The Film Life of Mary Pickford - Booklet - 1915

The Film Life of Mary Pickford booklet issued by J.D. Walker’s World’s Films, Ltd. (English distributor of Famous Players Film Company titles) in 1915.

The February 1915 issue of Picture Stories Magazine noted, "Quite the daintiest brochure we have recently seen is 'The Film Life of Mary Pickford,' price 2d., and obtainable from Messrs. J. D. Walker's World's Films, Limited, 166-170, Wardour Street, London, W. To 'give away' the contents here would detract from its interest, and therefore we advise the legion of admirers of 'Little Mary' to each send for a copy at once, as there is a keen demand for the booklet. Mr. Henry W. Prockter, the Publicity Manager of the Famous Players Film Company, has ably edited and arrange the contents, giving a faithful portrayal of all the little characteristics and details that exercise the minds of most picture-goers, who will find all their favorite queries answered, and at the same time be able to gaze on some new portraits of this 'Queen of the Movies.'"

This particular copy of the booklet was reputedly owned by pioneering London street photographer William Whiffin.

Gifted from the Pamela Short Collection.

Fanchon the Cricket - Mary Pickford Edition Photoplay Book - 1915

Fanchon the Cricket (or Fadette) by George Sand Mary Pickford Edition Photoplay book published by Duffield & Company 1915. Gifted from the Pamela Short Collection.

Sunshine and Shadow - Book - 1955

Hardcover book of Mary's autobiography Sunshine and Shadow published by Doubleday & Company Inc. in 1955. The book, a good bit comprised of Mary's lengthy 1954 autobiographical article for McCall's Magazine "My Whole Life," is exactly what one would think--Mary's life, from her birth up until 1955 or so, as told by Mary herself. While it's an easy, albeit now very outdated read with some nice photographs thrown in, it's important to keep in mind these are words right the horses mouth. It's a bit whitewashed, it contains more than just a little hyperbole, and the accuracy of some detail is questionable. In fact, there are a number of identifiable inaccuracies and mistakes. Ultimately. it's worth a read, but these days there are certainly better sources of information about Mary's life. The foreword by Cecil B. DeMille--who directed Mary in A Romance of the Redwoods (1917) and The Little American  (1917)--contains an often-used quote that really sums up Mary well: "There have been hundreds of stars. There have been scores of fine actresses in motion pictures. There has been only one Mary Pickford."