Wednesday, August 13, 2014

New York Review of Books subscription card

This 2007 subscription card for the New York Review of Books features a caricature of Louise Brooks by David Levine. Its swell.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Windy Riley Goes Hollywood - A round up of reviews

Windy Riley Goes Hollywood, Louise Brooks' one short film, was officially released on this day in 1931. The 21 minute film follows cocky Windy Riley as he tries to revamp the publicity department of a Hollywood studio and mucks it all up.


The film stars Jack Shutta (brother of Ethel Shutta, who appeared in the Follies with Brooks) as Windy Riley, and Louise Brooks as Betty Grey. Also in the cast are William B. Davidson, Dell Henderson (a frequent associate of film pioneer D.W. Griffith and, on a less prolific basis, Mack Sennett), Wilbur Mack, and Walter Merrill. This Educational Pictures film, based on the screenplay by Ernest Pagano and Jack Townley, was adapted from the cartoon strip character by Ken Kling. The film was directed by Roscoe Arbuckle under the name William B. Goodrich.

The film received very few reviews, and in fact, they are very few documented showings of the film following its initial release. Here are a few of its reviews drawn from the Louise Brooks Society archive.

anonymous. "Riley Comic Strip Short Rather Dull." Hollywood Reporter, January 22, 1931.
--- "Louise Brooks is the star and brings forth the fact that she has an excellent speaking voice, looks very well, and that her forte is not short-reel comedies."

anonymous. Film Daily, April 5, 1931.
--- review

anonymous. "Shorts." Motion Picture Herald, April 11, 1931.
--- "The auto record of Windy Riley from New York to Hollywood and the subsequent excitement at a studio when he works a fake publicity stunt, cannot be rated more than fair. The story by Ken Kling is not at all unusal. Jack Shutta, Louise Brooks, William Davidson, Dell Henderson, Wilbur Mack and Walter Merrill do their best but not very successfully."

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Dixie Dugan - reader of books

Here is a multi-panel Dixie Dugan Sunday strip from 1932. (By comparison, the daily strip was usually three or four panels.) By this time in the evolution of the Dixie Dugan comic strip, Dixie's hair had evolved away from the Brooks-influenced shingled bob depicted in the 1929 / 1930 strips to something a little longer and more Thirties style. I like this particular strip because it suggests Dixie/Louise was something more than just a "dumb showgirl" = she read books!

Friday, August 8, 2014

In Memoriam: Louise Brooks

In Memoriam: Louise Brooks

Born: November 14, 1906, Cherryvale, KS

Died: August 8, 1985, Rochester, NY


Thursday, August 7, 2014

Louise Brooks appearance in Walter Winchell column mentioning Libby Holman word game

This item appeared in a Walter Winchell column back in the early 1930's. Louise Brooks, who was friendly with Libby Holman, makes an appearance . . . . Brooks Atkinson was a famous theater critic of the time. Other film stars who are also mentioned include Jack (John) Gilbert, Nancy Carroll, Kay Francis, Edward G. Robinson, Frank Fay and the still living Baby Peggy.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

First Silent Film Festival in Thailand features Louise Brooks

Thailand's first ever silent film festival takes place August 7-12, 2014 at the Lido cinema, and on August 13 at the Scala Theatre.

There will be 7 silent films shown, including three by Alfred Hitchcock (The Pleasure Garden, The Ring and The Lodger). Also scheduled are two screenings of Prix de beaute, starring Louise Brooks. One Asian film which will be screened, The Little Toys, was made in China.

Pianists Maud Nelissen from the Netherlands and Mie Yanashita from Japan will provide musical accompaniment. World renowned Thai musician and conductor Trisdee na Pattalung will also be performing music in accompaniment to The Lodger, which ends the festival.


Lido 2 Theatre (Ticket Price 100 THB)
 Thu 7 August
 20.00  The Pleasure Garden*  (UK / 1926 / 90 mins)
 Fri 8 August
 20.00   The Ring**  (UK / 1927 / 108 mins)
 Sat  9 August
 12.00  The Water Magician**  ( Japan / 1933 / 100 mins)
 14.00  Conversation with Mie Yanashita and  Maud Nelissen
 (Free Event with Thai translation)
 16.00  Prix de Beaute * (France / 1930 / 93 mins)
 18.00  Little Toys ** (China / 1933 / 104 mins)
 20.00  Nerven * (Germany / 1919 / 109 mins)
 Sun 10 August
 12.00  The Pleasure Garden ** (UK / 1926 / 90 mins)
 14.00  Public Lecture “The Silent Hitchcock” by Prof. Charles Barr
 (Free Event with Thai translation)
 16.00   The Ring * (UK / 1927 / 108 mins)
 18.00  Nerven ** (Germany / 1919 / 109 mins)
 20.00  Little Toys * (China / 1933 / 104 mins)
    Mon 11 August
 20.00  Prix de Beauté** (France / 1930 / 93 mins)
 Tue 12 August
 20.00  The Water Magician * ( Japan / 1933 / 100 mins)

Scala Theatre  ( Ticket Price  500 THB)

         Wed 13 August
 20.00
         The Lodger  (UK / 1926 / 90 mins)   Accompanied by Trisdee na Patalung

*   Accompanied by Maud Nelissen
** Accompanied by Mie Yanashita
Film screenings with Thai and English Intertitles

Monday, August 4, 2014

Cool pic of the day: Louise Brooks without bangs

Cool pic of the day: Louise Brooks without bangs, taken in 1927.

Powered By Blogger