Early Paramount Studios (Images of America)

It was a fun read learning about how the studios formerly ran. Loved the pictures but wished there were more---there were a lot though

This is part of a series on iconic America of the 20th century -- the Camera Century -- and it handily upholds the high standards evident in the other books. Just-enough text and an impressive array of extremely evocative photos combine for an edifying experience, neither too deep nor frustratingly shallow, bringing back the formative years of Paramount Studios and, thus, of Hollywood. Yes it'd be nice if the photos were bigger, much bigger in some cases, but then the book would have to be heavy (in at least 2 senses), cumbersome and costly. This way, it's the ideal breezy 'read,' a very nice match-up of style and content. Whether you consider it a photo book with lots of long captions, or an anecdotal Hollywood history richly reliant on pictures, this installment of "Images of America" is, appropriately, visually enchanting and as warmly memory-stirring as your own family album.

Nicely printed, excellent gallery of rare and seldom seen photographs and a good narration. But really, only one photograph of Louise Brooks? She made several movies for Famous Players-Lasky and Paramount and was one of their Junior Stars. Other lesser talents had more photos. True, Louise did throw over her career but in the mid-1920s she was about as famous as any of the flapper types.However, if you love the old flickers, this book is a worthwhile addition to your library.

I lived in Hollywood, right at Fountain and Vine, in the late 70s. What I love about the Images of America series is the ability to carry the book around while strolling through my old haunts and compare the pictures with my memories versus the way the world is today. Add to that E.J. Stephens' affectionate and well researched anecdotes, and l can go back in time to mingle with royalty from Hollywood's golden era.It's a book with vintage photos of Hollywood and movie stars with tales of love, triumph, hard times and scandal. What's not to love?

This is one of a series of handsome paperbacks evoking treasurable moments in pop cultural history. The series is a great idea -- an idea has been elegantly realized. Excellent browsing material or you can read it straight through -- with Paramount being a particularly glorious place to use as touchstone and resonant example. Most of the photographs are too small, the fault of the page size also being undersized -- but that's a very forgivable offense. Paramount is the last Hollywood,

The history of Hollywood is always fun. The history presented in this book is what we all imagine Hollywood to have been in the beginning. The first big studio...and the only one that is still in operation. This was when stars were truly stars. What's amazing is how much of Paramount Studios is still there.

An awesome look back at how it once was and what it looked like. Not as much narrative as I would have liked.

This series is picture-based, and many of the books are weak on text (but still fun). The author of this one has done a good job, and this will be good preparation for visiting Paramount.

Interesting history, but photographs in the main too small to be of interest

The best series when it comes to historic photos of the studios. Loads of great photos with informative captions. Couldn't ask for more!