Lya de Putti

Finished reading Lya de Putti: Loving life and not fearing death, by Romano Tozzi and Peter Herzog. This is a 1993 biography of the lovely Hungarian-born silent film star (who died young) and who is probably best known today for her role in the 1925 German production Variety, which starred Emil Jannings as her jealous lover. I saw that film a while back. But before then, I was smitten by so many postcard images of de Putti which I had collected or seen for sale over the years. A number of these postcards adorn the endpapers of this hard-to-find biography.

Another trip to San Jose

Once again, I visited the combined libraries of the city of San Jose and San Jose State University. Today, I completed a survey of the the Salinas Daily Index. Found a number of reviews, articles and advertisements.

More about Neve from Liz

This bit ran in Liz Smith's Newsday column yesterday, which was subtitled "A Role That's a Lulu."

"Speaking of today's beauties looking to the past for inspiration, Neve Campbell, who made her mark in TV's Party of Five and in the Scream films, has a new project lined up, Lulu, about the great silent star Louise Brooks (Pandora's Box is her most  famous film). Brooks' close-cut, bobbed hair became the rage, but she was too smart, too restless, too much of an iconoclast to fit comfortably into Hollywood life. She quit films to read, paint and write -  books and film criticism. She died in 1985. Campbell, a serious, intense actress, with a similarly  independent spirit, would make a fine Louise."

Hold that thought

San Jose State University

Ventured about an hour south to San Jose, where I visited the combined libraries of the city of San Jose and San Jose State University. (I've been to the San Jose Public library in the past, before it merged with the university library.) Today, I completed my survey of the two San Jose newspapers of the 1920's and 1930's, the San Jose Mercury Herald and San Jose Evening News. Found lots of reviews, articles and advertisements - including what is likely to be the first mention of Louise Brooks in a Bay Area newspaper.

Also, took notes on microfilm and bound periodicals collections in order to plan out future trips. And, browsed the book shelves of the film section. There is much to be looked at !

UC Berkeley research trip

Another trip to the periodicals room at the library of the University of California, Berkeley. Scrolled through microfilm of various foreign newspapers, mostly Mexico and Argentina. Found a handful of articles, a review and some advertisements.

Ipso-Facto

Speaking of bob-haired women in England, Vincent sent a link to a youtube video featuring Ipso-Facto, a new all-female rock group (goth meets garage, meets grunge?) who sport short hair, including a couple of sharp bobs. I really like their new song, "Harmonise," which is also their first single.

More on Ipso-Facto can be found on their myspace page, located at www.myspace.com/ipsofactomyspace    Another new female British rocker sporting a bob is Theoretical Girl. Her song, "The Hypocrite," is pretty cool. Here is the youtube video for that number.

 

More on Theoretical Girl at her myspace page, www.myspace.com/iamtheoreticalgirl