Books by splitShops
Stumbling into Film History - Paperback
$41.76
In stock
Shipping charges, applicable taxes, the final order total, and available payment methods are shown during checkout before payment. Delivery timing varies by item and fulfillment origin. Standard U.S. returns are by mail for eligible new, unopened items within 30 days of carrier delivery. Customers pay standard return shipping; there is no restocking fee. Approved refunds are issued within 5 business days after the return is received and inspected. Standard exchanges are not offered.
Cindi Book items have a flat $9.99 shipping charge. Shopify Collective items use shipping rates set by the supplier. Orders containing items from different fulfillment sources may include more than one shipping charge. Your full shipping total is shown at checkout before payment.
Return eligibility is subject to the full policy. Opened, read, or unsealed books with broken seals or visible wear are final sale. Digital downloads, gift cards, and personalized products are non-refundable. Original shipping charges are not refunded for standard returns. Contact us within 7 days of delivery about damaged, defective, or incorrect items.
by Lon Davis (Author)
Lon Davis was one lucky young film buff.
Growing up in Southern California in the 1970s, he was able to spend quality time with some of the celebrated residents of the Motion Picture Country Home in Los Angeles. His great-uncle, a screenwriter and bit player since the movies' earliest days, looked forward to Lon's visits; so did silent film comedienne Babe London and original Stooge Larry Fine. Blessed with exceptional recall and the ability to bring those memories vividly to life, Lon shares anecdotes that are, by turns, comical, touching, and tragic. They are also true, right down to the smallest detail. As he matured, Lon became acquainted with other members of the silent film community (including the Oscar-winning historian Kevin Brownlow) and chronicles their stories as well. And finally, Lon reveals an intensely personal account of falling in love with his best friend while searching for the elusive grave of the legendary W.C. Fields.
As movie producer Pancho Kohner writes in the foreword: "Stumbling into Film History is more than a book; it's an unforgettable adventure through the golden age of cinema, with the best guide you could ask for."
Lon Davis is an author, editor, documentarian, and lecturer on film history. His first published book was Silent Lives:100 Biographies of the Silent Film Era (2008). He and his wife, Debra Davis (née LaCoe), co-authored King of the Movies: Francis X. Bushman (2009), and Ma and Pa Kettle on Film (2021). In addition to editing two hundred academic books on the performing arts, Lon and Debra released two volumes of essays: Stooges Among Us (2008) and CHASE! A Tribute to the Keystone Cops (2020). Debra also published a roman à clef entitled Flirtation Act: The Story of a Boy, a Girl, and Vaudeville (2016). Lon and Debra's documentary film This is Francis X. Bushman (2021) is available on Blu-ray from Flicker Alley. Lon's latest book, Stumbling Into Film History, is comprised of newly written and revised essays detailing his experiences with various denizens of early Hollywood.
"Lon Davis, Champion of the Silent Cinema."
-Thomas Gladysz, Founding Director of the Louise Brooks Society
Pay with
Available payment methods and your final total are shown at checkout before payment.
Clear Information Before You Order
Cindi Book is the trade name of Cindi Book LLC, a Texas-registered online-only retailer. We provide clear contact, shipping, return, and checkout information so customers can make informed purchasing decisions.
Business & Customer Care
Cindi Book LLC
Administrative office only; no storefront or local pickup.
214-308-1733 · info@cindibook.com
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM CT
Shipping Transparency
Orders ship within the United States. Cindi Book branded titles typically arrive in 5–9 business days, including 0–2 business days of handling and 5–7 business days in transit. Supplier-fulfilled items typically arrive in 8–11 business days, including 1–3 business days of handling and 7–8 business days in transit. Business days are Monday–Friday, excluding U.S. federal holidays. Delivery estimates are not guarantees. Cindi Book items have a flat $9.99 shipping charge. Shopify Collective items use shipping rates set by the supplier. Orders containing items from different fulfillment sources may include more than one shipping charge. Your full shipping total is shown at checkout before payment.
Returns & Refunds
Standard U.S. returns are accepted for eligible new, unopened items within 30 days of carrier delivery. Returns are by mail. Customers are responsible for standard return shipping, there is no restocking fee, and standard exchanges are not offered. Once an approved return is received and inspected, the refund is issued to the original payment method within 5 business days. Damaged, defective, or incorrect items are handled at no return-shipping cost to the customer.
Return eligibility is subject to the full policy. Opened, read, or unsealed books with broken seals or visible wear are final sale. Digital downloads, gift cards, and personalized products are non-refundable. Original shipping charges are not refunded for standard returns. Contact us within 7 days of delivery about damaged, defective, or incorrect items.
Payment & Checkout
Checkout is processed securely through Shopify. Shipping charges, applicable taxes, the final order total, and available payment methods are shown before you submit payment.
Order Responsibility
Some items may ship from Cindi Book or U.S.-based publishing, manufacturing, or distribution suppliers that fulfill orders for Cindi Book. Cindi Book LLC remains the customer-service contact for order questions, delivery support, returns, and refunds.