Watch What You Say... or Read Something To Watch!

"When Silence Was Golden" was the second installment in that much larger series called 'Legendary Laughter'. It began my career as an indy publishing author in earnest. Its contents were originally a part of my blog on silent and early comedies.

Hollywood Historian Marilyn Slater (RIP), read my essay on Mabel Normand, and convinced me it was worthy. She became its champion, and took it to Cinecon, an annual southern California happening I'd never heard about before! Her documentary "Looking For Mabel" narrated by Shirley Jones, was just released, and she said she was tempted to re-edit, and feature me as another of the talking heads in her film about the legendary early film comedienne. She viewed my viewpoint as new and fresh, and I must say it was a bit bold, presenting the argument that Mabel was the original muse for ALL of silent screen comedy; being the inspiration that spawned the geniuses of Sennet, Arbuckle and Chaplin! It was Slater whom subsequently turned me on to Amazon Self-Publishing!

A bold collection of essays first written for my blog "Laughter Wax" — a few errant entries still lay in wait online — "When Silence Was Golden" took shape. The cover photo — appropriately of Mabel Normand, the First Lady of Screen Comedy — took a little Photoshopped straightening and polishing but it screamed to be on the front!

The brief but hefty tome examines a collection of the "minor" superstars that populated the silent cinematic laugh factory... languishing in Chaplin's immense shadow yet shining like seperate galaxies in a noiseless comedic universe. Harry Langdon, Snub Pollard, Larry Semon and others... in addition to Mabel.

"When Silence Was Golden" is a splendid addition to other silent film era biographies in the libraries of all cinephiles, and anyone who loves to laugh.

In both paperback and e-book for your Kindle®, Nook® or other reading app! Find it here!