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I Lost My Girlish Laughter
A lost literary gem of Hollywood in the 1930s, I Lost My Girlish Laughter, is a thinly veiled send-up of the actors, producers, writers, and directors of the Golden Age of the studio system.
Madge Lawrence, fresh from New York City, lands a job as the personal secretary to the powerful Hollywood producer Sidney Brand. In a series of letters home, Western Union telegrams, office memos, Hollywood gossip newspaper items, and personal journal entries, we get served up the inside scoop on all the shenanigans, romances, backroom deals, and betrayals that go into making a movie.
The action revolves around the production of Brand's latest blockbuster, meant to be a star vehicle to introduce his new European bombshell (based on Marlene Dietrich). Nevermind that the actress can't act, Brands' negotiations with MGM to get Clark Gable to play the male lead are getting nowhere, and the Broadway play he's bought for the screenplay is reworked so that it is unrecognizable to its author. In this delicious satire of the film business, one is never very far from the truth of what makes Hollywood tick and why we all love it.
Madge Lawrence, fresh from New York City, lands a job as the personal secretary to the powerful Hollywood producer Sidney Brand. In a series of letters home, Western Union telegrams, office memos, Hollywood gossip newspaper items, and personal journal entries, we get served up the inside scoop on all the shenanigans, romances, backroom deals, and betrayals that go into making a movie.
The action revolves around the production of Brand's latest blockbuster, meant to be a star vehicle to introduce his new European bombshell (based on Marlene Dietrich). Nevermind that the actress can't act, Brands' negotiations with MGM to get Clark Gable to play the male lead are getting nowhere, and the Broadway play he's bought for the screenplay is reworked so that it is unrecognizable to its author. In this delicious satire of the film business, one is never very far from the truth of what makes Hollywood tick and why we all love it.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1938
25 people are currently reading
1778 people want to read
About the author
Jane Allen
41 books19 followersLibrarian Note:
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There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
May 17, 2019
In 1938 Madge Lawrence is a newly-hired secretary for the famous Hollywood producer Sidney Brand. The book is written in the form of letters to Madge’s aunt and friend, production memos, telegrams and journal entries. Brand acquires the rights to a play and plans to make it into a vehicle to star the European newcomer, Sarya Tarn. This book reads like a screwball comedy of the period and lampoons the movie making process with parodies of producers, writers, publicists, actors, gossip columnists and other people involved in this glamorous but sometimes cutthroat world. The movie faces both censorship and casting problems.
The author’s name is a pseudonym for Silvia Schulman Lardner, who worked for producer David O. Selznick, and Jane Shore, a screenwriter. Together they used the pen name in order to protect their jobs. The book was a hit when originally published and Orson Welles bought the radio rights to the book, but it was never made into a movie. It’s too bad that a movie was not made when the book was written because it would be hard today to film (or read) this book as simply a madcap romp without dealing with the inherent sexism. However, as a contemporaneous depiction of a Hollywood studio it was interesting and even fun.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
The author’s name is a pseudonym for Silvia Schulman Lardner, who worked for producer David O. Selznick, and Jane Shore, a screenwriter. Together they used the pen name in order to protect their jobs. The book was a hit when originally published and Orson Welles bought the radio rights to the book, but it was never made into a movie. It’s too bad that a movie was not made when the book was written because it would be hard today to film (or read) this book as simply a madcap romp without dealing with the inherent sexism. However, as a contemporaneous depiction of a Hollywood studio it was interesting and even fun.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
July 31, 2019
It is a well known fact that no one can skewer an industry better than an insider, which leads us to Silvia Schulman, a Hunter College grad who landed the plum position as secretary to David O. Selznik in the mid-1930's. First written in 1938, followed by serialization in Cosmopolitan then on-air with the Mercury Theater, this book presents the gal on the go trope popular at the time, and had it been filmed, would have provided a great vehicle for, say, Jean Arthur with her bright eyes and distinctive voice. A helpful prelude by J. E. Smyth reveals some of the identities of the roman à clef details, with a hilarious send-up of Marlene Dietrich (famously called "that construction" by Greta Garbo). Whereas our heroine Madge is wooed by a PA agent as well as an up and coming newcomer, in real life, Schulman was at the time in a romance that resulted in marriage to Ring Lardner, Jr. The book is lively, dishy, and better written than its title would seem to indicate
October 28, 2020
What a find, this was an easy fun read. I will admit though, the best part of the book was the introduction. In 1938 Silvia S. Lardner landed a job at MGM as a personal assistant to famed producer David Sleznick. The book is a parody of not only Sleznick, but Hollywood itself. Lardner and a friend published the book in 1938 under pseudo names. As the blurb says A lost literary gem of Hollywood in the 1930s.
Written in epistolary form (ie: telegrams, inter-office memos) you are taken back into the male dominated world of the casting couch and cocktails in the office. I laughed a loud a few times and just l know I would be best friends with the female protagonist.
An enjoyable read
Written in epistolary form (ie: telegrams, inter-office memos) you are taken back into the male dominated world of the casting couch and cocktails in the office. I laughed a loud a few times and just l know I would be best friends with the female protagonist.
An enjoyable read
dnf
December 2, 2019DNF @ 16%
I was very excited about this book, as I grew up on a steady regimen of films from the Golden Age of Hollywood (Cary Grant has been one of my favorite actors since I was 9 years old, we named one of our dogs growing up Bogart, and I still maintain that Lauren Bacall was one of the most beautiful women to every grace the red carpets.) I so badly wanted to love it, but this narrative didn't work for me at all. The term that immediately comes to mind is "stream of consciousness," ... which just so happens to be my least favorite type of book to read. I was 16% in and already totally annoyed with almost every person that had been introduced, and was catching myself skimming 60-70% of every page. There were a lot of memos and letters and telegrams and little tidbits that I had hoped would move things along, but it didn't seem to work that way for me.
I know this book was originally written in the 30s or 40s, and that this is a reprint, and it would be easiest to just put it off as a simple reason of not being able to handle the writing style and vernacular of those times, but I have read a few others written in the 30s and I thoroughly enjoyed those.
I still love the idea of this book, and I hope it finds its audience! Unfortunately, it's just not one I would buy a ticket for.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday for the gifted book and opportunity to read and review it prior to its publication date! This in no way affected my review, all opinions are my own.
I was very excited about this book, as I grew up on a steady regimen of films from the Golden Age of Hollywood (Cary Grant has been one of my favorite actors since I was 9 years old, we named one of our dogs growing up Bogart, and I still maintain that Lauren Bacall was one of the most beautiful women to every grace the red carpets.) I so badly wanted to love it, but this narrative didn't work for me at all. The term that immediately comes to mind is "stream of consciousness," ... which just so happens to be my least favorite type of book to read. I was 16% in and already totally annoyed with almost every person that had been introduced, and was catching myself skimming 60-70% of every page. There were a lot of memos and letters and telegrams and little tidbits that I had hoped would move things along, but it didn't seem to work that way for me.
I know this book was originally written in the 30s or 40s, and that this is a reprint, and it would be easiest to just put it off as a simple reason of not being able to handle the writing style and vernacular of those times, but I have read a few others written in the 30s and I thoroughly enjoyed those.
I still love the idea of this book, and I hope it finds its audience! Unfortunately, it's just not one I would buy a ticket for.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday for the gifted book and opportunity to read and review it prior to its publication date! This in no way affected my review, all opinions are my own.
September 11, 2019
This rollicking epistolary novel gives us a secretary's viewpoint of life at a 1930's Hollywood studio through free spirited personal letters, newspaper gossip columns, telegrams, interoffice memos, calendar entries, and the secretary's private journal entries. It was co-authored by Silvia Schulman Lardner, who was David O. Selznick's personal secretary. The main character, Madge Lawrence, is clearly based on Lardner's personal experiences. It is a quick and fun read for anyone who loves classic films or the film making industry.
The book introduction is invaluable to the modern reader, 81 years after the book was first published. It explains who the characters are modeled after as well as personal insight to the authors.
Thanks to #Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my review. 4 stars!
Please follow my reviews at www.kerrinsbookreviews.com where I not only review books, but recommend recipes that follow the theme of the book.
The book introduction is invaluable to the modern reader, 81 years after the book was first published. It explains who the characters are modeled after as well as personal insight to the authors.
Thanks to #Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my review. 4 stars!
Please follow my reviews at www.kerrinsbookreviews.com where I not only review books, but recommend recipes that follow the theme of the book.
November 24, 2019
A fun read.
Read
July 13, 2025had fun w this one!! I love to read fantasy fiction (aka having a job in the entertainment industry). it’s my dream to be on this level of casual lexicon with phrases like “son of a seahorse”, “my girlish effervescence is a jarring note” aka my new letterboxd bio lolz, “Men like Jim are irresistible between the covers of a book but in everyday life too capricious and variable for comfort.”, and “there is nothing like the glitter of glad rags when a girl has been jilted”. what an amalgamation indeed. ending was a bore tho
July 21, 2021
I LOVED this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves classic Hollywood movies!
I Lost My Girlish Laughter, written under the pseudonym Jane Allen, is based on Sylvia Schulman’s experiences as personal secretary to David O. Selznick. The hilarious satire, told from the perspective of Schulman's fictional counterpart, spunky secretary Madge Lawrence, reveals the ridiculous egos hidden beneath a generous layer of stardust. Not only was this a fun, breezy read, but I also felt like I had a better understanding of the motion picture business after reading this.
The story structure is unique, told entirely through a series of telegrams, studio memos, news clippings, letters, and diary entries. While a parody that surely exaggerates some situations, you can tell there’s more than a kernel of truth in every exchange. In this way, the story sheds light on the day-to-day business of moviemaking in the late 30s—scriptwriting and re-writing, managing stars’ images, negotiating contracts, and more.
The real nature of Hollywood can be disheartening at times—hardworking individuals (like Sylvia Schulman/Madge) not getting their due, an actor’s chances shelved because someone better comes along, and so forth. But just as Madge doesn’t lose her sense of humor, the book kept me laughing at a series of increasingly ridiculous situations.
My only disappointments with this book are that it wasn’t part of a series—I would read a dozen of these—and that it wasn’t made into a movie. I understand why it wasn’t, as it would be mocking the studio system unless very diluted, but the possibilities are endless. You can tell that the authors, Schulman and collaborator Jane Shore, had a great sense for a cinematic story that likely could have made this a hit movie if not for the controversy. Madge is a likeable heroine who balances her sardonic wit and ability to see through almost anything with just a touch of sentiment. There’s a love triangle, featuring a screwy publicity man and Hollywood’s newest romantic leading man. Madge is even surrounded by great character parts—my favorite was the much put-upon New York playwright.
Until I pick this book up again for a re-read, I’ll be thinking about my dream cast…
Madge Lawrence – Claudette Colbert
Sidney Brand – Adolphe Menjou
Myrtle Standish – Joyce Compton
Jim Palmer – Fred MacMurray
Sarya Tarn – Dorothy Lamour
Bruce Anders – Ray Milland
I Lost My Girlish Laughter, written under the pseudonym Jane Allen, is based on Sylvia Schulman’s experiences as personal secretary to David O. Selznick. The hilarious satire, told from the perspective of Schulman's fictional counterpart, spunky secretary Madge Lawrence, reveals the ridiculous egos hidden beneath a generous layer of stardust. Not only was this a fun, breezy read, but I also felt like I had a better understanding of the motion picture business after reading this.
The story structure is unique, told entirely through a series of telegrams, studio memos, news clippings, letters, and diary entries. While a parody that surely exaggerates some situations, you can tell there’s more than a kernel of truth in every exchange. In this way, the story sheds light on the day-to-day business of moviemaking in the late 30s—scriptwriting and re-writing, managing stars’ images, negotiating contracts, and more.
The real nature of Hollywood can be disheartening at times—hardworking individuals (like Sylvia Schulman/Madge) not getting their due, an actor’s chances shelved because someone better comes along, and so forth. But just as Madge doesn’t lose her sense of humor, the book kept me laughing at a series of increasingly ridiculous situations.
My only disappointments with this book are that it wasn’t part of a series—I would read a dozen of these—and that it wasn’t made into a movie. I understand why it wasn’t, as it would be mocking the studio system unless very diluted, but the possibilities are endless. You can tell that the authors, Schulman and collaborator Jane Shore, had a great sense for a cinematic story that likely could have made this a hit movie if not for the controversy. Madge is a likeable heroine who balances her sardonic wit and ability to see through almost anything with just a touch of sentiment. There’s a love triangle, featuring a screwy publicity man and Hollywood’s newest romantic leading man. Madge is even surrounded by great character parts—my favorite was the much put-upon New York playwright.
Until I pick this book up again for a re-read, I’ll be thinking about my dream cast…
Madge Lawrence – Claudette Colbert
Sidney Brand – Adolphe Menjou
Myrtle Standish – Joyce Compton
Jim Palmer – Fred MacMurray
Sarya Tarn – Dorothy Lamour
Bruce Anders – Ray Milland
August 23, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf Doubleday Publishing and Ms. Jane Allen for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "I Lost My Girlish Laughter"
The Golden Age of the Silver Screen told like no one else could...an insider! A powerhouse of a woman who worked alongside Hollywood's greatest creative talents: David O' Selznick and Marlene Dietrich to name a few
Told through a series of telegrams and correspondence "based on" Ms. Silvia Schulman's worklife as personal secretary for David O' Selznick and her years with producers, directors and actors of the silver screen in the 1930's.
This is a delicious read full of bite sized tidbits "from the office" of Hollywood's pioneers.
4 stars
The Golden Age of the Silver Screen told like no one else could...an insider! A powerhouse of a woman who worked alongside Hollywood's greatest creative talents: David O' Selznick and Marlene Dietrich to name a few
Told through a series of telegrams and correspondence "based on" Ms. Silvia Schulman's worklife as personal secretary for David O' Selznick and her years with producers, directors and actors of the silver screen in the 1930's.
This is a delicious read full of bite sized tidbits "from the office" of Hollywood's pioneers.
4 stars
March 26, 2025
such a fun book, especially for someone as enamored with Old Hollywood history & personalities as I am !!! This book is made even better by the fact that the author was the actual secretary / assistant to David O. Selznick, producer of GONE WITH THE WIND among many other films, and based everything that she wrote on her experiences working for him! I really enjoyed this book as a case study of the insanity of the Hollywood Studio System and about how hard and chaotic it is to be a Working Girl, but also about how a happy ending (whether that be romantic or not) is never very far away. This book also has the PERFECT last line. I loved it!!!!!
(however I do think that the title could have been workshopped a bit more because it's kind of clunky and doesn't quite fit the story IMO!)
(4.25 stars)
(however I do think that the title could have been workshopped a bit more because it's kind of clunky and doesn't quite fit the story IMO!)
(4.25 stars)
December 16, 2019
This was a little bit of a surprise. I mean, I know I love things set in early Hollywood and I like women's fiction from the 30s, but wasn't sure I was up for one written largely in letters and telegrams. It's actually really well written! It's a pretty tight timeline and plot, mostly centering around the filming of a high-profile film. It's certainly reflective of the author's time working for Selznick, and feels pretty authentic as a result.
Read
January 22, 2023The slang people used in this time period is like nails on a chalkboard to me, but otherwise this was a fun read and I enjoyed the format of interspersing letters/telegrams/etc. to tell the story. It's always interesting to read contemporaneous accounts of time periods (in this case classic Hollywood) that have since that time become heavily mythologized.
November 4, 2019
This book was originally written in the late 1930’s and is considered a lost gem. The book is an epistolary novel, told in letters and journal entries and even Western Union Transmissions.
For my full review, visit my blog at: https://obsessedbookaholic.com/2019/1...
Thank you NetGalley and Vintage for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For my full review, visit my blog at: https://obsessedbookaholic.com/2019/1...
Thank you NetGalley and Vintage for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2020
Very fun and amusing parody of working in Hollywood in the 1930's. Written by a personal secretary to the producer David O. Selznick, the timeline follows the making of a major movie, from casting to shooting, to sneak preview, to premiere. Told in the form of letters, telegrams, and journal entries. Of course all names have been changed, but the introduction gives you an idea of who is who.
July 9, 2019
When I requested to review this book at Netgalley I had no idea it was originally published in 1938. I am afraid to admit that at first this may have swayed me from reading this book and what a shame that would have been. I lost my girlish laughter centers around Madge Lawrence and as she explores the hectic crazy city of Hollywood. Madge lands a job working for big shot producer Sidney Brand and almost reads to me like a gossip magazine. The entire time I was reading this book I pictured Singing in the Rain and the silly comedy it included. This is a gem one that is meant for fans of history and Hollywood alike.
January 9, 2020
The build-up I read for this book promises a "must-read lost classic," it's not that; the same review compares it to noir masterworks by Raymond Chandler, it's not that ... Most certainly not targeted to old men like me ... Cleverly and stylishly written, funny in spots, never really goes anywhere
October 27, 2010
This book has quite a Hollywood History to it, which I won't go into here. But if you'd like to get some dirt on old Hollywood and the Zanucks...do yourself a favor and google this book.
April 23, 2020
Obviously my sort of thing...
August 3, 2019
A light-hearted fictionalized peek at movie mogul David O. Selznick
David O. Selznick had a secretary in the 1930’s named Silvia Schulman. After she left that job, she collaborated with Jane Shore (or maybe that’s “Schor”) to write this fictionalized parody of her time with Selznick, using the pseudonym of Jane Allen. It's in a light-hearted vein, so it wasn’t a revenge piece (at least not with respect to Selznick; some of the other characters come off less well), but it caused a lot of talk.
The story is told in a parade of documents...mostly letters from the secretary to her distant family and snippets of her personal journal, interspersed with telegrams and press releases and trade magazine clips and the like. The result is amusing and very readable, but not compelling; probably mostly relevant to students of the 1930's film industry. The main focus is on fictitious producer Sidney Brand (perhaps S.B. is short for "the Son-of-a-Bitch"?; this was Selznick's informal moniker for those talking behind his back). A major plotline involves his heavy-handed promotion of a new untalented actress, "Sarya Tarn" (probably based on Sam Goldwyn's ill-fated attempt to promote the Russian actress Anna Sten). Another segment describes the screwball incidents surrounding the birth of Brand's son; presumably this is a parody of the real-life birth of Selznick's son Daniel in 1936.
The book was released in 1938, pre-dating Selznick's biggest mark on the industry, 1939's "Gone with the Wind". Orson Welles turned the book into a radio play, broadcast in January of 1939. Silvia Schulman had married screenwriter Ring Lardner, Jr. in 1937, apparently leading Selznick to believe (incorrectly) that Lardner wrote the book. Lardner separated from Schulman in about 1942.
David O. Selznick had a secretary in the 1930’s named Silvia Schulman. After she left that job, she collaborated with Jane Shore (or maybe that’s “Schor”) to write this fictionalized parody of her time with Selznick, using the pseudonym of Jane Allen. It's in a light-hearted vein, so it wasn’t a revenge piece (at least not with respect to Selznick; some of the other characters come off less well), but it caused a lot of talk.
The story is told in a parade of documents...mostly letters from the secretary to her distant family and snippets of her personal journal, interspersed with telegrams and press releases and trade magazine clips and the like. The result is amusing and very readable, but not compelling; probably mostly relevant to students of the 1930's film industry. The main focus is on fictitious producer Sidney Brand (perhaps S.B. is short for "the Son-of-a-Bitch"?; this was Selznick's informal moniker for those talking behind his back). A major plotline involves his heavy-handed promotion of a new untalented actress, "Sarya Tarn" (probably based on Sam Goldwyn's ill-fated attempt to promote the Russian actress Anna Sten). Another segment describes the screwball incidents surrounding the birth of Brand's son; presumably this is a parody of the real-life birth of Selznick's son Daniel in 1936.
The book was released in 1938, pre-dating Selznick's biggest mark on the industry, 1939's "Gone with the Wind". Orson Welles turned the book into a radio play, broadcast in January of 1939. Silvia Schulman had married screenwriter Ring Lardner, Jr. in 1937, apparently leading Selznick to believe (incorrectly) that Lardner wrote the book. Lardner separated from Schulman in about 1942.
February 15, 2020
I Lost My Girlish Laughter really caught my attention with its bewitching, curious title and eye-catching cover.
This book was originally written in the late 1930’s and is considered a lost gem. It is a ribbing of the actors, producers, writers, and directors of the Golden Age of the studio system.
The plot and timeline are pretty tight, mostly centring around the filming of a high-profile blockbuster. Madge Lawrence, from New York City, lands a job as the personal secretary to the powerful Hollywood producer Sidney Brand (based on the legendary David O. Selznick). Brand is hoping that the film will be the catalyst to introduce his new European bombshell (the real-life Marlene Dietrich) even though she can't act. Brand's negotiations aren't proving to be very successful; his attempts to secure Clark Gable for the male lead aren't going to plan, and the Broadway play he's bought for the screenplay has been reworked so that it is unrecognisable to its author.
High marks for the author as it's really well written, mainly in the form of letters and telegrams; letters from Madge to her family and snippets of her personal journal, bestrewn with telegrams, press releases and more. The reader is privy to all of the shenanigans, romances, backroom deals, and betrayals that go into making a movie. Whilst I Lost My Girlish Laughter is not the most compelling story I have ever read, the result is still very readable and amusing. If you love old films that are the original stories and not mostly special effects, you will enjoy this great book.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
This book was originally written in the late 1930’s and is considered a lost gem. It is a ribbing of the actors, producers, writers, and directors of the Golden Age of the studio system.
The plot and timeline are pretty tight, mostly centring around the filming of a high-profile blockbuster. Madge Lawrence, from New York City, lands a job as the personal secretary to the powerful Hollywood producer Sidney Brand (based on the legendary David O. Selznick). Brand is hoping that the film will be the catalyst to introduce his new European bombshell (the real-life Marlene Dietrich) even though she can't act. Brand's negotiations aren't proving to be very successful; his attempts to secure Clark Gable for the male lead aren't going to plan, and the Broadway play he's bought for the screenplay has been reworked so that it is unrecognisable to its author.
High marks for the author as it's really well written, mainly in the form of letters and telegrams; letters from Madge to her family and snippets of her personal journal, bestrewn with telegrams, press releases and more. The reader is privy to all of the shenanigans, romances, backroom deals, and betrayals that go into making a movie. Whilst I Lost My Girlish Laughter is not the most compelling story I have ever read, the result is still very readable and amusing. If you love old films that are the original stories and not mostly special effects, you will enjoy this great book.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
August 30, 2025
a lively, hilarious, and thoughtfully written read! a close parallel to real happenings and figures in 1930s hollywood. an encapsulation of all of my favorite things about classic movies - quippy, smart old language, over-the-top characters, glamor, drama, and a touch of romance…
it also portrayed various shortcomings associated with the period, some intentionally and some, unfortunately, not. the narrator is resistant to the gross misogyny and sexual advances of the men around her, but seemingly not quiiite aware of how to turn off her own little man in her head which informs her opinions of herself and other women. which, i’m sure was quite a powerful and loud man given that this was the 30s. the protagonist was spunky and pragmatic and i was really rooting for her !
also, as media from this time is l wont to do, so often causing me to cringe while revisiting a beloved movie from my childhood, there are smatterings of racism here and there which are jarring and go totally uncriticized and is reinforced by the narrator, and that is completely par for the course. but, the narrator also repeatedly scrutinizes the studio’s commitment to appeasing white audiences.
i loved the format of a novel in letters, telegrams,
and gossip rags. delightful to read and compare to after just listening to an audiobook that heavily featured podcasts and news reports in the style of a radio show !
this was only written in the 1930s, so not so old, but this book reminded me that it’s more challenging to read books that weren’t written now and i really enjoyed the way this was written and would like to flex that muscle more… challenging tho it is.
it also portrayed various shortcomings associated with the period, some intentionally and some, unfortunately, not. the narrator is resistant to the gross misogyny and sexual advances of the men around her, but seemingly not quiiite aware of how to turn off her own little man in her head which informs her opinions of herself and other women. which, i’m sure was quite a powerful and loud man given that this was the 30s. the protagonist was spunky and pragmatic and i was really rooting for her !
also, as media from this time is l wont to do, so often causing me to cringe while revisiting a beloved movie from my childhood, there are smatterings of racism here and there which are jarring and go totally uncriticized and is reinforced by the narrator, and that is completely par for the course. but, the narrator also repeatedly scrutinizes the studio’s commitment to appeasing white audiences.
i loved the format of a novel in letters, telegrams,
and gossip rags. delightful to read and compare to after just listening to an audiobook that heavily featured podcasts and news reports in the style of a radio show !
this was only written in the 1930s, so not so old, but this book reminded me that it’s more challenging to read books that weren’t written now and i really enjoyed the way this was written and would like to flex that muscle more… challenging tho it is.
November 15, 2022
Loads of fun! This 1930s epistolary novel is a satirical view of Hollywood at the time, from the point of view of an outsider--a college graduate who moves west and becomes secretary to a studio exec (based on David O. Selznik). Very much of its time in terms of style, it's snappy, dishy, and feels accurate. The authors (Silvia Shulman and Jane Shore) both worked in Hollywood, so they knew whereof they spoke (and hence the pseudonym!).
The book lightheartedly skewers the studio system and its outsized egos, petulant stars, irate authors, pretty girls posing in hopes of catching the eye of a producer (even the nurses in a maternity ward!), page boys angling for more power...the works. The mentions of authors who actually did write for the studios--P.G. Wodehouse, Dorothy Parker, Gene Fowler--are a fun grounding in reality, too. This and "Merton of the Movies" are probably all you need to understand Hollywood of the time.
Lighthearted and compact, the story would have made a good screwball comedy. I sailed through it in a day, and now I'm picturing who I would cast in the film. I can easily imagine Joan Blondell or Jean Arthur as the lead.
The Vintage reissue is attractive and appealing, and the introduction by historian J.E. Smyth is worthwhile reading for the context and background. It made my heart so glad to learn that the character of Jim Palmer was based on Ring Lardner, Jr.--then-husband of Silvia Shulman.
The book lightheartedly skewers the studio system and its outsized egos, petulant stars, irate authors, pretty girls posing in hopes of catching the eye of a producer (even the nurses in a maternity ward!), page boys angling for more power...the works. The mentions of authors who actually did write for the studios--P.G. Wodehouse, Dorothy Parker, Gene Fowler--are a fun grounding in reality, too. This and "Merton of the Movies" are probably all you need to understand Hollywood of the time.
Lighthearted and compact, the story would have made a good screwball comedy. I sailed through it in a day, and now I'm picturing who I would cast in the film. I can easily imagine Joan Blondell or Jean Arthur as the lead.
The Vintage reissue is attractive and appealing, and the introduction by historian J.E. Smyth is worthwhile reading for the context and background. It made my heart so glad to learn that the character of Jim Palmer was based on Ring Lardner, Jr.--then-husband of Silvia Shulman.
July 23, 2019
Big Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for the ARC
Madge Lawrence is an up and coming woman in Hollywood during the 1930s from New York City. Through one of her contacts in Hollywood she obtains a secretary position in the office of Sidney Brand. This gives her the inside scoop on everything that is going on in Hollywood. Through interactions with newspapers, telegrams, office communications we get that inside view on how show biz really operates. Madge is in the middle of the pull to get Clark Gable to work on the production of Sidney's new movie and all of the drama in between.
This was such a different read! It's hard to summarize what goes on in the book because it's more interpersonal than just a story. It really dives deep into the work and world of the 1930s movies and all the rigmarole people went to get actors. Back when movies were more glamorous and iconic. I would recommend this to anyone who would like to read something a little different, with a little different style, and to someone who likes the old movie life.
Rate: 3.5/5
Fiction
Author: Jane Allen
Madge Lawrence is an up and coming woman in Hollywood during the 1930s from New York City. Through one of her contacts in Hollywood she obtains a secretary position in the office of Sidney Brand. This gives her the inside scoop on everything that is going on in Hollywood. Through interactions with newspapers, telegrams, office communications we get that inside view on how show biz really operates. Madge is in the middle of the pull to get Clark Gable to work on the production of Sidney's new movie and all of the drama in between.
This was such a different read! It's hard to summarize what goes on in the book because it's more interpersonal than just a story. It really dives deep into the work and world of the 1930s movies and all the rigmarole people went to get actors. Back when movies were more glamorous and iconic. I would recommend this to anyone who would like to read something a little different, with a little different style, and to someone who likes the old movie life.
Rate: 3.5/5
Fiction
Author: Jane Allen
June 5, 2020
I Lost My Girlish Laughter is an amusing roman `a clef novel about old Hollywood written in epistolary form. While not for everyone, I do enjoy this type of story. I feel reading private letters, memos, and telegrams in this instance, adds to the whole "behind closed door" secretive nature of the book.
It is a shame that it was not turned into a movie as it could have been a really terrific one. As I was reading it, different scenes of movies sometimes popped into my head. Also it was fun to guess the real person behind the fictional character. Although I enjoy watching old movies, I don't feel I know very much about the people, both in front of and behind the cameras, who created such wonderful films. I was at a distinct disadvantage in that respect but it was fun trying!I
If you like old Hollywood or just like reading other people's mail you may enjoy I Lost My Girlish Laughter. It's a light enough read for warm weather, the subject is interesting, it is easy to pick up and read and then put down if you need to due to the writing style (Great for when you are waiting in line). Glad it has been reprinted.
It is a shame that it was not turned into a movie as it could have been a really terrific one. As I was reading it, different scenes of movies sometimes popped into my head. Also it was fun to guess the real person behind the fictional character. Although I enjoy watching old movies, I don't feel I know very much about the people, both in front of and behind the cameras, who created such wonderful films. I was at a distinct disadvantage in that respect but it was fun trying!I
If you like old Hollywood or just like reading other people's mail you may enjoy I Lost My Girlish Laughter. It's a light enough read for warm weather, the subject is interesting, it is easy to pick up and read and then put down if you need to due to the writing style (Great for when you are waiting in line). Glad it has been reprinted.
May 20, 2019
I recieved a free egalley of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. This is a reprint of a 1938 novel, written by the secretary for film producer David O. Selznick. It reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, but about 1930's Hollywood instead of the fashion industry. There is a great introduction to the novel that explains the history of the novel and the author. Also included is an explanation about which literary character represents which famous real person. Had I read it when it was published, I would have enjoyed it as a biting satire on Hollywood. Reading it in the present day which little knowledge of the people it was making fun of, I still enjoyed it. It's a short, but witty read. Highly entertaining. The story is cleverly told through telegraph messages, inter-office memos, the secretary's private diary and letters home to friends and family. If you have any interest in old Hollywood or historical fiction, you will enjoy this book.
June 26, 2019
This is a cheerful, somewhat chaotic, whirlwind story in the form of diary entries, letters, western union telegrams, and dialogue between the characters, revealing the story of Madge, a secretary for S.B. (Mr. Brand). These were real people from the 30s, all explained in the introduction to the book, but the names are changed in the story. Madge is absolutely delightful to read and get to know. She steps into the role of secretary for this often lecherous, oblivious and eventually ridiculous boss with aplomb and grace, steering his ship like she'd always been there. She has a moral backbone and never does quite fit in with all the shenanigans that go on in the environment around her. The adventures that she gets sucked into throughout this very short read are eye opening and intensely entertaining, and ultimately, she gets to know herself and finds love of her own. I greatly enjoyed reading this.
October 16, 2019
I Lost My Girlish Laughter is a clever little novel that gives voice to unsung women. Even better, it's somewhat autobiographical and written by someone who lived this exact life. That being said, I didn't enjoy this quite as much as I think I would have if I were someone from that time period in that industry with a bunch of knowledge about who these characters are based off of. I can see that for the time, this book would've been a huge hit since it was remarkably relevant for the celebrities and big names of that time period. In 2019, while parts of it are still relevant, I don't think I got the same tongue-in-cheek kind of whimsy out of it that I was led to believe I'd feel when I read the Introduction. Don't get me wrong, this is still an entertaining, funny as hell book, but I do think that parts of the old movie industry have been lost to time and show every now and then throughout the novel. For old Hollywood lovers, I Lost My Girlish Laughter is a must read!
October 20, 2020
What a delicious surprise this book is! Originally written in 1938 by two Hollywood insiders Sylvia Schulman Lardner and Jane Shore writing under the pseudonym Jane Allen, the story is full of fun and thinly veiled personalities. The star of the story is Madge Lawrence, a fun gal from New York, who is hired to be the secretary to the powerful movie mogul Sydney Brand (David O. Selznick). In a series of telegrams, inter-office memos, letters and personal journal entries Madge tells the story of a potential blockbuster movie starring the studio's new find, Sarya Tarn (Marlene Dietrich) who, although beautiful, cannot act her way out of a paper bag. Brand thirsts for Clark Gable as the male lead but is unable to get him so he settles for Broadway actor Bruce Anders. All the interesting stories of movie making are here from casting the movie to the grand premiere. Such fun! The composite Jane Allen writes with a great deal of humor and a sly wink at the movie business.
February 8, 2025
This is a comic novel about a woman who becomes secretary to a Hollywood producer in 1930s Hollywood. "Jane Allen" is a pseudonym for the two women who wrote it, one of whom was actually David O. Selznick's secretary. It's definitely a breezy read, and epistolary format is charming, especially because some of the communications are telegrams and interoffice memos.
On the whole, I didn't find it wildly funny—more like zany, with situations such as producer Sydney Brand taking over a hospital so that his team can work on a film while his wife is giving birth. It's also a great feminist novel, showing how narrator Madge is expected not only to do her job (which is crazy enough), but also stuff like ironing her boss's ties or choosing his wife's Christmas presents. On the whole I liked it, but didn't love it—maybe because I'm not really a Hollywood buff, maybe just because I wish it was a little funnier.
On the whole, I didn't find it wildly funny—more like zany, with situations such as producer Sydney Brand taking over a hospital so that his team can work on a film while his wife is giving birth. It's also a great feminist novel, showing how narrator Madge is expected not only to do her job (which is crazy enough), but also stuff like ironing her boss's ties or choosing his wife's Christmas presents. On the whole I liked it, but didn't love it—maybe because I'm not really a Hollywood buff, maybe just because I wish it was a little funnier.
July 26, 2020
This charming little number was originally published in the late 1930s but for whatever reason was re-published recently and it's made its rounds in the Hollywood assistant's scene. I learned about this through another Hollywood assistant who read it and it's making a splash in that particular crowd because this novel is written by a former Hollywood assistant spilling the gossip of what it's like to work in the industry—but this isn't just any Hollywood assistant—this is an assistant who literally lived through the golden age of movie-making. I personally felt I could relate to the content having been an assistant in the industry but I don't quite know if that would translate to those who aren't in it. I wouldn't say it has a completely compelling plotline but as I mentioned prior, it's simply charming.
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