Republic Confidential: Volume 1: The Studio; Volume 2: The Players [two-volume set]

Barrington IL: Jack Mathis Advertising. Near Fine. 1999; 1992. First Edition. Hardcover. (pictorial boards; no dust jackets, as issued) [both volumes are almost as-new, with minor wear to the extremities only; Volume 1 is a bit bumped at the top of the spine]. (B&W photographs) An exhaustive history and who-was-who of the Studio City-based movie company, which in its quarter-century of existence as an active producer (1935-1959) turned out hundreds of feature film and serials, mostly but not exclusively "B" fare. Volume 1 is an incredibly detailed and well-documented history of the studio's activities -- NOT a "films-of" approach, with an entry for every film, but more of a department-by-department look at the studio. (There is a "Film Checklist" near the end of the volume that lists all the studio's product, but with minimal credits.) Volume 2 is an exhaustive (there's that word again), fully-indexed catalog of every actor and actress who ever received screen credit for an appearance in a Republic Pictures movie, with additional documentation regarding the studio's contract players. Includes a photograph, it seems, of just about every one of them -- many more for the contract players, which included Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, although with numerous stalwart character actors, whose names evoke their faces for legions of B-movie buffs: Roy Barcroft, Smiley Burnette, Ray Middleton, Slim Pickens, Tom Tyler, Ray Corrigan, et al. Then of course there was Vera Ralston, aka Vera Hruba Ralston, whose career as a movie star probably had nothing to do with the fact that she was the girlfriend (and later wife) of studio head Herbert Yates. ***NOTE: These two books are being sold as a set only, and be warned: they're heavy! (They're printed on nice slick paper, and are quality productions.) As always at ReadInk, domestic Media Mail shipping is free, but for international shipping it will be necessary for us to assess additional postage charges; if this concerns you, please contact us for a shipping quote before placing your order.**** . (Inventory #: 30024)