Silents of the Vamps: Bad Girls You Don't Know - But Should
The United States of the 1910s and 1920s was terrorized by an epidemic so pervasive, so virulent, it threatened to destroy every family it touched. Parents prayed their children would be spared. Small-town America formed tactical police units to combat it.
Influenza? Communism? Nope.
Vampires. Not the kind repelled with garlic, either.
Peek into the secret files of eleven screen sirens who drained the life (and banknotes) out of men by day while leading criminally captivating lives by night: Alice Hollister, Carmen Phillips, Claire de Lorez, DeSacia Mooers, Edna Tichenor, Iva Shepard, Marcia Manon, Olga Grey, Rosa Rudami, Rosemary Theby, Ruth Taylor.
Rediscovering Silent Film's Most Notorious Women
This hardcover biography by Jennifer Ann Redmond uncovers the forgotten stories of vamp actresses who defined an era of American cinema. These women weren't just performers—they were cultural phenomena who sparked moral panic across the nation. Their on-screen personas as seductive, dangerous "vampires" who preyed on men's wallets and virtue created a nationwide sensation that rivaled any modern celebrity scandal.
Inside the Lives of Hollywood's Original Bad Girls
Each chapter profiles one of these eleven remarkable women, revealing their real lives beyond the silver screen. From their criminal escapades to their scandalous romances, these actresses lived as boldly off-camera as they did on it. The book documents how these performers shaped the femme fatale archetype that continues to influence cinema today.
Essential Reading for Film History Enthusiasts
Published by BearManor Media in July 2019, this 296-page hardcover serves as both entertainment history and cultural commentary. The book fills a critical gap in cinema scholarship by spotlighting actresses whose contributions have been largely erased from mainstream film history narratives. Perfect for collectors of silent era memorabilia, students of early Hollywood, or anyone fascinated by the intersection of cinema, gender, and American cultural history during the Jazz Age.
