On the Edge

I got these pictures from A Cup of Jo, who got it from black eiffel, who got it from Waldo's Post. So they're well on their way to becoming viral.

They're pictures from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, where between September and December you can go to an area called The Devil's Swimming Pool and swim to the edge without being swept over! This is due to a natural rock wall just below the water at the very edge of the pool that you can see in the photographs and that slows the current even at the edge. Still - not for the faint of heart!

Fashion Noir --- Part Two

There are those thrillers that make history, like Psycho, and then there’s the rest, like Midnight Lace, merely functional in their day, and little remembered now. Who cares that the latter played, and very successfully, but months in the wake of Hitchcock’s smash? Both were offered up as exercises in polished suspense. The not unfamiliar device of encouraging audiences to arrive not later than the picture’s beginning was gently pursued by theatres showing Ross Hunter’s confection (and yes, by golly, that’s the ideal word to describe it), while Hitchcock’s similar, but hard-and-fast edict on Psycho’s behalf, was actually written into exhibition contracts and enforced at ticket windows (as shown here). Having opened in October, Midnight Lace provided balm for audiences undone by Hithcock’s relentless assault upon genre conventions. Its mystery was as reassuringly elemental as its outcome was predictably resolved. To challenge viewers would be to distract them from matters of greater concern to Ross Hunter, namely clothes and décor that would center merchandising strategy and deliver a success on the order of previous Hunter hits. Midnight Lace represents the triumph of the superficial thriller, one that might emerge if an artist like Hitchcock were to shoot and release the barest skeletal outline of a coming project. By 1960, the guessing game as to villainous identity was one practiced non-stop on televisions everywhere, what with schedules awash in whodunits and series like Perry Mason making armchair sleuths of us all. The point of a Midnight Lace had to be something other than which character was seeking to terrorize Doris Day (shown here in a pair of unretouched portraits with co-star Rex Harrison). The imperative must be what Day was wearing while the unknown he/she was about it. Howard Hawks had been canny enough to observe the impact of relentless video recycling of westerns, and so put greater emphasis on character and bantering comedy in 1959’s Rio Bravo, cowboy formulae now being all but impossible to deliver fresh. The ubiquity of old movies at home was indeed forcing Hollywood to remix paints, especially with regards familiar genres.

Ross Hunter was something of an industry’s Ashley Wilkes. He so wanted Hollywood to remain that place of glamour others knew was dying. Almost poignant was his conviction that all of what once made movies great could somehow be recaptured in the likes of Midnight Lace. Toward such ends, he invited monuments of an already vanished studio era to sprinkle stardust upon pictures designed to remind patrons of theatre going at its romantic summit. Myrna Loy was among red herrings in Midnight Lace, but her larger purpose was to evoke larger-than-lives she’d essayed back when Hunter, and most of his audience, were thrilling to pulse quickeners more recently consigned to the late, late show. They Don’t Make Them Like Used To was a chorus sung by middle-agers who’d stopped going to theatres in any case, and the producer’s idea was to lure them back along with his now loyal core of women both teenaged and young adult. To these he presented Doris Day at the very moment of her coronation as Number One Boxoffice Attraction in America, with Midnight Lace arriving in the wake of Universal’s phenomenal Pillow Talk (here they are on location with co-producer, and Day's husband, Martin Melcher). To read Day’s straight-faced account of traumas she suffered enacting her victimized heroine in Midnight Lace, we’re all the more amazed, if not impressed, at how earnestly stars of her generation applied themselves to what viewers would now (charitably) call high camp. Part of my respect for Midnight Lace (and others like it) derives from its cast’s refusal to betray their condescension to what most of them knew to be pulpy material. Doris Day recalled projecting onto her character to a point of on-set breakdown and three days needed to recover. Within a few short years, players briefed on irony and the knowing wink would convey their indifference all too well, and sensibilities like Ross Hunter’s would run out of avenues for expression.

I assume there’s still a fashion industry, but does it thrive as in 1960 when Universal marshaled its forces on behalf of Midnight Lace? Hollywood must regain its place as Glamour Capital of the world and clothes is what made Hollywood just that, said Ross Hunter as the studio’s aggressive tie-up with retailers nationwide left the feature an almost afterthought in the wake of Doris Day-inspired outfits designed by Hollywood’s renowned Irene. She’d been in movies since Keystone days, first as would-be actress, and later more successfully as dressmaker to the stars. Ross Hunter built much of his Midnight Lace campaign around Irene’s wardrobe for Doris Day. There was a six-minute short, free to exhibitors, made up of costume tests for the film, and this was fanned out by Universal field men to department stores in every key location playing Midnight Lace. 16mm prints were shown to clerks in advance of shopper arrival and display windows were festooned with outfits seen in the film. In Kansas City, for instance, the sales staff of Harzfeld Clothier, a mainstay in that city since 1891, con-fabbed with studio reps at a closed screening of Midnight Lace with accompanying fashion short. The idea was to acquaint management and thirty-six sales staffers on how best to merchandise both the movie and clothing displayed during it. An original Irene suit as seen in the film would be a Grand Prize in contests held at the store. Professional craft and guile on the part of Universal exploiteers created Midnight Lace consciousness running weeks in advance of the show’s opening. As with Portrait In Black and its beauty salon tie-ins, this was surest to target femme patrons and inspire commerce both at Harzfeld’s and the National Theatre circuit, which had booked the feature into houses it controlled throughout the territory.

Why I Would Like To Be Doris Day For A Night was the subject of contemplation for over a hundred who responded to the Center Theatre’s contest appeal in Corpus Christi, Texas. It seemed not a foolish inquiry in light of this actresses’ popularity. There were scores of women nationwide who wanted to be Doris Day all the time, or at the least spend whatever they had to spare of it watching her films. Much of that appeal had to do with luxuries she was thought to enjoy. Pillow Talk was as much about (lavish) lifestyle as laughs, and Midnight Lace would be more of that same, only this time gracious living would be salted with comparatively mild thrills. Doris on screen (and fans assumed off) consumed much of what (lots of) money could buy, so To Be Doris Day was to wear the latest and buy the mostest. No more would vehicles find her in humble circumstance. She was tied inexorably to products sold on her image and/or endorsement. Representing an ideal to patrons now meant shopping for them as well, so why not be Doris Day for a night when that amounts to having your wish list filled? The contest winner in this instance would enjoy a night on the town consistent with those DD might routinely experience, provided one bought into Hollywood as the High Life Incarnate, an illusion still tenable, but for not much longer, in December of 1960 when Mrs. Fran Lowley of Ronstown, Texas had her big night out. She and extended family (including kids not unlike ones Doris had in that year’s Please Don’t Eat The Daisies) were driven seventeen miles in a 1961 Chevrolet Impala sedan (on loan from a local dealer), with color commentary by a radio announcer brought along to broadcast the event. There was supper in the spacious dining room of the luxurious Luby’s Cafeteria in Corpus Christi, followed by a star entrance into the Center’s lobby (as shown here) and an interview on stage which was transmitted live to listeners. Mrs. Lowley then took receipt of gifts presumed worthy of a Doris Day and by courtesy of town merchants --- a transistor radio, Vinyl jacket, a cigarette lighter, and a crisp new $50 bill in addition to twelve months of free admission to the Center. It wasn’t a wardrobe by Irene, but this being 1500 miles east of Hollywood, it would do. Whatever glamour dust was needed to supplement this temporal Doris Day would be supplied by Midnight Lace, for which Universal collected $3.5 million in domestic rentals, their biggest profit taker for 1960 next to Operation Petticoat.

Red Telephone Box

Another quintessentially English icon under threat of extinction.

The number of telephone boxes around the streets has decreased by more than 1/3. I guess the use of cell phones being the major contributor to their demise.

This one is one of the more charming designs. A K2 I think (can a UK expert let me know). The more recent K8 design with big glass doors may be more functional but not nearly as lovely to look at.

Indoor Activities

It's way too cold and dismal to be outdoors taking photos. I'll do my best with what I can see indoors. If you ask me too many questions about beer, pumps and bars I'll not have the best answers. So I'll just refer you to Stonch. The beer and pub expert.

Notorious decadent sighted in the Wellcome Library

Newly added to the online catalogue of Wellcome Library archives: two letters by the French novelist Joris-Karl Huysmans (1848-1907). Huysmans is most famous for the novel À rebours (Against Nature), a landmark of the decadent movement whose millionaire "hero", Des Esseintes, devotes himself to the cultivation of the senses in an artificial, sealed environment (a foreshadowing of today's virtual worlds: Des Esseintes is perhaps the first inhabitant of Second Life). In the United Kingdom he gained particular notoriety when À rebours, described as a "sodomitical book", was an exhibit at the trial of Oscar Wilde. In later years Huysman's revolt against modern life led him to a reconciliation with the doctrines of Roman Catholicism, and a series of novels trace his conversion. The two letters added to the archive catalogue date from these later years, the mid 1890s. They are written to the French medical man Maurice de Fleury (1860-1931) and discuss de Fleury's book Introduction à la médecine de l'esprit and the health of Huysmans' partner. The letters can be ordered for viewing in the Wellcome Library using the reference MS.8621.

Another late 19th century creator of literary scandal has also been added to the catalogue: the novelist and science populariser Grant Allen (1848-1897). Allen’s novel The Woman Who Did told the story of an emancipated woman who chooses cohabitation over marriage, and created a huge scandal when it appeared in 1895. Newly added to the collection is a letter from earlier in Allen’s career, when he was scuffling to make a living as a professional writer on scientific issues: it can be ordered using the reference MS.8625.

Any questions about these items should be sent to archs+mss@wellcome.ac.uk.

New timetable for deliveries

With online requesting now a well-established part of our service, from Monday 1 December we are adjusting delivery times to the Enquiry Desk and Rare Materials Room as below:

Please note, if you want to ensure that material is ready for you to use at 10.00 you need to submit your request at least one hour before the last daily delivery times cited here.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Six deliveries per day, on the hour, at: 11.00 ; 12.00 ; 13.00 ; 14.00 ; 15.00 ; 16.00 ; 17.00

Thursday
Eight deliveries at: 11.00 ; 12.00 ; 13.00 ; 14.00 ; 15.00; 16.00 ; 17.00 ; 18.00 ; 19.00

Saturday
Five deliveries: 11.00 ; 12.00 ; 13.30 ; 14.30 ; 15.30

Make the most of 24/7 Online Requesting
Did you know that as a registered Library user, you can order material for viewing in the Library at any time of the night or day?

If you are planning your first visit to the Library, registering online will allow you to identify what you need and to request items online. Order Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday before 16.00 and on Thursday before 18.00 and your items should be available for you by 10.00 the following day.

See here for further information about our online requesting system.

Skywatch Friday - Millau Viaduct

Nearly a week back in London and only grey overcast skies. So today is a view of where I was this time last week. The Millau viaduct spans the Tarn Gorge in the South of France. An incredibly beautiful bridge (if one can say that about bridges). The tallest vehicular bridge in the world (actually taller than the Eiffel tower!) 2.5 kms across. Opened in December 2004. Winner of outstanding structure award.
Standing on the hill to take this photo I wasn't sure if I'd be blown off the hill before I froze to death. I'd recommend waiting until summer for a visit.


Take time to visit all the other skywatchers.

Catch Up Week for the Outdoor Hour Challenge and Giant Sequoias Again

There will be no new Outdoor Hour Challenge this week but your family can take the opportunity to pick a challenge from the last few weeks to complete and post about.

How about the Seasonal Tree Observation in Challenge #36 or the Weather Observations in either Challenge #39 or #40?

These are some of the easier challenges that are great to complete during autumn so when we get to winter and spring you can compare the changes if any.

If you didn't complete the first five challenges, why not pick one of those to work on this week?

Your family can look down the list of challenges in the right sidebar of the Handbook of Nature Study blog to choose one that fits your area and needs.

We will be starting a short flowerless plants study next week, December 5th. I have already started collecting photos of flowerless plants in our area and I am amazed how many we have found so far.

Here is one fungus we saw today on a hike.

Can you see how it grew up with the leaves on top? Really interesting! I took so many more photos to share but I will wait until the flowerless plant challenges. Suspense is always a good thing.

Here are a few more shots from today for you too enjoy.

We were still looking for clouds...look at that sky and the few puffy clouds.

Later in the afternoon, the clouds came in and made it a little cool under the sequoias. These trees are so tall and we always have fun trying to capture them in a photo.

This photo my son took and I think it really shows how tall these giants are.

How about this giant sugar pine cone? The hike we took had a mix of all kinds of trees....pines, sequoias, and lots of deciduous trees too.

How can you help but become refreshed both physically and spiritually after a hike where the trees tower over you and there are interesting things around every corner if you take the time to look for them?

Have a great weekend.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom

Thanksgiving Weekend Video - Michael Jackson

This year's Thanksgiving message and Weekend Video comes courtesy of Michael Jackson, performing here at the 1988 Grammy Awards. Although he was at the peak of his stardom, it's still quite impressive he was given nearly seven minutes - and even more surprising that with four nominations that year he didn't receive one award. Nevertheless. the song has an admirable message, and while it's not clear that Michael followed his own advice, here are the lyrics to the first few verses and chorus of "Man in the Mirror":

I'm gonna make a change, for once in my life.
It's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference,
Gonna make it right.

As I, turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin' my mind.
I see the kids in the street, with not enough to eat
Who am I, to be blind? Pretending not to see their needs
A summer's disregard, a broken bottle top
And a one man's soul
They follow each other on the wind ya' know
'Cause they got nowhere to go.
That's why I want you to know

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change

Wellcome Images: Free workshop

Wellcome Images is holding a free workshop on Thursday 4th December from 2-3pm at the Wellcome Library, 183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE. Nearest transport is Euston station, or 5 minutes walk from Russell Square.

Places are limited and pre-booking is essential. You can secure a place by booking online. For advice or assistance on making a booking, telephone 020 7611 8722 or email library@wellcome.ac.uk.

Wellcome Images is the Wellcome Library's image library, and is the world's leading source of images on the history of medicine, contemporary healthcare, social history, biomedical science and clinical medicine.

Author: Venita Paul

Weather Study Finally! Outdoor Hour Challenge #39 and #40

We were finally able to do a little weather study today and it was actually fun to be outdoors in the light rain.

It wasn't too cold either so we took a few photos as we walked around the yard. The deck plants are so pretty and colorful and brighten even this rainy day.

The gray sky really brought the colors in the trees and it was interesting to watch the raindrops collect on the plants in the garden. One sweetgum tree has lost all its leaves but the other is still holding on to its bright red and green leaves...at least so far today. On the right of the photo above you can see our Giant Sequoia tree and how its evergreen boughs are still full and beautiful.

My youngest filled out the Seasonal Weather Study sheet and we filed it away in his nature journal to compare with the coming season's pages.

This was really a great nature study and I think that watching and comparing the weather each season is going to help us notice more about each season.

Barb-Harmony Art Mom

Wellcome Library to host Learning on Screen 2009

The Wellcome Library will be hosting the Learning on Screen conference 2009 at The Wellcome Collection, 7-8 April 2009.

The BUFVC are organising this conference, and have put forward a call for papers, with a submission deadline of 15 January 2009. This annual conference was established by the Society for Screen-Based Learning and focuses on the delivery of learning and research with moving image and sound - be it broadcasting, web delivery or cinema.

During the conference there will be opportunities to visit the Wellcome Collection's spectacular permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Two key themes of the conference will be:

• Disability and Access to Moving Image and Sound
• Online Moving Image and Sound Services for Learning

Golden Jubilee Bridge

A view of one of the two footbridges that cross the Thames either side of the Hungerford Rail bridge, officially opened in 2003. Hurdles that had to be overcome in the construction period, included sinking new support structures into a busy river and avoiding unexploded WW ll bombs on the river bed. The Thames is a tidal river with the difference between high and low tide being around 8 metres.
This view is from the south bank. In the background on the north bank you can see the horse guards building.

Sander & Sensibility

Sometimes an exhibition is many years in the making. Case in point
is the show I'm opening next week which deals with the ongoing influence the great photographer August Sander had and continues to have on photography. Most active from the early 1900s through the 1920s, Sander's credo was simple: "I am not concerned with providing commonplace photographs like those made in the finer large-scale studios of the city, but simple, natural portraits that show the subjects in an environment corresponding to their own individuality."

Sander's monumental photographic project "Man of the Twentieth Century" set out to document the people and typologies of his native Germany. He photographed people from all walks of life and became best known for the straightforward full length portraits that recorded his subjects not only with great objectivity but also with a subtle artfulness and psychological depth that has made them the definitive example of what a photographic portrait should be.

Sander's cool, objective style of portraiture anticipated work ranging from Irving Penn's "Small Trades" series to Diane Arbus's street photographs to The Sartorialist's style portraits. Yet the template he created and the medium itself have been robust enough to hold up to endless reinterpretation. That was the idea behind the show.

Going back to old notes and e-mails, I saw that I had been discussing this show with photographers like Rineke Dijkstra and Lolo Veleko over the course of many years, but what really crystallized the idea was when Sart posted the picture above left on his website and mentioned how much it had influenced him. Sometimes a chance word like this is all it takes to prod an idea into a reality.

One of the many pleasures of this kind of group show provides is the collaborative opportunity to work with some of my fellow dealers. Thanks to them I ended up with everything I wanted for the exhibition from rare Sanders to a large and magnificent Eggleston. Granted, the show could have been many times its current size and I would have been happy to fill a space ten times the size of my gallery, but here are examples by each of the photographers in the show. I hope as many of you as possible will get a chance to see it. To view everything else in the show click here.

August Sander

Seydou Keita

William Eggleston

Irving Penn

Hiroh Kikai

Albrecht Tubke

Milton Rogovin

Richard Avedon

Rineke Dijkstra

Lolo Veleko

Diane Arbus

The Sartorialist

Men at Work - Christmas Decorations

A very cold morning at Southbank, but a very cheery smile. Christmas decorations, market stalls and ice rinks are appearing all around the city.

Climbing Trees-No Weather to Speak Of

Still no "weather" to report from our house. The windows and doors are still wide open and the sky is clear. We have forecasts of some rain maybe this week so we are going to wait until then to take a weather study.

In the meantime, the boys and their father decided today was the day to climb a tree. We have one really big tree in our yard that is fairly easy to climb because the limbs are close together and there are so many of them. They took a ladder to get started but then climbed up from there.

This was the first time that I have noticed cones on the ground under this tree.

I grabbed the tree identification book and here is what we came up with.

Here is what we used to identify the tree....leaflet and cone.

It looks as if we have a Giant Sequoia in our backyard, right next to our deck.

This is my best attempt to take a complete photo of the tree showing our deck at the bottom. It is a really tall tree.

"The seed cones are 4-7 cm long and mature in 18-20 months, though they typically remain green and closed for up to 20 years; each cone has 30-50 spirally arranged scales, with several seeds on each scale giving an average of 230 seeds per cone." and "Young trees start to bear cones at the age of 12 years."
Wikipedia on the Sequoia

So what started out as tree climbing ended up with identifying our very own Giant Sequoia in our backyard. It was growing here when we moved in 21 years ago and I assume it was planted by the previous owner. It does provide great shade on our deck during the hot summer afternoons and the birds and our backyard squirrel like to use it for protection.

This tree has been hit by lightning once a long time ago in a really big storm. It sounded like something exploded in our backyard during the thunder storm and we went outside to see what it was and we saw a long black line on the trunk of the tree and it was smoking at the base. It was very memorable.

What an afternoon.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom