Stumbling into Film History

<p>Lon Davis was one lucky young film buff.</p><p> </p><p>Growing up in Southern California in the 1970s he was able to spend quality time with some of the celebrated residents of the Motion Picture Country Home in Los Angeles. His great-uncle a screenwriter and bit player since the movies' earliest days looked forward to Lon's visits; so did silent film comedienne Babe London and original Stooge Larry Fine. Blessed with exceptional recall and the ability to bring those memories vividly to life Lon shares anecdotes that are by turns comical touching and tragic. They are also true right down to the smallest detail. As he matured Lon became acquainted with other members of the silent film community (including the Oscar-winning historian Kevin Brownlow) and chronicles their stories as well. And finally Lon reveals an intensely personal account of falling in love with his best friend while searching for the elusive grave of the legendary W.C. Fields.</p><p> </p><p>As movie producer Pancho Kohner writes in the foreword: <em>Stumbling into Film History</em> is more than a book; it's an unforgettable adventure through the golden age of cinema with the best guide you could ask for.</p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </strong></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </strong></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Lon Davis</strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> is an author editor documentarian and lecturer on film history. His first published book was </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Silent Lives:100 Biographies of the Silent Film Era</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (2008). He and his wife </span><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Debra Davis</strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (née </span><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>LaCoe</strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>) co-authored </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>King of the Movies: Francis X. Bushman</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (2009) and </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Ma and Pa Kettle on Film</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (2021). In addition to editing two hundred academic books on the performing arts Lon and Debra released two volumes of essays: </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Stooges Among Us</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (2008) and </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>CHASE! A Tribute to the Keystone Cops</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (2020). Debra also published a roman à clef entitled </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Flirtation Act: The Story of a Boy a Girl and Vaudeville</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (2016). Lon and Debra's documentary film </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>This is Francis X. Bushman</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (2021) is available on Blu-ray from Flicker Alley. Lon's latest book </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Stumbling Into Film History</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> is comprised of newly written and revised essays detailing his experiences with various denizens of early Hollywood. </span></p><p> </p><p>Lon Davis Champion of the Silent Cinema.</p><p>-Thomas Gladysz Founding Director of the Louise Brooks Society</p>