Greetings from the Louise Brooks Society,

This year marks the Louise Brooks centenary. The future actress, silent film star, dancer and writer was born on November 14, 1906 in the small town of Cherryvale, Kansas. To celebrate, a number of events are taking place all around the world. By the end of the year, fans should see the release of not only one, but two new books as well as two new DVD's. And that's not all. There are a number of screenings and film festivals taking place, as well as a couple of exhibits! Just last week, a couple of additional events were added to the list. A complete list of centenary events may be found on the Louise Brooks Society website. For more info see
www.pandorasbox.com/features/centenary.html

There are two new books arriving in November. Rizzoli will publish Peter Cowie's "Louise Brooks: Lulu Forever" - an coffee-table sized pictorial. ("Louise Brooks: Lulu Forever" is being published by Schirmer in Germany.) Cowie - a long-time film critic and biographer - was a correspondent of Brooks, and his text includes excerpts from her letters. I have an advance copy of the book, and I know Brooks' fans will enjoy the generous selection of portraits and film stills. The book's first brief review can be found at www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6357425.html?display=current&industry=Galley+Talk&verticalid=792

Author Peter Cowie, who lives in Switzerland, will be doing a select number of events in the United States. One of the first, sponsored by The Booksmith, will be held on November 12th at the Balboa Theater in San Francisco. Anyone who might want to purchase an autographed first edition hardback copy of this new book should contact the Booksmith at
read@booksmith.com Also in November, the the Verlag Filmarchiv Austria will publish "Louise Brooks. Rebellin, Ikone, Legende" by Günter Krenn and Karin Moser. I've been in touch with the authors, and I know they have created a valuable addition to the literature of Lulu. I can't wait to see a copy!

Also being released in November are two new DVD's of "Pandora's Box." In Portugal, I've heard, Costa do Castelo Films will release "Pandora's Box" as part of a two-disc set which will feature the original Portugese intertitles along with bonus material. And in the United States, Criterion will release a double disc "restored version" of the film accompanied by considerable bonus material. For more info on this later release see www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=358#feature

Here is what is taking place in October, 2006.

Thru October 29, 2006: The Silent Theater company has extended their stage production of "Lulu" (the Wedekind play done as a silent film a la Louise Brooks) at the Victoria Theater in San Francisco. Very sexy, lots of fun and highly recommended! Performances will take place October 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29. For more info see www.victoriatheatre.org/ From there you can find links to the "San Francisco Chronicle" review, as well as the company's nifty website at www.silenttheatre.com This production was the hit of the New York Fringe Festival - and received a glowing review in the "New York Times."

October 7 - 14, 2006: The Le Giornate del Cinema Muto (aka Pordenone) in Italy will honor Louise Brooks with screenings of the documentary "Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu," and G.W. Pabst's "Pandora's Box," the later with a newly commissioned orchestral score. For more info see www.cinetecadelfriuli.org/gcm/edizione2006/program06.html

October 12-13-14, 2006: As part of its Centenary Tribute to Louise Brooks, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents "Pandora's Box." For more info see www.lacma.org/programs/FilmSeriesSchedule.aspx#1158086409940

October 13, 2006: The Music Box Theatre in Chicago, Illinois will screen a new 35mm print of "Pandora's Box" as part of the Roger Ebert "Great Movies" series. The film will be presented with live organ accompaniment. For more info see www.musicboxtheatre.com/pandorasbox.html

October 15, 2006: The Valley of the Sun Chapter of the American Theater Organ Society presents "Beggars of Life" as part of its "Silent Sunday" series at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. For more info see
www.silentsundays.info/programs.aspx#101506

October 15, 2006: The Music Box Theatre in Chicago, Illinois will screen a new 35mm print of "Pandora's Box" as part of the Roger Ebert "Great Movies" series. The film will be presented with live organ accompaniment. For more info see www.musicboxtheatre.com/pandorasbox.html

October 16, 2006: A benefit for "Lulu" will take place at the Balazo 18 Gallery, located at 2863 Mission Street in San Francisco. Here's your chance to meet the cast of this acclaimed play (I've met them - they're swell people), have a drink, and hear some good music by the likes of The Vaticans and The Crazy B's. Photographs of the cast and production will be on display. The benefit kicks off around 7 pm - and finishes around 11 pm. For more info see www.myspace.com/silenttheatre

October 20, 2006: As part of its Centenary Tribute to Louise Brooks, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents "A Girl in Every Port" and "Diary of a Lost Girl." Claudine Kaufmann, former Director of Collections, Cinémathèque Française, will be in attendance. For more info see www.lacma.org/programs/FilmSeriesSchedule.aspx#115808640994

October 21, 2006: As part of its Centenary Tribute to Louise Brooks, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents the silent version of "Prix de Beauté." This new print, restored by the Cineteca di Bologna and running 109 minutes, features French intertitles and a spoken translation. Claudine Kaufmann, former Director of Collections, Cinémathèque Française, will be in attendance. For more info see
www.lacma.org/programs/FilmSeriesSchedule.aspx#115808640994

October 23, 2006: The Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Floria will screen "Pandora's Box." This one-time only show will take place at 7 pm. A specially commissioned poster has been created for the occasion. For more info see www.floridatheatre.com/

Recently, the Louise Brooks Society received a nice write-up on Leonard Maltin's website. The popular film critic and author wrote "Not many sites of any kind can claim to be celebrating a tenth anniversary online, but that’s true of the Louise Brooks Society, devoted to the life and times of the magnetic silent-film star and latter-day memoirist. Thomas Gladysz has assembled a formidable amount of material on the actress and her era; there’s not only a lot to read and enjoy, but there’s a gift shop and even a 'Radio Lulu' function that allows you to listen to music of the 1920s. Wow!" Maltin got it right. If you haven't tuned in lately, RadioLulu now features more than seven and one-half hours of Louise Brooks-themed musical pogramming. Check it out at www.live365.com/stations/298896 Or, if you like, visit the RadioLulu myspace page at www.myspace.com/radio_lulu

To keep up with all the latest news regarding Louise Brooks and the LBS, be sure and visit the LBS blog at http://louisebrooks.livejournal.com/

As of this newsletter, the Louise Brooks Society now has 1530 members from 50 countries on five continents. Louise Brooks is truly a world-wide icon. Thank you for your interest in the Louise Brooks Society. Another issue of "News of Lulu" will be sent by the end of the month - and will cover the many November happenings.