The First Male Stars [Paperback]

David W. Menefee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 20, 2007

The captivating lives and groundbreaking accomplishments of fourteen men who dared to gamble their reputations by appearing in the first motion pictures are explored in a richly researched new book, The First Male Stars: Men of the Silent Era. At a time when other actors in the "legitimate theater" scorned the industry, these amazing men not only defied the odds of success but also received a place at the heights of a fascinating business that was a new form of art. Each made an enduring and important contribution to early cinema, although some are forgotten today. Exhaustive research in every major archive of the world has created this compilation of information and images. In this engaging and educational volume, author David W. Menefee reaches into the vaults of history to withdraw countless, unusual details that tell how these men, their roles, and their influence were received in their time, and how their powerful impact still lingers today. The book includes 114 rare scene photos, portraits, reproductions of full-page film advertisements, and lobby cards. Actors include: John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Richard Barthelmess, John Bunny, Francis X. Bushman, Lon Chaney, Jackie Coogan, William S. Hart, Tom Mix, Antonio Moreno, Jack Pickford, Wallace Reid, Rudolph Valentino, and Crane Wilbur. This is the softcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David W. Menefee is an American author. His writing career began as a writer and marketing representative for the Dallas Times Herald and the Dallas Morning News. David struck out on his own as a freelance writer, succeeding with Sarah Bernhardt: In the Theater, Film and Sound Recordings, The First Female Stars: Women of the Silent Era, and The First Male Stars: Men of the Silent Era. 
     As an esteemed film historian, his Richard Barthelmess: A Life in Pictures was named one of the Top 10 Books of the Year by the San Francisco Examiner. In 2010, George O'Brien: A Man's Man in Hollywood, and "Otay!" The Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas Story were popular hits. In 2011 his Wally: The True Wallace Reid Story was nominated for a 2011 Pulitzer Prize.  
David's other popular literary works include The Remarkable Mr. Messing, Brothers of the Storm, Charlie O'Doone's Second Chance and Other Stories, The Rise and Fall of Lou-Tellegen, the Margot Cranston mystery series, Falling Stars: 10 Who Tried to be a Movie Star, and Sarah Bernhardt, Her Films, Her Recordings.
     David also works as a ghost writer, screenwriter, and book editor. He lives in Dallas, Texas, USA. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: BearManor Media (October 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593930739
• ISBN-13: 978-1593930738
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,417,027 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David W. Menefee is an American author. His writing career began as a writer and marketing representative for the Dallas Times Herald and the Dallas Morning News. David struck out on his own as a freelance writer, succeeding immediately with the groundbreaking Sarah Bernhardt: In the Theater, Film and Sound Recordings, The First Female Stars: Women of the Silent Era, and The First Male Stars: Men of the Silent Era, and everyone's favorite, George O'Brien: A Man's Man in Hollywood.

As an esteemed film historian, his Richard Barthelmess: A Life in Pictures was named one of the Top 10 Books of the Year by the San Francisco Examiner. In 2010, his "Otay!" The Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas Story thrilled worldwide fans of the Our Gang/Little Rascals films. In 2011, his Wally: The True Wallace Reid Story was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

David's recent popular successes include the thrilling wartime romantic adventure The Remarkable Mr. Messing, the heartwrenching Civil War epic Brothers of the Storm, the unforgettable Charlie O'Doone's Second Chance, the shocking biography The Rise and Fall of Lou-Tellegen, the spine-tingling Margot Cranston mystery series, the unusually revealing Falling Stars: 10 Who Tried to be a Movie Star, and the monumental Sarah Bernhardt, Her Films, Her Recordings.

David also works as a ghost writer, screenwriter, and book editor. He lives in Dallas, Texas, USA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, June 21, 2008

By 

Robert L. Willis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The First Male Stars HB (Hardcover)

This book is quite an interesting read. The publisher has produced it handsomely in a hard back version, which is the one I have, but it is also available in a soft back version. The author is an established expert on silent movie stars, and in this book, he has compiled fascinating biographical profiles about the captivating lives and groundbreaking accomplishments of fourteen men who dared to gamble their reputations by appearing in the first motion pictures.

According to the back cover, these men found work in early motion pictures "at a time when other actors in the legitimate theater scorned the industry. These amazing men not only defied the odds of success, but also received a place at the heights of a fascinating business that was a new form of art. Each made an enduring and important contribution to early cinema, although some are forgotten today."

I greatly admired the exhaustive research the author made in order to create this compilation of information and images. The book includes 114 rare scene photos, portraits, reproductions of full-page film advertisements, and lobby cards, all of which are very eye-catching to a film aficionado.

The book includes profiles of actors that are still visible in films today, as well as others that are not so visible because the majority of their films have been lost. The author styled each chapter to follow the birth to death life span and career of each man, but also hones in on one important film that seemed to have captured the essence of the actor's appeal. That particular film is dissected in great detail.

Actors include: John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Richard Barthelmess, John Bunny, Francis X. Bushman, Lon Chaney, Jackie Coogan, William S. Hart, Tom Mix, Antonio Moreno, Jack Pickford, Wallace Reid, Rudolph Valentino, and Crane Wilbur.

I particularly enjoyed this book because many of these actors never had a full biography written about them. Of great interest to me were the revealing chapters about Jack Pickford, Wallace Reid, and Richard Barthelmess, all enormously popular stars who have never before been profiled in depth.

I would venture to say that any silent film enthusiast will find this book worthwhile, and I highly recommend it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must have" for admirers of silent film., December 26, 2007

By 

Randy L. Jones (Round Rock, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The First Male Stars HB (Hardcover)

This book is richly researched and highly entertaining. The author and publisher have profiled the lives and work of certain stars who gambled their careers on making early films in a day when such efforts were scorned by those working in the legitimate theater. Of particular interest are the chapters on fascinating men who have largely had their work lost due to the neglect of the very studios who made the films: Wallace Reid, Francis X. Bushman, John Bunny, and Crane Wilbur. I was particularly touched by the true stories of Lon Chaney, Sr., Rudolph Valentino, William S. Hart, and Jack Pickford. Each actor that is profiled in this book earned a place in the hearts of audiences, and because so much of their work is largely lost, it is most interesting and gratifying that the author has chosen to show what made them so appealing. The book is overfilled with many excerpts from rare reviews of their films, fascinating photographs, and enough advertisements to make any ardent collector envious. Each chapter reveals the men as human beings first, and then delves deeply into one signature role that shows the true essence of their appeal. For any admirer of silent movies, this book is a treasure.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Companion to The First Female Stars, March 8, 2011

By 

Lon Davis "Author" (Eugene, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The First Male Stars (Paperback)

The First Female Stars is an excellent book, one that details the lives and careers of such luminaries as Pearl White, Janet Gaynor and Beverly Bayne. Now from the same author (David W. Menefee) comes this equally fine volume, featuring biographical essays on Francis X. Bushman, Richard Barthelmess, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, and John and Lionel Barrymore. As the fictional Norma Desmond said, "We had faces!" She might have added, "And great profiles!" The cover of this fascinating book features those legendary gentlemen in side poses, showing off the handsome features that made early moviegoers swoon. The accompanying text is well done. It makes you pine for the days before movies had learned to talk.