The Vanishing Legion a History of Mascot Pictures, 1927-1935

This beautifully written book is a definitive record of the players and productions of a film company that specialized in chapter plays and ＂B＂ movies and that became highly influential in winning an ever-widening public for the kind of films it innovated such as the musical Western. Cinema history at its best--written with careful attention to detail, and based on thorough research and exhaustive personal interviews--The Vanishing Legion offers critical treatment of every serial and feature produced by Mascot during its nine years of operation. Tom Mix, Gene Autry, John Wayne, Rin-Tin-Tin and other Western heroes ride and bark again through the pages of this fascinating book.

Appendices list cast and technical credits (plus chapter titles) for all Mascot serials and features. Comprehensive index. Several dozen seldom- or never-seen ads and stills are reproduced.

Jon Tuska is the author of numerous books on film history and American culture. In 1969-1971 he produced ＂They Went Thataway,＂ a series of ten half-hour programs on the American Western cinema. He lives in Portland, Oregon.