A newly acquired treasure in the Louise Brooks Society archive, and a dream

Speaking of lost films.... Here is a newly acquired treasure now held in the Louise Brooks Society archive at the Louise Brooks Society website. It is movie herald (a give-away flier) for The American Venus from Argentina! 

This Paramount special was first released in the United States on January 31, 1926. The film is a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of a beauty pageant, namely the actual 1925 Miss America contest in Atlantic City. The film is the second in which Louise Brooks appeared, and the first for which she received screen credit. In fact, Brooks received fifth billing. The film starred Esther Ralston, and featured Fay Lanphier, the actual 1925 Miss America. In support was veteran character actor Ford Sterling. All of these actors, including Brooks, can be seen in the selection of interior images.

According to the reverse of the herald, the film was shown at the Grand Splendid Theatre on a Saturday that fell on the 25th of the month. Also indicated is that the film was shown "Tarde y Noche", which translates as "Afternoon and Evening" -- which suggests either two showings, or a continuous showing. Assuming this screening of the film took place in 1926, the date turns out to be either April 25, 1926 (which is a little early, as there was often a delay in the release of films in other countries) or July 25, 1926. It could also be December 25, 1926, Christmas Day. I would bet on July 25, 1926. But I could be wrong, and it could turn out to be 1927. I will need to triangulate the date by searching through Argentian newspapers.

The Grand Splendid Theatre is located in Buenos Aires. It is an historic venue which first opened in 1919 with seating for more than 1000 people. According to its Wikipedia entry, this ornate, eclecticist building features ceiling frescoes painted by the Italian artist Nazareno Orlandi and caryatids sculpted by Troiano Troiani. It hosted tango performances, and once was home to its own radio station, Radio Splendid. The Grand Splendid began showing films in the late to mid 1920s, and in 1929 showed the first sound films presented in Argentina.

Today, the Grand Splendid Theatre is a bookstore -- but not just any bookstore. In 2019, it was named the "world's most beautiful bookstore" by National Geographic magazine. As a bookstore, it has been the subject of many articles and is now considered a major tourist attraction. Reportedly, the store sells hundreds of thousands of books per year and more than one million people pass through its doors on an annual basis.

It is fitting that Grand Splendid Theatre became a bookstore. Louise Brooks loved books and was a great reader. And so did one of her admirers, the Argentinian writer Adolfo Bioy Casares, who was famously smitten with Louise Brooks -- so much so he was inspired by his memory of the actress to write his 1940 novella The Invention of Morel. I wonder if Bioy Casares and his close friend, the even more famous Argentinian writer Jorge Borges, went to see this film. I wouldn't be surprised.

I am dreaming.... I wonder if the bookstore carries this edition of Adolfo Bioy Casares book. I wonder if this very herald passed through the hands of Casares or Borges or someone sitting near one or the other writer.... And now, through time and space, it has found its way to me.

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2024. Further unauthorized use prohibited. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.