Oh, isn't this darling? It looks straight out of Dr. Seuss. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas has always been my hands-down favorite animated Christmas special. Ron Howard's version is an annual tradition at our house, too. Can't you see this candy cane decked beauty swelling that grinchy old Grinch's three-sizes-too-small heart? I'm crazy about that oversized wreath. Betcha Cindy Lou Who would love it, too.
Film
December 29, 2008
October 14, 2008
Viewmasters Revered
Who doesn't love Viewmasters?
Those super-fun plastic binoculars we pressed on our faces for virtual reality, pre-computer days. You know, back when you had to actually use your imagination.
When I was a kid in the 60's, I loved Viewmaster's claymation fairies-in-forest scenes, petit pink Thumbelina and her prince, (my favorite), and Yellowstone's Old Faithful in permanent vesuvian spray, all in vivid 3D. I loved the look and feel of the cardboard disks with the itty bitty slides all arranged in a perfect circle. I loved the way the viewer shut out the rest of the world and the thick, shushing shuffle the lever made when my index finger made its 'come closer' pull on that white plastic knob.
I used to take my Viewmaster on vacations out west and my folks would buy souvenir reels for me everywhere that had them, from Mount Rushmore to Disneyland. They no doubt enjoyed having such a quiet, mesmerized child those many hours in the car, another Viewmaster virtue I've come to appreciate now that I have kids of my own to entertain.
I never tired of looking at the bright colorful slide shows of all the amazing places we'd been or the tiny little fantasy worlds I imagined myself going. For me, Viewmasters are, like Airstreams, a romantic vestige of mid-century American life. A simple child's toy, yes. But I can't think of any other toy that I am still fascinated by and still want to play with these forty years later!
And so naturally, Viewmasters are the perfect vintage Airstream accessory. My Stella's entertainment center just wouldn't be complete without them. I've been collecting old viewers lately, mostly the thick black kind, and a slew of old reels to boot. My friend Joyce even found an on-line resource with a mind-numbing inventory of reels and gifted me a two-reel set of the Nevada Atomic Tests conducted in the 50's. (How's that for satisfying a collector's taste for the rare and obscure?) The more standard are in Stella's stash, too: Grand Canyon National Park, the first moon walk, Niagara Falls, European castles, Hawaiian flowers, homes of the Hollywood movie stars.
Of course, the kids have added their own collections, including a reel of Spongebob Squarepants, which I objected to at first. But forty years from now, their Spongebob will be my Thumbelina, and I wouldn't dream of denying them that.
October 03, 2008
The Silver Screen's Marie Dressler (and me)
I'm not sure how I feel about being asked to portray 1930's film star Marie Dressler at our historic district's 'Living History' celebration tomorrow. The organizer said I'd be 'perfect' for the role. I have to admit I hope it's not because I look so much like her.
Maybe they chose me because of my impressive acting resume that spans some thirty years. In high school, (1978), I made my debut as the Fiddler in 'Fiddler on the Roof'. It was in mime, so I had no lines and sat on a roof, (actually a ladder behind a cardboard rendition of a Russian shack), 'playing' an invisible fiddle while a girl who could actually play the fiddle, er, violin, sawed away in the orchestra pit. It was harder than it looked. Think about it. I played a metaphor, for heaven's sake. In satin bloomers and white face tettering ten feet above the stage without a net. It was not easy. Meryl Streep would understand.
Then in my next brilliant role, twenty years later, in an attempt to bolster my ego since I was a full-time mom, I played Nellie in a community theater production of 'Ye Old Cookie Shoppe', also known as 'Nellie Was a Baker 'Cause She Kneaded the Dough". What? You don't remember it? It was a melodrama. Fine genre. Underappreciated. Sophisticated. Refined. Come to think of it, why don't they have a melodrama category at the Tony's? Anyway, we put on quite a show. We had the audience alternately boo-ing the villain, Snidley Something-Or-Other and cheering the hero, Handsome Harry, as he untied me from the railroad tracks. Popcorn was flying. Oh, it was high art, alright. Or it would've been art if you were high. Maybe.
So, now my public (Old Frontenac, pop. 302), awaits my performance as Marie Dressler, star of "Dinner at Eight", famous for being, what was it? Oh, yes, unattractive and overweight, but possessing a good sense of humor.
I am ready for my close up.
September 16, 2008
August 11, 2008
Édith Piaf: Shiny Silver Someone No. 2
This photo is a treasure. Edith Piaf, La Vie en Rose, knitting. Love, love, love. And isn't it good to see her happy?
July 21, 2008
Mama Mia!
Oh, my. Forgive me, but I just have to gush about Mama Mia. I loved everything about this movie: Greece, the costumes, (esp. the one in the photo above, and the bridesmaid dresses), the music, the choreography, the story, Meryl, Meryl, Meryl, ad infinitum. Is she preternaturally gifted, talented, and gorgeous, or what? Oh, to be 59 and to shine like that.
April 19, 2008
Park on the couch with a good movie...
It's been out for while, and it won an Oscar for Best Original Song, so maybe I'm the last to know, but if you haven't already seen the movie Once, it's a great reason to park on the couch this weekend. There's alot to love about this one; a simple plot, sweet characters, great music.
Here's a summary from IMDb:
An (unnamed) Guy is a Dublin guitarist/singer-songwriter who makes a living by fixing vacuum cleaners in his Dad's Hoover repair shop by day, and singing and playing for money on the Dublin streets by night. An (unnamed) Girl is a Czech who plays piano when she gets a chance, and does odd jobs by day and takes care of her mom and her daughter by night. Guy meets Girl, and they get to know each other as the Girl helps the Guy to put together a demo disc that he can take to London in hope of landing a music contract. During the same several day period, the Guy and the Girl work through their past loves, and reveal their budding love for one another, through their songs. (Written by Charles Delacroix)
Maybe I loved it because I'm married to a guitarist/singer-songwriter and it's got more than a little in common with our history. But it's not just me. My friends Pam and Doug, manic movie-goers and discriminating film critics in their own right, are kind of like my own personal Roeper and Ebert, and they give Once their top rating, too. So there you go.
Click here for a sample listen and movie clip.
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