Kiss Hollywood Good-By

by Anita Loos

Autobiographical notes by the famed Hollywood screenwriter.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Film, Autobiography, Media Tie In, History

203 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

People best know American writer Anita Loos for her novels, especially Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925), which she later adapted for film; her many screenplays include The Girl from Missouri (1934).

She authored plays and her blockbuster comic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anita_Loos

Reviews

[Luke Devenish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flung myself from the first Loos memoir straight into this, the second, and enjoyed it just as much. She's a laugh-out-loud read, although her sense of chronology can be maddening. She leaps about all over the place, which has the effect of making her seem perpetually girlish; forever the wisecracking flapper with her windblown bob, long after hair-dos have moved on. I did my sums and worked out she was tapping forty when she took the job offer from MGM, so while she might have LOOKED like a teenager, she'd most definitely been around the block a bit. In a girlishly gamin way, of course. Nita never strikes me as tarty, although she clearly had her opportunities. Indeed, it's her steadfast loyalty to husband Mr E that was one of the most eye-opening aspects of the book for me. Between the first memoir and the second John Emerson took a major nosedive in my affections. He seemed endearingly eccentric in part one, and Nita's devotion made sense; he was the man who lifted her from fruitless toils in Griffith's script room sweat shop. But by part two, where Nita freely (and yet undamningly) reveals how he exploited and robbed her across the subsequent decades, I just wanted to shriek. I found the anecdote about Emerson quitting Metro on her behalf in order to sign her up with Sam Goldwyn far more shocking than the later story of trying to throttle his Buggie on the sofa. The events around Mr E's eventual institutionalisation were a little vague, revealed very obliquely, I thought, via a remembered conversation with a priest. Perhaps that stuff was just too difficult for her to tackle head on? Yet she faced everything else so unflinchingly. One of the brightest aspects of the memoir was how enjoyably Jean Harlow comes across; Nita clearly loved her. I read a lacklustre biography of Harlow earlier this year that had none of this sparkle that Nita captures at all. Jean was clearly a riot, and a sweetie to boot, and Nita saw plenty of it. A terrific book.

[H.J. Moat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anita Loos was one of Hollywood's first screenwriters and she also wrote a couple of best-selling novels (such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) so she is basically my idol. She has several autobiographies and each one sort of plays out like a film in itself, with its own key characters and narrative arc. I love this because it gives a sense of story which you don't always get in biographical books, and it also means you don't have to slog through essentially unimportant details like what her favourite subject was at school.
Instead you get classic anecdote after classic anecdote about Hollywood in its Golden Era - Anita knew absolutely everyone and talks casually and affectionately about industry icons like Irving Thalberg, George Cukor and Clarke Gable. Later on she dashes over to Paris and hangs out with Gertrude Stein and that famous Parisian artistic set of the Twenties. There are many glittering parties, socialites behaving badly and film industry gossip to drink in, but what I felt really grounded this book and elevated it above a beautifully written succession of name drops is the love story at its centre. Anita Loos married a man called John Emerson (she calls him Mr E) who was a vain, insecure hypochondriac with whom Anita was besotted with in the beginning. Eventually the bloom of infatuation wears off and she realises exactly what he is, which provides much humorous commentary. I found him rather infuriating at times and clearly so did Anita, but she felt duty-bound to him and could never really let go. But theirs is not the love story I refer to. Anita had a close friendship with the notorious raconteur Wilson Mizner. The book implies that one or both of them wanted it to be more but it was never the right time or situation, and his lifestyle was not suited to a stable, long-term relationship. Wilson dips in and out of the story, culminating in a climax that I found pretty heartbreaking.
It's always hard to know how much of an autobiography is real, sometimes it's the things the author leaves out and doesn't want us to know that are the most interesting. Whether that's true or not with this one I don't really care - Anita Loos was a literary and screenwriting titan in an even more sexist world than the one we live in now, and she had the vast success she did for a reason: the woman really knew how to tell a story.

[Toviel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does it deserve five stars? No. Am I giving it five stars regardless? Hell yes.

Anita Loos, one of the first (if not the first) script writers in Hollywood is a fascinating woman. Witty to a fault, the book explores her successful failure of a marriage, her failed successes at affairs, and the all antics of the industry between the two. Even taking anything with a massive grain of salt, it's a fantastic read about an equally fantastic character. Just ignore some of Loos' outdated thoughts about gender equality and Women's Lib.

It's one of the first Hollywood memoirs I've read where I sincerely believe it wasn't ghost written. I can see how Anita thrived in the pre-Code era, her snarkiness packs punch after punch. More writers could stand to follow her example, myself included.

[Beth Cato · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book wasn't quite what I wanted--it focused on the wrong period of Anita Loos's life for my research needs--I still gleaned many notes and found it an okay read though it must be considered within the context of the times. Anita Loos was one of the powerhouse writers of the silent film industry who gained worldwide acclaim (that continues today) for her short novel Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She stopped writing for years after that due to the jealousy of her husband, who went so far as to develop a psychosomatic throat disorder to force her into the role of constant nursemaid. In the 1930s, with talkies the new thing, she returned to Hollywood with her husband and they began work at MGM.

The focus of the book is on sex along with a heaping helping of gossip. She details several almost-affairs she had and analyzes how Hollywood addressed sex in the Code era versus contemporary times (this was published in the 1970s). She spills the beans on Judy Garland, who she could not stand, and other stars who populated the MGM set. A lot of that commentary feels petty, though her discussion of William Randolph Hearst and Mae West was more enjoyable. Her memories of her husband, "Mr. E" come across as flippant, which is appalling at times. He was terribly abusive, attempting to kill her and absconding with her funds and even her book rights, and yet she stayed devoted to him until his death.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of two memoirs written by Anita Loos, this one concentrates on her work for the movie studios, mainly in the 1910s, 20s and 30s. She wrote or co-wrote lots of scripts; many of the early ones were one reel silent movies. Best known as the author of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, Loos was witty and smart in many ways but let her husband take advantage of her terribly.

Born in 1894, Loos was a flapper with short dark hair and short skirts. She was a career girl; although she was pretty and social enough to have become a gold digger, she supported herself and her husband with her writing. She worked and socialized with many of the days celebrities; Clark Gable, Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst, Aldous Huxley, H.L. Mencken, Greta Garbo, Dorothy Parker, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jean Harlow and many, many more.

This volume is a ‘sort of’ biography; I say ‘sort of’ because while she tells us what she was doing, she actually tells us more about the people she spent time with. The book is rich in anecdotes about the famous, warts and all, although she is most often very kind in her recollections. She is even kind about her thieving and manipulative husband- it turned out that he was mentally ill and couldn’t help but do the things he did to her. Loos throws some social commentary in with the anecdotes and the book is extremely amusing.

[Richie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just okay. Liked the descriptions of old Hollywood, naturally, especially writing the screen play for The Red-Headed Woman and when she talked about Jean Harlow. Also liked her stories of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald (though the more I learn about them the less like-able they become). Some parts I skipped; going abroad hanging out with people blah blah blah.

The worst part of the book is her despicable, manipulative, piece of shit husband. He leached off her money, wasn't good at anything, and she constantly had to keep her talent in check because it was "killing him". Oy vey. She also tells a cute story about how he tried to choke her to death because "she was too good for this cruel world", and that she convinced the studio boss to keep him on (splitting her salary between them) because she had found a gun and suicide notes. What a psycho and a total loser. Then she rags on the "old-looking women's libbers."

And this, friends, is why we need feminism.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting enough book, but pure brain crack. The entire memoir is pretty strong with Anita's humorous tone and storytelling style, but the last chapter just falls flat. I was sad to read just how much she allowed herself to get walked all over by her husband, but the way she unfolded the stories made me feel like I was sitting down and having a drink with her.

The story doesn't fallow a timeline at all, so I got easily lost as to what was happening when in relation to topics she brought up in earlier chapters. More than anything, each chapter follows a theme and sometimes she mentions the year, but most of the time it is stream of conscious. This is not to say that I didn't gobble-up this book anyway; great for a plane ride or for the beach. If you are a fan of silents and 30s movies, pick-up this book for a quick summer read.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anita Loos displays the acerbic wit that made "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" a bestseller. Amusing anecdotes of her life in Hollywood. This autobiography is more interesting if you want stories of celebrities like Gable & Lombard, H.L. Mencken, F. Scott Fitzgerald, etc. Her earlier autobiography, "A Girl Like I" deals with her days writing for the silent films and working with D.W. Griffiths, but the majority of the book is about her marriage and its trials. This book tells more about Hollywood in its heyday.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don't think anita loos has ever had an orgasm.

[Steve Shilstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plenty of delightful 1920s and 1930s ammo for movie buffs and literary buffs.

[Samantha Glasser · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantastically quick read, Anita Loos combines wit with fine storytelling in this autobiographical piece. She zips all around her life and tells about famous names like Marion Davies, Douglas Fairbanks, D.W. Griffith, Irving Thalberg, Clark Gable, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and other contemporaries. Even if one has not heard of these people before, which is the case in several bits, a detailed portrait of them will be painted by the time the book is through. Most vivid of these portraits is her husband, nicknamed "Mr. E," a manic depressive with a severe need to perform better than his famous wife.

Loos lived for quite a long time, so not only does one read about her experiences during the Roaring Twenties, but also about her more modern experiences. What does she think about her films being shown in schools? What about modern Hollywood? You'll find it all out here and probably find yourself agreeing with her.

[Brad Mariano · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for any tell-all account of this era of Hollywood, but Loos’ wit and self-deprecation is offset by a staggering level of internalised misogyny, which in part feels like a coping mechanism for the quite disturbing emotional and financially abusive relationship that dominated her life, until she starts using it to put down others - written in the 70s about the 20s and 30s, she justifies rather than interrogates the era that moulded her by juxtaposing it with the “Women’s Lib” era of her present that she loves to put down. In all, very interesting and idiosyncratic insight into a fascinating and flawed figure in film history.

[Jon]

Anita Loos, best known for writing the flapper-era best-seller GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, also wrote two very enjoyable memoirs, A GIRL LIKE I and KISS HOLLYWOOD GOODBY. Readers may not agree with everything she says,as when she declares that silent-film comedian Fatty Arbuckle was guilty of the rape he was charged with and was acquitted because of his celebrity (Loos' friend/admirer H. L. Mencken thought precisely the reverse, that he was framed by publicity-hungry prosecutors because he was a star, and I agree with him) but these books make terrific reading even today.

[Debra Pawlak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. Anita Loos was one of the highest paid screenwriters during Hollywood's early years. She began her career by writing for D.W. Griffith and spent many years at MGM where she worked with the greats like Irving Thalberg. Though her book was dated in some respects and I was surprised to learn of her long and troubled marriage to 'Mr. E' (John Emerson), it was quite enjoyable and brought to light some interesting Hollywood history. Ms. Loos definitely had stories to tell and tell them she did. A fun read!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not entirely convinced that Anita Loos is aware of how much she’s showing herself up in this semi-autobiography, semi-tell-all memoir. For one thing, she blithely hands over control of her finances and her life to her ne’er-do-well husband, Mr E. She even gets rid of her pet cat at his say-so! This aspect of the story comes across deeply pathetic, the moreso for her refusal to acknowledge her complicity.

And then there’s the bit where she winks at seriously unsavoury behaviour from her fellow Hollywoodians, from chuckling at the producers who pretended to aspiring actresses that they needed ‘body readings’ to this quote:

“Look, Mr E, I’ve simply got to worship any force that created Winston Churchill, Igor Stravinsky, George Balanchine, Joe E. Lewis, Duke Ellington, and the Marx Brothers – even if it’s only spontaneous combustion. (NB I’ve just added Dr Kissinger to my list.)”

Although I wonder at the honour of releasing salacious anecdotes about long-dead stars long after their star has faded, it was worth reading the book just to hear someone dissing F. Scott Fitzgerald for being, not tragic and scandalous, but a bit of a loser.

“An alcoholic is much more bearable when he’s like Brendan Behan, roistering his way through to a tragic end, than for his life to fade out, as Scott’s did, in one long, dull apologia.”

I wonder if a certain author of ‘On The Road’ read this before publication…

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was interesting to learn about her marriage and friendships but it's also striking how she is much more forgiving of men she knew who harass and assault women than women she knew who she found irritating.

"Ted Healy used to work a ploy on girls who showed up at the studio for extra jobs. Using his really superb acting talent, Ted would introduce himself as a professor attached to the personnel department; a scientist who worked along the lines of palmistry except that, instead of merely reading palms, the Professor read the entire body...Incredible as is seems, any number of those aspirants were gullible enough to place themselves in the Professor's hands."
A huge assumption, also, to decide these women are gullible rather than that they've accepted the sexual assault they assume is the price of a career in Hollywood.

Compare to her view of Judy Garland: "Judy's mental attitude may have been pathetic but it turned her into a great bore."

She writes about incidents like her husband trying to choke her with detachment. Maybe part of what seems like limited sympathy of people who do not handle traumas blithely.

[Brian The Red · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short but disappointing memoir by film screenwriter and novelist Anita Loos, an important female figure in silent Hollywood and beyond. This book, however, focuses on her time at MGM in the 30s. There's little to no story structure at all here, just a lot of random stories and character sketches of the famous people she knew (both in movies and elsewhere). The timeline jumps around so much that even trying to get a sense of who SHE is proves difficult. For a woman who is famous for writing about sex, and was strikingly attractive, there's no indication of any love life at all. Among the many frustrations are her gossipy stories that have long since shown to be wrong -- even those involving Fatty Arbuckle and Jean Harlow would have been known to her at the time of writing. She has no issue with nasty barbs directed at some of the more famous personalities of the time, and yet she'll also pull her punches when relaying a shocking story in which the figures are only hinted at. Expected much more.

[Jamie Jonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pellucid picture of old-time Hollywood--kingdom of Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Jean Harlow and Greta Garbo, among other luminaries. Also a pretty scary glimpse of some--per Loos, F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda were a pair of drunken, near-homicidal lunatics. As I read along, I formed the opinion that Loos was neither glamorizing nor exaggerating, but that as a highly polished writer and observer she was telling the unvarnished and astonishing truth. These were days in which ironclad sexism was rampant in good old Tinseltown and wild, reckless partying was encouraged rather than frowned-upon. Come to think of it, how much has really changed?

As for that cover, well, you have to figure that for this edition they wanted better sales--so the obvious solution was to slap a naked lady on it. I suppose in a way it does symbolize Hollywood, considering the scandalous adventures of Hedy Lamarr and Tallulah Bankhead.

[Tama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do wish there was more to it than gossip. While it can be interesting with people you know basic details about, or you are surrounded by their world.. I have barely touched on the 10s and 20s, even the 30s I am far behind on. I wish I knew who the writers were before reading this too!

I want to get to know Anita way more. An old writer getting her personality out there.

Here at the very end she gets very personal. Returning to her husband. He is diagnosed with bipolar, Kanye West ego. And Anita gives her last word on sex. ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ being some kind of ‘Pulp Fiction’ for the way it pokes fun at sex, where ‘Pulp’ made violence a joke.

She is an endearing Hollywood personality. But she defines herself by men or the stars of her movies. That’s a shame. Is it her love of smart people or the lack of self awareness of her smarts. Not much writing advice going on. :’(

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall some very funny writing about a time period and place I'm very into, but also a lot of weird I'm-not-like-other-girls internalized misogyny and anti-"women's lib" sentiments, which could be a joke, except she makes light of her husband manipulating her and using her for her money her entire life, so that's a bummer.

[raniera]

an exercise in name-dropping, but only really interesting names, and all cemented by lots of wise-cracking and good character studies. at one point, she goes for a hike in the Hollywood hills with aldous huxley, edwin hubble, and greta garbo! it's good.

[Alvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

KHG is an engaging read for fans of Golden Age cinema, full of movie star anecdotes and studio gossip with a heaping helping of stylized wit and amusingly arched opinions. And there are some surprise guest appearances by a few literary lights of the day!

[Cecilia Alonso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy entretenido, aunque es más una recopilación de cotilleos que una biografía.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot about Europe but especially Germany during the 1930s and WWII, but things were no better at home where the Great Depression gave birth to unrest and fostered a different kind of revolution in society.

This excerpt is from Anita Loos's "Kiss Hollywood Good-by", and I can only let her words describe the lamentable situation:

"...But with the stock market crash, men were hard put even to keep their wives, let alone spend money on sex outside the home. The adjustment was much easier on women than on men, who jumped out of windows in droves, whereas I can't recall a single headline that read: KEPT GIRL LEAPS FROM LOVE NEST.

"All over the nation girls started to earn their own money. Gold diggers whose lives had been the most tedious, readily took to exciting jobs as mannequins, models, and cover girls. Those with sufficient talent went on the stage. Nontalented beauties got jobs in Hollywood and the nonbeauties went into offices.

"Soon a type of husband emerged who, like [my own], required his wife to contribute to their support. And a new social order went into effect throughout the entire country. Men began to put a greater value on their services to women.

"In New York, parents of debutantes had to entice young men into stag lines by offering free transportation to and from the Colony Club; they had to provide free theatre tickets, night-club entertainment, and other diversions. In humbler circles the Dutch treat was established; escorts required a girl to pay for half their date and they didn't even flinch when she offered to foot the entire bill, although in the beginning she was frequently told to pass the money under the table. Presently, men took to digging into a girl's wages and the kept man began to emerge in America."

[Stephanie Salmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir of Hollywood in the 20s-40s by the writer of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Great stories!

[Danny Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinarily enjoyable.

[Jimina Sabadú · Rating 3 out of 5]

¿Por qué me ha caído mal Anita Loos en éste libro?
Da igual. Sigue siendo brillante.

[Sooz PM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una gran troballa!

[Carole Prior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this wild romp through the heyday of Old Hollywood and the legendary names who made the Silver Screen...Silver and Gold.

Anita Loos, who practically invented sassy, strong, sarcastic and witty women by writing such great classics as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Red Headed Woman, Saratoga and San Francisco. If she didn't invent these characters, then they were based on her life as lived among the other wits who peopled Miami Beach, Palm Beach and Hollywood where "to meet people who created their own dialogue..." must have been a marvelous twist for her. Hollywood Mega Studios, gave that life to such women on the big screen. She tells her story with irreverant wit and an insider's eye for detail. Her memories could make a movie and I think anyone who reads this will laugh, cry and remember that a 'life well lived' is worth all the heartache.
Carole Prior

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of fun, like having dinner with a legitimate participant in glamorous old Hollywood of the studio system and the legendary New York of the Algonquin Round Table. It's disorganized -- for a while she seems to be expanding on notations in an old date book, which is lovely, but that conceit seems to disappear midstream -- but the disorganization only adds to the informal, quirky appeal. A bigger problem for me is the unmistakable vein of hostility toward "Woman's Libbers." It's a common attitude in biographies from this era, and it never fails to dismay me -- especially coming from one who was such a pioneer herself.