@thomasgladysz
Thomas Gladysz - writer, arts enthusiast, pop culture archeologist & silent film buff. Director of Louise Brooks Society™ (est. 1995). Author of "The Street of Forgotten Men: From Story to Screen and Beyond" and 4 other books. More at www.thomasgladysz.com
Early films featuring Louise Brooks to get Blu-ray release via Flicker Alley and @sffilmpreserve.bsky.social and @silentlondon.bsky.social and ME. Details at louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/12/once...
Louise Brooks twice referenced in the new Thomas Pynchon novel, "Shadow Ticket". Details and more on the Louise Brooks Society blog at louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/11/loui...
Tom's Crossing
MZD author trading card #353
MZD author trading card #867
Mark Z. Danielewski's new novel was released today. It's called "Tom's Crossing", and it's a big, bold, doorstop of a book. Stephen King called it “... an amazing work of fiction.” Pictured here are the author trading cards issued at the time I put on events with MZD 25 & 19 years ago. Time flies...
Just learned from official Paul Bowles (www.paulbowles.org) that the famed author of "The Sheltering Sky" had a copy of "Lulu in Hollywood" in his Tangier's library. I never knew... (Another novelist who owned a copy was Gore Vidal.) www.paulbowles.org/library/full...
Ivan Klima, one of the great Czech writers of the 20th century, has died. Years ago, I had a chance to see him speak at a bookstore in San Francisco accompanied by my friend, Dwight Cocke. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/04/w...
Today is Silent Movie Day, an annual day dedicated to celebrating and preserving silent movies! Find out more at louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/09/toda...
Thrilled to receive a copy of "HE Who Gets Slapped" and thrilled to find my name on the cover of the accompanying booklet - shown below. (I wrote the booklet essay.) "HE Who Gets Slapped" is one of the great films of the silent era; it is beautiful and sad. flickeralley.com/products/he-...
By the end of the year, if not sooner.....
This past weekend, I was in Oakland, CA recording audio commentaries for a new disc of never before released films by Louise Brooks! If you're a fan, or are into silent film, this forthcoming disc will impress. Pictured are film preservationists Kathy Rose O'Regan & Robert Byrne & yours truly.
My Louise Brooks Society website has turned 30 years old. Launched in 1995 (the same year as Amazon and eBay), this pioneering fan site was the first devoted to the silent film star, and one of the first devoted to any aspect of film history. More at louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/08/loui...
I am pleased to note my essay on "He Who Gets Slapped" will be published in the booklet for the upcoming Flicker Alley release of Victor Seastrom's silent masterpiece. It is a film near and dear to my heart. Order a copy today! flickeralley.com/products/he-...
I just backed the Kickstarter for the first ever release of the Marion Davies film, The Cardboard Lover 1928. www.kickstarter.com/projects/sil...
Before "The Director," there was Willem Frederik Hermans’ "The Saint of the Clockmakers" (1987). A character named Louise Brooks, who resembles the actress, appears in this philosophical novel by one of the most important Dutch novelists of the post WWII era. www.fictioninc.com/editors-corn...
Louise Brooks shout-out on PBS News Hour www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7Od...
Trump fires longtime Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. This will prove doubly embarrassing, not only because Hayden was great at her job, but also because Trump will attempt to replace her with a nincompoop. www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-f...
Writer Thomas Pynchon turns 88 years old today. Happy birthday! I remember the event we did in 1997, as well as the Pynchon look-alike contest. That was quite novel. BTW, I am looking forward to your new book, "Shadow Ticket," due out in October. I still have a few trading cards from the event.
New Novel Imagines Life of Director G.W. Pabst louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/05/new-...
The new American Masters documentary on PBS, "Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse", is outstanding. It is recommended, and timely. Watch it online at www.pbs.org/wnet/america...
The Blu-ray of the 1929 Louise Brooks film, "Diary of a Lost Girl," featuring my audio commentary, is now on sale through KINO Lorber = $12.00 off MSRP. Hurry, it's the BEST version available. kinolorber.com/product/diar...
Arion Press is celebrating its 50th anniversary. I worked there for more than 2 years, where I was the Director of Marketing and Sales. Here's a news story about this unique San Francisco press. abc7.com/post/san-fra...
I am very much looking forward to reading the new biography of Yoko Ono by David Sheff. I put it on hold at the Sacramento Public Library, and would you believe I was # 9, number nine, no. 9 in line for the book. amzn.to/4l1cfKq
Original drawing of Louise Brooks by Willy Pogány for sale louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/03/orig...
If you love learning, knowledge & history, be aware there is a plan to eliminate the IMLS (Institute for Museum and Library Services). This indy agency created by Congress is crucial to grant funding for archives, museums, libraries in 50 states & essential to sustaining educational programs.
My pioneering Louise Brooks Society website went online in 1995. This summer, it celebrates its 30th anniversary. Praised by the NY Times, Wired and USA Today, the site now stands at more than 250 pages of unique & original content. Check it out at www.pandorasbox.com
The new PBS American Masters documentary on jazz musician Hazel Scott is a must view. It's full of wonderful, lovely, joyous music, and timely as well. www.pbs.org/video/the-di...
Surrealist painting artist Man Ray sent to silent film icon Louise Brooks goes to auction. More at louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/02/surr...
Gary Conklin, Documentary Filmmaker whose subjects included writers, artists and culture, Dies at 92 - among his credits is "Memories of Berlin: The Twilight of Weimar Culture" with Louise Brooks louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/02/gary...
R.I.P. novelist Tom Robbins. I was delighted to put on an event with the author of “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” in 2005. You were a lot of fun. Pictured here is Booksmith author trading card #783, which was issued at the time of the event. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/o...
My thoughts on the recent DVD releases of The Bat (1926) and The Canary Murder Case (1929) were published by "Film International" filmint.nu/the-bat-1926...
Just got back from "tariff shopping" -- stocking up on frozen avocado halves (from Mexico) and Shredded Wheat cereal (which comes from Canada). #tariffs #tarrifshopping