(Palgrave Macmillan, 2001)
While the impact that legendary actors and actresses have had on the development of the Hollywood film industry is well known, few have recognized the power of movie fans on shaping the industry. This book is the first study of Hollywood’s golden era to examine the period from the viewpoint of the fans. Using fan club journals, fan letters, studio production records, and other previously unpublished archival sources, Samantha Barbas reveals how the passion, enthusiasm, and ongoing activism of film fans in Hollywood’s golden era transformed early cinema, the modern mass media and American popular culture.
Reviews
“Using an impressive variety of source material…Barbas gives us a clear, thoughtful portrait of the American movie fan.” –Journal of American Culture
“Barbas skillfully traces the development of both celebrity and fan in this thoroughly researched and well-written volume…..a unique film history with astute commentary…Anyone who has ever admired a movie star, been enthralled by a particular film, or wanted to know more about the Hollywood phenomenon will find this book of interest, while film scholars and students of popular culture should consider a necessity.” –Library Journal
“Especially, for those unfamiliar with early film history, this is a useful survey of fandom.” –Publishers’ Weekly