satie's witty and innovative music for the French film Entr'acte (1924), which was the first film score of consequence by an avant-garde composer. Giving unprecedented attention to a vibrant, important, and oft-neglected facet of twentieth-century music, Music and the Silent Film will interest scholars of film theory, film history, modern music, and modern aesthetics.

Alma Rubens, Silent Snowbird: Her Complete 1931 Memoir, with a New Biography and Filmography

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Alma Rubens, Silent Snowbird: Her Complete 1931 Memoir, with a New Biography and Filmography

Manufacturer: McFarland & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786424133

Book Description

Dark-eyed and distant Alma Rubens was one of the first female stars of the early feature film industry in the 1910s. She was a major star by 1920, but before the decade was over her screen career was marked and marred by cocaine abuse. She died in 1931 at age 33—a Hollywood beauty, a casualty of Hollywood "snow," yet much more. As an actress she was versatile, demonstrating a talent that was ahead of its time with her gentle and subtle expressions.

This book contains Rubens's autobiography, a text titled This Bright World Again that was serialized in newspapers in 1931. Ghost-written or not or somewhere in between, this long forgotten document deals with Rubens's addiction and despair. In addition, a new biography of Rubens takes the reader from her birth in San Francisco through an impoverished upbringing, three short-lived marriages, and her career in pictures for Triangle Film, Cosmopolitan, Fox and other production companies. The story of her film career mingles with a tale of desperate drug addiction that led to hospital stays, violence and deception. A filmography lists her credits from 1913 to 1929.

"I Sing for I Cannot Be Silent": The Feminization of American Hymnody, 1870-1920 (Pittsburgh Series in Composition, Literacy and Culture)
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Cultural study of the feminine role in Am. hymnody

"I Sing for I Cannot Be Silent": The Feminization of American Hymnody, 1870-1920 (Pittsburgh Series in Composition, Literacy and Culture)
June Hadden Hobbs
Manufacturer: University of Pittsburgh Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0822939908

Customer Reviews:

Cultural study of the feminine role in Am. hymnody.......1998-04-25

Dr. June Hobbs' book is a must-read for anyone interested in the role hymns played in the development of late nineteenth-century American culture. The focus on women as writers, singers, and subjects of various hymns provides clear insight into the way women shaped hymnody for expression of their own spiritual and social insights. Fascinating subject presented by June Hobbs in an insightful as well as enjoyable study. Highly recommended.

Cantata No. 211, "Coffee Cantata": Be Silent, Not a Word, BWV 211

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Cantata No. 211, "Coffee Cantata": Be Silent, Not a Word, BWV 211

Manufacturer: Eulenburg
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 3795762979

Book Description

For 3 solo voices and chamber orchestra. German language. Study score.

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