The Father of Hollywood: The True Story Review

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The Father of Hollywood: The True Story ReviewHobart J. Whitley was undoubtedly a visionary; a man ahead of the times. He not only developed 140 cities during his lifetime, he is the man who foresaw a lovely city near Los Angeles and used his considerable resources to develop and nurture it. He named his city Hollywood because ... Well, it's a humorous anecdote, so I'll let the author tell it in her own words; one of the most humorous lines in this book.
The author is the great-granddaughter of H.J. and she wrote this book from journals of her great-grandmother, Gigi Whitley, and personal letters from them both.
Mr. Whitley's story is fascinating, and we learn a lot about him since the author narrates the story through the eyes of Gigi. The couple married when Gigi was eighteen and he was around forty. One of the strong points of this story is their great, undying love for one another. It was obvious that Gigi knew her husband was destined for great things, so did her best to accommodate him at the risk of her own happiness.
Gigi was an independent spirit and unhappy with women's roles in those days, and H.J. felt that "women belonged in the home." Gigi finally won him over to a small degree. He "allowed" her to join women's clubs, so she at last had some freedom for which she had always yearned. Gigi loved H.J. so much that she worked with him on their differences; it seemed to work for them.
But another big problem in their marriage was that as soon as one town was developed to his satisfaction, H.J. would be off to another. Gigi wanted him to spend more time at home with her and the two children, but she tried to understand that building was his destiny, with Hollywood being his crowning jewel. H.J. was obsessed by his work and in today's terminology was a "workaholic." (He also developed the San Fernando Valley.)
Another strong point is that we learn about Hollywood's growing pains and how H.J. almost single-handedly fought for schools and other amenities that enabled the town to grow. And the old black-and-white photos are rare, greatly enhancing the mood of this fascinating, epic story. (One photo is of homes in Whitley Heights with a huge sign in the background, depicting that name in tall letters. (Could that be the model for the current HOLLYWOOD sign that's so famous around the world?)
Having mentioned the strong points, I must say that in the first edition of this book Gigi seemed shallow in many ways; she rambled on too often with long, glowing passages about flowers, parties, and her clothing. This slowed the story down for me and I found myself skipping many of those pages. The author mentions many stars of those days--including Rudolph Valentino and others who purchased homes in Whitley Heights--and the glamorous parties they had. Since the lovely cover was a glamorous photo of Actress Jean Harlow, I expected more "spice" to be woven into the plot...but actually, it's not that kind of book. The new cover is of H.J., Gigi and their children, an old tintype that fits the theme of this true story.
Since that edition, the author rewrote The Father of Hollywood: The True Story and now her Great-Grandmother Gigi is a much more likable person, as she undoubtedly was. This new version is much better paced too.
Author Gaelyn Whitley used the personal information in her possession to paint a true portrait of her amazing great-grandfather, the man who MADE Hollywood...and his extraordinary wife. This is an important piece of Hollywood history and would make a fine movie. H. J. Whitley was a true visionary and deserves to be better known...as is the town he built! I would also like to see his "star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This new edition definitely earns five stars!
Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, May 27, 2010
Author of "Dream Reachers" (with Chase Von) and other books
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