Hidden talent: the emergence of Hollywood agents, 1928-1949

UnrestrictedMy dissertation covers a hitherto overlooked dimension of the classical Hollywood film industry: the role of talent agents in the 1930s and 1940s, the formative years of the studio system. Through extensive primary archival research I have unearthed the strong function served by talent agents in the studio system of the 1930s and 1940s. Drawing on recent work in economics, economic sociology and theories of institutions, my project broadens and complicates traditional depictions of the studio era. I trace the syndicate of managerial roles -- agents in particular, but studio executives as well -- that constituted the studio "system" as much as the concentrated management within the major film production companies. I demonstrate the social connections that translated into business relationships and how this system aided and abetted the individual reputations of stars, directors, and writers -- as well as the reputations of the agents themselves. Thus, my project, in addition to documenting the early history of agents, adds a new theoretical perspective on agency within the studio system