Some Philippine advice

Yesterday, the Philippine Daily Inquirer ran an article entitled, "STARS' WISE WORDS OF ADVICE FOR SHOW BIZ HOPEFULS." The article quotes Louise Brooks: "Every actor has a natural animosity toward every other actor, present or absent, living or dead!"

Copyright Office Asking for Comments on Orphan Works

The Copyright Office is asking for comments about orphan works, which it defines as "copyrighted works whose owners are difficult or even impossible to locate."

From their announcement: "The Office is seeking comments on whether there are compelling concerns raised by orphan works that merit a legislative, regulatory or other solution, and what type of solution could effectively address these concerns without conflicting with the legitimate interests of authors and right holders." The announcement and instructions on providing feedback are at http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2005/70fr3739.html

New Rudolph Valentino book

There is an interesting new book by Allan R. Ellenberger called The Valentino Mystique (McFarland). Ellenberger, who I have had the pleasure to meet some five years ago, is the author of an earlier book on Ramon Novarro, as well as a guide to the gravesites of celebrities in Los Angeless area cemeteries.

The Valentino Mystique looks at the death and afterlife of the silent film idol. According to the publisher, "The first part examines every moment of the last days of Rudolph Valentino, his illness and operation, the reactions of such intimates as Pola Negri, and all controversy such as riots, suicides, and fights over his funeral and estate. Part two gives tours of Valentino-related sites in New York, Hollywood and West Hollywood, downtown and suburban Los Angeles, and Beverly Hills, explaining each site's part in Valentino's history, giving quotes from the star and his associates about the place, and describing its present state. Part three consists of eleven appendices giving such information as the infamous "Pink Powder Puff" editorial and Valentino's responses, the medical diagnosis, operation on and treatment of the idol, tributes and eulogies, the list of mourners attending his funerals, his last will and testament, the summation of his estate, quotes about his death, references from newspapers, and a complete filmography."

Louise Brooks only appearance in this new book is in the list of mourners attending his New York City funeral. According to an article about the funeral mass in the August 31, 1926 issue of the New York Morning Telegraph, "Louise Brooks cried unashamed."

In The Valentino Mystique, Ellenberger has done a good job in bringing together all kinds of information surrounding the death of Valentino, one of the great stars of the silent film era.

Weekly report

No inter-library loans arrived today, so I took the opportunity to browse the stacks at the SFPL. I borrowed a couple of books, including Ted Shawn's 1960 autobiography, One Thousand and One Night Stands. Shawn references Louise Brooks in this look back at his career as a dancer. I also borrowed Jane Sherman's 1983 study Denishawn: The Enduring Influence. Sherman, a one-time Denishawn dancer, exchanged letters with Brooks regarding her time with the pioneering dance company. One of those letters is quoted in this book.

I also borrowed three videos, a documentary entitled Denishawn: The Birth of Modern Dance (1988), a video of dance recreations entitled Denishawn Dances On (2002), and another documentary, The Men Who Danced: The Story of Ted Shawn's Male Dancers, 1933 - 1940  (1986). I plan to watch all three within the week, as they are due back in seven days.

There were no inter-library loans on-hand because I requested only a few in December. (Once they are processed, loans take about four or five weeks to arrive.) My week long research trip to the Midwest, as well as the holidays, reduced the number of requests I placed last month. As well, a few of my requests came back "negative."

I had requested Narodni Osvobozeni, a newspaper from Prague. I was planning to scan the summer months of 1929 in hopes of stumbling across something / anything on Pandora's Box in this Czech newspaper. But no luck. I also requested Critica and Argentinisches Tageblatt, both from Buenos Aires. Pandora's Box showed there in November of 1929, and again, I was hoping to come across an article or review, especially in the later German-language paper. (I have articles and reviews from other Buenos Aires newspapers of the period.) Also put in requests for two American newspapers, the Selma Times-Journal (from Alabama) and Macon Daily Telegraph (from Georgia). In each of them, I was hoping to gather material on Denishawn performances in those Southern towns. My requests for each of these publications came back unfilled. Apparently, there is no library or archive in the United States which has these publications on microfilm for the period I requested - and which is willing to loan it.

On a related note: I found out yesterday that I will be travelling (for work) to New York City in early June. I will be returning to "the Big Apple" to attend the booksellers convention. (For those that don't know, I work in a bookstore in San Francisco.) While there, I plan to stay an extra three days. I figure on spending one whole day (from open to close!) at the New York Public Library, where I will continue my survey of New York City newspapers. I was in NYC a few years ago under similar circumstances, and at that time, I went through a bunch of micofilm at the NYPL. I also want to spend two full days at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. This library / archive is a goldmine for researchers - and the stuff they have there is often unique! Between now and June, I will draw-up a list of things I hope to find by looking through each library's online catalogs.

Roaring '20s Fashions

There is a recently released book out called Roaring '20s Fashions: Deco, by Susan Langley. Published by Schiffer, its a heavily illustrated survey and collectors' guide to clothing and accessories of the Jazz Age. And not surprisingly, the book includes a handful of references to Louise Brooks, as well as a couple of  pictures!

Victor McLaglen mentioned on PBS

One-time boxer and future actor Victor McLaglen was pictured and briefly discussed in Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, the new Ken Burns film on PBS. McLaglen, who would go on to star in the 1928 Louise Brooks film, A Girl in Every Port, was a boxer before he entered the movies. And at one point he fought Jack Johnson, who would go on to become the world heavyweight champion!

Post script: There is a sports bar on Geary Street in San Francisco called Pat O'Sheas. (I used to frequent the joint for the occassional college football game.) And on the walls - typical of such establishments - hang all kinds of sports memorabilia, including jerseys, pennants, photos, etc.... Among the items is a very old photo of a group of boxers - and among them is a youthful Victor McLaglen.

New Frank Tuttle book

Today, I received a copy in the mail of They Started Talking, by Frank Tuttle. As Brooks' fans know, Tuttle (1892 – 1963) directed three films in which Louise Brooks appeared, The American Venus (1926), Love Em and Leave Em (1926) and in part, The Canary Murder Case (1929). This new book, the director's memoirs, has not been published before.

Description of the book reads in part: "From Frank Tuttle, the director of Kid Boots, The Studio Murder Mystery, True to the Navy, Roman Scandals,College Holiday, and This Gun for Hire, comes a candid and lively backstage tour of the film industry from the 1920s through the 1950s. With a cast of characters that includes Jean Arthur, Mary Astor, Joan Blondell, Clara Bow, Evelyn Brent, Louise Brooks, Eddie Cantor, Bing Crosby, Bebe Daniels, Alan Ladd, Angela Lansbury, Veronica Lake, Charlie McCarthy, Fredric March, Thomas Meighan, Adolphe Menjou, Osgood Perkins, William Powell, Robert Preston, Edward G. Robinson, Charlie Ruggles, Simone Signoret, Phil Silvers, Gloria Swanson, and Monty Wooley, They Started Talking is an affectionate Who's Who of the leading supporting players of Hollywood's golden age."

I've only skimmed the book, but from what I've read, Tuttle has some interesting things to say about Louise Brooks. The director discusses the actress in relation to the three films on which they both worked. (A lobby card for The Canary Murder Case is also reproduced.)  I am looking forward to reading They Started Talking by Frank Tuttle.  (The book is edited, and comes with an introduction, by John Franceschina. It is published by BearManor Media.) I will try and write more about the book at a later date.