MOVIES WAY BACK WHEN: New book about local movies

By Betsy J. Green

“Movies & Million-Dollar Mansions – Silent movies made in Montecito, CA” has just been published by yours truly. (It was one of my Covid-lockdown projects.)

Nineteen movie studios traveled from the Hollywood area (plus two from Santa Barbara) to film more than 60 movies at the estates in Montecito.

The movies began with a religious theme in 1911, then came melodramas and adventure, and ended in 1928 with a jazz-age movie based on a Broadway musical.

The chapter for each movie contains a lively synopsis, behind-the-scenes info, and photos from the movie and the million-dollar mansion where it was filmed.

Just the facts – 65 movies, hardcover, 245 pages, 450 images, $24.95. Signed copies available at Chaucer’s and the Mesa bookstore. Copies also at Amazon.com.

(In a way, this book got started way back in 2013 when I first started posting about local history on Edhat. As I looked through the Santa Barbara newspapers 100 years ago, I was amazed at how many silent movies were being filmed in our area.)


Betsy’s Way Back When book — Movies & Million-Dollar Mansions — is now available in local bookstores and at Amazon.com. This is the seventh book in her series on the history of Santa Barbara. Learn more at betsyjgreen.com​.

bjgreen

Written by bjgreen

Betsy J. Green is a Santa Barbara historian and author. Her books are available in local bookstores, and at Amazon.com. (Shop local if you can.) Learn more at betsyjgreen.com.

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