"The Fame Formula is a history of the creators of the publicity industry, who stepped out of circus life carrying the legacy of P.T. Barnum and applied it to vaudeville, the movie industry and the world that sprang from their legacy." "Mark Borkowski takes us on a journey in search of his heroes, starting with Maynard Nottage and Harry Reichenbach at the turn of the twentieth century when vaudeville was booming and movies were in their infancy. They thrilled America with their innovative stunts, turning prim actresses into vamps, creating fake sheikhs and even smuggling a lion into a hotel to publicize a movie." "During the Golden Age of Hollywood, when the image of the studios was all important, Nottage and Reichenbach made way for publicists such as Howard Strickling at MGM who ruthlessly manipulated the lives of stars like Clark Gable and Judy Garland. The Fame Formula reveals how the Fixers kept scandals out of the press, arranged marriages and even covered up murder." "Including a fame formula that predicts how long any would-be star can expect to last in the spotlight, this is a witty and insightful history that takes us behind the glittering facade of Hollywood to reveal the hidden stories of the men and women who keep the illusion in place."--Jacket.