Louise Brooks Society F.A.Q.

Welcome to the Louise Brooks Society™ F.A.Q. page. Here you’ll find answers to some commonly asked questions about this website. For more information, check out the ABOUT page, which contains the LBS mission statement and a short history of the LBS. Have a question or comment? The LBS would enjoying hearing from you. Send a message via the CONTACT page.

What is the Louise Brooks Society™?

— The Louise Brooks Society is an independently run “fan site.” It was begun by Thomas Gladysz, and has been on the internet since the summer of 1995, which makes it a pioneer among movie related websites, and even a pioneer among websites in general. Believe it or not, both the LBS and Amazon.com started around the same time. More about the Louise Brooks Society can be found on its ABOUT page, including a detailed history of activities and accomplishments.

How did the Louise Brooks Society get its name?

— The Louise Brooks Society drew its name from a turn-of-phrase in John Lahr’s New York Times review of Lulu in Hollywood. In his 1982 book review, Lahr refers to the famed critic & screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as the “founder of the Louise Brooks Literary Society, ” Lahr did so, in all likelihood, because Mankiewicz, a member of the Algonquin Round Table, was a kind of mentor to the 18 year old Brooks, to whom he gave reading material, invited to opening nights, and in general tried to educate. I liked Lahr’s turn-of-phrase, and its educational implications, and as it reminded me of other groups with which I was familiar — like the F. Scott Fitzgerald Society, I decided to name my website the Louise Brooks Society. That was in the summer of 1995. [BTW, the designation, “Louise Brooks Literary Society,” was an invention of John Lahr. There was no “Louise Brooks Literary Society” during Brooks’ lifetime, nor was there a “Louise Brooks Society” prior to the founding of this website in 1995.]

What does the LBS do?

— The mission of the LBS is to honor the actress & promote her legacy by stimulating interest in her life and films. To that end, it champions the actress where ever and when ever it can. This website and its long-running LBS BLOG (since 2002) serve as a nexus for all manner of activities, such as news and announcements, RESEARCH, exhibits, and sponsorship of the occasional screening or event. The LBS uses SOCIAL MEDIA to spread the word about the actress, not only about its own projects but also those of others (i.e. articles, publications, restorations, screenings, etc…).

What has the LBS accomplished?

— Lots. The LBS helped bring Lulu in Hollywood and the Louise Brooks biography by Barry Paris back into print back in 2000, and since then, it has PUBLISHED five books, with more in the works. The LBS has also assisted with the restoration of two of Brooks’ films and the release of two DVDs (with another very exciting DVD in the works). The Louise Brooks Society has also mounted a small number of exhibits about Brooks and her films. Thomas Gladysz, the Director of the Louise Brooks Society, has also penned a number of articles about the actress and her films, as well as a Wikipedia page or two.

What have others said about the LBS?

— Over the years, the LBS has received a number of emails thanking it for its efforts. These emails come not only from fans, but also from students, teachers, historians, academics and film buffs from around the world. This website has been praised by various media outlets (see IN THE NEWS) including the New York Times (“an excellent homage”) and Wired (“exemplary”), as well as by the likes of Leonard Maltin, Barry Paris, Peter Cowie, Jack Garner and other noted film historians and film critics – a few of whom knew Louise Brooks.

Have any celebrities visited or been in touch with the LBS?

— Yes. Early on the Pulitzer Prize winning film critic Roger Ebert told Thomas Gladysz he visited the LBS website while researching Pandora’s Box. Actress Dana Delaney joined the mailing list early on, as did the Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. The LBS has also been in touch with other noted Brooks’ fans, like bestselling author Neil Gaiman, singer Linda Ronstadt, and musician Mike Doughty, the one time lead singer of Soul Coughing. Two fans of the now shuttered RadioLulu included Maus comix artist Art Spiegelman (another Pulitzer Prize winner) and UK actor Paul McGann (the eighth Doctor Who). These are just some of Brooks’ celebrity admirers.

How can individuals support or get involved with the LBS?

— The LBS has a HELP WANTED page which lists things the LBS is looking for — like articles, magazines, and books. The LBS encourages individuals to conduct their own research on the actress in their town or country — and share it with the LBS…. All history is local, and the more we know the better. Also, there is always the need for translation, especially from the Japanese and Chinese. Please check the HELP WANTED page or CONTACT the LBS to find out how you can help.


Actor Paul McGann (the 8th Doctor Who) and LBS Director Thomas Gladysz	LBS Director Thomas Gladysz (left) and Associate Director Christy Pascoe (right) with bestselling author Neil Gaiman	LBS Director Thomas Gladysz and Oscar honoree Kevin Brownlow

Is there an official Louise Brooks website?

— No. Despite what other sites may claim, there is no official Louise Brooks website or store. That includes the LBS. The actress died in 1985. She had a will, and bequeathed some of her belongings to the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York; the rights to her name and image belong to her Kansas heirs and estate. The LBS is a, educationally orientated fan site. It operates with the written consent of the Estate of Louise Brooks (Louise Brooks Heirs, LC) and have its permission to use the name and likeness of the actress.

Are there other Louise Brooks websites?

— Yes, there are a handful of other websites, webpages, and social media accounts. The best of them can be found listed on LULU IN CYBERSPACE, which is a curated page.