This falls into the category of "believe it or not" or "six degrees of separation" or "shook the hand that shook the hand." But whatever the case may be, it's true.
Recently, while researching a historic 1962 screening of Pandora's Box in Monterey, California I came across an amusing, somewhat curious and admittedly tenuous connection between Louise Brooks and Ed Wood - and by extension, Elvis Presley! I know its more than a bit of a stretch, but here goes.
The 1962 screening was part of a film seminar organized by a young curator named Philip Chamberlin. By invitation, James Card attended the event and brought along a print of Pandora's Box, where the German film was shown on the West Coast for the very first time! Pauline Kael was also there, as was the poet Jack Hirschman, as well as other significant figures in the film world of the 1960s.
Well, as it turned out, Chamberlin later moved to Los Angeles, where he founded the recently shuttered film series at LACMA, was a producer, archivist, etc..... He also eventually married the one-time actress and songwriter Dolores Fuller. Anyone who knows the story of Ed Wood and his attempts at film making knows her name. Fuller and Wood were romantically involved, and Fuller appeared in a couple of his films. After Fuller left Wood, she turned to songwriting, and contributed a number of songs to various Elvis Presley films. A few of the songs were minor hits.
That's it. A Louise Brooks / Ed Wood / Elvis Presley connection - of sorts.
I know it's a stretch - and really falls into the category of "six degrees of separation" (a la Kevin Bacon), but there you go. And just in time for Halloween. I think Ed Wood would have approved?
Recently, while researching a historic 1962 screening of Pandora's Box in Monterey, California I came across an amusing, somewhat curious and admittedly tenuous connection between Louise Brooks and Ed Wood - and by extension, Elvis Presley! I know its more than a bit of a stretch, but here goes.
The 1962 screening was part of a film seminar organized by a young curator named Philip Chamberlin. By invitation, James Card attended the event and brought along a print of Pandora's Box, where the German film was shown on the West Coast for the very first time! Pauline Kael was also there, as was the poet Jack Hirschman, as well as other significant figures in the film world of the 1960s.
Well, as it turned out, Chamberlin later moved to Los Angeles, where he founded the recently shuttered film series at LACMA, was a producer, archivist, etc..... He also eventually married the one-time actress and songwriter Dolores Fuller. Anyone who knows the story of Ed Wood and his attempts at film making knows her name. Fuller and Wood were romantically involved, and Fuller appeared in a couple of his films. After Fuller left Wood, she turned to songwriting, and contributed a number of songs to various Elvis Presley films. A few of the songs were minor hits.
That's it. A Louise Brooks / Ed Wood / Elvis Presley connection - of sorts.
I know it's a stretch - and really falls into the category of "six degrees of separation" (a la Kevin Bacon), but there you go. And just in time for Halloween. I think Ed Wood would have approved?