Hollywood Babylon

Hollywood Babylon is a book by Kenneth Anger an ex-child star, avant-garde filmmaker, occultist, and author, which details the sordid scandals of many famous and infamous Hollywood denizens from the 1900s to the 1950s. It was originally published in 1959 by J.J. Pauvert (Paris, France). Anger wrote a sequel, Hollywood Babylon II, in 1981 and has frequently mentioned that Hollywood Babylon III may be on its way.

Related Topics:
Kenneth Anger - Child - Star - Avant-garde - Filmmaker - Occultist - Author - Hollywood - 1959 - Paris - France - 1981

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many of Anger's claims have been called into question and debated since the book's initial publication. However, Hollywood Babylons place in the history of Tinseltown cannot be denied, nor can Anger's influence on filmmakers such as John Waters, Vincent Gallo and Paul Morrissey (the director of Andy Warhol's movies).

Related Topics:
Tinseltown - John Waters - Vincent Gallo - Paul Morrissey - Director - Andy Warhol

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Despite the book's popularity -- it has been a perennial best seller since it was first published -- Anger is often criticised for his lurid exposition, wild allegations, spurious anecdotes, rumor and innuendo.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some readers are offended by Anger's choice of photographs: the body of Carole Landis after her suicide, Thelma Todd in her coffin and the scene of the traffic accident which killed Jayne Mansfield, her companion Sam Brody, her driver and her dog are examples of the highly graphic and shocking images that permeate the books.

Related Topics:
Carole Landis - Thelma Todd - Jayne Mansfield - Sam Brody

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Subjects in the first volume include:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• the relationship between William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies.
• the Fatty Arbuckle scandal.
• the drug-related death of Wallace Reid.
• the shotgun marriages of Charlie Chaplin.
• the murder of William Desmond Taylor, and the damage it caused to the careers of Mabel Normand and Mary Miles Minter.
• the suicides of Lupe Velez, Carole Landis, Peg Entwistle, Gwili Andre, Albert Dekker and Clara Blandick.
• the promiscuity and mental instability of Clara Bow.
• the rise of Frances Farmer and her appalling treatment in mental institutions.
• the bisexuality of and statutory rape charge against Errol Flynn.
• the homosexual lifestyle of Ramon Novarro and his subsequent murder by male prostitutes.
• the deaths of Thelma Todd and Marilyn Monroe.
• the death of gangster Bugsy Siegel, and the death of Lana Turner's lover Johnny Stompanato at the hand of Turner's teenage daughter.
• the decline and death of Jayne Mansfield (who is featured on the book's cover in the 1975 publication).
• the murder of Sharon Tate.

Hollywood Babylon II includes:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• the murder/suicide of Gig Young
• the decline of James Dean leading to his death
• a variety of Hollywood homosexuality, orgies, and debauchery
• the Black Dahlia murder
• Alcoholism and drug abuse galore.