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It Was Fun While It Lasted: A Lament for the Hollywood That Was
Hollywood is dead. Long live Hollywood!
The City of Stars, for decades the fantasy capital of the world, has come to the Final Fade-Out, and no one knows what will appear on the screen next. The glory that was Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is now scattered from Culver City to Capetown, after a $13-million auction sale in which such mementos as Judy Garland's dancing slippers and Esther Williams' swimming pool were sold to the highest bidder. Housing developments nibble at the vast, vacant Paramount lot. And at the corner of Hollywood and Vine, there are now only a couple of chain shoe stores, a pharmacy. and a bank.
Today, the action is in "skin flicks"—sexploitation films starring nameless secretaries, produced by cheery, garrulous men who live in trailers. And tomorrow? Pay TV perhaps, or video cassettes for home entertainment. Nobody can say for sure.
The City of Stars, for decades the fantasy capital of the world, has come to the Final Fade-Out, and no one knows what will appear on the screen next. The glory that was Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is now scattered from Culver City to Capetown, after a $13-million auction sale in which such mementos as Judy Garland's dancing slippers and Esther Williams' swimming pool were sold to the highest bidder. Housing developments nibble at the vast, vacant Paramount lot. And at the corner of Hollywood and Vine, there are now only a couple of chain shoe stores, a pharmacy. and a bank.
Today, the action is in "skin flicks"—sexploitation films starring nameless secretaries, produced by cheery, garrulous men who live in trailers. And tomorrow? Pay TV perhaps, or video cassettes for home entertainment. Nobody can say for sure.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
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July 7, 2012
Loving the old movies and stars as I do, I couldn't pass up such an intriguing title. The book was written in 1972 so quite a few personalities of the era were still around. I needed to know what the people of old Hollywood had to say and wasn't disappointed. A few of the opinions were surprising. All agreed the golden era was wonderful and were thrilled to be a part of it. I wish more people were interviewed! An interesting read if you appreciate that golden age of movies.
Displaying 1 of 1 review