Early films featuring Louise Brooks to get Blu-ray release via Flicker Alley and @sffilmpreserve.bsky.social and @silentlondon.bsky.social and ME. Details at louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/12/once...

Louise Brooks twice referenced in the new Thomas Pynchon novel, "Shadow Ticket". Details and more on the Louise Brooks Society blog at louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/11/loui...

Mark Z. Danielewski's new novel was released today. It's called "Tom's Crossing", and it's a big, bold, doorstop of a book. Stephen King called it “... an amazing work of fiction.” Pictured here are the author trading cards issued at the time I put on events with MZD 25 & 19 years ago. Time flies...

Just learned from official Paul Bowles (www.paulbowles.org) that the famed author of "The Sheltering Sky" had a copy of "Lulu in Hollywood" in his Tangier's library. I never knew... (Another novelist who owned a copy was Gore Vidal.) www.paulbowles.org/library/full...

Ivan Klima, one of the great Czech writers of the 20th century, has died. Years ago, I had a chance to see him speak at a bookstore in San Francisco accompanied by my friend, Dwight Cocke. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/04/w...

Today is Silent Movie Day, an annual day dedicated to celebrating and preserving silent movies! Find out more at louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/09/toda...

Thrilled to receive a copy of "HE Who Gets Slapped" and thrilled to find my name on the cover of the accompanying booklet - shown below. (I wrote the booklet essay.) "HE Who Gets Slapped" is one of the great films of the silent era; it is beautiful and sad. flickeralley.com/products/he-...

This past weekend, I was in Oakland, CA recording audio commentaries for a new disc of never before released films by Louise Brooks! If you're a fan, or are into silent film, this forthcoming disc will impress. Pictured are film preservationists Kathy Rose O'Regan & Robert Byrne & yours truly.

My Louise Brooks Society website has turned 30 years old. Launched in 1995 (the same year as Amazon and eBay), this pioneering fan site was the first devoted to the silent film star, and one of the first devoted to any aspect of film history. More at louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/08/loui...

I am pleased to note my essay on "He Who Gets Slapped" will be published in the booklet for the upcoming Flicker Alley release of Victor Seastrom's silent masterpiece. It is a film near and dear to my heart. Order a copy today! flickeralley.com/products/he-...

I just backed the Kickstarter for the first ever release of the Marion Davies film, The Cardboard Lover 1928. www.kickstarter.com/projects/sil...

Louise Brooks shout-out on PBS News Hour www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7Od...

Trump fires longtime Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. This will prove doubly embarrassing, not only because Hayden was great at her job, but also because Trump will attempt to replace her with a nincompoop. www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-f...

Writer Thomas Pynchon turns 88 years old today. Happy birthday! I remember the event we did in 1997, as well as the Pynchon look-alike contest. That was quite novel. BTW, I am looking forward to your new book, "Shadow Ticket," due out in October. I still have a few trading cards from the event.

New Novel Imagines Life of Director G.W. Pabst louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/05/new-...

The new American Masters documentary on PBS, "Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse", is outstanding. It is recommended, and timely. Watch it online at www.pbs.org/wnet/america...

The Blu-ray of the 1929 Louise Brooks film, "Diary of a Lost Girl," featuring my audio commentary, is now on sale through KINO Lorber = $12.00 off MSRP. Hurry, it's the BEST version available. kinolorber.com/product/diar...

Arion Press is celebrating its 50th anniversary. I worked there for more than 2 years, where I was the Director of Marketing and Sales. Here's a news story about this unique San Francisco press. abc7.com/post/san-fra...

I am very much looking forward to reading the new biography of Yoko Ono by David Sheff. I put it on hold at the Sacramento Public Library, and would you believe I was # 9, number nine, no. 9 in line for the book. amzn.to/4l1cfKq

Original drawing of Louise Brooks by Willy Pogány for sale louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/03/orig...

If you love learning, knowledge & history, be aware there is a plan to eliminate the IMLS (Institute for Museum and Library Services). This indy agency created by Congress is crucial to grant funding for archives, museums, libraries in 50 states & essential to sustaining educational programs.

My pioneering Louise Brooks Society website went online in 1995. This summer, it celebrates its 30th anniversary. Praised by the NY Times, Wired and USA Today, the site now stands at more than 250 pages of unique & original content. Check it out at www.pandorasbox.com

The new PBS American Masters documentary on jazz musician Hazel Scott is a must view. It's full of wonderful, lovely, joyous music, and timely as well. www.pbs.org/video/the-di...

Surrealist painting artist Man Ray sent to silent film icon Louise Brooks goes to auction. More at louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/02/surr...

Gary Conklin, Documentary Filmmaker whose subjects included writers, artists and culture, Dies at 92 - among his credits is "Memories of Berlin: The Twilight of Weimar Culture" with Louise Brooks louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/02/gary...

R.I.P. novelist Tom Robbins. I was delighted to put on an event with the author of “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” in 2005. You were a lot of fun. Pictured here is Booksmith author trading card #783, which was issued at the time of the event. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/o...

My thoughts on the recent DVD releases of The Bat (1926) and The Canary Murder Case (1929) were published by "Film International" filmint.nu/the-bat-1926...

Just got back from "tariff shopping" -- stocking up on frozen avocado halves (from Mexico) and Shredded Wheat cereal (which comes from Canada). #tariffs #tarrifshopping

As tears go by... R.I.P. Marianne Faithfull (pictured here as Booksmith author trading card #64). It was brilliant to meet you back in 1994. www.thomasgladysz.com/booksmith-au...

"We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity; more than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost." -- Charlie Chaplin

Some thoughts on Louise Brooks and "The Invention of Morel," by thr Argentinan author and Louise Brooks admirer Adolfo Bioy Casares www.pandorasbox.com/tributes/cas...

R.I.P. cartoonist Jules Feiffer. Pictured here is an autographed Booksmith author trading card dating from 1996, some ten years after Feiffer won a Pulitzer Prize. He wrote the animated short "Munro" which won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1961.

"Naked on My Goat", Louise Brooks' lost first book, included in new exhibit at Grolier Club in NYC. Imagine that... artist Reid Byers did. For more see louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/01/nake...

Louise Brooks in Brazil: a Brazilian scholar responds to an earlier LBS blog louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/01/loui...

Photographer Lee Miller (left) and actress Louise Brooks (right). Though they never met, Miller was likely aware of Brooks. Miller saw Brooks dance in person in 1923; later, she became the paramour of artist Man Ray, a fan of the actress. The surrealist and the actress later met in Paris in 1958.

Great write-up / recommendation by Lea Stans on the Silent-ology website for my book, "The Street of Forgotten Men : From Story to Screen and Beyond". Check it out at silentology.wordpress.com/2024/12/05/b...

In the footsteps of Albert Einstein, Igor Stravinsky, Enrico Caruso, Greta Garbo and others... the story behind Louise Brooks' visit to a famous palm reader in Germany in October 1928. www.pandorasbox.com/life_and_tim...

"The time IS right for Cabaret." Joel Grey has a thought proving editorial in the NY Times. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/24/o...

Lola and Lulu = The Bruno Schulz drawing of Marlene Dietrich and Louise Brooks, Poland c. 1930 www.pandorasbox.com/tributes/bru...

WOW! Original drawing of silent film star Louise Brooks by famed artist / illustrator Willy Pogány for sale www.royalbooks.com/pages/books/...

Just followed McSweeney's.... remembering Dave Eggers used to call me "the man with the little glasses".

Happy birthday Louise Brooks (1906 - 1985) louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2024/11/happ...

This past weekend, there was a memorial service held for my late friend, Steve Silberman. He was a bestselling author, an advocate, and even a Grammy winner. He was also a wise and wonderful guy. Whether you knew (of knew of him), it might be worth watching. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2feg...

RIP Ben Manilla. I did an event w Ben for "Elwood's Blues," co-authored with Dan Aykroyd. The actor couldn't make it, so Ben arranged for the next best thing, an appearance by blues harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite (the inspiration for the character played by Aykroyd in The Blues Brothers film).

I always liked Teri Garr.... I well remember being charmed by her in reruns of the 1968 Star Trek episode "Assignment Earth". If anything, she was always vivacious! Check out this six minute 1964 film short "Waiting for the Bus" -- filmed on the streets of Hollywood. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JYC...

Interesting article in the New York Times about Susanna Clarke, an author I put on an event with ever so long ago. The event was for her blockbuster novel "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell”. www.nytimes.com/2024/10/25/b...

When I was producing author events, I put on a handful related to the Grateful Dead. And fortunately, two of those events were with members of the band - namely Mickey Hart and the just deceased Phil Lesh. I remember him as a gracious guy. Keep on truckin'. www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

How cool! San Francisco declares July 15th Linda Ronstadt day in the city! www.sfchronicle.com/entertainmen...

San Francisco Silent Film Festival asked me to suggest 5 silent films I’d like to share with others. My list was posted on the SFSFF Instagram account, alongside the lists of other film historians, writers, critics, contemporary movie directors, and even a Doctor Who! www.instagram.com/sfsilentfilm/

Happy birthday to author, film historian, documentary film maker, and Academy Award honoree Kevin Brownlow. I will always appreciate 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.