There is a new book out on the many songs of the silent film era which were inspired by, or are about, either movies or movie stars. As it turns out, there are so many that author Ken Wlaschin has easily filled a 388 page book documenting the sheet music, films and recordings through which these songs found their way into the world. The book is The Silent Cinema in Song, 1896 - 1929. It was recently released by McFarland.And of course, the one and only Louise Brooks is including in this recommended new book. To find out more, check out my own just published article on The Silent Cinema in Song, 1896 - 1929 at examiner.com. I write on silent film topics for the website. The book itself is available on-line and at better bookstores.
Having trouble waking-up? What you need is a double general alarm - in the form of Louise Brooks!
Tonight, I heading over to Books Inc in San Francisco's Civic Center to see and hear Glen David Gold read from his new novel, Sunnyside. In it, the bestselling author of Carter Beat the Devil turns his literary attention to a brief period in the life of silent film star Charlie Chaplin. No mention of Louise Brooks, unfortunately, as the author focuses on the mid to late teens.
Gold’s connection to Chaplin is personal. According to the author, Gold’s great aunt - a journalist, was Chaplin’s neighbor in Switzerland. And family legend has it that the silent film star dictated parts of his 1964 autobiography to the author's relation.Booklovers will have the chance to hear Gold read from Sunnyside at one of a number of upcoming events around the Bay Area. The author will be at Books Inc in San Francisco on May 12th at 7 pm, Rakestraw Books in Danville on May 21st at 7 pm, Keplers in Menlo Park on June 3rd at 7:30 pm, M is for Mystery in San Mateo on June 4th at 7 pm, and Book Passage in Corte Madera on June 9th at 7 pm. Each of the links embedded here contains further details on each event.
Just tonight, I came across this remarkable 1932 newspaper clipping from Billings, Montana. (Only part of the article is shown here.) As you will notice, Louise Brooks is mentioned in the top paragraph in the right hand column! 
There is a new book on Charlie Chaplin called Chaplin: A Life (Arcade). The book is by Stephen Weissman, M.D. What sets it apart from the many other Chaplin books is that this new work is a psychoanalytical study of the Little Tramp. And as with all new books on silent film subjects, the first thing I check is whether or not Louise Brooks is included. I think of it as a "Lulu-litmus test."
Chaplin: A Life passed the test. Some two or three paragraphs are given over to the Summer long affair Chaplin and Brooks had in 1925. And of course, Weissman recounts the iodine penis painting incident, something also detailed in the Barry Paris biography. [ The incident, and mention of Louise Brooks, are also referenced on an archived radio interview with Weissman on the Diane Rehm show, which can be heard atwamu.org/programs/dr/09/01/12.php#24475. That show originally aired on January 12, 2009. ]Well, anyways, its a book worth checking out. I wrote a piece about it and the author's upcoming appearance in San Francisco for examiner.com. My article can be found at www.examiner.com/x-7605-SF-Silent-Film-Examiner~y2009m5d8-Chaplin-biographer-to-speak-in-San-Francisco Please give it a read as well.
