Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, April 1923 · page 54 of 68
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #44 — page 54: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical column mocks Hollywood's emerging star system and nepotism in early 1920s cinema. **Key targets:** - **Wiley Post & Frank Bully**: Post allegedly broke with his financial backer Bully over the film "Omar the Tentmaker," ungratefully ignoring what he owed him. - **Doug Fairbanks Jr.**: Criticized for being launched by his mother (Douglas Fairbanks Sr.'s ex-wife) rather than talent—exemplifying a wave of nepotistic "junior" stars whose famous fathers secured their opportunities. - **Jackie Coogan**: Noted as the *only* major star without a namesake junior waiting in the wings—a backhanded compliment suggesting studios would eagerly exploit his hypothetical children. - **Ramon Novarro**: Praised as a successful actor who shrewdly negotiated a lucrative five-year contract with Marcus Loew, demonstrating business acumen. The satire criticizes how Hollywood manufactures stars through family connections and star-power rather than merit, while praising those who leverage their positions into genuine financial advantage.
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54 Captain Billy's Whiz Bang Only the other day Post broke with Tully, seemingly forgetting all about what he owed to his backer. Now “Omar the Tentmaker” is something of a screen mediocrity, largely due to Post’s failure as a film personality. Still, Tully can moralize on the gratitude of humanity— and how much “Omar” would have earned had Valentino played the part. * * * NOW appears Doug Fairbanks, Jr., to star in the movies, backed by his mamma, the divorced wife of the strenuous star. A whole generation of child stars seems about to descend upon us, what with offspring of Richard Barthelmess, Conrad Nagel, Fred Niblo, Claire Windsor, Jack Holt and dozen of other celluloid notables on the horizon. Apparently the only star safe from having a junior bearing his name in the electric lights is Jackie Coogan. * * * Mention of Jackie reminds us of the report that there is a possibility of the stork bringing a brother or a sister to Jackie. Mrs. Coogan, who ought to know, denied it on her recent visit to Manhattan with Jackie. Just imagine how the movie magnates would sit on her step as the event approached, waiting to sign up another Jackie, or maybe a Jacqueline, Coogan. * * * THIS boy Ramon Novarro seems to have hit it off with a smash. Off the screen he is quite innocuous. Yet the lad is something of a business man, for has he not just signed a contract with Marcus Loew for five years, whereby he will receive a salary ranging from $12,500 a week the first year to $5,000 a week the