Louise Brooks in Beggars of Life w Dodge Bros at Royal Albert Hall

The sensational 1928 William Wellman film, Beggars of Life, starring Louise Brooks, will be shown at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England on March 7, 2016. The Dodge Brothers will provide live musical accompaniment. More info and a link to tickets HERE.

"Experience classic silent films with world class live music accompaniment in the Royal Albert Hall’s intimate Elgar Room.

The Elgar Room’s silent films live music series continues with a special screening of the Louise Brooks classic Beggars of Life with live music accompaniment from The Dodge Brothers.

The Dodge Brothers are an Americana-drenched quartet comprising:

Aly ‘‘Dodge’ Hirji (acoustic guitar, mandolin)

Mike ‘Dodge’ Hammond (lead guitar, lead vocals, banjo, dobro)

Mark ‘Dodge’ Kermode (double bass, harmonica, ukulele, accordion, vocals)

Alex ‘Dodge’ Hammond (washboard, snare drum, percussion)

and featuring special guest Neil Brand (piano).

Their motto, ‘death and trains a speciality’, has never been more appropriate than to William Wellman’s legendary 1928 film Beggars of Life, a tale of depression-era, rail-riding hobos played by the iconic Louise Brooks, Richard Arlen and the great Wallace Beery.

    'Never has a film and a band been more perfectly matched than ‘Beggars of Life’ and the Dodge Brothers – deep dish Americana, rail-riding hoboes and Louise Brooks – they were made for each other.' -- Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film, British Film Institute

    'Wistful, sometimes mournful, sometimes dangerous, sometimes galloping blue-grass … my advice to anyone is buy your ticket early!' -- Richard O’Brien (Rocky Horror Picture Show)

Two Louise Brooks postcards from France #2

Here are two more Louise Brooks postcards from France dating from the 1990s. The front and back of each card is depicted.

Two Louise Brooks postcards from France #1

Here are two Louise Brooks postcards from France dating from the 1990s. The front and back of each card is depicted.

 

Diamond, a work of historical fiction with a Louise Brooks cover

How I missed this I don't know, but one year ago today a work of historical fiction was published which featured Louise Brooks on the cover. The book is Diamond, by Cynthia L. Jordan. It is from Emerald Eagle Publishing (self-published?). The book seems to be a follow up, as it were, to Jordan's earlier work, Pearl, from 2013.

Here is the book's description from amazon.com: "Corsets are out. Freedom is in. The 20's are ROARING! Movies are silent and Hollywood is shaping American culture. From coast to coast young girls like Heather Smith dream of becoming a movie star. One day two men shooting a western film near San ANgelo, Texas come to Pearl's Parlor for some fun. Is this Heather's big chance? Wyatt Earp, Mae West, John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin, Louise Brooks, Barbara Stanwyck...their stories will astound you. DIAMOND reminds us that when we remove the glitzy glamour, smoke and mirrors it is our human nature and the need to be loved that makes us all the same. PROLOGUE Ever since she was a little girl, Heather had dreamed of being an actress. While growing up in Illinois, the porch of the farmhouse had served as her stage, and her younger siblings, dolls and pets were her audience. Heather had spent all morning preparing for this interview. After examining herself carefully in the mirror, and after trying on seven different outfits, she had finally decided the royal blue was best. Simple and elegant, the dress showed off Heather’s trim waistline, as well as the fact that this homegrown farm girl was a lady with class. “I believe there must be some mistake. I was told this was an interview to set up a screen test for a part in the new western movie, Rio Concho. I am an actress and I also sing.” “Listen, Sweetheart…if you wanna play in the big leagues, you gotta play by the rules! Now take your clothes off!” Leaning forward, the man rested his elbows on the large oak desk standing between him and his newest conquest. He knew she wanted to be a star. They all did. His eyes glared at Heather’s breasts with appreciation and desire as he chewed on his smelly, unlit cigar. “Oh…I see,” Heather affirmed. “May

I please sit down for a minute, Mister Stein?” “Ok, but just for a minute. I am a very busy man.” Heather had heard the Hollywood stories of casting couches and girls being put in compromising situations. She had rehearsed this scene for months. Looking down at her soft white hands gently folded on her lap, Heather slowly bit her bottom lip. After a moment, she dramatically looked straight into the eyes of a man who had the power to make her dreams come true. With full confidence in her ability to charm, Heather smiled. Locking the man into her hypnotic gaze, she spoke slowly and deliberately. “So this is business? What are your terms? What do I get when I take off my clothes?” The man folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. “It depends on how friendly you want to be,” he smirked, licking his fat lips. The man’s lines had been predictable and Heather was more than ready to perform her part. Heather made her eyes big. “Don’t you want me to read for you or sing you a song?” she asked with profound innocence. “Take your clothes off, Missy. We’ll start there.” “Will you guarantee I get a part? If this is business…” “I can make you a star, Sweetheart!” For a long moment Heather stared at the man behind the desk. A woman with experience, she was a master at reading a man and knowing his deepest desires. Coyly, Heather grinned and began speaking seductively in a slow, sultry voice. “All right then, Mr. Stein. Today is your lucky day. I brought a girlfriend with me. Ginger wants to be in the movies too. Can I ask her to join us? Ginger can be extremely friendly. In fact together we can give you quite a show! She is waiting for me just outside the door.” The man quickly laid down his slimy cigar. “Yes in-deedy! Invite her in!” “I’ll be right back,” Heather smiled."

About the author (also via amazon.com): Cynthia believes every woman is like a precious pearl that deserves to be respected, appreciated and loved. Growing up in Redondo Beach, California the ocean was her playground and playing music was her passion. A classically trained pianist, Cynthia wrote the 1983 country song of the year, JOSE CUERVO and went on to compose beautiful piano CDs for Page Music in Nashville. BUTTERFLY MOMENTS is her autobiography. In doing research for her new musical PEARL, Cynthia uncovered astounding facts about women in history and found a new passion in writing historical novels to tell their stories. Ada and Minna Everleigh, Mae West, Suzy Poontang, Emily Morgan, Pearl DeVere, and Louise Brooks are just some of the characters in her historical fictions she calls the GEM SERIES. Her books are "real page turners" full of history, humor and deep sentiment. "In understanding our human nature we learn that each one of us is equally the same with the potential to live their life in bliss."

A Quick Study into the Present‐Day Location of the former Staaken Studios, by Philip Vorwald

Military historian and author (Battle of the Bulge Through the Lens) and Louise Brooks' fan Philip Vorwald has created a remarkable document, "A Quick Study into the Present‐Day Location of the former Staaken Studios," which he has allowed to be shared on the Louise Brooks Society blog.

Louise Brooks and Frankenstein

It is well known that director James Whale considered Louise Brooks for the title role in Bride of Frankenstein (1935). That part, of course, went to Elsa Lanchester. I can't imagine anyone else in the role. Lanchester was sexy and terrifying.

Did you know there is another connection between Brooks and the Frankenstein films. The original 1931 Frankenstein was also directed by Whale, and, it had an uncredited scenario by John Russell, who also penned the scenario for Brooks' first film, The Street of Forgotten Men (1925). Russell certainly did a lot of interesting work.

Is Louise Brooks pictured in a 1927 Our Gang short?

For some time now, there has been word going round that a newspaper image of Louise Brooks can be seen in the 1927 Our Gang short, Ten Years Old. This 22 minute film centers on Joe and his tenth birthday and the cake he makes for himself. The usual Our Gang mirth and mayhem ensues.

A few short excerpts of Ten Years Old can be found online. I managed to track down the entire film through realclassicsdvd.com, and bought a copy to see for myself. I took a look, and spotted the image at the center of the long running speculation.

Early on, Joe makes himself a party hat from a old newspaper. And on that newspaper is the image in question. It is just a Louise Brooks look-alike, and not the actress, in my opinion. What do you think? Here is a screen capture.

More True Confessions: Pics from the Louise Brooks Society (part 2)

Here are yet more images from the 20 year history of the Louise Brooks Society. Launched in 1995, the LBS was one of the first websites devoted to silent film or a silent film star. Only a few pages at first, the LBS has grown, and so has its acclaim as a resource for fans of Louise Brooks as well as early cinema. Check it out at www.pandorasbox.com

My obsessive tracing of Brooks' resonance throughout the 20th century helped
land this image of the actress on the cover of this book. The Argentine
author was a huge fan of Brooks, as the LBS website showed.

And look where this book showed up - on the hit television show Lost.

I put on an event with the acclaimed poet
Mary Jo Bang when her LB inspired book
of poems Louise in Love was
published in 2001.

I produced this triptych of limited edition autographed broadsides celebrating Mary Jo Bang's book
and featuring Brooks' imagery.

I also produced a limited edition autographed broadside featuring biographer Barry Paris and a bit of text from his book on the actress. This was issued at the time the LBS helped bring Paris' book and Brooks' Lulu in Hollywood back into print.

My wife and I had the pleasure of visiting the then George
Eastman House in Rochester, NY to see the LB
centennial exhibit. What a great experience.

In 2006, I had the great honor of introducing a centenial screening of Pandora's Box at the Castro Theater in San Francisco before a sold out crowd of more than 1,400 people. I also introduced my friend, the seminal Kansas-born artist and filmmaker Bruce Conner, who had his own story to tell about Louise Brooks.

I got to know Bruce Conner after he visited a small exhibit about the actress
which I put on in a San Francisco cafe some years ago. Conner left this
note in the exhibit guest book. Later, when I visited him at his home
in San Francisco, he expanded on this anecdote.

When I introduced Diary of a Lost Girl in Paris in 2009, fans of the actress (alas not me) lined up around the block.

I've had the pleasure of meeting a few fellow fans, like the
charming English dressmaker Irma Romero.

I also had the pleasure of meeting actor Paul McGann,
who is also a big Louise Brooks' fan. McGann, who was the
Eighth Doctor Who, even told me he listened to RadioLulu.

c

More True Confessions: Pics from the Louise Brooks Society (part 1)

Here are some more images from the 20 year history of the Louise Brooks Society. Launched in 1995, the LBS was one of the first websites devoted to silent film or a silent film star. Only a few pages at first, the LBS has grown, and so has its acclaim as a resource for fans of Louise Brooks as well as early cinema. Check it out at www.pandorasbox.com

With Louise Brooks: Portrait of an Anti-Star author Roland Jaccard (left)
in Paris in 2009. LBS Director Thomas Gladysz is center. On the right
is Aline Weill, who translated the Barry Paris biography into French.

In 1999, with 99 year old screenwriter Frederica Sagor Maas, who penned the
story behind the 1927 Louise Brooks' film Rolled Stockings. The event
the LBS co-presented with Maas for her book The Shocking Miss Pilgrim
was only the second she had done.

With author Barry Paris in 2000, at the LBS co-sponsored event
celebrating the new edition of the Barry Paris biography of the actress
(which the LBS helped bring back into print).

Introducing Pandora's Box at the Detroit Institute of the Arts in 2006,
the year which marked the Louise Brooks centennial.

 

With William Wellman Jr., whose Father directed the 1928
Louise Brooks' film Beggars of Life. Wellman Jr. told me his
Father adored Louise Brooks.

One view of the 2006 LBS sponsored Louise Brooks exhibit at the
San Francisco Public Library marking the actress centennial.

 

Another view of the 2006 LBS sponsored Louise Brooks exhibit at the
San Francisco Public Library.

A long time ago with the Pulitzer Prize winning film critic Roger Ebert,
who told me he used the Louise Brooks Society website to
research Pandora's Box and Diary of a Lost Girl.

In 2006, with film critic Peter Cowie,
author of Louise Brooks: Lulu Forever.

Thank you for reading this blog. Check back for tomorrow's post and more groovy pics from the 20 year history of the Louise Brooks Society.