Katherine Fusco

Katherine Fusco, an Associate Professor and Chair at the University of Nevada, Reno, dives into the complexities of Hollywood stardom in the 1920s and 30s. She examines the emotional ties between atypical celebrities and their white audiences, highlighting figures like Lon Chaney and Shirley Temple. Fusco critiques how the film industry managed these connections and discusses the intersection of race and disability in celebrity culture. The conversation also touches on women's voices in Hollywood and the evolving dynamics of fame amidst societal expectations.

Katherine Fusco, an Associate Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, discusses her book on Hollywood’s unconventional stars. She delves into the complex relationships between early cinema, race, and gender, highlighting how atypical stars like Lon Chaney challenged audience perceptions. Fusco explores Shirley Temple's career against the backdrop of child labor laws and analyzes how marginalized identities were navigated within the star system. Her insights reveal the limits of empathy in film and the ways the industry managed audience attachments.