ThomasGladysz

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...

Paul Bowles 'A night with thunder in the sky he packed his bag and left,' Paul Bowles wrote in a short autobiographical piece in 1986—referring to an escape from his parents' home in New York City to Paris in 192...

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, Czech Novelist Who Chafed Under Totalitarian Regimes, Dies at 94

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 ! silent film, silent movie day, silent movie, cinema, Hollywood, kino

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.

Louise Brooks Society celebrates 30 years online Louise Brooks, Thomas Gladysz, Louise Brooks Society, fan site, internet history,silent film, silent movie, film history,

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...

He Who Gets Slapped Flicker Alley and Blackhawk Films present Lon Chaney in director Victor Sjöström’s 1924 tale of revenge He Who Gets Slapped in a Flicker Fusion Blu-ray edition.

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-...

Marion Davies in "THE CARDBOARD LOVER" (1928) The project: produce a new 2K restoration from a scan of archival 35mm, with a new score, for Blu-ray, DVD and DCP (homevid + shows).

I just backed the Kickstarter for the first ever release of the Marion Davies film, The Cardboard Lover 1928. www.kickstarter.com/projects/sil...

Louise Brooks: Silent Muse by Thomas Gladysz — Fiction Louise Brooks, star of "Pandora's Box" (1929) & other silent films, has influenced Jerome Charyn, Adolfo Bioy Casares, Neil Gaiman, Ali Smith, & many more writers. Click to learn how and to read about...

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...

YouTube video by PBS NewsHour New novel 'The Director' explores an artist's responsibilities in a time of trauma

Louise Brooks shout-out on PBS News Hour www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7Od...

Trump fires longtime Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden Carla Hayden has been the Librarian of Congress since 2016. She was the first woman and African American to hold the position.

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 Daniel Kehlmann, The Director, G. W. Pabst, Louise Brooks,

New Novel Imagines Life of Director G.W. Pabst louisebrookssociety.blogspot.com/2025/05/new-...

Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse - Watch the documentary now | American Masters | PBS Explore the work of cartoonist Art Spiegelman and the impact of his graphic novel Maus, about his parents’ survival of the Holocaust.

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...

Diary of a Lost Girl | Kino Lorber - Experience Cinema Diary of a Lost Girl represents the second and final work of one of the cinema's most compelling collaborations: G. W. Pabst and Louise Brooks. Diary confirmed Pabst's artistry as one of the great dir...

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...

San Francisco's Arion Press celebrates 50 years of creating beautiful books by hand The San Francisco book publisher creates several unique, limited-edition books every year that are printed from metal types cast on site. "No two books that we make are ever the same," said Arion Pres...

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...

Yoko: A Biography Yoko: A Biography [Sheff, David] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Yoko: A Biography

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 Willy Pogány, Louise Brooks, homage

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.

Louise Brooks Society Pioneering website and online archive

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

American Masters | The Disappearance of Miss Scott | Season 39 Learn about jazz artist Hazel Scott, the first Black American to have their own TV show.

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 art,painting,surrealism,Louise Brooks,Man Ray,Paris, Barry Paris,

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, Dies at 92 Louise Brooks,Lulu,silent film,1920s,Hollywood,Jazz Age,flapper,silent movie,actor,cinema,actress,Louise Brooks Society,Pandora's Box,movies,fandom

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

As tears go by... R.I.P. Marianne Faithfull (pictured here as Booksmith author trading card #64). It was brilliant to meet you back in 1994. www.thomasgladysz.com/booksmith-au...

"We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity; more than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost." -- Charlie Chaplin