This page is part of an experiment in local film history. It presents a record of each documented screening of a particular Louise Brooks film in Northern California, from the time of its release through today. Recorded here are which city and at what venue and over what period of time (one week, three days, one day, etc…) any particular film was shown. Additionally noted are those occasions when a film was shown as part of a double bill, if there was a special guest appearance, or some other unusual circumstance, such as a benefit screening.
This page presents a record of screenings for Diary of a Lost Girl, which was officially released by HOM Film in Germany on October 23, 1929. The film first played in the United States in the late 1950s, and debuted in California sometime after that — likely in 1972. For more about this production, be sure and check out its Louise Brooks Society FILMOGRAPHY PAGE. ||| Or, click here to advance to the NEXT FILM in the Lulu by the Bay set of records.
Contemporary screenings 1970s to the present: Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley (Sept. 10, 1972 with The Last of the Mohicans and Madame du Barry); Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley (Feb. 15, 1978); Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley with Clara Bow’s Hoopla (April 12, 1981); Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley (Oct. 12, 1983); Castro in San Francisco with Pandora’s Box (Oct. 26 – Nov. 3, 1983); Castro in San Francisco as part of the series “Silent Vamps” with It (March 5, 1984); Bijou in Palo Alto (March 20, 1984 with Pandora’s Box – see pictured advertisement); Sonoma Film Institute at Sonoma State University with Lulu in Berlin (Oct. 4-5, 1985); Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley (Oct. 5, 1985 as part of the series “A Tribute to Louise Brooks (1906-1985)” with Lulu in Berlin); Roxie in San Francisco (Nov. 7, 1985 with Maedchen in Uniform as part of Best of Janus Film Collection series / Early German Masterpieces); San Francisco Cinematheque at the San Francisco Art Institute in San Francisco (October 2, 1986 with The Dream Screen); Castro in San Francisco (Jan 22, 1987 with Sadie Thompson as part of “Vamps” series); Castro in San Francisco (Nov. 8, 1988 with Pandora’s Box); U.C. theater in Berkeley (Jan. 14, 1990); Castro in San Francisco (Aug. 7, 1990 with Pandora’s Box); Castro in San Francisco (May 11, 1992 with Pandora’s Box); Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley (Nov. 5, 1999 as part of film series “Revivals & Restorations”); Castro in San Francisco (Jan. 14, 2002 American premiere of restored print, as part of the Berlin & Beyond Festival); Jezebel’s Joint in San Francisco (Dec. 16, 2002 as part of SF IndieFest Microcinema); Stanford in Palo Alto (Aug. 4, 2006); Castro (July 17, 2010 as part of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival); Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Public Library in San Francisco (Nov. 14, 2010 with an introduction by Thomas Gladysz); Alamo Drafthouse in San Francisco (Nov. 12, 2016 with live musical accompaniment by the Musical Art Quintet).
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If you live in Northern California and are curious to learn if a Brooks’ film played where you live, the 25 pages that comprise Lulu by the Bay — including this one, may be just the record to satisfy your curiosity. Want to know more about the non-Louise Brooks films which made the other half of a double bill? Try searching the Internet Movie Database, or IMDb. Additionally, if you are interested in finding out more about any of the theaters noted above, then be sure and check out Cinema Treasures. It’s a truly remarkable website with entries on more than 60,000 movie theaters from not only around California and 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. 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.
Have a question or know of other screening not listed above? If so, please CONTACT the Louise Brooks Society.