Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 39

I am in the final stages of preparing the manuscript to submit to University Press of Kentucky. I have been contending with corrupted computer files and lost photos in the mail (weepy post on those to come soon), so I was extremely grateful to today’s gust blogger, Daniel Nauman, for a couple of reasons; 1) for taking care of today’s post, so I can concentrate on getting the damn thing done, and 2) for referring to me as a Bettie Page lookalike. I haven’t heard that since pregnancy and thyroid cancer wreaked havoc on my body, so you’re a saint in my eyes Daniel!

I am also thankful to Daniel for making my job extra super easy by uploading his Ann Dvorak post to his own blog, The Strange Loves of Daniel Nauman. So, if ya don’t mind, I am now gonna send you on over to Daniel’s site, as he talks about what the Divine Miss D means to him.

To wrap things up, here’s a bit about Daniel in his own words:

I’m an artist once and a writer now in the wilds of the Mother Lode. Interests include all Californiana—especially roads and radio—and my Rosa giganteas at our Rancho Notorious. I have about a half dozen novels overloading my mental hard drive—and I’m exploring daily observances, my past and the spirits of the past untold in my new blog The Strange Loves of Daniel Nauman.

Thanks again Daniel!

Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 38

I am really jazzed by today’s guest blogger submission. You may recognize Paul Petro as “artman2112,” who is a frequent contributor to the comments sections on this site.  When he told me he was planning on turning in a guest post, I was fully expecting something about Bright Lights, which costars his personal favorite, Patricia Ellis. Instead, he sent along this gorgeous portrait of Ann which is “grahpite and white pastel pencil on approx 13″ x 17″ tinted canson paper.” Mind you, this was not a piece he had laying around from a couple years back, but something he created over the past two days specifically for The Year of Ann Dvorak. This is exactly why I love the idea guest bloggers, because you never know what they’re going to come up with. (I also need to credit frequent commenter DickP with coming up with the guest blogger idea.) It’s also a credit to Ann that she can inspire such devotion in a few of us die-hard fans.

If you want to check out more of Paul’s work, take a look at his website. If you’re interested in being a guest blogger sometime in the next few months, please let me know. Now, here’s a bit more about Paul in his own words:

I’m a 45 year old self taught artist living the quiet life in Vermont. I make pictures with pencils, plain or colored. I like to draw women. When i’m not drawing i like to play guitar, make things out of wood, watch old movies, lift weights, pet my little kitty, and eat -especially Italian food, a good steak, chocolate cake, cheesecake or ice cream.

I collect vintage movie paperware and classic movie star autographs and have them hung all over my house along with prints from my fave artists and my own work too of course. i love books. i love old cars, especially the American muscle cars of the 1960’s. I stay up too late, always over sleep and i’m always hungry.

Thanks again, Paul!

Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 35

Actor William Powell with agent Myron Selznick (Image from Corbis)

Today I bring you the first post from a guest blogger. What? You didn’t seriously think I was going to be able to keep this up EVERY day for a year, did you?

Guest Blogger #1 is Mary Mallory, a writer and film historian. She wrote the Arcadia Publishing book “Hollywoodland” in 2011 and blogs for the LA Daily Mirror on Los Angeles and motion picture history. Mallory serves on the board of Hollywood Heritage and on the Cultural Affairs Committee of the Studio City Neighborhood Council.

Just to set-up Mary’s post: When Ann returned from her eight-month European honeymoon in March of 1933, which Warner Bros. did not approve of, she needed someone to smooth things over while still getting her a decent contract deal. Myron Selznick was the man she turned to.

Now, here’s Mary:

Ann Dvorak made the leap from chorus girl to star in 1932 with her appearance in Sky Devils, cemented by her electrifying turn in Scarface. Being a star required having a strong agent to look after your interests, both regarding salary and casting.

Dvorak found that in Myron Selznick, a tough, savvy former producer and studio executive. Selznick, the older brother of David O. Selznick, represented such Warner Bros. stars as Ruth Chatterton, Kay Francis, Constance Bennett, and William Powell. With his production background and take no prisoners attitude, Selznick was the perfect person to have in your corner, as long as you followed his rules.

Myron Selznick made the talent agent the ultimate power in Hollywood. He was the first to gain his clients the right to participate in choosing scripts and co-stars, as well as the first to package talent, gain profit participation for above the line people, and set stars up in independent production companies.

There was only so much an agent could do, however, if a client failed to follow instructions and obey general studio strictures or leave contract matters to the agency.

Selznick liked women with spunk, women with strong minds and opinions, but ones who knew how to make strategic moves. Ann’s impetuousness sank her prospects at Warner’s, something even an agent as powerful as Selznick could do little to rectify.

Much appreciation to Mary for the excellent post and for stepping up as the first Guest Blogger. Also, for giving me the day off!

If anyone else out there is interested in contributing to the Year of Ann Dvorak, please let me know! My only requirements are that it somehow relates to Ann, reflects the personality of the author (Mary Mallory has been researching Selznick for years), and is fun for the author to do! After spouting off my opinions on Ann Dvorak for years, it’s great to hear other people’s perspectives.