The First Lady of Hollywood : A Biography of Louella Parsons

Hollywood celebrities feared her. William Randolph Hearst adored her. Between 1915 and 1960, Louella Parsons was America's premier movie gossip columnist and in her heyday commanded a following of more than forty million readers. This first full-length biography of Parsons tells the story of her reign over Hollywood during the studio era, her lifelong alliance with her employer, William Randolph Hearst, and her complex and turbulent relationships with such noted stars, directors, and studio executives as Orson Welles, Joan Crawford, Louis B. Mayer, Ronald Reagan, and Frank Sinatra—as well as her rival columnists Hedda Hopper and Walter Winchell. Loved by fans for her "just folks," small-town image, Parsons became notorious within the film industry for her involvement in the suppression of the 1941 film Citizen Kane and her use of blackmail in the service of Hearst's political and personal agendas. As she traces Parsons's life and career, Samantha Barbas situates Parsons's experiences in the broader trajectory of Hollywood history, charting the rise of the star system and the complex interactions of publicity, journalism, and movie-making. Engagingly written and thoroughly researched, The First Lady of Hollywood is both an engrossing chronicle of one of the most powerful women in American journalism and film and a penetrating analysis of celebrity culture and Hollywood power politics. Hollywood Celebrities Feared Her. William Randolph Hearst Adored Her. Between 1915 And 1960, Louella Parsons Was America's Premier Movie Gossip Columnist And Her Heyday Commanded A Following Of More Than Forty Million Readers. This First Full-length Biography Of Parsons Tells The Story Of Her Reign Over Hollywood During The Studio Era, Her Lifelong Alliance With Her Employer, William Randolph Hearst, And Her Complex And Turbulent Relationships With Such Noted Stars, Directors, And Studio Executives As Orson Welles, Joan Crawford, Louis B. Mayer, Ronald Reagan, And Frank Sinatra - As Well As Her Rival Columnists Hedda Hopper And Walter Winchell. Loved By Fans For Her Just Folks, Small-town Image, Parsons Became Notorious Within The Film Industry For Her Involvement In The Suppression Of The 1941 Film Citizen Kane And Her Use Of Blackmail In Service Of Hearst's Political And Personal Agendas. As She Traces Parsons's Life And Career, Samantha Barbas Situates Parson's Experiences Within The Broader Trajectory Of Hollywood History, Charting The Rise Of The Star System And The Complex Interactions Of Publicity, Journalism, And Movie-making. The First Lady Of Hollywood Is Both A Chronicle Of One Of The Most Powerful Women In American Journalism And Film And A Penetrating Analysis Of Celebrity Culture And Hollywood Power Politics.--jacket. Early Years -- Essanay -- The Column -- New York -- The Lovely Miss Marion Davies -- On The Way To Hollywood -- Hollywood -- Feuds -- Radio -- The Best And The Hearst -- The First Lady Of Hollywood -- Raising Kane -- The Gay Illiterate -- War And Peace -- Scandal -- The End Of An Era -- Eclipse. Samantha Barbas. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 401-408) And Index. Hollywood celebrities feared her. William Randolph Hearst adored her. Between 1915 and 1960, Louella Parsons was America's premier movie gossip columnist and in her heyday commanded a following of more than forty million readers. This first full-length biography of Parsons tells the story of her reign over Hollywood during the studio era, her lifelong alliance with her employer, William Randolph Hearst, and her complex and turbulent relationships with such noted stars, directors, and studio executives as Orson Welles, Joan Crawford, Louis B. Mayer, Ronald Reagan, and Frank Sinatra-as well as her rival columnists Hedda Hopper and Walter Winchell. Loved by fans for her "just folks," small-town image, Parsons became notorious within the film industry for her involvement in the suppression of the 1941 film Citizen Kane and her use of blackmail in service of Hearst's political and personal agendas. As she traces Parsons's life and career, Samantha Barbas situates Parsons's experiences within the broader trajectory of Hollywood history, charting the rise of the star system and the complex interactions of publicity, journalism, and movie-making. Engagingly written and thoroughly researched, The First Lady of Hollywood is both an engrossing chronicle of one of the most powerful women in American journalism and film and a penetrating analysis of celebrity culture and Hollywood power politics A biography of Louella Parsons, America's premiere movie gossip columnist from 1915 to 1960, chronicles her reign over Hollywood during the studio era, her lifelong alliance with William Randolph Hearst, and her complex and turbulent relationships.