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Stardust by the Bushel: Hollywood on the Chesapeake Bay's Eastern Shore
Hollywood on the Chesapeake Bay's Eastern Shore. One-hundred years of moviemaking on Delmarva, from Easton to Ocean City and Wilmington to Chincoteague. This is the first comprehensive history of the stars of stage and screen who called the Eastern Shore home during (or after) their lives ... as well as major motion pictures produced on location here. Written with meticulous care and infectious joy by Brent Lewis, a tenth-generation Eastern Shoreman known for his mastery of regional history and lore.
428 pages, Hardcover
Published December 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 28, 2025
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: Hollywood on the Chesapeake Bay's Eastern Shore. One-hundred years of moviemaking on Delmarva, from Easton to Ocean City and Wilmington to Chincoteague. This is the first comprehensive history of the stars of stage and screen who called the Eastern Shore home during (or after) their lives...as well as major motion pictures produced on location here. Written with meticulous care and infectious joy by Brent Lewis, a tenth-generation Eastern Shoreman known for his mastery of regional history and lore.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: I'll admit it up front: I'm a sucker for tightly-focused histories of films, their stars, and the stories of their production. This book, then, is aimed at me.
This area, one of the longest colonized places on the continent, often plays host to individual productions or television series that benefit from the less-familiar-than-California landscape...and from tax benefits. Some actors from the area push for productions to go there.
the face of film noir, Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum spent a big part of his youth in Delaware, because his grandparents took on raising him when his mother had had enough. Apparently he was not acting too much in his mean-bastard roles.
Affection for the area persisted in him. It seems to cast quite a spell, does Delmarva!
A native to the area is Linda Harrison, Sixties and Seventies beauty of some renown who played Nova in the science-fiction film classic Planet of the Apes most famously.
her talents were on display
After being cast in one of the defining blockbuster films of the Sixties, Harrison has spent years coming to terms with that specific type of fame; she's returned to her Maryland hometown, moved back to open a business. Now she is active on the convention scene that celebrates the Planet of the Apes franchise. She only appeared in the first and second films, yet the fans still love and embrace her in the con scene. Not a bad career!
Films that've made the area part of their background include Harriet, starring the luminous Cynthia Erivo in an Oscar-nominated star turn:
the film was less famous than it should've been
Tubman was born on a Eastern Shore plantation so the area figures prominently in the film. Production included locations all over the area. There are two National Historical Parks in the area dedicated to Tubman and her legacy.
An enjoyable book, one I never had to talk myself into returning to; and one that a film fancying giftee with a taste for anecdotes will batten on.
The Publisher Says: Hollywood on the Chesapeake Bay's Eastern Shore. One-hundred years of moviemaking on Delmarva, from Easton to Ocean City and Wilmington to Chincoteague. This is the first comprehensive history of the stars of stage and screen who called the Eastern Shore home during (or after) their lives...as well as major motion pictures produced on location here. Written with meticulous care and infectious joy by Brent Lewis, a tenth-generation Eastern Shoreman known for his mastery of regional history and lore.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: I'll admit it up front: I'm a sucker for tightly-focused histories of films, their stars, and the stories of their production. This book, then, is aimed at me.
This area, one of the longest colonized places on the continent, often plays host to individual productions or television series that benefit from the less-familiar-than-California landscape...and from tax benefits. Some actors from the area push for productions to go there.
the face of film noir, Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum spent a big part of his youth in Delaware, because his grandparents took on raising him when his mother had had enough. Apparently he was not acting too much in his mean-bastard roles.
Affection for the area persisted in him. It seems to cast quite a spell, does Delmarva!
A native to the area is Linda Harrison, Sixties and Seventies beauty of some renown who played Nova in the science-fiction film classic Planet of the Apes most famously.
her talents were on display
After being cast in one of the defining blockbuster films of the Sixties, Harrison has spent years coming to terms with that specific type of fame; she's returned to her Maryland hometown, moved back to open a business. Now she is active on the convention scene that celebrates the Planet of the Apes franchise. She only appeared in the first and second films, yet the fans still love and embrace her in the con scene. Not a bad career!
Films that've made the area part of their background include Harriet, starring the luminous Cynthia Erivo in an Oscar-nominated star turn:
the film was less famous than it should've been
Tubman was born on a Eastern Shore plantation so the area figures prominently in the film. Production included locations all over the area. There are two National Historical Parks in the area dedicated to Tubman and her legacy.
An enjoyable book, one I never had to talk myself into returning to; and one that a film fancying giftee with a taste for anecdotes will batten on.
December 13, 2022
A Bushel of Stardust by Brent Lewis is one of the best Cinema file books I have read especially about the East Coast because it is essentially a Book about the romance between Hollywood and the East Coast from Maryland to Cape Cod and beyond I think the best thing about this book it is not at all a copy and paste even the biographies you can tell we’re written by someone who loves movies and actors. I also like the fact that Mr. Lewis doesn’t assume you’ve seen every movie on the planet and takes time to describe the movie and the point he’s making. You can tell he’s taking his time to make equality book for film lovers and I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it. Anyone who loves movies, history and or the East Coast should read this book it truly is a part of our history and a well documented read. I love the personal stories about the actors in the movies in the behind the scenes tidbits I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t say enough about it a truly great book. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
June 13, 2023
Totally wanted to read this book based on the cover, title and synopsis.
Glad I did!
It’s not typically the genre that I read,,
And again, I’m glad that I did!
Author Brent Lewis is a great, passionate story teller!
I recommend this book if you are interested in East Coast lore, movie history, or just love to learn and read all about interesting history!
Thankyou to Author Brent Lewis, Netgalley and Secant Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
Charlene @lastnownext 📚🌸🤗
Glad I did!
It’s not typically the genre that I read,,
And again, I’m glad that I did!
Author Brent Lewis is a great, passionate story teller!
I recommend this book if you are interested in East Coast lore, movie history, or just love to learn and read all about interesting history!
Thankyou to Author Brent Lewis, Netgalley and Secant Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
Charlene @lastnownext 📚🌸🤗
October 1, 2025
Was very hard to start this book, but I never really read books like this, but in the end, I really loved it. I learned a lot about Maryland that I did not know as a fellow Marylander who lives in Maryland and has been to Ocean City many times I loved this book
May 18, 2022
This is a fabulous book. If you live on Maryland's Eastern Shore you will be especially tickled to learn about all the famous Hollywood-types that came from your neighborhood. But even if you don't have an Eastern Shore connection, Brent Lewis has done a wonderful job in writing interesting, fast-paced, well-researched vignettes about stars like Robert Mitchum and Talluluh Bankhead, and films like The Runaway Bride. Once I started reading this gem, I couldn't put it down!
August 11, 2025
If you love the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and you love movies, you'll love this book. Brent Lewis's meticulous research has uncovered fascinating and fun details about the film industry on the Eastern Shore. Actors,writers, directors, locations--almost all were new to me. Brent Lewis's breezy writing style makes the book a pleasure to read, and numerous photos help make the people and places come alive.
March 17, 2022
A really wonderful book about all the famous people and movies made on the Eastern shore. Because this is now where I call home, a long way from the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia where I was born and grew up, I knew I needed to read this book. Lots of wonderful photos and amusing anecdotes are included in this unputdownable book!
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
August 20, 2022
Fascinating, well-researched book, jam packed with information about the movie stars, movie productions, and other Hollywood activities on the Eastern shore and its environs. The kind of book you keep having to read aloud to anybody within earshot. The book is also beautifully designed and contains great photographs, making it a pleasure to read.
July 5, 2022
What a great book. Take time to savor all the details about the people and places who call the Eastern Shore home - even for a time - made famous in the movie industry.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews