In 1922, an early association of film publicists known as the Western Associated Motion Picture Advertisers (Wampas) hit upon a strategy to call attention to their organization and their industry. The group selected 13 young actresses with potential star power and promoted them heavily as “Baby” (meaning junior) Stars. Nearly 150 actresses were chosen during the program’s existence, 1922–1934. To be selected a Wampas Baby Star soon became a much-sought honor in those days before the Academy Awards. While a few Baby Stars (Ginger Rogers, Joan Crawford) went on to superstardom and others enjoyed modest success, some failed to shine.
This book offers full biographical and career details on every actress selected as a Wampas Baby Star, with a list of the films in which she appeared.

Roy Liebman, formerly a librarian and film bibliographer at California State University, works at the Los Angeles Public Library. He is the author of several reference books on the cinema, published by McFarland. A book reviewer for Library Journal and Magill Online Reviews, he lives in California.

Roy Liebman
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 286
Bibliographic Info: 24 photos, filmographies, appendices, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2009 [2000]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4061-0
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii
Introduction      1
The Baby Star Roster, Year by Year      7

The Wampas Baby Stars      13

Appendix A: Wampas “Drop-Outs”      215
Appendix B: Presidents of Wampas      217
Appendix C: Wampas Baby Miscellany      219
Appendix D: Rivals and Successors to Wampas      223
Sources      237
Index      239

“revealing details…highly recommended”—ARBA; “exhaustive research…[a] delightful book”—The Silents Majority On-Line Journal; “offers full biographical details”—Classic Images; “giv[es] career details about every Wampas Baby Star”—Big Reel.