Over the years, I’ve collected a number of old photoplays, novels that contain movie stills. Most of my photoplays feature pictures of John Gilbert and/or his co-stars. These include ST. ELMO, THE SNOB, THE MERRY WIDOW, BARDELYS THE MAGNIFICENT, HE WHO GETS SLAPPED, WAY FOR A SAILOR, THE COSSACKS, and THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. Sadly, most–but not all–of the dust jackets are missing, but the movie stills inside the books make up the difference.
I have two copies of THE MER
RY WIDOW: a small copy with a dust jacket featuring John Gilbert and Mae Murray (left) and a large copy with no dust jacket. The small copy lacks movie stills. The large copy has several.
I also have photoplay editions of BEAU GESTE, featuring Ronald Coleman; THE TEN COMMANDMENTS as well as MANSLAUGHTER, featuring Leatrice Joy; and BEN HUR. I was surprised to learn that John Gilbert played an extra in the chariot scene in the BEN HUR silent film.
JOHN GILBERT, ST. ELMO, & ME 