Speaking of things Czech

A couple of blogs ago, I wrote about a 1929 Czech book I recently acquired which contained a handful of references and images of Louise Brooks. Well, that got me thinking . . .  might I be able to find more vintage Czech material? Certainly, Brooks' films - especially Pandora's Box - played in Prague and elsewhere.

I looked around on the internet and found a remarkable site called Kramerius. After searching under "Louise Brooks" I got more than 100 relevant results - mostly articles, advertisements and images. What I found can be found here. 

However, not being a Czech citizen, I am not able to view the results. Seemingly, they are only available to patrons of the National Library of the Czech Republic, or to Czech citizens able to request prints. How frustrating, as these search results promise to be quite exciting. Can anyone help? Are there any Czech citizens able to visit the National Library of the Czech Republic?

A remarkable find

I found this remarkable image in a book I recently purchased on eBay. The book, Studio 1929, was published in Czechoslovakia. It is an annual, a summation of film from around the world - though this book focuses heavily on Europe and European productions.  There are more than half-a-dozen references to Louise Brooks, including a couple of images and a Czech review of Pandora's Box. 

As best I can tell, this remarkable image depicts Brooks' name in lights, perhaps at the premiere of Pandora's Box (or Lulu, as it was known elsewhere on the continent). Can anyone offer a translation of the text below the image?



I have never seen this image before. Can anyone offer any additional information ?

LBS at LibraryThing

The Louise Brooks Society has established a presence at LibraryThing, the popular website where you can catalog your books and connect with other readers and booklovers. The LBS page on Library Thing is located at http://www.librarything.com/profile/LouiseBrooksSociety

So far, I have added more than 100 books (including many cover images) by and about Louise Brooks which are held in the collection of the LBS. I hope to add dozens more.

"The LBS LibraryThing is a collection of essential books both by and about the actress - her life, her career, and her films. This collection serves as a reference to those interested in finding out more about the actress and her best known role, that of Lulu. Also included are related works of literature, biography, and film history, as well as photoplay editions and books which feature the actress on their cover." Check it out!

A mystery

I spent a good part of the day at the San Francisco Public Library. I was tracking down what turned out to be a false lead on a screening and personal appearance by Louise Brooks in 1965!

It all started with a clipping I came across - an October 1, 1965 column by Hedda Hopper in which the famous columnist noted a special tribute to director William Wellman which included a screening and appearance by Louise Brooks. Hopper wrote, "Director Bill Wellman had his day at the San Francisco Film Festival. They ran A Star is Born. Both Frederic March and Janet Gaynor appeared with the picture. Louise Brooks was on hand with Beggars of Life. 'I told them they could run any of my pictures except for my stinkers,' said Bill. 'I made a few - but not on purpose'."

Hopper's use of the past tense made me think that the Wellman tribute had already happened. And so, I searched the September issues of the San Francisco Examiner and San Francisco Chronicle (and even the old San Francisco Progress). I found nothing. Then I searched the October issues, and found a handful of articles about the Festival and Wellman's appearance. However, instead of Beggars of Life, the Festival screened Wings.

Hopper's column confuses me. Why did she write in the past tense, like the event had already taken place? And why have done so three weeks in advance? Had it been the plan to screen Beggars of Life - but then plans changed?

While scrolling through newspaper microfilm for October 1965, I noticed Clara Bow passed away just a few days after Hopper's column first appeared. I wonder if her death led Festival programmers to choose another film - like Wings, in which she stars? Or perhaps Wellman suggested Beggars of Life, but it wasn't available - and another film was screened in it's place.

I also noticed an anecdote in one of the local papers about Festival programming. Local writer, Festival programmer and man-about-town Barnaby Conrad stated that he had visited the George Eastman House, where he found one of the then few remaining copies of Wings. Did he go there in 1965 looking for Beggars of Life? Did he meet Louise Brooks?

It remains a mystery.

Louise Brooks screenings in Florence, Italy

Three films featuring Louise Brooks are being featured in Florence, Italy. The screenings are included in the March calendar at the Cineteca di Firenze. On the 9th, the film center showed Diary of a Lost Girl. And on March 23rd, they will be screening Prix de Beaute and Windy Riley Goes Hollywood. For more information, visit this link.

Fat Man

A new chapter of The Fat Man is now online at http://www.myebook.com/ebook_viewer.php?ebookId=2367 It introduces Louise Brooks as a character.

The Fat Man is the latest in a ever growing list of appearances / homages to Louise Brooks in comics, graphic novels, and comix. This list begins with Dixie Dugan and "Show Girl" in the late 1920's and continues through Guido Crepax's Valentina in the 1960's through to today.

Catch up with the entire Fat Man story from the beginning at http://www.myebook.com/ebook_viewer.php?ebookId=2170

Guido Crepax in mostra - Oltremoda

Check out this fabulous Italian video clip (on youtube) about Guido Crepax and his graphic novel heroine Valentina. I don't speak Italian and don't really know what they are talking about, but I do know that Louise Brooks is featured throughout! There even seems to have been an exhibit in Italy about Crepax that also featured the comix silent film star muse.



Thank you Gianluca Chiovelli for forwarding this clip.

Nameographie

While doing research, I found this item in an Austrian newspaper dating from 1928. As may be noticed, portraits of each individual are composed of the letters of their name. 



Can anyone come up with a similar Louise Brooks name-o-graph?