splash  Welcome to the LOUISE BROOKS SOCIETY, a pioneering fan site and online archive dedicated to the life & times of the silent film star Louise Brooks (1906 – 1985). A famed beauty & Jazz Age celebrity, the actress is best known for her bobbed hair as well as for her legendary role as Lulu in the 1929 silent, Pandora’s Box. Launched online in 1995, the Louise Brooks Society (or LBS) celebrates this multifaceted personality who was not only an acclaimed actress, but also a Denishawn dancer, Ziegfeld Follies showgirl, and later the bestselling author of Lulu in Hollywood. Once almost forgotten, Brooks has emerged from obscurity to become a 20th century icon, and muse. At more than 200 pages and growing, this site has it all.

The mission of the LBS is to honor the actress by stimulating interest in her life and films. The filmography found here is the most detailed ever compiled on Brooks. The are also articles and ephemera, a biography, chronology, image galleries, slide-shows, feature stories, trivia, links, and more. This longstanding, information rich website is just one of the many things we do — along with conducting research, writing articles and essays, curating exhibits, sponsoring screenings and events, and helping with the restoration of Brooks’ films, The LBS keeps a long-running BLOG (since 2002), helped bring both Lulu in Hollywood and the definitive biography of Brooks by Barry Paris back into print, and has published five books, with more in the works. And that’s not all it has done to champion the actress…. among other things, It has also helped others. The LBS is a community, both an educational fan site and home to a virtual fan club of like-minded individuals. Explore the LBS and all that it has to offer. And please consider supporting its efforts! Visitors to the LBS come from 50 countries on six continents — a world wide web of silent film fans and Lulu enthusiasts. More about the LBS, including its mission statement and history, can be found on its ABOUT page. [The Louise Brooks Society is proud to be a retrosite where accuracy and authenticity still matters. The LBS is a clickbait, colorized, and A.I. free zone.]

Thomas Gladysz
Director, Louise Brooks Society

CONTENT ON THIS WEBSITE HAS BEEN REMOVED AGAINST THE WISHES OF ITS LAWFUL RIGHTS HOLDER
following yet another false claim. Apologies to this site’s followers, but that’s the way it is until certain matters are resolved.

For the record: The Louise Brooks Society™ website was established by Thomas Gladysz in 1995. This website and the term / wordmark “XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXX” are under XXXXXXXXX and XXXXXX XXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX. Additionally, the Louise Brooks Society operates with the written consent of the Estate of Louise Brooks (Louise Brooks Heirs, LC) and have its permission to use the name and likeness of the actress. Content original to this site is © Thomas Gladysz.
Update 1/1/2024: Following yet another FALSE allegation of trademark infringement, my ISP,  Bluehost, insists I remove the XXXed out words above referring to the intellectual property protections which this website has rightfully claimed. I do so, under protest, not because I admit to having infringed the intellectual property rights of the dude who filed a complaint (with whom I am involved in a dispute), but because I wish to avoid the hassle that Bluehost has threatened me with if I didn’t remove the “offending” sentence. It’s ridiculous, I know, but that’s the kind of {insert word here} I have to deal with. BTW, even if not so stated, the demonstrable facts remain.
 
=== BIOGRAPHY ===

♦ ♦ Explore the LIFE & TIMES tab on the main menu to visit pages detailing the remarkable story of Louise Brooks. There’s a biography and an extensive chronology, articles & essays, quotations, links, and lots more.

Louise Brooks

=== FILMOGRAPHY ===

♦ ♦ The LBS filmography is the most detailed ever compiled on just about any actor, surpassing the AFI and IMDb for credits, bit players, alternative titles, shooting locations, reviews and more. Exclusively on the LBS website.

diary of a lost girl poster

=== LBS ARCHIVE ===

♦ ♦ The LBS archive is a treasure trove of rare material including vintage magazines covers, books, postcards, and ephemera related to the actress. There’s also sheet music, photoplay editions, 78 rpm discs, and more.

=== HOMAGE ===

♦ ♦ Movies, music, literature & comics have all paid homage to Brooks – 20th century icon & 21st century muse. Pictured here is one recent example, White Lotus star Haley Lu Richardson as Louise Brooks in The Chaperone.

haley lu richardson as louise brooks

=== FEATURED PAGE ===

♦ ♦ “Writings of Louise Brooks” details the actress’ published, unpublished and uncollected work, including her little known self-published booklet on dance, her articles on film, her notebooks, letters, and bestselling memoir, Lulu in Hollywood.

Lulu in Hollywood

=== EXPLORE / WHAT’S NEW ===

♦ ♦ With more than 200 pages, the LBS is one of the largest and most comprehensive websites devoted to any silent film star. There is a lot to look at and much to explore. Visit the WHAT’S NEW page for the latest updates, or chance upon a RANDOM PAGE.

Louise Brooks Society

=== PUBLICATIONS ===

♦ ♦ The Louise Brooks Society has published five books to date, with three more in the works. Each is the product of considerable research, and each features new information and dozens of rare images. Find out more, and order your copy today!

6 books by thomas gladysz

=== NEW PAGE ===

♦ ♦ This new page on the LBS website, “Louise Brooks and Rudolph Valentino: Behind the Black Velvet Curtain,” documents the little known links between Lulu and The Sheik.

Rudolph Valentino

=== NEW BOOK ===

♦ ♦ Our newest publication is The Street of Forgotten Men: From Story to Screen and Beyond, a deep dive into the history of a single film – which also marks Brooks’ first time on screen.

The Street of Forgotten Men : From Story to Screen and Beyond

=== NEW SECTION ===

♦ ♦ “Louise Brooks Cover Girl” brings together dozens of vintage magazine covers from all around the world — from the United States, France and Germany to Brazil, China, Japan and beyond.

Kino 1932

=== NEW PAGE ===

♦ ♦ One BIG new page on the LBS website, “Louise Brooks and Charlie Chaplin: Two Happy Summer Months,” tells the story of their brief romance in the summer of 1925.

Charlie Chaplin

=== ESSENTIAL READING ===

♦ ♦ From Portrait of an Anti-star to the Barry Paris biography to Peter Cowie’s pictorial to Jan Wahl’s Dear Stinkpot, the “Louise Brooks Bookshelf” is an opinionated guide to the best and worst books about the actress and her films.

Dear Stinkpot: Letters from Louise Brooks

=== DENISHAWN ===

♦ ♦ Brooks spent two seasons touring with Denishawn, the leading modern dance company in America. Read an account of her time with the troupe, see tour schedules, and view pics. Chances are she visited your hometown!

Louise Brooks

=== CHRONOLOGY ===

♦ ♦ What was she doing? Who did she know? Where did she did live? A very detailed look at the actress’ daily life. Praised by the Irish Times as “extraordinary” and exclusive to the LBS.

Louise Brooks

=== RESOURCES ===

♦ ♦ From Louise Brooks bibliographies to browseable vintage movie magazines to Youtube videos, silent film festivals and other related movie websites, the LBS resource page is a great place to start your journey of discovery.

Smart Set magazine

  FIVE MOST RECENT POSTS ON THE LBS BLOG  @  louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com   
Since 2002, the LBS has been blogging about Louise Brooks, silent film, and the Jazz Age, as well as books, music, art, fashion,
dance and other topics related to the one-and-only Lulu. Subscribe to keep up on the latest news and announcements.
  • A Girl in Every Port, starring Louise Brooks, screens at NY MoMA on Aug 1
    by Louise Brooks Society on June 5, 2024

    A Girl in Every Port, the 1928 Howard Hawks silent film starring starring Louise Brooks and Victor McLaglen, is set to screen at the Museum of Modern Art in New York on August 1. This special screening, which is part of MoMA's Silent Movie Week 2024, will feature piano accompaniment by Ben Model. More information about this event can be found HERE.The NY MoMa page doesn't say much about the film, except to offer these minimal credits: "A Girl in Every Port. 1928. USA. Directed by Howard Hawks. Screenplay by Hawks, James Kevin McGuiness, Seton I. Miller, Sidney Lanfield, Reggie Morris, […]

  • Happy birthday to Kevin Brownlow !
    by Louise Brooks Society on June 2, 2024

    Happy birthday to author, film historian, documentary film maker, and Academy Award honoree Kevin Brownlow. He was born on this day in 1938. More about Kevin Brownlow and his many accomplishments can be found on his Wikipedia entry.He has had a profound influence on my interest in Louise Brooks and early film, and thus my life. I will always appreciate our conversations and emails, his generous sharing of information (and images), the time he invited me to visit his London flat to talk about Louise Brooks, and the foreword he wrote to my most recent book, The Street of Forgotten Men: […]

  • The Canary Murder Case, starring Louise Brooks, available on newly released Blu-ray
    by Louise Brooks Society on May 30, 2024

    The Canary Murder Case, starring William Powell, Jean Arthur and Louise Brooks (as the canary) is now available on Blu-Ray (only). Kino Lorber released the film on May 21 as part of its three film Philo Vance Collection. Want to purchase a copy? Follow this link HERE.Here is the description from the Kino website: "Based on S.S. Van Dine’s bestselling novels, these classic Pre-Code murder-mysteries showcase the case-cracking prowess of the debonair detective Philo Vance, as portrayed by cinema’s icon of gentlemanly sleuthing, William Powell (The Thin Man, Take One False Step). THE […]

  • Its the Old Army Game, with Louise Brooks, was released on this day in 1926
    by Louise Brooks Society on May 25, 2024

    Its the Old Army Game, with Louise Brooks and W.C. Fields, was released on this day in 1926. The film is a comedy about a small town druggist (played by W.C. Fields) who gets involved with a real estate scam. Louise Brooks plays the druggist's assistant. The film was Brooks' fourth, and it reunited her with the Fields, the film's star. The two had worked together in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1925. More about the film can be found on the Louise Brooks Society website filmography page. In its review, the Newark Star-Eagle stated, “This picture not only affords a good deal of typical Fields […]

  • Last Hurrahs: Louise Brooks final film - Overland Stage Raiders (1938)
    by Louise Brooks Society on May 24, 2024

    This year, as it has in the past, the Louise Brooks Society blog is taking part in the Spring 2024 CMBA (Classic Movie Blog Association) blogathon. This year’s theme is Screen Debuts & Last Hurrahs -- a look at beginnings and endings of film careers. The Spring 2024 CMBA blogathon runs May 20-24. More information on the Spring 2024 CMBA blogathon, including a list of other participants and topics, may be found HERE. I encourage everyone to check it out.Today's post looks at Louise Brooks' last film, Overland Stage Raiders (1938). The May 20th blog post looked at Louise Brooks […]