Louise Brooks in Pandora's Box.
“Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairheads, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed.” Oh, wait a minute. That's the beginning of Ulysses, not the beginning of my first post. Actually, I'm not sure where to begin.
In fact, I'm not quite sure where this blog is headed. I’d like to write about some of my interests—the 1920s and 30s, playing detective, screwball comedies, British mysteries, historic gardens, and traveling (to name a few)—as well as share stories of my adventures living in New York. And hopefully, along the way, some of you might drop me a comment or two and let me know what you think.
So here's a toast to beginnings and stay tuned for more tales to come.
What a swell (Somebody's got to keep 20's slang alive) tribute/bio you wrote to Brooksie. I just stumbled upon it a as well as your blog. It's the cat's meow. No foolin'. I'm not always so lucky. Earlier today I was reading about the Golden Age of cartoons in the 30s/40s, and ended up at a blog that asked; "does anyone think bugs bunny looked hot dressed as a woman?" Sooo anyway ... Why is watching our Miss Brooks on often-grainy 85- year- old black and white film stock so hynotic? Becuase for me, thats exactly what it is. When shes in a scene, I literally can't take my eyes off her. She said she never laughed on screen unless she really felt like it. Maybe that explains it. Though I guess she never did ANYTHING unless she really felt like it. In a way, her story is such a Greek Tragedy: Had the looks/ money /fame trifecta and then tosses it -- loses it, how ever you want to say it -- for a life of seclusion, gin and thinking she was a failure as an actress. I really hope the adulation offered in her later years helped change her mind about that last one. But talk about fascinating! The sexiest woman of any era (yes, I do set the standard)...brains (just read her film writings).... vulnerability ( being crushed when the director once laughed at her 'natural" acting style....independent and strong (yet not knowing what to do with it in those pateralistic times)..artistic ( she also painted) and self destructive by most accounts. I may be biased cuz I love the whole 1920s era, and once dated a girl for the sole reason that she wore her hair in a pointy-sided bob, but all I can say is 'Damn, what a woman."
ReplyDeleteIf you, Miss Modern Day Flapper, or any other Jazz Age afficionados want to drop me a line, that would be super copasetic. David. Dwill48147@aol.com
Thanks David. Glad you liked my piece of Louise. There are sure to be many more mentions of her in future posts.
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