David
Having worked in both the outer office of what was once Louis B. Mayer’s office and now in what was once Irving Thalberg’s, I was especially intrigued to read Kenneth Turan’s Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg: The Whole Equation. The book offers a compelling look at two titans of Hollywood whose partnership—and rivalry—helped shape the studio system and the industry as we know it.
While I occasionally found the syntax a bit off-putting (which may be a matter of personal taste), the book remains a fascinating dive into Hollywood’s past and the complicated dynamic between these two powerful figures. Turan brings their ambitions, clashes, and influence into sharp focus.
One particularly delightful tidbit: learning that the Thalberg Building now stands on the spot where Buster Keaton once had his bungalow—a reminder of how layers of Hollywood history are forever stacked on top of one another.
Having worked in both the outer office of what was once Louis B. Mayer’s office and now in what was once Irving Thalberg’s, I was especially intrigued to read Kenneth Turan’s Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg: The Whole Equation. The book offers a compelling look at two titans of Hollywood whose partnership—and rivalry—helped shape the studio system and the industry as we know it.
While I occasionally found the syntax a bit off-putting (which may be a matter of personal taste), the book remains a fascinating dive into Hollywood’s past and the complicated dynamic between these two powerful figures. Turan brings their ambitions, clashes, and influence into sharp focus.
One particularly delightful tidbit: learning that the Thalberg Building now stands on the spot where Buster Keaton once had his bungalow—a reminder of how layers of Hollywood history are forever stacked on top of one another.