The biography of the spunky “Song a Minute Girl,? the first actress to have her spoken words censored

David L. Lightner, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is professor emeritus of history at the University of Alberta. He is the author of Slavery and the Commerce Power: How the Struggle against the Interstate Slave Trade Led to the Civil War; Asylum, Prison, and Poorhouse: The Writings and Reform Work of Dorothea Dix in Illinois; and Labor on the Illinois Central Railroad, 1852-1900: The Evolution of an Industrial Environment. He became interested in Winnie Lightner because of their shared surname, but he is not related to her.

David L. Lightner's profile page

Winnie Lightner: Tomboy of the Talkies is the product of diligent research and is a valuable contribution to the history of vaudeville, theater, and film. Lightner is presented clearly and succinctly and in such a way that those interested in feminism and women's studies will be attracted, especially since in all likelihood her career will be new to them. There is nothing more exciting than re-discovering and recovering a notable figure who has much to say not only about her period but about ours.

Carl Rollyson, author of A Real American Character: The Life of Walter Brennan; Hollywood Enigma: Dana Andrews; Susan Sontag: The Making of an Icon, Revised and Updated; Confessions of a Serial Biographer

Film buffs have waited decades for a biography of Winnie Lightner, one of the early talkies' biggest and most energetic stars, whose film career ended too soon. David L. Lightner has beautifully captured Winnie's early years in vaudeville, her elevation to revues, and her capturing of the very essence of talking pictures just as they dawned. Mr. Lightner also answers the long-standing questions of why Winnie suddenly left the screen and what she did during the second half of her life. Winnie Lightner: Tomboy of the Talkies is an evocative and fascinating read that every fan of vintage films will enjoy.

Ron Hutchinson, founder of The Vitaphone Project