Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: A Critical EditionMain MenuPrefaceEditor's IntroductionRead about the conceptualization of the edition and its significance for scholars, students, and casual readers.The Text and Illustrations of Gentlemen Prefer BlondesRead the novel or examine the variants in text and visual presentation between the two original published editions.Critical and Biographical ContextRead about the production and reception of Blondes, explore maps of locations in the text, read about historical references, and read biographies of writer Anita Loos and illustrator Ralph Barton.Production of the EditionInformation about technical production and about contributors to the edition.About This BookAnita Loosdf7e8181b9011d96a772f9bc7265339b41c1e804Edited by Daniel G. Tracy1084a62f79367058cb758225ddf0a8810cfba170
Editions, Sequels, and Adaptations
12024-03-23T00:11:04+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a1227plain2024-03-23T00:52:17+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aIn addition to the two published editions of Blondes in 1925, Loos’s novel was almost immediately the basis of numerous adaptations to other media, a sequel, and further adaptations over the decades. The timeline below allows you to browse through these works in chronological order. Dates are as specific as possible, drawing from newspaper and magazine coverage of new releases in the period. In the case of works published as a series, the date of the first installment is used. Each work is represented by an image from the work or the marketing. The images are suggestive of similarities and differences in the aesthetics of Blondes as it moved across media and time: for example the flapper aesthetic of the twenties is supplanted by showgirl costumes upon the revival in the Channing stage play and Monroe film.
These editions, sequels, and adaptations were all authorized and most had Loos’s involvement, with a few exceptions as noted.
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12021-02-05T13:30:27+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aCritical and Biographical ContextDaniel G. Tracy7Read about the production and reception of Blondes, explore maps of locations in the text, read about historical references, and read biographies of writer Anita Loos and illustrator Ralph Barton.plain2024-03-23T00:53:57+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
Contents of this tag:
1media/GPB_BLOriginalCover_thumb.jpg2024-03-22T22:52:15+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aBoni & Liveright Edition of Blondes3Publisher Boni & Liveright released the book publication of Blondes in November 1925. It includes textual revisions and lacks the final Barton illustration that closed the novel in its serial format, as well as a self-caricature of Barton illustrating the book that appeared alongside the illustrations of one installment.media/GPB_BLOriginalCover.jpgplain2024-03-22T22:54:05+00:00University of Illinois Rare Book & Manuscript Library, https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/934815a0-6fb3-0139-77c3-02d0d7bfd6e4-d11/1925UnknownPublic DomainDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/HarpersBazar192503_Cover_thumb.jpg2024-03-22T22:37:26+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aBlondes in Harper's Bazar2The original publication of Blondes appeared in the magazine Harper’s Bazar from March-August 1925. Loos and others involved claimed it more than tripled newsstand sales of the magazine by the third installment and brought a wave of advertising aimed at a new audience of men for the magazine.media/HarpersBazar192503_Cover.jpgplain2024-03-22T22:38:38+00:00University of Illinois Library, https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/afd7e590-fca8-0139-7a70-02d0d7bfd6e4-83/1925Erté (Romain de Tirtoff)Public DomainDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/GPB_OriginalStagePlayPhoto_thumb.jpg2024-03-22T23:04:13+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aOriginal Stage Play of Blondes2The original stage version of Blondes opened in Chicago in June 1926 after a brief rehearsal period, and moved to New York in late September 1926. It closed in spring 1927 after struggling with sales. Loos revised and revived the play in August 1939 with actors Marie Wilson as Lorelei and Paulette Goddard as Dorothy.media/GPB_OriginalStagePlayPhoto.jpgplain2024-03-22T23:05:50+00:00HathiTrust, https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015036655945?urlappend=%3Bseq=807%3Bownerid=13510798884667025-8276/1926VandammPublic DomainDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/GPB_ComicStrip_19260607_thumb.jpg2024-03-22T23:11:00+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aSyndicated Comic Strip of Blondes2Anita Loos wrote the word bubbles for this strip of Blondes which ran in various newspapers starting as early as late spring 1926. Many of the individual strips are based on exact or adapted dialogue from the book. Others depict moments that do not exist in the novel but relate to moments readers would recognize. The artist is not indicated beyond being part of the syndication group, but the drawings clearly seek to replicate both particular Barton illustrations and Barton’s portrayal of particular characters. This strip shows the first installment, where Lorelei sits on the couch thinking, echoing in a simpler style the second Barton illustration from the novel. Each strip came with a unique parenthetical subtitle related to the content.media/GPB_ComicStrip_19260607.jpgplain2024-03-22T23:12:36+00:00ProQuest Historical Newspapers, http://www.proquest.com/docview/1874470346/5131BBB882CE44C5PQ/36?accountid=145536/7/1926UnknownNo Copyright, Contractual RestrictionsDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/GPB_MonroeMusical1953_thumb.jpg2024-03-22T23:47:55+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aMGM Film Musical of Blondes1Directed by Howard Hawks, the film musical adaptation of the 1949 stage play is now the most known version of Loos’s story. Loos herself was not involved in the production but appreciated it. The cast includes Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei and Jane Russell as Dorothy.media/GPB_MonroeMusical1953.jpgplain2024-03-22T23:47:55+00:00Digital Public Library of America, courtesy of University of Washington Special Collections, http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/ref/collection/sayre/id/191997/1953UnknownIn CopyrightDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/GMB_RussellMusical1955_thumb.jpg2024-03-22T23:54:13+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aGentlemen Marry Brunettes Film Musical1The film version of Brunettes, produced by Russ-Field Productions, again featured Jane Russell but with the plot and characters altered such that it is not a sequel to the MGM movie as the novel is a sequel to Blondes (thus the removal of "But" from the title). Anita Loos was not involved, but her niece Mary Loos acted as co-writer and associate producer. Critics generally disliked the film.media/GMB_RussellMusical1955.jpgplain2024-03-22T23:54:13+00:00Proquest Historical Newspapers, https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/october-2-1955-page-98-141/docview/1891188433/se-29/1955UnknownIn CopyrightDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/Lorelei_1974Musical_thumb.jpg2024-03-23T00:07:16+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aLorelei (Stage Musical)1This musical, itself another adaptation of the prior 1949 stage musical, again starred Carol Channing, this time as an older Lorelei looking back on her previous adventures. It includes old songs as well as original additions. Although Loos received royalties, she was not invited to be involved and she resented the exclusion.media/Lorelei_1974Musical.jpgplain2024-03-23T00:07:16+00:001974UnknownIn CopyrightDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/HarpersBazar192605_Cover_thumb.jpg2024-03-22T23:00:58+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aBut Gentlemen Marry Brunettes in Harper's Bazar1Loos wrote a sequel to Blondes, again with Barton providing illustrations for installments in Harper’s Bazar running from May 1926 to February 1927. After an opening focused on Lorelei’s new life and a satire of the Algonquin Round Table humorists, the chapters provide Lorelei’s version of Dorothy’s life story. As with the issue kicking off the new title shown here, the covers for Bazar during the run of Brunettes regularly featured Loos’s name on the cover, reflecting her name recognition at a moment when Blondes was still appearing on the best-sellers lists.media/HarpersBazar192605_Cover.jpgplain2024-03-22T23:00:58+00:00ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/magazines/covers/docview/1860650587/se-2?accountid=145535/1926Erté (Romain de Tirtoff)No Copyright, Contractual RestrictionsDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/LoreleisDiary_1962_thumb.jpg2024-03-23T00:50:53+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aLorelei's Diary (Audio Recording of Blondes Excerpts)1Carol Channing returned to voice the character of Lorelei in an audio recording of excerpts from the original Loos novel adapted by Howard Sackler and produced by Caedmon Records. (Listen to the recording at the Internet Archive.)media/LoreleisDiary_1962.jpgplain2024-03-23T00:50:53+00:00Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/lp_gentlemen-prefer-blondes_carol-channing-anita-loos/disc1/01.01.+Lorelei's+Diary.mp3Howard SacklerCarol ChanningAnita Loos1962In CopyrightDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/GPB_SilentFilmAd_thumb.jpg2024-03-22T23:17:51+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aSilent Film of Blondes1Loos and Emerson wrote the screenplay for the silent film adaptation of Blondes featuring Ruth Taylor as Lorelei Lee and Alice White as Dorothy Shaw. The film is presumed lost although publicity photos remain widely discoverable, and a copy of the screenplay is held at Dartmouth University.media/GPB_SilentFilmAd.jpgplain2024-03-22T23:17:51+00:00Chronicling America, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015313/1928-02-17/ed-1/seq-17/2/1928UnknownPublic DomainDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/BGMB_BLOriginalCover_thumb.jpg2024-03-22T23:22:17+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aBoni & Liveright Edition of Brunettes1The Boni & Liveright edition of Brunettes appeared in May 1928. Like its predecessor it appeared, although for a briefer time, on the bestsellers lists.media/BGMB_BLOriginalCover.jpgplain2024-03-22T23:22:17+00:00Internet Archive, https://archive.org/embed/butgentlemenmarr00loos5/1928UnknownPublic DomainDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/SocialRegister_PlaybookCover1931_thumb.jpg2024-03-22T23:34:16+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aThe Social Register (Stage Play of Brunettes)1A stage adaptation of Brunettes written by Anita Loos and John Emerson opened November 1931 in Chicago. Lenore Ulric starred as the Dorothy-inspired Patsy Shaw. Like the stage version of Blondes, it did not win over audiences.media/SocialRegister_PlaybookCover1931.jpgplain2024-03-22T23:34:16+00:00Playbill, https://www.playbill.com/production/the-social-register-fulton-theatre-vault-000000457111/1931UnknownCopyright Status UndeterminedDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/SocialRegister_Advertisement1934_thumb.jpg2024-03-22T23:38:03+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aThe Social Register (Film Version of Stage Play)1Anita Loos and John Emerson received story credits for the March 1934 film adaptation of their play adaptation of Brunettes, with Colleen Moore starring as Patsy Shaw.media/SocialRegister_Advertisement1934.jpgplain2024-03-22T23:38:03+00:00Chronicling America, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042243/1934-03-22/ed-1/seq-3/3/1934UnknownCopyright Status UndeterminedDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a
1media/GPB_ChanningStageMusical1949_thumb.jpg2024-03-22T23:44:06+00:00Daniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12aStage Musical of Blondes1A new stage musical of Blondes appeared at the Ziegfeld Theatre in 1949. Loos fought for Carol Channing as the lead, and it made the actress a star. Although the show was a hit on Broadway, it was canceled when Channing announced she was pregnant. Loos resented the cancelation: she believed another actress could have taken over the role. The show revived Loos’s celebrity.media/GPB_ChanningStageMusical1949.jpgplain2024-03-22T23:44:06+00:00Chronicling America, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1950-09-30/ed-1/seq-34/12/1949UnknownCopyright Status UndeterminedDaniel G. Tracye4d2055c1ec04bf92575642aae6698bc52f8f12a