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) [log in to unmask] ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]