Loos began a volume of memoirs, "A Girl Like I", published in September 1966. Her 1972 book, "Twice Over Lightly: New York Then and Now", was written in collaboration with friend and actress Helen Hayes. "Kiss Hollywood Good-by" (1974) was a Hollywood memoir about her MGM years and would be very successful, while her book, "The Talmadge Girls" (1978) is about the actress sisters Constance Talmadge and Norma Talmadge specifically. Loos would become a virtual New York institution, an assiduous partygoer and diner-out; conspicuous at fashion shows, theatrical and movie events, balls and galas. A celebrity anecdotalist, she was also never one to let facts spoil a good story: With each book came a new spate of interviews and as one of the last survivors of the silent era, Anita's stories became more exaggerated and she was soon reported to have sold her first scenario at the age of 12. She continued to thrive on interesting people and interesting activities – and held an opinion on everything – but worked hard on keeping the vivacious and flippant image and hiding her loneliness. She once commented, "I've enjoyed my happiest moments when trailing a Mainbocher evening gown across the sawdust-covered floor of a saloon." She was interviewed in the television documentary series "Hollywood: A Celebration of the American Silent Film" (1980). After spending several weeks with a lung infection, Anita Loos died in New York City at the age of 92 from natural causes. At the memorial service, friends Helen Hayes, Ruth Gordon, and Lillian Gish, regaled the mourners with humorous anecdotes and Jule Styne played songs from Loos' musicals, including "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend".