Like the celebrities of today, Louise Brooks’ name and image was used in a number of advertisements and advertising campaigns. Beginning in 1926 with the “Louise Brooks Evening Gown” and lasting through the early 1930s, Brooks’ name, image and likeness was used to sell clothing, jewelry, fashion accessories, cosmetics, and more — not only in the United States, but also in Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia. Brooks appeared in advertisements for handbags, shoes, swim suits, and a small variety of beauty aids (namely soap and face creams). These ads appeared in newspapers large and small, as well as in film and fashion magazines and both general and special interest publications of all sorts. The best known and longest lasting advertising campaign to include Brook was for LUX soap. Brooks appeared, usually in a group and sometimes by herself, in LUX numerous advertisements between the years 1928 and 1932. Examples of such ads have been found in the United States, Canada, England, France, and Australia. These years marked the peak of Brooks’ world-wide fame as an actress and renown beauty.
Seemingly, Louise Brooks worked occasionally as a model even while she was acting – either at the insistence of Paramount, or because she wanted to earn extra money. In some of the advertisements noted below, Brooks is modelling the product being promoted. In others, the advertisers seemingly arranged to use a preexisting photo of the actress, suggesting Brooks’ participation in these advertisements was minimal.
“Louise Brooks Advertisements” is a HUB page and part of the Louise Brooks Society Archive. If you know of or possess other advertisements and would like to share a scan of your vintage treasure, please CONTACT the Louise Brooks Society.
“Louise Brooks Evening Gown” (Sally Milgrim design)
The “Louise” Arch Preserver Shoe
Bradley Bathing Suit (and other swim wear)
Deltah Pearls and the “Louise Brooks Noveltie” pendant
Engagement Ring & Wedding Dress
European Product Advertisements
Louise Brooks as Fashion Model
LUX Soap – United States & Canada
LUX Soap – Elsewhere around the world
— The American Venus (1926)
— Now We’re in the Air (1927)
Paramount advertisements
Of Related Interest: “Louise Brooks, product placement, soap, and the 1931 film It Pays to Advertise” (part 1) (part 2) (part 3)
Besides appearing in various advertisements and advertising campaigns, Louise Brooks once also took out an ad (see below). The occasion was the 15th anniversary of Paramount – Famous Players Lasky, which was founded by Adolph Zukor. Brooks, along with numerous studio executives, directors, screenwriters, musicians, actors as well as vendors and suppliers all placed ads congratulating Zukor. Among the approximately 100 pages of congratulatory ads were those by luminaries such as Buster Keaton, Clara Bow, Harold Lloyd, Fay Wray, Erich von Stroheim, Cecil B. De Mille, Ernst Lubitsch, Norma and Constance Talmadge, and Herman J. Mankiewicz. Some of the individuals associated with one or another of Brooks’ films who also placed ads included Adolphe Menjou, Malcolm St. Clair, Mary Brian, Monte Katterjohn, Townsend Martin, and W.C. Fields. Brooks’ ad, along with others, ran in Variety on December 1, 1926. It read “Best Wishes / Mr. Adolph Zukor / Louise Brooks“.
