Books like Wisecracker by William J. Mann

William Haines was Hollywood’s number-one box‑office draw in the early 1930s, known for his talent, charm and romantic roles. Off‑screen he was openly gay—an unusual circumstance in an era that would soon enforce the Production Code and close the industry’s gay closet. Unlike many of his peers, Haines refused to bow to studio pressures, eventually being dismissed by Louis B. Mayer and forced to leave acting. He reinvented himself as a leading interior designer for film stars and high‑profile clients, including Nancy Reagan. Throughout this journey, his enduring partnership with actor Jimmie Shields endured for fifty years, earning them, and their close friend Joan Crawford, the nickname “the happiest married couple in Hollywood.” This biographical account draws on newly uncovered materials to illuminate Haines’ professional achievements, personal life, and the broader context of gay history in pre‑Code Hollywood.

First publish date: 1998