These Stories Prove That Old Hollywood Was A Truly Wild Place
Old Hollywood is one of the most fascinating periods in American cinema’s long history. It not only kicked off a golden age for film, but it also produced some riveting behind-the-scenes stories that endure today. Yes, the following ten tales are unmatched in highlighting just how wild and unpredictable Tinseltown really was back then!
1. The rise of Frances Marion
When cinema was in its infancy, plays and theater dominated the world of entertainment. And unfortunately for women, the stage was very much a boy’s club at the time. But that wasn’t the case in early Hollywood: ladies would be scattered all around those sets, doing a variety of jobs. Mind you, one woman in particular really stood out for her work behind the camera.
Honing her skills
Her name was Frances Marion, and she had quite the career before settling in Tinseltown. Yep, she worked as an actress, model, artist, and war correspondent! Anyway, after arriving in Hollywood, Marion became fascinated with the whole filmmaking process. She sat under the learning tree of the period’s most prosperous female director, Lois Weber, and honed her skills as a screenwriter.
Hollywood’s highest-paid writer
Marion then established herself as the go-to writer for both silent and “talkie” movies over the next 20-plus years. Incredibly, she pumped out more than 300 scripts during her screenwriting career, and picked up two Oscars. No other writer was earning as much money as Marion at the height of her powers. She even penned a book about the process in 1937, titled How to Write and Sell Film Stories. But as that decade came to a close, she chose to step away, leaving behind an inspiring legacy.
2. Marion Morrison’s name-change
Born in May 1907 Marion Morrison had a few different interests during his time at high school. As well as playing football and getting involved with the student council, he trod the boards in stage productions, too. But sport appeared to be his first love — he bagged a college football scholarship in 1925. After getting hurt a couple of years later, though, Morrison then turned his attention to the movie industry.
