My March 21 Barbara La Marr Program at the Van Nuys Branch Library 

Silent screen actress Barbara La Marr was a legend in her time, leading an astounding life described by newspapers of the day as "a wilder story than she ever helped to film." I'm happy to partner with the Van Nuys Branch Library during Women's History Month to portray Barbara in a self-authored, one-woman performance, then present a slideshow lecture about her, detailing her oftentimes scandalous life from her humble beginnings to her tragic death at age twenty-nine in 1926. Barbara's banishment from Los Angeles at age seventeen for being "too beautiful"; her notable careers as a dancer, a vaudevillian, a screenwriter, and an actress; her impact upon cinematic history; and her fierce determination to forge her own destiny amid the constant threat of losing it all to scandal and, ultimately, death will be spotlighted. I will also sign copies of my biography, Barbara La Marr: The Girl Who Was Too Beautiful for Hollywood, after the program.

The program, beginning at 2 p.m. and approximately an hour long, is free to attend. Although the Van Nuys Branch Library is located at 6250 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91401, attendees are advised to use the following address for GPS: 14333 Sylvan Street, Van Nuys, CA 91401. Additional details may be found here.

(Photos [left to right]: Barbara in 1924, me as Barbara [L.A. Times photo by James Staub], and my biography.)