A Girl in Every Port to screen at BFI in January

A Girl in Every Port, the 1928 Howard Hawks film starring Louise Brooks, Victor McLaglen and Robert Armstrong, will screen at the British Film Institute on January 2 and January 7. The film will be shown with live piano accompaniment, and is part of a Hawks retrospective taking place at the BFI. The film is being described as "Perhaps the most significant of Howard Hawks' silent films."

The BFI website notes, "History ranks this as the most significant of Hawks' silent films, because it seemingly persuaded GW Pabst to ask for Louise Brooks in Pandora's Box.

The Hawks film casts Brooks as a circus artiste, 'Mlle Godiva', who dives from a height into a small pool of water. She has Victor McLaglen and Robert Armstrong offering a towel, and she handles that with Lulu's aplomb, enjoying them both at the same time. So Brooks stands as the first Hawksian woman."

Further details can be found on the BFI website at http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_southbank/film_programme/january_seasons/howard_hawks/a_girl_in_every_port

CyberMonday 15% off on The Diary of a Lost Girl (Louise Brooks edition)

Here's the perfect gift for the Louise Brooks / silent film fan on your holiday shopping list. Purchase The Diary of a Lost Girl (Louise Brooks edition) at Lulu.com and receive 15% off with coupon code STOCKING305

Use coupon code STOCKING305 at checkout and receive 15% off The Diary of a Lost Girl (Louise Brooks edition). This offer good only on Lulu.com. Maximum savings with this promotion is $10. You can only use the code once per account, and you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. 

This great CyberMonday offer ends on December 15, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST. (Link to purchase.) This offer good only on Lulu.com, the recommended site on which to purchase this new book.

"In today's parlance this would be called a movie tie-in edition, but that seems a rather glib way to describe yet another privately published work that reveals an enormous amount of research and passion." - Leonard Maltin

"Read today, it's a fascinating time-trip back to another age, and yet remains compelling." - Jack Garner, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

"An important contribution to film history. . . . a volume of uncommon merit." - Richard Buller, author of A Beautiful Fairy Tale: The Life of Actress Lois Moran

"Thomas Gladysz is the leading authority on all matters pertaining to the legendary Louise Brooks. We owe him a debt of gratitude for bringing the groundbreaking novel, The Diary of a Lost Girl, back from obscurity." - Lon Davis, author of Silent Lives 

15% off The Diary of a Lost Girl (Louise Brooks edition)

New stage adaption of Lulu in Paris

The La Colline - théâtre national in Paris is putting on a new stage adaption of Frank Wedekind's Lulu plays. After this productions plays Paris, it will then tour around France next year. Here are the details via the La Colline website. (The production runs through December 23 - more images and video at the theater website.)

Photo © Élisabeth Carecchio 

overview

In a world where eroticism seems to have become a common law, no man can resist Lulu, even if death is the consequence of pleasure. Wedekind started writing this sensational drama in 1892, and went over it for twenty years, as if the period itself was giving birth to this mythical heroine. In Lulu’s story, the enchanting eros, promise of happiness, ends up turning to trash. The grotesque accents Wedekind valued so much echo till the very last tragic burst of the plot. It is this vim and the combative strength of this writing Stéphane Braunschweig will nourish his staging of the “monstrous tragedy” with.

english subtitled performances
Saturday 4 December at 7.30 p.m
& Tuesday 14 December at 7.30 p.m

cast and creative

director and stage designer Stéphane Braunschweig
artistic collaboration Anne-Françoise Benhamou
costumes Thibault Vancraenenbroeck
lighting Marion Hewlett
sound designer Xavier Jacquot
stage designer collaborator Alexandre De Dardel
director assistant Caroline Guiela
make-up and hair Karine Guillem
with Jean-Baptiste Anoumon, John Arnold, Elsa Bouchain, Thomas Condemine, Claude Duparfait, Philippe Faure, Philippe Girard, Christophe Maltot, Thierry Paret, Claire Rappin, Chloé Réjon, Grégoire Tachnakian, Anne-Laure Tondu

publication
The entire work of Wedekind is published by the edition Théâtrales/Maison Antoine Vitez. The theatrical version of Stephane Braunschweig relies on the first primitive version of the play (1894), translated from german by Jean-Louis Besson and Henri Christophe, to which were integrated a few elements of the 1913 version, translated by Ruth Orthmann, Eloi Recoing and Philippe Ivernel.

tour
Grenoble MC2 - 7 to 13 January 2011
Nantes Le Grand T - 19 to 22 January 2011
Toulouse TNT - 27 to 30 January 2011

Lulu / F.Wedekind / bande annonce
Uploaded by www-colline-fr. - Watch original web videos.

Love Em and Leave Em

An especially charming image: Louise Brooks and Lawrence Gray in the 1926 film, Love Em and Leave Em.

Rufus Wainwright comments on Louise Brooks

In an article on Straight.com, Rufus Wainwright commented on Louise Brooks and his recent CD, All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu. In an interview, Wainwright said this about the "Weimar-era icon":

“I was definitely thinking of Louise Brooks in Pandora’s Box,” says the piano-playing singer, calling from a San Francisco stop on his current tour. “But Lulu has become many different people over the past few months. It’s the concept of the ravaging, destructive beauty who kills you with a smile—something I worship and at the same time am frightened to death of. When I started touring, though, I felt like I was Lulu. Or my mother or Shakespeare’s Dark Lady would become Lulu.”

Best 2010 releases for the Louise Brooks fan

Looking for the perfect gift for the Louise Brooks fan on your holiday shopping list ? Look no further.

There are a handful of new books, DVDs, and CDs to choose from which should interest just about every Louise Brooks / Lulu fan.

I've selected the best of the 2010 releases and put together an annotated list, with links to buy, at examiner.com.

Check it out at http://www.examiner.com/louise-brooks-in-national/best-new-releases-for-the-louise-brooks-fan

Diary of a Lost Girl (Louise Brooks edition) now on SALE

15% off The Diary of a Lost Girl (Louise Brooks edition)
Offer ends December 15, 2010

The perfect gift for the Louise Brooks / silent film fan on your holiday shopping list. Purchase The Diary of a Lost Girl (Louise Brooks edition) and receive 15% off with coupon code STOCKING305

The fine print: Use coupon code STOCKING305 at checkout and receive 15% off The Diary of a Lost Girl (Louise Brooks edition). Maximum savings with this promotion is $10. You can only use the code once per account, and you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer ends on December 15, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST so try not to procrastinate! While very unlikely, the publisher does reserve the right to change or revoke this offer at anytime, and of course we cannot offer this coupon where it is against the law to do so. Finally, Lulu incurs the cost of this discount, so it does not impact the author's proceeds of the book. (Link to purchase.)

Diary of a Lost Girl: So far, and into the future

So far, I have done four events for my new edition of The Diary of a Lost Girl. The first two - at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival in July, and at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum in October - were book signings. Each went well, and more than a few fans lined up at each event to get a copy of the book.

This past weekend, I did two more events. Each were presentations at which I gave a 25 minute talk accompanied by a Power Point presentation. The slide show included a number of little known images related to Louise Brooks and The Diary of a Lost Girl, including some not in the new edition. Each of these events went well.

Though there was a smallish crowd at the Saturday afternoon event at Orinda Books in  Orinda, they were devoted. We had a 100% sell through on books!  And, there was a lively question and answer period after my talk. That was enjoyable.

The event also gave me a chance to reconnect with my old pal Beth Ann Gallagher. We first met years ago over the internet when she set up the Louise Brooks group on the old Tribe.net social networking site. Then, she was living on the East Coast - but now she lives in the Bay Area and helps with events at Orinda Books, an independent bookstore in the East Bay. I was especially pleased that Beth introduced me at this my first event for the book!

Thanks to everyone at Orinda Books for making this a memorable happening! I appreciate it.

This fine independent bookstore is located near the Orinda Theater, a handsome art deco theater once likely frequented by the 1925 Miss America, Fay Lanphier (the star of the 1926 Louise Brooks film, The American Venus). Lanphier used to live in Orinda in the years following the second World War. Her husband owned and operated a bookstore there. And by the way, Orinda Books still has a few copies of my book for sale for those who couldn't make it to this special event.

The next day, on what would have been Louise Brooks' 104th birthday, I gave a presentation in the Koret Auditorium of the San Francisco Public Library. At least 125 people showed up. And again, things went well. At least, everyone said they appreciated my introduction, and many were very enthused about having the chance to see the 1929 film, The Diary of a Lost Girl.

They was a buzz in the air. I think the event made a few new fans - and drew a few old ones as well. I did spot at least one person wearing a Louise Brooks t-shirt. The specially made Thymain and Lulu pinback buttons also proved popular. Here is a snapshot of me in action at the SFPL.

I especially want to thank SFPL staffer Maureen Russell, whose idea this event was – and, SFPL librarian Gretchen Good for not only making the event happen, but for helping this book of mine make its way out into the world. I hope at least a few of those who attended this event had a chance as well to see the small exhibit of related vintage material on display on the fourth floor. And thanx to the San Francisco Public Library Art, Music and Recreation Center for blogging about the book and event on a couple of occasions.

Next up is Books Inc in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco. That event is set for tomorrow, November 18th at 7:30 pm. I plan on giving a slightly modified version of my prepared presentation. Books Inc has been promoting the event heavily, and listings for it have shown up on various local television, news, and radio web sites - not to mention social networking sites.

I am getting excited. A handful of people have already told me they would be attending this event, the last scheduled for this year in the Bay Area. I may do one last book signing next February . . . .

I will be doing one more author event - in Paris at the English-language Village Voice bookshop. My presentation there on January 13th of next year will be followed by a screening of the Diary of a Lost Girl film at the nearby Action Cinema - should all go according to plan. Village Voice is a distinguished Paris bookstore. My event follows one they have scheduled with David Sedaris.

For more on the book, check out this information page, which has some background as well as links to reviews, additional information, and a list of the stores and museums around the country which carry the book. I've also created a special Facebook page for the book.

"Thymian lives."

A most unusual girl

This unusual product card - made by Cracks for the South American market according to the seller, is for sale on eBay. It depicts Louise Brooks, an early portrait by M.I. Boris. It almost appears as though her name is spelled Louise Brorks.

Happy birthday Mabel Normand

A belated happy birthday to Mabel Normand (born November 9, 1892).

Louise Brooks is mentioned in this 1982 television clip featuring biographer Betty Harper Fussell, who can be seen discussing her then recently published life of Mabel Normand. Fussell's book came out around the same time as did Brooks' Lulu in Hollywood. (John Updike reviewed them together in the New Yorker).

There is a lot wrong with this bit of video - its a terrible interview, and the Charlie Chaplin clip certainly leaves something to be desired. The interviewer is Geoff Edwards, and the talk show is likely from a Los Angeles TV station.

The birthday girl, Louise Brooks

Happy birthday to Louise Brooks, who would have been 104 years old today. There was a great turn-out at the special event held in her honor at the San Francisco Public Library. Thanx to all the old and new Brooks fans who attended.

Happy birthday, Louise Brooks

Happy birthday to Louise Brooks. The Denishawn dancer, silent film actress, and author of Lulu in Hollywood was born on this day in 1906 in Cherryvale, Kansas. Come celebrate today at a special event held at the San Francisco Public Library!

If you can't make it to this San Francisco event - remember Brooks by checking out one of these related books or DVD's. Lulu forever!

Today in Orinda, CA - Louise Brooks celebration

Today, at 2 pm, I'll be speaking about the new "Louise Brooks edition" of The Diary of a Lost Girl at Orinda Books in Orinda, CA. My presentation will include an author talk, slide show, Q&A, and booksigning. More about the event can be found on the Lamorinda Patch at http://lamorinda.patch.com/events/thomas-gladysz-discusses-the-diary-of-a-lost-girl

This special event takes place on the day before what would have been Louise Brooks 104th birthday. Orinda, I might add, was the one-time home of Fay Lanphier, the first ever Miss America from California and star of the 1926 Louise Brooks' film The American Venus. In the post WWII era, Lanphier's husband owned a bookstore in Orinda (not Orinda Books, alas). Hope to see some of you there.

[More about the new "Louise Brooks edition" of The Diary of a Lost Girl and future events in San Francisco, CA and Paris, France can be found at http://www.pandorasbox.com/diary.html ]

Tagebuch einer Verlorenen: Screening und Lesung

The local Goethe-Institut is helping promote Sunday's event, "The Diary of a Lost Girl, from book to film," at the San Francisco Public Library. Here is what they have to say about it, in German.

Tagebuch einer Verlorenen
Screening und Lesung

Film
Sonntag, 14. November 2010, 13:00 Uhr
Koret Auditorium of the San Francisco Public
Library
100 Larkin Street, San Francisco
Diese Veranstaltung ist oeffentlich und kostenlos

Thomas Gladysz, Direktor der Louise Brooks Society, wird eine kurze Lesung zu seiner Neuauflage des Buchs “Tagebuch einer Verlorenen”, der Deutschen Schritstellerin, Margarete Bohme
(1967-1939) geben. Im Anschluss wird der gleichnamige Film von 1929 gezeigt.

Dieses Buch wurde ursprünglich in Deutschland im Jahre 1905 veröffentlicht und ist seit über 100 Jahren in USA nicht erhältlich gewesen.

INHALT: Der Film, "Diary of a Lost Girl" (1929) von Louise Brooks basiert auf dem 1905 veröffentlichten kontroversen Bestseller. Zu Beginn des 20ten Jahrhunderts stellte das Buch eine literarische Sensation dar, verkaufte sich bis zum Jahre 1929 über 1.2 Mio mal und gehört damit zu den meistverkauftesten Buchern in Deutschland überhaupt.

Louise Brooks event: Diary of a Lost Girl

I've finished my power point presentation for Sunday's event, "The Diary of a Lost Girl: From book to film," at the San Francisco Public Library. The SFPL page for the event can be found at http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=1002352301 The event is set to start at 1 pm, and will be held in the Koret Auditorium (seats about 250).

I plan on giving a 15 minute talk (with a slide show featuring a handful of rare images),  followed by a screening of the 1929 G.W. Pabst film, The Diary of a Lost Girl. Copies of my new "Louise Brooks edition" of The Diary of a Lost Girl will be for sale, and I will sign copies for those interested. This event is free and open to the public.

Today, I received a really nice email from Louise Brooks biographer Barry Paris complimenting me on the book and saying how much he wishes he could be at this special event - which takes place on what would have been Louise Brooks' 104th birthday. (Barry lives on the other side of the country.) I had also hoped that major LB fan Rufus Wainwright would make it. The celebrated singer songwriter is in town for a series of performances with the San Francisco Symphony. However, Wainwright has a flight the afternoon of the event and couldn't make it.

Nevertheless, I am looking forward to Sunday. The event got a nice write up in the San Francisco Chronicle, and that piece in turn got picked up by a news site in Flagstaff, Arizona. If anyone makes it from Flagstaff, I will give em a free book! I am also pleased that the Academy of Art University blog featured the event.

Louise Brooks postcard

This vintage postcard of Louise Brooks, issued in England in the late 1920s, is for sale on eBay.

Margaret Livingston

Margaret Livingston, one of the stars of Sunrise, as photographed by Melbourne Spurr. 

Livingston bore a slight resemblance to Louise Brooks, and dubbed the voice of Brooks in The Canary Murder Case (1929). In 1931, she married the band leader Paul Whiteman, and retired from film acting in 1934. This image is for sale on eBay.

Silent pictures

From 2008 - 2010, members of San Francisco bands Mellow Drunk, Dora Flood and Boyskout as well as Los Angeles bands Sky Parade and Gene Loves Jezebel began recording music under the name Silent Pictures.

The band is composed of Alexander Mann (Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keys, Drums), David Alexander (Drums, Bass, Guitar), Leigh Gregory (lead guitars), Steven Dietrick (drums), Joel Patterson (drums), Rene Perez (backing vocals, electone), andTommy Dietrick (Bass). I have been aware of them for some time - and they obviously have an affection for Louise Brooks, Clara Bow and silent film. 

If you are into Joy Division, Pale Saints, The Magnetic Fields, Wire, Television, Roxy Music, The Church, New Order, Air, Love and Rockets, Bryan Ferry, The Go-Betweens, Cocteau Twins, Brian Eno, Galaxie 500, Luna, Supergrass, Trashcan Sinatras, Tom Verlaine, Japan, Jesus and Mary Chain, The Kinks, Kraftwerk, XTC, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, The Stooges, The Smiths, Pavement, Pixies, Syd Barret of Clan of Xymox (another band with a love of Lulu), then you are sure to appreciate Silent Pictures. More about them at http://www.myspace.com/silentpictures

More libraries carry Diary of a Lost Girl

A few more libraries have added The Diary of a Lost Girl (Louise Brooks edition) to their collections - including the Margaret Herrick Library (Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences), as well as the Rochester (NY) Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library, Wellesley College (Massachusetts) library, and the University of Arizona Library. 

I am especially pleased that the Rochester Public Library carries the book, as that was the library that Louise Brooks used when she lived in Rochester during the last few decades of her life.

The book is also available at through the University of Nebraska, the Hennepin County Library (Minnesota), the George Eastman House (Rochester, NY) and elsewhere.

Thank you to Gretchen, Julie, Amanda, and Mary for helping this book makes its way out into the world. Don't forget to suggest your local library carry a copy. (Many city and university libraries have a "suggest a purchase" form on their websites.)

Love Em and Leave Em to screen in Rochester, NY

Love Em and Leave Em, the fast-paced 1926 romantic comedy featuring Louise Brooks, will be shown in the Dryden Theater at the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York on Tuesday, November 16th at 8:00 pm. 

The GEH announcement states, "This early comedy features Louise Brooks and Evelyn Brent as the dueling Walsh sisters: Brent’s Mame is bookish and considerate, while Brooks’s Janie is a heartbreaking flapper whose morals extend so low as to snag her sister’s betrothed. Their relationship comes under even further trial as Janie finds herself in a financial hole from which only Mame’s sibling devotion can rescue her. Far ahead of its time in sexual politics, Love ’Em and Leave ’Em also exhibits one of Brooks’ rare onscreen dance routines. Live piano by Philip C. Carli."

The Dryden Theatre (where once Brooks herself used to watch films) is located at George Eastman House (900 East Avenue) in Rochester, New York. For further information, call 585.271.4090. A little more on this special event can be found at examiner.com

Deutsche Welle on The Diary of a Lost Girl

Deutsche Welle, a leading English-language German news site (and television & radio network based in Europe) carried a big article today on the new Louise Brooks edition of The Diary of a Lost Girl.

The Neale Lytollis-penned article, "Forgotten book by Margarete Boehme to be revived in US," can be found at http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6171021,00.html 

The article begins, "Germany has a long literary tradition but names like Goethe and Schiller are likely to spring to mind before Margarete Boehme's. However, her profile is on the rise as one of her most famous works is re-published."

The Diary of a Lost Girl is available for purchase. More information at http://www.pandorasbox.com/diary.html and on the new Facebook page devoted to the book. Please check it out!

New Facebook page for The Diary of a Lost Girl (Louise Brooks edition)

I have set up a new Facebook page for The Diary of a Lost Girl (Louise Brooks edition). And so far, I have added a bunch of images, with more coming! I also plan on adding background info, announcements, reviews, notice of events, links and more. Also, check out the SHOP NOW tab near the top of the the page. Those who "like" the page receive a 10% discount and free shipping on copies of The Diary of a Lost Girl purchased through Facebook. Check it out!

Louise Brooks makes a brief appearance

Louise Brooks makes a brief appearance in this brand new and rather swell promotional film for the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum.

Along with Bronco Billy, Charlie Chaplin, and early film, the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum also love Louise Brooks! 

This is the same silent film museum where I recently introduced the rarely screened 1926 Brooks' film, Love Em and Leave Em. More than 100 people showed up. The good folk at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum gift shop also stock the recently published Louise Brooks edition of The Diary of a Lost Girl (PandorasBox Press), as well as a bunch of other nifty Brooks related stuff including posters and postcards. If you are anywhere near Fremont, California be sure and check em out.