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Ethel Barrymore : Shy Empress of the Footlights NEW PRESALE
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Located in: USA, United States
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eBay item number:227092995876
Item specifics
- Condition
- Brand New: A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. See all condition definitionsopens in a new window or tab
- Country of Origin
- United States
- Item Weight
- 16.3 Oz
- ISBN
- 9781985903418
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
University Press of Kentucky
ISBN-10
1985903415
ISBN-13
9781985903418
eBay Product ID (ePID)
25075870747
Product Key Features
Book Title
Ethel Barrymore : Shy Empress of the Footlights
Number of Pages
312 Pages
Language
English
Topic
Film / General, Theater / General, Entertainment & Performing Arts
Illustrator
Yes
Genre
Performing Arts, Biography & Autobiography
Book Series
Screen Classics Ser.
Format
Hardcover
Dimensions
Item Height
1.1 in
Item Length
9 in
Item Width
6 in
Additional Product Features
Publication Year
2026
Intended Audience
Trade
Reviews
Spaltro has filled a significant gap in the realm of film, theater, and star studies with the first modern, in-depth work on Ethel Barrymore. Spaltro's research and use of sources are exemplary. This is the definitive biography of Ethel Barrymore., Being a woman in early 1900s Broadway was hard; being a Barrymore was nearly impossible. Kathleen Spaltro brings to life how Ethel Barrymore went into the family business anyway, despite herself, and became a grand lady of Broadway and, eventually, the movies., Kathleen Spaltro's diligent research vividly recreates Ethel Barrymore's career and hidden private life. This poignant portrait reveals the sadness of a legendary actress who felt unfulfilled beneath her formidable image as an "empress" of the theater and Hollywood., Much of this fascinating book reads like a novel, skillfully fusing the private Ethel Barrymore and the actress, while documenting her evolution from a capricious ingenue in life and on stage into a mature woman of immense character whose work in the theater had few rivals. Spaltro manages to bring Barrymore's performances alive again. Age and dwindling finances forced this actress who much preferred a live audience to spend her remaining years in Hollywood playing character roles. Yet as the book very ably recounts, 'Without Ethel's movies and television appearances, she would be but a famous shadow'., Ethel Barrymore, a distinguished figure in both stage and screen, has largely faded from the memories of contemporary cinema enthusiasts. This oversight represents a significant loss, as Barrymore possessed an exceptional ability to convey complex emotions through her expressions and gestures, often with just a subtle raise of an eyebrow. Kathleen Spaltro revitalizes Barrymore's legacy through her meticulously researched and engaging biography. The narrative explores Barrymore's tumultuous childhood, including the profound grief of losing her mother, her challenging interactions with her unstable father, and her relationships with her two prominent actor brothers, Lionel and John. The book also addresses her marriage and its subsequent dissolution, which left enduring emotional scars, alongside her love and commitment to her children and her often precarious financial circumstances. Barrymore emerges in this account as a resilient individual; instead of succumbing to despair, she actively pursued her craft and continued to act. Readers of this comprehensive biography will find themselves grateful to Spaltro for reinvigorating Ethel Barrymore's legacy and restoring her rightful place in the public consciousness., Spaltro once again proves herself to be the authoritative chronicler of the Barrymore legacy in this compelling, deeply-researched book about American entertainment royalty., Spaltro once again proves herself to be the authoritative chronicler of the Barrymore legacy in this compelling, deeply researched book about American entertainment royalty., From Rittenhouse Square to vaudeville, the flickers and talkies, and from school auditoriums to the greatest theaters of the globe, there was no stage or audience Ethel Barrymore could not command and conquer. She deserves no biographer better than Kathleen Spaltro, whose impeccable research, passion for the theater, and talent for telling a great story put Barrymore at center stage, once again in the footlights., Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights unveils the captivating duality of one of America's most revered theatrical legends. Known for her poise, talent, and commanding presence on stage, Ethel Barrymore was paradoxically a woman of deep reserve and quiet introspection. This richly detailed biography offers an intimate portrait of the First Lady of the American Theatre, tracing her journey from the gilded footlights of Broadway to the screens of early Hollywood. This book explores how Barrymore's quiet strength shaped a dynasty--and how her shy soul reigned behind the curtain of fame. A must-read for lovers of theater, classic film, and untold stories of iconic women., Being "first lady of the American theater" was no easy task, as Kathleen Spaltro proves in this long-overdue biography of the Barrymore family's first superstar. An international celebrity while barely out of her teens, Ethel was the steadying hand that guided the early careers of both her brothers, somehow finding the time to help launch Actors' Equity while managing her own fabulous stage and screen career. John and Lionel were better copy, but it was Ethel who had her own Broadway theater, four Oscar nominations, and even an early television series. Highly recommended., Kathleen Spaltro's Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights beautifully shines the spotlight on Ethel Barrymore as a multitalented gem of the American theatre. Through meticulous research, Spaltro aptly captures Barrymore's complicated nature as a woman torn between duty and dreams who ultimately became a revered player in a renowned theatrical dynasty., In an era often defined by fleeting fame and actresses who come and go with the seasons, the accomplishments of Ethel Barrymore stand as a testament to enduring talent and unmatched dedication. With Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights , Kathleen Spaltro paints a vivid portrait of a woman who not only dominated the stage but also left a lasting imprint on the screen for over six decades. Ethel's legacy is a rare blend of grace, elegance, and unwavering commitment to her craft, qualities that allowed her to remain an iconic figure in American theatre and cinema.
Table Of Content
Introduction Act One: Heiress Presumptive, 1879-1902 1. Lass, 1879-1893 2. Ingénue, 1894-1899 3. Captain Jinks, Captain Graham, and Captain Churchill, 1900-1902 Act Two: Ascension, 1902-1919 4. Leading Lady, 1902-1910 5. Mrs. Russell Colt, Motherhood, and Mamaroneck, 1909-1919 6. Beginnings in Vaudeville, 1911-1914 7. New Stage Presence and Reluctant Movie Star, 1911-1919 8. "Glorious Queen of the Rebellion": The Actors' Equity Strike, 1919 Act Three: Reign and Deposition, 1919-1940 9. Déclassée, Divorce, Sisters-in-Law Pro Tem, and Shakespeare, 1919-1928 10. Theater Manager and Director in Hard Times, 1926-1932 11. Empress Ethel's Potboiler: Rasputin , 1932 12. "No Future on the Stage," 1932-1940 Act Four: Restoration and Jubilee, 1940-1945 13. The Corn is Green and Final Stage Appearances, 1940-1945 Act Five: Abdication, 1944-1959 14. Ethel's Babylonian Captivity: Hollywood, 1944-1957 15. Ethereal Ethel: Radio and Television, 1923-1956 16. All Her Yesterdays: Money Woes and Memoirs, 1947-1959 17. The Hollow Crown: Ethel's Self-Assessment and Conclusion, 1959 Permission to Quote Acknowledgements Legitimate Theater and Vaudeville Chronology Motion Picture Chronology Radio and Television Chronology Bibliography Index
Synopsis
Born in Philadelphia in 1879, Ethel Barrymore would eventually prove herself a vital actor who was suited to radio, stage, and screen. After breaking out with Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines (1901), she performed in many plays, including Alice-Sit-by-the-Fire (1905), Déclassée (1919), and The Corn Is Green (1943), before investing her energies inlms such as The Spiral Staircase (1946) and Portrait of Jennie (1949). Barrymore ultimately won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in None but the Lonely Heart (1944) opposite Cary Grant. She knew Hollywood'sckle nature all too well, and she remained committed to the Drew and Barrymore stage acting legacy up until the time of her passing in 1959. Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights emphasizes how Barrymore's career was born from "duty, not desire." Kathleen Spaltro traces Barrymore's story back to her Drew grandparents' emergence as a tour de force in nineteenth-century US theater. Along the way, Spaltro examines the multifaceted relationship the "First Lady of the American Theater" had with stardom, detailing such disappointments as having to relinquish her childhood dream of being a concert pianist in order to pursue acting. Spaltro also pulls directly from interviews to illustrate how Barrymore, often misinterpreted as demure, was exhausted by the stage she so masterfully commanded. With far more depth than a typical "rise and fall" narrative, Ethel Barrymore paints an empathetic picture of the struggles Barrymore faced, from her ascension to stardom to her "abdication of the throne." Spaltro's comprehensive and nuanced approach recontextualizes Barrymore's career, showcasing just how much her dogged allegiance to the Drew-Barrymore legacy cost her.
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- *****- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseExactly as described. Brand new, VERY well packed and arrived very quickly. the perfect transaction!
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