Those Crazy Wonderful Years When We Ran Warner Bros.

by Stuart Jerome

A successful screen writer describes his experiences working in the Warner Brothers mail room in 1938

Genres: Film, Memoir

285 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Samantha Glasser · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't find anecdotes like this in many places. Stuart Jerome was an errand boy at the Warner Brothers studios so he got up close and sometimes personal with many of the stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Who knew that Miriam Hopkins was such a nasty person? Or that Dick Powell and Joan Blondell rarely took advantage of their martial status during their down time? Was Marion Davies' bugalow haunted by phantoms at a party? Could John Barrymore have played the lead in The Man Who Came to Dinner? Every single story is well written and great fun to read. Jerome writes like a man who truly appreciated his time at Warners and who has reflected upon his adventures thoroughly. He is never an arrogant kid bragging about his experiences; he is nostalgic and excited which in turn excites the reader. This excellent read is surprisingly unpopular; read it an impress your friends about your knowledge of your favorite stars.

[Nancy Loe · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books about Hollywood. Jerome started in the mail room @ Warners and he can dish the dirt. Who knew that Claude Rains seldom bathed? The account of Christmas at the studio is worth the price of the book alone.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weak book, just some stories about working at Warner Bros in the late 1930's. some interesting bits but mostly dull and dated.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great source of anecdotes about the WB players and execs that haven't been repeated in other sources a million times.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wanted to read up on the history of the Warner Bros. studio. This one's not doing much for me...maybe an Errol Flynn biography would be more revealing.