This page is part of an experiment in local film history. Let me explain…. Some years ago, I started work on a book which looked at the films of Louise Brooks through the lens of the local, namely the San Francisco Bay Area. It was where I then lived. At the time, it seemed most film history was told on a “national level,” in part through articles and reviews from national magazines or through those newspapers which served a national audience, like the New York Times or Los Angeles Times. I wanted to try something different. I wanted to compile a critical history of Brooks’ films on a regional basis. I thought it would prove interesting, given that two of her films were shot in the area, a few of her co-stars were local, Brooks had family who lived locally, etc…. To that end, I gathered hundreds of articles, reviews and advertisements from dozens of newspapers in nearly just as many cities and towns. I titled the book Lulu by the Bay.
Over time, the focus of my book grew beyond the San Francisco Bay Area to include the greater San Francisco Bay Area and then all of Northern California. How could I ignore Sacramento — the State Capitol, which was just 100 miles away? And how about Wine Country to the North, or the Monterey Peninsula to the south? This area was connected, not only geographically, but also culturally. Additionally, it was significant that a major film exchange — a hub for the coming and going of film prints — was located in San Francisco. Despite any dilution caused by project creep, I found a lot of quality material — interesting articles, unusual photographs, thoughtful reviews, and some nifty and unusual advertisements. All of it spoke to the unique story the region has to tell about the actress. [The fuller story behind this page and my yet unfinished book can be found in the Louise Brooks Society SubStack article, “Lulu by the Bay: Some notes on an unfinished book“.]
One of the side projects I developed while working on Lulu by the Bay was a record of each of the documented screenings of a Louise Brooks film in Northern California, starting in 1925 and running through today. Recorded were in which city and at what venue and over what period of time any particular film was shown. Additionally, I noted the occasions when a film was shown as part of a double bill, if there was a special guest appearance, or some other unusual circumstance, like a benefit. For example, here is what I found in regards to
The Street of Forgotten Men — “American in Oakland (Sept. 5-11, 1925 with appearances by Mary Brian and Neil Hamilton on Sept. 5th)”.
The American Venus — “American in Oakland (Jan. 1, 1926 New Year’s Eve midnight matinee benefit screening)”.
A Social Celebrity — “California in Turlock (May 13, 1926 as Social Celebrities)”.
It’s the Old Army Game — “High School Auditorium in Gonzales (Sept. 3, 1926)”.
The Show Off — “Plaza in Sacramento (March 11-18, 1929)”.
Love Em and Leave Em — “California in Berkeley (Mar. 20-22, 1927 with While London Sleeps)”
Just Another Blonde — “Strand in Santa Rosa (Dec. 23-24, 1928 with Alaskan Adventures)”
Evening Clothes — “American in Oakland (April 9-15, 1927 with an appearance by Louise Brooks on April 9th)”.
Rolled Stockings — “High School in Winters (Feb. 18, 1928)”.
The City Gone Wild — “State in Oroville (Aug. 20-21, 1928 with Tunney-Heeney fight picture)”.
Now We’re in the Air — “American Legion holiday party at Scout Hall in Mill Valley (Dec. 26, 1927 with live musical performance by the Mill Valley Five)”.
A Girl in Every Port — “Reel Joy in King City (Aug. 23-24, 1928)”
Beggars of Life — “Castro in San Francisco (Feb. 17, 1929)”.
The Canary Murder Case — “Haight in San Francisco (June 30 – July 2, 1929)”.
Pandora’s Box — “Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey (between Aug. 2-5, 1962 as part of Peninsula Film Seminar)”.
Diary of a Lost Girl — “Roxie in San Francisco (Nov. 7, 1985 with Maedchen in Uniform as part of Early German Masterpieces)”.
Prix de beauté — “Palace Hotel in San Francisco (July 26, 1974 as part of Art Deco Film Festival organized by Kenneth Anger)”.
It Pays to Advertise — “Arbuckle in Arbuckle (March 31, 1931 benefit for the Women’s Club of Arbuckle)”.
God’s Gift to Women — “Warner Brother’s in San Francisco (Apr. 17-23, 1931)”.
Windy Riley Goes Hollywood — “Playhouse Theater in Calistoga (Oct. 7-8, 1931 along with The Maltese Falcon)”.
Empty Saddles — “Lincoln in San Francisco (June 20-22, 1937 with When You’re in Love)”.
King of Gamblers — “El Rey in Salinas (June 19, 1943 with In Which We Serve)”.
When You’re in Love — “Bal Bijou Club in Tahoe (July 25-26, 1937)”.
Overland Stage Raiders — “Avalon in Martinez (November 26-27, 1939 with King Kong)”.
Most entries are far less interesting, even banal. Nevertheless, in the aggregate, they tell a story about film exhibition, theaters, and advertising practices, with a dose of local celebrities and local history thrown in. The record of screenings which I compiled — and am still adding to now and then — has come to more than 17,000 words over 30 pages. Who knew there were so many? The individual films listed below link to the Northern California exhibition record compiled for each individual film. If you live in Northern California and are interested in finding out if a Brooks’ film played where you live, here is just the record to satisfy your curiosity. Also, if you know of other screening which are not listed, please CONTACT the Louise Brooks Society.
Along with much else, this record reveals a number of interesting things: in Northern California (as well as much of the United States), Brooks’ most popular / most shown silent film was likely Now We’re in the Air, while her most popular sound film was When You’re in Love — even though it is nearly impossible to spot her in the film Overall, Brooks’ least shown film was Windy Riley Goes Hollywood — though notably, the three European films were not shown in the region until decades later. In fact, the Pandora’s Box record mention above marked the film’s Northern California debut, as well as only the second time the film had been shown in California. To explore the exhibition record, click on any of the linked titles below.
| The Street of Forgotten Men (1925) The American Venus (1926) A Social Celebrity (1926) It’s the Old Army Game (1926) The Show-Off (1926) Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em (1926) Just Another Blonde (1926) |
Evening Clothes (1927) Rolled Stockings (1927) Now We’re in the Air (1927) The City Gone Wild (1927) A Girl in Every Port (1928) Beggars of Life (1928) |
The Canary Murder Case (1929) Pandora’s Box (1929) Diary of a Lost Girl (1929) Prix de Beauté (1930) It Pays to Advertise (1931) God’s Gift to Women (1931) Windy Riley Goes Hollywood (1931) |
Empty Saddles (1936) King of Gamblers (1937) When You’re in Love (1937) Overland Stage Raiders (1938) |
Part and parcel of the exhibition history of Louise Brooks’ films in Northern California are the theaters — and the history of the theaters — in which the films were shown. If you are interested in finding out more about the theaters noted in the 25 pages listed above, then be sure and check out Cinema Treasures. It is a truly remarkable website with entries on more than 60,000 movie theaters from not only around the United States, but also around the world. Most every theater has its own page, which includes its location, a brief history, historic and contemporary images, and lots more. It seems as if every theater has its champion, and there are details aplenty. Cinema Treasures includes not just current theaters, but also those many venues which have closed, been converted to another use, or torn down. Notably, this crowd sourced website can be searched by theater name, location or zip code.
If you are interested in finding out more about theaters in the San Francisco Bay Area, there are a few outstanding books worth tracking down. The first three shown are part of the familiar Arcadia series devoted to local history. If you live elsewhere around the United States, chances are there is an Arcadia book for you.
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| Theatres of San Francisco Jack Tillmany (buy on amazon) |
Theatres of Oakland Jack Tillmany & Jennifer Dowling (buy on amazon) |
Theatres of the San Francisco Peninsula Jack Tillmany & Gary Lee Parks (buy on amazon) |
Fox: The Last Word… Preston J. Kaufmann (buy on amazon) |
The last book pictured is Fox: The Last Word…Story of the World’s Finest Theatre by Preston J. Kaufmann. This now rare 1980 book chronicles of the “history and development of the great Fox Theatre in San Francisco, one of the most lavishly designed and grandest of all the movie palaces of our modern age. With over 600 illustrations, some in color, covering the construction, initial promotional campaigns and posters, opening night in 1929, its highlights over the years, and finally, its destruction in 1963. Includes photographs and text featuring other Fox Theatres around the country. With an appendix listing the films, stage shows, and grosses from 1929 to 1963.” Spoiler alert: copies usually sell for $100.00 or more.