In 1925, there were fewer than twelve agencies listed in Hollywood directories, so one could almost empathize with Clara Bow, nationally famous “It” girl, and her professional suffering. Like other actors in pretalkie times, Bow seemed to be on a trajectory toward auspicious stardom, or at least marketable adorability, but also like most actors, she was a resounding flop at managing her own business—that is, the business of herself. No sooner had Bow ascended to “It-ness” in 1926 than she naively signed a contract with Paramount that became a textbook case in stars failing to benefit from
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