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

Brooks screening in Germany

Die Büchse der Pandora will be shown in Erlangen, Germany on 31.01.2004 (January 31, 2004). Here is a link for further info.

UC Berkeley

Spend part of the day in the periodicals room at the library on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. Scrolled through microfilm of various foreign newspapers, mostly - this time, from South Africa and South America. The library at this university has a tremendous collection of microfilm! This is at least the 25th times I have visited this library. Also spent some time scanning the local San Rafael Independent.

Vamp, by Eve Golden

Just finished reading Vamp: The Rise and Fall of Theda Bara, by Eve Golden. I liked this book quite a bit, and would recommend it to anyone interested in silent film. The book's photographic section is also quite worthwhile.

Bara was an early 20th century sex symbol. She was the original cinematic "vamp," and played Carmen, Salome, and other "bad girl" roles. Photographs of the actress as Clepoatra wearing a coiled-snake bra have become something of an iconic image. (I knew that image long before I became interested in silent film).

[Eve Golden has written a few other books which I own and hope to read someday soon. I have also read many of her biographical portraits of silent film stars - obscure and little known - in the pages of Classic Images.]

California State University, Hayward

Spent the afternoon at the library at the California State University, Hayward.Hayward is on the other side of the Bay from San Francisco, and it takes about 40 minutes to drive there. This is my fifth or sixth trip to that university library.

I scrolled through microfilm of the Washington Post dating from the 1920's in order to complete my survey of that newspaper. Found a bunch of cool stuff. I also looked through microfilm of a few local newspapers, such as the Hayward Review, Oakland Free Press, San Leandro Reporter, and Niles Township Register. The material I have been collecting lately from the multitude of Bay Area newspapers will likely end up in a book-length project I am working on called Lulu by the Bay: Louise Brooks and the San Francisco Bay Area.