I lived in West Hollywood for five years, and really loved living in a city for the first time in my life. I wasn't too far away from where The Garden of Allah, Nazimova's old stomping grounds, used to stand. The history in that town has always fascinated me!
I’m accustomed to the old timey drama queens, when overacting the silents was how it was done. But never seen anything like that creepy dude on the throne.
I imagine that there was live musical accompaniment for "Salome" at larger urban theaters. Many silent films had scores sent out, and most large theatres had impressive organs (get your mind out of the gutter).
I notice that "War Brides" was made for the Selznick Co. I wonder if the older Selznick was as big a pest as his son turned out to be.
The Tampa Theatre (https://tampatheatre.org/) has a Mighty Wurlitzer that rises through the floor up to the stage, with the organist aboard. If you are ever in Tampa, go. The last time I was nearby I took my kid, who'd never seen it, to what turned out to be a disappointing movie that should have been way better. It didn't matter because the theater itself is that gorgeous. I am not particularly well traveled, but I've been to a few historic theaters, and I really believe the Tampa Theatre is the most beautiful one I've seen.
Oh yes, I read someplace or another that Nazimova sent out specific instructions on musical score and editing (or rather, no editing to be tolerated) for the general screenings.
I have to do more research on the elder Selznick. I admit I don't know much about him. Still, what a lot of legendary Hollywood connections run through this narrative.
This being a "pre-code" movie her instructions about editing were likely enforceable. Once the Hayes Office was created to review and censor films, that would have changed. In my home town, Atlanta, there was another layer of censorship in the form of an official film censor who had to review and approve every film shown inside the city, from 1933 until it ended in 1964. From 1945 until 1964 that person was Christine Smith Gilliam who reviewed and passed judgement on 4,490 films, ordering cuts (often on the color line) on 154 and outright banning 107, many with racial justice overtones as Jim Crow fell under more criticism after WW II. Sexual content? Forget it.
Yes, that Saint Elizabeth tape is magic. BTW, there are other feeds which show the crowd joyously reacting instead of just remaining on her. Check them out!
I went back to my hometown this weekend and went to the local post office with my dad on Sat. I was shocked - the place looked like it had been abandoned. Plants growing on the building, leaves and pine needles piled up in the parking spaces, etc. It was definitely still in use but it was decrepit.
I read that DeJoy (can't believe he's still around) implemented this huge "Delivering for America" plan, but contrast that post office with an email I started recently getting daily from USPS that tells me how many pieces of mail are on the way to me - which is almost like spam, I'm not convinced it's that helpful. Something's definitely off kilter.
I actually use that informed delivery, because I go to a post office, and it lets me know when I can not bother. I just flag them to differentiate between other emails and delete them when I get my post. YMMV
Hey if it helps you, great. I started getting it after I did a change of address and there was a whole spammy set of offers that were definitely not something I wanted to get from USPS - advertising, for stuff I wasn't looking for or interested in. I guess I opted in for the informed delivery updates.
I'm not saying the people that work at USPS don't do a good job - I think it's the dedication of their people that continues to make their delivery service top-notch. I'd give them credit for a nearly 100% success rate over UPS or FedEx. I just hope that the Biden admin knows what it's doing keeping DeJoy around - he has a known conflict of interest running his own shipping firm, and I get worried when I see a public-facing government building turn into an eyesore. Maybe I'm worried for nothing and that branch is closing or something (and Wilmington doesn't have enough P.O.s as it is), but I just don't trust the guy that the Admin has permitted to remain in the position of Postmaster General.
EDIT: I also realize the Board of Governors of USPS appointed him, decides whether to replace him, and it's a bipartisan board, but I refuse to believe he could stay as PMG if Biden wanted him gone.
Well actually- our little building has had a piece of plywood tacked to the front where someone ran into the brick facade and? For years. And we don't flood here, but there are high water marks near the floor of the interior. I certainly hope they don't get rid of this one, because it's a pretty good haul to get to the nearest.
I too get USPS advertising, but it's infrequent. Oh, and we had someone sorting that would make mistakes, and those mistakes were not always returned to be put in the proper box.
"Welker later returned to the 'cat ladies' remarks and noted that some women felt like his comments were a 'gut punch' to them before asking if he regrets making the remarks.
'Look, I regret, certainly, that a lot of people took it the wrong way and I certainly regret the DNC and Kamala Harris lied about it —,' Vance said, without explaining how they did so."
What the heck is going on in that crazy hed gif? It's an interesting story, actually, full of queer history and something about Nancy Reagan (but not much about Nancy Reagan, so you should click it): https://open.substack.com/pub/martiniambassador/p/alla-nazimovas-salome?r=angu9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Also, a very nice meme chat for you: https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/82418cf8-431e-4228-845f-3fb9e2df7e95
It's all about the ladies today!
like
That was fascinating! Thanks so much!
I lived in West Hollywood for five years, and really loved living in a city for the first time in my life. I wasn't too far away from where The Garden of Allah, Nazimova's old stomping grounds, used to stand. The history in that town has always fascinated me!
Alla Nazimova was absolutely gorgeous.
What in the world...
Ye olde world.
Was that the Joker on the throne? It sure as hell looks like the Joker!
Right?
I’m accustomed to the old timey drama queens, when overacting the silents was how it was done. But never seen anything like that creepy dude on the throne.
Enjoyable read - thanks, Martini!
I imagine that there was live musical accompaniment for "Salome" at larger urban theaters. Many silent films had scores sent out, and most large theatres had impressive organs (get your mind out of the gutter).
I notice that "War Brides" was made for the Selznick Co. I wonder if the older Selznick was as big a pest as his son turned out to be.
Pipe organs, even.
I got to listen to one at Atlanta's Fox theater, yesterday.
The Tampa Theatre (https://tampatheatre.org/) has a Mighty Wurlitzer that rises through the floor up to the stage, with the organist aboard. If you are ever in Tampa, go. The last time I was nearby I took my kid, who'd never seen it, to what turned out to be a disappointing movie that should have been way better. It didn't matter because the theater itself is that gorgeous. I am not particularly well traveled, but I've been to a few historic theaters, and I really believe the Tampa Theatre is the most beautiful one I've seen.
I'm going to give the elder Selznick the benefit of the doubt and say... OF COURSE HE WAS A PREDATOR! C'mon, son.
I checked. It turns out that he was, but for, shall we say, unconventional business practices, not sexual matters.
Business partner, Adolf Zukor, is said to have offered him $5,000 a week for life if he would move to China and stay there.
Yikes! That's a bold statement to give your business partner! I bet Zukor saw him “Vancing” on the couch once or twice, though. 😁
God knows his son did.
Oh yes, I read someplace or another that Nazimova sent out specific instructions on musical score and editing (or rather, no editing to be tolerated) for the general screenings.
I have to do more research on the elder Selznick. I admit I don't know much about him. Still, what a lot of legendary Hollywood connections run through this narrative.
There is this Question of, in a really short period of time, we went from carrier pigeons, and the Pony Express, to here...
We are incapable of keeping up.
Yeah!
Send money here
My grandfather was born before the Pony Express and was still alive when Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic.
This being a "pre-code" movie her instructions about editing were likely enforceable. Once the Hayes Office was created to review and censor films, that would have changed. In my home town, Atlanta, there was another layer of censorship in the form of an official film censor who had to review and approve every film shown inside the city, from 1933 until it ended in 1964. From 1945 until 1964 that person was Christine Smith Gilliam who reviewed and passed judgement on 4,490 films, ordering cuts (often on the color line) on 154 and outright banning 107, many with racial justice overtones as Jim Crow fell under more criticism after WW II. Sexual content? Forget it.
I am tabbed -
Dance of the Two Veils? I dunno, shrinkflation?
From The Importance of Being Earnest to Salome.
Would have been 7 veils, but five are in the wash.
IDIOT! EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU GOTTA DRY CLEAN THOSE!
I didn't see word one about Boeing in that article, just happy talk about how everything's perfectly normal.
Yes, that Saint Elizabeth tape is magic. BTW, there are other feeds which show the crowd joyously reacting instead of just remaining on her. Check them out!
NYT gift article gift-i-ness has expired. <pout>
I went back to my hometown this weekend and went to the local post office with my dad on Sat. I was shocked - the place looked like it had been abandoned. Plants growing on the building, leaves and pine needles piled up in the parking spaces, etc. It was definitely still in use but it was decrepit.
I read that DeJoy (can't believe he's still around) implemented this huge "Delivering for America" plan, but contrast that post office with an email I started recently getting daily from USPS that tells me how many pieces of mail are on the way to me - which is almost like spam, I'm not convinced it's that helpful. Something's definitely off kilter.
I actually use that informed delivery, because I go to a post office, and it lets me know when I can not bother. I just flag them to differentiate between other emails and delete them when I get my post. YMMV
Hey if it helps you, great. I started getting it after I did a change of address and there was a whole spammy set of offers that were definitely not something I wanted to get from USPS - advertising, for stuff I wasn't looking for or interested in. I guess I opted in for the informed delivery updates.
I'm not saying the people that work at USPS don't do a good job - I think it's the dedication of their people that continues to make their delivery service top-notch. I'd give them credit for a nearly 100% success rate over UPS or FedEx. I just hope that the Biden admin knows what it's doing keeping DeJoy around - he has a known conflict of interest running his own shipping firm, and I get worried when I see a public-facing government building turn into an eyesore. Maybe I'm worried for nothing and that branch is closing or something (and Wilmington doesn't have enough P.O.s as it is), but I just don't trust the guy that the Admin has permitted to remain in the position of Postmaster General.
EDIT: I also realize the Board of Governors of USPS appointed him, decides whether to replace him, and it's a bipartisan board, but I refuse to believe he could stay as PMG if Biden wanted him gone.
Well actually- our little building has had a piece of plywood tacked to the front where someone ran into the brick facade and? For years. And we don't flood here, but there are high water marks near the floor of the interior. I certainly hope they don't get rid of this one, because it's a pretty good haul to get to the nearest.
I too get USPS advertising, but it's infrequent. Oh, and we had someone sorting that would make mistakes, and those mistakes were not always returned to be put in the proper box.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
"Welker later returned to the 'cat ladies' remarks and noted that some women felt like his comments were a 'gut punch' to them before asking if he regrets making the remarks.
'Look, I regret, certainly, that a lot of people took it the wrong way and I certainly regret the DNC and Kamala Harris lied about it —,' Vance said, without explaining how they did so."
Classic abuser-speak.
"NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED." I miss my tattered "Elizabeth Warren for Senate" shirt.
What the hell is wrong with that Kennedy woman getting involved with Ben Affleck? There's obviously something not quite right with him.
Dear Editrix,
thank you for sharing the Carole Cadwallader article. I shared it when it was published and was told by some that it really isnt a big deal.
It really is
Where's the Martie link?
Mad skillz! Could have used!
--Unnamed cousin on mother's side.
New Randy Rainbow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyQ2MLldGRI
Wheels of justice, slow but grinding.
https://x.com/Garrett_Archer/status/1828081041137107324 ---
2000 Mules claimed they did an extensive geospatial analysis to tie their targets to drop box video.
What they really did was pour through public record streams and find anyone they simply thought looked suspicious.
(linking to another tweet by Paola Poot, the greatest debunker of True-The-Vote, Dinesh and the 2K-Mules scam)
(not sure if mentioned, but today is "national dog day"
I miss you so very much, Zulu - peace be unto you, puppyman)
On the evolutionary tree, turtles are more distantly related to crocodiles than crocodiles are to pigeons.
Discuss.
Flying alligators would have animated an entire sub-genre of Florida Man stories.
I’d rather democrats brought a gun to a knife fight. Take no prisoners.