Early Days in Hollywood

My Road Goes Ever On

On His Toes—Life in Hollywood in the Early Days

Early Days in Hollywood promised adventure when a young guy tries to figure out what he wants to do in life and falls in love with the movie-making business.

Recently I discovered that my grandfather had written a fiction novel depicting life in Hollywood in the early days, and it was still available on Amazon, so I went ahead and I ordered it. After previewing a few pages, I read it to the family. What an amazing joy it has been!  It is a great story entitled On His Toes written by Irving T. McDonald, (who was my mother’s father) and it is all about a young man who goes to work for one of the first movie production companies of his day.

When I realized that this book was published by Dodd, Mead, and Company in 1921, it hit me that this was a first of its kind. The description of the production studios, the property rooms and all the things they used, the demanding but skilled abilities of the director and the actors, the plot involving this young guy trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life and his falling in love with the movie-making business, sure makes for a great read.

I always knew that my grandfather was a talented man. He was a radio broadcaster for many years, and he worked in various teaching positions throughout his life, but surprisingly, I knew little about him personally. Reading this book has helped me to get to know the man behind the name a bit better.

I suppose it is an all too familiar reality nowadays that we don’t know the very people who made our lives possible. I recently read my grandmother’s memoirs, (which is where I learned about my grandfather’s book) and I discovered that Grandfather almost died during a flu epidemic. But for the kindness of a landlady and the generosity of a doctor, he would have died. My grandfather later married and had six children, one of who was my mother.  She grew up and married and had six children, one of who was me, and I am now the mother of eight children. None of us would exist but for the kindness of those two strangers and my grandfather’s strength of spirit, which enabled him to overcome the dangers of his environment and situation.

As I live and work in my little world, I think about all the people who have made my life possible, and I wonder about their lives and how our lives are intertwined even though we may never meet. I wonder about the people who made the car I am driving in, who designed it, and who sold it to us. I wonder about the people who made the roads I drive across and what their lives must have been like as they toiled away on hot summer days bridging rivers and forging through rock across our part of the nation. I wonder about the doctor who brought me into the world, and I wonder about all my relatives who have passed away, allowing me to live, to share their home—our Earth. I carry their genes in my body; they are the blood of my blood, yet I know little more than their names.

Yet, as I read my grandfather’s book, I came to realize that those who have gone before are not gone, they are just someplace not within my present sight. I am the forerunner of all those who will come after me, and I feel amazed at the thought. I am only granted a small portion of time before I too must move on.  And I wonder who will remember me, and I wonder what will they wonder about…

On His Toes by Irving McDonald

A. K. Frailey is the author of 17 books, a teacher for 35 years, and a homeschooling mother of 8.

Make the most of life’s journey. 

For books by A. K. Frailey check out her Amazon Author Page

A. K. Frailey’s Amazon Author Page

Early Days in Hollywood

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“I found myself enchanted by the stories. I laughed and cried. I got some time to think about many things related to the world and to myself as a human being.” ~Edith Fréccia

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“…bring fresh inspiration for the day on life, love, and overcoming obstacles with faith” ~CBM

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“This book reminded me of the spiritual battle raging all around us. It inspired me to pray for the church to stand strong and be brave.” ~Kumby

For a complete list of books by A. K. Frailey, book trailers, and reviews, check out

A. K. Frailey’s Books Page

For translated versions of A. K. Frailey’s Books, check out

A. K. Frailey’s Translated Books

 Photo  https://pixabay.com/pt/illustrations/filme-carretel-projetor-cinema-1673021/


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A. K. Frailey, amazon author page, amazon kindle books, ancestors, ancestry, Ann Frailey, blog stories, blood relationships, Book series, books, Creative Writing, culture, Early Days in Hollywood, early movie business, ebooks, encouragement, entertainment for life, faith, family, family history, friendships, history, Hollywood, inspirational, Irving McDonald, life, life stories, movie studios, movies, movies business, My Road Goes Ever On, My Road Reflections, On His Toes, Writing


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