The book gods certainly work in mysterious ways! While going through a reading slump, I was looking for a story to catch my imagination and a random post on Instagram about Ziegfeld Follies and silent movie star Olive Thomas lead to this fictionalised biography. Laini Giles ticks all the right boxes for me - captivating narrative voice, historical research and a ghost story to boot (Olive is said to haunt the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York).

Olive's character leaps off the pages, full of passion, drama and energy, and the people and places of First World War era New York and Los Angeles really come to life too. The history does threaten to tip over into exposition on occasion but in a good way - more 'I must look that up' rather than 'show don't tell' - and the final chapters after Olive's tragic death were verging on Hallmark movie territory, but overall I loved learning about Olive and steamed through this 400 page version of her short life. She was rather scandalous in her day but in retrospect should be admired for her ambition and drive (if she really did petition to direct on one of her movies!) Olive would definitely be part of the #metoo movement - she had affairs with both Ziegfeld and Myron Selznick in order to further her career on the stage and screen. Her death was horrific and I feel that, like Sharon Tate, losing the actress at a such a young age has created a legacy beyond her brief career, but she should definitely be remembered for the achievements she packed into her 25 years. ( )

I had never heard of Olive Thomas. I enjoyed the book although I did find myself becoming bored at times as not much happened other than a description of a hedonistic lifestyle. It is a sad story as this lady seemed to have so much more to offer the world and her life ended far too soon. The part I enjoyed most was the end where Olive reminisces about all her Follies friends and how most of them experienced short, tragic lives. ( )

Forgotten Flappers

Olive Thomas (October 20, 1894 – September 10, 1920)
was a model, Ziegfeld girl and silent film star.
Her story initially caught my interest because she was born
in Charleroi, Pennsylvania and subsequently lived in McKees Rocks.
Thomas' first marriage was in 1911, at age 15 to Bernard Krug Thomas, a clerk at the Pressed Steel Car Company.
They separated in 1913 and Olive moved to New York City to pursue a career as a model. She was granted a divorce on September 25, 1915.
In 1914, Thomas entered and subsequently won "The Most Beautiful Girl in New York City" contest.

Giles historical fiction shows time in The Follies and a more risqué Midnight Frolic show (after hours in the roof garden of the New Amsterdam Theatre.)
Her affair with Florenz Ziegfeld Jr ended with his refusal to divorce Billie Burke.
Olive's screen debut was in July 1916, with the International Film Company.

A tumultuous on/off marriage with Jack Pickford ended with her death while on a reconcilatory? second honeymoon is Paris.
Intoxicated and weary ,Olive accidentally ingested bi-chloride of mercury from a French-labeled bottle.
Poisoned by her husband's topical syphilitic treatment, her death
was ruled accidental.
An autopsy and an American and French investigation made the final determination.
"Thomas' death was the first big celebrity scandal, and the first death of a star at the height of her fame and youth." (Hala Pickford)
Quite informative, reading Giles' book will add many details to my sketch of this "baby vamp" and the intensity of those times. ( )