The American Venus, with Louise Brooks, was first shown 100 years ago today

New Year's Eve is a significant date in the career of Louise Brooks, especially in regards to her largely lost 1926 film, The American Venus. (The few surviving minutes of footage are included on Focus on Louise Brooks, a Blu-ray disc scheduled for release by Flicker Alley on January 13, 2026.)

The American Venus is a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of a beauty pageant, namely the actual 1925 Miss America contest in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 1925 contest was won by Fay Lanphier, the first Miss California to claim the crown. After winning Miss America, Lanphier was selected to appear in The American Venus, part of which were shot at the Atlantic City event. The film is the second in which Louise Brooks appeared, and the first for which she received screen credit.

(Left) Fay Lanphier adorns one if the film's original posters. (Right) As does Louise Brooks, though she is not named.

The film was officially released on January 25, 1926. However, as far as I have been able to determine, The American Venus was publicly shown for the very FIRST time almost a month earlier -- 100 years ago today -- on December 31, 1925 at the American theater in Oakland, California as the centerpiece of a special New Year’s Eve benefit screening. *

The secondary headline in the hard-to-read, December 27, 1925 article below notes "American Bills First Eastbay Showing of Picture for New Year's Eve." It is stated that one of the stars of the film, local celebrity Fay Lanphier, would make a special appearance at the benefit event. However, four days later, the local press announced that Lanphier would not be present, as she had been selected Rose Bowl Queen **, and would instead be taking part in the annual Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California on New Year's Day. Nevertheless, the screening still took place. (Despite the fact that Oakland was Fay Lanphier's hometown, the headline writer misspelled her first name!)

The American Venus proved popular upon release, and continued to be shown around the United States for an unusually long two plus years. Though largely eye-candy, many fans and at least a few critics responded positively to the numerous scantily clad bathing beauties, elaborate tableaux and fashion show, as well as the film’s pioneering use of Technicolor. The critic for the Boston Herald wrote, “The scenes made at Atlantic City and during the prologue are artistically done in Technicolor. Comedy relief in abundance is furnished by a wild automobile chase replete with giggles and thrills. The picture on the whole is entertaining.”

As far as I have been able to determine, one of the very LAST public screenings of The American Venus also took place on New Year's Eve when the Ramona theater in Phoenix, Arizona showed the film on December 31, 1927 at a midnight matinee. This pair of advertisements comes from the Arizona Republic newspaper and is dated Friday, December 30, 1927. Notably, The American Venus wasn't the only Brooks' film showing in town. On New Year's Eve, the Rialto was opening the recently released Now We're in the Air. 

Louise Brooks, seated and turning to speak, is second from the right

More about The American Venus can be found on the newly revamped Louise Brooks Society website on its The American Venus (filmography page). 

*  The film was privately screened at the Atlantic City Ambassador Hotel as a benefit under the auspices of the Atlantic City Shrine Club on December 26, 1925.

** To date, Fay Lanphier is the only person to hold both titles -- Miss America and Rose Bowl Queen -- at the same time. 

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original content copyright © 2025. Further unauthorized use prohibited. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.