Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: Milicent Patrick lived a full life in Hollywood. She worked in the animation department for Walt Disney, spent some time working as a model and, most famously, helped design the Gill Man costume for Creature from the Black Lagoon . However, because of her gender, most of her accomplishments, including that last one, have been erased from history and/or claimed by men. In this non-fiction biography, the author chases down Milicent's lost legacy and helps her reclaim credit for her work. Review: I love classic monster movies, but I am almost equally a fan of the history surrounding a lot of those classic films. So, when I learned about The Lady from the Black Lagoon, I decided to request a copy from my library and give it a read. I was not disappointed. Truth-be-told, I never heard the name Milicent Patrick before reading this book but, as it turns out, there is good reason for that - as much as she accomplished in her time in Hollywood, including one of the most iconic m...

Synopsis: After being raised by parents who stole from her and becoming a widow at 24, Hollywood star Mary Astor was involved in relationships with multiple men, including playwright George S. Kaufman, while she was married to Dr. Franklyn Thorpe and wrote about her affairs in her diary. In 1936, after agreeing to give Thorpe both a divorce and custody of their daughter, Marylyn because he possessed her diary and threatened to use it to derail her career, Astor took her ex-husband to court to contest the custody arrangement, putting Hollywood on high alert as the case threatened to expose the details of her private journal, including the famous stars she slept with. This non-fiction book gives a play-by-play detail of the trial, the events leading up to it and the aftermath. Review: As a classic movie fan, I am familiar with Mary Astor's work and knew enough about her history to be familiar with her infamous "Purple Diaries," named after the color ink she used to write...

Synopsis: First cast as a 15-year-old teenager in a film role that would earn her the nickname of "the Sweater Girl," Lana Turner became a Hollywood sex symbol and went on to a film and television career that lasted from the 1930s until the 1980s. Behind the scenes, however, Turner's life wasn't so glamorous, filled with failed and abusive romances, including to Johnny Stompanato, a mobster working for crime boss Mickey Cohen, a relationship that eventually ended with Stompanato dead on her bedroom floor and her teenage daughter, Cheryl, willingly taking the blame for the stabbing.  This non-fiction book presents an account of Turner's life, how it reached that pivotal point and the impact of the scandal on her career and mother/daughter relationship. Review:   A a classic movie fan, I was well-aware of both Lana Turner's film work and the scandal that nearly completely derailed her career. So, when I came across A Murder in Hollywood at the library, I deci...

Synopsis: By 1921, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle was one of Hollywood's first big stars and recently signed a contract with Paramount worth millions of dollars. Separated from his wife and living the high life, he rented three rooms at the Hotel St. Francis and celebrated with his friends and other guests, including actress Virginia Rappe. Days later, Rappe was dead and Arbuckle, who had been alone with her for fifteen minutes in room 1219, faced murder charges. This book details Arbuckle and Rappe's lives and the Labor Day scandal that both impacted Arbuckle's career and Hollywood history. Review: As someone who loves classic movies and the Hollywood history surrounding them, I was familiar with the Fatty Arbuckle scandal that in some ways still impacts the movie industry today. So, when I came across Room 1219 at my local library, I decided to give it a try. It proved to be a good choice. The book does a great job of telling Arbuckle and Rappe's individual stor...