"It was a young business, initially driven by immigrants, Jews, and women - talented, ambitious, and creative souls unwelcome in more respectable professions. If moviemaking was looked down upon as less than reputable, and it was, individuals on the fringes of that community were the ones who first came to Los Angeles." Writer and Film Scholar Cari Beauchamp


Cari Beauchamp's latest book, "My First Time in Hollywood", is the subject of this week's review. The book covers the years from 1909 - 1929, as people began to migrate to Los Angeles to work in films. It is a collection of excerpts, taken from memoirs of actors, directors and others who worked in the industry. In my review, I focus mainly on the women discussed. However, there are also men like directors Cecil B. DeMille, Raoul Walsh and King Vidor and actor Harold Lloyd who share their memories of arriving in Hollywood for the first time.

Moving back to the present - producer Jerry Weintraub died today of a heart attack in Santa Barbara. He was 77 years old. He produced such films as "The Karate Kid", "Diner" and "Ocean's Eleven" and its sequels. Two of the stars of "Ocean's Eleven", George Clooney and Elliott Gould, issued statements mourning the loss of their friend and business associate. Weintraub published his memoir in 2009 and was the subject of the HBO documentary, "His Way", in 2011.



Here's the latest article from the Drama Movies site at BellaOnline.com.

My First Time in Hollywood Book Review
In 1909, Hollywood was a dusty village surrounded by orange groves. Then the movie folk arrived. "My First Time in Hollywood" presents 42 of Hollywood's pioneers, their memories of arriving in Hollywood, and their part in the birth of the American film industry.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art53950.asp

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