Louise Brooks with Barrett O'Shea
Publicity Photograph for Brooks-O'Shea Dance Studio
1939 · Hollywood, California

The distinctive costume Louise wears in this promotional photo for the Brooks-O'Shea dance studio may have been designed by Warner Brothers costumer Howard Shoup. Brooks and "Shoupie," as she nicknamed him, had become fast friends on the set of GOD'S GIFT TO WOMEN eight years prior. With the small amount of money she earned from the studio, Louise commissioned a new wardrobe from the designer. Unfortunately, the Brooks-O'Shea studio proved to be only slightly more financially successful than its subsequent Kansas counterpart. In a short period of time, Louise would sell the studio to O'Shea for $2,500, then promptly board a train for Wichita, Kansas. There, Louise would find that if she'd hated Hollywood, Wichita was an even less endearing town to its once celebrated prodigal daughter.