"In a tale as captivating as any Hollywood script, Walter Thornton's remarkable story unfolds. From a meteoric ascent as a Jazz Age male model, where he graced the works of legendary illustrators such as J.C. Leyendecker and Norman Rockwell, to founding the first photographic models' agency in 1930, his journey is nothing short of extraordinary. His agency represented models who became iconic movie stars like Lauren Bacall, Susan Hayward, and Grace Kelly. Originating the WWII Pinup Girl patriotic movement in 1940, Thornton ...
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"In a tale as captivating as any Hollywood script, Walter Thornton's remarkable story unfolds. From a meteoric ascent as a Jazz Age male model, where he graced the works of legendary illustrators such as J.C. Leyendecker and Norman Rockwell, to founding the first photographic models' agency in 1930, his journey is nothing short of extraordinary. His agency represented models who became iconic movie stars like Lauren Bacall, Susan Hayward, and Grace Kelly. Originating the WWII Pinup Girl patriotic movement in 1940, Thornton symbolized hope for soldiers. Unjustly accused during the McCarthy Era, he retreated to Mexico in 1958. Later, his daughters discovered his pioneering role in the fields of beauty, modeling, and advertising after they encountered an image appearing in the 2003 film "Seabiscuit," which has become the avatar for the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Today, his blueprints persist in shaping the modeling and advertising industry, and the 1940 patriotic Pinup girl endures as a cherished American tradition. Thornton's 1929 photo graces textbooks and products, yet beneath its surface lies untold depth"--
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Add this copy of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton to cart. $17.17, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2024 by Tile House Publishing, LLC.
The Merchant of Venus is a spellbinding biography of Walter Thornton, a man whose life reads like a movie script, complete with dizzying highs, dark lows, and incredible transformations. Written by his daughters, Nancy and Adriana, this book is both a labor of love and a remarkable piece of historical storytelling. It delves into Thorntonââ?¬â?¢s rise from a homeless orphan in Ohio to an internationally known modeling agent and ââ?¬Å"The Merchant of Venus.ââ?¬Â? Through archival photos, letters, and vivid storytelling, the authors reveal a man who was as enigmatic as he was larger-than-life.
I enjoyed the sheer richness of Walter Thorntonâ��s life. The book vividly recounts his childhood hardshipsâ�"being abandoned as an orphan and surviving brutal conditions. One story that stayed with me was about Walter sleeping next to cows in frigid barns for warmth during Ohio winters. His resilience shines through in every page, making his eventual transformation into a leading figure in Hollywood and New York all the more astounding. The authors lovingly piece together fragments of his past, like discovering a photograph of him in the movie Seabiscuit, which sparks the entire journey of uncovering his untold story.
The writing is refreshingly personal. As a biography lover, I found the familial voice endearing, though some parts felt a tad anecdotal. One particularly fascinating chapter, ââ?¬Å"The Star Maker,ââ?¬Â? delves into Walterââ?¬â?¢s success as a modeling agent. The descriptions of his collaborations with figures like Susan Hayward and Arlene Dahl offer an intimate glimpse into the glamour and grit of mid-century Hollywood. The juxtaposition of Walterââ?¬â?¢s charisma with his steely business acumen kept me turning the pages.
However, the book isnââ?¬â?¢t afraid to explore the darker facets of Walterââ?¬â?¢s life. Chapters like ââ?¬Å"Trials of a Merchant of Venusââ?¬Â? outline his struggles with betrayal and accusations that nearly ruined him. These sections ground the biography, reminding us that Walter was human, after all. The detailed anecdotesââ?¬"such as hosting a traveling circus at his Mexican ââ?¬Å"castleââ?¬Â?ââ?¬"add delightful texture.
By the end, I felt deeply connected to Walter Thornton as both a man and a myth. If you love biographies that are as much about the storytellers as the subject, this one is for you. It�s perfect for fans of Hollywood history, anyone fascinated by rags-to-riches tales, or those who appreciate stories brimming with heart.
