The Limits of Limelight

Margaret Porter

Publication Date: September 14, 2021 by Gallica Press

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hollywood turned Ginger Rogers into a star. What will it do for her cousin?

Pretty Oklahoma teenager Helen Nichols accepts an invitation from her cousin, rising movie actress Ginger Rogers, and her Aunt Lela, to try her luck in motion pictures. Her relatives, convinced that her looks and personality will ensure success, provide her with a new name and help her land a contract with RKO. As Phyllis Fraser, she swiftly discovers that Depression-era Hollywood’s surface glamor and glitter obscure the ceaseless struggle of the hopeful starlet.

Lela Rogers, intensely devoted to her daughter and her niece, outwardly accepting of her stage mother label, is nonetheless determined to establish her reputation as screenwriter, stage director, and studio talent scout. For Phyllis, she’s an inspiring model of grit and persistence in an industry run by men.

While Ginger soars to the heights of stardom in musicals with Fred Astaire, Phyllis is tempted by a career more fulfilling than the one she was thrust into. Should she continue working in films, or devote herself to the profession she’s dreamed about since childhood? Which choice might lead her to the lasting love that seems so elusive? 

My Thoughts:

Do you know Phyllis Fraser? What about the name Virginia McMath? Perhaps the name Ginger Rogers is one you can put your finger on. In a refreshing new book, Margaret Porter offers a glimpse into the glamourous early days of Hollywood. As entertainment shifted to movies, people from all over the country moved to sunny California to make their fortunes. Some were one hit wonders, others immense hits. Still others floated quietly underneath the glitz and glamour of the headliners while never making themselves truly noted among the throng. Porter gives us a story that showcases how stars evolved their careers from vaudeville, to Broadway and eventually, to movies. In this story, Porter focuses on Helen Nichols and Virginia McMath, a.k.a. Ginger Rogers, who were cousins. Ginger and her mother Lela invite Helen to join them in California to make her a movie star. Under the stage name Phyllis Fraser, Helen takes advantage of the connections she has through her famous cousin and forges her own path. This book simultaneously tracks the lives of each woman as their careers lead them on different journeys. While not a page turner, this book was a wonderful read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Historical Fiction Virtual Blog tours for an early copy of this title.