Tuesday, March 30, 2010

HELP: need Diary of a Lost Girl program or press book

I am currently working on a project concerning the Louise Brooks film, Diary of a Lost Girl (1929). I realize I don't have either a program or press book or campaign book for the film. (A few have slipped through my hands via eBay bidding wars.) And I would really like to look at it.

Does anyone have the issue of Film Kurier with Brooks on the cover (pictured here) which served as a kind of program for the film? Or does anyone have a French campaign book?

I would like to obtain high-res scans (300 dpi) of the Film Kurier issue or of a press book. I would also be interested in stills from the film, as well.

In return, I would be willing to trade high-res scans of other Louise Brooks' French or German press books. I have a bunch of them Please email if you can help.

Molly, in Love em & Leave em


While scrolling through microfilm the other day, a certain cartoon strip caught my eye. It's a four-panel strip from 1929 titled "Molly." Its by John P. Medbury. What caught my eye was the its flapper / Louise Brooks look-alike character (which in itself wasn't uncommon in the late 1920's, especially in the world of cartooning. One need only think of J.P. McEvoy and John Striebel's "Dixie Dugan," or Bill Conselman and Charles Plumb's "Ella Cinders.") The bobbed flapper is kinda cute, and the story here reminded me of the plot behind the Brooks film, Love Em and Leave Em (1926).

I wasn't able to find much on Medbury (1893-1947), except that he was a well known humorist in his day and was involved with the film world as a narrator and contributor of dialogue. He even appeared in Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 6 (1931) along with Zasu Pitts, Bebe Daniels, Mary Pickford, Cecil B. DeMille and others. Two of Brooks one-time  stage and film co-stars,Will Rogers and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., also appeared in that short.

Medbury was a contributor to the New York Evening Journal, where he was a contemporary of Rube Goldberg and George “Krazy Kat” Herriman. According to the newspaper, Medbury's "writings in the Evening Journal are the most sensational, humorous additions to the present era of American literature. Recognized among humorous writers of the country as the 'greatest giggle generator,' 'the liveliest laugh laureate' and 'the champion chuckle cannonader.'" And indeed, his four-panel "If Not, Why Not" put a smile on my face.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Doubly interesting

On Friday, I spent the afternoon at the State Library of California in Sacramento going through yet more microfilm of California newspapers. This time, I went through a few years of newspapers from both Yuba City and Marysville, as well as a few reels from Grass Valley and Merced. One advertisement I came across turned out to be unique - and doubly interesting.

So far, in my quixotic quest to document instances of Louise Brooks films being shown in Northern California, I have documented some 750 to 800 screenings. Most took place in the Twenties and Thirties. One screening I came across - from the Atkins Theatre in Yuba City - is unique. I have never come across anything like it. Here is an advertisement for that event.


Many times, as was common in the silent film era, a film was preceded by a short or a stage act with musicians or Vaudeville performers. This was true for Brooks' films. Sometimes, a film played as part of a double bill. Once or twice, two of Brooks' films were even shown together.

What makes this screening unique is that The Street of Forgotten Men (1925) was preceded by a live stage play, The Waifs of New York. Of all of the hundreds of ads I have looked at - I have never come across such a pairing, a film with a stage play. What also makes this doubly interesting is that the film was paired with a thematically similar work. Both stories are set among the down-and-out in New York City.

And if that isn't enough, this unique event took place in February of 1927 - that's nearly a year-and-a-half after The Street of Forgotten Men was released! That's pretty late in the film's history, as most films did not continue to circulate after more than a year or so during the silent film era.

[I haven't been able to find much about The Waifs of New York. It may date from the late 1800's, and may be a one-act. Does anyone know anything about it? Otherwise, I was able to find a little about the Atkins Theatre. I believe it was one of two in Yuba City, and was owned by a fellow named Atkins who lived in nearby Marysville.]

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Brazilian musical tribute

F.C. Perini is a Brasilian fan of Louise Brooks as well as a songwriter. He only just recently discovered the actress, and just as soon joined the Louise Brooks Society. Apparently, Perini was so taken by Brooks that he put together this musical tribute which features his music. Enjoy.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Turning Japanese

Continuing the international flavor of some of the recent LBS blog posts, I notice that a copy of a scarce Japanese book about Louise Brooks is currently for sale on eBay. The seller's description reads, in part: " . . . published by Chuokorou-Sha, Tokyo, 1984, 122 pages, large hardcover in dust jacket with photographic endpapers, 10.25" by 10.25". Text in Japanese. Scarce Japanese book on silent screen legend Brooks, profusely illustrated with over 100 film stills, portraits, and publicity images. Beautifully printed and very uncommon."

Indeed, it is an uncommon and rather nifty book. I have a copy in my collection. Here is a dusty scan of my scuffed copy.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Creamer tops issued in Switzerland

This always amuses me when ever I come across it. Pictured above is a set of contemporary creamer tops issued in Switzerland by Floralp. It is currently for sale on eBay. 

These are foil tops from the small plastic milk / cream pots used in restaurants. This set carries pictures of famous movie stars on the front - including Marilyn Monroe, Louise Brooks, Errol Flynn, John Wayne, Judy Garland, Steve McQueen, Vivien Leigh, and Clark Gable. The reverse side of each top carries the name of a film the actor or actress appeared in.

Louise Brooks appeared in films with two of the stars pictured above. Do you know which two? She also may have had an affair with another. . . .

Monday, March 22, 2010

Spin the carousel!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

The very definition

One could say that Louise Brooks is the very definition of the term "arms akimbo." According to Wikipedia, "Akimbo is a human body position in which the hands are on the hips and the elbows are bowed outward, or bent/bowed in a more general sense." Wouldn't you agree?

Saturday, March 20, 2010

A social butterfly, not really

Louise Brooks was never a social butterfly. She was loner - especially at the end of her life.


Barry Paris concludes his sublime biography with these words."The real epitaph of Louise Brooks was a brutal one, inspired by her merciless self-criticism and intended neither for sympathy not for public consumption. She confided in a letter, a dozen years before she died, to her brother Theodore: "I have been taking stock of my 50 years since I left Wichita in 1922 at the age of 15 to become a dancer with Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. How I have existed fills me with horror. For I failed in everything - spelling, arithmetic, riding, swimming, tennis, golf; dancing, singing, acting; wife, mistress, whore, friend. Even cooking. And I do not excuse myself with the usual escape of 'not trying.' I tried with all my heart."

Was her beauty her tragedy?
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