With a theatrical career spanning nearly 100 years, Gish saw motion pictures evolve from flickers to blockbusters. Usually playing someone needing to be rescued or protected, her trademark delicacy and vulnerability belied a strong and complex woman whose fatherless childhood taught her frugality, love for her mother and her sister, Dorothy, and a distrust of men.
The author, who was her friend, chronicles the hardships, heartaches, and fierce determination that shaped her all her days. With rare photographs and intimate recollections of Lillian, Dorothy, and many other important figures.

The late Stuart Oderman was an internationally acclaimed silent film pianist. He lived in New Jersey.

Stuart Oderman
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 408
Bibliographic Info: 33 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2009 [2000]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4075-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1369-7
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      viii

Preface      1

1. Father, Dear Father      5

2. The Road to Biograph and Mr. Griffith      21

3. Events Leading to The Birth: I      31

4. Events Leading to The Birth: II      45

5. The Birth of a Nation      52

6. Triangle Time      59

7. Dark Crossings      71

8. Little Poems      77

9. A Reward      86

10. Ice Floes      90

11. Storms and Partings      101

12. In Italy: I      109

13. In Italy: II      119

14. Betrayals      126

15. Mimi      135

16. Hester      150

17. Other Matters      157

18. Unkindest Cuts      164

19. Miss Gish Is Miss Gish      170

20. Travels and Tribulations      183

21. Novelties      191

22. Integrity      198

23. Games, Favorites, and Politics      206

24. Back on the Boards      215

25. The Road to Elsinore      221

26. Changes and Adjustments      234

27. Choices: Right and Wrong      239

28. The Road Back      252

29. None but the Lonely Heart      257

30. Tubes in a Box      267

31. The “Comeback”      277

32. Just Her Name      290

33. The “Singing” Empress      303

34. Full Circle      313

35. Honors and Surprises      320

36. Taking Stock      329

37. The Last Reel      341

Notes      351

Bibliography      387

Index      397

“Oderman’s compelling book…will stand as one of the best of all film biographies”—Choice; “rich interviews…informative”—The New York Review of Books; “exhaustive research”—Classic Images; “intriguing…fascinating…a good read that will satisfy any fan of these early movie stars”—Sullivan County Democrat; “this is biography at the highest level—I enjoyed and savored every chapter. Arguably the best work on a biography of a film star yet…insightful”—Critic 2000; “entertaining and meticulously researched.”—Louis S. Auchincloss.