Readers engagement and imaginary stardom: Exploring Turkish movie magazines and Oriental Star Selma in the 1930s

Abstract

This article examines Turkish movie magazines in the 1930s, analyzing their reader engagement strategies and impact on cinema culture. Employing puzzles, surveys, and competitions, magazines aimed to foster an active readership. My focus is on Holivut magazine's portrayal of the fictional story of Selma, a Turkish girl who escapes to Hollywood, winning the Oriental Star contest, and the magazine's publication of actress Marian Marsh's photographs as the fictional Selma. The Selma story leads to temporary tension between Holivut and another magazine, as readers perceive an insult and demand a response. Even if only a fiction, the Selma case underlines the presence of fan audiences closely following Hollywood, affirming the magazines' success in cultivating an active readership.