A sensational, behind-the-scenes story of the motion picture business-and the people who created it.

Lured by the sweet smell of money and adventure, pioneer moviemakers pushed west to speculate in the Hollywood hills. Daring men like Peter Kessler left the safety of a hardware store and made a fortune.

At Kessler’s side, hustlers like Johnny Edge scrambled for the top. Johnny was young, ambitious, and shrewd about everything but women. His weakness for actress Dulcie Warren almost destroyed him, but another woman wouldn’t let him quit.

This, then, is the story of a glittering empire and the men and women who sold the world a great and lasting dream.