For some time, I have been deeply interested (some would say obsessed) with the silent film star Louise Brooks (1906-1985). To channel my interest, and as a means of connecting with others of like mind, I founded the Louise Brooks Society, a pioneering website, online archive, and international fan club. The LBS has been online since 1995, and is known around the world.
The mission of the LBS is to advocate for a greater awareness and appreciation of the actress. To this end, I have banged the drum in various ways for 25+ years. I have penned dozens of articles about the actress and her films, and authored or edited four books. More articles and books are forthcoming. In particular, I am proud to have brought the early feminist novel, The Diary of a Lost Girl — the basis for one of Brooks’ best films, back into print after 100 years of undeserved obscurity. My biggest effort to date, a 900-page, two volume work titled Around the World with Louise Brooks, is due out later in 2022.
Since 2002, I have also kept a blog detailing my various activities and ongoing research, and have penned some 3500 entries read by more than 1.7 million visitors. Besides the website and blog, the Louise Brooks Society also maintains a handful of social media accounts:
YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Flickr | LinkTree
As well, I have helped with the preservation of two of the Brooks’ films, curated exhibits, put on events and screenings, and spoken about the actress at various bookstores, theaters, libraries and museums. I have introduced the actress’ films in venues around the world. And in 2019, I gave the keynote address at the annual Rudolph Valentino Memorial in Hollywood, speaking on the relationship between the two early film stars.
In 1998, inspired by the popularity of the LBS website, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) commissioned the Emmy nominated documentary Louise Brooks Looking for Lulu. The role played by the LBS in helping bring this film to television was acknowledged by TCM and the director of the documentary. (See “Fan Site Sparks Biopic” in Wired.) Additionally, in the year 2000, following a grass-roots campaign, the LBS helped bring both the acclaimed Barry Paris biography of Brooks as well as the actress’ own book, Lulu in Hollywood, back into print through the University of Minnesota Press. The LBS is acknowledged in each edition.
The Louise Brooks Society was one of the very first websites devoted to silent film or a silent film star. What started as a pioneering fan-site has become an acclaimed resource for both the actress and early cinema. The LBS has been praised by the likes of Roger Ebert and Leonard Maltin, and mentioned in newspapers and magazines around the world including the New York Times, Irish Times, USA Today, and South China Morning Post. In 2002, the Stuttgarter Zeitung, a German newspaper, called the LBS site “vorbildlichen” or “exemplary.” (A list of some of the media the LBS has received can be found below.)
As an authority on the films of Louise Brooks, I have appeared on television and radio, and more recently, podcasts and online videos. I have also contributed essays to film festival programs as well as audio commentaries to two DVD / Blu-ray releases. Notably, my commentaries were singled out in reviews of the DVDs.
“Diary of a Lost Girl commentary.” Kino Lorber, 2015.
— I authored the audio commentary accompanying this DVD / Blu-ray release, a restoration of what is regarded as a classic silent film. My commentary was singled out or mentioned by a handful of media outlets including Popmatters, High-Def Digest, DVD Talk, and the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
“In this masterful restoration, from archival 35mm elements, Diary benefits from an incisive commentary by the director of the Louise Brooks Society Thomas Gladysz.” — Boston Herald
“There are only a few bonus features, the most interesting being an informative audio commentary by writer and Louise Brooks Society director Thomas Gladysz.” — High Plains Reader
“Beggars of Life commentary.” Kino Lorber, 2017.
— I authored one of two audio commentaries which accompany this DVD / Blu-ray release, which was named one of the best of the year by three noted critics — not bad for a silent film! Additionally, my commentary was singled out or mentioned by a handful of media outlets including Films in Review, Combustible Celluloid, Film International, Home Media Magazine and the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle .
“Brooks scholar Thomas Gladysz provides a very informative commentary on this excellent restoration.” — PopMatters
“Gladysz, who’s the founding director of the Louise Brooks Society, also goes into great detail about the studio production of the film, and the stories of its stars.” — Texas Public Radio (NPR).
What follows is a checklist of some of the world-wide media about or referencing the Louise Brooks Society. A comprehensive checklist can be found HERE:
Cinematary, episode #359 – Diary of a Lost Girl (Young Critics Watch Old Movies v.7), July 9, 2021.
— podcast episode devoted to Louise Brooks
Bible, Karie. Hollywood Kitchen, April 18, 2021.
— episode of a video podcast about film world cooking
Episode 509 – Louise Brooks segment, Positively Kansas, May 31, 2019.
— local interest show on KPTS, PBS television affiliate in Wichita, Kansas
Williams, Tony. “Brooksie Revisited: Beggars of Life (1928) from Kino Lorber and Beggars of Life: A Companion to the 1928 Film by Thomas Gladysz.” Film International, May 30, 2019.
Garner, Jack. “Classic movie fans can soon binge on Louise Brooks film on PBS.” Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, October 14, 2018.
— “. . . Meanwhile, if there exists a No. 1 fan and a No. 1 chronicler of Brooks, it’s Thomas Gladysz, the founder and longtime champion of the Louise Brooks Society.”
Brady, Tara. “Louise Brooks: ‘I was always late, but just too damn stunning for them to fire me’.” Irish Times, June 2, 2018.
— “She has super-fans. An online tribute site, the Louise Brooks Society, contains an extraordinary day-by-day chronology of her life.”
“Cinecon • Beggars of Life, with author Thomas Gladysz.” NitrateVille Radio, August 11, 2017.
— podcast interview
King, Susan. “The Eternal Louise Brooks.” American Cinematheque blog, May 17, 2017.
— dual interview with film historian Cari Beauchamp
Tanner, Becky. “Wichita’s silent movie star is subject of upcoming documentary.” Wichita Eagle, April 3, 2016.
— “. . . Even today, Brooks has a devout following that includes the Louise Brooks Society, which promotes her life as a star and dancer.”
Marcus, Greil. “Where the Song Leaves You.” BarnesandNobleReview, January 19, 2015.
— the well known critic singles out a 2012 LBS blog
Toole, Michael T. “Reopening Pandora’s Box in San Francisco.” Film International, August 22, 2012.
Gladysz, Thomas. “Beggars of Life with Louise Brooks Screens in New York.” Huffington Post, February 17, 2012.
— tweeted about by film critic Roger Ebert
Blackburn, Gavin. “Forgotten book by Margarete Boehme to be revived in US.” Deutsche Welle, November 3, 2010.
— repackaged for RTV Slovenia as “Stoletni dnevnik prostitutke, oče avtobiografskih izmišljotin?”
Gladysz, Thomas. “Louise Brooks’ private journals to be revealed.” examiner.com, October 2, 2010.
— tweeted about by film critic Roger Ebert and bestselling writer Neil Gaiman
Matheson, Whitney. “Happy birthday, Louise!” USA Today, November 14, 2006.
— “. . . My favorite Louise Brooks site belongs to the Louise Brooks Society.”
Maltin, Leonard. “Links We Like: Louise Brooks Society.” Leonard Maltin’s Movie Crazy, August 1, 2005.
Pattenden, Mike. “An era of glamour.” London Sunday Times, April 27, 2003.
— “. . . Louise Brooks was perhaps the ultimate flapper icon. A screen star to rank with Bacall and Hepburn, Brooks’ career straddled the silent era and early talkies. She bucked the system to make movies in Europe, notably Pandora’s Box, which lends its name to www.pandorasbox.com, dedicated to her remarkable life.”
O’Connell, Pamela Licalzi. “Dreaming Celebrities and the Earth’s Eye Candy.” New York Times, August 29, 2002.
— “. . . an excellent homage to the art of the silent film as well as one of its most luminous stars.”
Anderson, Jeffrey M. “Thirteen great film sites.” San Francisco Examiner, November 29, 2001.
— “. . . This San Francisco-run site pays tribute to one of the greatest and most under-appreciated stars of all time, Louise Brooks, who played numerous bit parts and starred in only two films during the silent era. It contains tons of info, pictures and history.”
Garner, Jack. “Movie buffs can find trivia, reviews online.” Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, September 12, 2000.
— “. . . A fine example of a fan page, a thoughtful, artful site devoted to the life and times of a fabled silent movie legend, with rare articles from the ’20s and superb photos.”
Forestier, Katherine. “Private Icon.” South China Morning Post, December 1, 1999.
— “. . . The voiceless Internet has been the perfect medium for reviving the image of one of the greatest icons of the silent movie era. Louise Brooks, with her trademark raven ‘helmet’ hair style, adorns many a Web site. The renewed interest in her, fueled by the cyberspace Louise Brooks Society, prompted Turner Classic Movies to fund the television profile Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu.”
E! Entertainment. “Louise Brooks” episode. E! Mysteries & Scandals, November 16, 1998.
— as Director of the Louise Brooks Society, I was one of the talking heads (along with Roger Ebert, Hugh Hefner, and others) on this cable TV show
Evenson, Laura. “Lovely Lulu Lives Again.” San Francisco Chronicle, May 3, 1998.
Farrant, Darrin. “Programs – Sunday.” Melbourne Age (Australia), April 16, 1998.
— “. . . an exhaustive web site about this fascinating siren”
Meddis, Sam Vincent. “Net: New and notable.” USA Today, May 23, 1996.
— first mention anywhere: “. . . Silent-film buffs can get a taste of how a fan club from yesteryear plays on the Web. The Louise Brooks Society site includes interview, trivia and photos. It also draws an international audience.”
