How I Met Louise Brooks

ACJ COLLECTOR NEWS- Louise Brooks!!!!
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FROM RICHARD STREETER, Part II
Following is my story. It is all true. It is a little long but I think you will enjoy it.

"How I Met Louise Brooks and Became Her Friend and Confidant"

When I was in high school, about 16 years old, I used to attend screenings at the Dryden Theater, part of the George Eastman House of Photography, in Rochester, New York. The film curator at that time was James Card.

One evening I went to see two silent movies entitled “Diary of a young Girl,” and “Pandora’s Box.” I immediately fell in love with the young girl on the screen, Louise Brooks.

Mr. Card reminded the audience that these films were made during the silent era, 1929. He told the story of how, at a film festival in Europe, the films were shown to an audience honoring the Director G.W. Pabst I believe the film festival was some time around 1960. The film’s Director, Pabst, was the Festival’s special guest.

Following the screening Mr. Pabst received several phone calls in his hotel room from producers and directors wanting to know how they could get in touch with the young girl in the film, as they would be interested in casting her in their next movie. Mr. Pabst had to remind them that the film was made back in 1929 and the “young girl” was now in her 50’s. That is the effect Louise had on viewers over the ages. She was truly timeless!

Following the screenings I attended at the Eastman House, I introduced myself to Mr. Card. I think he was fascinated that a young boy my age would find Louise so intriguing and compelling. Over time Mr. card and I became very good friends. I would visit him in his office and he would tell me stories about Louise, share photos and the history of other silent film stars.

Following graduation from high school (1961) I became a theater manager for Schine Theaters. My boss was G, David Schine. He and I would have long discussions and arguments regarding the future of films and theaters. Following the collapse of Schine Theaters and a battle over money and control and following the death of his father, he left Gloversville, New York and moved to California. He went on to become a producer of films like “The French Connection” and TV’s “Batman.”

The Riviera Theater, which I managed, was a “hard ticket” theater at a time when reservations had to be made to attend such films as “Cleopatra,” “ Lawrence of Arabia,” “ Ben Hur,” “Mutiny on the Bounty,” and others. I would always comp tickets for Mr. Card and his wife.

Just prior to the collapse of Schine Theaters, I began working for the Eastman Kodak company in 1965. Some time around 1972-1974 Rochester inaugurated the Rochester International Film Festival. Kodak assigned me to oversee the screening of all films, as well as to coordinate all cinematography to document the festival.

Someone suggested that the film “Pandor’s Box” or “Diary of a Young Girl” be shown at the festival and perhaps coax Louise Brooks to attend, since it was known she lived in Rochester. I contacted my friend James Card and he was a little reluctant to approach Louise with the idea. Finally however, after much coaxing and begging on my part, Jim agreed to set up a lunch with Louise, he and I. It was a lunch I will never forget.

We lunched at one of Rochester’s most exclusive restaurants, “The Rio Bamba.” When I arrived Louise and Jim were already seated with a few empty drink glasses already on the table. Jim introduced me, we shook hands and she said to me “You look like a little teddy bear.” (That was an endearing name she gave to me and how she addressed me every time we met and spoke thereafter.)

Louise’s long air was streaked with grey, held back in a ponytail and she was all dressed in black. Around her neck was a large pendant with a mysterious insignia. Whenever she went out she always wore it.

She made it known at the start that she was not interested in appearing for any sort of screening or tribute. She was very sarcastic and freely used “colorful language” when she spoke. “I am not going to stand up in front of a crowd of curious and gauking people, like a sideshow freak in a circus, just so they can see how old and ugly I’ve gotten. All those little shits can give their kicks elsewhere!”

It was a strange feeling sitting there with Louise. I would stare at her, study her face and my mind would create flash-backs of her, as she looked in her movies. Was this the one and the same young, sexy, vibrant and irrsistable girl I fell in love with at the movies? Was I really sitting with Lulu?