Lulu in LA July 1st

Wow, Louise Brooks seems to be more popular than ever.

On July 1st, Pandora's Box will be shown at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. That historic venue seats nearly 2,000 - and this special screening has been sold out for some time.

Hugh Munro Neely, director of the 1998 Emmy-nominated documentary Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu, will host the evening. Acclaimed organist Robert Israel will accompany Pandora’s Box on the Mighty Wurlitzer. And Hugh Hefner, Playboy founder, film buff, and a longtime fan of the actress, is sponsor.

My just published article on the event can be found on examiner.com. Please take a look.

Vintage Austrian postcard for sale on eBay

This vintage Austrian photo postcard is for sale on eBay. The card, number 471 in a series, features a 1925 portrait of Louise Brooks by M.I. Boris, a New York City-based photographer active during the 20s, 30s, and 40s.


Interestingly, Boris was once a court photographer to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. (Years ago, I met his son, and he told me his Father's story.) Boris was a gifted image maker, and thought of himself as an artist. Notice the cross-hatch lines and pastoral background in the Brooks' image.

I wonder if Boris knew his images had made their way back to his former home. Besides Louise Brooks, he also photographed many other early film stars - some of these images were reproduced by the Austrian postcard maker, Iris Verlag.

Is your daughter safe?

While researching Louise Brooks screenings in the San Francisco Bay Area, I came across this curious advertisement for a "sex exposure film" titled Is Your Daughter Safe. The film was released as a silent by the Chadwick Pictures Corporation in 1927. And, as is evident from the advertisement, it played locally at the California Theatre in Livermore (a suburb south and east of Oakland, California).

Interestingly, the ad reads in part, "owing to the delicate nature of this record-breaking road show entertainment and the intimate manner in which it is presented it cannot be shown to both sexes at the same time." As a result, there were separate screenings for both men and women.

From the ad, you would guess this is some sort of documentary or informational film. But it isn't. From what I could gleam from the Internet Movie Database, Is Your Daughter Safe is actually a lurid drama about white slavery (the sexual exploitation of young women) and prostitution. According to Wikipedia, the "film was created as a compilation of footage that was, in some cases, nearly fifteen years old."

Today, like Reefer Madness and other topical films, this film would be considered an "exploitation" film. Whatever the case, it certainly speaks to the fears of a certain segment of the American population during the 1920s.

Has anyone seen this film? Is it as bad as it seems it would be ?

Stunning portrait for sale on eBay

This stunning portrait of Louise Brooks is for sale on eBay. So far, there are no bids on the item, which is described as an "Original 8x10 Paramount negative" (number P703-145) by Eugene Robert Richee. This image is from one of my favorite portrait sessions, a group of pictures distinguished by the kimono seen in every image. Bidding opens at $499.00.

What Becomes of the "Follies" Girls

I found this clipping the other day while doing some research. It certainly speaks to the times - especially the public interest in the lives of show girls. Today, I suppose there is equal interest in the lives of actors and actresses, and musicians.

I don't know how accurate are its figures - even in general terms. Nevertheless, I found it quite interesting. At the time it was published, 1926, Louise Brooks would have fallen under the categories of "Married" and "In the movies."

A new blog for the Louise Brooks Society

After more than 6 years and some 1,327 entries, I've decided to move the Louise Brooks Society blog from LiveJournal to Blogger. The old LBS blog is located at http://louisebrooks.livejournal.com

There is still a lot of work to be done in preparation of the move. I am still messing around with Blogger settings. And, I still need to redirect numerous links to the old blog and post notices of the change. Hopefully, the handful of readers the old blog attracted won't mind the change.

This is not a decision I came to quickly. I have been thinking about it a lot. I love LiveJournal, and it has been the home to the LBS blog for a long time. Actually, since I started blogging in 2003. However, Blogger's many features make it hard to resist.

This entry is something of a test. This new blog is a work in progress.