The First Male Stars Men of the Silent Era by David W. Menefee

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.

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. His latest releases include the popular The Final Journey to the Center of the Earth, and EPIC. David's first hits included 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 2011 his Wally: The True Wallace Reid Story was nominated for a 2011 Pulitzer Prize and was a winner of "Best Silent Film Book of 2011" by Thomas Gladysz in the San Francisco Examiner). David's other popular works include The Remarkable Mr. Messing, Brothers of the Storm, Charlie O'Doone's Second Chance and Other Stories, and the Margot Cranston mystery series.