Customer Reviews

Aviators in Early Hollywood (Images of America: California)

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This book is a striking visual tribute to Hollywood's classic aviator heroes. It is an amazing view into the Hollywood "hangar" of innovative aviators who worked as actors, producers, directors and stunt pilots. They flew through the highest highs and lowest lows in America: through the "Roaring Twenties" and the Great Depression to become heroic icons known as Barnstormers.

The two-page spread photos from epics such as Hell's Angels and the set of photos from the first Academy Award-winning best picture of WINGS are breathtaking! Some of the photos are more racy than I expected... ;)

It is cool to see dashing Charlie Chaplin in flight attire with goggles without his trademark Tramp makeup. I especially like the supercharged action of the Oliver Hardy movie sequence stills. Many of the legendary actors display authentic looks of pure ecstasy of performing with flight, from "America's Sweetheart" Mary Pickford and swashbuckler Douglas Fairbanks, to legendary director Cecil B. DeMille.

The author, Shawna Kelly, meticulously represents these heroes of Hollywood, who were once action superstar heroes. I have great respect for these aviators, of which many spectacularly gave the ultimate gift of their lives for our realistic entertainment. The mystery, drama, comedy and the behind-the-scenes of these thrilling aviators is explored with a great grasp of authenticity which reveals motivations of the daredevil aviators. These motion picture aviators gained such heights of power from codes of loyalty and unity. I am revved up every time I fly through the stunning images of this book!

The aviator's unsolved mystery sabotage related to "Daredevil" DeLay's demise and the "Lost Squadron" film is worth a whole book, movie or documentary in itself!