Born Mary Louise Brooks on November 14, 1906, in Cherryvale, Kansas. 

 

"Beautiful, headstrong, and erotically charged, she and her sleek, bobbed hairstyle defined the 1920's flapper just as her meteoric rise and fall mirrored the fortunes of the Lost Generation."

 

Essential Brooks viewing includes "A Social Celebrity" (1926), "Love `Em and Leave `Em" (1926), "Pandora's Box" (1928), "Diary of a Lost Girl" (1929) and "Miss Europe" (1930). 

 

Behind-the-Scenes:  G.W. Pabst nearly signed Marlene Dietrich for Pandora's Box, although he greatly preferred Louise (this was two years before The Blue Angel made Marlene a star).  Accoring to Pabst, Marlene was in his office waiting to sign the contract when a cable came from Paramount saying that Louise was willing to play the role.

 

Her film career almost over, Louise was acting on stage under an assumed name, Linda Carter, when a talent scout from 20th Centuury-Fox discovered her and offered her a screen test.

 

Style Notes:  Louise's trademark bob was so popular during the 1920's that Parisian coiffeur Antoine established a "bobbing salon" at Saks on Fifth Avenue.  Her famous haircut was talked about in every film and fashion magazine, and countless women copied it.

 

In Louise's words, "A well-dressed woman, even though her purse is painfully empty, can conquer the world."

 

Enjoy the pic!

 

Damon