Welcome to the LBS

The other day, the Louise Brooks Society welcomed its first member from Senegal. "mrcina" hails from Dakar, and is one of a few members from Africa. At last count, more than 1400 individuals from 49 (now 50!) countries have joined the LBS! From Australia to Zimbabwe, from Canada to Argentina, from the Canary Islands to the Czech Republic, LBS members comprise a truly world wide web of Louise Brooks fans and silent film enthusiasts.

Other new members include Sergio from Porto, Portugal, Daniel from Goteborg, Sweden, and Rodrigo from Uruguay. Terry from Los Lunas, New Mexico wrote to say, "I just saw the film, The Showoff.  I was surprised by the stunning beauty of an actress called Louise Brooks.  I had never heard of her before and went on the Internet and found your web-site." Louise from Alfreton, Derbyshire, UK wrote " I have been a Louise Brooks fan since I was 14 years old, I am now 37. Is that odd?" No, not at all. Welcome.

Marc Quinn

A British artist named Marc Quinn referenced Louise Brooks in today's Guardian newspaper. "Kate Moss is iconic now because she's come to signify what beauty is in our eyes. When you look back at the 1920s you think of Louise Brooks . . . . " Click here for the complete article.

And yesterday, Vanwall came across this article referencing Brooks - another Brooks / Kate Moss connection!

Louise Brooks centenary

This year marks the Louise Brooks centenary. The dancer and actress was born on November 14, 1906 in Cherryvale, Kansas. The anniversary of Brooks' birth will be celebrated by the release of a new DVD and a new book, a museum exhibit, screenings, and other events held across the United States and Europe.

February 7, 2006: Kino will release Prix de Beauté (1930) on DVD. This marks the French film's first commercial release on disc in the United States. (more info)
February 11, 2006: "Silent Star: Louise Brooks in Photographs" will be shown at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum in Buffalo, New York.

Spring 2006: The Rochester Historical Society will screen a Brooks' film in Rochester, New York. Local film critic Jack Garner will give introductory remarks. Details to come.

May, 2006: A celebration of Brooks' 100th birthday, sponsored by the Cherryvale Chamber of Commerce, will take place in Cherryvale, Kansas. Details to come.

Spring 2006: Screening of a newly restored version of Pandora's Box in New York City. Details to come.

August 2006: "New Histories of Photography 11: Louise Brooks and the New Woman in Weimar Cinema" opens at the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York. Details to come.

August 2006: The Louise Brooks Society celebrates 11 years online. Special biographical content will be added to the site to mark the occassion.

October 3 - 8, 2006: SEDICICORTO International Film Festival Forlì in Italy takes place. A special category this year includes films relating to Louise Brooks. (more info)

October 10, 2006: Rizzoli will publish Peter Cowie's new pictorial on the actress, Louise Brooks: Lulu Forever. (more info)

November 2006: An event to celebrate the publication of Peter Cowie's new book will take place in San Francisco. Details to come.

November 14, 2006: Louise Brooks was born 100 years ago on this day in Cherryvale, Kansas. Happy Birthday!

December 8, 2006: "New Histories of Photography 11: Louise Brooks and the New Woman in Weimar Cinema" opens at the International Center of Photography in New York City. The exhibit runs through February 25, 2007. Details to come.

Rumours have it that even more happenings, not listed here, are in the works! The LBS would be interested in hearing from anyone who might know of other events. Please email the LBS.

Alban Berg's Lulu

I recently viewed a DVD of Alban Berg's opera, Lulu. I want to recommend it, as I think this production is truly exceptional! Previously, I had seen one live production of this opera (in San Francisco a few years back), heard one on the radio (a Metropolitan Opera broadcast), and listened to a couple I have on CD. This is my favorite Lulu, by far.



Based on a pair of once banned plays by Frank Wedekind (the same source material that G.W. Pabst drew on for his 1929 film starring Louise Brooks), Alban Berg's operatic swansong charts the rise and fall of a femme fatale - Lulu. With its intense, and at times beautiful and harsh score, this is one of the great operatic masterpieces of the 20th century. This subtitled production by the Glyndebourne Festival Opera stars Christine Schafer, Kathryn Harries, and Wolfgang Schone. Andrew Davis conducted the London Philharmonic.

Schafer, who sings the role of Lulu, is especially appealing. (She has short hair, but does not evoke Brooks' appearance.) I really enjoyed watching her. And the staging of the opera was brilliant. Minimal, but sophisticated in many ways. To have to see it to know what I mean. This production won the 1997 Gramaphone Award for Best Video. If you have ever wanted to check out a production of Lulu, I would recommend this.

Who has influenced your style?

An article in today's Charlotte Observer about a clothes boutique in that North Carolina town contains an interview with the owner, Kim Terrell of Hysteric Glamour. The exchange reads in part.

Who has influenced your style? "Louise Brooks, Penelope Tree and Peggy Moffitt. Those women took no cues from anyone. They set a standard for themselves and for many women.... You have the bobbed hairdos because of Louise Brooks. You have the smoky eye pallid look because of Peggy Moffitt."

Is anyone familar with this store?

Barry Paris references Louise Brooks

Today, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette film critic Barry Paris referenced Louise Brooks in his review of a new documentary film about the Ballets Russes. Paris gives the film three stars, and describes it as "joyful." His review ends this way.

It's hard enough for us regular mortals to lose our youthful beauty and movement. How much harder must it be for these graceful octogenarian creatures? You will fall in love with them and their nobility.

"In my dreams I am not crippled," said Louise Brooks, a Denishawn dancer confined to a wheelchair at the end of her life. "In my dreams, I dance."

In this docu-dream, so do our Russians.

Christa Parravani is sometimes mistaken

Photographer Christa Parravani is sometimes mistaken for actress Louise Brooks. The curious should visit this webpage (a la Cindy Sherman?).