Mary R. Desjardins is Associate Professor of Film and Television Studies at Dartmouth College. She is the coeditor of Dietrich Icon, also published by Duke University Press.

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

1. "The Elegance . . . Is Almost Overwhelming": Glamour and Discursive Struggles over Female Stardom in Early Television 13

2. Norma Desmond, Your Spell Is Everywhere: The Time and Place of the Female Film Star in 1950s Television and Film 57

3. Maureen O'Hara's "Confidential" Life: Recycling Hollywood Film Stars in the 1950s through Scandalous Gossip and Moral Biography 99

4. After the Laughter: Recycling Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz as a Star Couple 143

5. Star Bodies, Star Bios: Stardom, Gender, and Identity Politics 191

Conclusion 243

Notes 253

Select Bibliography 295

Index 305

Mary R. Desjardins is Associate Professor of Film and Television Studies at Dartmouth College. She is the coeditor of Dietrich Icon, also published by Duke University Press.