Roy Liebman has had a lengthy library career, beginning with the Brooklyn and New York Public Libraries. He was a department head at the libraries of the California Institute of Technology and California State University, Los Angeles. He has written eight books to date in film history, and hundreds of articles, book reviews, and reference book entries. Roy has also written a series of one-act plays for the Los Angeles Unified School District and a full-length play about the subject of his Theda Bara book, entitled The Vamp. He has been a substitute librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library since 2000. His latest book is Theda Bara: Her Career, Life, and Legend and he recently talked about it with Daryl Maxwell for the LAPL Blog.
What was your inspiration for Theda Bara: Her Career, Life and Legend?
I’ve been researching Theda Bara for many years. This is the culmination of that decades-long research.
How long did it take you to do the necessary research and then write Theda Bara: Her Career, Life and Legend?
It took about a year to crystallize my ongoing research, another year for the writing,
What was the most interesting or surprising thing that you learned about Theda Bara and/or her work/career during your research?
I was surprised that some of her esoteric beliefs were real and not publicity. She was considered very eccentric by her peers.
Was there something interesting or unexpected you discovered about someone else?
I learned more about her various directors.
Are there any stories or events that were lost in the process of writing the book that you wish had made it to the published version?
Everything I wanted in the book is in there.
In the Preface of the book, you mention that you first encountered Theda Bara in a photographic enlargement in the lobby of the Library of Congress. Do you remember why that photo was there (was there an exhibition, a retrospective, some other reason)?
I had no interest in her or silent films then, so didn’t make any further inquiries.
Most of the films in which Bara performed, like the vast majority of silent films, have been lost. Do you have a favorite of Bara’s films from the few that have survived?
Only three complete films are extant, a comedy short and a few minutes of another feature recently found in a Spanish archive. Of those, I’d choose A Fool There Was, her first film.
If you could choose one of her lost films to be discovered somewhere, which one would it be?
Although her Cleopatra is one of the cinema’s most sought lost films, I’d choose The Forbidden Path.
As you mention in your book, most of Bara’s contemporaries are long forgotten by the general public (sometimes even if more of their work in silent films has survived). Do you have an idea or theory regarding why/how Theda Bara continues to fascinate audiences and silent movie fans?
It’s mainly her 1000s of photographs and her legend. She was the object of the movie’s first great publicity campaign. She was the greatest of vamps, and has been adopted by the goth community.
Theda Bara died almost 70 years ago in 1955. If you had the chance to ask or tell her something now, after completing your research and writing the book, what would it be?
How did you really feel about being plucked from total obscurity on someone’s whim at an age that would have been considered old then?
What’s currently on your nightstand?
You Can’t Be Serious by Kal Penn.
Can you name your top five favorite or most influential authors?
Besides me you mean (just kidding). I really can’t say I have favorite contemporary authors. I majored in 19th century English literature so they would be from that era: Dickens, George Eliot, etc.
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Was there a book you felt you needed to hide from your parents?
The Amboy Dukes. It was considered deeply scandalous, so, of course, all of us kids read it on the sly.
Is there a book you've faked reading?
No.
Can you name a book you've bought for the cover?
Never have.
Is there a book that changed your life?
No.
Can you name a book for which you are an evangelist (and you think everyone should read)?
Right now it’s anything by Rachel Maddow, including Prequel.
Is there a book you would most want to read again for the first time?
The Amboy Dukes. I’ve wanted to buy it but it’s very expensive now.
What is the last piece of art (music, movies, TV, more traditional art forms) that you've experienced or that has impacted you?
I’m deeply into all of those (except much TV), so couldn’t name one.
What is your idea of THE perfect day (where you could go anywhere/meet with anyone)?
Back to London for many perfect days.
What is the question that you’re always hoping you’ll be asked, but never have been? What is your answer?
Q: Why did you become a librarian?
A: I’m not really sure, but I’m glad I did!
What are you working on now?
I’m working on book #9 about Universal Pictures musicals from 1928 to 1949.
