On the origin of the "stars" as a term in the US film industry
 
Although it has already been pointed out that the term "stars" has
precedents from theater and vaudeville before moving pictures arrived, the
term is also used prior to the publicity surrounding Florence Lawrence.  I
found it used in the trade press as early as 1909.  See, Staiger in
Bordwell, Staiger, and Thompson, The Classical Hollywood Cinema (1985), pp.
101-02.  Also see Staiger, "Seeing Stars," The Velvet Light Trap, no. 20
(1983), 10-14, rpt. in Stardom:  Industry of Desire, ed. Christine Gledhill
(1991), pp. 3-16.
 
I hope this is of use.  Janet
 
 
Janet Staiger
   Professor of Radio-Television-Film
   Director, College of Communications Senior Fellows Program
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712  USA
512-471-6653 (office)
512-329-5104 (home)
512-329-5144 (home fax)
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