Women have been influential in the film industry in many ways, dating back to the earliest days of the industry. While some are remembered more than others, Mary Mallory’s First Women of Hollywood: Female Pioneers in the Early Motion Picture Business is exceptional in portraying just how much ground women have covered in filmmaking and beyond.
Mallory’s book is well-researched and covers the stories and contributions of women who are discussed often in relation to film history and others whose stories are not told as often. In this book, Mallory examines a wide range of “firsts” in the areas of acting, filmmaking, direction, writing, production, design, makeup and hair, music, research and preservation, publicity, and executive positions. While many may be familiar with Clara Bow (the first sex symbol), Mary Pickford (the first major studio founder), Anna May Wong (the first Chinese American star), and more, there is still plenty to learn through Mallory’s narratives on each. Beyond these, there were so many that I really did not know much about, such as Nell Shipman (the first animal trainer), Lillian Rosine (the first makeup artist), Kora Newell (the first studio teacher), and many others. Moreover, as a librarian and archivist, I was especially happy to see chapters on Iris Barry (first archivist) and Elizabeth McGaffey (first reference librarian).
This book is a fabulous read and one that I would recommend to fans of classic film and beyond–including my fellow librarians!
Hometowns to Hollywood 