Hollywood East

“Twentieth-century world history, cinema history, biography, news clippings, and anecdotes come together . . . beautifully . . .[with] sophisticated storytelling.” —Library Journal

This is the story behind the story: how the movie industry grew up as a business controlled from New York. In the words of author Diana Altman, “Hollywood was a pretty face but New York was the heart and lungs.” Altman, daughter of MGM studio’s early New York talent scout Al Altman, chronicles the studio system as only a film historian with insider access can. Discover how Louis Mayer went from opening a small cinema outside of Boston to becoming a revered movie mogul with a stable of stars. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the screen tests of such luminaries as Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo. Get the real story behind the mobsters Al Capone and Willie Bioff’s influence on the film industry. Watch the rise and fall of William Fox, the avaricious founder of Fox Film, which ultimately became Twentieth Century Fox. Read about Marcus Loew, the head of America’s largest theater chain, as well as such pioneering personalities as Adolph Zukor, Samuel Goldwyn, Cecil B. DeMille, and more. The glamor, the gossip, and the scintillating stories of how Hollywood’s biggest stars rose to fame are all here, alongside fascinating photographs from Al Altman’s one-of-a-kind collection. Hollywood East is a must-read for film fans and history buffs.

“Entertaining.” —Publishers Weekly

“Altman tells amusing stories about Metro’s stars.” —Kirkus Reviews