Show Girl

New York: Simon and Schuster, 1928. Hardcover. Very Good. First edition. Boards a bit bowed, spine lettering rubbed and faded, a sound, about very good copy lacking the dustwrapper. Inscribed by the author to director and actor Erich von Stroheim with von Stroheim's bookplate: "To my very good friend 'Von'. Piously, J.P. McEvoy. Jan. 29 - '29 [with a sketch of a person]." The first of McEvoy's novels to feature Dixie Dugan, a Brooklyn-born showgirl who conquers Broadway and Hollywood. Dixie Dugan, based on the life and appearance of Louise Brooks, was the central character in several films including the Alfred Santell-directed *Show Girl* (1928) with Alice White and Donald Reed; Mervyn Leroy's 1930 *Show Girl in Hollywood* with White and Jack Mulhall; *Le Masque d'Hollywood* (1931) directed by Clarence Badger and John Daumery; and *Dixie Dugan* (1943) directed by Otto Brower. McEvoy is also known for his plays and novels which were adapted into films for W.C. Fields including *It's the Old Army Game* (1926), *The Potters* (1927), *The Old Fashioned Way* (1934), *You're Telling Me!* (1934), and *It's a Gift* (1934). Von Stroheim began his career as an actor (invariably playing Teutonic terrors and billed as "The Man You Love to Hate"), then directed several key silent films (*Greed*, *Foolish Wives*, etc.) before his legendary extravagance forced him to return to acting in the sound era, with notable roles in *Grand Illusion*, *Sunset Boulevard*, and several other films. A wonderful association.