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Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood Kindle Edition

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 1,890 ratings

New York Times Bestseller • Edgar Award winner for Best Fact Crime

The Day of the Locust meets The Devil in the White City and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in this juicy, untold Hollywood story: an addictive true tale of ambition, scandal, intrigue, murder, and the creation of the modern film industry.

By 1920, the movies had suddenly become America’s new favorite pastime, and one of the nation’s largest industries. Never before had a medium possessed such power to influence. Yet Hollywood’s glittering ascendency was threatened by a string of headline-grabbing tragedies—including the murder of William Desmond Taylor, the popular president of the Motion Picture Directors Association, a legendary crime that has remained unsolved until now.

In a fiendishly involving narrative, bestselling Hollywood chronicler William J. Mann draws on a rich host of sources, including recently released FBI files, to unpack the story of the enigmatic Taylor and the diverse cast that surrounded him—including three beautiful, ambitious actresses; a grasping stage mother; a devoted valet; and a gang of two-bit thugs, any of whom might have fired the fatal bullet. And overseeing this entire landscape of intrigue was Adolph Zukor, the brilliant and ruthless founder of Paramount, locked in a struggle for control of the industry and desperate to conceal the truth about the crime. Along the way, Mann brings to life Los Angeles in the Roaring Twenties: a sparkling yet schizophrenic town filled with party girls, drug dealers, religious zealots, newly-minted legends and starlets already past their prime—a dangerous place where the powerful could still run afoul of the desperate.

A true story recreated with the suspense of a novel, Tinseltown is the work of a storyteller at the peak of his powers—and the solution to a crime that has stumped detectives and historians for nearly a century.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Mann tells his story expertly . . . When it’s all over, Mann has argued so ably for his killer-candidate that he finally may have put this controversy to rest.” — Washington Post

“Mann’s call sheet of colorful characters is so richly painted, they not only make the Roaring ‘20s come to life, they’re so bizarre they seem like they could only exist in a movie.” — Entertainment Weekly

“Mann’s got the goods . . . Tinseltown may well be the most completist murder mystery of all time.” — Choire Sicha, BookForum

“Sex! Drama! Scandal! If you have the slightest curiosity about the dark purple scars of Hollywood history, this is the go-to book you cannot miss. . . Epic and fabulous—every page is haunting, every chapter a film noir. I was up all night.” — Rex Reed

“William Mann fires on all cylinders in this fascinating real-life crime story that has stumped film fans since 1922. A page-turner with incredible research and prose double-boiled, Tinseltown is a whodunit tour de force, revealing the dark heart of Hollywood.” — Patrick McGilligan, author of Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light

“Massive, exhaustively researched, endlessly fascinating . . . It’s a gripping ride with innumerable twists and turns and scenarios . . . If you love a good mystery and vintage Hollywood lore—which doesn’t read much differently than current Hollywood lore—I recommend Tinseltown without reservation.” — Liz Smith

“A stellar and gripping true-crime narrative . . . An engrossing and comprehensive look at the birth of the motion picture industry and the highs and lows it faced in the early 1920s . . . Mann has crafted what is likely to be a true-crime classic.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Mann spins this yarn with all the suspense and intrigue of a Dashiell Hammett novel. From beginning to end, the engrossing true tale will keep you guessing.” — Out Magazine

“The book’s power derives not just from piecing together the clues and analyzing motives; Los Angeles is very present as well.” — Publishers Weekly

“A gripping true-crime story that encompasses a colorful period in film history . . . Mann seamlessly weaves the details of the murder investigation, witnesses and newspaper accounts into the rich history of early film . . . Mann masterfully captures the zeitgeist of Hollywood in its early days.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“[A] gripping true-crime narrative. . . . Mann expertly juggles the various threads of the narrative to a satisfying conclusion that is sure to please both true-crime and film-history enthusiasts.” — Booklist

“For folks interested in true crime and the heyday of Hollywood, this book is a match made in a rather sinister version of heaven.” — Living Read Girl

“[Mann] brings the early days of the movie industry to sparkling life on the page, whether he’s evoking Los Angeles’ demimonde or explaining how the era’s scandals drove the film industry toward protectionism in the face of morality campaigns.” — NPR, The Best Books of 2014

“Tinseltown is an immensely enjoyable read as a recreation of a murder, and a fascinating time [and] place.” — McClatchy News Service

“A gripping true-crime narrative. . . . Mann expertly juggles the various threads of the narrative to a satisfying conclusion that is sure to please both true-crime and film-history enthusiasts.” — Booklist

“If you love a good mystery and vintage Hollywood lore-which doesn’t read much differently than current Hollywood lore-I recommend Tinseltown without reservation.” — Liz Smith

A lucid solution to the crime that feels almost as airtight as the final chapter of an Agatha Christie mystery.” — Connecticut Post

“The book is so evocatively written, right down to the weather, characters’ glances, and what they are feeling, . .. [and] seductively cinematic . . . should be made into a film itself.” — Daily Beast

Tinseltown is entertaining enough to feel illicit, but its reporting makes it an essential addition to any respectable bookshelf of L.A. history.” — Los Angeles Times Book Review

“Author William J. Mann paints a striking portrait of Los Angeles in the Roaring Twenties--a sparkling yet schizophrenic town filled with party girls, drug dealers, religious zealots, newly-minted legends and starlets already past their prime; a dangerous place where the powerful could still run afoul of the desperate.” — TCM.com

Tinseltown does a fine job of parceling out its complex plot, and its author brings early Hollywood to life with the flair of a popular historian.” — Wall Street Journal

“Mann spins this yarn with all the suspense and intrigue of a Dashiell Hammett novel. From beginning to end, the engrossing true tale will keep you guessing.” — Out Magazine

From the Back Cover

In the early 1920s, Hollywood was threatened by a string of scandals—including the murder of the handsome, secretly haunted actor and director William Desmond Taylor, a crime that went unsolved for nearly a century. Now, in this fiendishly involving New York Times bestseller—hailed as "a must-read" by Liz Smith—William Mann draws on a rich host of sources, many untapped for decades, to revisit the case of the enigmatic Taylor and the diverse cast that surrounded him—including three loyal ingenues, a devoted valet, a gang of two-bit thugs, and moguls Adolph Zukor and Marcus Loew, locked in a struggle for control of the exploding industry. Along the way, Mann brings to life Los Angeles in the Roaring Twenties: a town filled with celebrities, party girls, and drug dealers—a dangerous place where the powerful could still run afoul of the desperate.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00HYMAUW0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper; Reprint edition (October 14, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 14, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 50.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 655 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 1,890 ratings

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William J. Mann
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I live in two of the most beautiful places on the planet ' Provincetown, Massachusetts, with its exquisite light and ever-shifting dunes in the summer and the fall, and Palm Springs, California, with its majestic mountains and invigorating desert air in the winter and the spring. I am indeed blessed.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
1,890 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and fun. They describe the story as fascinating and well-written, bringing to life a fascinating time in the very early days of film. The writing is well-paced and reads like a thriller-mystery. Readers praise the thorough research and interesting facts about Hollywood history. The depiction of early Hollywood is engaging and vivid. The characters are interesting and educated about the actors, studios, and scenes of the early days.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

177 customers mention "Story quality"159 positive18 negative

Customers find the story engaging and interesting. They appreciate the historical context and details about early filmmaking. The book provides a compelling mystery and an insightful look into Hollywood's early days.

"...Some of it is sad, but there is also humor. The story is fascinating, and I would recommend the book to anyone who is interested in the history of..." Read more

"...Good writing makes it a real story - Gibby's deathbed confession was interesting, but to me, what was more interesting was her death certificate..." Read more

"...: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood is cleverly inviting and promises a rollicking good tale of greed and all those other..." Read more

"...The second mystery could be: who cares? Actually it is fairly interesting as I love history and the history of film, but even for me the days of W...." Read more

172 customers mention "Readability"161 positive11 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They say it's an interesting read that keeps them hooked from the beginning. The book is described as well-structured with a good eye for detail.

"This is a highly-readable, very interesting book. The writing is so graceful and the characters so interesting that it reads like fiction...." Read more

"...Still, this book is wonderfully absorbing reading...." Read more

"...Mann grips the reader from the first page, and, weaving a tale of three luscious young movie stars, two or three scandals, lots of blackmail, plenty..." Read more

"...I thought it was diverting, and fairly well written. It held my interest for the most part, but some of the detail could be brutally characterized..." Read more

106 customers mention "Writing quality"83 positive23 negative

Customers find the writing quality good. They say it reads like fiction, with a well-paced narrative and vivid descriptions of the times, setting, and characters. The book is described as an easy read for a large topic, though it does sprawl at times. Readers appreciate the author's eye for detail and how the story is told well.

"This is a highly-readable, very interesting book. The writing is so graceful and the characters so interesting that it reads like fiction...." Read more

"...Good writing makes it a real story - Gibby's deathbed confession was interesting, but to me, what was more interesting was her death certificate..." Read more

"...I thought it was diverting, and fairly well written...." Read more

"Well written if somewhat talky relating of Hollywood in the late teens and twenties...." Read more

93 customers mention "Research quality"93 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-researched and informative. They appreciate the interesting facts, characters, and references to early silent film stories. The book provides authenticating details that shed light on this period in silent film history.

"...Yet the book seems thoroughly researched...." Read more

"...fullest, richest account of the Taylor killing to date, introducing several new details, a novel, intriguing "solution," and--perhaps most..." Read more

"...Desmond Taylor's Hollywood murder, and this is by far the best and most thorough in describing the people and events of that infamous case...." Read more

"...period and many, many more personalities and diversions is impressively researched and captures the film business of the time in detailed, almost..." Read more

43 customers mention "Hollywood history"43 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's portrayal of Hollywood history. They find the depiction engaging and vivid, presenting a look at the early days of film in an almost epic style. The book skillfully crafts a portrait of the time and its people, providing an interesting glimpse into a world gone by.

"...; and--perhaps most valuable of all--offering a fascinating look at Old Hollywood...." Read more

"The whimsical vintage cover design of William J. Mann’s Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood is cleverly inviting and..." Read more

"...and captures the film business of the time in detailed, almost epic style...." Read more

"...recommend this book from the murder mystery aspect, the historical Hollywood perspective, and some glittering stars that are now long, long forgotten." Read more

37 customers mention "Character development"34 positive3 negative

Customers find the characters interesting and well-depicted. They appreciate the author's empathy for actors and his ability to bring historical figures to life. The book keeps readers entertained and educated about Hollywood in the early days.

"...The writing is so graceful and the characters so interesting that it reads like fiction. Yet the book seems thoroughly researched...." Read more

"...not because they are fictional, but because these very real people are “characters” in the sense that they always give you the unexpected, fly..." Read more

"...These should be colorful, fascinating characters, not paper dolls...." Read more

"...The author fills the book with fascinating real life characters--the producer, Adolph Zukor; Will Hays, whose name incorrectly has become associated..." Read more

25 customers mention "Pacing"11 positive14 negative

Customers have mixed views on the book's pacing. Some find it well-paced and engaging, starting out fast and flowing smoothly through time travel. Others feel the middle part drags and the story seems repetitive.

"...I do find fault though with the writing style; hurried at times, as though once the conclusion was obvious, let's just finish it and go...." Read more

"This book starts out fast. It's maybe even riveting: a Hollywood film producer is murdered in his own home. There's unrequited love...." Read more

"...However, I felt that during the middle of the book it began to drag...." Read more

"...that alternate between the major characters move at a brisk page-turning pace...." Read more

20 customers mention "Mystery content"5 positive15 negative

Customers find the mystery content unconvincing and lacking a satisfactory conclusion. They feel the book never engages them and is not worth their time. The foreshadowing becomes tiresome for some readers.

"...Also the lack of a satisfactory conclusion to the mystery, despite Mann providing his own "solution," trivializes the actual murder...." Read more

"...Even though I was vastly interested in the topic, the book just never engaged me. There was information...." Read more

"What I found most interesting and compelling was the author's background research into early Las Angeles and the social and economic complexities of..." Read more

"...His analysis of the murder, however, was unconvincing to me and if anything, proves that this is a mystery that will never be solved...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2016
    This is a highly-readable, very interesting book. The writing is so graceful and the characters so interesting that it reads like fiction. Yet the book seems thoroughly researched. The author makes a point of noting that he didn't assign words or thoughts to any of the characters that had not been indicated in their writings or in articles of the time. The book changed my opinion about some of the people I had heard of before; Mabel Normand seems an independent, thinking young woman, and Will Hays was not actually a moralistic censor.

    Though I had known that attitudes about some drugs were very different then, I was startled to learn how readily-available and prevalent drugs were in early Hollywood. This book also suggests something I had read elsewhere-- that organized crime really got its first important foothold in this country during Prohibition. It's depressing to learn that actors have been dying because of drugs since long before the 1970's. Only the names of the people and the chemicals change.

    This isn't to say that the book itself is depressing. Some of it is sad, but there is also humor. The story is fascinating, and I would recommend the book to anyone who is interested in the history of film or celebrities.
    41 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2015
    The death of William Desmond Taylor/William Deane-Tanner is among America's most enigmatic unsolved murders. What makes his case somewhat unique is that there were deliberate efforts from people high-up in the movie industry to ensure that the case remained enigmatic and unsolved. It is virtually certain that there were a number of people who knew--or, at least, had a pretty good guess--who shot the film director, but for their own reasons, they launched a conspiracy that allowed someone to get away with murder. Evidence was concealed, misleading rumors were launched, and mouths were kept firmly shut. As all the people "in the know" are now dead, we will never learn for certain who was behind the killing, and why it was done. As very little reliable evidence about the mystery survives, all theories about the case are necessarily based on speculation.

    "Tinseltown" is no exception to this rule, but William J. Mann offers the fullest, richest account of the Taylor killing to date, introducing several new details, a novel, intriguing "solution," and--perhaps most valuable of all--offering a fascinating look at Old Hollywood.

    The Taylor murder is, in fact, only a plot element in the complex, often sordid, but always exciting history of the film industry's early days. The anti-hero of our story is Adolph "Creepy" Zukor, the ruthless film mogul who likely engineered the Taylor cover-up. Other stars of the show include Mabel Normand (one of the few sympathetic characters in this story,) the sad, tormented ingenue Mary Miles Minter, Taylor's eccentric valet Henry Peavey (depicted much more sensitively and positively than most other accounts of the case,) and a host of grifters, blackmailers, killers, drug addicts, and desperate wanna-be stars.

    Mann's scenario of how Taylor died is interesting, but, of course, he necessarily cannot present much hard evidence to back it up. His theory cannot be accepted as the "final word," but it's certainly one of the most plausible "solutions" to date.

    As thorough as Mann's book is in most respects, he does make a few odd omissions. He barely mentions the curious fact that Taylor's brother, Dennis Deane-Tanner, also abandoned his family and disappeared. It has been proposed, as a matter of fact, that Dennis was really Taylor's sinister former valet, "Edward Sands." Not long before the murder, Sands robbed Taylor and vanished--yet another puzzling element to this endlessly mysterious case. (Mann states that Sands was never seen again, although other accounts claim that the ex-valet was found dead under suspicious circumstances.) I believe Mann may have made a mistake in dismissing all possibility that brother Dennis and Sands the valet somehow figured in the murder.

    Still, this book is wonderfully absorbing reading. Even if you have little interest in true crime, the soap-opera like saga found in these pages is almost certain to draw you in.
    23 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2015
    I have always been a fan of old movies and lore about the movies, directors, and players. I had read so many versions of this account that I was glad to see one that was supposed to put all the guessing to rest. I do find fault though with the writing style; hurried at times, as though once the conclusion was obvious, let's just finish it and go. Good writing makes it a real story - Gibby's deathbed confession was interesting, but to me, what was more interesting was her death certificate showing all of her health problems. I prefer the real documents, the autopsy reports (not just the final conclusion page), the photos, the archival material. And he does a good job with some of that. I would like a book on what is NOT able to be discovered - missing documents, missing police reports, an audit of sorts of that time period - the census, etc. because those objects tell the story more than deathbed confessions. It tells how powerful the studios were and what they could manipulate, which was definitely one of the stories here.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • jimmyc
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sehr spannend
    Reviewed in Germany on October 29, 2016
    Sowohl für Fans des alten Hollywoods als auch True-Crime-Freunde spannend!
    Das Buch rollt nicht nur einen realen mysteriösen Mordfall neu auf, sondern stellt diesen auch in den Kontext des Amerikas der 20er-Jahre im Allgemeinen und dem Leben Los Angeles' im Besonderen. Sehr empfehlenswert!
  • Detour
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating look at the Golden Age of Hollywood
    Reviewed in Canada on March 2, 2015
    I love a mystery. I love a real life mystery even more. And the murder of William Desmond Taylor has been one of those mysteries that have fascinated me since I first read about it. So, when this book was announced, I was all in.

    I was not disappointed. From the first page, this in-depth, engaging , well-written tome has you in its grip. You feel like you are in Hollywood of the 1920's. The author even researched the weather and other peripheral facts, when constructing his narrative. And not one word is fabricated. All the facts are from meticulous research and all the quotes are in the public record.

    The best part? I feel he solved the mystery. But I'm not telling. You'll have to read the book.

    Highly recommended.
  • Peter Laing
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written account of an enduring Hollywood mystery
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 30, 2014
    Mann paints an evocative picture of the early days of Hollywood and the struggles of the men who ran it from keeping censorship at bay. Thoroughly researched, Mann offers intriguing insights into the players at the top of the tree - such as Zukor and Loewe, and the man they got in to keep federal and state censorship at bay - Hayes. He also paints a fascinating account of three actresses - one a major star, now waning, another a stage daughter with a monster of a stage mother and a third, much lower down the pecking order who unaccountably kept getting breaks in big productions. In the middle of Hollywood's attempts to talk their way out of regulation, one of their public faces of propriety was murdered - and another scandal threatened to engulf Hollywood. Mann aims to answer 'whodunnit' and advances a persuasive theory. Is he right? Who knows? But you'll keep turning the pages to draw your own conclusion.
  • J Barry Gander
    4.0 out of 5 stars Detective story meets history
    Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2014
    This is a story that will stay with you. It sets the scene like a movie - which is the era it describes: the days when film was new, and Hollywoodland was just starting. In passing, it shows how the social clashes between liberals and religious conservatives played such a prominent role in the development of American culture. Finally, it is a superb detective story, told with tension and involvement. This is a rewarding read.
  • Hornsey Hound
    3.0 out of 5 stars Buy only if you’re really interested in the subject and period
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2022
    Not a novel, but the attempt to present factual stuff in semi-novel form makes this book a bit ungainly - I wasn’t always sure what I was reading. And way too much detail...these might well have been interesting and important characters in a story about the rise of Hollywood and the movie business but none of them merit such in-depth analysis (some of which is conjecture anyway). Could have been trimmed by 70 pages or so and it would still have been a lot to take in. Still, it’s a hefty subject and the author brings the people, places, and prevailing attitudes to life in a pretty readable way. If you’re someone who’s a fan (ie obsessive) about the era and the people involved you’ll probably like it a lot; for the rest of us it caused a few yawns.

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