Anita Loos (1893-1981) is most famous for her satirical short story collection Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: The Illuminating Diary of a Professional Lady, which became a film phenomenon starring Marilyn Monroe. She was an amazingly prolific writer who turned out more than 150 works including film scripts, short stories, novels, plays, and autobiographical books. "She had the wit of Dorothy Parker, the resourcefulness of Robinson Crusoe, and the endurance of the Sphinx," raved Diane MacIntyre in The Silents Majority.

Anita Loos was born April 26, 1893 (some say 1888), in Sisson, California, the daughter of Richard Beers Loos, a theater producer, and Minnie Ellen (Smith), a graduate of Mills Seminary for Young Ladies of Quality. As a young child, Loos appeared in her father's productions along with her sister Gladys, who died in childhood. Loos later noted in her autobiographical work Cast of Thousands that "child actresses at the turn of the century...