Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 319

I have finally recovered from the Ann Dvorak: Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel Official Book Launch Party on Tuesday. I think it’s safe to say that it was more than successful and is probably one of the few Los Angeles parties where people actually showed up early. Guests were filtering in while I was sitting there getting my hair done!

There has probably never been so much Ann Dvorak piled into one room, and the response was overwhelming. The Library Store ordered 40 copies, and at the end of the evening, there were only two left. The Ann Dvorak recipes seemed to have gone over well and the food table was empty by the end, other than some of the fudge which was admittedly too sweet with a weird molasses aftertaste.

The turnout was way better than I expected and it felt like my own episode of “This is Your Life,” with some people showing up who I hadn’t seen over 25 years. There was also a good amount of people who I did not know or am related to, which reinforces that Ann Dvorak is someone others give a damn about. Being able to have the party at Central Library, which is my home away from home, made it even more special.

Thanks to everyone who came out or sent well wishes. After 15 years, it’s still bizarre to have the book out in the world but now feels much more real.

Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 250

I have added a calendar to the site which will hopefully be chalked full of events promoting Ann Dvorak: Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel. 

There’s a link to the event calendar on the sidebar under “Pages” and the bottom of the sidebar will list upcoming events. There’s also an option to subscribe to the calendar if you’re paranoid you might miss out on something.

Right now, I just have the book release and the launch party listed, but there are more L.A. events to be posted soon. I am also hoping the calendar will soon list 2014 appearances in Chicago, Boston, and Pittsburgh, but those are still in the works.

If the Dvorak loyal will find it useful, I can also list upcoming airings of her films on TCM. Let me know if that’s of interest.

We’re officially at less than two months until D(vorak)-Day, so let the event planning begin!

Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 234

Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection

Everything seems to be running smoothly over at the University Press of Kentucky, and Ann Dvorak: Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel should be meeting the projected November 4th release date. Just to be on the safe side, the official release party is going to be held on Tuesday, November 12th from 6-8pm.

I am going to have the party at Downtown’s Central Library, which serves as my home away from home and is where I did a hell of a lot of research for the book. Plus, there are many people in the building that have had to endure A LOT of Ann Dvorak for the seven years I have been working there. The least I can do is give them an easy way to come and celebrate with me (or give them a difficult way to avoid me and Ann, depending on how you look at it).

It’ll be a modest set-up with plenty of “authentic” Ann Dvorak cuisine being served, which should actually be kind of disgusting if you recall the “Dvorak Cooks!” post from guest blogger Mary McCoy a few months back. Even if raw walnuts are not your thing, it should still be a fun shin dig and I hope some you loyal Dvorak devotees will be able to make it. If not, I’m planning some out of town events next year and maybe will be coming somewhere in the proximity of your town.