[Ads-l] Family of Sayings: You're only as good as your last performance (UNCLASSIFIED)

[MULLINS, WILLIAM D (Bill) CIV USARMY RDECOM AMRDEC (USA)]

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

_Photoplay_  May 1924 p 109
"Generally speaking, a star is as good as his last few pictures."
https://archive.org/stream/pho26chic#page/n674/mode/1up

This was from an article by James Quirk, editor of Photoplay, describing a poll of the most "consistent box office attractions", i.e, the most popular stars.  The article and/or the line was reprinted in _Film Daily_ 6/22/1924, p 31, and in _Exhibitors Herald_ 5/3/1924, p. 50.  With such wide dissemination in the movie press, perhaps this is source from which the quote spread into the show-business world, where so many of Garson's early cites come from.


> 
> The saying in the subject line is a member of a family of adages that was examined by Charles Doyle and Wolfgang Mieder in the 2016
> update to “The Dictionary of Modern Proverbs” published in “Proverbium”. They presented citations beginning in November 1935.
> 
> Barry Popik also examined part of this topic and presented citations beginning in July 1935.
> https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/youre_only_as_good_as_your_last_trade_wall_street_adage
> 
> The Quote Investigator website now has an entry with citations beginning in July 1930. Earlier citations and pertinent information would be
> welcome.
> https://quoteinvestigator.com/2018/12/17/good-last/
> 
> The first match located by QI that fits into the family was published by the powerful syndicated gossip columnist Walter Winchell:
> 
> [ref] 1930 July 16, The Akron Beacon Journal, Winchell On Broadway, Quote Page 15, Column 1, Akron, Ohio. (Newspapers_com) [/ref]
> 
> [Begin excerpt]
> MERCILESS TRUTH
> A columnist is only as good as his last column.
> [End excerpt]
> 
> In October 1930 Hollywood columnist Louella Parsons published an instance of the adage while disclaiming authorship:
> 
> [ref] 1930 October 14, Beaumont Enterprise, Sophisticated Plays Continue Popular by Louella O. Parsons, Quote Page 5, Column 2,
> Beaumont, Texas. (GenealogyBank)[/ref]
> 
> [Begin excerpt]
> If John Ford's “Up the River” is as good as everyone says, anything connected with his next picture is of special interest. Who was it said an
> actor is only as good as his last picture and a director too?
> [End excerpt]
> 
> In November 1930 the movie star Barbara Stanwyck used the saying while discussing her desire to leave Hollywood:
> 
> [ref] 1930 November 7, The Hartford Courant, The Show Window, Quote Page 20, Column 6, Hartford, Connecticut. (Newspapers_com)
> [/ref]
> 
> [Begin excerpt]
> Barbara Stanwyck will abandon the screen as soon as her present contract expires. "A star is only as good as her last picture," she explains
> and then another reason for her proposed retirement is that she wants to be able, to give more time to being Mrs. Frank Fay.
> [End excerpt]
> 
> In March 1932 Stanwyck employed the saying again. This time she employed a version with the pronoun “you”:
> 
> [ref] 1932 March 6, The Hartford Courant, Barbara Stanwyck Takes Rank With Box Office Stars, Quote Page D2, Column 4, Hartford,
> Connecticut.
> (Newspapers_com) [/ref]
> 
> [Begin excerpt]
> "Marriage and a career can go together if you do it sensibly," she said. "Marriage is the most important. I mean it continues. In the 'movies'
> I'm a success as long as the public likes me. When they stop going to see me I'll stop work . . . you're only as good as your last picture."
> [End excerpt]
> 
> Garson
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

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