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What is the Latin for ‘let the buyer beware’? | Caveat Emptor Definition | Investopedia
Caveat Emptor
What does 'Caveat Emptor' mean
A neo-Latin phrase meaning "let the buyer beware." It is a principle of contract law in many jurisdictions that places the onus on the buyer to perform due diligence before making a purchase. The term is commonly used in real property transactions, but applies to other goods, as well as some services.
BREAKING DOWN 'Caveat Emptor'
Caveat emptor is an ancient principle that is intended to resolve disputes arising from information asymmetry , the pervasive situation in which the seller knows more than the buyer about the quality of a good or service. If Hasan wants to buy a car from Allison, he is responsible for gathering the necessary information to make an informed purchase. He should ask her how many miles it has on it, whether any major components need to be replaced, whether it's been serviced regularly and so on. If he simply buys the car for the asking price and makes little or no effort to assess its true value, and the car subsequently breaks down, Allison is not liable for damages under the principle of caveat emptor.
In practice, there are many exceptions to this principle. For example, if Allison lied about the car's mileage or maintenance needs, she would have committed fraud, and Hasan would in theory be entitled to damages. Market forces act to reduce the applicability of caveat emptor in some cases. Warranties are guarantees of quality or satisfaction that sellers issue voluntarily (broadly speaking) to buyers; if the sellers provide a quality product, they will not need to provide refunds or replacements very often, and buyers will be inclined to choose these vendors based on a perception of quality.
Governments also push back against the principle of caveat emptor in order to protect consumers' interests. Informal transactions like the one between Allison and Hasan are mostly unregulated, but in industries such as financial services – especially since the 2008 financial crisis – the buyer is often entitled to clear, largely standardized, information regarding the product. Many investors are familiar with what is colloquially called the "safe harbor statement," which complies with safeguards against companies that would deceive potential buyers about the quality of their stock. At the same time, such statements, as well as the legally mandated quarterly reports they accompany, reinforce the principle of caveat emptor, cementing the expectation that the buyer has access to all the information they need to make a reasonably informed decision.
In the U.K., the concept of caveat emptor is less applicable now than in the past. In general, the 1979 Sale of Goods Act provides consumers with more stringent protection than their U.S. counterparts enjoy.
Caveat emptor is particularly important in real estate transactions. In the U.S., home builders are required to issue an implied warranty of fitness to buyers of new properties. Subsequent transactions, however, are subject to caveat emptor rules, assuming no fraud has been committed. New residential properties come with the expectation that the seller is liable for faults; as for old properties, buyer beware.
| Caveat emptor |
Tuppence and Tommy are fictional detectives, recurring characters in whose books? | What Does 'Caveat Emptor' Mean? - FindLaw
What Does 'Caveat Emptor' Mean?
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Caveat emptor is a Latin term that means "let the buyer beware." Similar to the phrase "sold as is," this term means that the buyer assumes the risk that a product may fail to meet expectations or have defects. In other words, the principle of caveat emptor serves as a warning that buyers have no recourse with the seller if the product does not meet their expectations.
The term is actually part of a longer statement: Caveat emptor, quia ignorare non debuit quod jus alienum emit ("Let a purchaser beware, for he ought not to be ignorant of the nature of the property which he is buying from another party.") The assumption is that buyers will inspect and otherwise ensure that they are confident with the integrity of the product (or land, to which it often refers) before completing a transaction. This does not, however, give sellers the green light to actively engage in fraudulent transactions .
Caveat Emptor in Practice
Under the principle of caveat emptor, for example, a consumer who purchases a coffee mug and later discovers that it has a leak is stuck with the defective product . Had they inspected the mug prior to the sale, they may have changed their mind.
A more common example is a used car transaction between two private parties (as opposed to a dealership, in which the sale is subject to an implied warranty). The buyer must take on the responsibility of thoroughly researching and inspecting the car—perhaps taking it to a mechanic for a closer look—before finalizing the sale. If something comes up after the sale, maybe a transmission failure, it is not the seller's responsibility. Garage sales offer another example of caveat emptor, in which all sales are final and nothing is guaranteed.
The Modern Rule: Caveat Venditor
Caveat emptor was the rule for most purchases and land sales prior to the Industrial Revolution, although sellers assume much more responsibility for the integrity of their goods in the present day. People consumed far fewer goods and usually from local sources prior to the 18th Century, resulting in very few consumer protection laws (mostly limited to weights and measures). See " Product Liability: Background " for more historical information about the principle of caveat emptor.
Today, most sales in the U.S. fall under the principle of caveat venditor, which means "let the seller beware," by which goods are covered by an implied warranty of merchantability. Unless otherwise advertised (for example, "sold as is") or negotiated with the buyer, nearly all consumer products are guaranteed to work if used for their intended purpose.
For example, a consumer who purchases a coffee grinder that lacks the power to grind coffee beans may return the product for a full refund under an implied warranty of merchantability. But if the same buyer purchased a used coffee grinder at a thrift shop marked "sold as is," returning the product later may prove difficult. While caveat emptor is no longer the rule for consumer transactions, it's important to know when the exception applies.
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What is the surname of Ceri, the Welsh fly-half who plays for Exeter Chiefs? | Toulon 32 Chiefs 20 - Exeter Chiefs
Toulon 32 Chiefs 20
Exeter Chiefs 20
Mark Stevens at Stade Felix Mayol
As copies of the local Var-Matin newspaper flittered from high in the stands of Toulon’s Stade Felix Mayol, so it seems the hopes of Exeter Chiefs qualifying for the latter stages of this season’s Heineken Cup followed suit.
Heroic efforts against reigning champions Toulon have certainly been notable, but the back-to-back defeats have left Devon’s finest well adrift of their star-studded French rivals in Pool Two.
Bernard Laporte’s star-studded side not only returned to the summit of the group, but their five-point haul has ensured they now lead next best Cardiff Blues by two points entering into the latter stages.
Winger David Smith claimed two of the home side’s four scores, whilst Xavier Chiocci and Jonny Wilkinson also crossed during the second half for Toulon, whose other points came courtesy of Aussie Matt Giteau.
The Chiefs, however, played their part in another excellent encounter claiming tries through Don Armand and Ben White, whilst Henry Slade and Ceri Sweeney also got on the scoresheets with some impressive kicking. It was, though, never enough in the sunshine of the South of France.
Just a week after facing the current holders of the competition, Baxter opted to freshen up his line-up making six changes from that which went down 14-9 on home soil. Into the pack came James Hanks and Don Armand, whilst behind Haydn Thomas and Slade formed a new half-back partnership and Ian Whitten and James were also included from the outset.
Battered and bruised from their visit to Devon, Toulon also made changes as Jean-Charles Orioli and Jocelino Suta were brought in up front; whilst Giteau was switched from centre to fly-half at the expense of Jonny Wilkinson; Maxime Mermoz was brought into the centre and Smith filled the void left by South African speedster Bryan Habana.
Despite the new look to both teams, it was the Chiefs who set the early tone as they used the opening exchanges to outline their attacking endeavours. Although it was enterprising stuff from Baxter’s men, it failed to bring the reward they craved in the hot-house of the Stade Mayol.
As it was, the Frenchmen soaked up Exeter’s pressure before claiming the game’s opening points on 11 minutes when Giteau, Alexis Palisson and Mermoz all combined to send winger Smith sprinting over in the left-hand corner for an unconverted try.
It was certainly the stuff of champions, but so too was the response form the Chiefs who countered within minutes. Thomas and Jack Nowell triggered the alarm bells with successive snipes, before the visitors delivered a telling blow through Armand.
The South African powerhouse was able to power his way over for his maiden Exeter try as he finished off a sizzling move that was instigated by Arscott’s looping pass wide to James, who in turn barged his way past Palisson before shipping the ball back inside to Armand who did the rest. Slade obliged with the extras to give the Chiefs a slender two-point cushion.
Two minutes later and things could have got it even better as Arscott sliced through the Toulon midfield with a sharp counter. However, with Phil Dollman inside him the Chiefs full-back shunned his team-mate, opting instead to back himself for the outside route. Sadly, his burst was repelled and the chance came and went much to the relief of the home faithful, who had earlier been whipped into a frenzy by the infamous pre-match ‘Pilou Pilou’ chant.
Toulon made the most of the let-off as Aussie ace Giteau atoned for an earlier penalty miss by creating the opening for Smith to coast over for his second score, which was awarded by the TMO even though the final pass looked at least two yards forward.
Giteau this time made no mistake with the conversion, nor a penalty which the Chiefs concede in front of their sticks just before the break for straying offside in midfield.
However, the Chiefs were undeterred and having won back possession following a good kick-chase, they won a penalty wide on the right after Toulon were adjudged to have pulled in an opponent at the ruck. Up stepped Slade – on his European debut – to fire over a sublime kick to reduce the deficit to just five points.
HALF TIME RC TOULON 15 EXETER CHIEFS 10
Looking for a big start to the second period, the Chiefs were dealt an early setback when referee John Lacey penalised them for a ruck infringement, allowing Giteau to stroke over his second penalty of the game and extend Toulon’s grip on the contest to two scores.
Again the response was encouraging from the Englishmen as Nowell and Dollman threatened down the right flank, before Arscott clever grubber kick in behind just eluded Whitten as he closed in on the line.
As before, the Chiefs could not turn pressure into points and when James allowed Toulon to regain possession with a loose kick, the home side sensed the opportunity was there for them to strike. Delon Armitage landed a sumptuous touch finder; Suta stole the subsequent Exeter line-out and in the ensuing play, Steffon Armitage was deemed to have knocked the ball on just a yard or so from the Exeter line.
Exeter had escaped somehow and they used the let-off to position themselves back in enemy territory from which Slade was again able to strike – landing a penalty from inside the Toulon 22 after the home side had strayed offside.
It was not only an absorbing contest, but a bruising one to boot. With the injury count mounting on both sides, the Chiefs did their best to keep the pressure on their illustrious hosts. But with such riches available available from the bench, including England World Cup winner Wilkinson, Toulon’s canter turned into a sprint come the last quarter.
A simple ball off the top from Ali Williams enabled the French side to release Drew Mitchell on the charge, the Aussie ace tore through the centre of Exeter’s defensive line before the ball was worked through a series of phases to prop Chiocci, who was able to do the rest as he bulldozed his way over the whitewash for the converted score.
With the bonus point in sight, Toulon smelt blood and duly went for the jugular in their quest for further bounty. Turning down a kickable penalty, Wilkinson positioned the home side into the corner with a kick from which they were than add to pounce.
Initially the Chiefs held firm under sustained bombardment, but with Toulon pressing with wave upon wave of attacks, they exploited the numbers game cleverly to send Wilkinson in under the sticks for the all-important fourth try which man of the match Giteau duly converted to make it 32-13.
The class and execution of Toulon in attack were certainly telling factors, but the visitors were far from finished and they ensured the travelling Tribe of almost 1,000 fans were able to at least have the final cheer of the day.
Having seen Arscott thwarted by a superb try-saving tackle just five minutes from time, the dogged Chiefs kept on and coming and were duly rewarded when replacement White was able to crash over from a pop pass from Will Chudley. Replacement Ceri Sweeney added the conversion on his European debut for the club, but by then it was all a little too late.
Exeter did their best in the dying embers to try and salvage at least a losing bonus point, but Toulon were having none of it and expertly closed out the contest without too much fuss to put them back on the summit of Pool Two, two points ahead of next best Cardiff Blues, who during the past fortnight have been able to record back to back wins against Glasgow Warriors.
The Welsh region and the Scottish side are next on the agenda for the Chiefs in terms of Europe, but before then Baxter’s men will have more pressing matters in the Premiership to deal with, starting with the upcoming visit of Newcastle Falcons to Sandy Park.
RC Toulon: D Mitchell; A Palisson (D Armitage 18), M Basteraud, M Memoz, D Smith (J Wilkinson 58); M Giteau, S Tillous-Borde (F Michalak 71); F Fresia (X Chiocci 59), J-C Orioli (B Noirot 66), C Hayman (M Castrogiovanni 54); J Suta, A Williams; J Smith, S Armitage, C Masoe (capt, V Bruni 10). Replacement (not used): K Mikautadze.
Tries – Smith (2), Chiocci, Wilkinson; Conversions – Giteau (3); Penalties – Giteau (2)
Chiefs: L Arscott; J Nowell (P Dollman 78), I Whitten, P Dollman (S Hill 66), T James; H Slade (C Sweeney 71), H Thomas (W Chudley 74); B Moon (B Sturgess 65), J Yeandle (C Whitehead 65), H Tui (A Brown 65); D Mumm (capt), J Hanks (D Welch 53); T Johnson (B White 54), D Armand, D Ewers (B White 49-54).
Tries – Armand, White; Conversions – Slade, Sweeney; Penalties – Slade (2)
Referee: J Lacey
UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Newcastle Falcons (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, December 21 (3pm)
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In ‘Othello’, to whom is Emilia, Desdemona’s maidservant, married? | Ceri Sweeney: 'Exeter Chiefs will not get carried away' - Sports Mole
Rugby Union
Ceri Sweeney: 'Exeter Chiefs will not get carried away'
Ceri Sweeney says that Exeter Chiefs will take each game one at a time as they continue to battle on three different fronts this season.
By Daniel Lewis , Football League Correspondent
Filed: Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 09:04 UK
Last Updated: Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 12:11 UK
Exeter Chiefs fly-half Ceri Sweeney has urged caution from his teammates ahead of this afternoon's LV= Cup semi-final clash against Leicester Tigers.
The Chiefs head into the game sitting pretty in second place in the Aviva Premiership table, while also having recently secured their place in the final eight of the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Despite being on course to lift as many as three trophies this season, Sweeney insists that the Devon-based outfit will be firmly focusing on the task at hand.
"We are ticking along nicely, but we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves," he is quoted as saying by the Western Morning News. "I know it's a cliche, but we are only looking as far as the next game.
"We certainly have a very tough ask at Leicester, so we will take it as it comes, put a good performance in and do ourselves justice and hopefully, we can get a win for the fans as well. It's a nice place to be right now, but realistically, we could end the season with nothing.
"We are in three competitions at the moment and going well, but there are still six or seven weeks to go. Things could go wrong – hopefully it doesn't – but we could end up out of all the competitions and fifth or sixth place in the league. Rob [Baxter] and Ali [Hepher] are pushing that mentally, we have to be on the ball, keep looking to next week and keep performing."
Exeter are the current holders of the Anglo-Welsh cup having defeated Northampton Saints 15-8 to lift the silverware last year.
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‘Monopoly’. A player currently on Mayfair throws a five – taking him/her to where? | Monopoly (game) | Card Game Database Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Edit
The history of Monopoly can be traced back to 1903, [2] when an American woman named Elizabeth (Lizzie) J. Magie Phillips created a game through which she hoped to be able to explain the single tax theory of Henry George (it was intended as an educational tool to illustrate the negative aspects of concentrating land in private monopolies ). Her game, The Landlord's Game , was self-published, beginning in 1906. [3] A series of variant board games based on her concept were developed from 1906 through the 1930s that involved the buying and selling of land and the development of that land.
Origin
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By 1933, a board game called Monopoly had been created which formed the basis of the game sold by Parker Brothers, beginning in 1935. Several people, mostly in the Midwestern United States and near the East Coast, contributed to the game's design and evolution, and this is when the game's design took on the 4 x 10 space-to-a-side layout and familiar cards were produced. The original version of the game in this format was based on Atlantic City, New Jersey. By the 1970s, the idea that the game had been created solely by Charles Darrow had become popular folklore: it was printed in the game's instructions and even in the 1974 book The Monopoly Book: Strategy and Tactics of the World's Most Popular Game by Maxine Brady.
1936–70
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In 1936, Parker Brothers began licensing the game for sale outside of the United States. In 1941, the British Secret Intelligence Service had John Waddington Ltd. , the licensed manufacturer of the game in the United Kingdom, create a special edition for World War II prisoners of war held by the Nazis . [4] Hidden inside these games were maps , compasses , real money, and other objects useful for escaping. They were distributed to prisoners by Secret Service-created fake charity groups. [5]
1970s–80s
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Economics professor Ralph Anspach published a game Anti-Monopoly in 1973, and was sued for trademark infringement by Parker Brothers in 1974. The case went to trial in 1976. Anspach won on appeals in 1979, as the 9th Circuit Court determined that the trademark Monopoly was generic , and therefore unenforceable. [6] The United States Supreme Court declined to hear the case, allowing the appellate court ruling to stand. This decision was overturned by the passage of Public Law 98-620 in 1984. [7] With that law in place, Parker Brothers and its parent companies ( Hasbro ) continue to hold valid trademarks for the game Monopoly.
1990s–present
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A new wave of licensed products began in 1994, when Hasbro granted a license to USAopoly to begin publishing a San Diego Edition of Monopoly, which has since been followed by over 100 more. [8] Other licensees include Winning Moves Games (since 1995) and Winning Solutions, Inc. (since 2000) in the United States. [9] [10] Winning Moves also has offices in the UK, France, Germany and Australia, and other licensees include AH Media in The Netherlands, and Bestman Games in Nigeria. [11] [12] [13]
Board
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The Monopoly game board consists of 40 spaces containing 28 properties (22 colored streets, four railway stations and two utilities), three Chance spaces, three Community Chest spaces, a Luxury Tax space, an Income Tax space, and the four corner squares: GO, (In) Jail/Just Visiting, Free Parking , and Go to Jail. [14]
US versions
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There have been some changes to the board since the original. Not all of the Chance and Community Chest cards as printed in the 1935 patent were used in editions from 1936/1937 onwards, [15] and graphics with the Mr. Monopoly character were added in that same timeframe. [16] A graphic of a chest containing coins was added to the Community Chest spaces, as were the flat purchase prices of all of the properties. Traditionally, the Community Chest cards were yellow (although they sometimes were printed on blue stock) with no decoration or text on the back, and the Chance cards were orange, likewise with no text or decoration on the back. [16]
Hasbro commissioned a major redesign to the US Standard Edition of the game in 2008. Among the changes: the colors of Mediterranean and Baltic Avenues (which changed from purple to brown), the colors of the GO square (which changed from red to black), the adoption of a flat $200 Income Tax (formerly the player's choice of $200 or 10% of their total holdings, which they may not calculate until after making their final decision), and increased $100 Luxury Tax amount (upped from $75). There were also changes to the Chance and Community Chest cards; for example, the "poor tax" and "grand opera opening" cards became "speeding fine" and "it is your birthday", respectively; though their effects remained the same, and the player must pay only $50 instead of $150 for the school tax. In addition, a player now gets $50 instead of $45 for sale of stock, and the Advance to Illinois Avenue card now has the added text concerning passing Go and collecting $200 on the way there. [17] Similar color and amount changes are used in the U.S. Edition of the "Here and Now: World Edition" game , and are also used in the most recent versions of the McDonald's Monopoly promotion.
All of the Chance & Community Chest cards received a graphic upgrade in 2008 as part of the graphic refresh of the game. Mr. Monopoly's classic line illustration was also now usually replaced by renderings of a 3D Mr. Monopoly model. The backs of the cards have their respective symbols, with Community Chest cards in blue, and Chance cards in orange.
In the U.S. versions shown below, the properties are named after locations in (or near) Atlantic City , New Jersey. [18] Atlantic City's Illinois Avenue was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in the 1980s. St. Charles Place no longer exists, as the Showboat Casino Hotel was developed where it once ran. [19] Template:Hidden
Marvin Gardens, the leading yellow property on the board shown, is a misspelling of the original location name, Marven Gardens . The misspelling was introduced by Charles and Olive Todd, who taught the game to Charles Darrow , and passed on when their home-made Monopoly board was copied by Darrow and thence to Parker Brothers. The Todds also changed the Atlantic City Quakers' Arctic Avenue to Mediterranean, and shortened the Shore Fast Line to the Short Line. [20] It was not until 1995 that Parker Brothers acknowledged this mistake and formally apologized to the residents of Marven Gardens for the misspelling. [21]
Short Line refers to the Shore Fast Line , a streetcar line that served Atlantic City. [22] The B&O Railroad did not serve Atlantic City. A booklet included with the reprinted 1935 edition states that the four railroads that served Atlantic City in the mid-1930s were the Jersey Central , the Seashore Lines , the Reading Railroad , and the Pennsylvania Railroad .
The Baltimore & Ohio (now part of CSX ) was the parent of the Reading. There is a tunnel in Philadelphia where track to the south was B. & O. and track to the north is Reading. The Central of N.J. did not have track to Atlantic City but was the daughter of the Reading (and granddaughter of the B. & O.) Their track ran from the New York City area to Delaware Bay and some trains ran on the Reading-controlled track to Atlantic City. [23]
The actual "Electric Company" and "Water Works" serving the city are respectively Atlantic City Electric Company (a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings ) and the Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority.[ citation needed ]
UK version
For other localized versions, see List of licensed and localized editions of Monopoly: Europe#United Kingdom .
In the 1930s, John Waddington Ltd. (Waddingtons) was a firm of printers from Leeds that had begun to branch out into packaging and the production of playing cards . Waddingtons had sent the card game Lexicon to Parker Brothers hoping to interest them in publishing the game in the United States. In a similar fashion, Parker Brothers sent over a copy of Monopoly to Waddingtons early in 1935 before the game had been put into production in the United States.
The managing director of Waddingtons, Victor Watson, gave the game to his son Norman (who was head of the card games division) to test over the weekend. Norman was impressed by the game and persuaded his father to call Parker Brothers on Monday morning – transatlantic calls then being almost unheard of. This call resulted in Waddingtons obtaining a license to produce and market the game outside of the United States. Watson felt that for the game to be a success in the United Kingdom, the American locations would have to be replaced, so Victor and his secretary, Marjory Phillips, went to London to scout out locations. The Angel, Islington is not a street in London but a building. It was a coaching inn that stood on the Great North Road . By the 1930s, the inn had become a J. Lyons and Co. tea room (it is now a Co-operative Bank ). Some accounts say that Marjory and Victor met at the Angel to discuss the selection and celebrated the fact by including it on the Monopoly board. In 2003, a plaque commemorating the naming was unveiled at the site by Victor Watson's grandson, who is also named Victor.
The standard British board, produced by Waddingtons, was for many years the version most familiar to people in countries in the Commonwealth (except Canada, where the U.S. edition with Atlantic City-area names was reprinted), although local variants of the board are now also found in several of these countries.
In 1998, Winning Moves procured the Monopoly license from Hasbro and created new UK city and regional editions with sponsored squares. Winning Moves struggled to raise the sponsorship deals for the game boards, but did so eventually.[ citation needed ] A Nottingham Graphic Design agency, TMA, produced the visual design of the Monopoly packaging. Initially, in December 1998, the game was sold in just a few WHSmith stores, but demand was high, with almost fifty thousand games shipped in the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas. Winning Moves still produces new city and regional editions annually. Nottingham based designers Guppi have been responsible for the games' visual design since 2001.
The original income tax choice from the 1930s U.S. board is replaced by a flat rate on the UK board, and the $75 Luxury Tax space is replaced with the £100 Super Tax space, the same as the current German board. In 2008, the U.S. Edition was changed to match the UK and various European editions, including a flat $200 Income Tax value and an increased $100 Luxury Tax amount. [17]
The cases wherein the game was produced under license by a national company, the £ (pound) was replaced by a $ (dollar) sign, but the place names were unchanged.
Edit
Starting in the UK in 2005, an updated version of the game, titled Monopoly Here and Now, was produced, replacing game scenarios, properties, and tokens with modern equivalents. Similar boards were produced for Germany and France. Variants of these first editions appeared with Visa -branded debit cards taking the place of cash – the later US "Electronic Banking" edition has unbranded debit cards.
The success of the first Here and Now editions caused Hasbro US to allow online voting for 26 landmark properties across the United States to take their places along the game board. The popularity of this voting, in turn, caused the creation of similar websites, and secondary game boards per popular vote to be created in the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and other nations. [24]
In 2006, Winning Moves Games released the Mega Edition , with a 30% larger game board and revised game play. Other streets from Atlantic City (eight, one per color group) were included, along with a third "utility", the Gas Company. In addition, $1,000 denomination notes (first seen in Winning Moves' Monopoly: The Card Game) are included. Game play is further changed with bus tickets (allowing non-dice-roll movement along one side of the board), a speed die (itself adopted into variants of the Atlantic City standard edition; see below), skyscrapers (after houses and hotels), and train depots that can be placed on the Railroad spaces. [25]
This edition was adapted for the UK market in 2007, and is sold by Winning Moves UK. After the initial US release, critiques of some of the rules caused the company to issue revisions and clarifications on their website.[ citation needed ]
Monopoly Here and Now
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In September 2006, the US edition of Monopoly Here and Now was released. This edition features top landmarks across the US. [26] The properties were decided by votes over the Internet in the spring of 2006. [27]
Monetary values are multiplied by 10,000 (e.g., one collects $2,000,000 instead of $200 for passing GO and pays that much for Income Tax (or 10% of their total, as this edition was launched prior to 2008), each player starts with $15,000,000 instead of $1,500, etc.). [26] Also, the Chance and Community Chest cards are updated, the Railroads are replaced by Airports ( Chicago O'Hare , Los Angeles International , New York City's JFK , and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson ), and the Utilities (Electric Company and Water Works) are replaced by Service Providers (Internet Service Provider and Cell Phone Service Provider). [27] The houses and hotels are blue and silver, not green and red as in most editions of Monopoly. The board uses the traditional US layout; the cheapest properties are purple, not brown, and "Interest on Credit Card Debt" replaces "Luxury Tax". Despite the updated Luxury Tax space and the Income Tax space no longer using the 10% option, this edition uses paper Monopoly money, and not an electronic banking unit like the Here and Now World Edition. However, a similar edition of Monopoly, the Electronic Banking edition, does feature an electronic banking unit and bank cards, as well as a different set of tokens. Both Here and Now and Electronic Banking feature an updated set of tokens from the Atlantic City edition. [27]
It is also notable that three states (California, Florida and Texas) are represented by two cities each (Los Angeles and San Francisco, Miami and Orlando, and Dallas and Houston respectively). No other state is represented by more than one city (not including the airports). One landmark, Texas Stadium , has been demolished and no longer exists. Another landmark, Jacobs Field, still exists, but was renamed Progressive Field in 2008. [28]
All property deeds, houses, and hotels are held by the bank until bought by the players. A standard set of Monopoly pieces includes:
Cards
A deck of 32 Chance and Community Chest cards (16 Chance and 16 Community Chest) which players draw when they land on the corresponding squares of the track, and follow the instructions printed on them.
Deeds
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A title deed for each property is given to a player to signify ownership, and specifies purchase price, mortgage value, the cost of building houses and hotels on that property, and the various rent prices depending on how developed the property is. Properties include:
22 streets, divided into 8 color groups of two or three streets; a player must own all of a color group in order to build houses or hotels. Once achieved, color group properties must be improved or "broken down" evenly. See the section on Rules.
4 railroads, players collect $25 rent if they own one station; $50 for two; $100 for three; $200 for all four. These are usually replaced by railroad stations in non-U.S. editions of Monopoly.
2 utilities , rent is four times the dice value if one utility is owned, but ten times if both are owned. Hotels and houses cannot be built on utilities or stations. Some country editions have a fixed rent for utilities; for example, the Italian editions has a L. 2,000 ($20) rent if one utility is owned, or L. 10,000 ($100) if both are owned.
The purchase prices for the various properties vary from $60 to $400 on a U.S. Standard Edition set.
Dice
A pair of six-sided dice . (In 2007, a third " Speed Die " was added for variation.)
Houses and hotels
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32 houses and 12 hotels made of wood or plastic (the original and current Deluxe Edition have wooden houses and hotels; the current "base set" uses plastic buildings). Unlike money, houses and hotels have a finite supply. If no more are available, no substitute is allowed.
Money
40 $5 bills (pink)
40 $1 bills (white)
Newer (September 2008 and later) U.S. editions instead provide a total of $20,580--30 of each denomination. The colors of some of the bills also changed: $10s are now blue instead of yellow, $20s are a brighter color green than before, and $50s are now purple instead of blue.
Each player begins the game with his or her token on the Go square, and $1,500 (or 1,500 of a localized currency) in play money (2,500 with the Speed Die). Prior to September 2008, the money was divided with greater numbers of $20 and $10 bill. Since then, the US version has taken on the British version's initial cash distributions.
U.S. editions prior to 2008
U.S. editions since 2008 / British editions
2 x $500
5 x $1
5 × $/£1
Although the US version is indicated as allowing eight players, the above cash distribution is not possible with all eight players since it requires 32 $100 bills and 40 $1 bills. However, the amount of cash contained in the game is enough for eight players with a slight alteration of bill distribution.
International currencies
Edit
Pre-Euro German editions of the game started with 30,000 "Spielmark" in eight denominations (abbreviated as "M."), and later used seven denominations of the "Deutsche Mark" ("DM."). In the classic Italian game, each player received ₤350,000 ($3500) in a two-player game, but ₤50,000 ($500) less for each player more than two. Only in a six-player game does a player receive the equivalent of $1,500. The classic Italian games were played with only four denominations of currency. Both Spanish editions (the Barcelona and Madrid editions) started the game with 150,000 in play money, with a breakdown identical to that of the American version.
Extra currency
Edit
Monopoly money is theoretically unlimited; if the bank runs out of money the players must make do with other markers, or calculate on paper. Additional paper money can be bought at certain locations, notably game and hobby stores, or downloaded from various websites and printed and cut by hand. (One such site has created a $1,000 bill; while a $1,000 bill can be found in Monopoly: The Mega Edition and Monopoly: The Card Game (both published by Winning Moves Games), this note is not a standard denomination for "classic" versions of Monopoly. [29] )
Tokens
File:US Deluxe Monopoly Tokens.jpg
Each player is represented by a small metal token that is moved around the edge of the board according to the roll of two six-sided dice. The number of tokens (and the tokens themselves) have changed over the history of the game, with many appearing in special editions only, and some available with non-game purchases. As of 2013, eight tokens are included in standard edition games, including:
Police Cap ( Monopoly Collection , 2011).[ citation needed ]
Train (Only in Deluxe Editions)
Tokens exclusive to certain editions include the locomotive, which was available only in the Deluxe Edition of the game. An Australian edition of the game had a pewter koala in addition to the regular pieces, and the Canadian edition from 1982 did the same but with a beaver token.[ citation needed ] Tokens retired in 2008 and 2013 are still available in Monopoly: The Classic Edition. Tokens available without the game board included replicas of certain cars when purchased with licensed Johnny Lightning products, or a special Director's Chair token when purchased with Limited Edition DVD and Blu-ray copies of the documentary Under the Boardwalk: The MONOPOLY Story .
Many of the early tokens were created by companies such as Dowst Miniature Toy Company, which made metal charms and tokens designed to be used on charm bracelets. The battleship and cannon were also used briefly in the Parker Brothers war game Conflict (released in 1940), but after the game failed on the market, the premade pieces were recycled into Monopoly usage. [30] Hasbro recently adopted the battleship and cannon for Diplomacy .
Early localized editions of the standard edition (including some Canadian editions, which used the U.S. board layout) did not include pewter tokens but instead had generic wooden pawns identical to those in Sorry! . [31] Parker Brothers also acquired Sorry! in the 1930s. 1940s Monopoly sets in Britain had colored cardboard tokens that slotted onto small wooden blocks.[ citation needed ]
In 1998, a Hasbro advertising campaign asked the public to vote on a new playing piece to be added to the set, resulting in a "bag of money" token being added to the US edition. [32] This piece was retired in 2007. In 2013, a similar promotional campaign was launched encouraging the public to vote on one of several possible new tokens to replace an existing one. The choices were a guitar, a diamond ring, a helicopter, a robot, or a cat. [33] Unlike in 1998, one piece is to be retired, in this case the iron, and will be replaced by a new token, the cat. Both were chosen by a vote that ran on Facebook from January 8 to February 5, 2013. [34] Shortly after the Facebook voting campaign, a limited edition golden token set was released exclusively at various national retailers, such as Target in the US and Tesco in the UK. [35] [36] This set contained the 2008-2013 tokens as listed above, and also contained all five of the iron's potential replacements: the cat, a guitar, a diamond ring, a helicopter and a robot.
Rules
Source: Monopoly official rules
Players take turns in order, with the initial player determined by chance before the game. A typical turn begins with the rolling of the dice and advancing their piece clockwise around the board the corresponding number of squares. If a player rolls doubles, they roll again after completing their turn. If a player rolls three consecutive sets of doubles on one turn, the player has been "caught speeding," and the player is immediately sent to jail instead of moving the amount shown on the dice for the third roll, ending the player's turn.
A player who lands or passes the Go space collects $200 (unless they automatically go to jail). Players who land on either Income Tax or Luxury Tax pay the indicated amount to the bank. In older editions of the game, two options were given for Income Tax: either pay a flat fee of $200 or 10% of the player's total worth (including the current values of all the properties and buildings owned). Players must choose which option before calculating their total worth, and cannot change their mind if it turns out that the $200 was actually less; in 2008, the 10% option was removed. Luxury Tax was originally $75; in 2008, it was increased to $100. Free Parking is just a "free" space; players who land here neither gain nor lose anything.
Chance/Community Chest
Main article: Chance and Community Chest cards
If a player lands on Chance or Community Chest, they draw the top card from the respective pile and obey its instructions. This may include collecting or paying the bank a specified amount of money, or automatically moving to a specific space on the board. Two types of cards that involve jail, "Go to Jail" and " Get Out of Jail Free ", are explained below.
Jail
Edit
A player will land in jail if they land on "Go to Jail", throw three straight doubles in a turn, or draw a Community Chest or Chance Card saying "Go to Jail". When a player is sent to jail they move there directly (" Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. ") and their turn ends. If the player is not "sent" to jail but just lands on that space, they are "Just Visiting", incur no penalty and move in the usual manner on their next turn.
If a player is in jail, they do not take a normal turn and must either pay a fine of $50 to be released from jail, use a Chance or Community Chest Get Out of Jail Free card , or attempt to roll doubles on the dice. If a player fails to roll doubles, they lose their turn. If they fail to roll doubles three times, they must automatically pay the $50 fine (or use a Get out of Jail Free card) to be released. While a player is in jail, they may not buy property directly, by virtue of not being able to land on the properties. However, they may sell, trade and mortgage properties, purchase buildings, participate in auctions, and collect rents. If a player does roll doubles to exit Jail, they may immediately move according to the roll, but they cannot roll a second time after exiting jail. If the player instead pays the $50 fine or uses a Get out of Jail Free card and then rolls doubles, they are required to move the amount shown on the dice and then roll again.
Properties
Edit
If the player lands on an unowned property, whether street, railroad, or utility, they can buy the property for its listed purchase price. If they decline this purchase, the property is auctioned off by the bank to the highest bidder, including the player who declined to buy. If the property landed on is already owned and unmortgaged, they must pay the owner a given rent, the price dependent on whether the property is part of a set or its level of development.
When a player owns all of the properties in a color group and none of them are mortgaged, they may develop them during their turn or in between other player's turns. Development involves buying miniature houses or hotels from the bank and placing them on the property spaces, and must be done uniformly across the group. That is, a second house cannot be built on any property within a group until all of them have one house. Once the player owns an entire group, they can collect double rent for any undeveloped properties within it. Although houses and hotels cannot be built on railroads or utilities, the given rent also increases if a player owns more than one of either type. If there is more demand for houses to be built than what remains in the bank, then a housing auction is conducted to determine who will get to purchase each house.
Mortgaging
Edit
Properties can also be mortgaged, although all developments on a monopoly must be sold before any property of that color can be mortgaged or traded. The player receives money from the bank for each mortgaged property (half of the purchase price), which must be repaid with 10% interest to unmortgage. Houses and hotels can be sold back to the bank for half their purchase price. Players cannot collect rent on mortgaged properties and may not give improved property away to others; however, trading mortgaged properties is allowed. The player receiving the mortgaged property must immediately unmortgage it for the mortgage price plus 10%, or pay the bank just the 10% amount and keep the property mortgaged; if the player chooses the latter, they must still pay the 10% again if the property is later unmortgaged.
Bankruptcy
Edit
A player who cannot pay what they owe is bankrupt and eliminated from the game. If the bankrupt player owes the bank, they must turn all of their assets over to the bank, who then auctions off their properties (if they have any), except buildings. If the debt is instead to another player, all the assets are instead given to that opponent, but the new owner must still pay the bank to unmortgage any such properties received. The winner is the remaining player left after all the others have gone bankrupt.
Rule modifications
Edit
From 1936, the rules booklet included with each Monopoly set contained a short section at the end providing rules for making the game shorter, either by setting a time limit, or by ending the game after the second player goes bankrupt. As well, an additional rules booklet or sheet was included giving the rules for a short variant with several changes, such as starting each player out with two properties selected at random. [37] A later version of the rules included this variant, along with the time limit game, in the main rules booklet, omitting the second bankruptcy method as a third short game. [38]
Digital versions
Edit
Video game and computer game versions of Monopoly have options where popular house rules can be used. House rules that have the effect of randomly introducing more money into the game have a side-effect of increasing the time it takes for players to become bankrupt, lengthening the game considerably, as well as decreasing the effects of strategy and prudent investment. House rules that increase the amount of money in the game may change the strategies of the players, such as changing the relative value of different properties. For instance, with the official rules, players can rarely afford to build significant numbers of houses on the third and fourth sides of the board, but with more money in the game, this strategy may become more workable. [39]
Strategy
Edit
According to Jim Slater in The Mayfair Set , the Orange property group is the best to own because players land on them more often, as a result of the Chance cards Go to Jail, Advance to St. Charles Place (Pall Mall), Advance to Reading Railroad (Marylebone Station) and Go Back Three Spaces. [40]
In all, during game play, Illinois Avenue (Trafalgar Square), New York Avenue (Vine Street), B&O Railroad (Fenchurch Street Station), and Reading Railroad (Marylebone Station) are the most frequently landed-upon properties. Mediterranean Avenue (Old Kent Road), Baltic Avenue (Whitechapel Road), Park Place (Park Lane), and Oriental Avenue (The Angel Islington) are the least-landed-upon properties. Among the property groups, the Railroads are most frequently landed upon, as no other group has four properties; Orange has the next highest frequency, followed by Red. [41]
Other strategies may include exploitation of the game's rules, or loopholes that are not necessarily addressed by the rules. A nearly-bankrupt player could, for instance, sell or trade all remaining assets to another player for substantially less than their actual value, effectively engaging in kingmaking . One might deploy this strategy in a last-ditch effort to avoid conceding their assets to wealthy players when the threat of bankruptcy becomes unavoidable. However, this tactic is usually prevented by judges at the national championship level as trades are required to be beneficial to all parties involved.
Some players have also used tactics such as selling houses from one set of properties, then immediately buying them back and placing them on more expensive sets of properties, all during the course of a single turn. Although the housing auction rule sometimes applies, this tactic could still be used if other players simply cannot afford to participate in auctions at the time. When the number of houses available to the bank is particularly limited, some players may quickly purchase and hoard all available housing without ever upgrading to hotels, effectively restricting anyone else from upgrading as well.
End game
Edit
One common criticism of Monopoly is that it has carefully defined, yet almost unreachable, termination conditions. Edward P. Parker, a former president of Parker Brothers , is quoted as saying, "We always felt that forty-five minutes was about the right length for a game, but Monopoly could go on for hours. Also, a game was supposed to have a definite end somewhere. In Monopoly you kept going around and around." [42] However, the problem of time can be resolved by playing with a time limit and counting each player's net worth when the time is up. In fact, tournament play calls for a 90-minute time limit.[ citation needed ] Two hour time limits are used for international play.[ citation needed ] The Lord of the Rings edition gives players the option of creating a random time limit using the included One Ring token and specialized dice. The SpongeBob SquarePants game board includes a Plankton piece that moves every time someone rolls a 1 with the dice (if a player rolls two 1s, the Plankton piece moves two spaces), and the game is over when it reaches the end of the board.[ citation needed ]
Hasbro states that the longest game of Monopoly ever played lasted 1,680 hours (70 days or 10 weeks or 2 Template:Fraction months). [43]
Related games
Numerous add-ons have been made for Monopoly, sold independently from the game both before its commercialization and after, with three official ones discussed below:
Stock Exchange
Edit
The original Stock Exchange add-on was published by Capitol Novelty Co. of Rensselaer, New York in early 1936. It was marketed as an add-on for Monopoly, Finance, or Easy Money games. Shortly after Capitol Novelty introduced Stock Exchange, Parker Brothers bought it from them then marketed their own, slightly redesigned, version as an add-on specifically for their "new" Monopoly game; the Parker Brothers version was available in June 1936. The Free Parking square is covered over by a new Stock Exchange space and the add-on included three Chance and three Community Chest cards directing the player to "Advance to Stock Exchange". [44] The Stock Exchange add-on was later redesigned and rereleased in 1992 under license by Chessex , this time including a larger number of new Chance and Community Chest cards. This version included ten new Chance cards (five "Advance to Stock Exchange" and five other related cards) and eleven new Community Chest cards (five "Advance to Stock Exchange" and six other related cards; [45] the regular Community Chest card "From sale of stock you get $45" is removed from play when using these cards). Many of the original rules applied to this new version (in fact, one optional play choice allows for playing in the original form by only adding the "Advance to Stock Exchange" cards to each deck).[ citation needed ]
A Monopoly Stock Exchange Edition was released in 2001 (although not in the US), this time adding an electronic calculator-like device to keep track of the complex stock figures. This was a full edition, not just an add-on, that came with its own board, money and playing pieces. Properties on the board were replaced by companies on which shares could be floated, and offices and home offices (instead of houses and hotels) could be built. [46]
Playmaster
Edit
Playmaster, another official add-on, released in 1982, is an electronic device that keeps track of all player movement and dice rolls as well as what properties are still available. It then uses this information to call random auctions and mortgages that are advantageous for some players and a punishment for others, making it easier to free up cards of a color group. It also plays eight short tunes when key game functions occur; for example when a player lands on a railroad it plays " I've Been Working on the Railroad ", and a police car's siren sounds when a player goes to Jail. [47]
Get Out of Jail and Free Parking Mini Games
Edit
In 2009, Hasbro released two mini games that can be played as stand-alone games or combined with the Monopoly game. In Get Out of Jail, the goal is to manipulate a spade under a jail cell in an attempt to flick out various colored prisoners. The game can be used as an alternative to rolling doubles to get out of jail. [48] [49] In Free Parking, players attempt to balance taxis on a wobbly board. The Free Parking add-on can also be used with the Monopoly game. When a player lands on the Free Parking, the player can take the Taxi Challenge, and if successful, can move to any space on the board. [50] [51]
Speed Die
Edit
Template:Refimprove section Unlike the three add-ons above, which have always been sold separately, the Speed Die was introduced in-game in 2006. In 2007, Parker Brothers began releasing its standard version of Monopoly with the same die (originally in blue, later in red). First included in Winning Moves' Monopoly: The Mega Edition variant, this third, six-sided die is rolled with the other two, and accelerates gameplay when in use. Its faces are: 1, 2, 3, two " Mr. Monopoly " sides, and a bus. The numbers behave as normal, adding to the other two dice, unless a "triple" is rolled, in which case the player can move to any space on the board. The bus (properly "get off the bus") allows the player to use only one of the two numbered dice or the sum of both, thus a roll of 1, 5, and bus would let the player choose between moving 1, 5, or 6 spaces. If "Mr. Monopoly" is rolled while there are unowned properties, the player advances forward to the nearest one. Otherwise, the player advances to the nearest property on which rent is owed.
The Speed Die is used throughout the game in the "Mega Edition", while in the "Regular Edition" it is used after every player has passed GO for the first time. In these editions it remains optional, although use of the Speed Die was made mandatory for use in the 2009 US & World MONOPOLY Championship.
Spinoffs
Parker Brothers and its licensees have also sold several spin-offs of Monopoly. These are not add-ons, as they do not function as an addition to the Monopoly game, but are simply additional games in the flavor of Monopoly:
Advance to Boardwalk board game (1985): Focusing mainly on building the most hotels along the Boardwalk.
Don't Go to Jail : Dice game originally released by Parker Brothers; roll combinations of dice to create color groups for points before rolling the words "GO" "TO" and "JAIL" (which forfeits all earned points for the turn).
Don't Go to Jail: Monopoly Express : A deluxe, travel edition re-release of Don't Go To Jail, replacing the word dice with "Officer Jones" dice and adding an eleventh die, Houses & Hotels, and a self-contained game container/dice roller & keeper. [52]
Express Monopoly card game (1994 US, 1995 UK): Released by Hasbro/Parker Brothers and Waddingtons in the UK, now out of print. Basically a rummy-style card game based on scoring points by completing color group sections of the game board.
Free Parking card game: A more complex card game released by Parker Brothers, with several similarities to the card game Mille Bornes . Uses cards to either add time to parking meters, or spend the time doing activities to earn points. Includes a deck of Second Chance cards that further alter gameplay. Two editions were made; minor differences in card art and Second Chance cards in each edition.
Monopoly City : Gameplay retains similar flavor but has been made significantly more complex in this version. The traditional properties are replaced by “districts” mapped to the previously underutilized real estate in the center of the board.
Monopoly Deal : The most recent card game version of Monopoly. Players attempt to complete three property groups by playing property, cash & event cards. [53]
Monopoly Empire (2013): A variation where brands are purchased and owned instead of properties. Games are designed to finish in 30 minutes.
Monopoly Express Casino: A gambling-themed version of the above game, that adds wagering to the gameplay.
Monopoly Here & Now Electronic Edition: Eliminates the need for money, using credit cards instead.
Monopoly Hotels (2012): based on the mobile app.
Monopoly Junior board game (first published 1990, multiple variations since): A simplified version of the original game for young children.
Monopoly: The Card Game (2000): an updated card game released by Winning Moves Games under license from Hasbro. Similar, but decidedly more complex, gameplay to the Express Monopoly card game.
Monopoly Millionaire (2012): A variant of the game where the goal is to be the first player to make $1,000,000.
Monopoly Millionaire Deal (2012): Card game; Combines gameplay elements of Monopoly Millionaire and Monopoly Deal.
U-Build Monopoly (2010): A variant of Monopoly City using separate game tiles that allow for construction of custom game board configurations.
Video games
Monopoly City Streets : An online version, using Google Maps and OpenStreetMap .
Monopoly Millionaires The Facebook game designed by Playfish .
Monopoly Streets : A video game played for the Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3. The video game includes properties now played on a street.
Monopoly Tycoon : A game where you build businesses on the properties you own.
Monopoly Hotels : An iPad app where players focus on buying Monopoly properties to accommodate characters from other Hasbro properties (such as Mr. Potato Head).
Gambling games
Template:Refimprove section
Many Monopoly-themed slot machines and lotteries have been produced by WMS Gaming in conjunction with International Game Technology for land-based casinos. [56] WagerWorks , who have the on-line rights to Monopoly, have created online Monopoly themed games.
London’s Gamesys Group have also developed a bingo-based online game called "Monopoly Snap!" for the Jackpotjoy online bingo site. [57]
The British quiz machine brand itbox also supports a Monopoly trivia and chance game, which, like most other itbox games, costs 50p ( £ 0.50) to play and has a £ 20 jackpot.
There was also a live, online version of Monopoly. Six painted taxis drive around London picking up passengers. When the taxis reach their final destination, the region of London that they are in is displayed on the online board. This version takes far longer to play than board-game monopoly, with one game lasting 24 hours. Results and position are sent to players via e-mail at the conclusion of the game. [58]
Media
Main article: McDonald's Monopoly
The McDonald's Monopoly game is a sweepstakes advertising promotion of McDonald's and Hasbro that has been offered in the United States, Canada, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Hong Kong , the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa , Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and United Kingdom.[ citation needed ]
Television game show
Main article: Monopoly (game show)
A short-lived Monopoly game show aired on Saturday evenings from June 16 to September 1, 1990 on ABC . The show was produced by Merv Griffin and hosted by Mike Reilly . The show was paired with a summer-long Super Jeopardy! tournament, which also aired during this period on ABC.
Currently, The Hub airs the game show Family Game Night . For the first two seasons, teams earn cash in the form of "Monopoly Crazy Cash Cards" from the "Monopoly Crazy Cash Corner", which is then inserted to the " Monopoly Crazy Cash Machine " at the end of the show. In addition, starting with Season 2, teams win "Monopoly Party Packages" for winning the individual games. For Season 3, there is a Community Chest . Each card on Mr. Monopoly has a combination of three colors. Then teams will use the combination card to unlock the chest. If it's the right combination, then they will advance to the Crazy Cash Machine for a brand-new car . For the show's fourth season, a new game is added called Monopoly Remix , featuring Park Place and Boardwalk, as well as Income Tax and Luxury Tax.
Films
Edit
In November 2008, Ridley Scott was announced to direct Universal Pictures ' film version of the game, based on a script written by Pamela Pettler and Alex Hyner. The film is co-produced by Hasbro's Brian Goldner , as part of a deal with Hasbro to develop movies based on the company's line of toys. [59] [60] The story is being developed by author Frank Beddor . [61] However, Universal eventually passed on the project and rights reverted to Hasbro.
In October 2012, Hasbro announced a new partnership with production company Emmett/Furla, and they have confirmed that they will work on a live action version of Monopoly, along with Action Man and Hungry Hungry Hippos . [62] Ridley Scott's role on this film has now been changed to a producer.
The documentary Under the Boardwalk: The MONOPOLY Story , covering the history and players of the game, won an Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 2010 Anaheim International Film Festival . The film played theatrically in the US beginning in March 2011 and was released on Amazon & iTunes [63] on February 14, 2012. The film is directed by Kevin Tostado and narrated by Zachary Levi . [64] [65]
Tournaments
Edit
Although in the past, U.S. entrants had to successfully compete in regional competitions before the national championship, qualifying for the National Championship has been online since 2003. For the 2003 Championship, qualification was limited to the first fifty people who correctly completed an online quiz. Out of concerns that such methods of qualifying might not always ensure a competition of the best players, the 2009 Championship qualifying was expanded to include an online multiple-choice quiz (a score of 80% or better was required to advance); followed by an online five-question essay test; followed by a two-game online tournament at Pogo.com. The process was to have produced a field of 23 plus one: Matt McNally, the 2003 national champion, who received a bye and was not required to qualify. However, at the end of the online tournament, there was an eleven-way tie for the last six spots. The decision was made to invite all of those who had tied for said spots. In fact, two of those who had tied and would have otherwise been eliminated, Dale Crabtree of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Brandon Baker, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, played in the final game and finished third and fourth respectively. [66]
The 2009 Monopoly U.S. National Championship was held on April 14–15 in Washington, D.C. In his first tournament ever, Richard Marinaccio, an attorney from Sloan, New York (a suburb of Buffalo), prevailed over a field that included two previous champions to be crowned the 2009 U.S. National Champion. In addition to the title, Mr. Marinaccio took home $20,580 — the amount of money in the bank of the board game — and competed in the 2009 World Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 21–22, where he finished in third place. [66]
World Championship
Edit
Hasbro conducts a worldwide Monopoly tournament. The first Monopoly World Championships took place in Grossinger's Resort in New York, in November 1973, but it wasn't until 1975 that they included competitors from outside the United States. It has been aired in the United States by ESPN . In 2009, 41 players competed for the title of Monopoly World Champion and a cash prize of $20,580 USD, which is the total amount of 'Monopoly money' in the current Monopoly set used in the tournament. [66]
Date
Edit
Because Monopoly evolved in the public domain before its commercialization, Monopoly has seen many variant games. The game is licensed in 103 countries and printed in 37 languages. [70] Most of the variants are exact copies of the Monopoly games with the street names replaced with locales from a particular town, university, or fictional place. National boards have been released as well. Over the years, many specialty Monopoly editions, licensed by Parker Brothers/Hasbro, and produced by them, or their licensees (including USAopoly and Winning Moves Games) have been sold to local and national markets worldwide. Two well known "families" of -opoly like games, without licenses from Parker Brothers/Hasbro, have also been produced.
Several published games similar to Monopoly include:
Anti-Monopoly , one of several games [71] that are a sort of monopoly backwards. [72] The name of this game led to legal action between Anti-Monopoly's creator, Ralph Anspach , and the owners of Monopoly. [72]
Business, a Monopoly-like game not associated with Hasbro. In this version the "properties" to be bought are cities of India; Chance and Community Chest reference lists of results printed in the center of the board, keyed to the dice roll; and money is represented by counters, not paper. [73]
Dostihy a sázky, a variant sold in Czechoslovakia . This game comes from the totalitarian communist era (1948–1989), when private businesses were forbidden and mortgages didn't exist, so the monopoly theme was changed to a horse racing theme. [74]
Ghettopoly , released in 2003, caused considerable offense upon its release. The game, intended to be a humorous rendering of ghetto life, was decried as racist for its unflinching use of racial stereotypes. Hasbro sought and received an injunction against Ghettopoly's designer. [75] [76]
Make Your Own -OPOLY: [77] This game allows you to customize the board, money, and rules to your liking.
Games by locale or theme
Edit
There have been a large number of localized editions, broken down here by region:
High ( dice rolling , card drawing)
Skills required
Negotiation, Basic Resource management
In 2008, Hasbro released Monopoly Here and Now: The World Edition. This world edition features top locations of the world. The locations were decided by votes over the Internet. The result of the voting was announced on August 20, 2008. [78]
Out of these, Gdynia is especially notable, as it is by far the smallest city of those featured and won the vote thanks to a spontaneous, large-scale mobilization of support started by its citizens. The new game uses its own currency unit, the Monopolonian (a game-based take on the Euro; designated by
M
). The game uses said unit in millions and thousands. As seen above, there is no dark purple color-group, as that is replaced by brown, as in the European version of the game.[ citation needed ]
It is also notable that three cities ( Montreal , Toronto , and Vancouver ) are from Canada and three other cities (Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai) are from the People's Republic of China. No other countries are represented by more than one city.[ citation needed ]
Of the 68 cities listed on Hasbro Inc.'s website for the vote, Jerusalem , was chosen as one of the 20 cities to be featured in the newest Monopoly World Edition. [79] Before the vote took place, a Hasbro employee in the London office eliminated the country signifier "Israel" after the city, in response to pressure from pro- Palestinian advocacy groups .[ citation needed ] After the Israeli government protested, Hasbro Inc. issued a statement that read: "It was a bad decision, one that we rectified relatively quickly. This is a game. We never wanted to enter into any political debate. We apologize to our Monopoly fans." [79]
Edit
Hasbro sells a Deluxe Edition, which is mostly identical to the classic edition but has wooden houses and hotels and gold-toned tokens, including one token in addition to the standard eleven, a railroad locomotive . Other additions to the Deluxe Edition include a card carousel, which holds the title deed cards, and money printed with two colors of ink. [80]
In 1978, retailer Neiman Marcus manufactured and sold an all-chocolate edition of Monopoly through its "Christmas Wish Book" for that year. The entire set was edible, including the money, dice, hotels, properties, tokens and playing board. The set retailed for $600. [81]
In 2000, the FAO Schwarz store in New York City sold a custom version called One-Of-A-Kind Monopoly for $100,000. [82] This special edition comes in a locking attaché case made with Napolino leather and lined in suede, and features include:
18- carat (75%) gold tokens, houses, and hotels
The money is real, negotiable United States currency
The Guinness Book of World Records states that a set worth $2,000,000 and made of 23-carat gold, with rubies and sapphires atop the chimneys of the houses and hotels, is the most expensive Monopoly set ever produced. [83] This set was designed by artist Sidney Mobell to honor the game's 50th anniversary in 1985.
Criticisms
Edit
Wired magazine believes Monopoly is a poorly designed game. Former Wall Streeter Derk Solko explains, "Monopoly has you grinding your opponents into dust. It's a very negative experience. It's all about cackling when your opponent lands on your space and you get to take all their money." [84]
Most of the 3 to 4-hour average playing time is spent waiting for other players to play their turn. "Board game enthusiasts disparagingly call this a 'roll your dice, move your mice' format". [84]
The hobby-gaming community BoardGameGeek is especially critical. [85] User reviews of Monopoly rank the game among the 20 worst games out of nearly 10,000 ranked in the database. [86]
See also
| Whitechapel Road |
Which former British athlete was married to swimmer Sharron Davies from 1994-2000? | Monopoly (game) | Pop Culture Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Further information: History of the board game Monopoly ===Early history[ edit ]===
The history of Monopoly can be traced back to 1903, [2 ] when an American woman named Elizabeth (Lizzie) J. Magie Phillips created a game through which she hoped to be able to explain the single tax theory of Henry George (it was intended as an educational tool to illustrate the negative aspects of concentrating land in private monopolies ). Her game, The Landlord's Game , was self-published, beginning in 1906. [3 ] A series of variant board games based on her concept were developed from 1906 through the 1930s that involved the buying and selling of land and the development of that land.
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By 1933, a board game called Monopoly had been created which formed the basis of the game sold by Parker Brothers, beginning in 1935. Several people, mostly in the Midwestern United States and near the East Coast, contributed to the game's design and evolution, and this is when the game's design took on the 4×10 space-to-a-side layout and familiar cards were produced. The original version of the game in this format was based on Atlantic City, New Jersey. By the 1970s, the idea that the game had been created solely by Charles Darrow had become popular folklore: it was printed in the game's instructions and even in the 1974 book The Monopoly Book: Strategy and Tactics of the World's Most Popular Game by Maxine Brady.
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In 1936, Parker Brothers began licensing the game for sale outside of the United States. In 1941, the British Secret Intelligence Service had John Waddington Ltd. , the licensed manufacturer of the game in the United Kingdom, create a special edition for World War II prisoners of war held by the Nazis . [4 ] Hidden inside these games were maps , compasses , real money, and other objects useful for escaping. They were distributed to prisoners by Secret Service-created fake charity groups. [5 ]
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Economics professor Ralph Anspach published a game Anti-Monopoly in 1973, and was sued for trademark infringement by Parker Brothers in 1974. The case went to trial in 1976. Anspach won on appeals in 1979, as the 9th Circuit Court determined that the trademark Monopoly was generic , and therefore unenforceable. [6 ] The United States Supreme Court declined to hear the case, allowing the appellate court ruling to stand. This decision was overturned by the passage of Public Law 98-620 in 1984. [7 ] With that law in place, Parker Brothers and its parent companies ( Hasbro ) continue to hold valid trademarks for the game Monopoly.
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A new wave of licensed products began in 1994, when Hasbro granted a license to USAopoly to begin publishing a San Diego Edition of Monopoly, which has since been followed by over 100 more. [8 ] Other licensees include Winning Moves Games (since 1995) and Winning Solutions, Inc. (since 2000) in the United States. [9 ] [10 ]Winning Moves also has offices in the UK, France, Germany and Australia, and other licensees include AH Media in The Netherlands, and Bestman Games in Nigeria. [11 ] [12 ] [13 ]
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The Monopoly gameboard consists of 40 spaces containing 28 properties (22 colored streets, four railway stations and two utilities), three Chance spaces, three Community Chest spaces, a Luxury Tax space, an Income Tax space, and the four corner squares: GO, (In) Jail/Just Visiting, Free Parking , and Go to Jail. [14 ]
[2] The board cover of the standard British version, with the 2009–13 artworkFor other localized versions, see List of licensed and localized editions of Monopoly: Europe#United Kingdom .
In the 1930s, John Waddington Ltd. (Waddingtons) was a firm of printers from Leeds that had begun to branch out into packaging and the production of playing cards . Waddingtons had sent the card game Lexicon to Parker Brothers hoping to interest them in publishing the game in the United States. In a similar fashion, Parker Brothers sent over a copy of Monopoly to Waddingtons early in 1935 before the game had been put into production in the United States.
The managing director of Waddingtons, Victor Watson, gave the game to his son Norman (who was head of the card games division) to test over the weekend. Norman was impressed by the game and persuaded his father to call Parker Brothers on Monday morning – transatlantic calls then being almost unheard of. This call resulted in Waddingtons obtaining a license to produce and market the game outside of the United States. Watson felt that for the game to be a success in the United Kingdom, the American locations would have to be replaced, so Victor and his secretary, Marjory Phillips, went to London to scout out locations. The Angel, Islington is not a street in London but a building. It was a coaching inn that stood on the Great North Road . By the 1930s, the inn had become a J. Lyons and Co. tea room (it is now a Co-operative Bank ). Some accounts say that Marjory and Victor met at the Angel to discuss the selection and celebrated the fact by including it on the Monopoly board. In 2003, a plaque commemorating the naming was unveiled at the site by Victor Watson's grandson, who is also named Victor.
The standard British board, produced by Waddingtons, was for many years the version most familiar to people in countries in the Commonwealth (except Canada, where the US edition with Atlantic City-area names was reprinted), although local variants of the board are now also found in several of these countries.
In 1998, Winning Moves procured the Monopoly license from Hasbro and created new UK city and regional editions with sponsored squares. Winning Moves struggled to raise the sponsorship deals for the gameboards, but did so eventually.[ citation needed ] A Nottingham Graphic Design agency, TMA, produced the visual design of theMonopoly packaging. Initially, in December 1998, the game was sold in just a few WHSmith stores, but demand was high, with almost fifty thousand games shipped in the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas. Winning Moves still produces new city and regional editions annually. Nottingham based designers Guppi have been responsible for the games' visual design since 2001.
The original income tax choice from the 1930s US board is replaced by a flat rate on the UK board, and the $75 Luxury Tax space is replaced with the £100 Super Tax space, the same as the current German board. In 2008, the US Edition was changed to match the UK and various European editions, including a flat $200 Income Tax value and an increased $100 Luxury Tax amount. [17 ]
The cases wherein the game was produced under license by a national company, the £ (pound) was replaced by a $ (dollar) sign, but the place names were unchanged.
UK Edition Monopoly board layout [show ]===Post-2005 variations[ edit ]===
Starting in the UK in 2005, an updated version of the game, titled Monopoly Here and Now, was produced, replacing game scenarios, properties, and tokens with modern equivalents. Similar boards were produced for Germany and France. Variants of these first editions appeared with Visa -branded debit cards taking the place of cash – the later US "Electronic Banking" edition has unbranded debit cards.
The success of the first Here and Now editions caused Hasbro US to allow online voting for 26 landmark properties across the United States to take their places along the gameboard. The popularity of this voting, in turn, caused the creation of similar websites, and secondary gameboards per popular vote to be created in the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and other nations. [23 ]
In 2006, Winning Moves Games released the Mega Edition , with a 30% larger gameboard and revised game play. Other streets from Atlantic City (eight, one per color group) were included, along with a third "utility", the Gas Company. In addition, $1,000 denomination notes (first seen in Winning Moves' Monopoly: The Card Game) are included. Game play is further changed with bus tickets (allowing non-dice-roll movement along one side of the board), a speed die (itself adopted into variants of the Atlantic City standard edition; see below), skyscrapers (after houses and hotels), and train depots that can be placed on the Railroad spaces. [24 ]
This edition was adapted for the UK market in 2007, and is sold by Winning Moves UK. After the initial US release, critiques of some of the rules caused the company to issue revisions and clarifications on their website.[ citation needed ]
Monopoly Here and Now[ edit ]
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In September 2006, the US edition of Monopoly Here and Now was released. This edition features top landmarks across the US. [25 ] The properties were decided by votes over the Internet in the spring of 2006. [26 ]
Monetary values are multiplied by 10,000 (e.g., one collects $2,000,000 instead of $200 for passing GO and pays that much for Income Tax (or 10% of their total, as this edition was launched prior to 2008), each player starts with $15,000,000 instead of $1,500, etc.). [25 ] Also, the Chance and Community Chest cards are updated, the Railroads are replaced by Airports ( Chicago O'Hare , Los Angeles International , New York City's JFK , and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson ), and the Utilities (Electric Company and Water Works) are replaced by Service Providers (Internet Service Provider and Cell Phone Service Provider). [26 ] The houses and hotels are blue and silver, not green and red as in most editions of Monopoly. The board uses the traditional US layout; the cheapest properties are purple, not brown, and "Interest on Credit Card Debt" replaces "Luxury Tax". Despite the updated Luxury Tax space and the Income Tax space no longer using the 10% option, this edition uses paperMonopoly money, and not an electronic banking unit like the Here and Now World Edition. However, a similar edition of Monopoly, the Electronic Banking edition, does feature an electronic banking unit and bank cards, as well as a different set of tokens. Both Here and Now and Electronic Banking feature an updated set of tokens from the Atlantic City edition. [26 ]
It is also notable that three states (California, Florida and Texas) are represented by two cities each (Los Angeles and San Francisco, Miami and Orlando, and Dallas and Houston respectively). No other state is represented by more than one city (not including the airports). One landmark, Texas Stadium , has been demolished and no longer exists. Another landmark, Jacobs Field, still exists, but was renamed Progressive Field in 2008. [27 ]
Monopoly Here and Now: The US Edition [show ]==Equipment[ edit ]==
[3] During World War II , the dice in the United Kingdom were replaced with a spinner because of a lack of materials.
All property deeds, houses, and hotels are held by the bank until bought by the players. A standard set of Monopoly pieces includes:
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A title deed for each property is given to a player to signify ownership, and specifies purchase price, mortgage value, the cost of building houses and hotels on that property, and the various rent prices depending on how developed the property is. Properties include:
22 streets, divided into 8 color groups of two or three streets; a player must own all of a color group in order to build houses or hotels. Once achieved, color group properties must be improved or "broken down" evenly. See the section on Rules.
4 railroads, players collect $25 rent if they own one station; $50 for two; $100 for three; $200 for all four. These are usually replaced by railroad stations in non-US editions of Monopoly.
2 utilities , rent is four times the dice value if one utility is owned, but ten times if both are owned. Hotels and houses cannot be built on utilities or stations. Some country editions have a fixed rent for utilities; for example, the Italian editions has a L. 2,000 ($20) rent if one utility is owned, or L. 10,000 ($100) if both are owned.
The purchase prices for the various properties vary from $60 to $400 on a US Standard Edition set.
40 $5 bills (pink)
40 $1 bills (white)
Newer (September 2008 and later) US editions instead provide a total of $20,580—30 of each denomination. The colors of some of the bills also changed: $10s are now blue instead of yellow, $20s are a brighter color green than before, and $50s are now purple instead of blue.
Each player begins the game with his or her token on the Go square, and $1,500 (or 1,500 of a localized currency) in play money (2,500 with the Speed Die). Prior to September 2008, the money was divided with greater numbers of $20 and $10 bill. Since then, the US version has taken on the British version's initial cash distributions.
US editions prior to 2008
US editions since 2008 / British editions
2 × $500
5 × $1
5 × $/£1
Although the US version is indicated as allowing eight players, the above cash distribution is not possible with all eight players since it requires 32 $100 bills and 40 $1 bills. However, the amount of cash contained in the game is enough for eight players with a slight alteration of bill distribution.
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Pre-Euro German editions of the game started with 30,000 "Spielmark" in eight denominations (abbreviated as "M."), and later used seven denominations of the "Deutsche Mark" ("DM."). In the classic Italian game, each player received ₤350,000 ($3500) in a two-player game, but ₤50,000 ($500) less for each player more than two. Only in a six-player game does a player receive the equivalent of $1,500. The classic Italian games were played with only four denominations of currency. Both Spanish editions (the Barcelona and Madrid editions) started the game with 150,000 in play money, with a breakdown identical to that of the American version.
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Monopoly money is theoretically unlimited; if the bank runs out of money the players must make do with other markers, or calculate on paper. Additional paper money can be bought at certain locations, notably game and hobby stores, or downloaded from various websites and printed and cut by hand. (One such site has created a $1,000 bill; while a $1,000 bill can be found in Monopoly: The Mega Edition and Monopoly: The Card Game (both published by Winning Moves Games), this note is not a standard denomination for "classic" versions of Monopoly. [28 ])
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[4] All twelve tokens from a pre-2008 copy of the US Deluxe Edition Monopoly
Each player is represented by a small metal token that is moved around the edge of the board according to the roll of two six-sided dice. The number of tokens (and the tokens themselves) have changed over the history of the game, with many appearing in special editions only, and some available with non-game purchases. As of 2013, eight tokens are included in standard edition games, including:
Howitzer , better known as a cannon
Train (Only in Deluxe Editions)
Tokens exclusive to certain editions include the locomotive, which was available only in the Deluxe Edition of the game. Tokens retired in 2008 and 2013 are still available in Monopoly: The Classic Edition. Tokens available without the gameboard included replicas of certain cars when purchased with licensed Johnny Lightning products, or a special Director's Chair token when purchased with Limited Edition DVD and Blu-ray copies of the documentary Under the Boardwalk: The MONOPOLY Story .
Many of the early tokens were created by companies such as Dowst Miniature Toy Company, which made metal charms and tokens designed to be used on charm bracelets. The battleship and cannon were also used briefly in the Parker Brothers war game Conflict (released in 1940), but after the game failed on the market, the premade pieces were recycled into Monopoly usage. [29 ] Hasbro recently adopted the battleship and cannon for Diplomacy .
Early localized editions of the standard edition (including some Canadian editions, which used the US board layout) did not include pewter tokens but instead had generic wooden pawns identical to those in Sorry! . [30 ] Parker Brothers also acquired Sorry! in the 1930s.
In 1998, a Hasbro advertising campaign asked the public to vote on a new playing piece to be added to the set, resulting in a "bag of money" token being added to the US edition. [31 ] This piece was retired in 2007. In 2013, a similar promotional campaign was launched encouraging the public to vote on one of several possible new tokens to replace an existing one. The choices were a guitar, a diamond ring, a helicopter, a robot, or a cat. [32 ] Unlike in 1998, one piece is to be retired, in this case the iron, and will be replaced by a new token, the cat. Both were chosen by a vote that ran on Facebook from January 8 to February 5, 2013. [33 ] Shortly after the Facebook voting campaign, a limited edition golden token set was released exclusively at various national retailers, such as Target in the US and Tesco in the UK. [34 ] [35 ] This set contained the 2008-2013 tokens as listed above, and also contained all five of the iron's potential replacements: the cat, a guitar, a diamond ring, a helicopter and a robot.
Source: Monopoly official rules
Players take turns in order, with the initial player determined by chance before the game. A typical turn begins with the rolling of the dice and advancing their piece clockwise around the board the corresponding number of squares. If a player rolls doubles, they roll again after completing their turn. If a player rolls three consecutive sets of doubles on one turn, the player has been "caught speeding," and the player is immediately sent to jail instead of moving the amount shown on the dice for the third roll, ending the player's turn.
A player who lands or passes the Go space collects $200 (unless they automatically go to jail). Players who land on either Income Tax or Luxury Tax pay the indicated amount to the bank. In older editions of the game, two options were given for Income Tax: either pay a flat fee of $200 or 10% of the player's total worth (including the current values of all the properties and buildings owned). Players must choose which option before calculating their total worth, and cannot change their mind if it turns out that the $200 was actually less; in 2008, the 10% option was removed. Luxury Tax was originally $75; in 2008, it was increased to $100. Free Parking is just a "free" space; players who land here neither gain nor lose anything.
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A player will land in jail if they land on "Go to Jail", throw three straight doubles in a turn, or draw a Community Chest or Chance Card saying "Go to Jail". When a player is sent to jail they move there directly (" Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. ") and their turn ends. If the player is not "sent" to jail but just lands on that space, they are "Just Visiting", incur no penalty and move in the usual manner on their next turn.
If a player is in jail, they do not take a normal turn and must either pay a fine of $50 to be released from jail, use a Chance or Community Chest Get Out of Jail Free card , or attempt to roll doubles on the dice. If a player fails to roll doubles, they lose their turn. Failure to roll doubles thrice will result in paying the $50 fine (or use a Get out of Jail Free card) to be released. While a player is in jail, they may not buy property directly, by virtue of not being able to land on the properties. However, they may sell, trade and mortgage properties, purchase buildings, participate in auctions, and collect rents. If a player does roll doubles to exit Jail, they may immediately move according to the roll, but they cannot roll a second time after exiting jail. If the player instead pays the $50 fine or uses a Get out of Jail Free card and then rolls doubles, they are required to move the amount shown on the dice and then roll again.
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If the player lands on an unowned property, whether street, railroad, or utility, they can buy the property for its listed purchase price. If they decline this purchase, the property is auctioned off by the bank to the highest bidder, including the player who declined to buy. If the property landed on is already owned and unmortgaged, they must pay the owner a given rent, the price dependent on whether the property is part of a set or its level of development.
When a player owns all of the properties in a color group and none of them are mortgaged, they may develop them during their turn or in between other player's turns. Development involves buying miniature houses or hotels from the bank and placing them on the property spaces, and must be done uniformly across the group. That is, a second house cannot be built on any property within a group until all of them have one house. Once the player owns an entire group, they can collect double rent for any undeveloped properties within it. Although houses and hotels cannot be built on railroads or utilities, the given rent also increases if a player owns more than one of either type. If there is more demand for houses to be built than what remains in the bank, then a housing auction is conducted to determine who will get to purchase each house.
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Properties can also be mortgaged, although all developments on a monopoly must be sold before any property of that color can be mortgaged or traded. The player receives money from the bank for each mortgaged property (half of the purchase price), which must be repaid with 10% interest to unmortgage. Houses and hotels can be sold back to the bank for half their purchase price. Players cannot collect rent on mortgaged properties and may not give improved property away to others; however, trading mortgaged properties is allowed. The player receiving the mortgaged property must immediately unmortgage it for the mortgage price plus 10%, or pay the bank just the 10% amount and keep the property mortgaged; if the player chooses the latter, they must still pay the 10% again if the property is later unmortgaged.
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A player who cannot pay what they owe is bankrupt and eliminated from the game. If the bankrupt player owes the bank, they must turn all of their assets over to the bank, who then auctions off their properties (if they have any), except buildings. If the debt is instead to another player, all the assets are instead given to that opponent, but the new owner must still pay the bank to unmortgage any such properties received. The winner is the remaining player left after all the others have gone bankrupt.
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From 1936, the rules booklet included with each Monopoly set contained a short section at the end providing rules for making the game shorter, either by setting a time limit, or by ending the game after the second player goes bankrupt. As well, an additional rules booklet or sheet was included giving the rules for a short variant with several changes, such as starting each player out with two properties selected at random. [36 ] A later version of the rules included this variant, along with the time limit game, in the main rules booklet, omitting the second bankruptcy method as a third short game. [37 ]
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Many house rules have emerged for the game since its creation. A popular one is the "Free Parking jackpot rule", where money paid in fines is stockpiled on the "free parking" space instead of being returned to the bank. When a player lands on that square, they may take the money. House rules that slow or prevent money being returned to the bank in this way have a side-effect of increasing the time it takes for players to become bankrupt, lengthening the game considerably, as well as decreasing the effects of strategy and prudent investment. [38 ]
House rules that increase the amount of money in the game may change the strategies of the players, such as changing the relative value of different properties. For instance, with the official rules, players can rarely afford to build significant numbers of houses on the third and fourth sides of the board, but with more money in the game, this strategy may become more workable. [38 ][ not in citation given ]
Video game and computer game versions of Monopoly have options where popular house rules can be used. In 2014, Hasbro determined five popular house rules by public Facebook vote, and released a "House Rules edition" of the board game. Rules selected include collecting paid fines on free parking, forcing players to traverse the board once before buying properties, and awarding money for players rolling a double-1 on the dice. [39 ]
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According to Jim Slater in The Mayfair Set , the Orange property group is the best to own because players land on them more often, as a result of the Chance cards Go to Jail, Advance to St. Charles Place (Pall Mall), Advance to Reading Railroad (Marylebone Station) and Go Back Three Spaces. [40 ]
In all, during game play, Illinois Avenue (Trafalgar Square), New York Avenue (Vine Street), B&O Railroad (Fenchurch Street Station), and Reading Railroad (Marylebone Station) are the most frequently landed-upon properties. Mediterranean Avenue (Old Kent Road), Baltic Avenue (Whitechapel Road), Park Place (Park Lane), and Oriental Avenue (The Angel Islington) are the least-landed-upon properties. Among the property groups, the Railroads are most frequently landed upon, as no other group has four properties; Orange has the next highest frequency, followed by Red. [41 ]
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One common criticism of Monopoly is that it has carefully defined, yet almost unreachable, termination conditions. Edward P. Parker, a former president of Parker Brothers , is quoted as saying, "We always felt that forty-five minutes was about the right length for a game, but Monopoly could go on for hours. Also, a game was supposed to have a definite end somewhere. In Monopoly you kept going around and around." [42 ]
Hasbro states that the longest game of Monopoly ever played lasted 1,680 hours (70 days or 10 weeks or 21⁄3 months). [43 ]
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The original Stock Exchange add-on was published by Capitol Novelty Co. of Rensselaer, New York in early 1936. It was marketed as an add-on for Monopoly,Finance, or Easy Money games. Shortly after Capitol Novelty introduced Stock Exchange, Parker Brothers bought it from them then marketed their own, slightly redesigned, version as an add-on specifically for their "new" Monopoly game; the Parker Brothers version was available in June 1936. The Free Parking square is covered over by a new Stock Exchange space and the add-on included three Chance and three Community Chest cards directing the player to "Advance to Stock Exchange". [44 ] The Stock Exchange add-on was later redesigned and rereleased in 1992 under license by Chessex , this time including a larger number of new Chance and Community Chest cards. This version included ten new Chance cards (five "Advance to Stock Exchange" and five other related cards) and eleven new Community Chest cards (five "Advance to Stock Exchange" and six other related cards; [45 ] the regular Community Chest card "From sale of stock you get $45" is removed from play when using these cards). Many of the original rules applied to this new version (in fact, one optional play choice allows for playing in the original form by only adding the "Advance to Stock Exchange" cards to each deck).[ citation needed ]
A Monopoly Stock Exchange Edition was released in 2001 (although not in the US), this time adding an electronic calculator-like device to keep track of the complex stock figures. This was a full edition, not just an add-on, that came with its own board, money and playing pieces. Properties on the board were replaced by companies on which shares could be floated, and offices and home offices (instead of houses and hotels) could be built. [46 ]
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Playmaster, another official add-on, released in 1982, is an electronic device that keeps track of all player movement and dice rolls as well as what properties are still available. It then uses this information to call random auctions and mortgages making it easier to free up cards of a color group. It also plays eight short tunes when key game functions occur; for example when a player lands on a railroad it plays " I've Been Working on the Railroad ", and a police car's siren sounds when a player goes to Jail. [47 ]
Get Out of Jail and Free Parking Mini Games[ edit ]
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In 2009, Hasbro released two mini games that can be played as stand-alone games or combined with the Monopoly game. In Get Out of Jail, the goal is to manipulate a spade under a jail cell in an attempt to flick out various colored prisoners. The game can be used as an alternative to rolling doubles to get out of jail. [48 ] [49 ] In Free Parking, players attempt to balance taxis on a wobbly board. The Free Parking add-on can also be used with the Monopoly game. When a player lands on the Free Parking, the player can take the Taxi Challenge, and if successful, can move to any space on the board. [50 ] [51 ]
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[6] The Speed Die
Unlike the three add-ons above, which have always been sold separately, the Speed Die was introduced in-game in 2006. In 2007, Parker Brothers began releasing its standard version of Monopoly with the same die (originally in blue, later in red). First included in Winning Moves' Monopoly: The Mega Edition variant, this third, six-sided die is rolled with the other two, and accelerates gameplay when in use. Its faces are: 1, 2, 3, two " Mr. Monopoly " sides, and a bus. The numbers behave as normal, adding to the other two dice, unless a "triple" is rolled, in which case the player can move to any space on the board. The bus (properly "get off the bus") allows the player to use only one of the two numbered dice or the sum of both, thus a roll of 1, 5, and bus would let the player choose between moving 1, 5, or 6 spaces. If "Mr. Monopoly" is rolled while there are unowned properties, the player advances forward to the nearest one. Otherwise, the player advances to the nearest property on which rent is owed.
The Speed Die is used throughout the game in the "Mega Edition", while in the "Regular Edition" it is used by any player who has passed GO at least once. In these editions it remains optional, although use of the Speed Die was made mandatory for use in the 2009 US & World MONOPOLY Championship. [52 ]
Parker Brothers and its licensees have also sold several spin-offs of Monopoly. These are not add-ons, as they do not function as an addition to the Monopoly game, but are simply additional games in the flavor of Monopoly:
Advance to Boardwalk board game (1985): Focusing mainly on building the most hotels along the Boardwalk.
Don't Go to Jail : Dice game originally released by Parker Brothers; roll combinations of dice to create color groups for points before rolling the words "GO" "TO" and "JAIL" (which forfeits all earned points for the turn).
Don't Go to Jail: Monopoly Express : A deluxe, travel edition re-release of Don't Go To Jail, replacing the word dice with "Officer Jones" dice and adding an eleventh die, Houses & Hotels, and a self-contained game container/dice roller & keeper. [53 ]
Express Monopoly card game (1994 US, 1995 UK): Released by Hasbro/Parker Brothers and Waddingtons in the UK, now out of print. Basically a rummy-style card game based on scoring points by completing color group sections of the gameboard.
Free Parking card game: A more complex card game released by Parker Brothers, with several similarities to the card game Mille Bornes . Uses cards to either add time to parking meters, or spend the time doing activities to earn points. Includes a deck of Second Chance cards that further alter gameplay. Two editions were made; minor differences in card art and Second Chance cards in each edition.
Monopoly City : Gameplay retains similar flavor but has been made significantly more complex in this version. The traditional properties are replaced by “districts” mapped to the previously underutilized real estate in the center of the board.
Monopoly Deal : The most recent card game version of Monopoly. Players attempt to complete three property groups by playing property, cash & event cards. [54 ]
Monopoly Empire (2013): A variation where brands are purchased and owned instead of properties. Games are designed to finish in 30 minutes.
Monopoly Express Casino: A gambling-themed version of the above game, that adds wagering to the gameplay.
Monopoly Here & Now Electronic Edition: Eliminates the need for money, using credit cards instead.
Monopoly Hotels (2012): based on the mobile app.
Monopoly Junior board game (first published 1990, multiple variations since): A simplified version of the original game for young children.
Monopoly: The Card Game (2000): an updated card game released by Winning Moves Games under license from Hasbro. Similar, but decidedly more complex, gameplay to the Express Monopoly card game.
Monopoly Millionaire (2012): A variant of the game where the goal is to be the first player to make $1,000,000.
Monopoly Millionaire Deal (2012): Card game; Combines gameplay elements of Monopoly Millionaire and Monopoly Deal.
U-Build Monopoly (2010): A variant of Monopoly City using separate game tiles that allow for construction of custom gameboard configurations.
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Many Monopoly-themed slot machines and lotteries have been produced by WMS Gaming in conjunction with International Game Technology for land-based casinos. [57 ] WagerWorks , who have the online rights to Monopoly, have created online Monopoly themed games.
London’s Gamesys Group have also developed a bingo-based online game called "Monopoly Snap!" for the Jackpotjoy online bingo site. [58 ]
The British quiz machine brand itbox also supports a Monopoly trivia and chance game, which, like most other itbox games, costs 50p ( £ 0.50) to play and has a £ 20 jackpot.
There was also a live, online version of Monopoly. Six painted taxis drive around London picking up passengers. When the taxis reach their final destination, the region of London that they are in is displayed on the online board. This version takes far longer to play than board-game monopoly, with one game lasting 24 hours. Results and position are sent to players via e-mail at the conclusion of the game. [59 ]
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In November 2008, Ridley Scott was announced to direct Universal Pictures ' film version of the game, based on a script written by Pamela Pettler . The film is co-produced by Hasbro's Brian Goldner , as part of a deal with Hasbro to develop movies based on the company's line of toys. [60 ] [61 ] The story is being developed by author Frank Beddor . [62 ] However, Universal eventually passed on the project and rights reverted to Hasbro.
In October 2012, Hasbro announced a new partnership with production company Emmett/Furla, and they have confirmed that they will work on a live action version of Monopoly, along with Action Man and Hungry Hungry Hippos . [63 ] Ridley Scott's role on this film has now been changed to a producer.
The documentary Under the Boardwalk: The MONOPOLY Story , covering the history and players of the game, won an Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 2010 Anaheim International Film Festival . The film played theatrically in the US beginning in March 2011 and was released on Amazon & iTunes [64 ] on February 14, 2012. The film is directed by Kevin Tostado and narrated by Zachary Levi . [65 ] [66 ]
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Although in the past, US entrants had to successfully compete in regional competitions before the national championship, qualifying for the National Championship has been online since 2003. For the 2003 Championship, qualification was limited to the first fifty people who correctly completed an online quiz. Out of concerns that such methods of qualifying might not always ensure a competition of the best players, the 2009 Championship qualifying was expanded to include an online multiple-choice quiz (a score of 80% or better was required to advance); followed by an online five-question essay test; followed by a two-game online tournament at Pogo.com. The process was to have produced a field of 23 plus one: Matt McNally, the 2003 national champion, who received a bye and was not required to qualify. However, at the end of the online tournament, there was an eleven-way tie for the last six spots. The decision was made to invite all of those who had tied for said spots. In fact, two of those who had tied and would have otherwise been eliminated, Dale Crabtree of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Brandon Baker, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, played in the final game and finished third and fourth respectively. [52 ]
The 2009 Monopoly US National Championship was held on April 14–15 in Washington, D.C. In his first tournament ever, Richard Marinaccio, an attorney from Sloan, New York (a suburb of Buffalo), prevailed over a field that included two previous champions to be crowned the 2009 US National Champion. In addition to the title, Mr. Marinaccio took home $20,580 — the amount of money in the bank of the board game — and competed in the 2009 World Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 21–22, where he finished in third place. [52 ]
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Hasbro conducts a worldwide Monopoly tournament. The first Monopoly World Championships took place in Grossinger's Resort in New York, in November 1973, but it wasn't until 1975 that they included competitors from outside the United States. It has been aired in the United States by ESPN . In 2009, 41 players competed for the title of Monopoly World Champion and a cash prize of $20,580 USD, which is the total amount of 'Monopoly money' in the current Monopoly set used in the tournament. [52 ]
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Because Monopoly evolved in the public domain before its commercialization, Monopoly has seen many variant games. The game is licensed in 103 countries and printed in 37 languages. [70 ] Most of the variants are exact copies of the Monopoly games with the street names replaced with locales from a particular town, university, or fictional place. National boards have been released as well. Over the years, many specialty Monopoly editions, licensed by Parker Brothers/Hasbro, and produced by them, or their licensees (including USAopoly and Winning Moves Games) have been sold to local and national markets worldwide. Two well known "families" of -opoly like games, without licenses from Parker Brothers/Hasbro, have also been produced.
Several published games similar to Monopoly include:
Anti-Monopoly , one of several games [71 ] that are a sort of monopoly backwards. [72 ] The name of this game led to legal action between Anti-Monopoly's creator, Ralph Anspach , and the owners of Monopoly. [72 ]
Business, a Monopoly-like game not associated with Hasbro. In this version the "properties" to be bought are cities of India; Chance and Community Chest reference lists of results printed in the center of the board, keyed to the dice roll; and money is represented by counters, not paper. [73 ]
Dostihy a sázky, a variant sold in Czechoslovakia . This game comes from the totalitarian communist era (1948–1989), when private businesses were forbidden and mortgages didn't exist, so the monopoly theme was changed to a horse racing theme. [74 ]
Ghettopoly , released in 2003, caused considerable offense upon its release. The game, intended to be a humorous rendering of ghetto life, was decried as racist for its unflinching use of racial stereotypes. Hasbro sought and received an injunction against Ghettopoly's designer. [75 ] [76 ]
Make Your Own -OPOLY: [77 ] This game allows you to customize the board, money, and rules to your liking.
Games by locale or theme[ edit ]
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There have been a large number of localized editions, broken down here by region:
High ( dice rolling , card drawing)
Skill(s) required
Negotiation, Basic Resource management
In 2008, Hasbro released Monopoly Here and Now: The World Edition. This world edition features top locations of the world. The locations were decided by votes over the Internet. The result of the voting was announced on August 20, 2008. [80 ]
Out of these, Gdynia is especially notable, as it is by far the smallest city of those featured and won the vote thanks to a spontaneous, large-scale mobilization of support started by its citizens. The new game uses its own currency unit, the Monopolonian (a game-based take on the Euro; designated by M). The game uses said unit in millions and thousands. As seen above, there is no dark purple color-group, as that is replaced by brown, as in the European version of the game.[ citation needed ]
It is also notable that three cities ( Montreal , Toronto , and Vancouver ) are from Canada and three other cities (Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai) are from the People's Republic of China. No other countries are represented by more than one city.[ citation needed ]
Of the 68 cities listed on Hasbro Inc.'s website for the vote, Jerusalem , was chosen as one of the 20 cities to be featured in the newest Monopoly World Edition. [81 ]Before the vote took place, a Hasbro employee in the London office eliminated the country signifier "Israel" after the city, in response to pressure from pro- Palestinian advocacy groups .[ citation needed ] After the Israeli government protested, Hasbro Inc. issued a statement that read: "It was a bad decision, one that we rectified relatively quickly. This is a game. We never wanted to enter into any political debate. We apologize to our Monopoly fans." [81 ]
Monopoly Here and Now: The World Edition (2008) [show ]===Deluxe editions[ edit ]===
Hasbro sells a Deluxe Edition, which is mostly identical to the classic edition but has wooden houses and hotels and gold-toned tokens, including one token in addition to the standard eleven, a railroad locomotive . Other additions to the Deluxe Edition include a card carousel, which holds the title deed cards, and money printed with two colors of ink. [82 ]
In 1978, retailer Neiman Marcus manufactured and sold an all-chocolate edition of Monopoly through its "Christmas Wish Book" for that year. The entire set was edible, including the money, dice, hotels, properties, tokens and playing board. The set retailed for $600. [83 ]
In 2000, the FAO Schwarz store in New York City sold a custom version called One-Of-A-Kind Monopoly for $100,000. [84 ] This special edition comes in a locking attaché case made with Napolino leather and lined in suede, and features include:
18- carat (75%) gold tokens, houses, and hotels
The money is real, negotiable United States currency
The Guinness Book of World Records states that a set worth $2,000,000 and made of 23-carat gold, with rubies and sapphires atop the chimneys of the houses and hotels, is the most expensive Monopoly set ever produced. [85 ] This set was designed by artist Sidney Mobell to honor the game's 50th anniversary in 1985.
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Wired magazine believes Monopoly is a poorly designed game. Former Wall Streeter Derk Solko explains, "Monopoly has you grinding your opponents into dust. It's a very negative experience. It's all about cackling when your opponent lands on your space and you get to take all their money." [86 ]
Most of the 3 to 4-hour average playing time is spent waiting for other players to play their turn. "Board game enthusiasts disparagingly call this a 'roll your dice, move your mice' format". [86 ]
The hobby-gaming community BoardGameGeek is especially critical. [87 ] User reviews of Monopoly rank the game among the 20 worst games out of nearly 10,000 ranked in the database. [88 ]
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Played by Aaron Paul, who was Walter White’s co-protagonist in ‘Breaking Bad’? | Breaking Bad: 36 things you didn't know
Breaking Bad: 36 things you didn't know
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul in 'Breaking Bad' Credit: AP
1. Walter White is real.
Credit: Boston University; WCBV; ABC News; KLTV; Cladwell County Sheriff’s Department
While nobody has yet gone ‘full Heisenberg’, Vince Gilligan ’s message about the perils of meth production and distribution apparently failed to reach a handful of hard-up educators. William Duncan, a chemistry teacher from Texas, was arrested for selling home-cooked meth within school grounds; in 2011, 74-year-old mathematics professor Irina Kristy was caught running a meth lab from her Boston home; North Carolina teacher’s assistant and meth chef Marc Hodges was arrested earlier this year after suspiciously purchasing 1,000 cases of matches; and Stephen Doran, a Boston teacher with stage 3 cancer, was found dealing meth and arrested in May. But perhaps the most striking case of life imitating art occurred before Breaking Bad was even on television. In 2008, an Alabama man (main photo, above) earned a place on the state’s Most Wanted list thanks to his thriving meth business. Admittedly, he was neither a teacher nor a cancer sufferer. But his name? Walter White.
2. And so is Heisenberg.
Credit: AP
The name Walt gives to his alter ego, “Heisenberg”, is a tip of the hat to Werner Heisenberg, one of the most important physicists of the 20th century. He won the Nobel Prize for developing the theory of quantum mechanics.
3. The cast is full of comedians.
Credit: ALAMY
"If you can do comedy you can do drama," Vince Gilligan said recently of his approach to casting. "It doesn’t necessarily flow the other way." Consequently, Breaking Bad is packed with funny men – even if they’re not always given the chance to show it. Bob Odenkirk (Saul) is well known as the co-creator of US TV’s last great sketch series, Mr Show; Bill Burr (Kuby) is a stand-up comic, as are Lavell Crawford (Huell), Steven Michael Quezada (poor Gomie), and Javier Grajeda (Gus Fring’s boss at the cartel, and the man who put a severed head on a tortoise). And before he was a struggling actor, Bryan Cranston spent several months as a floundering comedian.
Watch Breaking Bad now on Amazon Prime
4. Gus Fring ended his life as a zombie.
For the aptly titled season 4 finale, Face Off, Vince Gilligan sought help from the prosthetic-effects team behind AMC’s zombie series The Walking Dead . Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger made a model of Gustavo Fring’s exploded Evil-Dead-meets-Two-Face head, which was then digitally blended with actor Giancarlo Esposito’s real noggin. According to Gilligan, “ it took months ”.
Gilligan got the idea for Fring's gruesome death from a real grisly ending that happened to a rocket scientist and ritualist called John Whitedale Parsons. Gilligan heard about him in Strange Angel, George Pendle's book. Parsons, who happened to practice black magic and had "some kind of sex cult going in Pasadena", according to Gilligan, "came to an unfortunate end when he was making up a batch of mercury fulminate for a special effects project.
"Something went wrong and it blew up in his face. The story is that he survived with part of his face peeled off for several hours before he finally succumbed in the hospital."
5. Wendy the hooker is much healthier than she looks.
Credit: AMC
She was certainly perky when Jesse was around, but the show’s standout meth addict was never exactly a picture of good health. However, Julia Minesci, the actress who played the role of “Wendy S” from 2008-2010, has run the Hawaii Ironman six times, the Germany Ironman once and“ countless marathons ”.
6. Gale’s complete karaoke video – with Thai subtitles – is on YouTube.
7. And so is the Jesse Pinkman-directed video for Twaughthammer’s "Fallacies".
8. The White family home is an actual family home.
Credit: REX
Far from being a drug baron’s digs or even a building dreamt up by Vince Gilligan, Walter White’s house in Breaking Bad has been the real-life home of a woman called Fran since 1973. She admits that “a lot of artistic licence” was taken with the property’s interior by the production designer and that Gilligan originally wanted to cover the pool up. And she doesn’t mind the hundreds of cars that slow down in front of her house every month.
9. Skinny Pete practised very hard for his piano solo.
Jesse’s wastrel sidekick gave a virtuoso performance of Bach’s Solfeggietto in the music shop at the beginning of season five. Charles Baker, a decent pianist and the actor who plays Pete, practised the piece for three hours every day for a month before filming. Much to Baker’s chagrin, only the intro made the cut.
10. Jesse's teeth are Gilligan's only regret
The co-creator admits in the official Breaking Bad book that Aaron Paul's teeth were far too nice to be realistic for Jesse Pinkman. "One thing that sort of troubled me, looking back over the entirety of the show: Jesse's teeth were a little too perfect. There were all the beatings he took, and, of course, he was using meth, which is brutal on your teeth. He'd probably have terrible teeth in real life."
They didn't get changed because "removing real teeth from actors is a real non-starter", and digitally removing them would have been very expensive.
11. The DEA's ‘Mustache man’ got the part by playing golf with Dean Norris.
Credit: AMC
One extra has consistently stolen the show in Breaking Bad – the man with the enormous moustache often seen in the background at the DEA offices. Robert Sanchez, the man behind the novelty facial hair, knows actor Steven Michael Quezada (Agent Gomez) through softball and has admitted he got the part after playing golf with Quezada and Dean Norris. The retired fireman also competes in moustache competitions in his free time.
12. Walt’s Lotto code isn’t a complete dead end.
Credit: AMC
The coordinates that Walt hid on a Lotto ticket (N 34, 59′, 20″, W 106, 36′, 52), which sadly proved fatal for Hank, don’t actually lead to $80 million in cash, or even a few plastic barrels. Instead, they point straight to Q Studios in Albuquerque, where Breaking Bad (plus Hollywood films such as The Avengers) is shot.
13. The pink teddy bear came before the plane crash
Credit: heisenbergchronicles.tumblr.com
( heisenbergchronicles.tumblr.com )
Much like how the second season of Breaking Bad pans out, with ominous glimpses of a floating pink bear and its eyeball leading to a far more sinister conclusion, so emerged the script. Gilligan said that "it took many weeks in the writers' room to come up with the plane crash. We liked the teddy bear floating in a swimming pool and his eyeball's in the skimmer. We did not know how it got there."
Once the bear was there, however, it took some shifting – which is just as well, seeing as prop designer Mark Hanson had to recruit an Albuquerque-based teddy bear artist to satisfy the show's legal department. You can spot a less burned version in the mural painted on Jane's wall.
14. Breaking Bad helps beat addiction.
An Albuquerque clinic, the Sage Neuroscience Center, is using the show’s popularity to help get New Mexicans off narcotics. (The state has the highest rate of addiction in the US.) By sharing their stories of addiction, entrants have the chance to win one of two “Breaking Addiction” scholarships, which entitle them to 12 weeks of free rehabilitation treatment worth thousands of dollars.
15. Bryan Cranston was once wanted for murder.
In an interview for Marc Maron’s WTF podcast in 2011, the actor reminisced about the time he and his brother worked as waiters in a Florida restaurant where the chef was a tyrant named Peter Wong. “No matter how nice you may have been to him, he hated you,” said Cranston. “He screamed at you ... (with) a cleaver in his hand.” When the chef was found murdered, the police visited the restaurant and asked if anybody had ever expressed an interest in killing Peter Wong. "Everybody talked about killing Peter Wong," came the reply. "That's all we talked about." Unfortunately, the Cranston brothers had just resigned to ride cross-country on their motorcycles. For a while, they were suspects.
16. Gustavo Fring's restaurant is a real chicken restaurant
The cast and crew ended up shooting the Los Pollos Hermanos scenes in and around a real chicken restaurant in Albuquerque, called Twisters. The show's art department painting the fictional 'chicken brothers' logo inside the building. Gilligan said: "I believe [it] stayed up for months on end. For all I know it still might be there to this day – I hope it stays there forever."It is indeed still in place probably because Twisters has become quite the tourist attraction, with photos like this being posted to online reviews site Yelp :
17. The Salamanca Cousins even have terrifying eyelids.
Credit: AMC
Think the mute assassins who almost got Hank are tough? You have no idea. Daniel and Luis Moncado, the brothers who played the cousins, have both been in gangs and served time in jail. But Luis goes one better. He has the letters "F U" tattooed on his eyelids, etched there by placing a spoon behind each one. "Your eyelid is so thin the needle will go through and puncture your eye," he said . "You gotta put a spoon."
18. The first role Vince Gilligan wrote for Bryan Cranston was even more demented than Heisenberg.
Credit: NETFLIX/FOX
Before creating Breaking Bad, Vince Gilligan was best known for his work as a writer and producer on the sci-fi series, The X-Files . It was there that his and Bryan Cranston’s paths first crossed, on the Gilligan-written episode Drive. Cranston plays a crazed racist roofer who must drive due west at breakneck speed, or else his head will explode. Gilligan has said he “needed a guy who could be scary and kind of loathsome but at the same time had a deep, resounding humanity.” Sound familiar?
19. Blue meth really is more expensive.
Since the first series of BB, in 2008, copycat drug producers around the US have been adding blue food dye to their crystal meth in an attempt to dupe their customers into thinking it is stronger, like Heisenberg’s product. Possibly for that reason, the cost of blue crystal methamphetamine has been reported to be higher than that of normal, colourless “ice”.
20. ...but not necessarily better.
As many chemically minded pedants have pointed out, pure methamphetamine is not blue, but colourless.
21. The Heisenberg Hat originally prevented against sunburn
Costume designer Kathleen Detoro admitted that the original reason Cranston started wearing the now-infamous Heisenberg Hat is because he needed to shade his shaved head from the sun. "It became the identifable look for Walt's certain mood", she said.
22. Belize is actually a nice place to visit.
Credit: Alamy
When Saul suggested to Walt that he send Hank “on a trip to Belize ” like he had done to Mike, everyone understood the euphemism – including the Belize Tourism Board. So keen were they to show that Belize was, in fact, a wonderful place, with “ great music and friendly people ”, that they extended an open invitation to the cast and crew of the series to take an all-expenses-paid holiday in the Central-American country.
23. Walt and Jesse’s cooking flashback in Ozymandias was the last Breaking Bad scene ever filmed.
Shortly afterwards, the cast and crew spent a drunken night in a local bar; Cranston ended up with a tattoo of the show’s logo on his finger, much to his wife’s disgust.
24. Tuco only died because he had to
Raymon Cruz, the actor who plays one of Walt and Jesse's first enemies, Tuco, was meant to terrorise them all the way through season two. He met his explosive end in season one because he became a regular on US TV series The Closer, and could no longer appear in Breaking Bad. When Gilligan realised there was only one way Tuco's story could go, he remembered Mister Roberts, the Henry Fonda movie in which Jack Lemmon's character is "always blowing up nthings on this old navy ship with mercury fulminate."
Gilligan explains in Breaking Bad: The Official Book that he was relieved to find out that mercury fulminate "kinda sorta" looked like crystal meth, and with that, one of the formative Heisenberg moments was created. Boom!
25. Seinfeld was a Breaking Bad training school.
Several BB cast members had roles on Jerry Seinfeld ’s eponymous sitcom. As stingy dentist Tom Whatley, Bryan Cranston helped popularise the term ‘regifting’; Anna Gunn played Jerry’s supposedly cheating girlfriend in one episode; Bob Odenkirk played Elaine’s sexually frustrated boyfriend; and Jessica Hecht, aka Gray Matter’s Gretchen, appeared twice in two different parts.
26. Walt’s electrical wire trick (sort of) works.
It turns out that burning through plastic restraints while tied to a radiator isn’t the only thing live wires are good for. According to reports from Queensland, the technique popularised by Breaking Bad has been used by Australian inmates to light illicit cigarettes in their cells, causing the loss of some 425 television sets.
27. Tuco's grill is lurking somewhere in a river in Albuquerque
Hank keeps Tuco's gold tooth grill, preserved in plastic as a paperweight, on his desk as a trophy, but later throws it in the river as a symbol of his fear. Propmaster Mark Hanson confesses that this was the most challenging prop he had to make – not least because him and his team had to make between 15 and 20 of them to make sure Dean Norris (Hank Schrader) was able to have more than one shot.
Many got thrown in, and retrieved, but not all: "We did have people just off camera with hip-waders and nets to try and retrieve the cubes as they were thrown. If memory serves, I think we only lost one cube that day."
28. A 100-year-old cowboy almost starred in Season 3.
One of many discarded Breaking Bad plot lines – among them, Walt opens a pharmacy, Marie and Skyler go on a road trip – involved constant flashbacks to a cowboy in frontier times, which would somehow relate to the main story and star its own self-contained cast. Sadly, the writers couldn’t make it work.
29. Warren Buffett would gladly do business with Walter White.
Credit: GETTY
The billionaire investor and Breaking Bad fan (above, with Aaron Paul) recently described Walter as a “good businessman”, going on to say that the druglord “would be my guy if I ever have to go toe-to-toe with anyone."
30. Jesse Plemons, aka baby-faced psychopath Todd, has a lovely singing voice.
31. Lydia was almost married to Nicholas Brody.
Credit: AMC
In the original pilot for Homeland , Jessica Brody – pining wife of kidnapped Marine-turned-terrorist Nicholas – was played by Scottish actress Laura Fraser. When the producers had second thoughts, the pilot was reshot with the – in the words of co-creator Alex Gansa – “more vibrant, more sexual” Morena Baccarin. Fraser, meanwhile, went on to play Breaking Bad’s squeamish, Louboutin-wearing drug-runner Lydia Rodarte-Quayle.
32. There was no need for Walt to rob that train.
Methylamine, the chemical that incited the other Great Train Robbery of our time and led to the killing of Drew Sharp, isn’t really that hard to make . In fact, some chemists have suggested that it could be synthesised in a kitchen sink without too much difficulty. But that would have made terrible television.
33. Thanks to his father, Bryan Cranston will never run out of work.
A recent New Yorker profile of Cranston revealed that his estranged father Joe – a one-time actor/director/screenwriter whose career failed to ignite – has written “several” film scripts specifically for his son to star in, including an action caper called G.R.A.B. But it wouldn't neccessarily be the worst thing Cranston has ever made. That would be The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers:
34. The science is flawed for a reason.
Because of the fear that some of the series’ millions of viewers may try and use the action as a step-by-step guide to making methamphetamine, the real-life DEA advised Vince Gilligan and his team of writers on what science to include, and what to omit. “If you just simply followed the one synthesis as it's presented,” says the show’s science adviser Donna Nelson , “you wouldn't come out with methamphetamine.”
35. New Mexico is proud of Heisenberg.
Credit: REX
Breaking Bad was originally meant to be shot in California but the location was ultimately changed to Albuquerque, NM. That change of setting has certainly been a boon for the New Mexico tourism industry. Local businesses have taken advantage of the hit show’s worldwide popularity and cashed in by producing all manner of Breaking Bad-related products. These include: blue-meth candy, blue-meth doughnuts, locally brewed Heisenberg “dark” beer, custom-made Heisenberg Pez dispensers, as well as more traditional trolley and Segway tours.
36. There will never be a bigger Breaking Bad super-fan than Kevin Cordasco.
Last year, Vince Gilligan was contacted by the parents of 16-year-old Kevin Cordasco, who was terminally ill with an aggressive form of cancer and adored the show more than most. “There was something about the Walter White character,” explained his father. “The way he took control of his illness, and his life, that really resonated with Kevin.” Gilligan and the cast visited Kevin at home and in hospital, and during one of these visits he was asked by Gilligan what he felt was missing from the show. “He said, ‘You know what, I want to know more about Gretchen and Elliott,'” Gilligan said recently . “I want to know more about Walt’s backstory with them. I want to know what happened.’” This is how Walter’s former Gray Matter business partners ended up with a pivotal role in the final series. Gilligan even offered to tell him how the show would end; Kevin declined, saying he’d rather find out along with the rest of the world. Kevin Cordasco died soon after, and the ninth episode of season five is dedicated to him.
Breaking Bad: The Official Book, is out now
Additional reporting by Matt Lewis
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What is the first name of Neil Kinnock’s wife? | Where 'Breaking Bad' is just getting started - CNN.com
Where 'Breaking Bad' is just getting started
By Jane Caffrey, CNN
Updated 4:30 PM ET, Tue August 26, 2014
Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.
Diego Trujillo, right, and Roberto Urbina star in the Spanish-language adaptation of "Breaking Bad," "Metastasis."
Story highlights
The Emmy-winning "Breaking Bad" has a Spanish-language adaptation
The series debuts in Latin America in September
It's already bowed in the States and in Mexico to positive response
Sixteen Emmy Awards.
That's how many trophies the cast and crew of "Breaking Bad" have hauled home after five seasons of groundbreaking TV, with six of those honors being earned at Monday's 66th Primetime Emmy Awards. The three-hour ceremony, hosted by "Late Night's" Seth Meyers, nearly doubled as one long standing ovation for the AMC series, which ended its run in September 2013.
Emmy Awards: 'Breaking Bad' goes out on top
But as creator Vince Gilligan and stars Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn and Aaron Paul laid "Breaking Bad" to rest with gleaming Emmys in their hands, elsewhere in the world the series is just getting started.
In September, Latin America will get its own, Spanish-language version of "Breaking Bad" called "Metastasis." The premise is the same -- a science teacher decides to cash in on his specialized knowledge by entering the drug trade, to devastating consequences -- but the setting is Bogota, Colombia.
Instead of watching the evolution of a man named Walter White (played by Cranston in "Breaking Bad"), potential fans will follow Walter Blanco, as played by Colombian actor Diego Trujillo. Walter Blanco has wife a named Cielo -- the Colombian equivalent of Anna Gunn's Skyler -- and a partner-in-crime named Jose Miguel Rosas, the equivalent of Aaron Paul's Jesse Pinkman.
The series debuted in the States on the Spanish language network UniMas in June, and has also made its way to Mexico. But "in Colombia, not many people know about 'Breaking Bad,'" Trujillo explained in an interview from Bogota. "There's not a great cable culture here, people watch open television on the basic channels that we have. 'Metastasis' is going to be a great surprise."
While adapting shows to another language is commonplace -- Trujillo previously worked on Latin American versions of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives," and the U.S. turned Colombian series "Betty La Fea" into "Ugly Betty" -- producing "Metastasis" was no easy task. The cast had to film the entirety of "Breaking Bad" nearly shot for shot in just six months, and they didn't know how the story was going to end because the final season of "Breaking Bad" was still in development at the time.
Despite those challenges, the story doesn't get lost in translation. Well-crafted symbolism, such as the noteworthy pink teddy bear that falls from a plane, appears in "Metastasis," as do other scenes well-known to "Breaking Bad" viewers.
"The themes that it touches are very universal," Urbina said. "To me, the show is a moral question about how far you would go while exploring the complex character like that of Walter."
One of Walter's scenes that strikes a chord with Trujillo takes place near the end of the series, when the "Metastasis" protagonist comes back to see his wife Cielo and say goodbye to her and their baby girl.
"That's Walter and that's what all the characters are," Trujillo said. "Every scene is full of contradiction, it's full of humanity."
While both Trujillo and Urbina were certainly influenced by Cranston and Paul's portrayals of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, they made an effort to break away from the original and make the characters, and the show, their own.
"When you start working with a different language, with a different director, a different cast, and our own traditions, at the end you really do your own version," Trujillo said. "Characters come alive by themselves. You forget very soon what you saw, and the reference you have of the other actor."
When Urbina first began filming, he was too attached to Paul's portrayal of Jesse, with the memory of "Breaking Bad" scenes ingrained in his mind. Yet by making a conscious effort to start from scratch, he said he reimagined his Jose Miguel Rosas.
"I think the biggest difference between Jesse and Jose is they are both very insecure people, but I think Jesse's character shows that through aggression and violence, while Jose, I tried to make him a little more vulnerable," Urbina said. "I think you are able to relate more to him and feel what he is feeling. He's not a character afraid of showing his sadness, his emotion."
There are other factors that distinguish "Metastasis" from "Breaking Bad." The setting of Bogota moves the story into the urban environment of a big city, as opposed to Albuquerque's suburban landscape. The city also lacks deserts, or the border and immigration issues prevalent in Albuquerque.
With its high elevation, Bogota is cold year-round, so the pool in Walter's backyard is replaced by a fountain, which Cielo falls into as she's having a dream. The RV where Walter and Jesse make their great escape in the "Breaking Bad" pilot is also replaced by a rickety school bus turned into a lab for "Metastasis."
Although they're sharing similar material, there's no competition for the actors. Quite the opposite, actually: Urbina and Trujillo were both rooting for "Breaking Bad" to win at the Emmys on Monday.
"Cranston's performance is absolutely wonderful. He deserves all the awards, as well as the rest of (the cast)," Trujillo said. "I think they are just great actors, and they did a great, great job."
So far, Urbina and Trujillo haven't been doing too badly with the roles themselves. The actors said Vince Gilligan admires "Metastasis," and they've received positive feedback from fans near and far.
"I have gotten an amazing response from people all over, people in Mexico and the States," Urbina said. "There was this one guy in Mexico that wrote to me, and it was very touching because he identified with the character. He went down on drugs and he lost his girlfriend and he was reaching out, not for help, but to connect and to grieve. So I think it has touched people in a very powerful way."
There is only more to come, as the much anticipated season finale airs on UniMas in mid-September, and "Metastasis" comes to Latin American audiences with Fox Live on September 1.
"The story is really well-adapted to our conditions here," Trujillo said. "People are going to believe it, believe the people. It's an amazing story, and I'm sure it's going to be really well received."
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James Joseph Brown, Jr. (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006), commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul", the "King of Funk", "Soul Brother #1" and "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business", was an American entertainer . He is recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music and was renowned for his vocals and feverish dancing.
As a prolific singer , songwriter and bandleader , Brown was a pivotal force in the music industry. He left his mark on numerous artists. Brown's music also left its mark on the rhythms of African popular music , such as afrobeat , jùjú and mbalax , [1] and provided a template for go-go music. [2]
Brown began his professional music career in 1953 and rose to fame during the late 1950s and early 1960s on the strength of his thrilling live performances and string of smash hits. In spite of various personal problems and setbacks he continued to score hits in every decade through the 1980s. In addition to his acclaim in music, Brown was a presence in American political affairs during the 1960s and 1970s, noted especially for his activism on behalf of fellow African Americans and the poor. During the early 1980s, Brown's music helped to shape the rhythms of early hip-hop music, with numerous groups looping or sampling his funk grooves and turning them into what became hip hop classics and the foundations of the music genre.
Brown was recognized by numerous titles , including Soul Brother Number One, Sex Machine, Mr. Dynamite, The Hardest Working Man in Show Business, Minister of The New New Super Heavy Funk, Mr. Please Please Please Please Her, The Boss and foremost the Godfather of Soul.
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James Brown was born to Susie ( née Behlings) and Joseph ("Joe") Gardner in the small town of Barnwell, South Carolina in the Jim Crow South during the Depression era. Although Brown was to be named after his father, his name was reversed mistakenly on the birth certificate. Because of this mix-up during the birth registration, Brown's name instead became James Joseph Brown, Jr. [3] As a young child, Brown was known to his family as Junior, and he was also known as Little Junior when he later lived with his aunt and cousin, since his cousin's nickname was also Junior. [3] . He was given up for foster care at a young age.
Brown and his family lived in extreme poverty . [4] When Brown was two years old, his parents separated after his mother decided to leave his father for another man. [5] After his mother left the family, Brown continued to live with his father and his live-in girlfriends until he was six years old. After that time, Brown and his father moved to Augusta, Georgia , and his father sent him to live with an aunt who ran a house of prostitution . [6] Even though Brown lived with relatives, he spent long stretches of time on his own, hanging out on the streets and hustling to get by. [4] Brown managed to stay in school until he dropped out in the seventh grade. [7]
During his childhood, Brown earned money shining shoes , sweeping out stores, selling and trading in old stamps, washing cars and dishes and singing in talent contests. [4] Brown also performed buck dances for change to entertain troops from Camp Gordon during the start of World War II as their convoys traveled over a canal bridge near his aunt's house. [5] [6] Between earning money from these adventures, Brown taught himself to play a harmonica given to him by his father, [5] and he learned to play some guitar from Tampa Red (who was "dating" one of the girls from his aunt's house), in addition to learning to play piano and drums from others. [5] Brown was inspired to become an entertainer after watching Louis Jordan , a popular jazz and R&B performer during the 1940s, and His Tympany Five in a short film performing " Caldonia ". [8]
As an adult, Brown legally changed his name to remove the "Jr." designation. [9] In his spare time, Brown spent time practicing his various skills in Augusta-area halls and committing petty crimes. At the age of sixteen, he was convicted of armed robbery and sent to a juvenile detention center upstate in Toccoa in 1948. [10]
Brown, who was by then nicknamed "Music Box", formed a gospel quartet while he was incarcerated at the detention center. The group made their own instruments for their performances, which included a paper-and-comb "harmonica", a "drum set" made of lard tins and a "bass" made of a broomstick and washtub. [5] Brown's quartet performed for the local prison crowd and performed shows for other nearby prisons. [4]
While Brown was in reform school, he became acquainted with Bobby Byrd , who first saw Brown perform in prison as Byrd watched and admired Brown's ability to sing and perform. [5] Byrd's family helped Brown secure an early release after serving only three years of his sentence. The authorities back then agreed to release Brown on the condition that he (Brown) would try to get a job and not return to Augusta or Richmond County . After stints as a boxer [11] and baseball pitcher in semi-professional baseball (a career move ended by a leg injury), Brown turned his energy toward music. [12]
Career
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Brown's career spanned decades, and profoundly influenced the development of many different musical genres. [13] Brown moves on a continuum of blues and gospel-based forms and styles to a profoundly Africanised approach to music making. [10] Brown performed in concerts, first making his rounds across the " chitlin' circuit ", and then across the country and later around the world, along with appearing in shows on television and in movies. Although he contributed much to the music world through his hitmaking, Brown held the record as the artist who charted the most singles on the Billboard Hot 100 without ever hitting number one on that chart. [4] [14]
1955: The Famous Flames
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In 1955, Brown and Bobby Byrd 's sister Sarah performed in a group called "The Gospel Starlighters". Eventually, Brown joined Bobby Byrd's vocal group, the Avons, and Byrd turned the group's sound towards secular rhythm and blues . After the group's name was changed to The Flames, Brown and Byrd's group toured the Southern " chitlin' circuit ", and the group eventually signed a deal with the Cincinnati, Ohio -based label Federal Records , a sister label of King Records .
The group's first recording was the single " Please, Please, Please " (1956). The single was a #5 R&B hit, selling over a million copies. Nine subsequent singles released by The Flames failed to live up to the success of their debut, and group was in danger of being dropped by King Records.
Brown's early recordings were fairly straightforward gospel-inspired R&B compositions, heavily influenced by the work of contemporary musicians such as Ray Charles and Little Richard . Little Richard's relations with Brown were particularly significant in Brown's development as a musician and showman. Brown once called Richard his idol, and credited Richard's saxophone -studded mid-1950s road band, The Upsetters, with being the first to put the funk in the rock and roll beat. [15] When Richard left pop music in 1957 to become a preacher, Brown filled out Richard's remaining tour dates in his place. Several former members of Little Richard's backup band joined Brown's group as a consequence of Richard's exit from the pop music scene.
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Brown's group returned to the charts to stay in 1958 with the #1 R&B hit " Try Me ". This hit record was the best-selling R&B single of the year, becoming the first of 17 chart-topping R&B singles by Brown over the next two decades. [16] By the time "Try Me" was released on record, the group's billing was changed to James Brown and The Famous Flames . "The Famous Flames" was a vocal group, not a backing band contrary to popular belief.
In 1959, Brown and The Famous Flames moved from the Federal Records subsidiary to King Records, the parent label. Brown began to have recurring conflicts with King Records president Syd Nathan over repertoire and other matters. In one notable instance, Brown recorded the 1960 Top Ten R&B hit " (Do the) Mashed Potatoes " on Dade Records, owned by Henry Stone , under the pseudonym "Nat Kendrick & The Swans" because Nathan refused to allow him to record it for King. [17]
Early and mid-1960s
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Brown scored on the charts in the early 1960s with recordings such as his 1962 cover of " Night Train ". While Brown's early singles were major hits across the southern United States and then regular R&B Top Ten hits, he and the Famous Flames were not successful nationally until his self-financed live show was captured on the 1963 LP Live at the Apollo . Brown financed the recording of the album himself, and it was released on King Records over the objections of label owner Syd Nathan, who saw no commercial potential in a live album containing no new songs. Defying Nathan's expectations, the album stayed on the pop charts for fourteen months, peaking at #2. [18] In addition, Brown recorded a hit version of the ballad " Prisoner of Love " ,( his first Top 20 pop hit), in 1963 and founded (under King auspices) the fledgling Try Me Records , Brown's first attempt at running a record label .
Brown followed the success of Live at the Apollo with a string of singles that, along with the work of Allen Toussaint in New Orleans , essentially defined the foundation of funk music. Driven by the success of Live at the Apollo and the failure of King Records to expand record promotion beyond the "black" market, James Brown and fellow Famous Flame Bobby Byrd formed a production company, Fair Deal, to promote sales of Brown's record releases to white audiences. In this arrangement, Smash Records , a subsidiary of Mercury Records , was used as a vehicle to distribute Brown's music. Smash released his 1964 hit " Out of Sight ", which reached #24 on the pop charts and pointed the way to his later funk hits. [19] Its release also triggered a legal battle between Smash and King that resulted in a one year ban on the release of Brown's vocal recordings. [20]
During the mid-1960s, two of Brown's signature tunes " Papa's Got a Brand New Bag " and " I Got You (I Feel Good) ", both from 1965, were his first Top 10 pop hits, as well as major #1 R&B hits, with each remaining the top-selling singles in black venues for over a month. In 1966, Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" won the Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording (an award last given in 1968). Brown's national profile was boosted further that year by appearances in the movie Ski Party and the concert film The T.A.M.I. Show , in which he and The Famous Flames (Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett and "Baby Lloyd" Stallworth) upstaged The Rolling Stones . In his concert repertoire and on record, Brown mingled his innovative rhythmic essays with Broadway show tunes and ballads , such as his hit " It's a Man's Man's Man's World " (1966).
Late 1960s
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As the 1960s decade neared its end, Brown continued to refine the new funk idiom. Brown's 1967 #1 R&B hit, " Cold Sweat ", sometimes cited as the first true funk song, was the first of his recordings to contain a drum break and the first that featured a harmony that was reduced to a single chord change . [21] [22] The instrumental arrangements on tracks such as " Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose " and " Licking Stick-Licking Stick " (both recorded in 1968) and " Funky Drummer " (recorded in 1969) featured a more developed version of Brown's mid-1960s style, with the horn section , guitars , bass and drums meshed together in intricate rhythmic patterns based on multiple interlocking riffs .
Changes in Brown's style that started with "Cold Sweat" also established the musical foundation for Brown's later hits, such as " I Got the Feelin' " (1968) and " Mother Popcorn " (1969). By this time Brown's vocals frequently took the form of a kind of rhythmic declamation, not quite sung but not quite spoken, that only intermittently featured traces of pitch or melody . This would become a major influence on the techniques of rapping , which would come to maturity along with hip hop music in the coming decades.
In November 1967 James Brown purchased radio station WGYW in Knoxville, Tennessee for a reported $75,000, according to the January 20, 1968 Record World magazine. The call letters were changed to WJBE reflecting his initials. WJBE began on January 15, 1968 and broadcast a Rhythm & Blues format. The station slogan was "WJBE 1430 Raw Soul". At the time it was mentioned "Brown has also branched out into real estate and music publishing in recent months".
Brown's recordings influenced musicians across the industry, most notably Sly and his Family Stone , Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band , Booker T. & the M.G.'s and soul shouters like Edwin Starr , Temptations David Ruffin , and Dennis Edwards . A then-prepubescent Michael Jackson took Brown's shouts and dancing into the pop mainstream as the lead singer of Motown 's The Jackson 5 . Those same tracks were later resurrected by countless hip-hop musicians from the 1970s onward. As a result, James Brown remains to this day the world's most sampled recording artist, with "Funky Drummer" itself becoming the most sampled individual piece of music. [23]
Brown's band during this period employed musicians and arrangers who had come up through the jazz tradition. He was noted for his ability as a bandleader and songwriter to blend the simplicity and drive of R&B with the rhythmic complexity and precision of jazz . Trumpeter Lewis Hamlin and saxophonist/keyboardist Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis (the successor to previous bandleader Nat Jones) led the band. Guitarist Jimmy Nolen provided percussive, deceptively simple riffs for each song, and Maceo Parker 's prominent saxophone solos provided a focal point for many performances. Other members of Brown's band included stalwart singer and sideman Bobby Byrd, drummers John "Jabo" Starks , Clyde Stubblefield and Melvin Parker (Maceo's brother), saxophonist St. Clair Pinckney , trombonist Fred Wesley , guitarist Alphonso "Country" Kellum and bassist Bernard Odum .
During this period, Brown's music empire also expanded along with his influence on the music scene. As Brown's music empire grew, his desire for financial and artistic independence grew as well. Brown bought radio stations during the late 1960s, including radio station WRDW in Augusta, Georgia where he shined shoes as a boy. Brown also branched out to make several recordings with musicians outside his own band. He recorded Gettin' Down To It (1969) and Soul on Top (1970), two albums consisting mostly of romantic ballads and jazz standards , with the Dee Felice Trio and the Louie Bellson Orchestra respectively. He recorded a number of tracks with the Dapps, a white Cincinnati bar band, including the hit "I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)". He also released three albums of Christmas music with his own band.
1970s and the J.B.'s
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By 1970, most members of James Brown's classic 1960s band had quit his act for other opportunities, and The Famous Flames singing group had disbanded, with original member Bobby Byrd the only one remaining with Brown. Brown and Byrd employed a new band that included future funk greats, such as bassist Bootsy Collins , Collins' guitarist brother Phelps "Catfish" Collins and trombonist and musical director Fred Wesley . This new backing band was dubbed " The J.B.'s ", and the band made its debut on Brown's 1970 single " Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine ". Although The J.B.'s went through several lineup changes, with the first change occurring in 1971, the band remained Brown's most familiar backing band.
In 1971, Brown began recording for Polydor Records which also took over distribution of Brown's King Records catalog. Many of his sidemen and supporting players, such as Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s, Bobby Byrd , Lyn Collins , Vicki Anderson and Hank Ballard , released records on the People label, an imprint founded by Brown that was purchased by Polydor as part of Brown's new contract. The recordings on the People label, almost all of which were produced by Brown himself, exemplified his "house style". Songs such as " I Know You Got Soul " by Bobby Byrd, " Think (About It) " by Lyn Collins and " Doing It to Death " by Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s are considered as much a part of Brown's recorded legacy as the recordings released under his own name.
In 1973, Brown provided the score for the blaxploitation film Black Caesar . In 1974, he toured Africa and performed in Zaire as part of the buildup to the Rumble in the Jungle fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman . Admirers of Brown's music, including Miles Davis and other jazz musicians, began to cite Brown as a major influence on their own styles. However, Brown, like others who were influenced by his music, also "borrowed" from other musicians. His 1976 single "Hot" (I Need To Be Loved, Loved, Loved, Loved)" (R&B #31) borrowed the main riff from " Fame " by David Bowie , not the other way around as was often believed. The riff was provided to "Fame" co-writers John Lennon and Bowie by guitarist Carlos Alomar . [24]
Brown's Polydor recordings during the 1970s exemplified his innovations from the previous twenty years. Compositions such as " The Payback " (1973), " Papa Don't Take No Mess ", "Stoned to the Bone", and " Funky President (People It's Bad) " (1974), and " Get Up Offa That Thing " (1976) were among his most noted recordings during this time.
Late 1970s and early 1980s
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By the mid-1970s Brown's star-status was on the wane, and key musicians in his band such as Fred Wesley left to join Parliament-Funkadelic . The onslaught of the slickly commercial style of disco caught Brown off guard, as it superseded his raw style of funk music on the dance floor. His 1976 albums Get Up Offa That Thing and Bodyheat were Brown's first flirtations with disco rhythms and its slicker production techniques. While the albums Mutha's Nature (1977) and Jam 1980s (1978) did not generate chart hits, Brown's 1979 LP The Original Disco Man was a notable late addition to his oeuvre. This album featured the song "It's Too Funky in Here", which was his last top R&B hit of the decade. Like the rest of songs on the The Original Disco Man LP, "It's Too Funky in Here" was not produced by Brown himself, but produced instead by Brad Shapiro.
Brown's contract with Polydor expired in 1981, and his recording and touring schedule was somewhat reduced. Despite these events, Brown experienced something of a resurgence during the 1980s, effectively crossing over to a broader, more mainstream audience. He appeared in the feature films The Blues Brothers , Doctor Detroit and Rocky IV , as well as guest starring in the Miami Vice episode "Missing Hours" (1988). He also recorded Gravity, a modestly popular crossover album released on his new host label Scotti Bros. , and the top 10 hit 1985 single " Living in America ", which was featured prominently in the Rocky IV film and soundtrack . Brown performed the song in the film at Apollo Creed's final fight, shot in the Ziegfeld Room at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and was credited as "The Godfather of Soul". In 1987, Brown won the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Living in America". Acknowledging his influence on modern hip-hop and R&B music, Brown collaborated with hip-hop artist Afrika Bambaataa on the single " Unity ".
In 1988, Brown worked with the production team Full Force on the hip-hop influenced album I'm Real, which spawned a #5 R&B hit single, "Static". Meanwhile, the drum break from the second version of the original 1969 hit "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose" (the recording included on the compilation album In the Jungle Groove ) became so popular at hip hop dance parties (especially for breakdance ) during the late 1970s and early 1980s that hip hop founding father Kurtis Blow called the song "the national anthem of hip hop". [25]
Late 1980s to the 2000s
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After a stint in prison during the late 1980s, Brown released the album Love Overdue, with the new single "Move On". Brown also released the 1991 four-CD box set Star Time , which included music spanning his four-decade career at that time. Nearly all of his earlier LPs were re-released on CD, often with additional tracks and commentary by experts on Brown's music. In 1993, James Brown released the album Universal James, which spawned the singles "Can't Get Any Harder", "How Long" and "Georgia-Lina". In 1995, the live album Live at the Apollo 1995 was released, featuring the new studio track "Respect Me", which was released as a single that same year.
Brown followed up this single with the megamix "Hooked on Brown" that was released as a single in 1996. Brown's later LP releases during this time included the 1998 studio album I'm Back that featured the single "Funk on ah Roll", and the 2002 album The Next Step that featured the single "Killing is Out, School is In". In 2003, Brown participated in the PBS American Masters television documentary James Brown: Soul Survivor, which was directed by Jeremy Marre .
Although Brown had various run-ins with the law, he continued to perform and record regularly, and he also made appearances in television shows and films, such as Blues Brothers 2000 , and sporting events, such as his 2000 appearance at the World Championship Wrestling pay-per-view event SuperBrawl X . In Brown's appearance at the SuperBrawl X event, he danced alongside wrestler Ernest "The Cat" Miller , whose character was based on Brown, during his in ring skit with The Maestro . [26] Brown was featured in Tony Scott 's 2001 short film , Beat the Devil, alongside Clive Owen , Gary Oldman , Danny Trejo and Marilyn Manson . [27] Brown also made a cameo appearance in the 2002 Jackie Chan film The Tuxedo , in which Chan was required to finish Brown's act after Brown was accidentally knocked out by Chan. [28]
Brown appeared at Edinburgh 50,000 - The Final Push , the final Live 8 concert on July 6, 2005, where he performed a duet with British pop star Will Young on "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag". He also performed a duet with another British pop star, Joss Stone , a week earlier on the United Kingdom chat show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross . Before his death, Brown was scheduled to perform a duet with singer Annie Lennox on the song "Vengeance" for her new album Venus, scheduled for release in early 2007. In 2006, Brown continued his "Seven Decades Of Funk World Tour", his last concert tour where he performed all over the world. His last shows were greeted with positive reviews, and one of his final concert appearances at the Irish Oxegen festival in Punchestown in 2006 was performed for a record crowd of 80,000 people. Brown's last televised appearance was at his induction into the UK Music Hall of Fame in November 2006, before his death the following month.
James Brown Revue
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For many years, Brown's touring show was one of the most extravagant productions in American popular music. At the time of Brown's death, his band included three guitarists, two bass guitar players, two drummers, three horns and a percussionist. [29] The bands that he maintained during the late 1960s and 1970s were of comparable size, and the bands also included a three-piece amplified string section that played during ballads. [30] Brown employed between 40 and 50 people for the James Brown Revue, and members of the revue traveled with him in a bus to cities and towns all over the country, performing upwards of 330 shows a year with almost all of the shows as one-nighters. [31] [32]
Concert introduction
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Before James Brown appeared on stage, his personal MC gave him an elaborate introduction accompanied by drumrolls, as the MC worked in Brown's various sobriquets along with the names of many of his hit songs. The introduction by Fats Gonder, captured on Brown's 1963 album Live at the Apollo album, is a representative example:
So now ladies and gentlemen it is star time, are you ready for star time? Thank you and thank you very kindly. It is indeed a great pleasure to present to you at this particular time, national and international[ly] known as the hardest working man in show business, the men that sing " I'll Go Crazy " ... " Try Me " ... "You've Got the Power" ... " Think " ... "If You Want Me" ... " I Don't Mind " ... " Bewildered " ...the million dollar seller, " Lost Someone " ... the very latest release, " Night Train " ... let's everybody " Shout and Shimmy " ... Mr. Dynamite, the amazing Mr. Please Please himself, the star of the show, James Brown and The Famous Flames !! [33]
Among the MCs who worked with Brown and his revue through the years, Brown's most famous MC was Danny Ray, who appeared on stage with him for over 30 years.
Concert repertoire and format
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James Brown's performances were famous for their intensity and length. His own stated goal was to "give people more than what they came for — make them tired, 'cause that's what they came for.'" [34] Brown's concert repertoire consisted mostly of his own hits and recent songs, with a few R&B covers mixed in. Brown danced vigorously as he sang, working popular dance steps such as the Mashed Potato into his routine along with dramatic leaps, splits and slides. In addition, his horn players and backup singers (The Famous Flames) typically performed choreographed dance routines, and later incarnations of the Revue included backup dancers. Male performers in the Revue were required to wear tuxedoes and cummerbunds long after more casual concert wear became the norm among the younger musical acts. Brown's own extravagant outfits and his elaborate processed hairdo completed the visual impression.
A James Brown concert typically included a performance by a featured vocalist, such as Vicki Anderson or Marva Whitney , and an instrumental feature for the band, which sometimes served as the opening act for the show. Although Brown released many live albums, Say It Live & Loud: Live in Dallas 08.26.68, released by Polydor in 1998, was one of only a few audio recordings that captured a performance of the James Brown Revue from beginning to end.
Cape routine
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A trademark feature of Brown's stage shows, usually during the song "Please, Please, Please", involved Brown dropping to his knees while clutching the microphone stand in his hands, prompting the show's MC to come out, drape a cape over Brown's shoulders and escort him off the stage after he had worked himself to exhaustion during his performance. As Brown was escorted off the stage by the MC, Brown's vocal group, The Famous Flames , continued singing the background vocals "Please, please don't go-oh-oh". [35] Brown then shook off the cape and staggered back to the microphone to perform an encore . This act was often repeated several times in succession.
Brown's cape routine was inspired by a similar routine used by the professional wrestler Gorgeous George . [33] [36]
Brown as band leader
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Brown demanded extreme discipline, perfection and precision from his musicians and dancers — right down to when performers in his Revue showed up for rehearsals all the way to whether members wore the right "uniform" or "costume" for concert performances. [37] During an interview conducted by Terri Gross during the NPR segment " Fresh Air " with Maceo Parker , a former saxophonist in Brown's band for most of the 1960s and part of the 1970s and 1980s, Parker offered his experience with the discipline that Brown demanded of the band:
You gotta be on time. You gotta have your uniform. Your stuff's got to be intact. You gotta have the bow tie. You got to have it. You can't come up without the bow tie. You cannot come up without a cummerbund ... [The] patent leather shoes we were wearing at the time gotta be greased. You just gotta have this stuff. This is what [Brown expects] ... [Brown] bought the costumes. He bought the shoes. And if for some reason [the band member decided] to leave the group, [Brown told the person to] please leave my uniforms .... [38]
Brown also had a practice of directing, correcting and assessing fines on members of his band who broke his rules, such as wearing unshined shoes, dancing out of sync or showing up late on stage. [12] During some of his concert performances, Brown danced in front of his band with his back to the audience as he slid across the floor, flashing hand signals and splaying his pulsating fingers to the beat of the music. Although audiences thought Brown's dance routine was part of his act, this practice was actually his way of pointing to the offending member of his troupe who played or sang the wrong note or committed some other infraction. Brown used his splayed fingers and hand signals to alert the offending person of the fine that person must pay to him for breaking his rules. [39]
Social activism
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During the late 1960s and early 1970s, James Brown was renowned for his work with social activism. In 1966, he released the single "Don't Be a Drop-Out" as a lesson to young students who had thoughts of dropping out. He later made public speeches in front of dozens of children and advocated the importance of education in school. In 1967, he issued a patriotic single, "America is My Home", which was a "rap" about how he felt people, particularly in the African-American community, were neglecting the country that he said "could give (them) opportunities" explaining how at one time he was shining shoes and the next, he was greeting the President of the United States as he did when President Lyndon B. Johnson thanked him for donating money to school drop-out prevention programs.
A year later, he performed in front of a televised audience in Boston the day after the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. . Brown is often given credit for preventing rioting with the performance [40] . However, it was Mayor Kevin White who strongly restrained the Boston Police from cracking down on minor violence and protests after the assassination [40] , and Boston religious and community leaders who worked to keep tempers from flaring [40] . Also, White arranged to have the performance broadcast multiple times on Boston's public television station, WGBH , thus keeping many potential rioters off the streets, watching the concert for free. Brown demanded $60,000 for "gate" fees (money he thought would be lost from ticket sales on account of the concert being broadcast for free), and then threatened to go public about the secret arrangement when the city balked at paying up after the concert, news of which would have been a political death-blow to White, and possibly sparked riots on its own [40] . White successfully lobbied the behind-the-scenes power-brokering group known as "The Vault" to come up with money for Brown's gate fee and other social programs; The Vault contributed $100,000 to such programs, and Brown received $15,000 from them via the city. White persuaded management at the Boston Garden to give up their share of receipts to make up the difference [40] .
Afterwards, President Johnson advised Brown to visit Washington, D.C. to greet inner-city residents there performing at a benefit concert there and expressed the notion that violence "wasn't the way to go". Many in the black community felt that Brown was speaking out to them more than some major leaders in the country, a sentiment that was strengthened with the release of his groundbreaking landmark single, " Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud ".
Brown continued performing benefit concerts for various civil rights organizations including Jesse Jackson 's PUSH and The Black Panther Party 's Breakfast program throughout the early-1970s. Brown also continued to release socially-conscious singles such as "I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I'll Get It Myself)" (1969), "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" (1971), "Talking Loud and Saying Nothing" (1972), "King Heroin" (1974), " Funky President (People It's Bad) " (1974) and "Reality" (1975). The week before his death, Brown took time to give Christmas presents to an orphanage in Atlanta.
Fannie Brown
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James Brown's sister, Fannie Brown, shared James' passion and concern for the condition of today's youth and expressed these concerns by writing songs for James Brown and his band to perform in concert. Brown pocketed the songs for later collaboration, but sang songs written by Fannie Brown wrote in his final track "Gut Bucket". According to Fannie Brown, "Pull Your Pants UP! U SAGGIN'", a song about negativity in today's music world, is planned for a future release. [41]
Personal life
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At the end of his life, James Brown lived in a riverfront home in Beech Island, South Carolina , directly across the Savannah River from Augusta, Georgia . Brown was once diagnosed with prostate cancer , which was successfully treated with surgery. [42] Regardless of his health, Brown maintained his reputation as the "hardest working man in show business" by keeping up with his grueling performance schedule. However, James Brown led as colorful a life on stage with his performances, as he had off stage with his troubles with the law and his last marriage in particular.
Marriages and children
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Brown was married four times — Velma Warren (19 June 1953–1969, divorced), Deidre "Deedee" Jenkins (22 October 1970–10 January 1981, divorced), Adrienne Lois Rodriguez (born 9 March 1950) (1984–6 January 1996, wife's death) and Tomi Rae Hynie (December 2001–2006, his death). From these and other relationships, James Brown had five sons — Teddy Brown (1954-1973), Terry Brown, and Larry Brown, Daryl Brown (a member of Brown's backing band) and James Joseph Brown III, in addition to four daughters — Lisa Brown, Dr. Yamma Noyola Brown Lumar, Deanna Brown Thomas and Venisha Brown. [43] [44] [45] Brown also had eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. [43] [44] Brown's eldest son, Teddy, died in a car crash on 14 June 1973. [46] Browns Granddaugher Lindsey Brown attended Westside High School in Augusta, Georgia from 2004-2008. she is now 18 years old
According to a 22 August 2007 article published in the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph , DNA tests indicate that Brown also fathered at least three illegitimate children. The only one of them who has been identified is LaRhonda Pettit (born 1962), a retired air stewardess and teacher who lives in Houston. [47]
Brown-Hynie marriage controversy
Edit
Much controversy surrounds Tomi Rae Hynie's marriage to James Brown that occurred in December 2001, which was officiated by Rev. Larry Fryer. [48] Brown's longtime attorney, Albert "Buddy" Dallas, reported that the marriage between Brown and Hynie was not valid because Hynie was married at that time to Javed Ahmed, a Pakistani whom Hynie claimed married her for a Green Card in an immigration fraud. Although Hynie stated that her marriage to Javed Ahmed was later annulled, the annulment for Hynie's 1997 marriage to Ahmed did not occur until April 2004. [48] [49] In an interview on CNN with Larry King , Hynie produced a 2001 marriage certificate as proof of her marriage to James Brown, but she did not provide King with court records pointing to an annulment of her marriage to him or to Ahmed. [50]
According to Dallas, Brown was angry and hurt that Hynie concealed her prior marriage from him, and that Brown moved to file for annulment from Hynie. [51] Dallas added that, although Hynie's marriage to Javed Ahmed was annulled after she married James Brown, the Brown-Hynie marriage was not valid under South Carolina law because Brown and Hynie did not remarry after the annulment. [50] [52] In August 2003, Brown took out a full-page public notice in Variety Magazine featuring Hynie, James II and himself on vacation at Disney World to announce that he and Hynie were going their separate ways. [53] [54]
Paternity of James Brown II
Edit
In a separate CNN interview, Debra Opri , another Brown family attorney, revealed to Larry King that Brown wanted a DNA test performed after his death to confirm the paternity of James Brown II — not for Brown's sake, but for the sake of the other family members. [55] In April 2007, Hynie selected a guardian ad litem whom she wants appointed by the court to represent her son, James Brown II, in the paternity proceedings. [56]
Legal issues
Edit
Brown's personal life was marred by several brushes with the law. At the age of 16, was arrested for theft and served 3 years in prison. In 1988, Brown was arrested following an alleged high-speed car chase on Interstate 20 along the Georgia - South Carolina state border. He was convicted of carrying an unlicensed pistol and assaulting a police officer, along with various drug-related and driving offenses. Although he was sentenced to six years in prison, he was eventually released in 1991 after serving only three years of his sentence. Brown's FBI file, released to The Washington Post in 2007 under the Freedom of Information Act, [57] related Brown's claim that the high-speed chase did not occur as claimed by the police, and that local police shot at his car several times during an incident of police harassment and assaulted him after his arrest. [58] Local authorities found no merit to Brown's accusations. In another incident, the police were summoned to Brown's residence on July 3, 2000 after he was accused of charging an electric company repairman with a steak knife when the repairman visited Brown's house to investigate a complaint about having no lights at the residence. [59]
In 2003, Brown was pardoned for past crimes that he was convicted of committing in South Carolina. [60] In January 2005, a woman named Jacque Hollander filed a lawsuit against James Brown, which stemmed from an alleged 1988 forcible rape. When the case was initially heard before a judge in 2002, Hollander's claims against Brown were dismissed by the court as the limitations period for filing the suit had expired. Hollander claimed that stress from the alleged assault later caused her to contract Grave's Disease, a thyroid condition. Hollander claimed that the incident took place in South Carolina while she was employed by Brown as a publicist.
Hollander alleged that, during her ride in a van with Brown, Brown pulled over to the side of the road and sexually assaulted her while he threatened her with a shotgun. In her case against Brown, Hollander entered as evidence a DNA sample and a polygraph result, but the evidence was not considered due to the limitations defense. Hollander later attempted to bring her case before the Supreme Court but nothing became of her complaint. Template:Fact
During the 1990s and 2000s, Brown was repeatedly arrested for domestic violence . Adrienne Rodriguez, his third wife, had him arrested four times between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s on charges of assault. In January 2004, Brown was arrested in South Carolina on a domestic violence charge after Tomi Rae Hynie accused him of pushing her to the floor during an argument at their home, where she suffered scratches and bruises to her right arm and hip. Later that year in June 2004, Brown pleaded no contest to the domestic violence incident, but served no jail time. Instead, Brown was required to forfeit a US $1,087 bond as punishment. [61]
Death and the aftermath
File:James Brown Memorial 1.JPG
On December 23, 2006, James Brown, in ill health, showed up at his dentist's office in Atlanta, Georgia several hours later than his appointment for dental implant work. During that visit, Brown's dentist observed that Brown looked "very bad ... weak and dazed." Instead of performing the dental work, the dentist advised Brown to see a doctor right away about his medical condition. [6]
Brown checked in at the Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia on December 24, 2006 for a medical evaluation of his condition, and he was admitted to the hospital for observation and treatment. [62] According to Charles Bobbit, Brown's longtime personal manager and friend, Brown had been sick and suffering with a noisy cough since he returned from a November trip to Europe . [6] Bobbit also added that it was characteristic of Brown to never tell or complain to anyone that he was sick, and that Brown frequently performed during illness. [6] Although Brown had to cancel upcoming shows in Waterbury, Connecticut and Englewood, New Jersey , Brown was confident that the doctor would discharge him from the hospital in time to perform the New Year's Eve shows.
For the New Year's celebrations, Brown was scheduled to perform at the Count Basie Theatre in New Jersey and at the B.B. King Blues Club in New York, in addition to performing a song live on CNN for the Anderson Cooper New Year's Eve special. [62] However, Brown remained hospitalized, and his medical condition worsened throughout that day.
On December 25, 2006, Brown died at approximately 1:45 AM EST (06:45 UTC) from congestive heart failure resulting from complications of pneumonia , with his agent Frank Copsidas and his friend Charles Bobbit at his bedside. [63] According to Bobbit, Brown uttered "I'm going away tonight", and then Brown took three long, quiet breaths before expiring. [64]
Memorial services
After Brown's death on Christmas day, Brown's relatives and friends, a host of celebrities and thousands of fans attended public memorial services at the Apollo Theater in New York on December 28, 2006 and at the James Brown Arena on December 30, 2006 in Augusta, Georgia . [44] A separate, private memorial service was also held in North Augusta, South Carolina on December 29, 2006, [43] which was attended by Brown's family and close friends. Celebrities who attended Brown's public and/or private memorial services included Joe Frazier , Dick Gregory , MC Hammer , Jesse Jackson , Bootsy Collins , Michael Jackson , L L Cool J , 50 Cent , and Don King , among others. [65] [66] [67] [68] All of the public and private memorial services were officiated by Rev. Al Sharpton . [69] [70]
Brown's public and private memorial ceremonies were elaborate, complete with costume changes for Brown and videos featuring him in concert performances. Brown's body, which was placed in a gold casket, was driven through the streets of New York to the Apollo Theater in a white, glass-encased horse-drawn carriage. [71] [72] In Augusta, Georgia, the procession for Brown's public memorial visited Brown's statue as the procession made its way to the James Brown Arena. During the public memorial at the James Brown Arena, nachos and pretzels were served to mourners, as a video showed Brown's last performance in Augusta, Georgia and the Ray Charles version of " Georgia On My Mind " played soulfully in the background. [73] [74] [75] Brown's last backup band, The Soul Generals, also played the music of Brown's hits during the memorial service at the James Brown Arena. The group was joined by Bootsy Collins on bass, with MC Hammer performing a dance in James Brown style. [76]
Last will and testament
Edit
James Brown signed his last will and testament on August 1, 2000 before Strom Thurmond, Jr., an attorney for Brown's estate. [77] The irrevocable trust, separate and apart from Brown's will, was created on Brown's behalf in 2000 by his attorney, Albert "Buddy" Dallas, who was named as one of three personal representatives of Brown's estate. Brown's will covered the disposition of his personal assets, such as clothing, cars and jewelry, while Brown's irrevocable trust covered the disposition of music rights, business assets of James Brown Enterprises and Brown's Beech Island estate in South Carolina. [78]
During the reading of Brown's will on January 11, 2007, Thurmond revealed that Brown's six adult living children (Terry Brown, Larry Brown, Daryl Brown, Yamma Brown Lumar, Deanna Brown Thomas and Venisha Brown) were named in the will. Hynie and James III were not mentioned in the will as parties who could inherit Brown's property. [77] [79] Brown's will was signed ten months before James III was born and more than a year before Brown's marriage to Tomi Rae Hynie. Like Brown's will, his irrevocable trust also did not mention Hynie and James III as recipients of Brown's property. The irrevocable trust was established and had not been amended since the birth of James III. [80]
On January 24, 2007, Brown's children filed a lawsuit against the personal representatives of Brown's estate. In their petition, Brown's children asked the court to remove the personal representatives of Brown's estate (including Brown's attorney and estate's trustee, Albert "Buddy" Dallas) and appoint a special administrator because of perceived impropriety and alleged mismanagement of Brown's assets. [81] [82] To challenge the validity of the will and irrevocable trust, Hynie also filed a lawsuit against Brown's estate on January 31, 2007. In her lawsuit against Brown's estate, Hynie asked the court to recognize her as Brown's widow, and she also asked the court to appoint a special administrator for the estate. [83]
Burial at temporary site
Edit
After the public and private memorial services in late December 2006, James Brown's body remained in his casket for a time in a temperature-controlled room at his estate. Brown's casket was later moved to an undisclosed location, while his children and Tomi Rae Hynie became embroiled in disputes about Brown's final resting place and matters related to probating his will. [84] More than ten weeks after Brown's death and the public and private memorial services, Brown's children and Hynie decided on a temporary burial site for James Brown. Brown was buried on March 10, 2007 in a crypt at the home of Deanna Brown Thomas, one of Brown's daughters who also held a private ceremony for the temporary burial. [85] The private ceremony for the temporary burial, officiated by Al Sharpton , was attended by Brown's family and a host of friends.
According to Brown's family, Brown's body will remain buried at the temporary site while a public mausoleum is built for him and a decision has been made for Brown's final resting place. [85] [86] To turn Brown's estate into a visitor attraction, Brown's family plans to consult with the family of Elvis Presley for guidance about converting the estate into an attraction similar to Graceland . [85] [87]
Dallas, Brown's long time attorney and one of the trustees for Brown's estate, did not attend the private service for the temporary burial. He expressed his disapproval and disappointment with the temporary burial arrangement with the comment "Mr. Brown's not deserving of anyone's backyard." According to Dallas, the trustees for Brown's estate "had made arrangements for Brown to be laid to rest at no cost at a 'very prominent memorial garden in Augusta.'" [88]
Honors, awards and dedications
Hell (1974)
The 1968 Live at the Apollo, Vol. II double LP album was notably influential on musicians at the time of its release. This classic album remains an example of Brown's energetic live performances and audience interaction, as well as providing a means of documenting the metamorphosis of his music from the R&B and soul styles into hard funk.
Notable singles
Edit
Until the early 1970s, Brown was famous mostly for his road show and singles, rather than his albums (with his live LPs as a major exception). Six of his hit singles appeared on the Rolling Stone Magazine's 2004 list of the 500 greatest songs of all time : [102]
| i don't know |
What is the symbol for the chemical element Californium? | Californium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Californium
Californium ( IPA : /ˌkalifɔː(r)niəm/) is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Cf and atomic number 98. A radioactive transuranic element , californium has very few uses and was discovered by bombarding curium with alpha particles ( helium ions ).
Contents
[ edit ] Notable characteristics
Weighable amounts of californium make it possible to determine some of its properties using macroscopic quantities.
252Cf (2.645 year half-life ) is a very strong neutron emitter and is thus extremely radioactive and harmful (one microgram spontaneously emits 170 million neutrons per minute). 249Cf is formed from the beta decay of 249 Bk and most other californium isotopes are made by subjecting berkelium to intense neutron radiation in a nuclear reactor .
Californium has no biological role and only a few californium compounds have been made and studied. Included among these are: californium oxide (Cf2 O 3), californium trichloride (Cf Cl 3) and californium oxychloride (CfOCl). The only californium ion that is stable in aqueous solution is the californium(III) cation.
[ edit ] General uses
The element does have some specialist applications dealing with its radioactivity but otherwise is largely too difficult to produce to have widespread useful significance as a material. Some of its uses are:
neutron startup source for some nuclear reactors , calibrating instrumentation
Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.
This article has been tagged since July 2007.
251Cf is famous for having a very small critical mass , high lethality, and short period of toxic environmental irradiation relative to radioactive elements commonly used for radiation explosive weaponry, creating speculation about possible use in pocket nukes . This urban legend is unfounded since it would be very difficult to make a 251Cf bomb weighing less than 2 kg, and the costs of such a bomb would be prohibitive. Other weaponry uses, such as showering an area with californium, are not impossible but are seen as inhumane and are subject to inclement weather conditions and porous terrain considerations. Often cited as a consideration is the cost of producing californium in quantity, but the cost citations are usually due to extra fees that laboratory materials companies insert for sake of caution and market needs. A government need not consider these as prohibitive.
[ edit ] Nuclear fuel cycle
Pertaining to californium's nuclear fuel cycle , it is important to make sure that the curium concentration in MOX nuclear fuel is kept low, as neutron irradiation of curium will convert some of it to californium. The californium will then cause the used fuel to be more difficult to handle as the californium is a strong neutron emitter (through spontaneous fission). Hence the concentration of curium and californium among the Minor actinides are important.
Californium was first synthesized at the University of California, Berkeley by researchers Stanley G. Thompson , Kenneth Street, Jr. , Albert Ghiorso and Glenn T. Seaborg in 1950 . It was the sixth transuranium element to be discovered and the team announced their discovery on March 17 , 1950. It was named after the U.S. state of California and for the University of California system.
To produce element 98, the team bombarded a microgram-sized target of 242 Cm with 35 MeV alpha particles in the 60-inch Berkeley cyclotron which produced atoms of 245Cf (half-life 44 minutes) and a free neutron .
Due to its $27 million per gram price tag, only 8 grams of 252Cf have been made in the western world since its discovery by Seaborg in 1950.[ citation needed ] Plutonium supplied by the United Kingdom to the U.S. under the 1958 US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement was used for californium production. [4]
[ edit ] Isotopes
Nineteen radioisotopes of californium have been characterized, the most stable being 251Cf with a half-life of 898 years, 249Cf with a half-life of 351 years, and 250Cf with a half-life of 13 years. All of the remaining radioactive isotopes have half-lives that are less than 2.7 years, and the majority of these have half-lives shorter than 20 minutes. The isotopes of californium range in atomic weight from 237.062 u (237Cf) to 256.093 u (256Cf).
[ edit ] Natural occurrence
Although californium does not occur naturally on Earth, the element and its decay products occur elsewhere in the universe. Their electromagnetic emissions are regularly observed in the spectra of supernovae .
| Cf |
What is the young of a kangaroo called? | Californium - definition of californium by The Free Dictionary
Californium - definition of californium by The Free Dictionary
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/californium
cal·i·for·ni·um
(kăl′ə-fôr′nē-əm)
n. Symbol Cf
A synthetic transuranic element having isotopes with mass numbers from 237 to 256 and half-lives varying from 21 milliseconds to 898 years. All isotopes are radioactive, chiefly by emission of alpha particles, and Cf-252 is a potent neutron emitter. Atomic number 98; melting point 900°C; specific gravity 15.1; valence 3. See Periodic Table .
[After California.]
(ˌkælɪˈfɔːnɪəm)
n
(Elements & Compounds) a metallic transuranic element artificially produced from curium. Symbol: Cf; atomic no: 98; half-life of most stable isotope, 251Cf: 800 years (approx.)
[C20: New Latin; discovered at the University of California]
cal•i•for•ni•um
(ˌkæl əˈfɔr ni əm)
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The 1934 film ‘Wild Boy’ was based on whose life story? | Mick The Miller
Mick The Miller
Mick The Miller is the most famous greyhound of all time. He was born in 1926 in the village of Killeigh, County Offaly, Ireland at Millbrook House, the home of parish curate, Fr Martin Brophy . When he was born Mick was the runt of the litter but Michael Greene, who worked for Fr Brophy, singled the little pup out as a future champion and insisted that he be allowed to rear him. With constant attention and regular exercise Mick The Miller developed into a racing machine. His first forays were on local coursing fields where he had some success but he showed his real talent on the track where he won 15 of his first 20 races.
In 1929 Fr Brophy decided to try Mick in English Greyhound Derby at White City, London. On his first trial-run, Mick equalled the track record. Then, in his first heat, he broke the world record, becoming the first greyhound ever to run 525 yards in under 30 seconds. Fr Brophy was inundated with offers and sold him to Albert Williams. Mick went on to win the 1929 Derby. Within a year he had changed hands again to Arundel H Kempton and won the Derby for a second time.
Over the course of his English career he won 36 of his 48 races, including the Derby (twice), the St Leger, the Cesarewitch, and the Welsh Derby . He set six new world records and two new track records. He was the first greyhound to win 19 races in a row. Several of his records went unbroken for over 40 years. He won, in total, almost �10,000 in prizemoney. But he also became the poster-dog for greyhound racing. He was a celebrity on a par with any sports person, muscisian or moviestar. The more famous he became, the more he attracted people to greyhound racing. Thousands thronged to watch him, providing a huge boost to the sport. It is said that he actually saved the sport of greyhound racing.
After retirement to stud his popularity continued. He starred in the film Wild Boy (based on his life-story) in 1934 which was shown in cinemas all across the UK. He was in huge demand on the celebrity circuit, opening shops, attending big races and even rubbing shoulder with royalty (such as the King and Queen) at charity events. When he died in 1939 aged 12, his owner donated his body to the British Natural History Museum in London. And Mick`s fame has continued ever since. In 1981 he was inducted into the American Hall of Fame (International Section). In 1990 English author Michael Tanner published a book, Mick The Miller - Sporting Icon Of the Depression. And in 2011 the people of Killeigh erected a monument on the village green to honour their most famous son. Mick The Miller is not just the most famous greyhound of all time but one of the most loved dogs that has ever lived.
| Mick the Miller |
In a nursery rhyme, who was chastised for sitting among the cinders? | Mick The Miller
Mick The Miller
Mick The Miller is the most famous greyhound of all time. He was born in 1926 in the village of Killeigh, County Offaly, Ireland at Millbrook House, the home of parish curate, Fr Martin Brophy . When he was born Mick was the runt of the litter but Michael Greene, who worked for Fr Brophy, singled the little pup out as a future champion and insisted that he be allowed to rear him. With constant attention and regular exercise Mick The Miller developed into a racing machine. His first forays were on local coursing fields where he had some success but he showed his real talent on the track where he won 15 of his first 20 races.
In 1929 Fr Brophy decided to try Mick in English Greyhound Derby at White City, London. On his first trial-run, Mick equalled the track record. Then, in his first heat, he broke the world record, becoming the first greyhound ever to run 525 yards in under 30 seconds. Fr Brophy was inundated with offers and sold him to Albert Williams. Mick went on to win the 1929 Derby. Within a year he had changed hands again to Arundel H Kempton and won the Derby for a second time.
Over the course of his English career he won 36 of his 48 races, including the Derby (twice), the St Leger, the Cesarewitch, and the Welsh Derby . He set six new world records and two new track records. He was the first greyhound to win 19 races in a row. Several of his records went unbroken for over 40 years. He won, in total, almost �10,000 in prizemoney. But he also became the poster-dog for greyhound racing. He was a celebrity on a par with any sports person, muscisian or moviestar. The more famous he became, the more he attracted people to greyhound racing. Thousands thronged to watch him, providing a huge boost to the sport. It is said that he actually saved the sport of greyhound racing.
After retirement to stud his popularity continued. He starred in the film Wild Boy (based on his life-story) in 1934 which was shown in cinemas all across the UK. He was in huge demand on the celebrity circuit, opening shops, attending big races and even rubbing shoulder with royalty (such as the King and Queen) at charity events. When he died in 1939 aged 12, his owner donated his body to the British Natural History Museum in London. And Mick`s fame has continued ever since. In 1981 he was inducted into the American Hall of Fame (International Section). In 1990 English author Michael Tanner published a book, Mick The Miller - Sporting Icon Of the Depression. And in 2011 the people of Killeigh erected a monument on the village green to honour their most famous son. Mick The Miller is not just the most famous greyhound of all time but one of the most loved dogs that has ever lived.
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Sung about by crooners such as Crosby and Sinatra, who was ‘sweet as apple cider’? | Ida Sweet As Apple Cider - Frank Sinatra Free Mp3 Music Download
In the region where the roses always bloom,
Breathing out upon the air their sweet perfume,
Lives a dusky maid I long to call my own,
For, I know my love for her will never die;
When the sun am sinking in dat Golden West,
Little robin red breast gone to seek their nests,
And I sneak down to dat place I love the best,
Ever''y evening there along I sigh.
Chorus: Ida! Sweet as apple cider,
Sweeter than all I know,
Come out! In the silv''ry moonlight,
Of love we''ll whisper, so soft and low!
Seems as tho'' can''t live without you,
Listen, please, honey do!
I love you, Ida, ''deed I do.
Date added:
| Ida |
What simple, but useful, device did Walter Hunt invent in 1849? | Sinatra! The Complete Guide
16. I'll Take Tallulah [#]
[#] = Previously unreleased
REVIEW: Buddha really performed a hat trick when it released the two discs that make up its "Stoptime" series with Sinatra as the featured artist. These previously unreleased radio transcriptions are historically interesting, but not what I'd call essential listening; and really shouldn't be purchased until other, more vital Dorsey recordings are investigated first, but for fans, these previously unreleased recordings will be pure gold. First off, I should say that for old radio shows, these discs sound fabulous! Apparently produced as a showcase for the CEDAR audio processing system, these shows sound clean, bright, and free from almost all noise and distortion that mars the majority of shows from this era. They have a brightness and clarity that make the RCA discs above sound muddy in comparison. The disc starts out in full swing with "Ida! Sweet As Apple Cider" which makes for a horrible rhyme, but a fun, jazzy song to kick things off. In fact, the arrangements on these discs are decidedly more up-tempo than what Dorsey and Sinatra usually recorded, with "Blue Moon" transforming from a wistful song into a fun call-and-answer jump and jiver, and "East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)" gaining energy from a sprightly arrangement. Frank sounds great here too, in full flower as a romatic singer, singing some of the greatest pop songs of the Century, with covers of "The Very Though Of You," "Stormy Weather," "How Deep Is The Ocean," "I'm In The Mood For Love," and "April In Paris" all captured here. The informative booklet is again notated by Will Freidwald, and this is a fine, fun disc - the liveliest and sharpest sounding I've ever heard the Dorsey-Sinatra pairing.
Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra: It's All So New
Buddha Records 74465996002 [CD];
18. Oh! Look at Me Now [#]
19. War Bond Advertisement [#]
20. Be Careful, It's My Heart [#]
REVIEW: The second volume of the "Stoptime" series is weaker than the first, but for an interesting reason: the songs on this volume were all written by amatuer songwriters as a publicity device to capitilize on the runaway success of another amateur songwriter's ditty: "I'll Never Smile Again," which sold over 500,000 records. So Dorsey obviously thought that lightning might strike twice, (and also hoped to sidestep the pricey ASCAP) and invited listeners to submit their own compositions, which Dorsey had arranged and performed on his radio show "Fame and Fortune." So while you'll not hear any of your old favorites, you will hear songs that you've never heard before, played by the terrific Dorsey Orchestra, given stellar arrangements, and sung by inimitable Frank Sinatra. So even if the songs didn't become hits, they sound great, and the producers have programmed the CD to play just like an old-time radio show, with song introductions, between-song patter, a War Bond announcement, and amazing sound again courtesty of the CEDAR sound processing system. So, while not the first disc I would recommend anyone rushing out a buying, it's a thoroughly enjoyable CD that is a curiousity for the rare songs and history it brings with it.
Frank Sinatra With The Red Norvo Quartet: Live In Australia, 1959
Blue Note 537513 [CD];
18. On the Road to Mandalay
19. Night and Day
REVIEW: A concert like none other in the Sinatra canon, this 1959 document shows Sinatra at the height of his vocal and improvisational talents jamming with one of the best jazz combos around, the Red Norvo Quintet. Red Norvo was a vibrophonist, and his smooth, bouncy rhythms dominate on the opening cut "Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea," but things really pick up when Frank steps out in front, loose and serene, in great voice, easily riffing his way through "I Could Have Danced All Night" playfully repeating the word "Dance, dance, dance, dance..." and bending notes, stretching phrases, and lingering on a certain word to change the entire effect of a song. This is like hearing a master at work. To hear him simply insert various salutations during "It Was Just One Of Those Things" is a joy, and it's clear to everyone that he's loving each song. The way he hits the first syllable of "FABulous face" or lingers on the release of the line "I get a kick..." before finally finishing the lyric after waiting for what seems an unconsciously long time "...out of you" is surprisingly effective. On this disc as well you'll hear the best rendition of "At Long Last Love" that Sinatra ever performed, with a light, bopping arrangement lending the song a frivolous that gradually grows into an explosion of emotion as Sinatra gradually realizes the feeling he's experiencing is true love. The entire disc is a revelation - even for long-time fans. The only sticking point is that the sound is overall muted - apparently the tape source isn't as pristine as fans might wish, but that isn't a huge issue, everything is still listenable, and in my opinion, this concert is the finest Sinatra ever captured on tape.
Artanis Entertainment Group ARZ-101-2 [CD];
Released June 8, 1999
18. I've Got You Under My Skin
19. Oh! Look at Me Now
REVIEW: One of the few recordings made of Sinatra in concert during his prime Capitol years, with the added attraction of being backed by a full orchestra led by frequent collaborator Nelson Riddle. Previously available only on a poor-sounding bootleg, Sinatra's family has remastered the original tapes, and put it onto a gold CD, which although pricey, is worth every penny due to the awesome show Frank puts on. Sinatra sounds somewhat less involved here than he did on the above 1959 show, but there's simply no such thing as a bad show from this period. Sinatra swings, bounces and croons his way through hit after hit with an ease that belies the artistry involved. In fact, this concert serves as a greatest hits document of Sinatra's Capitol years, with small incidental dialogue reminding listeners of Sinatra's life at the time, with a small aside during "I Get A Kick Out Of You" which after singing the word 'Spain' he breaks down and states "Spain! Oh, geez..." (referring to his faltering affair with Ava Gardner, who was then in Spain filming a movie.) It's these kind of self-knowing winks at the audience that makes the concert such a personal experience. Sinatra sounds a little gruff here, but his interpretive powers are in full force, especially on "Just One Of Those Things," where he actually growls out a word, and explores his lower register on a decending phase, which you simply won't hear on any of the studio albums. A great concert, unfortunately saddled with fawning liner notes by self-proclaimed Sinatra fan Kelsey Grammer, who adds no illumination to either the concert or to Sinatra himself. Ah well. A very worthwhile purchase.
Live at Blackpool Opera House 1953
Acrobat Music ACMCD 4025 [CD];
Released February? 2004
8. One For My Baby
9. Don't Worry 'Bout Me
10. I've Got The World On A String
11. It Never Entered My Mind
12. All Of Me
13. Night & Day
REVIEW: I haven't been able to discover if the three discs released by the Acrobat label are bootlegs or not, but considering the sound and the concerts presented, they very well could be. Since live concerts of Sinatra from the 50's are so rare, I snapped this item up when I found it, and although the sound and documentation aren't up to par, this is a highly enjoyable concert, with lots of chatter and a very loose, off-the-cuff performance by Frank as he zips through the short set. The concert starts out with an on-air aside from Sinatra, talking to either the orchestra or sound technician, and then plows through the songs as if he has someplace urgent to go. Accompanied by Billy Ternent's Orchestra, who were known for their smooth, sweet arrangements, provide adequate backing, and Sinatra's long-time pianist Bill Miller is also present, undoubtedly keeping the ball rolling. Sinatra sounds good vocally, with lots of jazz phrasing in "You Go To My Head" and plenty of bounce in the uptempo numbers, but the songs are marred by Sinatra's frequent impromptu asides to the audience and the band - he'll often break off a song to nag a patron about the noise their making during his set, or rattle off a joke as if he's channelling Dino. The sound is also extremely sub-par, with a thin, compressed audio, as if the entire concert had been taped off a live radio broadcast (which it probably was.) That said, however, it's still a fun listening experience for me, hearing Frank so loose and snappish, and the booklet essay, by MOJO's Fred Dellar is informative. Worth checking out if you're a big fan.
Live '55: Melbourne Australia
Acrobat Music ACMCD 4013 [CD];
Released November? 2004
12. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)
13. They Can't Take That Away From Me
14. Ol' Man River And Anthem
REVIEW: The hardest to find of the three Acrobat releases is on par with the other two - interesting in an archival way, but hardly essential Sinatra. This is the infamous trip where the Austrailian press sparred with Sinatra at nearly every stop. Despite his renewed popular success with the film "From Here To Eternity" - and despite his self- comparisons with Joe DiMaggio (a point hammered home in the introduction by Frank D'Amor) - the Aussie press constantly picked on him. As far as this recording goes, the sound is pretty poor; the orchestra is muted, with the piano and Frank's voice coming out the strongest, and there are too many flutters in the sound - obviously the tape this was taken from has not been restored. But Frank's performance is noteworthy, very loose and carefree on the opening "I've Got The World On A String" a stunning display of jazz virtuosity (you can even hear the snaps of his fingers!), and he continues to improvise and bounce through the classic set of songs with tremendous ease. The band is finely tuned into the performance as well, with brass, a small string section, piano, bass and drums punctuating Sinatra's phrasing with such panache that it sounds like they've been playing together for years. Frank's voice is in fine form, and this performance is worth hearing for his mastery and charm, despite the flaws in the recording.
Live In Tokyo Japan 1962
Acrobat Music ACMCD 4014 [CD];
Released Feburary? 2004
18. Chicago
19. I Could Have Danced All Night
REVIEW: Acrobat's second disc of (bootlegged?) live sets from Sinatra shows a more seasoned, even looser singer running through a set of fine songs. Launching the concert with a free, swinging take on "Too Marvellous for Words" he eases into "Imagination" with the vibe-heavy band (consisting of Bill Miller, guitarist Al Viola, and vibes player Emil Richards) very reminiscent of the Red Norvo Quartet, sounds right in sync with Sinatra. Unfortunately, this disc is again marred by bad sound, with Frank's voice very close and up-front with some distortion picked up from the microphone he was using. Frank also drifts off-key on some of the higher notes, showing noticable strain in his upper register. But if you're forgiving, you can find a lot to enjoy in his performance, with Frank absolutely in control of each number, giving a tremendously breezy reading of "Without A Song" and a surprising flute/jazz guitar appearance on "The Moon Was Yellow." Frank seems to be enjoying himself tremendously during this set, and his remarkable talent for phrasing is in full bloom. MOJO magazine's Fred Dellar again writes the liner notes for this release, and lends informative background information on each song as well as this particular tour, which finds Frank receiving the key to the city of Tokyo, an honor which had never been bestowed on a civilian!
The Judy Garland Shows
On The Air 101911 [CD];
Released March 25, 1998
18. Chicago (That Toddling Town)
19. Closing Theme
REVIEW: On The Air, the label that has put out so many old-time radio shows of Frank Sinatra's, now puts out a soundtrack from one of Judy Garland's infamous television shows, this one from February 26, 1962 and featuring Rat Pack buddies Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. The show is of passing interest to Sinatra fans, but make no mistake, this is Judy's time to shine, and Frank & Dean are just passing by. Judy kicks off the show by singing three songs: the hit from Broadway's Bells Are Ringing: "Just In Time", followed by "When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)", and then the theme for the Rat Pack reunion: "You Do Something To Me" which Frank joins at the end. Judy gives Frank the spotlight for a run-through of Johnny Mercer's "Too Marvellous For Words", which he gives a very off-the-cuff reading; this is Frank who's now in charge of his own destiny, and here he's backed by a full orchestra with brass, strings, and the works. Because this is a live venue, the sound fluctuates as Frank moves the microphone around, but the performance is still uncanny, with Frank giving a "Pow!" at the end of a long held out note at the end. Judy and Frank are very chummy, with Judy telling Frank "You're so good, you're so good!" Then Judy launches into a reprise of "You Do Something To Me" which serves as Dino's introduction. Dean then sings Johnny Mercer's "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" and then the three of them segue into a final reprise of "You Do Something...". Frank and Dean then team up for a brassy, brash arrangement of "The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else" Frank all authoritative, Dean swoozy and boozy - it's a fun duet, with Dean and Frank occasionally throwing off asides to the audience (Dean: "She didn't even leave a note!" Frank: "You can't read anyway"). The rest of the disc is pure Judy, and if you enjoy her later years, when she developed a larger vibrato, and sang everything as if it was her last song, you'll love this. The sound is passible on this release, but it's nice to have a document of this rare collaboration.
Frank Sinatra: Duets With The Dames
Castle Pulse PLSCD 633 [CD];
Released August 25, 2003
10. Make Believe - Jane Powell
11. Embraceable You - Peggy Mann
12. Lover, Come Back to Me - Lillian Raimondi
13. Take Me Out to the Ball Game - Doris Day
14. My Romance - Judy Garland
15. No Can Do - Lena Romay
16. Button up Your Overcoat - Toni Harper
17. Anniversary Song - Barbara Britton
18. Night Is Young & You're So Beautiful - June Hutton
19. I Think of You - June Hutton
20. Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are - Eileen Barton
21. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To - June Hutton
22. There's No Business Like Show Business - Doris Day
23. Little Learnin' Is a Dangerous Thing, Pt. 1 - Pearl Bailey
24. Little Learnin' Is a Dangerous Thing, Pt.2 - Pearl Bailey
REVIEW: This semi-legit release gathers tracks from radio, television and studio sources, many of which are not found anywhere else and puts them all together on this interesting package. Strictly real-live duets with female stars, the songs and arrangements are mostly pretty routine, from the languid "Tea For Two" with a flutey Dinah Shore, to the almost too-sweet sentiments of "Let's Take An Old-Fashioned Walk", sung with Dorothy Kirsten. The mood occasionally gets hot, like the jazzy be-bop of "This Can't Be Love" taken from Frank's "Lite-Up Time" show with perfect partner Margaret Whiting. The times these tracks were recorded veers all over the place, from the late 50's "The Girl Next Door" to the mid-40's: "Lover Come Back To Me". The sound is also variable, since the sources vary, but overall, it's a very listenable disc, with such rarities as "No Can Do" with Lena Romay, or "The Anniversary Song" with Barbara Britton. There are a couple of duetting partners who show up more than once: Doris Day links up with Frank on "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" and "There's No Business Like Show Business" and the creamy-voiced June Hutton joins Frank on the Meet Me In St. Louis standard "The Boy Next Door" and also shows up for "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To"; Dorothy Kirsten shows up again for the Rodgers & Hammerstein standard "Some Enchanted Evening" (where Frank sounds out of his element on the earnest lyric) and Pearl Bailey has her two cracks at bat with "A Little Learnin' Is A Dang'rous Thing, Pts 1 & 2". The oldest track here, from Sinatra's stay with the Dorsey orchestra, is a live transcription of "Let's Get Away From It All" with Connie Haines, Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers; you can hear the audience chatting and dancing during the song, while Frank only gets a short phrase during the song, and wouldn't this count more as a "trio" than a duet? Oh, well - I'm not expecting perfection on a release like this, just a few more rarities that you won't hear anywhere else. Favorite tracks include a mega-rare Sinatra/Judy Garland stomper "Gotta Be This Or That" (which has tons of in-jokes), and a silly, but engaging "No Can Do" with Lena Romay. A fine, occasionally illuminating package for collectors, but not essential for anyone else.
In the Blue of Evening: Previously Unissued War Transcriptions 1943
Natasha Imports NI 4007 [CD];
Released 1993
26. Why Try to Change Me Now?
27. Birth of the Blues
REVIEW: The problem with being a Sinatra music collector is that there's just so much of him to find - Sinatra was such a prolific worker, and so much of his output, especially his radio and television work, is still unreleased, or undiscovered, that it can be a lifetime pursuit just tracking down what recordings are out there, and niggling through what overlap there may be. Take this 1992 release on Natasha Imports, The Blue Of Evening . It's touted as "previously unissued war transcriptions" from 1943, and contains transcriptions from three separate WWII-era radio shows: "Treasury Song Parade", with twenty excerpts; three songs taken from "The Manpower Commission Transcription", and four final songs lifted from two Treasury Department "Guest Star" programs. All of these recordings are here in good to excellent sound, with good notes, lovely singing by Sinatra (at the height of his bobby-soxer fame), and lots of classic songs contained herein. Is anything here essential? Nope. Is it all wonderfully sung and played? Yep. Is it memorable? Not really - everything here is of a type with the rest of Sinatra's radio performances of the 1940s, and also his Columbia records output. It's good, but it's far from his most essential work, and despite it's being "rare" performances, with songs not recorded elsewhere, there's a good reason for that - the songs that Frank sang here, that weren't ever recorded again, aren't that good. I mean, "Rose Ann of Charing Cross" is about as forgettable as anything found on It's All So New! (reviewed above), and the classic songs here are found in better form elsewhere in Sinatra oeuvre. I daresay it would be impossible to gather all of Sinatra's radio output in one spot; it would take several thick box sets to compile it all; so releases like this, which are increasingly hard to find, will have to do.
Frank Sinatra: My Shining Hour
Drive Archive DE2-41010 [CD];
1 Little White Lies Donaldson 1:48
2 Don't Forget Tonight, Tomorrow Milton, Sherwin 2:58
3 It Only Happens When I Dance With You Berlin 2:40
4 Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue Skylar 1:23
5 Haunted Heart Dietz, Schwartz 2:26
6 Night and Day Porter 2:27
7 Tenderly Gross, Lawrence 1:58
8 Speak Low Nash, Weill 2:19
9 You're the Top Porter 1:38
10 My Shining Hour Arlen, Mercer 2:31
11 One Hundred Years from Today Washington, Young 2:18
12 The Right Kind of Love Goell, Wayne 1:47
13 I'm in the Mood for Love Fields, McHugh 2:06
14 Now Is the Hour Kaihan, Scott, Stewart 2:22
REVIEW: A slap-dash collection of radio transcriptions mostly taken from the 1940's, this collection has pretty poor sound, despite the tapes being doctored by studio wiz Bob Norberg at Capitol Studios, and Mark Ormann at MCA Music. Still, you're going to find lots of rare stuff here, from the swinging "Little White Lies" which opens the set with a fast and loose Sinatra sounding hotter than he ever did in the studio during this same period. Follows is the romantic slush of "Don't Forget Tonight, Tomorrow" with thick backup singers; the Irving Berlin chestnut "It Only Happens When I Dance With You"; the novelty swinger "Hair Of Gold, Eyes Of Blue" which Frank tries his hardest with, but the tape has serious flutter issues, which hampers the performance. The melodrama of "Haunted Heart" is next, with Frank at his most earnest singing the gushy lyric; next comes an anomaly, with a harder-swinging, 1950s-era performance of Cole Porter's "Night And Day" blares out of the speakers. The obvious change in Frank's command of lyric and brash self-confidence seems out of place with what came before, although the sound is improved for this track, and Frank's performance is a marvel. The album veers back into romantic territory with "Tenderly" which has Sinatra performing with piano accompianment - this performance again seems to be from the Capitol years, but the next song "Speak Low" is again from his Columbia era, with swirling harp and urgent strings. Frank's 1950's television performance of "You're The Top" with Broadway diva Ethel Merman is included in all it's over-the-top bluster; and the title track is next, a very poor recording of the Arlen/Mercer tune, which is almost unlistenable due to the quality of the source. "One Hundred Years From Today" is a nice track, again with Frank and solo piano, joined on the second verse by a subtle saxophone, again, not with great fidelity, but listenable. "The Right Kind Of Love" is a fine recording, with a nuanced reading by Frank showing his growth as an interpreter during the 1940s. An interesting arrangement of "I'm In The Mood For Love" is next with piano, guitar and flutes giving the song an unusual flavor. The final track "Now Is The Hour" is hampered by shifting tape speeds, sending the pitch hither and yon. The booklet which is included is no help in placing these performances, instead giving a cliche-ridden essay on Frank's success. A missable disc for all but the most ardent Sinatra collectors.
Live at the Meadowlands
16. L.A. Is My Lady
17. I've Got You Under My Skin
18. Someone To Watch Over Me
19. One More For My Baby (And One More For The Road)
20. Mack The Knife
21. NY Bows
REVIEW: When I was a younger man in the mid-1990s, I recall very clearly mocking Frank Sinatra's singing style to an acquaintance, who was appalled that I could treat Frank "the icon" so lightly. This was before I actually listened to Sinatra's catalog - my parody was based solely on Frank's then-recent appearances - the only Frank that I had ever known, when he was seventy and eighty years old, making guest appearances on various television shows. His voice had deteriorated, his music seemed hopelessly old-fashioned and out of touch, and I couldn't understand what the appeal was. (Obviously, I've learned better since then.) But listening now to Live at the Meadowlands , the latest "rare" concert to be released by the Sinatra family on Concord Records, I was taken right back to that night that I shocked my friend with my irreverent interpretation. This is the seventy-year old Frank, in a concert recorded the same year as The Main Event, and by this time in Frank's career, he was coasting on the accomplishments of his long, varied life. His voice, which had been slowly deepening and gaining character throughout his fifties and sixties, had now begun to deteriorate, and it shows at moments during the concert. Not that this is a horrible show - Frank was the consummate showman, and injects passion, humor, and at times, even a savage bite into these songs. "Mack The Knife" is hot and brutal, while "Moonlight In Vermont" is bathed in warmth. And for all the hoarseness and lost elasticity in Frank's voice, there are equal moments of beauty, and pureness. For fans, to have yet another "lost" document of Frank's tremendous output is a blessing, but this isn't going to be the first concert you listen to, and it's certainly not the one that you should give friends who've never listened to Frank before. It's a good concert, albeit one with no surprises. Instead, it's all slick and packaged with Quincy Jones' band tracking the charts with metronome precision. There are moments of greatness, but with equal moments when I squirm in my seat and wonder if Frank is going to be able to hit the next note. Here's hoping that there are more concerts in the wings that better represent Frank's appeal.
Frank Sinatra: The Greatest Concerts
Entertain Me Ltd. 74697 [5-CD Box Set]
Released November 10, 2008
Products contents:
Contains five rare, live concerts by Frank Sinatra, spanning the years 1955-1981, including shows from Australia, Japan, The White House, and Lake Tahoe. Rare bonus tracks from "Our Town" and other concerts included.
12. The Lady Is A Tramp
13. You Make Me Feel So Young
REVIEW: This concert has been floating around in various formats for a long time, yet despite it's historic importance and good recorded sound, official release has yet to see the light of day. Recorded as part of a charity benefit for the United Nations Fund for Refugee Children, this was a starry evening, with an introduction (in French) given by Noel Coward, and attendees including Price Rainier and Princess Grace (Kelly); W. Somerset Maugham; Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and more. And behind the podium was a young Quincy Jones, who has since described this concert as a highlight of his early career. The concert itself is stunning - showing off Sinatra in his prime, relaxed and at his ease as he bends notes and plays around with tempos with his inestimable grace and style. Alternately tender and brash, he gives superlative readings of every song here, with special mention being given to a rare live take of "Monique" (apparently since the audience had just viewed the film Kings Go Forth
from which "Monique" took it's Elmer Bernstein-scored musical cue). Despite being a short concert (only about forty minutes), it's a real tour-de-force for Frank, showing off his full range, from the pathos of ""When Your Lover Has Gone" to the gripping edge-of-your-seat toughness in "The Lady Is A Tramp", to the high melodrama of "All The Way" - Frank takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of panoramic emotions. Marred only by rare crackles and skips in the sound, this disc remains absolutely essential.
Disclaimer: This is an unofficial site and has no connections with either The Sinatra Family or their agents.
All content © copyright 2005-2012 Bret Wheadon. All rights reserved.
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The HX-20 is generally regarded as the world’s first laptop computer. Who made it? | Laptop - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Laptop
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An ultraportable IBM X31 with 12" screen on an IBM T43 Thin & Light laptop with a 14" screen
This article discusses portable computers, for topics concerning the upper thigh or leg see lap .
A laptop (also known as a notebook) is a personal computer designed for mobile use small enough to sit on one's lap . [1] A laptop includes most of the typical components of a desktop computer , including a display , a keyboard , a pointing device (a touchpad , also known as a trackpad, or a pointing stick ), speakers, as well as a battery, into a single small and light unit. The rechargeable battery required is charged from an AC/DC adapter (aka, a wall wart) and typically stores enough energy to run the laptop for several hours.
Laptops are usually shaped like a large notebook with thicknesses between 0.7–1.5 inches (18–38 mm) and dimensions ranging from 10x8 inches (27x22cm, 13" display) to 15x11 inches (39x28cm, 17" display) and up. Modern laptops weigh 3 to 12 pounds (1.4 to 5.4 kg); older laptops were usually heavier. Most laptops are designed in the flip form factor to protect the screen and the keyboard when closed. Modern 'tablet' laptops have a complex joint between the keyboard housing and the display, permitting the display panel to twist and then lay flat on the keyboard housing. They usually have a touchscreen display and some include handwriting recognition or graphics drawing capability.
Laptops were originally considered to be "a small niche market" [2] and were thought suitable mostly for "specialized field applications" such as "the military, the Internal Revenue Service, accountants and sales representatives". [2] [3] Battery-powered portable computers had just 2% worldwide market share in 1986 [4] . But today, there are already more laptops than desktops in businesses, and laptops are becoming obligatory for student use and more popular for general use. [5] According to a forecast by Intel, more laptops than desktops will be sold in the general PC market as soon as 2009 [6] .
Contents
The Epson HX-20
As the personal computer became feasible in the early 1970s, the idea of a portable personal computer followed. In particular, a "personal, portable information manipulator" was imagined by Alan Kay at Xerox PARC in 1968 [7] and described in his 1972 paper as the " Dynabook " [8] .
The I.B.M. SCAMP project (Special Computer APL Machine Portable), was demonstrated in 1973. This prototype was based on the PALM processor (Put All Logic In Microcode).
The I.B.M. 5100 , the first commercially available portable computer, appeared in September 1975, and was based on the SCAMP prototype.
As 8-bit CPU machines became widely accepted, the number of portables increased rapidly. The Osborne 1 used the Zilog Z80, weighed 23.5 pounds (10.7 kg). It had no battery, only a tiny 5" CRT screen and dual 5¼" single-density floppy drives. In the same year the first laptop-sized portable computer, the Epson HX-20 , was announced [9] . The Epson had a LCD screen, a rechargeable battery and a calculator-size printer in a 1.6 kg (4 pounds) chassis. Both Tandy/Radio Shack and HP also produced portable computers of varying designs during this period.
The first laptop using the clamshell design, used today by almost all laptops, appeared in 1982. The $8150 GRiD Compass 1100 was used at NASA and by the military among others. The Gavilan SC , released in 1983, was the first notebook marketed using the term "laptop".
From 1983 onwards:
Several new input techniques were developed and included in laptops: the touchpad ( Gavilan SC , 1983), the pointing stick (IBM ThinkPad 700, 1992) and handwriting recognition (Linus Write-Top [10] , 1987).
some CPUs were designed specifically for low power use (including laptops (Intel i386SL , 1990), and were supported by dynamic power management features (Intel SpeedStep and AMD PowerNow! ) in some designs.
Displays reached VGA resolution by 1988 (Compaq SLT 286) and 256-color screens by 1993 ( PowerBook 165c ), progressing quickly to millions of colors and high resolutions.
High-capacity hard drives and optical storage ( CD-ROM followed CD-R and CD-RW and eventually by DVD-ROM and the writable varieties) became available in laptops soon after their introduction to the desktops.
Early laptops often had proprietary and incompatible system architectures, operating systems, and bundled applications, making third party hardware and software difficult and sometimes impossible to develop.
[ edit ] Classification
The general terms "laptop" or "notebook" can be used to refer to a number of classes of small portable computers: [11] [12]
By purpose and (approximately) by screen size:
Desktop replacement – emphasizes performance, is less portable, 15" and larger screen;
Standard laptop – balances portability and features, 13-15" screen;
Subnotebook – emphasizes portability, has fewer features, 13" or smaller screen.
By features:
Main article: Desktop replacement computer
A desktop replacement computer is a laptop that provides most of the capabilities of a desktop computer , with a similar level of performance. Desktop replacements are usually larger and heavier than standard laptops. They contain more powerful components and numerous ports , and have a 15.4" or larger display. Because of their bulk, they are not as portable as other laptops and their operation time on batteries is typically shorter. [12]
Some laptops in this class use a limited range of desktop components to provide better performance for the same price at the expense of battery life; in a few of those models, there is no battery at all, and the laptop can only be used when plugged in. These are sometimes called desknotes, a portmanteau of the words "desktop" and "notebook," though the term can also be applied to desktop replacement computers in general. [13]
In the early 2000s, desktops were more powerful, easier to upgrade, and much cheaper in comparison with laptops. But in the last few years, the advantages have drastically changed or shrunk since the performance of laptops has markedly increased. [14] In the second half of 2008, laptops have finally outsold desktops for the first time ever. In the U.S., the PC shipment declined 10 percent in the forth quarter of 2008. In Asia, the worst PC shipment growth went up 1.8 percent over the same quarter the previous year since PC statistics research started. [15]
The names "Media Center Laptops" and "Gaming Laptops" are also used to describe this class of notebooks. [11]
[ edit ] Notebook
Although the term Notebook is now often used interchangeably with the term Laptop, it was originally introduced to differentiate a smaller, thinner and lighter range of devices (comparable with a traditional paper notebook ) which supplanted their larger counterparts [1] .
Main article: Subnotebook
A subnotebook, also called an ultraportable by some vendors, is a laptop designed and marketed with an emphasis on portability (small size, low weight and long battery life) that retains the performance of a standard notebook. Subnotebooks are usually smaller and lighter than standard laptops, weighing between 0.8 and 2 kg (2 to 5 pounds) [11] ; the battery life can exceed 10 hours [16] when a large battery or an additional battery pack is installed.
To achieve the size and weight reductions, ultraportables use high resolution 13" and smaller screens (down to 6.4"), have relatively few ports , employ expensive components designed for minimal size and best power efficiency, and utilize advanced materials and construction methods. Some subnotebooks achieve a further portability improvement by omitting an optical/removable media drive; in this case they may be paired with a docking station that contains the drive and optionally more ports or an additional battery.
Main article: Netbook
Netbooks are laptops that are light-weight, economical, energy-efficient and especially suited for wireless communication and Internet access [17] [18] . Hence the name netbook (as "the device excels in web-based computing performance") [19] rather than notebook which pertains to size [20] .
Especially suited for web browsing and e-mailing , netbooks "rely heavily on the Internet for remote access to web-based applications " [19] and are targeted increasingly at cloud computing users who rely on servers and require a less powerful client computer . [21] . While the devices range in size from below 5 inches [22] to over 12 [23] , most are between 7 and 11 inches and weigh between 2 and 3 pounds [19] .
Netbooks have a wide range of light-weight operating systems including Linux and Windows XP [19] rather than more resource-intensive operating systems like Windows Vista as they have less processing power than traditional laptops [24] .
A Panasonic Toughbook .
A rugged (or ruggedized) laptop is designed to reliably operate in harsh usage conditions such as strong vibrations, extreme temperatures and wet or dusty environments. Rugged laptops are usually designed from scratch, rather than adapted from regular consumer laptop models. Rugged notebooks are bulkier, heavier, and much more expensive than regular laptops [25] , and thus are seldom seen in regular consumer use.
The design features found in rugged laptops include rubber sheeting under the keyboard keys, sealed port and connector covers, passive cooling, superbright displays easily readable in daylight, cases and frames made of magnesium alloys or have a magnesium alloy rollcage [26] that are much stronger than plastic found in commercial laptops and solid-state storage devices or hard disc drives that are shock mounted to withstand constant vibrations. Rugged laptops are commonly used by public safety services (police, fire and medical emergency), military, utilities, field service technicians, construction, mining and oil drilling personnel. Rugged laptops are usually sold to organizations, rather than individuals, and are rarely marketed via retail channels.
Main article: Computer hardware
Miniaturization: a comparison of a desktop computer motherboard ( ATX form factor) to a motherboard from a 13" laptop (2008 unibody Macbook )
Inner view of a Sony Vaio laptop
The basic components of laptops are similar in function to their desktop counterparts, but are miniaturized , adapted to mobile use, and designed for low power consumption. Because of the additional requirements, laptop components have worse performance than desktop parts of comparable price. Furthermore, the design bounds on power, size, and cooling of laptops limit the maximum performance of laptop parts compared to that of desktop components. [27]
The following list summarizes the differences and distinguishing features of laptop components in comparison to desktop personal computer parts:
Motherboard – laptop motherboards are highly make- and model-specific, and do not conform to a desktop form factor . Unlike a desktop board that usually has several slots for expansion cards (3 to 7 are common), a board for a small, highly integrated laptop may have no expansion slots at all, with all the functionality implemented on the motherboard itself; the only expansion possible in this case is via an external port such as USB . Other boards may have one or more standard or proprietary expansion slots. Several other functions (storage controllers, networking, sound card and external ports) are implemented on the motherboard. [28]
Central processing unit (CPU) – Laptop CPUs have advanced power-saving features and produce less heat than desktop processors, but are not as powerful. [29] There is a wide range of CPUs designed for laptops available from Intel ( Pentium M , Celeron M , Intel Core and Core 2 Duo ), AMD ( Athlon , Turion 64 , and Sempron ), VIA Technologies , Transmeta and others. On the non- x86 architectures, Motorola and IBM produced the chips for the former PowerPC -based Apple laptops ( iBook and PowerBook ). Some laptops have removable CPUs, although support by the motherboard may be restricted to the specific models. [30] In other laptops the CPU is soldered on the motherboard and is non-replaceable.
A SODIMM memory module.
Memory (RAM) – SO-DIMM memory modules that are usually found in laptops are about half the size of desktop DIMMs . [28] They may be accessible from the bottom of the laptop for ease of upgrading, or placed in locations not intended for user replacement such as between the keyboard and the motherboard.
Expansion cards – A PC Card (formerly PCMCIA ) or ExpressCard bay for expansion cards is often present on laptops to allow adding and removing functionality, even when the laptop is powered on. Some subsystems (such as Wi-Fi or a cellular modem ) can be implemented as replaceable internal expansion cards, usually accessible under an access cover on the bottom of the laptop. Two popular standards for such cards are MiniPCI and its successor, the PCI Express Mini . [31]
Power supply – laptops are powered by an internal rechargeable battery that is charged using an external power supply. The power supply can charge the battery and power the laptop simultaneously; when the battery is fully charged, the laptop continues to run on AC power. The charger adds about 400 grams (1 lb) to the overall "transport weight" of the notebook.
Battery – Current laptops utilize lithium ion batteries, with more recent models using the new lithium polymer technology. These two technologies have largely replaced the older nickel metal-hydride batteries. Typical battery life for standard laptops is two to five hours of light-duty use, but may drop to as little as one hour when doing power-intensive tasks. Batteries' performance gradually decreases with time, leading to an eventual replacement in one to three years, depending on the charging and discharging pattern. This large-capacity main battery should not be confused with the much smaller battery nearly all computers use to run the real-time clock and to store the BIOS configuration in the CMOS memory when the computer is off. Lithium-Ion batteries do not have a memory effect as older batteries may have. The memory effect happens when one does not use a battery to its fullest extent, then recharges the battery.
Video display controller – on standard laptops video controller is usually integrated into the chipset . This tends to limit the use of laptops for gaming and entertainment, two fields which have constantly escalating hardware demands [32] . Higher-end laptops and desktop replacements in particular often come with dedicated graphics processors on the motherboard or as an internal expansion card. These mobile graphics processors are comparable in performance to mainstream desktop graphic accelerator boards. [33]
Display – Most modern laptops feature 12 inch (30 cm) or larger color active matrix displays with resolutions of 1024×768 pixels and above. Many current models use screens with higher resolution than typical for desktop PCs (for example, the 1440×900 resolution of a 15" Macbook Pro [34] can be found on 19" widescreen desktop monitors).
A size comparison of 3.5" and 2.5" hard disk drives
Removable media drives – a DVD / CD reader/writer drive is standard. CD drives are becoming rare, while Blu-Ray is not yet common on notebooks [35] . Many ultraportables and netbooks either move the removable media drive into the docking station or exclude it altogether.
Internal storage – Hard disks are physically smaller—2.5 inch (60 mm) or 1.8 inch (46 mm) —compared to desktop 3.5 inch (90 mm) drives. Some new laptops (usually ultraportables) employ more expensive, but faster, lighter and power-efficient Flash memory-based SSDs instead. Currently, 250 to 320 GB sizes are common for laptop hard disks (64 to 128 GB for SSDs).
Input – A pointing stick , touchpad or both are used to control the position of the cursor on the screen, and an integrated keyboard is used for typing. External keyboard and mouse may be connected using USB or PS/2 (if present).
Ports – several USB ports, an external monitor port ( VGA or DVI ), audio in/out, and an Ethernet network port are found on most laptops. Less common are legacy ports such as a PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, serial port or a parallel port . S-video or composite video ports are more common on consumer-oriented notebooks.
[ edit ] Docking stations
A docking station is a relatively bulky laptop accessory that contains multiple ports, expansion slots and bays for fixed or removable drives. A laptop connects and disconnects easily to a docking station, typically through a single large proprietary connector. A port replicator is a simplified docking station that only provides connections from the laptop to input/output ports. Both docking stations and port replicators are intended to be used at a permanent working place (a desk) to offer instant connection to multiple input/output devices and to extend a laptop's capabilities.
Docking stations became a common laptop accessory in the early 1990s. The most common use was in a corporate computing environment where the company had standardized on a common network card and this same card was placed into the docking station. These stations were very large and quite expensive. As the need for additional storage and expansion slots became less critical because of the high integration inside the laptop, the "port replicator" has gained popularity. The port replicator was a cheaper, often passive device that simply mated to the connectors on the back of the notebook and allowed the user to quickly connect his laptop so that his monitor, keyboard, printer and other devices were instantly attached. As higher speed ports such as USB and Firewire became common, the connection of a port replicator to a laptop was accomplished by a small cable connected to one of the USB or FireWire ports on the notebook. Wireless Port Replicators are available as well.
A recent variant of the port replicator is the combined power/display/USB hub cable found in the new Apple Cinema Display [36] .
[ edit ] Standards
Some laptop components (optical drives, hard drives, memory and internal expansion cards) are relatively standardized , and it is possible to upgrade or replace them in many laptops as long as the new part is of the same type. [31] Subtle incompatibilities and variations in dimensions, however, are not uncommon. [37] Depending on the manufacturer and model, a laptop may range from having several standard, easily customizable and upgradeable parts to a proprietary design that can't be reconfigured at all.
In general, components other than the four categories listed above are not intended to be replaceable, and thus rarely follow a standard. In particular, motherboards, locations of ports, design and placement of internal components are usually make- and model-specific. Those parts are neither interchangeable with parts from other manufacturers nor upgradeable. If broken or damaged, they must be substituted with an exact replacement part. The users uneducated in the relevant fields are those the most affected by incompatibilities, especially if they attempt to connect their laptops with incompatible hardware or power adapters.
Intel , Asus , Compal , Quanta and other laptop manufacturers have created the Common Building Block standard for laptop parts to address some of the inefficiencies caused by the lack of standards.
[ edit ] Advantages
Laptop computers are portable and can be used in many locations (Former Mexican President, Vicente Fox).
Portability is usually the first feature mentioned in any comparison of laptops versus desktop PCs [38] . Portability means that a laptop can be used in many places—not only at home and at the office, but also during commuting and flights, in coffee shops, in lecture halls and libraries, at clients' location or at a meeting room, etc. The portability feature offers several distinct advantages:
Getting more done – using a laptop in places where a desktop PC can't be used, and at times that would otherwise be wasted. For example, an office worker managing his e-mails during an hour-long commute by train, or a student doing her homework at the university coffee shop during a break between lectures. [39]
Immediacy – Carrying a laptop means having instant access to various information, personal and work files. Immediacy allows better collaboration between coworkers or students, as a laptop can be flipped open to present a problem or a solution anytime, anywhere.
Up-to-date information – If a person has more than one desktop PC, a problem of synchronization arises: changes made on one computer are not automatically propagated to the others. There are ways to resolve this problem, including physical transfer of updated files (using a USB stick or CDs) or using synchronization software over the Internet. However, using a single laptop at both locations avoids the problem entirely, as the files exist in a single location and are always up-to-date.
Connectivity – A proliferation of Wi-Fi wireless networks and cellular broadband data services ( HSDPA , EVDO and others) combined with a near-ubiquitous support by laptops [40] means that a laptop can have easy Internet and local network connectivity while remaining mobile. Wi-Fi networks and laptop programs are especially widespread at university campuses. [41]
Other advantages of laptops include:
Size – laptops are smaller than standard PCs. This is beneficial when space is at a premium, for example in small apartments and student dorms. When not in use, a laptop can be closed and put away.
Low power consumption – laptops are several times more power-efficient than desktops. A typical laptop uses 20-90 W, compared to 100-800 W for desktops. This could be particularly beneficial for businesses (which run hundreds of personal computers, multiplying the potential savings) and homes where there is a computer running 24/7 (such as a home media server, print server, etc.)
Quiet – laptops are often quieter than desktops, due both to the components (quieter, slower 2.5-inch hard drives) and to less heat production leading to use of fewer and slower cooling fans.
Battery – a charged laptop can run several hours in case of a power outage and is not affected by short power interruptions and brownouts. A desktop PC needs a UPS to handle short interruptions, brownouts and spikes; achieving on-battery time of more than 20-30 minutes for a desktop PC requires a large and expensive UPS. [42]
[ edit ] Performance
While the performance of mainstream desktops and laptops is comparable, laptops are significantly more expensive than desktop PCs at the same performance level. [43] The upper limits of performance of laptops are a little bit lower, and "bleeding-edge" features usually appear first in desktops and only then, as the underlying technology matures, are adapted to laptops.
However, for Internet browsing and typical office applications, where the computer spends the majority of its time waiting for the next user input, even netbook-class laptops are generally fast enough. [44] Standard laptops are sufficiently powerful for high-resolution movie playback, 3D gaming and video editing and encoding. Number-crunching software (databases, math, engineering, financial, etc.) is the area where the laptops are at the biggest disadvantage.
[ edit ] Upgradeability
Upgradeability of laptops is very limited compared to desktops, which are thoroughly standardized. In general, hard drives and memory can be upgraded easily. Optical drives and internal expansion cards may be upgraded if they follow an industry standard, but all other internal components, including the CPU and graphics, are not intended to be upgradeable.
The reasons for limited upgradeability are both technical and economic. There is no industry-wide standard form factor for laptops; each major laptop manufacturer pursues its own proprietary design and construction, with the result that laptops are difficult to upgrade and have high repair costs. With few exceptions, laptop components can rarely be swapped between laptops of competing manufacturers, or even between laptops from the different product-lines of the same manufacturer.
Some upgrades can be performed by adding external devices, either USB or in expansion card format such a PC Card : sound cards, network adapters, hard and optical drives, and numerous other peripherals are available. But those upgrades usually impair the laptop's portability, because they add cables and boxes to the setup and often have to be disconnected and reconnected when the laptop is moved.
[ edit ] Ergonomics and health
Laptop coaster preventing heating of lap and improving laptop airflow.
Because of their small and flat keyboard and trackpad pointing devices, prolonged use of laptops can cause repetitive strain injury . [45] Usage of separate, external ergonomic keyboards and pointing devices is recommended to prevent injury when working for long periods of time; they can be connected to a laptop easily by USB or via a docking station. Some health standards require ergonomic keyboards at workplaces.
The integrated screen often causes users to hunch over for a better view, which can cause neck or spinal injuries. A larger and higher-quality external screen can be connected to almost any laptop to alleviate that and to provide additional "screen estate" for more productive work.
A study by State University of New York researchers found that heat generated from laptops can raise the temperature of the scrotum when balancing the computer on one's lap, potentially putting sperm count at risk. The small study, which included little more than two dozen men aged 21 to 35, found that the sitting position required to balance a laptop can raise scrotum temperature by as much as 2.1 °C (3.8 °F ). Heat from the laptop itself can raise the temperature by another 0.7 °C (1.4 °F), bringing the potential total increase to 2.8 °C (5.2 °F). However, further research is needed to determine whether this directly affects sterility in men. [46]
A common practical solution to this problem is to place the laptop on a table or desk. Another solution is to obtain a cooling unit for the laptop, these units are usually USB powered consist of a hard thin plastic case housing 1, 2 or 3 cooling fans (the whole thing is designed to sit under a laptop) which results in the laptop remaining cool to the touch, and greatly reduces laptop heat generation. There are several companies which make these coolers.
Heat from using a laptop on the lap can also cause skin discoloration on the thighs. [47]
[ edit ] Durability
A clogged heatsink on a 2.5 year old laptop.
Due to their portability, laptops are subject to more wear and physical damage than desktops. Components such as screen hinges, latches, power jacks [48] and power cords deteriorate gradually due to ordinary use. A liquid spill onto the keyboard, a rather minor mishap with a desktop system, can damage the internals of a laptop and result in a costly repair. One study found that a laptop is 3 times more likely to break during the first year of use than a desktop. [49]
Original external components are expensive (a replacement AC adapter, for example, could cost $75); other parts are inexpensive—a power jack can cost a few dollars—but their replacement may require extensive disassembly and reassembly of the laptop by a technician. Other inexpensive but fragile parts often cannot be purchased separate from larger more expensive components. [50] The repair costs of a failed motherboard or LCD panel may exceed the value of a used laptop.
Laptops rely on extremely compact cooling systems involving a fan and heat sink that can fail due to eventual clogging by accumulated airborne dust and debris. Most laptops do not have any sort of removable dust collection filter over the air intake for these cooling systems, resulting in a system that gradually runs hotter and louder as the years pass. Eventually the laptop starts to overheat even at idle load levels. This dust is usually stuck inside where casual cleaning and vacuuming cannot remove it. Instead, a complete disassembly is needed to clean the laptop.
Battery life of laptops is limited; the capacity drops with time, necessitating an eventual replacement after a few years.
[ edit ] Security
Being expensive, common and portable, laptops are prized targets for theft . The cost of the stolen business or personal data and of the resulting problems ( identity theft , credit card fraud , breach of privacy laws ) can be many times the value of the stolen laptop itself. Therefore, both physical protection of laptops and the safeguarding of data contained on them are of the highest importance.
Most laptops have a Kensington security slot which is used to tether the computer to a desk or other immovable object with a security cable and lock. In addition to this, modern operating systems and third-party software offer disk encryption functionality that renders the data on the laptop's hard drive unreadable without a key or a passphrase.
[ edit ] Other portable computing devices
This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards .
There are several categories of portable computing devices that can run on batteries but are not usually classified as laptops: portable computers, keyboardless tablet PCs, Internet tablets, PDAs, Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs) and smartphones.
A Nokia N800 Internet tablet
A Portable computer is a general-purpose computer that can be easily moved from place to place, but cannot be used while in transit, usually because it requires some "setting-up" and an AC power source. The most famous example is the Osborne 1 . Also called a "transportable" or a "luggable" PC.
A Tablet PC that lacks a keyboard (also known as a non-convertible Tablet PC) is shaped like slate or a paper notebook, features a touchscreen with a stylus and handwriting recognition software. Tablets may not be best suited for applications requiring a physical keyboard for typing, but are otherwise capable of carrying out most tasks that an ordinary laptop would be able to perform.
An Internet tablet is an Internet appliance in tablet form. Unlike a Tablet PC, an Internet tablet does not have much computing power and its applications suite is limited—it can not replace a general purpose computer. Internet tablets typically feature an MP3 and video player, a web browser, a chat application and a picture viewer.
A Personal digital assistant (PDA) is a small, usually pocket-sized, computer with limited functionality. It is intended to supplement and to synchronize with a desktop computer, giving access to contacts, address book, notes, e-mail and other features.
An Ultra Mobile PC is a full-featured, PDA-sized computer running a general-purpose operating system.
A Smart phone is a PDA with an integrated cellphone functionality. Current smartphones have a wide range of features and installable applications.
Boundaries that separate these categories are blurry at times. For example, the OQO UMPC is also a PDA-sized tablet PC; the Apple eMate had the clamshell form factor of a laptop, but ran PDA software. The HP Omnibook line of laptops included some devices small enough to be called Ultra Mobile PCs. The hardware of the Nokia 770 internet tablet is essentially the same as that of a PDA such as the Zaurus 6000; the only reason it's not called a PDA is that it doesn't have PIM software. On the other hand, both the 770 and the Zaurus can run some desktop Linux software, usually with modifications.
[ edit ] Major brands and manufacturers
Main article: List of laptop brands and manufacturers
There is a multitude of laptop brands and manufacturers; several major brands, offering notebooks in various classes, are listed in the box to the right.
The major brands usually offer good service and support, including well-executed documentation and driver downloads that will remain available for many years after a particular laptop model is no longer produced. Capitalizing on service, support and brand image, laptops from major brands are more expensive than laptops by smaller brands and ODMs.
Some brands are specializing in a particular class of laptops, such as gaming laptops ( Alienware ), netbooks ( EeePC ) and laptops for children ( OLPC ).
Many brands, including the major ones, do not design and do not manufacture their laptops. Instead, a small number of Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) design new models of laptops, and the brands choose the models to be included in their lineup. In 2006, 7 major ODMs manufactured 7 of every 10 laptops in the world, with the largest one ( Quanta Computer ) having 30% world market share. [51] Therefore, there often are identical models available both from a major label and from a low-profile ODM in-house brand.
Major laptop brands
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Laptop is a personal computer designed for mobile use and small and light enough to sit on a person's lap while in use. [1] A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer , including a display , a keyboard , a pointing device (a touchpad , also known as a trackpad, and/or a pointing stick ), speakers, and often including a battery, into a single small and light unit. The rechargeable battery (if present) is charged from an AC adapter and typically stores enough energy to run the laptop for two to three hours in its initial state, depending on the configuration and power management of the computer.
Laptops are usually notebook -shaped with thicknesses between 0.7–1.5 inches (18–38 mm) and dimensions ranging from 10x8 inches (27x22cm, 13" display) to 15x11 inches (39x28cm, 17" display) and up. Modern laptops weigh 3 to 12 pounds (1.4 to 5.4 kg); older laptops were usually heavier. Most laptops are designed in the flip form factor to protect the screen and the keyboard when closed. Modern tablet laptops have a complex joint between the keyboard housing and the display, permitting the display panel to swivel and then lie flat on the keyboard housing.
Laptops were originally considered to be "a small niche market" and were thought suitable mostly for "specialized field applications" such as "the military, the Internal Revenue Service, accountants and sales representatives". But today, there are already more laptops than desktops in businesses, and laptops are becoming obligatory for student use and more popular for general use. In 2008 more laptops than desktops were sold in the US and it has been predicted that the same milestone will be reached in the worldwide market as soon as late 2009[citation needed].
Contents
The Epson HX-20
As the personal computer became feasible in the early 1970s, the idea of a portable personal computer followed. A "personal, portable information manipulator" was imagined by Alan Kay at Xerox PARC in 1968 [2] and described in his 1972 paper as the " Dynabook ". [3]
The IBM SCAMP project (Special Computer APL Machine Portable), was demonstrated in 1973. This prototype was based on the PALM processor (Put All Logic In Microcode).
The IBM 5100 , the first commercially available portable computer, appeared in September 1975, and was based on the SCAMP prototype. [4]
As 8-bit CPU machines became widely accepted, the number of portables increased rapidly. The Osborne 1 , released in 1981, used the Zilog Z80 and weighed 23.5 pounds (10.7 kg). It had no battery, a 5" CRT screen and dual 5¼" single-density floppy drives. In the same year the first laptop-sized portable computer, the Epson HX-20 , was announced. [5] The Epson had a LCD screen, a rechargeable battery and a calculator-size printer in a 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) chassis. Both Tandy/RadioShack and HP also produced portable computers of varying designs during this period. [6] [7]
The first laptops using the flip form factor appeared in the early 1980s. The Dulmont Magnum was released in Australia in 1981-2, but was not marketed internationally until 1984-5. The 8150 US$ GRiD Compass 1100 , released in 1982, was used at NASA and by the military among others. The Gavilan SC , released in 1983, was the first notebook marketed using the term "laptop". [8] From 1983 onwards, several new input techniques were developed and included in laptops, including the touchpad ( Gavilan SC , 1983), the pointing stick (IBM ThinkPad 700, 1992) and handwriting recognition (Linus Write-Top, [9] 1987). Some CPUs were designed specifically for low power use including laptops (Intel i386SL , 1990), and were supported by dynamic power management features (Intel SpeedStep and AMD PowerNow! ) in some designs. Displays reached VGA resolution by 1988 (Compaq SLT/286) and 256-color screens by 1993 ( PowerBook 165c ), progressing quickly to millions of colors and high resolutions. High-capacity hard drives and optical storage ( CD-ROM followed by CD-R and CD-RW and eventually by DVD-ROM and the writable varieties) became available in laptops soon after their introduction to the desktops.
Classification
The general terms "laptop" or "notebook" can be used to refer to a number of classes of small portable computers: [10] [11]
By purpose and (approximately) by screen size:
Desktop replacement – emphasizes performance, is less portable, 15" and larger screen;
Standard laptop – balances portability and features, 13-15" screen;
Subnotebook – emphasizes portability, has fewer features, 12" or smaller screen.
By features:
Main article: Desktop replacement computer
A desktop replacement computer is a laptop that provides most of the capabilities of a desktop computer , with a similar level of performance. Desktop replacements are usually larger and heavier than standard laptops. They contain more powerful components and have a 15" or larger display. [11] Because of their bulk, they are not as portable as other laptops and their operation time on batteries is typically shorter; instead, they are meant to be used as a more compact, easier to carry alternative to a desktop computer. [11]
Some laptops in this class use a limited range of desktop components to provide better performance for the same price at the expense of battery life; in a few of those models, there is no battery at all and the laptop can only be used when plugged in. These are sometimes called desknotes, a portmanteau of the words "desktop" and "notebook," though the term can also be applied to desktop replacement computers in general. [12]
In the early 2000s, desktops were more powerful, easier to upgrade, and much cheaper in comparison with laptops. But in the last few years, the advantages have drastically changed or shrunk since the performance of laptops has markedly increased. [13] In the second half of 2008, laptops have finally outsold desktops for the first time ever. In the U.S., the PC shipment declined 10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008. In Asia, the worst PC shipment growth went up 1.8 percent over the same quarter the previous year since PC statistics research started. [14]
The names "Media Center Laptops" and "Gaming Laptops" are also used to describe specialized members of this class of notebooks. [10]
Subnotebook
Main article: Subnotebook
A subnotebook, also called an ultraportable by some vendors, is a laptop designed and marketed with an emphasis on portability (small size, low weight and longer battery life) that retains the performance of a standard notebook. [15] Subnotebooks are usually smaller and lighter than standard laptops, weighing between 0.8 and 2 kg (2 to 5 pounds); [10] the battery life can exceed 10 hours [16] when a large battery or an additional battery pack is installed.
To achieve the size and weight reductions, ultraportables use high resolution 13" and smaller screens (down to 6.4"), have relatively few ports , employ expensive components designed for minimal size and best power efficiency, and utilize advanced materials and construction methods. Some subnotebooks achieve a further portability improvement by omitting an optical/removable media drive; in this case they may be paired with a docking station that contains the drive and optionally more ports or an additional battery.
The term "subnotebook" is usually reserved to laptops that run general-purpose desktop operating systems such as Windows , Linux or Mac OS X , rather than specialized software such as Windows CE , Palm OS or Internet Tablet OS .
Netbook
Main article: Netbook
Netbooks are laptops that are light-weight, economical, energy-efficient and especially suited for wireless communication and Internet access. [17] [18] Hence the name netbook (as "the device excels in web-based computing performance") [19] rather than notebook which pertains to size. [20]
With primary focus given to web browsing and e-mailing , netbooks "rely heavily on the Internet for remote access to web-based applications " [19] and are targeted increasingly at cloud computing users who rely on servers and require a less powerful client computer . [21] While the devices range in size from below 5 inches [22] to over 12, [23] most are between 7 and 11 inches and weigh between 0.9 - 1.4 kg (2-3 pounds). [19]
Netbooks normally use light-weight operating systems such Linux and Windows XP .
Because they're very portable, Netbooks have a few disadvantages. Because the netbooks are thin, the first such products introduced to the market had their primary internal storage in the form of solid-state drives and not hard disks, which are essential to installing very many programs. Hard disk drive technology and form factors have since been adapted to fit into netbooks.
Given their size and use of more rudimentary components compared to notebooks and subnotebooks , netbooks also generally have a smaller-capacity hard drive, slower CPU , and a lower-profile RAM capacity. [24]
Recently, Google has announced to be developing an own operating system called Chrome for this market.
The big breakthrough for netbook computers did not happen until the weight, diagonal form-factor and price combination of < 1 kg, < 9", < U.S. $400, respectively, became commercially available at around 2008.
Rugged laptop
A Panasonic Toughbook .
A rugged (or ruggedized) laptop is designed to reliably operate in harsh usage conditions such as strong vibrations, extreme temperatures, and wet or dusty environments. Rugged laptops are usually designed from scratch, rather than adapted from regular consumer laptop models. Rugged notebooks are bulkier, heavier, and much more expensive than regular laptops, [25] and thus are seldom seen in regular consumer use.
The design features found in rugged laptops include rubber sheeting under the keyboard keys, sealed port and connector covers, passive cooling, superbright displays easily readable in daylight, cases and frames made of magnesium alloys [26] that are much stronger than plastic found in commercial laptops, and solid-state storage devices or hard disc drives that are shock mounted to withstand constant vibrations. Rugged laptops are commonly used by public safety services (police, fire and medical emergency), military, utilities, field service technicians, construction, mining and oil drilling personnel. Rugged laptops are usually sold to organizations, rather than individuals, and are rarely marketed via retail channels.
Components
Main article: Computer hardware
Miniaturization: a comparison of a desktop computer motherboard ( ATX form factor) to a motherboard from a 13" laptop (2008 unibody Macbook )
Inner view of a Sony Vaio laptop
The basic components of laptops are similar in function to their desktop counterparts, but are miniaturized , adapted to mobile use, and designed for low power consumption. Because of the additional requirements, laptop components are usually of inferior performance compared to similarly priced desktop parts. Furthermore, the design bounds on power, size, and cooling of laptops limit the maximum performance of laptop parts compared to that of desktop components. [27]
The following list summarizes the differences and distinguishing features of laptop components in comparison to desktop personal computer parts:
Motherboard – Laptop motherboards are highly make and model specific, and do not conform to a desktop form factor . Unlike a desktop board that usually has several slots for expansion cards (3 to 7 are common), a board for a small, highly integrated laptop may have no expansion slots at all, with all the functionality implemented on the motherboard itself; the only expansion possible in this case is via an external port such as USB . Other boards may have one or more standard, such as ExpressCard , or proprietary expansion slots. Several other functions (storage controllers, networking, sound card and external ports) are implemented on the motherboard. [28]
Central processing unit (CPU) – Laptop CPUs have advanced power-saving features and produce less heat than desktop processors, but are not as powerful. [29] There is a wide range of CPUs designed for laptops available from Intel ( Pentium M , Celeron M , Intel Core and Core 2 Duo ), AMD ( Athlon , Turion 64 , and Sempron ), VIA Technologies , Transmeta and others. On the non- x86 architectures, Motorola and IBM produced the chips for the former PowerPC -based Apple laptops ( iBook and PowerBook ). Some laptops have removable CPUs, although support by the motherboard may be restricted to the specific models. [30] In other laptops the CPU is soldered on the motherboard and is non-replaceable.
A SODIMM memory module.
Memory (RAM) – SO-DIMM memory modules that are usually found in laptops are about half the size of desktop DIMMs . [28] They may be accessible from the bottom of the laptop for ease of upgrading, or placed in locations not intended for user replacement such as between the keyboard and the motherboard. Currently, most midrange laptops are factory equipped with 3-4 GB of DDR2 RAM, while some higher end notebooks feature up to 8 GB of DDR3 memory. Netbooks however, are commonly equipped with only 1 GB of RAM to keep manufacturing costs low.
Expansion cards – A PC Card (formerly PCMCIA ) or ExpressCard bay for expansion cards is often present on laptops to allow adding and removing functionality, even when the laptop is powered on. Some subsystems (such as Ethernet , Wi-Fi , or a cellular modem ) can be implemented as replaceable internal expansion cards, usually accessible under an access cover on the bottom of the laptop. Two popular standards for such cards are MiniPCI and its successor, the PCI Express Mini . [31]
Power supply – Laptops are typically powered by an internal rechargeable battery that is charged using an external power supply. The power supply can charge the battery and power the laptop simultaneously; when the battery is fully charged, the laptop continues to run on AC power. The charger adds about 400 grams (1 lb) to the overall "transport weight" of the notebook.
Battery – Current laptops utilize lithium ion batteries, with more recent models using the new lithium polymer technology. These two technologies have largely replaced the older nickel metal-hydride batteries. Typical battery life for standard laptops is two to five hours of light-duty use, but may drop to as little as one hour when doing power-intensive tasks. A battery's performance gradually decreases with time, leading to an eventual replacement in one to three years, depending on the charging and discharging pattern. This large-capacity main battery should not be confused with the much smaller battery nearly all computers use to run the real-time clock and to store the BIOS configuration in the CMOS memory when the computer is off. Lithium-ion batteries do not have a memory effect as older batteries may have. The memory effect happens when one does not use a battery to its fullest extent, then recharges the battery. New innovations in laptops and batteries have seen new possible matchings which can provide up to a full 24 hours of continued operation, assuming average power consumption levels. An example of this is the HP EliteBook 6930p when used with its ultra-capacity battery.
Video display controller – On standard laptops the video controller is usually integrated into the chipset . This tends to limit the use of laptops for gaming and entertainment, two fields which have constantly escalating hardware demands. [32] Higher-end laptops and desktop replacements in particular often come with dedicated graphics processors on the motherboard or as an internal expansion card. These mobile graphics processors are comparable in performance to mainstream desktop graphic accelerator boards. [33]
Display – Most modern laptops feature 12 inches (30 cm) or larger color active matrix displays based on a CCFL lamp with resolutions of 1280x800 (16:10) or 1366 x 768 (16:9) pixels and above. Many current models use screens with higher resolution than typical for desktop PCs (for example, the 1440×900 resolution of a 15"). Newer laptops come with LED based screens offering a lesser power consumption and wider viewing angles. Macbook Pro [34] can be found on 19" widescreen desktop monitors.
A size comparison of 3.5" and 2.5" hard disk drives
Removable media drives – A DVD / CD reader/writer drive is typically standard. CD drives are becoming rare, while Blu-Ray is becoming more common on notebooks. [35] Many ultraportables and netbooks either move the removable media drive into the docking station or exclude it altogether.
Internal storage – Laptop hard disks are physically smaller—2.5 inches (64 mm) or 1.8 inches (46 mm) —compared to desktop 3.5 inches (89 mm) drives. Some newer laptops (usually ultraportables) employ more expensive, but faster, lighter and power-efficient flash memory -based SSDs instead. Currently, 250 to 500 GB sizes are common for laptop hard disks (64 to 256 GB for SSDs).
Input – A pointing stick , touchpad or both are used to control the position of the cursor on the screen, and an integrated keyboard is used for typing. An external keyboard and/or mouse may be connected using USB or PS/2 (if present).
Ports – several USB ports, an external monitor port ( VGA or DVI ), audio in/out, and an Ethernet network port are found on most laptops. Less common are legacy ports such as a PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, serial port or a parallel port . S-video or composite video ports are more common on consumer-oriented notebooks. HDMI may be found on some higher-end notebooks.
Docking stations
A docking station is a relatively bulky laptop accessory that contains multiple ports, expansion slots, and bays for fixed or removable drives. A laptop connects and disconnects easily to a docking station, typically through a single large proprietary connector. A port replicator is a simplified docking station that only provides connections from the laptop to input/output ports. Both docking stations and port replicators are intended to be used at a permanent working place (a desk) to offer instant connection to multiple input/output devices and to extend a laptop's capabilities.
Docking stations became a common laptop accessory in the early 1990s. The most common use was in a corporate computing environment where the company had standardized on a common network card and this same card was placed into the docking station. These stations were very large and quite expensive. As the need for additional storage and expansion slots became less critical because of the high integration inside the laptop, port replicators have gained popularity, being a cheaper, often passive device that often simply mates to the connectors on the back of the notebook, or connects via a standardised port such as USB or FireWire .
Standards
Some laptop components (optical drives, hard drives, memory and internal expansion cards) are relatively standardized , and it is possible to upgrade or replace them in many laptops as long as the new part is of the same type. [31] Depending on the manufacturer and model, a laptop may range from having several standard, easily customizable and upgradeable parts to a proprietary design that cannot be reconfigured at all.
In general, components other than the four categories listed above are not intended to be replaceable, and thus rarely follow a standard. In particular, motherboards, locations of ports, and design and placement of internal components are usually make and model specific. Those parts are neither interchangeable with parts from other manufacturers nor upgradeable. If broken or damaged, they must be substituted with an exact replacement part. Those users uneducated in the relevant fields are those the most affected by incompatibilities, especially if they attempt to connect their laptops with incompatible hardware or power adapters.
Intel , Asus , Compal , Quanta and other laptop manufacturers have created the Common Building Block standard for laptop parts to address some of the inefficiencies caused by the lack of standards.
Advantages
Laptop computers are portable and can be used in many locations. Shown here is former Mexican president Vicente Fox .
Portability is usually the first feature mentioned in any comparison of laptops versus desktop PCs. [36] Portability means that a laptop can be used in many places—not only at home and at the office, but also during commuting and flights, in coffee shops, in lecture halls and libraries, at clients' location or at a meeting room, etc. The portability feature offers several distinct advantages:
Getting more work done – Using a laptop in places where a desktop PC can't be used, and at times that would otherwise be wasted. For example, an office worker managing their e-mails during an hour-long commute by train, or a student doing his/her homework at the university coffee shop during a break between lectures. [37]
Immediacy – Carrying a laptop means having instant access to various information, personal and work files. Immediacy allows better collaboration between coworkers or students, as a laptop can be flipped open to present a problem or a solution anytime, anywhere.
Up-to-date information – If a person has more than one desktop PC, a problem of synchronization arises: changes made on one computer are not automatically propagated to the others. There are ways to resolve this problem, including physical transfer of updated files (using a USB flash memory stick or CDRs) or using synchronization software over the Internet. However, using a single laptop at both locations avoids the problem entirely, as the files exist in a single location and are always up-to-date.
Connectivity – A proliferation of Wi-Fi wireless networks and cellular broadband data services ( HSDPA , EVDO and others) combined with a near-ubiquitous support by laptops [38] means that a laptop can have easy Internet and local network connectivity while remaining mobile. Wi-Fi networks and laptop programs are especially widespread at university campuses. [39]
Other advantages of laptops include:
Size – Laptops are smaller than standard PCs. This is beneficial when space is at a premium, for example in small apartments and student dorms. When not in use, a laptop can be closed and put away.
Ease of Access - Most laptops have doors on the underside that allow the user to access the memory, hard drive and other components, by simply flipping the laptop to access the doors. For desktops the user must usually access the backside of the computer, which is harder if it's in an area with little space.
Low power consumption – Laptops are several times more power-efficient than desktops. A typical laptop uses 20-90 W, compared to 100-800 W for desktops. This could be particularly beneficial for businesses (which run hundreds of personal computers, multiplying the potential savings) and homes where there is a computer running 24/7 (such as a home media server, print server, etc.)
Quiet – Laptops are often quieter than desktops, due both to the components (quieter, slower 2.5-inch hard drives) and to less heat production leading to use of fewer and slower cooling fans.
Battery – a charged laptop can run several hours in case of a power outage and is not affected by short power interruptions and blackouts. A desktop PC needs a UPS to handle short interruptions, blackouts and spikes; achieving on-battery time of more than 20–30 minutes for a desktop PC requires a large and expensive UPS. [40]
All-in-One - designed to be portable, laptops have everything integrated in to the chassis. For desktops (excluding all-in-ones) this is divided into the desktop, keyboard, mouse, display, and optional peripherals such as speakers, and a webcam. This leads to lots of wiring. It can also lead to massive power consumption.
Extras - in comparison to low-end desktops, even low-end laptops include features such as integrated Wi-Fi, and Express Card slot, and a memory card reader.
Disadvantages
Compared to desktop PCs, laptops have disadvantages in the following fields:
Performance
Whilst the performance of mainstream desktops and laptops is comparable, laptops are significantly more expensive than desktop PCs at the same or even lower performance level. [41] The upper limits of performance of laptops are a little bit lower, and "bleeding-edge" features usually appear first in desktops and only then, as the underlying technology matures, are adapted to laptops.
However, for Internet browsing and typical office applications, where the computer spends the majority of its time waiting for the next user input, even netbook-class laptops are generally fast enough. [42] Most higher-end laptops are sufficiently powerful for high-resolution movie playback, 3D gaming and video editing and encoding. However, laptops are disadvantaged when dealing with database, math, engineering, financial software, etc.
Some manufacturers work around this performance problem by using desktop CPUs for laptops. [43]
Upgradeability
Upgradeability of laptops is very limited compared to desktops, which are thoroughly standardized. In general, hard drives and memory can be upgraded easily. Optical drives and internal expansion cards may be upgraded if they follow an industry standard, but all other internal components, including the CPU, motherboard and graphics, are not intended to be upgradeable.
The reasons for limited upgradeability are both technical and economic. There is no industry-wide standard form factor for laptops; each major laptop manufacturer pursues its own proprietary design and construction, with the result that laptops are difficult to upgrade and have high repair costs. With few exceptions, laptop components can rarely be swapped between laptops of competing manufacturers, or even between laptops from the different product-lines of the same manufacturer.
Some upgrades can be performed by adding external devices, either USB or in expansion card format such a PC Card : sound cards, network adapters, hard and optical drives, and numerous other peripherals are available, but these upgrades usually impair the laptop's portability, because they add cables and boxes to the setup and often have to be disconnected and reconnected when the laptop is moved.
Ergonomics and health
Laptop coaster preventing heating of lap and improving laptop airflow.
Because of their small and flat keyboard and trackpad pointing devices, prolonged use of laptops can cause repetitive strain injury . [44] Usage of separate, external ergonomic keyboards and pointing devices is recommended to prevent injury when working for long periods of time; they can be connected to a laptop easily by USB or via a docking station. Some health standards require ergonomic keyboards at workplaces.
The integrated screen often causes users to hunch over for a better view, which can cause neck or spinal injuries. A larger and higher-quality external screen can be connected to almost any laptop to alleviate that and to provide additional "screen estate" for more productive work.
A study by State University of New York researchers found that heat generated from laptops can raise the temperature of the scrotum when balancing the computer on one's lap, potentially putting sperm count at risk. The study, which included roughly two dozen men aged 21 to 35, found that the sitting position required to balance a laptop can raise scrotum temperature by as much as 2.1 °C (3.78 °F). Heat from the laptop itself can raise the temperature by another 0.7 °C (1.26 °F), bringing the potential total increase to 2.8 °C (5.04 °F). However, further research is needed to determine whether this directly affects sterility in men. [45]
A common practical solution to this problem is to place the laptop on a table or desk. Another solution is to obtain a cooling unit for the laptop, these units are usually USB powered and consist of a hard thin plastic case housing 1, 2 or 3 cooling fans (with the entire assembly designed to sit under the laptop in question) which results in the laptop remaining cool to the touch, and greatly reduces laptop heat buildup.
Heat from using a laptop on the lap can also cause skin discoloration on the thighs. [46]
Durability
A clogged heatsink on a 2.5 year old laptop.
Due to their portability, laptops are subject to more wear and physical damage than desktops. Components such as screen hinges, latches, power jacks and power cords deteriorate gradually due to ordinary use. A liquid spill onto the keyboard, a rather minor mishap with a desktop system, can damage the internals of a laptop and result in a costly repair. One study found that a laptop is 3 times more likely to break during the first year of use than a desktop. [47]
Original external components are expensive, and usually proprietary and non-interchangeble; other parts are inexpensive—a power jack can cost a few dollars—but their replacement may require extensive disassembly and reassembly of the laptop by a technician. Other inexpensive but fragile parts often cannot be purchased separate from larger more expensive components. [48] The repair costs of a failed motherboard or LCD panel may exceed the value of a used laptop.
Laptops rely on extremely compact cooling systems involving a fan and heat sink that can fail due to eventual clogging by accumulated airborne dust and debris. Most laptops do not have any sort of removable dust collection filter over the air intake for these cooling systems, resulting in a system that gradually runs hotter and louder as the years pass. Eventually the laptop starts to overheat even at idle load levels. This dust is usually stuck inside where casual cleaning and vacuuming cannot remove it. Instead, a complete disassembly is needed to clean the laptop.
Battery life of laptops is limited; the capacity drops with time, necessitating an eventual replacement after a few years. The battery is often easily replaceable, and one may replace it on purpose with a higher end model to achieve better battery life.
Security
Being valuable, common and portable, laptops are prized targets for theft . The cost of the stolen business or personal data and of the resulting problems ( identity theft , credit card fraud , breach of privacy laws ) can be many times the value of the stolen laptop itself. Therefore, both physical protection of laptops and the safeguarding of data contained on them are of the highest importance.
Most laptops have a Kensington security slot which is used to tether the computer to a desk or other immovable object with a security cable and lock. In addition to this, modern operating systems and third-party software offer disk encryption functionality that renders the data on the laptop's hard drive unreadable without a key or a passphrase.
Some laptops also now have additional security elements added by the consumer, including eye recognition software and fingerprint scanning components.
Major brands and manufacturers
Main article: List of laptop brands and manufacturers
There is a multitude of laptop brands and manufacturers; several major brands, offering notebooks in various classes, are listed in the box to the right.
The major brands usually offer good service and support, including well-executed documentation and driver downloads that will remain available for many years after a particular laptop model is no longer produced. Capitalizing on service, support and brand image, laptops from major brands are more expensive than laptops by smaller brands and ODMs .
Some brands are specializing in a particular class of laptops, such as gaming laptops ( Alienware ), netbooks ( EeePC ) and laptops for children ( OLPC ).
Many brands, including the major ones, do not design and do not manufacture their laptops. Instead, a small number of Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) design new models of laptops, and the brands choose the models to be included in their lineup. In 2006, 7 major ODMs manufactured 7 of every 10 laptops in the world, with the largest one ( Quanta Computer ) having 30% world market share. [49] Therefore, there often are identical models available both from a major label and from a low-profile ODM in-house brand.
Sales
Battery-powered portable computers had just 2% worldwide market share in 1986. [51] But today, laptops are becoming increasingly popular, both for business and personal use. [52] In 2008 it is estimated that 145.9 million notebooks were sold, and in 2009 the number will grow to 177.7 million. [53] The third quarter of 2008 was the first time when notebook PC shipments exceeded desktops , with 38.6 million units versus 38.5 million units. [52] [54] [55] [56]
For Microsoft Windows systems, the average selling price (ASP) showed a decline in 2008/2009, possibly due to low-cost netbooks , drawing 689 US$ at U.S. retail in August 2008. In 2009, ASP had further fallen to 602 US$ by January and to 560 US$ in February. While Windows machines fell 129 US$ in these seven months, Mac laptop ASP declined just 12 US$ from 1524 US$ to 1512 US$. [57]
Since 2006, the world's top selling Laptop brand is HP , which now has 21.2% marketshare. [1]
See also
| i don't know |
What major thoroughfare was known as Tyburn Road until the 18th century? | Oxford Street, London - London
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World Famous Shopping. Oxford Street is a green property (£300) on the London monopoly board game. Other green properties are Regent Street and Bond Street. US equivalent property in Atlantic City is North Carolina Avenue.
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in London, England in the City of Westminster. With over 300 shops, it is probably the world's largest shopping street.
It runs for approximately a mile and a half from Marble Arch at the north east corner of Hyde Park, through Oxford Circus to St Giles' Circus, at the intersection with Charing Cross Road and Tottenham Court Road. Eastwards, the road then becomes New Oxford Street until it runs into High Holborn. West of Marble Arch, Oxford Street becomes Bayswater Road or the A40 which continues west towards Oxford. Oxford Street intersects with other London roads including Park Lane, New Bond Street and Regent Street.
History
The street follows the start of Roman roads from Wales, Gloucester, Cirencester, Oxford, Bath and Silchester via London to Colchester and became one of the major routes in and out of the city.
Between the 12th century and 1782 it was variously known as Tyburn Road (after the River Tyburn that ran just to the south of it, and now flows underneath it), Uxbridge Road, Worcester Road and Oxford Road. It became notorious as the route taken by prisoners on their final journey from Newgate Prison to the gallows at Tyburn near Marble Arch.
In the late 18th century, many of the surrounding fields were purchased by the Earl of Oxford, and the area was developed. It became popular with entertainers including tiger-baiters and masquerades. During the 19th century the area became known for its shops.
Major Oxford Street area stores
Home to major department stores and hundreds of smaller shops. It is the major shopping street in central London, though not the most expensive or fashionable, and part of a larger shopping district with Regent Street, Bond Street and other smaller nearby streets. The other principal shopping area in central London is Knightsbridge, famous for Harrods department store.
For many British chain stores, their Oxford Street branch is regarded as their 'flagship' store and used for celebrity launches and promotions.
Selfridges, a department store that has been on this site for more than a century.
Marks and Spencer, of 170,000 square feet, on the junction of Oxford Street and Orchard Street.
HMV, although it moved from its original location in 2000 after 80 years. HMV has three stores on the street including a concession within Selfridges and its shop at 150 Oxford Street, which is Europe's largest music shop at 50,000 square feet.
Borders, bookshop.
Other department stores including; John Lewis, Debenhams (historically Debenham & Freebody and Marshall & Snelgrove prior to combining following a rebuild in the 1960s when it became Debenhams) and House of Fraser (historically known as DH Evans prior to rebranding as House of Fraser in 2000).
Virgin Megastore, at the intersection of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road, an entertainment retailer.
The Disney Store
Centred around Oxford Circus are fashion shops including Topshop.
From 2007 Oxford Street has a Primark in the building that formerly housed C&A and latterly Allders.
Adidas, a sports brand, has a store on Oxford Street opposite Selfridges. Adidas are the manufacturers of the football kit of the the London-based football team Chelsea F.C.
There are also a number of stores on Oxford Street which operate on short term leases in empty retail units and advertise themselves as Closing Down Sales. However in some cases these Closing Down Sales can exhibit rather a long term or even permanent presence.
Oxford Street can become congested both on the footpath and on the road due to the number of buses which use the street and the high number of shoppers and tourists on the street. Common sights on Oxford Street include preachers (such as Philip Howard who was at Oxford Circus), political demonstrations (such as the 2001 May Day protests and small scale protests) and Hare Krishnas.
Christmas lights
Each Christmas the street is decorated with festive lights. In mid-to-late November a celebrity turns on the lights and they remain on until January 6.
The use of Christmas lights began in 1959, five years after its neighbour Regent Street had begun the tradition. In 1967, as the recession hit London, the lights were stopped and only returned in 1978 when Oxford Street organised a laser display.
Celebrities who turned on the Christmas lights
2006 — All Saints (& Peter Andre & Katie Price aka Jordan, G4, Andy Abraham)
2005 — Westlife
2004 — Steve Redgrave, Emma Watson
2003 — Enrique Iglesias
| Oxford Street |
Who was the sporting superstar who was married to Tatum O’Neal from 1986 to 1994? | Celtic London: evidence of worship of the Horned God
Swearing on the Horns, Highgate, 1906. Described by Bryon in Childe Herald, there were once about 20 public houses in Highgate, where strangers were required to take a pair of antlers horns in their hands, and swear a jocular oath:
. . . Both men and maids are sworn,
And consecrate the oath,
With dance and draught till morn . . .
The custom of Swearing on the Horns in Highgate died out at the end of the 19th century, but has been revived as an occasional ceremony in certain pubs. (The London Encyclopedia, pp379-80, Papermac, London,1983).
Historical background
The Pagan fertility god Herne the Hunter/the Green Man was one of the main gods of the ancient Britons from Paleolithic times. Chesca Potter, writing in her pamphlet Mysterious Kings Cross (Mandrake, Oxford, 1990), says that the Stag-headed God represents:
The male fertilic power of nature, physically and spiritually. In prehistoric times, the Shaman would have dressed in deerskins and a mask with stag-horns becoming as the God . . .
There is enough evidence to say that the Green Man/Herne the Hunter is well connected with certain areas of London: We have the Horn Fair - still held in Charlton village every year; the connection in the early history of Greenwich with fertility rites, stag worship and the Green Man; the possibility that Herne Hill is named after him, indeed, did the hill have a greater significance to the Stag-worshipping Celts of early London ? There is also the Pagan temple dedicated to the Goddess Diana which once stood on the site of St. Paul's Cathedral, reputedly built by the legendary King Brutus who Diana appeared to in a vision in Malta and urged him to settle in "the great white island" - Albion some 3,000 years ago. He landed at Totnes in Devon and marched on London where he erected the temple of Diana - on which he recorded details of his vision of the Goddess of the Stag and Archery. This Pagan temple survived until the arrival of the Saxon's in the 7th century when St. Pauls Catherdral was first built.
Thus, it could be argued that the worship of the Horned God and the Stag Goddess arrived with King Brutus and stayed an integral part of the religious life of Celtic Londoners right up the first suppression of Paganism in London in the 7th century A.D. However, the Pagan rites of Celt's of London have survived well into recent times with the May Day festivals, the May Pole celebrations, and other festivities connected with the Green Man/Herne the Hunter. In medieval times, for example there was at least four major May Day festivals - often lasting well over a week: in May Fair (Mayfair), the Southwark Fair, the Greenwich Fair, and the Horn Fair from Bermondsey to Charlton.
Finally, there is also a belief that the Isle of Dogs is named after Herne's 50 dogs, identified by their red tipped ears, and known as the Hounds of Hell. It is highly possible that the worship of the Green Man in Celtic times and beyond, was centered around Greenwich and the Isle of Dogs, although today there is scant evidence of this, except in the place names.
The ancient legends connect the Robin Hood/Green Man stories with Wimbledon Common and Windsor Castle, and possibly other areas of London through pub names: l notice there's a Herne's Tavern on Peckham Rye Common, one called The Horns in St. Pancras, the Horn Tavern in EC4, the Green Man in Bellingham etc.
The Horned God also has Germanic origins which were brought over by Pagan tribes such as the Angles and the Saxons to Britain from the 4th century onwards. Perhaps one of the reasons why stag workship has survived so long in most parts of Britains is that the Saxon tribes were themselves Pagans and no doubt contributed substantially to the survival of both the folkore and stag worship up until present times. One of our readers, Penda, from Germany, e-mailed me (March 2001) with the following information on the origins of stag worship in Britain (read the full text of his letter here ):
The stag played an extremely important role in the Germanic witchcraft traditions. The god Yngvi Freyr's sacred animal was the stag, and he used a stag horn to slay the giant Beli. One of the tribes that invaded Briton were called the Ingavones, whom were a tribe that was dedicated to Yngvi Freyr. Rituals surrounding Yngvi Freyr were very "shamanic" oriented. They did shaking/swaying dances with small bells sewn into their tunics. Other Inveonic rituals involved wildly dancing around boar heads, as well as dressing up in boar skins and wearing stag horns.
In fact a holy ring-stead involves a circle of stones (to represent Freya's necklace, the Brosingomene) with a stang (a pole with stag horns on top). These two important peices represent Vanic (gods of fauna and flora of sea and land) might in its totality. Freya translates to "Lady", which in turn means bread (power) maker, while Frey translates to "Lord" which means bread (power) giver. The Brosingomene is like a womb, both a protector and a container for power (magen), while the stang (harts horn) is like a penis, projective, pentetrative, and power weilding(through "ejaculation" or release of power).
Evidence of the Pagan Saxons in London can be found in the fact that the Germanic Pagan God Tiw was the God of Law - who gave his name to Tues-day. One long forgotten river in London was named after him: the River Tyburn, which now flows mainly underground from it's source in north London. Oxford Street was once, for example, called Tyburn Road until 1713 when Edward Harley, the 2nd Earl of Oxford bought up the area and had the street named after him. The place commonly known as Tyburn is where Marble Arch is today, and was London's main execution site from 1388 until 1783. As condemned prisoners had the right to make a final speech this is the origin of Speakers Corner - where anyone can exercise the right of free speech free from the threat of libel laws (like in Parliament itself). Furthermore, it is an established fact that the River Tyburn (which flows near Marble Arch), splits right where Buckingham Palace is today and forms an island called Thorney Island, on which law making and such like was traditionally carried out according to pre-Roman Celtic tradition. There, was apparently, once a Druid tree college on the site. The fact that it is the site of the British Parliament and the seat of government is another connection with Pagan times long since forgotten in London's official history.
May Day Festivals in London
Another part of the worship of the Horned God was the celebration of fertility in the festival of May Day. These happened in May Fairs held in Greenwich and the area in central London known today as May Fair. In fact, there was once two fairs in Greenwich, on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of both Easter and Whitsun week, with the Easter celebrations being the best known. A time honoured custom at the Greenwich May Day was for young couples to climb the hill to where the Royal Observatory is today, and then run or roll down the hill to the great excitement of the gathered crowds. One wonders how old the effigy of the Horned God in Jack Cade's Cavern under Maidenstone Hill in Greenwich is ? Indeed, whether the ancient cave was also the site of initiation rites connected with the Horned God.
The May Fair in London, c. 18th century. Note the May Pole in the picture. Mayfair in London takes its name from the May Day fair that was held there until its suppression in the 18th century. It was held every year on May 1st for 15 days, rivaling the present day Notting Hill Carnival which only lasts for 2. Originally held in Haymarket, in 1686-8 it was moved to Great Brookfield - now the site if Curzon Street and Shepherd Market.
There is other evidence in place names such as Hornsey in North London, Hornchurch in Essex. If the area had such strong connections with the Horned God and his pack of dogs, then this would make sense. We also have Mayfair - once the site of May Day celebrations until it was suppressed in 1764. There was also a May Fair in Greenwich until it was also suppressed in 1870.
Until 1718, there was a 134 ft May Pole by the Church of St. Mary in the Strand in central London. We also know that the Church of St. Helen in Bishopsgate is built on the site of a Pagan temple probably connected with the Horned God, as the writer Chesca Potter says that the early Celts regarded St. Helen as the consort of the Horned God. St. Paul's Cathedral is also built on a Pagan temple dedicated to the worship the Goddess Diana, who was closely connected with Stag worship. Like with the Swearing on the Horns in Highgate, a similar ceremony survived at St. Paul's until the turn of the century: the head of Stag was brought into the Church by clergymen and laid on the altar, and which point, huntsmen from the forests surrounding London, blew their horns at the four quarters. This was followed by "great feasting and celebrations" according to John Matthews and Chesca Potter writing in The Aquarian Guide to London (The Aquarian Press, London, England, 1990).
The Horn Fair
The Horn Fair was an ancient festival - more like today's Notting Hill Carnival - which started at Cuckold's Point in Rotherhite and paraded down the streets through Deptford, across Deptford Bridge, through Greenwich and up to the ancient site now where Charlton House in south London. For more on this festival, click here .
Early Celtic London
This early history of Celtic London is completely ignored in most history books of the city for whom London emerged as a city either after the arrival of the Romans or at the time just before the Norman invasion. The Battle of Hastings in 1066 saw the triumph of the Norman invaders, but before then the last most significant date before the Saxon invasion was in 410 AD, when the Romans left Britain, and Celtic rule established. In London and Kent at least, this would last for some 200 years after the departure of the Romans.
This l consider worth mentioning, as l would assume from this, that worship of the Horned God in London and the South-East of Britain would have been widespread before the Saxon's drove our Celtic forebears from the area around 560 AD (even though the Celts by this time were largely Christians and the Saxons were Pagans). Thus, we can assume that from historical records, that London was Celtic (and therefore largely Welsh-speaking) until at least the 6th century AD. Evidence that worship of the Horned God was still widespread in the 7th century is found in an edict issued by the Pope in 669 AD. He had been forced to send a mission to southern England and led by Theodore the Greek, who became the new Archbishop of Canterbury. One of his first actions was to issue a series of laws that forbade pagan practices. One of the most famous of these concerned the wearing of animal masks and costumes during the Twelve Days of Yule:
Whoever at the kalends (first) of January goes about in the form of a stag, that is changing himself into the form of an animal, dressing in the skin of a horned beast, and putting on the head of a beast, for those who in such wise transform themselves into the appearance of a wild animal, penance for three years, because it is devilish.
The English language arrived after the Jutes, Saxons and Angles (who later gave their name to this land: England from Land of the Angles or Angland) conquered most of the island of Britain. Although the Celts were driven out from most of what we call England today, they succeeded in maintaining their language and independence in Cornwall, Wales and Cumbria, by and large until after the arrival of the Norman's in the 11th century.
Before we look at the evidence of worship of the Horned God in Celtic Britain before the Saxon invasion, we should look at the historical background of these events. In 410 AD, the Roman Empire no longer considered Britain to be a colony, and Roman officials were expelled and a native government established. At this time, southern Britain was being constantly raided by Saxons, Irish and Picts, according to Peter Berresford Ellis, writing in Celt and Saxon: The Struggle for Britain AD 410-937. (Constable, London, England, 1993). Between 425 and 450 AD, the High King of Britain of southern Britain is now known to have been Vortigern (from Vawr-tighern or Overlord), was the ruler of the southern half of Britain around 450 AD. Known by the Celts of Kent as Gwrtheyrn Gwrthenau or "supreme Leader" , he became the arch-traitor in the Celtic kingdom, as he is accused of betraying Britain to the Saxons.
It is worth speculating whether Vortigern had any connections with Greenwich, which until the end of Celtic times had a greater magical significance than it does today, with its Great Seat or Gorsedd on Blackheath Common, the Maze on the edge of the Common (from where Maze Hill gets it name), and the areas connection with the Horned God, May Day and fertility worship. The Great Seat (now known as Whitfield Mount) may have been a place where the High-King of Kent attended meetings or took part in rituals that celebrated the Winter and Summer Solstice.
Vortigern employed Jutish mercenaries to help fight the Saxons who were attempting to establish settlements in Kent. However, in 449 AD, these mercenaries rose in mutiny, led by Hengist and Horsa. By 465 AD, the Jutes managed to breakout of their settlement on Thanet Island (from the Celtic word meaning "the bright island"), and begin their conquest of Kent.
By 488, Aesc, the son of Hengist, had been crowned King of Jutish Kent. This was followed in 495 AD, when the Saxons began to establish a kingdom near Southampton. It is unclear when Greenwich and London fell to Saxon rule, but this would have been around 560 AD, as the Saxons began in invade mid-Britain in 571 AD. We know that Vortigern fought one battle on the River Darent in Kent (the Celtic name means "The River by the Oaks"), with other battles being fought between the Jutes, Saxons and the Celts at Aylesford and Crayford (Cray coming from the Celtic word "fresh or clean"). The Saxon chronicles at the time claimed to have killed 4000 Britons, and that the "British forsook Kent and fled to London"). However, the Celts regrouped and defeated the Saxons at Richborough in 460 AD, where some say that Vortigern was killed in his hour of triumph.
It seems that following this battle, a new Celtic leader emerged in southern Britain, known in the Welsh tradition as Emrys (the historian Gildas referred to him as Ambrosius Aureliannus). He led a another successful counter-offensive against the Saxon invaders. Emrys made a prophecy that the Red Dragon (the Celts) would triumph over the White Dragon (the Saxons). However, it was to be the Saxons who had conquered most of the island of Britain by the 7th century AD. By the time Aesc became King of Kent in 488 AD, Berresford Ellis observes that:
The indigenous Celtic population (of Kent), the descendants of the Cantii who gave their name to the area (and Canterbury), and were the first to face the landings not only of Julius Caesar but of Aulus Plautius one hundred years later, had either been massacred by the new (Saxon) settlers or driven westward out of the area; a few perhaps had been retained as Slaves by the Jutes to be absorbed eventually in their German culture . . . (p41).
Historical evidence presented by Berresford Ellis indicates that the Saxons and Jutes pursued "a policy of annihilation" against the native Celtic population of Kent in the 6th century AD. The Saxon's engaged in "clearing the native inhabitants" from their lands, which would eventually become England. The Celts of Kent and southern Britain, worn down by "two centuries of raiding" were "virtually exterminated". In Sussex, for example, very few Celtic place names survive, showing a "fairly immediate and complete change of population" (Celt and Saxon, p43-44).
By the end of the 6th century AD, the Saxon's controlled London (from the Celtic Londo, meaning "a wild place"). The Saxon King Aethelberht of Kent exerted his authority over the city, having been converted to Christianity by Augustine in 597 AD, and had the first Saxon Church built there in 604 AD at St. Pancras Old Church, itself built on a Pagan sacred site on a small mound beside the River Fleet (now a underground sewer). Aethelberht also built over the main Pagan site connected with Stag worship in London - St. Paul's Cathedral , completed in the same year. Thus, we have evidence that the Saxon's obliterated the Celtic places of worship and other places of cultural importance after they had driven the Celts from London.
The Witch of St. Pancras: Shown here crossing the Fleet River with Old St. Pancras Church in the background. From a printed printed by John Hammond in 1643 entitled "A Most Certain, Strange and True Discovery of a Witch". In 1968, the Beatles used the Church graveyard for the inside shot of their double album The Beatles: 1962-1966.
Thus, the advent of Christianity and Saxon rule probably saw the end of the worship of Herne the Hunter in the area, although the tradition of May Day and the Horn Fair has survived through to the present day.
Herne the Hunter in South-East Britain
Several writers, such as E. O. Gordon, Jack Gale, John Matthews and Chesca Potter, have all highlighted Greenwich's much older history - that of being a site of great significance to our Celtic forebears in pre-christian times. I was always intrigued by it's name the "Green Village", with it's possible connections to earlier May Day festivals, and the Horned God, Herne the Hunter, commonly known in this part of Britain, as The Green Man.
Thus, it is clear that the Pagan history of Greenwich and Deptford goes back into the mists of time where all that survives today are folklore, myth and legend. Few would now accept that the old city of London and the Kentish villages (as they were then) of Greenwich and Deptford had no history before the Roman occupation in 43 AD.
The Green Man, who in the Celtic myth was known as the King of the Underworld, was known by many names in Celtic Britain: as Arawn as he rides over Pembrokeshire; as Gwyn ap Nudd as he hunts between Glamorganshire and the West country; while further east, he appears as Herne the Hunter. He is always accompanied by his white hounds, which have the tell-tale red-tipped ears of dogs of the underworld, according to Caitlín Matthews, writing in Mabon and the Mysteries of Britain (Arkana, London, 1987, p23).
I believe that that worship of Herne was a strong religious practice among the early Celts of this area of South East London in pre-christian times (England was declared a Christian country under the Saxon Kings in 665AD). St. Paul's Cathedral in London was a site originally dedicated to the worship of the Stag Goddess, Diana. According to the Annals of St. Paul's (1879), St. Paul's Cathedral was a site of a temple - probably a stone circle - until the Aethelberht had it destroyed and the site rededicated as a Christian site between 604AD and 610AD, as noted in 1879 by John Murray in the Annals of St. Paul's (Quoted in Hell, Volume Two, May 1994. Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, Kitchen Sink Press/Mad Love Publishing, MA, USA, 1994.
However, it takes a long time for people to forget or lose religious practices which are thousands of years old. The investigative writers Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell state:
"The continuation of clearly Diana centred rituals at St. Paul's until almost a thousand years after the alleged ascendancy of Christianity is documented in John Stone's Survey of London (1598), in which he tells how a buck and a doe (Diana's sacred animals), would be slaughtered at the high altar upon a certain date each year, after which the head would be paraded about the cathedral upon a pole while horns were blown to announce the sacrifice, these being answered by horn blasts from every quarter of London. Commentators at the time remarked: 'It seems we have our Diana worship back' ".
In Windsor Park, people still claim to have seen Herne the Hunter or heard his dogs calling out through the mist. These ghostly appearances are said to be seen when Britain is under threat, for example, just before the Second World War. According to Eric L Fitch, writing In Search of Herne the Hunter (Capell Bann, Berkshire, England, 1994, p161), the last time it was reported seen was by a soldier guarding Windsor Castle in 1976.
Matthews and Potter also claim that the Isle of Dogs - which was a combination of forest and marshland until quite recently - is haunted by a ghostly huntsman riding through the sky with a pack of phantom hounds. In their view, it is probable that Herne the Hunter was once worshiped on the island, and his "presence" still lingers there. A carving of a head that resembles the Green Man can be found above an old entrance to a house bordering Greenwich Park in Park Vista: It shows his head with the leaves and bushes growing out of his mouth, nostrils and ears - a common representation of the Green Man (see picture).
Picture by David Somerset, 1997
The Herne myth is closely interwoven with the Robin Hood legends. Areas connected with him in London, such as Wimbledon Common and the Kingston Zodiac which surrounds it, contain places named after him, such as Robin Hood Gate and Lane in Wimbledon, and Robin Hood Lane in Millwall, according to Mary Caine writing in The Kingston Zodiac (published in Kingston, Surrey, England, 1978). Greenwich Park, which researchers believe at one time, had at least one stone circle and several underground initiation sites, is undoubtedly an ancient and sacred site. When the park was enclosed in 1433, a stretch of ancient roadway, which was believed to have been part of the old Roman Watling Street, was closed to public use. (Other Meridians, Another Greenwich, Adelphi, London, England, 1994, p 22).
Conclusion
The evidence presented here supports the hypothesis that the early Celtic inhabitants of London worshipped the Horned God, and that the Pagan celebration of fertility in the May Day festivals survived until quite recently in the city with the May Fair near Tyburn (Marble Arch), and the Greenwich Fair. Rituals connected with worship of the Stag Goddess Diana, and the Horned God, also survived until quite recently with the Swearing on the Horns in Highgate, and the Blowing of the Horns in St. Paul's Cathedral. Along with place names and local legends connecting the Horned God or Green Man with the Isle of Dogs and Richmond Park, these suggest that these beliefs and religious worship was once widespread in Celtic London and the surrounding areas, and probably only began to die out with the Saxon conquest on London in the 6th century AD.
© 2000
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The Phantom of the Opera
by Gaston Leroux
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
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Le parfum de la Dame en noir (French Edition)
by Gaston Leroux
Extrait: "Le mariage de M. Robert Darzac et de Mlle Mathilde Stangerson eut lieu à Paris, à Saint-Nicolas du Chardonnet, le 6 avril 1895, dans la plus stricte intimité. Un peu plus de deux années s'étaient donc écoulées depuis les événements que j'ai rapportés dans un précédent ouvrage, événements si sensationnels qu'il...
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Le Roi Mystère (French Edition)
by Gaston Leroux
Ce livre est une oeuvre du domaine public éditée au format numérique par Ebooks libres et gratuits. L’achat de l’édition Kindle inclut le téléchargement via un réseau sans fil sur votre liseuse et vos applications de lecture Kindle.
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Categories: All Mystery, Crime & Thrillers
La Double vie de Théophraste Longuet (French Edition)
by Gaston Leroux
Ce livre est une oeuvre du domaine public éditée au format numérique par Ebooks libres et gratuits. L’achat de l’édition Kindle inclut le téléchargement via un réseau sans fil sur votre liseuse et vos applications de lecture Kindle.
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Balaoo (French Edition)
by Gaston Leroux
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The Phantom of the Opera
by Gaston Leroux
The classic Gothic novel that inspired the blockbuster musical There is a ghost in the Paris Opera House. Singers, dancers, and stagehands have all seen him lurking in the shadows of the set, and each describes his face differently. Some say it is on fire, others that it is bare bone, and a terrified few say that...
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The Mystery of the Yellow Room (Start Publishing)
by Gaston Leroux
This novel - the classic French detective story - was written in 1907 by Gaston Leroux, once a reporter who covered the famous trials of his time. For sheer originality and ingenuity this story may be reckoned as one of the best tales since Gaboriau. How could a crime take place in a locked room which shows no sign of being entered? For...
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The Mystery of the Yellow Room (Xist Classics)
by Gaston Leroux
"The finest locked room tale ever written." — John Dickson Carr, author of The Hollow Man. “If I am the phantom, it is because man's hatred has made me so. If I am to be saved it is because your love redeems me.” - Gaston Leroux, The Mystery of the Yellow Room The door is locked and the windows are barred--how...
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The Phantom of the Opera (Oxford World's Classics)
by Gaston Leroux
'I am not an angel nor a genie nor a ghost...I am Erik!' A mysterious Phantom haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House where he has fallen passionately in love with the beautiful singer Christine Daaé. Under his guidance her singing rises to new heights and she is triumphantly acclaimed. But Christine is also loved by...
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The Phantom of the Opera
by Gaston Leroux
Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera was made famous by its numerous film and musical adaptations. This edition of the classic includes a table of contents.
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The Phantom of the Opera (Dover Thrift Editions)
by Gaston Leroux
The lights of the Paris Opera House dim and a lovely singer holds the audience spellbound with her enchanting voice. Two men are rivals for her love: one of them the beloved friend of her childhood — and the other the terrifying "opera ghost" who haunts the theater and wields a strange power over the performer. This thrilling...
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The Phantom of the Opera (Unexpurgated Start Publishing LLC)
by Gaston Leroux
During Christine's childhood, which is described retrospectively in the early chapters of the book, her father tells her many stories featuring an "Angel of Music," who, like a muse, is the personification of musical inspiration. On his deathbed, Christine's father tells her that from Heaven, he will send the Angel of Music to her....
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The Mystery of the Yellow Room (Dedalus European Classics)
by Gaston Leroux
My favourite of all locked-room novels has at last been reissued. The Mystery of the Yellow Room was written in 1908 by Gaston Leroux, better known for The Phantom of the Opera, and has never been bettered. The first in a series of novels to feature the intrepid if naive young reporter and sleuth, Rouletabille, it pits him against the...
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The Phantom of the Opera
by Gaston Leroux
The Library of Alexandria is an independent small business publishing house. We specialize in bringing back to live rare, historical and ancient books. This includes manuscripts such as: classical fiction, philosophy, science, religion, folklore, mythology, history, literature, politics and sacred texts, in addition to secret and...
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Le fantôme de l'Opéra (Jeunes Adultes) (French Edition)
by Gaston Leroux
Une ombre rôde dans l’Opéra. Une présence singulière, une apparence douteuse et une voix lugubre... Un machiniste est retrouvé pendu, un grand lustre se détache en pleine représentation. On parle du fantôme de la loge nº5. Mais a-t-on véritablement affaire à un fantôme ?
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The Secret of the Night
by Gaston Leroux
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
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Front cover of a 1920 French edition of the novel.
The Phantom of the Opera (French: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra) is a novel by the French author Gaston Leroux . It was first published in book form in 1910, having originally been published as a serial in the newspaper Le Gaulois between September 23, 1909 and January 8, 1910. The first English translation of the novel was published in 1911. The Phantom of the Opera was out of print for much of the 20th century but was adapted numerous times during that period. The best known adaptations are the 1925 silent movie which stars Lon Chaney as the Phantom and the 1986 Andrew Lloyd-Webber stage musical.
The Phantom of the title is an extremely talented but hideously ugly man who hides his ugliness beneath a mask and calls himself Erik. Erik lives beneath the Paris Opera House and is able to move freely around the building because he is believed by most people who work in the theater to be a ghost that haunts it. Erik does not appear to know the difference between right and wrong and is prepared to use extortion, intimidation and murder to get what he wants.
The novel deals primarily with Erik's relationship with Christine Daae, a beautiful and talented young opera singer with whom the Phantom falls in love.
Plot
Tomasz Sleciuk appears as the Phantom of the Opera in Warsaw, Poland on October 30, 2008.
The Phantom of the Opera opens with an introduction that says that the ghostly goings at the Paris Opera House in the 1880s are well known but that the Phantom responsible for them was not a ghost but a flesh and blood person. The novel then moves on to tell the life story of Christine Daae. Christine, the daughter of a talented violinist, is born in Sweden but moves to rural France when she is six. She meets and befriends Raoul, a boy from an aristocratic family. The two children enjoy hearing stories about the Angel of Music from Christine's father. While she is still a little girl, Christine's father dies. He promises on his deathbed to send the Angel of Music from heaven to help his daughter.
Christine eventually finds work at the Paris Opera House. Soon after her arrival, she starts to hear a voice that sings and speaks to her. When Christine asks the voice if it is the Angel of Music, it tells Christine that it is and offers to teach her some heavenly music. The voice is really that of Erik, the Phantom of the Opera. With Erik's help, Christine's voice improves. She sings at a gala performance and is a great success. Raoul, now the Viscount of Chagny, is in the audience and remembers his love for Christine.
For many years the Phantom has been extorting money from the Opera House management and demanding that box number five be left free for him at all times, he threatens severe consequences if his demands are not met. Two new managers have recently taken control of the Opera House and refuse to give in to the demands of a ghost. As a result, La Carlotta the prima donna appears to croak like a toad during a performance (the sound is really coming from Erik who considers himself to be the greatest ventriloquist in the world) before a chandelier comes crashing down into the audience. The Phantom abducts Christine during the chaos that ensues.
Lon Chaney as the Phantom in the 1925 silent film The Phantom of the Opera.
Erik tells Christine that he was her Angel of Music. His initial plan is to keep the young woman with him for a few weeks, in the hope that she will fall in love with him during that time. Christine finds herself becoming attracted to the Phantom but everything changes when she takes off his mask and sees that he has a face like a rotting corpse. Erik is furious and yells that Christine probably thinks that his face is another mask. Christine is forced to touch his face so that she will know it is real. Erik decides to make Christine stay with him forever but allows her to leave after two weeks, providing that she wears his ring and promises to remain faithful to him.
Christine tells Raoul of her unpleasant experiences. He says that he will take her far away, where the Phantom will never find her. However, Christine feels sorry for Erik and wants to sing on stage for him one last time. She does not know that Erik was listening to her conversation with Raoul and has become madly jealous. He abducts Christine again, demanding that she become his wife. He tells her that he has hidden explosives beneath the Opera House and will blow up the building, killing everyone inside, if she refuses to marry him.
A turbaned man, known to everyone in the Opera House as the Persian, approaches Raoul. He explains that he was a police inspector in his own country and that Erik is an old adversary of his. Raoul and the Persian set off to rescue Christine from Erik's underground lair but are captured and imprisoned in a torture chamber.
When Christine learns that Raoul and the Persian have been taken prisoner by the Phantom, she agrees to marry him on the condition that he frees them. Erik lifts his mask to kiss Christine's forehead. He is moved to tears when Christine kisses him back. He says that he has never been kissed by anyone before, not even his own mother. He allows Christine to leave and advises her to marry Raoul.
Erik visits the Persian and says that he will never bother anybody ever again. Three weeks later a Parisian newspaper carries an announcement that simply reads, "Erik is dead".
Adaptations
Poster for the 1925 silent movie version of The Phantom of the Opera.
Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera has been adapted numerous times for the stage, film, radio and television. Other authors have written novels that serve as prequels or sequels to Leroux's story and provide a more detailed backstory for some of its characters. Some adaptations have played up the horror aspects of the novel, others have placed more emphasis on music or romance.
In 1925 Universal Pictures released a silent movie version of The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Rupert Julian and starring Lon Chaney as Erik. A detailed copy of the Paris Opera House was built for the movie. The silent movie's plot follows that of Leroux's novel quite closely but it is given a more dramatic ending. After the release of Raoul and the police inspector (not a Persian in this version), Erik abducts Christine again and leaves with her in a stolen carriage. An angry mob follows them. They drag Erik from the carriage, beat him to death and throw his body into the river Seine. Largely as a result of the success of The Phantom of the Opera , Universal continued to make many more horror movies throughout the 1930s and 1940s, including adaptations of Bram Stoker's Dracula (1931), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1931) and H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man (1933).
Susanna Foster and Nelson Eddy in a screenshot from the trailer for the 1943 film Phantom of the Opera,
The Phantom of the Opera was remade in color by Universal in 1943. The set built for the 1925 version was used again for the remake. The Phantom in the 1943 version (played by Claude Rains) is originally a violinist at the Paris Opera House named Erique Claudin. After twenty years, Claudin is forced to leave his job as a result of pains in his hands which are affecting his ability to play. He is running out of cash because he has secretly been paying for Christine DuBois' singing lessons for several years. In order to earn some money, Claudin takes a concerto that he has written to a publisher. When he visits the publisher again, Claudin is told that his concerto has been lost. Hearing his music coming from another room, Claudin, wrongly believing that the publisher has stolen his work, attacks and kills him. The publisher's female assistant comes in and throws acid in Claudin's face. In Gaston Leroux's novel, Erik is hideously ugly from birth. The 1942 movie is the first adaptation to introduce the concept of acid disfiguring the Phantom's face, now a standard component of the Phantom of the Opera legend.
Hammer Film Productions, the British film company famous for its horror movies made between the 1950s and 1970s, including several based around the characters of Count Dracula and Victor Frankenstein and three different movie versions of Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde , released an adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera in 1962. The movie was directed by Ternce Fisher and stars Herbert Lom as the Phantom. The action is moved from 19th century Paris to Victorian London. The Phantom is originally a music teacher called Professor Petrie. He approaches Lord Ambrose D'Arcy for help in getting his music published but the aristocrat tries to pass Petrie's music off as his own. Petrie breaks into the printers that is publishing his music under Lord D'Arcy's name to burn every copy. A fire starts, Petrie throws what he thinks is water, but is really acid, on the fire, Some acid splashes back in his face and scars him. He runs out of the burning building and jumps into the river Thames. The river carries him to a cavern beneath the opera house where a nameless mute dwarf cares for him. The Phantom in the 1962 movie is supposed to be an entirely sympathetic character. He does not kill anybody, the dwarf assistant, who the Phantom says he has difficulty controlling, carries out all of the murders. The Phantom's entire face is covered by a gray mask which leaves only one eye visible in the Hammer version. His face, which is revealed shortly before the end of the movie, is not as ugly as his mask.
Brian De Palma's 1974 movie Phantom of the Paradise is a loose adaptation of the novel, updated to the world of 1970s pop music, which also references Oscar Wilde 's The Picture of Dorian Gray . Singer and composer Winslow Leech is cheated and framed for drug dealing by record producer Swan. Leech escapes from prison and breaks into Swan's studio, where an accident with a record press leaves him with a disfigured face and without the ability to speak. The masked Leech terrorizes customers and staff at Swan's nightclub The Paradise, until Swan, who is revealed to have sold his soul to the Devil so that photographs of him age while he remains young, offers to make a deal with him.
The Phantom is unmasked, from a 2010 performance of the Andrew Llloyd-Webber musical.
Robert Englund stars as the Phantom in a 1989 movie version of The Phantom of the Opera directed by Dwight H. Little. A supernatural element is introduced into the story, in which the Phantom, Erik Dessler, sells his soul to the Devil to become a famous composer. Dessler is told by the Devil that people will love him for his music but only for his music and he immediately becomes horribly disfigured. The movie begins in present-day New York where an aspiring Broadway singer named Christine Day sings some of Erik Dessler's music at an audition. A sandbag hits her on the head and she wakes up in Victorian London. Christine returns to the present at the end of the movie and finds Erik Dessler, wearing a prosthetic face, still alive.
The 1986 musical, with music by Andrew Lloyd-Webber and book by Lloyd-Webber, Charlie Hart and Richard Stilgoe, is the most successful stage adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera. It has been performed in one hundred and forty-nine cities in twenty-five countries, is the longest running Broadway production in history and the second longest running production in the history of London's West End. It won an Olivier Award in London in 1986 and a Tony Award in New York in 1988. A movie based on the musical, directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Gerard Butler as the Phantom, was released in 2004.
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At which battle did the bloody action of “Pickett’s Charge” take place? | Gettysburg - Pickett's Charge, July 3, 1863 - 2:00 - 2:30PM
Maps of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (1863)
Gettysburg - Pickett's Charge, July 3, 1863 - 2:00 - 2:30PM
Gettysburg - Union Forces Driven Off Oak Ridge July 1, 1863
Gettysburg - Union Clears the Wheatfield
Gettysburg - The Wheatfield Fight Begins
Gettysburg - South Cavalry Field Gettysburg - Rodes Attacks Oak Ridge, July 1, 1863 Gettysburg - Pickett's Charge - 3:00pm to 3:45pm Gettysburg - Peach Orchard, July 2, 1863 Gettysburg - Morning Fight for McPherson Ridge July 1, 1863 Gettysburg - McPherson's and Oak Ridge - Afternoon July 1, 1863 Gettysburg - Fight for Culp's Hill July 3, 1863 Gettysburg - Fight for Barlow's Knoll - July 1, 1863 2:45-4:30PM Gettysburg - East Cemetery Hill - July 2, 1863 Gettysburg - East Cemetery and Culp's Hill, July 2, 1863 Gettysburg - East Cavalry Field Gettysburg - Devil's Den and Little Round Top, July 3, 1863 Gettysburg - Devil's Den and Little Round Top
Pickett's Charge -
July 3, 1863
Gen. Robert E. Lee concentrated his full strength against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac at the crossroads county seat of Gettysburg at what would come to be known as the Battle of Gettysburg . On July 1, Confederate forces converged on the town from west and north, driving Union defenders back through the streets to Cemetery Hill. During the night, reinforcements arrived for both sides. On July 2, Lee attempted to envelop the Federals, first striking the Union left flank at the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devil’s Den, and the Round Tops with Longstreet’s and Hill’s divisions, and then attacking the Union right at Culp’s and East Cemetery Hills with Ewell’s divisions. By evening, the Federals retained Little Round Top and had repulsed most of Ewell’s men. During the morning of July 3, the Confederate infantry were driven from their last toe-hold on Culp’s Hill. In the afternoon, after a preliminary artillery bombardment, Lee attacked the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. The Pickett-Pettigrew assault (more popularly, Pickett’s Charge) momentarily pierced the Union line but was driven back with severe casualties. Stuart’s cavalry attempted to gain the Union rear but was repulsed. On July 4, Lee began withdrawing his army toward Williamsport on the Potomac River, thus concluding the Battle of Gettysburg. His train of wounded stretched more than fourteen miles.
For more maps, videos, photos, history articles, and more on this climactic Civil War battle, visit our Battle of Gettysburg page »
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The Battle of Gettysburg and The American Civil War
The first steps toward the Battle of Gettysburg started in June 1863. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s soldiers crossed the Potomac River in Virginia and began to march toward the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, with thoughts that a victory in the North would erode the Union’s will to continue the fight.
The Battle of Gettysburg started on July 1, 1863, when Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia met Gen. George Meade’s Union Army of the Potomac. During the three-day battle, about 165,000 soldiers clashed in and around the small town of Gettysburg (battle-era population: 2,400).
When the Battle of Gettysburg was over on July 3, 1863, 51,000 soldiers were casualties (killed, wounded, captured or missing) in what remains the largest battle ever fought in North America.
The Battle of Gettysburg: Details of the Fighting
The first shot of the Battle of Gettyburg was fired early in the morning of July 1, 1863, when fighting broke out north and west of town. During the day, Confederate troops forced Union troops southeast through Gettysburg, where the Union took up a position on Cemetery Hill, Cemetery Ridge and Culp’s Hill. On July 2, the fighting centered on the southern end of the Union position, near locations such as Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard. Union troops held their position, and the Battle of Gettysburg continued for one more fateful day.
On July 3, 1863, Confederate troops attacked the center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. After a cannonade raged for about two hours, Gen. Robert E. Lee ordered his Confederate infantry to attack. More than 14,000 Confederate troops advanced across the field toward Cemetery Ridge; a deluge of artillery shot and shell raked their lines. Those who moved on toward the ridge advanced under a hail of fire. Of those who made it to the Union line, many fell or were captured in the fighting at the Angle, near the Copse of Trees. The attack that became known to history as Pickett’s Charge concluded with a Confederate defeat and also ended the Battle of Gettysburg.
Aftermath at Gettysburg and the American Civil War
The Battle of Gettysburg changed the lives of not only the soldiers, but also Gettysburg’s residents. The Battle of Gettysburg resulted in 51,000 casualties (killed, wounded, captured and missing). Many of the wounded and dead were left in Gettysburg at public buildings, farm fields and even private homes became makeshift hospitals. It would take Gettysburg years to recover from its battle scars.
It proved impossible for the war-stressed economy of the Confederacy to replace the extensive losses suffered during the Battle of Gettysburg by Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. On July 4, as smoke still lingered from the Battle of Gettysburg, the besieged city of Vicksburg, Miss., surrendered to Union soldiers, restoring Union control of the Mississippi River. Twenty-one months later, Lee surrendered to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, signaling the end of the Civil War.
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In which gambling game is double six known as boxcars? | Craps Terminology, Slang, and Common Phrases
Field Bet – A bet on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12.
Floorman – casino employee who stands behind the craps table, dealers with players and credit
Free Odds Bet – Taken at true odds.
Front Line – Same as the Pass Line.
Hard Way- Betting on a 4, 6, 8 or 10 when both dice are the same number
Hi-Lo – One roll bet that the next roll will be a 2 or 12
Hope Bet – Single time bet that the dice will land on specific numbers.
Horn Bet – A bet on 2, 3, 11 and 12 with the same amount.
Horn High Bet – bet amount is split into five parts. Two parts on the high number 12 and three units for the other numbers 2, 3 and 11.
Hot Table – The best kind to play on! A Hot Table will have shooters making points and lots of money for other players. You can always spot these tables by the crowds around them and the noise coming from them.
Inside Numbers – 5, 6, 8 and 9. Used mostly when placing bets dice
Line Bet – Bet on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line.
Lay Bet – Betting that a point number will not be rolled before a 7 is thrown
Lay Odds – Additional odds bet against the dice
Layout – painted marks on the felt showing all bets that can be made
Little Joe – A Hard 4 or rolling 2 2s
Loaded dice – dice that are weighted, results in specific rolled numbers
Marker Buck/Puck- A Plastic disk that the dealers use to mark the point on the Craps table; ‘Off’ or ‘On’.
Midnight – One time roll bet on 12.
Natural – 7 or 11 on the come out roll.
Odds – ratio of an event occurring, generally the amount paid out per winning bet
Off – bets will not be active on the next dice roll.
On – active
One Roll Bets – betting on a single dice roll
Outside Numbers – 4, 5 9, and 10.
Parlay – Using winnings to increase a bet, usually double (let it ride/ press the bet).
Pass Line (Bet) – Betting the dice will win or pass.
Payoff – winnings on a wager
Pit Boss – Casino employee responsible for all craps tables in one area of casino
Place Bet – betting a point number will be thrown before a 7 comes out.
Place Numbers – 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.
Point – number established on Come Out roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10
Point Number – One of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 determined on the come out roll.
Press (a Bet) – use winnings to double a bet.
Proposition Bets – Prop Bets – single roll bets and the hardway bet.
Rail – The grooved area along the top of the craps table where chips are kept
Right Bettor – A player who bets that the shooter will make the Point.
Roll- single throw of the dice
Rounding – Payout rounding. Rounding up or down the amount.
Seven Out – When a 7 is thrown after a point has been established and before the point number is rolled again thus ending the shooters turn.
Shooter - The player who is currently rolling the dice.
Snake Eyes – When you roll a two in craps. Each die looks like a snake’s eye
Stickman – A casino employee standing opposite the Boxman who calls out the dice rolls and returns the dice to the shooter, also responsible for the placing and paying the proposition bets.
Toke – A tip given to the dealer usually made on a line or prop bet
The Point – The number established on the come-out roll. Only place numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10) can become the point. The shooter attempts to roll the point number again before throwing a 7 in order to win that round of pass line or come betting.
Three-way Craps – A bet made in units of 3 with one unit on 2, one unit on 3, and one unit on 12.
True Odds- odds a particular number will be rolled on any single dice roll
Unit – bet size used as standard of measurement
Vigorish – or Vig. The casino edge or commission taken by the house.
Working – Bets that are active on any given roll
Whirl Bet – Betting on 2, 3, 7, 11 or 12 with the same amount.
Wrong Bettor – A player betting the dice will not pass. A player who bets the shooter will not make the point and instead he will Seven-Out.
Yo – The number 11. Also called Yo-leven
| Craps |
What is the highest value of a hand in baccarat? | Rules on Winning at the Craps Table
By Al Moe
Updated December 01, 2016.
Anyone with a buck can be a gambler, but winning at craps is a learned skill , and its a skill worth learning. The allure of the craps table has been the downfall of legendary gamblers from Nick "The Greek" Dandalos to poker pro T.J. Cloutier, but you can be a winning craps player if you follow some very important rules, like learning the odds at craps . Learn craps rules and you'll be thankful.
Once you know the rules of craps , and the odds, you'll find that some bets (like the pass line with a house edge of just 1.41 percent) are very good, while others (like boxcars, or 12, with a house edge of 16.66 percent) are killers. While poker players may be patient and can throw away bad hand after bad hand, they still crave action. Craps, without a doubt, is the number one action game found in a casino . A quick crew of dealers can get the dice in the air every minute, and a hot hand with lots of numbers is the sweetest nectar any gambler has ever tasted.
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Why? Because a hand can last one roll, or over 100.
The first roll a new shooter makes is called the come outroll, and if they make a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, it becomes the table's point, and they keep shooting until they shoot the number again (and everyone wins on the pass line and they start again), or roll seven before they repeat the number, which ends their turn (and everyone on the pass line loses). That may not sound like an exciting game, but you can also bet on the other numbers rolling before seven, so every time they hit, you get paid. Imagine getting paid every minute and never having to make any additional bets for a 10-minute hand! Can you imagine 20-minutes or half-an-hour? It happens!
The downfall of most gamblers, and especially craps players, is a lack of patience. Instead of working their way slowly up to larger bets, they chunk their money out on the layout and then along comes Seven, wiping them out. Follow these three rules and when you catch a good hand, you'll make a killing!
Rule Number One - Patience
Just as a poker player waits for a good hand, a successful craps player must do the same. Winning at craps comes on big hands, so you have to wait for them, and then pounce! The best way to do that is to make a small bet on the pass line, take single odds, and wait. Wait until you have a winner before betting any more chips!
Rule Number Two - No Proposition Bets
The horn bets and other proposition bets can make the game of craps a lot of fun! They can also drag you down to the poor house. The odds are very high, and therefore should be avoided. Don't make any prop bets if you can avoid it. However, once you have a winning hand going, you can make the occasional small bet as a flavoring - but you must make very few if your goal is winning at craps!
Rule Number Three - Be Aggressive When Winning
Winning at craps is all about taking advantage of good rolls. It's not about being perfect or holding the dice right, it's about parlaying some of your winning chips to maximize your bets with streaky dice and then quitting when the string of hands is over.
If you chicken-out and don't maximize your winning streak, you'll win occasionally and lose occasionally, but you'll never experience the big win that pays for so many losers. And, a big win can be really, really big at craps!
Winning at Craps - The System
If you came here looking for a winning system, well here it is! Be patient, don't make prop bets, and press - press - press your bets. Great craps strategy. Here is how you start:
So, you've been patient. You've made a pass line bet and it won with single odds. Now you make the same pass line bet and take double odds when the number is established. Now you can make one or two more bets now, by placing the six and the eight. If the point is six, just place the eight for about the size of your pass line bet. If the point is eight, place the six. Now wait. Don't risk any more chips until you are paid something.
You placed the six and the eight because the house odds are very small. Don't place the other numbers until you start winning. If there is a pass line winner now, raise your bet on the pass slightly and wait for the come out roll. When a new number is established, take double odds on your pass line bet, and place the other two inside numbers (5, 6, 8, 9) for about the size of your pass line bet. Now you have action of either four or five numbers and you are hoping for a nice long hand with no seven-out roll. Now you start pressing your winning bets.
By being patient, you are placing most of your new bets with winnings, so your current risk is very small. Every time you have a winning pass line bet, raise it 30 percent and take double odds. Every time a place bet hits, take another number until you have them all covered. After that, every time a place bet hits, press it about 30 to 40 percent. An example of this is you have a $18 place six and it hits, take the place bet to $24. If it hits again, take it to $36. Now, pray for numbers.
It is amazing how fast your place bets and pass line bet with grow in a ten or twenty-minute hand. Just keep pressing, and keeping at least 50 percent of each payoff. If you do this, you'll be ahead of the game and a seven-out won't kill you. If you power press (essentially doubling your bets), you could have 10 numbers roll and then find you didn't really increase your stack much when seven rolled. You've got to take back some of your winnings!
This is the most effective way of maximizing your winnings while keeping your risk small. When should you stop pressing? When you get nervous. Starting with a $10 pass line bet and a $12 six and eight place bet can be pressed to $200 in action on the layout with just eight or ten good rolls. If you get nervous, pull your place bets down and start over, instead of quitting entirely. It's better to enjoy the game than be worried sick about those chips on the layout. You won't have that monster score this way, but you can lock-up some chips and enjoy yourself. In the long run, you've got to make your own decisions. Go with what works for you!
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In which capital city are Luxembourg gardens? | Luxembourg Garden - Luxembourg Museum tickets - PARISCityVISION
Luxembourg gardens
Luxembourg gardens
In the heart of the Latin Quarter , the Luxembourg Gardens, border the Luxembourg Palace which is the headquarters of the French senate since 1958. The gardens are open to the public and are located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, close to the Sorbonne and Saint-Germain-des-Prés . A breath of fresh air in plain city centre, these are one of the capital's biggest gardens (covering an area of 25 hectares), created by Marie de Médicis in 1612. Marie de Médicis drew her inspiration from the Bobili Gardens of Florence and from the Palazzo Pitti for the Luxembourg Palace (whose name comes from its first owner, François de Piney, duke of Luxembourg). Romantic and not to be missed, the gardens are a highly frequented place by tourists and Parisian walkers, who know it as the 'Luco'. Made up of long promenades, wooded areas and vast lawns, it also has both French and English style flowerbeds, planted upon its creation by André Le Nôtre. The park is home to, amongst other treasures, over 100 statues including the Médicis Fountain, an apiary school, an orange tree, various greenhouses, a fruit garden and some remarkable, century old trees. On the lake facing the Palace, young children navigate their miniature wooden sail-boats, whilst in the iconic bandstand, classical, jazz and world-music concerts are held during spring and summer. Previously the "Royal Painting Gallery", in 1750 the Luxembourg Museum became the first museum to be opened to the French public. On the garden's gates, photo exhibitions are held, with the themes environment, society and discovery. During your visit of Paris, you can discover other Paris gardens, such as the Buttes Chaumont which is a much loved place by tourists and Parisians alike. The Paris Essential tour offered by Pariscityvision.com will show you the gardens from an open top bus, along with commentariesin many different languages.
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| Paris |
In which state is the geographical centre of the USA? | Luxembourg | national capital, Luxembourg | Britannica.com
national capital, Luxembourg
Intelsat
Luxembourg, also called Letzeburg , city, capital of Luxembourg , located in the south-central part of the country. Luxembourg city is situated on a sandstone plateau into which the Alzette River and its tributary, the Petrusse, have cut deep winding ravines. Within a loop of the Alzette, a rocky promontory called the Bock (Bouc) forms a natural defensive position where the Romans and later the Franks built a fort, around which the medieval town developed. The purchase of this castle in 963 ce by Siegfried, count of Ardennes , marked the beginning of Luxembourg as an independent entity. The castle’s old name, Lucilinburhuc (“Little Fortress”), is the origin of the name Luxembourg.
Fort Thüngen (1732), Luxembourg city. It was named for the Austrian commander in chief of the …
© fuchsphotography/Fotolia
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
The old town consists of Luxembourg Castle’s surviving fortifications, the Grand Ducal Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral (the construction of which was begun by the Jesuits in 1613 and completed in 1621), and other historic buildings. The city eventually spread westward, and the suburbs of Grund, Clausen, and Pfaffenthal developed in lower-lying sections across the Alzette from the old town. These sections are linked by several bridges.
The Alzette River winding through the old quarter of Luxembourg city.
© SergiyN/Fotolia
Over a 400-year period, Luxembourg Castle was repeatedly attacked and rebuilt—by the Spaniards, Austrians, French, and Dutch, successively—to become the strongest fortress in Europe after Gibraltar . One such reinforcement was undertaken by the French military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban , who redesigned the city’s defensive fortifications after having orchestrated its siege in 1684 in the service of Louis XIV .
From after the Congress of Vienna (1815) to 1866, the fortress was garrisoned by the Prussians as a bulwark of the German Confederation . With the Treaty of London , in 1867, Luxembourg was declared neutral, and the fortress, containing 15 miles (24 km) of casements, three battlements with 24 forts, and an extensive (10-acre [4-hectare]) area of military barracks , was largely dismantled, an operation that took 16 years. Today visitors can tour the remaining 7 miles (11 km) of casements or view the modern city below from the Chemin de la Corniche, a promontory built atop the old town wall.
The remains of the Fortress of Luxembourg, Luxembourg city.
© Raymond Thill/Fotolia
Paris
The Grand Ducal Palace is home to the royal family, heirs of William I (1772–1843), king of the Netherlands and grand duke of Luxembourg (1815–40). The palace dates from 1572, and later additions were made in 1895. After renovations were completed in the 1990s, portions of the palace were opened to the public.
Grand Ducal Palace, in the old quarter of Luxembourg city.
© Kate Kotova/Fotolia
Notre-Dame Cathedral , a Gothic-style church, contains the tomb of John the Blind , king of Bohemia and count of Luxembourg from 1310 to 1346. Several members of the royal family and noted bishops are buried in the crypt.
The heart of the old town is the Fish Market (Marché-aux-Poissons), around which stand several 17th- and 18th-century buildings, including the mansion housing the Luxembourg National Museum (National Museum of History and Art). Um Bock, a 13th-century building and the city’s oldest, is also located at the Fish Market. Among the city’s other cultural institutions are the Villa Vauban–Museum of the Art of the City of Luxembourg, MUDAM Luxembourg (Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art), the Museum of the History of the City of Luxembourg, and the National Museum of Natural History . At the town of Hamm, 4 miles (6 km) to the east, is a World War II military cemetery with the graves of more than 5,000 U.S. soldiers, including those of Brig. Gen. Edward Betts and Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.
Capitals & Cities: Fact or Fiction?
Luxembourg has long been a major road and railway hub. In the 20th century the city became a thriving financial centre, owing to banking laws that keep investors’ identities confidential and allow the accounts of foreign nationals to earn interest tax-free. Luxembourg is the seat of the European Investment Bank, the European Court of Justice , and several other administrative offices of the European Union . In 1994 the old town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site . Pop. (2011 est.) commune, 94,034; urban agglom., 136,816.
Notre-Dame Cathedral and a portion of the fortress wall in Luxembourg city.
S.E. Hedin/Ostman Agency
Luxembourg - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
The city of Luxembourg is the capital and largest city of a small country in northwestern Europe that is also called Luxembourg. The city lies in the south-central part of the country, rising in tiers on a sandstone plateau. The upper and older part of the city is separated from the lower-lying suburbs by the gorges of the Alzette and Petrusse rivers. Carved into the river valley’s sandstone cliffs is a newer section of the city that houses many European organizations. Several bridges link the different sections of the city.
Article History
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Which pair of time travellers declared Joan of Arc was the wife of Noah? | TIME TRAVEL page of ULTIMATE SCIENCE FICTION WEB GUIDE
A spasso nel tempo (1996) : One of the few Italian Time Travel films.
All Over Again (2000): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A 17-year old boy meets up with his 67-year old self, who tries to warn him of the things that took him down the wrong path in life."
The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "After their mother is hired as the caretaker of a Victorian mansion, a pair of youngsters see a ghost. They are transported back in time to the turn of the 20th century, where they come to the aid of two children who are about to be murdered."
"Andromeda" (2000)(TV) also known as "Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda" Captain Dylan Hunt commands the sentient Andromeda Ascendant starship, which is part of the military muscle of multi-galaxy utopian All-Systems Commonwealth monarchy. That Commonwealth is a blend of the Federation (as Roddenberry invented for "Star Trek") without the depth of Ken McLeod's Communist utopian Solar Union ("Cassini Division" is its elite military force), or Iain Banks' Anarcho-socialist Culture novels ("Consider Phlebas", "The Player of Games", "Use of Weapons", "Excession") or the very Capitalist Qeng Ho interstellar trading fleet in Vernor Vinge's novels ("A Fire Upon the Deep", "A Deepness in the Sky"). That is, in my opinion, "Andromeda" is Space Opera without the deep politics of literary science fiction, or the exuberent fun of, say, "5th Element." The Nietzcheans back-stab the Commonwealth, Hunt has little choice but to order his crew to abandon ship, and fling Andromeda Ascendant into a black hole. Three centuries later, the passing salvage ship Eureka Maru drags the ship out of the frozen time near the black hole. To Hunt's horror, the All-Systems Commonwealth is virtually forgotten, and the Three Galaxies have sunken to barbarianism (as ripped off from Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" novels). The rag-tag crew of salvage crew, alien Nietzchean mercenary, alien predator monk must, under the quixotic leadership of Captain Dylan Hunt, aboard the intelligent living spaceship (think HAL-9000 of Clarke & Kubrik's "2001" crossed with Sci-Fi Channel's "Lexx") to re-establish the Commonwealth and restore the glory of civilization (as in David Brin's self-indulgently filmed "The Postman" with its Re-United States of America." So, in summary, Gene Roddenberry was a TV genius, but Star Trek was his real hit. "Andromeda" is utterly derivative, and so stupid that I could never sit through any full episode. Almost as stupid as "Star Wars", politically speaking, but without the cool special effects. So shoot me.
APEX (1994): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page In an obvious steal from the "Terminator" movies, in 2073, a time travel lab inadvertently loses control of an experiment that goes to a desert in 1973. An APEX (Advanded Prototype EXtermination unit - think 'Blade Runner') is sent back in time to 'sterilize' the area, but one of the scientists goes back with it when he notices a young child caught in its sights. This causes a 'time paradox', and he's sucked back into an alternate future - a world in which the clones of the original robot, who stayed in the past with the command to 'sterilize' the area of people, are still programmed to kill all living things. The 'paradox' plot has massive holes, such as 'Who built the time travel lab in the future created by the paradox?', and 'How are the same people together in this timeline?' You'll find yourself focused more on the unnecessary 'R-rated' language than the plot, what there is of it."
Army of Darkness (1993) : Also known as "Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness" "Trapped in Time, Surrounded by Evil, Low on Gas" This tongue-in-cheek Sam Raimi film combines the genres of Action/Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, and Horror. Capsule Review based on comments by Ed Sutton ([email protected]) and David Thiel ([email protected]): "This sequel to 'Evil Dead 2', has discount-store employee 'Ash' time-warped to a medieval castle, and stranded in the 13th Century with only his car, shotgun, and chainsaw to save him. Soon he is discovered, assumed to be an enemy spy for a rival kingdom, and imprisoned. He shows that he's made of brave stuff in 'The Pit', after which he agrees to help the kingdom by retrieving the Lovecraftian 'Necronomicon', a book which might drive away evil, and which holds out hope of returning him to the present. The Necronomicon is essential for battling dread supernatural forces which beseige the castle and land. Ash, however, unwittingly releases the 'Army of Darkness' (an army of skeletons, led by his own Deadite counterpart) while retrieving the book and mispronouncing the magic spell. An epic battle begins between Ash's modern tactics and the ancient minions of darkness. In this fight, Ash is revealed to be the prophesied savior of the kingdom. Allegedly, this cult film inspired the 'Duke Nukem' comics/games/novels. It is exciting, if creepy/goofy fun.
Ausgestorben (1995) : According to "torsten.dewi", of Munich, Germany (26 November 1999) writing for isdb.com, this amazing student short feature tells a gripping story. Hoping against hope to save his plague-ridden, world a scientist time-travels to the time of the dinosaurs, to locate and retrieve an extinct plant that might enable a cure. In this desperate trip, he screws up up the timelines. Torsten praises the good German actors (including SciFi/Horror specialist Udo Kier), and makes good use of high-tech design, including left-over sets from the science fiction Space/Alien film "Enemy Mine." Torsten credits the director, Michael Pohl , with "a great eye for details", and hopes that this short-film "business card" will be Pohl's ticket to big-budget features. Pohl's new project, the 45 minute "Vortex", will be eagerly awaited.
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "This sequel to the first 'Austin Powers' movie employs time travel as a devise to great effect, as Austin Powers must go back in time to regain his 'mojo' (his sexual powers), stolen by Dr. Evil. Don't look for continuity here, just laugh. Dr. Evil steals the show here with his hilarious send ups of modern culture and his strained relationship with his son and 'mini me'. It's not an excellent film, but go just to see Dr. Evil." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Well, there's credit to be given to Mike Meyers for successfully inventing and playing at least 3 different characters in the same film..."
Back to the Future Part II(1989)
Back to the Future Part III(1990) : Back to the Future Parts I through III (1985, 1989, 1990): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "In this timetravel classic, Michael J. Fox plays Marty McFly, whose friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) builds a time machine from a modified DeLorean. Explores time paradoxes in great detail, these films are the best of the genre. Part One happens in 1955, where he arranges for his parents to meet and fall in love. Part Two happens in the future, where he has to save his kids. Part Three finds him and Doc in the Old West. (I've seen Part One at least 20 times!)"
Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991) : Director: Sylvio Tabet Screenplay: Ken Hauser, Doug Miles, et al. Fantasy / Action / Adventure (Time Travel is a sub-plot) This film is the middle part of trilogy: * The Beastmaster (1982) * Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991) * Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus (1995) As in the first (1982), Mark Singer plays "Dar", a warrior able to communicate (Dr.Doolittle-like) with beasts, and also see through their eyes, hear through their ears, and so forth. Dar is not to be confused with a charcter of the same name as played by Darren Young in "Cave Girl" (1985). Beastmaster Dar travels to Los Angeles, on our Earth, to prevent his evil brother from stealing a neutron detonator for building an atomic bomb, to use in their native desert world. Filimng of the desert was on location at Glen Canyon, Utah. The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide basically agrees with the following on-line review, as we found the film irritating. At-a-Glance Film Reviews : "A sensuous, mysterious witch (we know she is sensuous and mysterious because she said so) makes an offer to evil badguy Arklon; she can take him to modern day L.A. where they can steal a neutron detonator, return to their own world, and rule it. Arklon realizes a couple of nukes would be more effective than crushing his enemies with styrofoam boulders, so he agrees. Before seeing this film, I was warned that there was interaction with the modern world, and that this effectively killed the fantasy atmosphere created by the original. (It did.) This was regrettable, but I decided that I would take the film for what it was, rather than comparing it with the first. It might have worked -- but what makes Beastmaster 2 so unbearably awful, even as a stand-alone film, is the awkward, cliched, corny dialogue, and painful acting by Kari Wuhrer, a girl from L.A. who accidentally drives her car through the portal to the Beastmaster's world. When she isn't attempting to pass off lines like 'I'd rather eat breakfast than be breakfast,'viewers are subjected to a horribly contrived storyline, where flawed logic abounds. Why must the Beastmaster go to the tiger and help him keep watch -- can't the Beastmaster see through the tiger's eyes anymore? Why does Arklon spend as much energy deliberately detaining the Beastmaster, planning to kill him later, as he would if he destroyed him then and there? Not to mention one of the character's inexplicable change of heart. As if that wasn't enough, every scene plays as predictably as if you'd seen the movie once already. To its credit, the film as a whole is not particularly predictable, yet at the beginning of each and every scene, you know exactly how it will pan out. Finally, the finale, alas, is devoid of suspense, due to inane humor. Perhaps I'm being too harsh on this film; it does have some small merit. The opening scene is good (alas, it's the best), and it's never boring (how many bad films can make that claim?)."
Berkeley Square (1933) : Directed by Frank Lloyd Screenplay by: John L. Balderston (who also wrote the play) & Sonya Levien; This 84 minute, black & white Fantasy/Romance stars: Leslie Howard (as Peter Standish) Heather Angel (as Helen Pettigrew) Valerie Taylor (as Kate Pettigrew), and Lionel Barrymore (as Innkeeper) Grady E. Jensen ([email protected]), of Scarsdale, New York, wrote for ISDB (10 June 1999) that: "'Berkeley Square' is similar in theme to [the novel by] Jack Finney 'Time and Again.' A present day American is transported back to the home of his ancestors in London, during the American Revolution. He knows, of course, what will happen and even falls in love with one of his female ancestors. An old film but a terrific one..." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "In Jack Finney's novel, New York City, specifically the Dakota apartments next to Central Park, is the location, not London. Also, Jack Finney's protagonist goes back roughly a century, not the two centuries of 'Berkeley Square.' Of course, both male protagonists fall in love with women in the past (that's what happens in hetero Romances), but Jack Finney does not fall for one of his own ancestresses. That twist is explored rather thoroughly in the novel 'Up the Line' by Robert Silverberg."
Beyond the Time Barrier (1959): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A 1950s jet pilot breaks the time barrier and flies into World War III America, which is populated with mutants and plagued with a deadly virus."
Biggles: Adventures in Time (1986) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Jim Ferguson - who lives in New York in the 1980s - is suddenly transported back to World War I to help his 'time twin', 'Biggles', who is in danger. Whenever either of them is in danger, they are transported to help one another. There are some problems with the film: with paradox, with character reactions to being shifted in time (i.e. they aren't very surprised by it), with the 'secret weapon' and its unexplained origin, and even with the age of one character (A WWI officer would have been well over 90 in 1985, yet he still appears to be in his 60s!), but these don't detract from this interesting, well-filmed and at times very funny film. (What Ferguson and Biggles bring back to 1917 will amaze you!)"
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Not as good as the first film [Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure], though this sequel features a hillarious series of contests with Death'. ('Twister', anyone?)" The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Steven neglects to mention that the death-gaming is a parody of Bergmann's famous Chess scene in 'The Seventh Seal."
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Two teenagers from California travel through time in a phone booth to get ready for their history report, which is very important for them to pass. They end up in a future world where their (yet to be unwritten) music is the basis of all of society - a frightening thought, once you hear the music and the platitudes that go along with it! For their history report, they bring back personalities like Socrates, Abraham Lincoln, Joan of Arc, Sigmund Freud and Napoleon. (Forget continuity, forget plausibility, just enjoy it!) Look for George Carlin playing their mentor. The film explores paradoxes in a funny way (watch the scenes where they sneak around the police station - and try to follow it!)" The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "This is a surprisingly clever film. Besides the broad humor of the dumb-but-likeable protagonists, who (for instance) insist on calling Joan of Arc 'Ms.Arc", the best plotting occurs in seeing the same scene twice, once when the dudes in the 'present' are visited by themselves from the future, and don't understand what they're being told. When we loop through this the second time, from the viewpoint of the 'future' dudes, they say 'This makes a whole lot more sense this time through', or words to that effect."
Blackadder: Back and Forth (1999): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "To fool their friends on Millenium Eve, Blackadder and Baldrick build a bogus time machine and charge people to bring back artifacts (which Blackadder already owns). Trouble is, the time machine actually works!"
Blast from the Past (1999): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Brendan Fraser plays a naive man who comes out into the world after�being in a nuclear fallout shelter for 35 years. Sets up numerous funny lines and situations." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Brendan Fraser almost single-handedly carries this film. He is much more effective when given good lines and good supporting actors, plus special effects, as in the very fine remake of 'The Mummy' -- which deals with time travel forwards by an agonizing mechanism..."
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1978)
Carnivale (1999): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Animated tale by former Tim Burton art director Deane Taylor has many of Burton's dark themes. Children playing by the sea shore are lured into a time travel portal where they are taken to an amusement park. There they are having loads of fun until they discover that if they don't escape immediately, they will be forever trapped there as inanimate objects."
Cave Girl (1985) : Director: David Oliver Screenplay: Phil Groves Comedy / Romance Summary expanded from Tom Zoerner ([email protected]): "On a class excursion to a cave with stone age paintings the clumsy Rex [Daniel Roebuck] gets lost. A mysterious crystal opens a gateway in time and sets him back to the stone ages, where he meets a group of prehistoric fellows and the gorgeous Eba [Cynthia Thompson]. While teaching her English and doing some pseudo-research on her fellows, his main goal is to get her sleeping with him. However the curiosity of the clan chief disturbs his attempts." There is also Darren Young playing the character "Dar", not to be confused with the "Dar" in "Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991), as played by Mark Singer." At-a-Glance Film Reviews gave one-word review: "Ugh."
Clockstoppers (2002), Directed by Jonathan Frakes. Blatantly ripped off from "The Girl, the Gold Watch, and Everything." But without the kinky sex of "The Fermata" (2005?), currently being scripted by Hugo Award-winning Best Novelist Neil Gaiman. Dim Leave-It-To-Beaver teenager Zak Gibbs has never had a tougher puzzle than how to buy a car (think: "Dude, Where's My Car?"). His inventor father left a weird wristwatch among his gadgets. When Zak puts it on, he soon discovers that it can stop the world around him, freezing everyone and everything in place while he moves through hypertime. He and his purportedly clever girlfriend Francesca waste this amazing opportunity with pathetic practical jokes. Soon, they are in over their heads, because they are not the only ones maneuvering in hypertime. Juvenile and disappointing.
The Cold Room (1984): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A young woman visiting East Berlin is transported back in time to World War II when she enters a strange room behind her hotel room's wall."
Command and Conquer: Red Alert (1996)(Video Game)
Conceiving Ada (1997) Low-budget avant-garde, a film by Lynn Hershman Leeson, with Tilda Swinton, Karen Black, Dr. Timothy Leary (the Harvard Psych prof/LSD guru/software philosopher), and Reverend John Perry Barlow (Grateful Dead lyricist, Electronic Freedom Foundation). Opened 19 Feb 1997 (?) in San Francisco, 26 Feb 1997 (?) in New York. I hate to admit it, but I never caught the underground oddity. But it does have time travel...
Doctor Who (1996)(TV)
Donnie Darko (2001) The disturbed (schizophrenic?) medicated Junior High School teenager Donnie Darko, during the 1988 Presidential Election, sleepwalks out of his Middlesex, Iowa, home one night. He is confronted by a huge rabbit-demon named Frank who warns him that the world will end "in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds." The next morning, as he heads home, he is shocked to find that a jet plane's turbine engine has crashed through his roof and bedroom. His vaguely dysfunctional family, and more totally dysfunctional school are no help to his attempts to figure out why he survived, and how to save the world. The creepy bunny becomes his guru, leading him to subversive and destructive acts that escalate from overcoming the school bully, a knee-jerk conservative Health Ed teacher, and a smarmy self-help lecturer (Patrick Swayze as the cultish head Jim Cunningham of the "Controlling Fear" seminars, which have entranced many in the town), to vandalism, career-destruction, flooding the school, and arson against a sexually perverted writer. That writer is the epitome of specialization -- Donnie Darko insists that things are not so simple -- one must recognize the entire spectrum of human emotions. The subtle plot eventually discloses that Donnie Darko did actually die in "our" universe, and he's in a strange parallel alternate reality. He is faced with an ultimate choice: save the world by sacrificing himself, or save himself in the tangent world by dooming his home universe. The ending resolves as weird a set of paradoxes as have ever been paradoctored. Donnie Darko is directed by Richard Kelly, and well-acted by Jake Gyllenhaal as the title character Hip, clever, ironic, and unique. Cool sound track, too. Recommended.
Dragon's Lair II: Timewarp (1991)(VG) Videogame
Dreamcatcher (2003) Director: Lawrence Kasdan; Adapted: from the novel by Stephen King; Screenplay: William Goldman & Lawrence Kasdan; Executive Producer: Bruce Berman; Starring: Morgan Freeman as Col. Abraham Curtis; Damien Lewis as Prof. Gary "Jonesy" Jones; Thomas Jane as Dr. Henry Devlin; Jason Lee as Joe "Beaver" Clarendon; Timothy Olyphant as Pete Moore; Tom Sizemore as Capt. Owen Underhill; Andrew Robb as Young Duddits; Production Companies: Castle Rock Entertainment [USA]; NPV Entertainment [USA]; SSDD Films Inc. [Canada]; Village Roadshow Prods. [Australia]; Special Effects: Industrial Light & Magic; Steve Johnson's Edge FX; Length: 136 minutes (134 in USA); Rated: R; Genres: Alien/Telepathy/Horror/Sci-Fi/Military/Male-Bonding; Plot Summary: The critics simply "did not get" this movie. That's because few of them read the thick novel of the same name by Stephen King. It is actually one of the best screen adaptations of King, and compresses most of its subplots into a complicated and fast-paced thoughtful action-adventure film, a rare combination indeed. The critics also couldn't tell if this was Horror or Sci-Fi. It's neither. It is true Science Fiction. The critics also condemned the film as derivative, and a rehash of King's favorite themes. Actually, the film captures King's unique spin on each otherwise familiar element. Four closely-bonded men, having a hard time with life, meet for their annual drinking/hunting getaway in the remote Maine woods. At first, the foursome from fictional Derry, Maine, are threatened only by a blizzard. But things go unhinged when a disoriented stranger staggers in. The four already have mid-life crises to contend with, and ready to talk them out at "Hole in the Wall." Comic/Sad Beav has problems with the opposite sex; Henry, a bookish psychiatrist, is close to suicide. Pete has slipped into beery alcoholism. Jonesy has weird premonitions, ever since a hallucination almost caused him to die as a pedestrian hit by a car. But the stranger talks about lights in the sky, wild animals with odd red patches migrate past the cabin, and the stranger has something bloody moving around inside him, which kills him horribly. What was it, and how can they fight it? And is the greater danger inside or outside? The story takes on paranormal tones as they recall the heroic act that bound them together, in childhood. They'd saved an apparent idiot, Duddits, from being tortured by school football-team bullies. But the idiot is something more unusual, and the four have even stranger powers as a result. Soon we are plunged into a nightmare of interplanetary aliens with either shape-shifting or telepathic powers, or both, and something deadly that is either symbiote or not, and a fast-growing red fungus. And is the secret military hero leading forces against the aliens a real hero, or a psychotic vigilante? Nothing is quite what it seems. And the blizzard bears down on all. Who will prevail: the aliens, or the Colonel? Will the Colonel destroy the town to save it, kill innocent civilians, or even nuke Maine? And has an alien taken over one of the four friends' minds, or become lost in the man's mental warehouse? And what about spreading the alien invasion through the water supply? This is a tricky and exciting film. My wife and I loved it. So did Stephen King, who often hates his screen adaptations. The critics miss the boat completely. Recommended.
Drivetime, The (1995) : Director: Antero Alli (who also appears as an actor) Screenplay: Antero Alli & Rob Brezsny Stars: Cristien Storm, Kristen Kozmas 88 minutes, USA, Independent production, Drama/Fantasy "Opencity" (New York, 25 October 1999) told ISFDB: "Antero Alli's brilliant, eccentric sci-fi commentary on a society whose obsession with telecommunications is mirrored by its increasing failure to relate on a person-to-person basis. Shot on a micro-budget, the film literally soars with an extraordinary screenplay rich in wit and irony, spiced with a remarkable music score that flavors the visual and intellectual genius depicted on-screen. Clearly one of the best underground films of the 1990s." Film.com : Tonight We're Going to Party Like It's 1999, by Teresa Parks: "1999. And Seattle looks suspiciously like it does now...a world of infomercials, CD-ROMs, newsgroups, webnets, netwebs...and confused media rebel artists trying to penetrate the hard screen and make their own meaning. Intended as the first videofilm in a trilogy, The Drivetime... is an engrossing fable about the possible effects of information overglut and cocooned reality withdrawal. "In 1999, "The Televisionary Terrorist NetWeb" serves as part of a government sponsored broadcast system through which people have vicarious experiences in DRIVETIME - an untouchable place where 'daytime' and 'dreamtime' interesect - instead of leaving the assurance of their ultra-high-security-patrolled living quarters. People called 'stringers' videorecord footage of police riots and street festivals to manipulate into cyberspace dreams to broadcast for voyeuristic pleasure. Media has reached the saturation point, or as Baudrillard would have said, 'the hyperreal,' where people consume much more than they produce. Others work against this techno-tyranny. Zola [Susan Mansfield] is involved in 'Telepathics Anonymous', a group for those 'addicted to real connection between people in a world that is rapidly disappearing into virtual on-line communities'; her lover, Vid [Michael George], struggles spiritually with his servile stringer job. "Alli is extremely effective in portraying a technocratic world without excessive use of special effects or overdramatization, (a contrast to Oliver Stone's overwrought Natural Born Killers). The devices he uses to reveal the technological overstructure - bites of commercial entertainment services, rumors of weapons testing behind the moon, hidden rituals in the Oddfellows Temple, and persons huddled alone in their rooms speaking to monitors - is emotionally evocative and probing. And it's not paranoid or ultra-utopian either, which is a constant danger with this sort of theme. And as an added bonus, The Drivetime features plenty of Seattle musicians and performance artists such as Kristen Kosmas, Cristien Storm, Cyndia Pickering, and a comic-ritualistic group, 'The Menstrual Temple of the Funky Grail' that makes this videofilm even more engaging to watch. See The Drivetime and 'turn on the TV inside yourself'."
The Erotic Time Machine (2002)(Video) X-rated for woman-woman action, introducing Kelli Summers. The Time Travel frame-plot is just an excuse for Seduction Cinema anthologizing of scenes you don't want the under-aged, or Attorney General Ashcroft, to watch. Basically here to warn you not to be fooled by the title into expecting a real plot.
Event Horizon (1997) An attempt to combine interstellar travel with time travel and mesh a science fiction look and plot with a Horror film pacing and emotionalism. Uneasy cross-genre result, with several admittedly impressive visuals and intense bloody scenes. Could have been so much better...
Evil Dead II (1987) : see: "Army of Darkness (1993)", also known as "Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness"
Final Countdown, The (1980) mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Interesting plot, in which an aircraft carrier is sent back to the Pacific Ocean just before Pearl Harbor is attacked in 1941. Do they have a duty to try to change history and win the war right then and there? Or should they allow history to remain as it is? An interesting moral discussion and the special effects are good. (Starring Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen)."
Frankenstein Unbound (1990) : Fine adaptation of the even better novel by Brian Aldiss.
Freejack (1992) : Fun film from the fine novel by Norman Spinrad. Surprisingly good acting by Mick Jagger. mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page as "A maniacal billionaire wants to transfer his mind into a younger body. To do this, he takes the body of a race car driver who is about to die in the past, and brings him into the future, just before his car is destroyed in a race. Look for Mick Jagger as the billionaire's security chief. Emilio Estevez is the driver."
Frenchman's Farm : Australian (English language) film, 100 minutes runtime, color, Dolby sound mix Director: Ron Way Screenplay: James Fishburn & Ron Way Runtime: Australia:100 Summary written by Brian J. Wright ([email protected]): "An Australian woman's car breaks down in the country, and when she goes to get help, she's whisked back in time to 1944 and witnesses a murder. Returning to her car, time reverts to normal, but unable to convince anyone of her story, she investigates the crime herself." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Frequency (2000) does a better job of combining time paradoxes with murder investigations." Cast includes: * Ray Barrett as Harry Benson * Alexander Black as Archives clerk * Andrew Blackman as John Mainsbridge * Tui Bow as Miss Morton * Phil Brock as John Hatcher * Robert Eastgate as Second detective * Gennifer Flowers (NOT President Clinton's ex-girlfriend) as Mrs. Grenville * Laurence Hodge as Man at telephone * Maurice Hughes as Country Policeman * Andrew Johnston as William Morris * Penny Jones as Programmer * Norman Kaye as Reverend Andershot * Ian Leigh-Cooper as Librarian * Kym Lynch as George Slater * John Meillon as Bill Dolan * Errol O'Neill as Programmer * David Reyne as Barry Norden * Lynne Schofield as Madame Cheveraux * Keith Scott as Radio announcer * Tracey Tainsh as Jackie Grenville * Rod Warren as TV newsman * Bill Watson as Farmer Review by Calvacade of Schlock : "Frenchmen in Australia? Another Aussie horror film? Where are these movies coming from? Please don't answer that. A woman's car breaks down in the Australian countryside, which is being devastated by uncontrollable brush fires. She's whisked back to 1944 and witnesses a murder. By the time she gets back to her car, time's back on track, but of course nobody believes her, and she has to investigate the matter herself. It's a fairly intriguing setup, and for the most part reasonably well executed. The mystery unfolds well for the most part, although there's a subplot involving two bumbling cops and their 'malfunctioning' crime computer which I could have done without. There's quite a bit of good atmosphere, although there's no gore or sex or really any violence to speak of, except for this great decapitation at the beginning. Extra points for the creepy smile on the face of one guy whose head is in a guillotine. Really awful pop music mars this one, though, and overall one's left with an impression of how much better the film could have been with more focus from its makers. Still, not bad overall."
From Time to Time (1992) : Also Known As: * Timekeeper (1992) * Le Visionarium (1992) (France) Color Short (18 minutes) French/American (English/French language versions) Production Companies: Walt Disney Productions (aka Walt Disney Pictures) and Theme Park Productions Shown only at Disney World, EuroDisney, and other Disney theme parks) Director: Jeff Blyth Special Effects: Rhythm & Hues Summary expanded from David Mullich ([email protected]): "The Timekeeper [Robin Williams] has invented the world's first functional time machine and sends his sidekick, a flying robot named 9-Eyes, on an excursion through time from the prehistoric age of the dinosaurs to fantastic cities of the future. Along the way 9-Eyes kidnaps Jules Verne [Michel Piccoli] and hears Mozart with his first composition, watches Leonardo da Vinci [Franco Nero] paint a masterpiece, takes a bobsled ride down a mountain, and meets fellow inventor H.G. Wells [Jeremy Irons]." Starring: * Patrick Bauchau * Nathalie Baye * Gerard Depardieu as Paris Airport Employee * Jeremy Irons as H.G. Wells * Franco Nero as Leonardo da Vinci * Rhea Perlman as voice of 9-Eye * Michel Piccoli as Jules Verne * Jean Rochefort as Louis XV * Robin Williams as Timekeeper
Grand Tour, The (1992)(TV) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page as "The Grand Tour: Disaster in Time (1992): A widower who is about to open a small inn is greeted by strange guests who insist on renting some rooms even though the inn is still under construction. He accepts, but begins to suspect that something about them isn't quite right. Yup, they're time travellers, and what he finds out shocks him. He must do something to redeem himself and soothe his tortured conscience (I don't want to give ANYTHING away on this one, because this is a high quality film, despite an obvious paradox.)"
Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)
Herrliche Zeiten im Spessart (1967) : Country: West Germany (German language) Color, 105 minutes Director: Kurt Hoffmann Screeplay: G�nter Neumann Comedy / Sci-Fi with Time Travel plot Starring: * Liselotte Pulver as Anneliese * Harald Leipnitz as Frank Green Other Cast includes: * Vivi Bach as Rosalinde * Hannelore Elsner as Johanna * Tatjana Sais as Frau Mummelmann * Joachim Teege as Hugo * Rudolf Rhomberg as Onkel Max * Hans Richter as Toni * Kathrin Ackermann as Katrin * Klaus Schwarzkopf as Roland * Peter Capell as Burgermeister * Paul Esser as Monch * Sibille Gilles, Ewald Wenck, Erich Fiedler...
It's About Time (1966): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Two astronauts, after breaking the speed of light, accidently travel back in time to prehistoric Earth. Unable to return, they make friends with the "natives".
Karate Cop (1991)
Kate and Leopold (2002?) Director: James Mangold; Screenplay: James Mangold, Steven Rogers; Producer: Cathy Konrad; Production Design: Mark Friedberg; Cinematography: Stuart Dryburgh; Editor: James M. Micthell; Music: Rolfe Kent; Length: 2 hours 1 minute; Rating: PG-13; Distributor: Miramax; Starring: Meg Ryan as Kate McKay; Hugh Jackman as Leopold; Liev Schreiber as Stuart Bessler; Natasha Lyonne as Darci; Bradley Whitford as J. J. Camden; Genres: Sci-Fi/Romance/Comedy; Plot Summary: For stupid reasons, the crux of the Time Travel paradox (intergenerational incest, as well-probed in "Up The Line" in print by Robert Silverburg) was cut after release, and so the film you can see makes no sense. Oh, wait. It would have made no sense anyway. And it's so cute it's sickening. And yet, and yet, the production design and photography is so good, that there is almost a film worth seeing. So wait for the Director's Cut. Dashing inventor/aristocrat Leopold, aburdly purported to have invented the elevator, leaves a tony party to celebrate the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1876, in order to chase mysterious stranger Stuart Bessler, whereupon both fall off the new bridge into the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Leopold climbs out, wet, and finds himself in 2001. In the original version which you can't see, Stuart Bessler is revealed as Leopold's great-great-grandson. They have fallen through a once-a-week opened time portal. Stuart's starved-for-romance former girlfriend Kate McKay, a focus-group consultant, lives upstairs. Stuart runs off for an errand, and falls down an elevator shaft which is empty because he vanished from 1876 and thus the elevator was never invented. So, one ponders, why have buildings been built for over a century with empty elevator shafts? Andy why, if Stuart fled 1876 unmarried, how does he have a great-great-grandson in 2001? And how can Leopold sing a number from "The Pirates of Penzance" (written 1879) and best Kate's boss/suitor J. J. Camden with trivia about the opera "La Boheme" (written 1896)? These are not clever clues. rather, this is an "idiot plot" -- as proven by Leopold never bothering to get the facts from his host, Stuart, in the hospital. The producer and director think we're idiots too, hoping that we are charmed by Leopold taking to manhattan of 2001 like a duck takes to water, selling butter on TV, catering swank parties, and moving in seuctively on Kate. Incest with one's great-great-grandmother? On the cutting room floor, along with any shred of logic.
Kid in King Arthur's Court, A (1995) : see: "Unidentified Flying Oddball" (1979)
The Langoliers (1995)(TV) : Also Known As: Stephen King's The Langoliers (1995) (TV) 180 minutes (first saired as 2-part TV miniseries) USA (English language) Color, Ultra Stereo, PG-13 Director: Tom Holland Screenplay: Tom Holland and Stephen King Story: Stephen King (from his collection "Four Past Midnight") Producers: Mitchell Galin, David R. Kappes (executive), Richard P. Rubinstein (executive) Original music: Vladimir Horunzhy Cinematographer: Paul Maibaum Film Editor: Ned Bastille Production Design: Evelyn Sakash Art Director: Harry Darrow Costume Designer: Linda Fisher (I) First Assistant Director: Michael Green Second United Director: David R. Kappes Sound Department: Neil Cedar, foley recordist Sound editor: Tony Pipitone Special Effects Supervisor (Pyro/Mech): Vincent Montefusco Special Effects: Beecher Tomlinson Other Crew: Steven Caouette (assistant to Mr. Pinchot) David R. Kappes (camera operator: second unit) R. Kappes (location manager) Eric Lee (still photographer) Pamela Williamson (assistant location manager) Genre: Sci-Fi / Time-travel / Airplane / Monsters The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide's staff unanimously enjoyed this when it aired on TV, yet on-line reviews run hot and cold. Plot Summary for ISFDB written by Anonymous: "A blind girl, a teacher, a machine worker, a musician, a stoner, a mystery writer, a businessman, a mysterious Englishman, and a raving psychopath in a business suit on a flight to Boston find themselves utterly alone when the rest of the passengers and all of the crew vanish. Diverting the plane to Bangor, Maine, they discover that they seem to be the only people left on the planet, and that time and the Langoliers are catching up with them all too quickly..." Plot Summary written for ISFDB by Brian Barjenbruch ([email protected]) "When a plane passes through a mysterious time warp, all but a few onboard vanish. The survivors manage to land, and discover that time seems to stand still--and the mysterious Langoliers are in hot pursuit. The Langoliers' job is to erase moments in time that have already passed into history. The survivors still exist because they were asleep when the plane passed through the warp, and they determine that if they can all be asleep once again when the plane returns, they will survive. However, one passenger must remain awake--and doomed to die--to pilot the plane on its return through the warp..." Mutant Reviewers from Hell : "In the movie, 10 strangers awaken amidst their flight from LA to Boston. All the other passengers are gone, as are the crew and the pilots. The plane is fine and luckily one of the 10 survivors is a pilot. At first they assume that the plane landed and everybody else got off, but the pilot points out that there's no way a plane could land or take off without a pilot. They also start to realize that there's no one on the ground, because the radio only picks up static and the lights of major cities, like Denver, can't be seen from the plane. If I tell much more plot, it'll give away the neat parts of the movie, but this is definitely one of my favorite Stephen King movies. There are some great performances given by Bronson Pinchot (Balchy from 'Perfect Strangers') and Dean Stockwell (Al from 'Quantum Leap'). I never knew Balchy could be so creepy. Also, the whole concept behind what happened to these 10 people isn't something that had ever even crossed my mind until I saw this movie. I'm not saying it's the greatest movie ever, but I liked it a lot and it's worth viewing." Didja Notice? * Stephen King has a pretty funny cameo towards the end of the movie. * How much King relies on kids and the infirmed as heroes? * Laurel claims that Los Angeles is deserted, yet cars can be seen moving. At-A-Glance Film Review: "This three hour TV movie could have been shortened to 90 minutes if the stars didn't spend so much time looking open-mouthed at the weird happenings they encounter. Even when time is of the essence and their lives hang in the balance, if something fantastic is going on, everybody stops what they're doing and gawks as if time stands still while they aren't actively doing something productive. I've come to the conclusion that Stephen King should be banned from attempting science fiction. His ideas for The Langoliers are intriguing enough for it to be frustrating when his execution of the ideas falls flat on his face. Lapses in logic are commonplace, and no explanation is given for anything that happens. Among the very few redeeming qualities is Bronson Pinchot as a very intense, disturbed airline passenger." The Video Graveyard : "Originally airing in two parts this TV adaptation of Stephen King's novella has nine airline passengers going through a time-rift and being caught fifteen minutes in the past. So while they try and figure out what's happened to them they have to contend with mental businessman Bronson Pinchot and the toothy creatures of the title. Overlong telefilm takes a nugget of a decent idea from King's story and stretches it out into this fairly tedious affair that suffers from some poor dialogue and weak computer effects. Heck even the title creatures are only in this for about five minutes. Pretty poor and not worth seeing." Cast includes: * Patricia Wettig as Laurel Stevenson * Dean Stockwell as Bob Jenkins * David Morse as Brian Engle * Mark Lindsay Chapman as Nick Hopewell * Frankie Faison as Don Gaffney * Baxter Harris as Rudy Warwick * Kimber Riddle as Bethany Simms * Christopher Collet as Albert Kaussner * Kate Maberly as Dinah Bellman * Bronson Pinchot as Craig Toomy * Tom Holland as Harker * Julie Arnold Lisnet as Aunt Vicki * Michael Louden as Richard Logan * Kymberly Dakin as Doris Heartman * David Forrester as Danny Keene
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000)(Videogame) also known as Zelda: Mask of Majora; also known as Zeruda no densetsu: Mujura no kamen. Japan. {to be done} awaiting analysis by my 14-year-old son.
Lilovyj shar (1987) : Also Known As: Purple Ball, The (1987) Soviet Union (Russian language) Color film Production Company: Gorky Film Studios [Russia] Director: Pavel Arsenov Screenplay: Kir Bulychyov Genres: Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Time-travel / Space-travel / Virus / Dragon / Magic Summary edited from Boris Shafir ([email protected]) "Alisa Seleznyova [Natalya Guseva] and her father Professor Seleznyov [Boris Shcherbakov] are traveling in space. They meet their old friend archaeologist Gromozeka [Vyacheslav Nevinnyj], who's just discovered a planet all inhabitants of which died. It became known that they discovered a virus of hostility, got infected and killed each other. Gromozeka also discovered that they had left the virus on Earth 26000 years ago, and the virus is about to become loose. The only chance to save the Earth is to travel 26000 years back in time - to the epoch when witches, dragons and magicians lived along with usual people." Cast includes: * Natalya Guseva as Alisa Seleznyova * Aleksandr Gusev as Gerasik * Vyacheslav Nevinnyj as Gromozeka * Boris Shcherbakov as Professor Seleznyov * Vyacheslav Baranov as Zelyonyj * Svetlana Kharitonova as Baba Yaga * Igor Yasulovich as Kashchey * Viktor Pavlov as Lyudoed ("Man Eater") * Sergei Nikonenko as Konoyed * Vladimir Nosik as Volshebnik ("Magician") Uuuh * Marina Levtova as Tsarevna-Lyagushka
Lost In Space (1998): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Loosely based on the 1960s TV show, it was panned by the critics. It features a time travel sequence, which is crucial to the plot. (I'm assuming, since I didn't see it during the 4 days it was in the theatres!)".
Millennium (1989) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A future time-travelling society infiltrates the past to take bodies of those who are about to die on plane crashes. Stars Kris Kristofferson. The best parts take place in the 'present', and the somewhat lame explanation of paradoxes (and the resulting 'time quakes') mar the film, slightly. Also - a hokey ending. ('Goof': Watch her hair when she enters the bar, then when inside. She got quite a perm in that doorway!!)" The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide says this about the novel on which the film is based: (screenplay by and from the novel by John Varley) Millennium links to 4 reviews Millennium Hugo Award 1984 Finalist, Locus Poll Award 1984 Finalist
Minority Report (2002): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Because of future technology they have somehow obtained, a police division arrests people before they commit crimes. But the tables are turned when one cop finds himself arrested for a future crime. He must find out what he is accused of doing, and stop it. (The film, based upon a Philip K. Dick story, isn't the result of such viewing technology! It was found on Internet Movie Data Base!)"
Miraklet i Valby (1989) : Also Known As: Miracle in Valby, The (1989) Runtime: Denmark: 80 minutes / Netherlands: 85 minutes Countries: Denmark (Danish language) / Sweden Certification: Finland:K-8 / Sweden:7 Eastmancolor, Dolby Director: Ake Sandgren Screenplay: Stig Larsson & Ake Sandgren Production Companies: Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) [Sweden], Det Danske Filminstitut [Denmark], Esselte, Nordisk Film [Denmark] Winner, 1990 Guldbagge Awards for Best Direction, Best Film, and Best Screenplay Winner, 1990 Robert Festival Award for Best Cinematography (Dan Laustsen), Best Costume Design (Manon Rasmussen), Best Production Design (Henning Bahs), and Best Screenplay Genres: Time-Travel, Children Cast includes: * Jakob Katz as Sven * Troels Asmussen as Bo * Lina Englund as Petra * Amalie Ihle Alstrup as Hanna * Gregers Reimann * Jens Okking * Ingvar Hirdwall as Petra's Father * Karen-Lise Mynster as Sven's Mother * Peter Hesse Overgaard * Mona Seilitz as Petra's Mother * also: Kjeld Norgaard, Julie Wieth, Lars Bom, Nis Bank-Mikkelsen, Eric Reiss
My Science Project (1985) : Touchstone Pictures 94 minutes, Color, Dolby USA (English language) USA:PG / Norway:15 Director: Jonathan R. Betuel Screenplay: Jonathan R. Betuel Genre: Adventure / Sci-Fi / Time-travel Plot Summary edited from Michael Silva ([email protected]): "Michael [John Stockwell] and Ellie [Danielle von Zerneck] break into a military junkyard to find a science project for Michael's class, and discover a strange glowing orb which absorbs electricity. When the orb begins to blend past, present, and future, it's up to Michael and Ellie to stop the orb and save mankind." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: blending Past, Present, and Future all at once on the same planet was done first (and better) in Fred Hoyle's novel "October the Fifth is Too Late." Cast includes: * John Stockwell as Michael Harlan * Danielle von Zerneck as Ellie Sawyer * Fisher Stevens as Vince Latello * Raphael Sbarge as Sherman * Richard Masur as Detective Jack Nulty * Barry Corbin as Lew Harlan * Ann Wedgeworth as Dolores * Dennis Hopper as Bob Roberts * Candace Silvers as Irene * Beau Dremann as Matusky * Pat Simmons as Crystal * John Vidor as Jock #1 * Vincent Barbour as Jock #2 * Jaime Alba as Jock #3 * Robert Beer as President Eisenhower
Navigator: A Mediaeval Odyssey, The (1988) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "In this magical film, 14th century European villagers dig a hole to the other side of the Earth to escape the coming plague - and to explain a young boy's visions of the 20th century. The villagers reach the modern world - a 20th century city - but are unable to find anything but violence and confusion. The interaction between the characters and modern life is enchanting and believable, and you'll be rooting for the characters."
Nino Invisible, El (1995) : Production Company: Xaloc & Benjamin 80 minutes, Color, Dolby Country: Spain (location shooting in Toledo, Spain), Spanish Language Director: Rafael Moleon Screenplay: Aurora Guerra Story: Manolo Matji (as Manuel Matji) Producers: Federico Bermudez de Castro, Manolo Matji Original Music: Bom Bom Chip, Jose' Carlos Parada Cinematographer: Hans Burman Production Designer: Miguel Chicharro Costume Designer: Nereida Bonmati' Makeup Artist: Jose' Antonio Sanchez Sound: Miguel Rejas Genres: Time-travel / Adventure / Musical / Children / Middle-ages ISFDB says: "A group of children find a magic stone that transports them to the [12th] century." Hotlink to Ultimate SFWG page on 12th Century {to be done} Staring: * Bom Bom Chip * Pedro Mari Sanchez * Laura Cepeda * Lidia San Jose' * Joaquin Climent * Carmen Godoy Cast also includes: * Carlos Caniowski * Jose Luis Cid De Rivera * Cristina Hervas * Chete Lera * Rebeca Marcos * Sergio Martin * Gary Piquer * Estela Sala
Norman's Awesome Experience (1988) : Also Known As: Switch in Time, A (1988) 87 minutes, Color, US/Canadian production (USA:PG-13) Languages: English / Latin (!) the only known Sci-Fi feature with Latin dialogue Location Shooting in: Lanin National Park, Argentina Director: Paul Donovan Screeplay: Paul Donovan Independent Production Companies: Norstar Entertainment Inc.; Salter Street Films Genres: Comedy / Sci-Fi / Roman / Time-travel For an earlier Roman Time-travel Comedy, see: 'Roman Scandals' (1933) Summary edited from Tom Zoerner ([email protected]): "Through the experiment of a crazy scientist [Brian Downey as Doctor NobleMeyer], his colleague Norman [Tom McCamus], model Erica [Laurie Paton] and her photographer are sent back in time to the Romans. They arrive in a small village, controlled by the Roman Septimus Fabius [David Hemblen] and a fat village mayor. They teach the people the Rock'n Roll... and revolution. Of course the Romans don't appreciate their efforts - will Norman's Know How save them? " The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Interesting how Rock & Roll is part of so many time travel films, including 'Star Trek: First Contact', 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure', 'Star Trek: First Contact', and the first 'Back to the Future' film (where Marty McFly paradoxically time-loops Rock by playing it at the school prom (as 'oldies') so that Chuck Berry could hear it, through telephone, and create the same thing he's heard, which was based on him. Perhaps a combination of mere targeting of an adolescent movie-viewer demographic with two different artistic attempts to deal with alienation, wish fulfilment, and Romantic escapism." Cast includes: * Tom McCamus as Norman * Laurie Paton as Erica * Jacques Lussier as Umberto * David Hemblen as Septimus Fabius * Lee Broker as Marcus Titanus * Marcos Woinsky as Serpicus * Gabriela Salos as Felix * Brian Downey as Doctor NobleMeyer * Armand Capo as Blacksmith * Enrique Latorre as Neron * Jorge Luis Estrella as Grand Priest * Jacques Arndt as Administrator * Theodore McNabney as Chief of the Scientists * Bill Carr as Guard at the Laboratory Gate * Marcello Serre as Britannicus
Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "In a thinly-veiled attempt to be a female version of 'Marty McFly', [Back to the Future] a much too-old Kathleen Turner plays the teen-aged 'Peggy Sue', who goes back to the 1950s and inhabits her own body. What follows is a weak plot and silly, predictable hindsight remarks about getting married and her father buying an Edsel. She is transported back to her own time in the most ridiculous manner. (Don't look for complicated physics here, think, 'wacky lodge ritual'). The 'wrap up' of this film - showing how things change (if they do at all - it's not too clear) isn't as satisfying as in 'Back to the Future', either." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Two nice touches in a flawed film: (1) plausible stumbling into anachronism by the protagonist when, for example, she asks in a store for 'Panty Hose'; (2) wish fulfilment moment when, challenged by a teacher in Math class, the protagonist says: 'I happen to know for a fact that I will never, in my entire adult life, need Algebra.' Of course, that's exactly the difference between Fantasy and Science Fiction. Algebra matters!"
Philadelphia Experiment, The (1984) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "In 1943, a battleship in Philadelphia is part of an experiment trying to make it invisible to radar. Instead, it's sent into a time vortex, where many men are hurt or killed. Two men jump overboard, and find themselves flung ahead in time to Nevada in 1984, where further experiments are taking place. The shock of them adapting to modern life is enjoyable to watch. Just a note: this film is supposedly based upon a real event."
The Philadelphia Experiment II (1993): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Nine years after the events of the first film, it turns out that the experiment has been reinitiated. Using the time-traveling capabilities of the experiment, a scientist sends a Stealth Bomber back to Nazi Germany, where his father - also a scientist - uses it to win the war for Germany. One of the protagonists of the first film, living in 1993, is thrust into a parallel universe caused by the change in history. Interesting exploration of parallel universes and paradox - especially the 'grandfather/father paradox'. Though the Nazi version of America is somewhat cartoonish and stereotypical, and there's a flaw or two regarding paradoxes, it's a well-filmed story." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Your Humble Webmaster was the uncredited and unpaid Technical Advisor on this film, after Dr. Thomas McDonough, who'd been Technical Advisor on the first film was unavailable and recommended me. I did numerous Story Conferences and research, and was ripped off by the Producer, and I dare the bastard to take me to court for saying so!"
Retroactive (1997): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page
Roman Scandals (1933) : 85 minutes, Black and White, Mono sound, English language, Unrated Director: Frank Tuttle Story: George S. Kaufman Screenplay: William Anthony McGuire Production Company: Samuel Goldwyn Company Distributor: United Artists Genre: Comedy / Musical/ Time-travel Starring: * Eddie Cantor as Eddie * Ruth Etting as Olga * Gloria Stuart [elderly star of 'Titanic'!] as Princess Sylvia * Edward Arnold as Emperor Valerius * David Manners as Josephus * Verree Teasdale as Empress Agrippa * Alan Mowbray as Majordomo * Jack Rutherford as Manius * Willard Robertson as Warren F. Cooper * Lee Kohlmar as Storekeeper Cast also includes (alphabetically): * Bonnie Bannon as Woman * Dolores Casey as Woman * Jane Hamilton as Woman * Gigi Parrish as Woman * Leo Willis as Torturer "Eddie imagines himself back in ancient Rome where he uncovers corruption similar to his small town in this musical comedy choreographed by Busby Berkeley. Eddie's clothes are found on statues in West Rome's new museum. Its builder Cooper pays off the mayor and chief of police. Eddie (Eddie Cantor) tells the people displaced by the new jail project to live there and sings 'Build a Little Home.' Eddie criticizes Cooper for building the museum and jail, but he is escorted out of town by the police. Eddie finds himself in ancient Rome and is soon tied up for insulting Empress Agrippa. He is sold in the slave market to Josephus (David Manners), who calls him Oedipus. Olga (Ruth Etting) is to be sold and sings 'No More Love.' Naked women covered with their long hair are chained while other women dance. Josephus lets Oedipus handle his whip, accidentally knocking down the Majordomo (Alan Mowbray). Oedipus runs after the captured British princess Sylvia (Gloria Stuart) and is imprisoned. Emperor Valerius (Edward Arnold) wants his slave Olga back. A prisoner gives Oedipus lava gas to make him laugh. Josephus comes to free Sylvia and Oedipus, but Valerius makes him leave. Valerius tells Sylvia she must stay in prison until she desires him; she agrees to go to the palace when Valerius promises not to hurt her people. The lava gas affects Oedipus and then his torturers and the emperor. Valerius is about to drink with Agrippa (Verree Teasdale), but his food taster dies. Oedipus tells Valerius and Agrippa about America and wins with crooked dice. Valerius hires him as his food taster. Josephus kisses Sylvia but is shot by an arrow in the arm. Agrippa summons Oedipus to her couch and wants him to poison Valerius. Valerius banishes Josephus, who tells Oedipus he will wait with a chariot for Sylvia. The Majordomo catches Oedipus trying to escape, but Oedipus pretends he can't be hurt. Oedipus hides in the women's quarters with black mud and gives Sylvia the message from Josephus. Oedipus and the women sing 'Keep Young and Beautiful.' Oedipus finds a corrupt agreement between Valerius and two senators. Agrippa tells Oedipus not to eat the poisoned bird. He sings 'Put a Tax on Love' and feeds the crocodile first. Agrippa accuses Josephus and Sylvia of poisoning the food. Olga takes Sylvia to Josephus, while Valerius orders Oedipus thrown to the lions. Josephus rides off with Sylvia, and Oedipus escapes, trying to catch them to prevent Josephus being killed at Ostia. After a dramatic chariot race on the roads Eddie wakes up in America, finding Cooper's bribe to the police chief in his pocket. This satire of various movies and the social mores of America and Rome uses humor, music, and pretty women in revealing costumes to keep the audience entranced." Copyright � 1999 by Sanderson Beck, from the web page:
Movie Mirrors
Running Against Time (1990)(TV) : USA (English language), Color, Rated: (USA) PG / (Finland) K-8 Distributor: MCA (video) Director: Bruce Seth Green Screenplay: Robert Glass Adapted from: Stanley Shapiro's novel "A Time to Remember" Genre: Sci-Fi / JFK assassination/ Time-travel "History professor David Rhodes [Robert Hays] never has got over the death of his older brother, 1966 in Vietnam. When he hears the rumor that a famous professor [Sam Wanamaker as Doctor Koopman] is working on a time machine, he immediately contacts him and persuades him to allow him to travel back in time and correct history. If he could save President Kennedy's life, [the] Vietnam war might never have happened!" Edited from Summary written by Tom Zoerner ([email protected]) Starring: * Robert Hays as David Rhodes Cast also includes: * James DiStefano as Lee Harvey Oswald * Catherine Hicks as Laura Whittaker * Juanita Jennings * Brian Smiar * Wayne Tippet * Sam Wanamaker as Doctor Koopman
"Samurai Jack" (2001)(TV) My 14-year-old son and I both love this stylish animation created by Gennedy Tartakovsky. In a Fantasy version of ancient Japan, the world is menaced by evil shape-shifting wizard Aku, never defeated, and having attacked other nations before Japan. Aku captures the head of a local tribe/city. The leader's son trains throughout the nations of the world in every martial arts discipline. He learns bow and arrow from Robin Hood, wrestles with the best in ancient Greece, masters spear-throwing in the Congo. At last he arrives at a temple of mythical beast/demigods. Grown up, he rejoins his mother, who gives him a sacred sword, which is the only weapon that might defeat Aku. The samurai prince attacks Aku, but is thrust through time to our future, a sort of dystopian "Jetsons" world where Aku is overlord to a panoply of aliens, high-tech robots, spaceships, and other things beyond the samurai's cognition. The samurai adopts the name "Jack" after inner city aliens first address him as "hey, Jack..." His quest is to defeat Aku, free the future, and somehow find his way back to his home country in his own time. The martial arts are the best in any animated series. The graphic style varies from episode to episode, ingeniously combining visual motifs. This moves a hundred times faster than "Dragonball-Z" and is gorgeous to look at, in a minimalist way. Recommended, not for its time travel, but for its panache.
SF Shinseiki Lensman (1984) ...aka Lensman (1984) ...aka Lensman: Secret of the Lens (1984): excellent Japanimation combining Space travel and Time travel in unexpected and poignent way.
Somewhere In Time (1980): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "In a turn of the century hotel, an aspiring actor (Christopher Reeve) wills himself back in time to 1910 in the very same hotel after falling in love with the picture of an actress, played by Jane Seymour, who once stayed there as a guest and performed in the hotel's theatre. Richard Matheson's novel, 'Bid Time Return', inspired this movie. (This is one of my favorite films!) Very well filmed movie is lush and beautifully acted."
A Sound of Thunder (2004) Director: Peter Hyams; Adapted: from short story by Ray Bradbury; Screenplay: Thomas Dean Donnelly; Starring: Ben Kingsley as McCormick; Plot Summary: This classic Time Travel/Alternate History story features big game hunter Burns on a safari into the past to shoot a Tyrannosaurus Rex. he is warned not to step off the levitated metal walkway, but does so, and crushes a butterfly. That accident changes history so drastically as to wipe out humanity in the present. A team of time-track-fixers must go back to the prehistoric moment and replace the butterfly. Can history be unchanged back to our reality? A thought-provoking story, awaiting big-budget release.
Sphere (1998): a great cast wasted on a confused adaptation of a derivative Michael Crichton novel.
The Spirit of '76 (1991): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Twenty-Second Century time travelers, distraught with their own time, try to go back to 1776 to see what went wrong in their world. Instead, they end up on 1976!"
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "The crew of the Enterprise use a captured Klingon spaceship to go back in time to 1986 San Francisco to save the Earth's whales, since this is crucial to saving 24th century Earth. The funniest, and some say the best, of the Star Trek movies."
Star Trek: First Contact (1996) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "The Enterprise, upon encountering a Borg vessel near Earth, witnesses a pod going back in time to the 21st century, in order to prevent earthlings from developing a warp drive which will allow them to have interstellar spaceflight. They follow it, only to find the world now dominated by by the Borg. They must go back to make sure that 'First Contact' occurs between humanity and the first race in this quadrant. The time travel theme is well developed and plausible (within the Star Trek genre themes, as developed by the TV show.)" The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Interesting how Rock & Roll is part of so many time travel films, including 'Star Trek: First Contact', 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure', and the first 'Back to the Future' film (where Marty McFly paradoxically time-loops Rock by playing it at the school prom (as "oldies") so that Chuck Berry could hear it, through telephone, and create the same thing he's heard, which was based on him; and 'Norman's Awesome Experience' (where ancient Romans are taught to Rock). Perhaps a combination of mere targeting of an adolescent movie-viewer demographic with two different artistic attempts to deal with alienation, wish fulfilment, and Romantic escapism."
Star Trek: Generations (1994) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A mad scientist-type creates a 'ribbon of time', in which both Captains of the Enterprise (Kirk/Picard, Shatner/Stewart) must work together. The paradoxical sommersault of a plot devise used to bring the two Captains together is a masterpiece of scriptwriting. Yet, it makes no sense at all."
Terminator, The (1984)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "The second Terminator movie. Skynet, the 21st century computer waging a losing war on humans sends a second terminator back in time to destroy the leader of the human resistance while he is still a boy. His mother is the only one who knows of the existence of Skynet's Terminators, and is in an insane asylum because of her first encounter with them. The humans send a protector back to protect the boy, John Connor, future leader of the human resistance. This film was a pioneer of many special effects, including 'morphing'. The story is told well, and relies on the viewer knowing a great deal about the first film. It's well worth renting."
Terminator 2: 3-D (1996) : Minute for minute, the most expensive feature ever filmed in Hollywood. Combines film, computer animation, and interaction of live actors with the audience, in special theatres (which themselves cost about $30 million). The 3-D effects were supervised by the under-rated Dr.Kenneth Jones, a Ph.D. from Caltech who has worked both for NASA and Hollywood.
That Lady in Ermine (1948): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Circa 1861, the ruling countess of an Italian principality is at a loss when invaded by a Hungarian army. Her lookalike ancestress, who saved a similar situation 300 years before, comes to life from a portrait to help her descendant."
Three Stooges Meet Hercules, The (1962) : USA (English language), Black and White Director: Edward Bernds Screenplay: Elwood Ullman Story: Norman Mauer Producer: Norman Maurer Original music: Paul Dunlap Cinematographer: Charles S. Welbourne Film Editer: Edwin H. Bryant Art Director: Don Ament Set Decorator: William F. Calvert Assistant Director: Herb Wallerstein Sound: James Z. Flaster Sound Supervisor : Charles J. Rice Narrator : Don Lamond Genre: Comedy / Fantasy / Greece / Hercules / Time-travel "Three druggists [the Stooges] travel with a Milquetoast inventor, Schuyler [Quinn K. Redeker], and his girlfriend, Diane [Vicki Trickett], to ancient Greece on a newly invented time machine.There, the evil tyrant, [George N. Neise as King Odius],takes a shine to the woman and has the guys enslaved as galley rowers using the excuse of the three druggists helping a rebel leader, Ulysses [John Cliff], escape. The rigors of the rowing pump Schuyler up into a muscleman with strength comparable to Hercules [Samson Burke] himself, who is in the employ of Odius. The threesome get the idea of raising money by promoting Schuyler as Hercules for a series of physical contests. Using a combination of his great strength and, a judicious use of a large supply of potent tranquilizers Curly-Joe brought with him, Schuyler is a success. However, this leads to trouble when the real McCoy learns about the imposter." Edited from Summary written for IMDb by Kenneth Chisholm ([email protected]) Full Cast (credits order): * Moe Howard as Moe [Stooge/Druggist] * Larry Fine as Larry [Stooge/Druggist] * Joe DeRita as Curly Joe [Stooge/Druggist] * Vicki Trickett as Diane Quigley * Quinn K. Redeker as Schuyler Davis * George N. Neise as Ralph Dimsal/King Odius * Samson Burke as Hercules * The McKeever Twins as Ajax and Argo, The Siamese Cyclops * Emil Sitka as Shepherd/Refreshment Man * Hal Smith as King Theseus Of Rhodes * John Cliff as Ulysses * Lewis Charles as Achilles The Heel * Barbara Hines as Anita * Terry Huntingdon as Hecuba * Diana Piper as Helen * Gregg Martell as Simon Cast also includes (alphabetically): * Cecil Elliott as Matron (uncredited) * Edward Foster as Freddie the Fence (uncredited) * Don Lamond as Narrator (uncredited voice) * Gene Roth as Captain (uncredited) * Rusty Wescoatt as Philo (uncredited)
Time After Time (1979) mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A young H. G. Wells, played by Malcolm McDowell, follows Jack the Ripper through time into San Francisco in 1979. He falls in love with a bank teller, played by Mary Steenbergen, and he tries to avoid her death at the hands of the Ripper. The story is good, and the clothes are sooo 70s!"
Time Bandits (1980) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Six dwarves and a British schoolboy use time portals to travel through Earth's history."
Time Barbarians (1990): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A medieval warrior chases a bad guy to modern day Los Angeles to avenge the death of his wife."
Time Chasers (1994): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "An inventor comes up with a time machine, but must� prevent its abuse at the hands of an evil CEO."
Time Flies (1944): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A minor music hall star uses a professor's time machine to go back to the days of Queen Elizabeth I."
Time Machine, The (1960) Steven's Time Travel Page says: "An adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel. Starring Rod Taylor as H. G. ('George') Wells, the inventor of a time machine with which he travels to the future. The movie's special effects, though dated by today's standards, won Oscars.
The Time Travellers (1964): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page
"Time Tunnel, The" (1966) TV Series
Time Slip (1970): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Simon and Liz were teenage siblings who fell into a time hole and found themselves trapped in various periods of the 20th century, where they encounter all sorts of adventures. Many of them involve the nefarious Commander Traynor, who is also traveling in time."
Timecop (1994) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Jean Claude Van Damme plays a cop who's assigned to a special unit set up to protect Time Travel from being misused. Of course he's too late, and he must go back in time to stop a corrupt Senator from manipulating the past for his own power. This film explores the paradox problem well. Look for some - but not much - of Van Damme's kickboxing skills! The film inspired the short-running CBS TV show in the fall of 1997 which was fairly well done." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "The weakest part, logically, of this fairly decent film is the notion that the you from the future should never touch the you from the past, or the two will morph together into painful and soon-extinguished blob of protoplasm, shape-changing like the melting Terminator II robot. If you accept the paradox of meeting yourself (which is NOT logically inconsistent) and exchanging information with yourself, why not allow physical contact?"
Timeline (2003) Director: Richard Donner; Adapted: from the novel by Michael Crichton; Screenplay: Frank A. Cappello; Starring: Paul Walker as Chris Hughes; Gerard Butler as Andre Marek; Frances O'Connor as Kate Erickson; Ethan Embry as David Stern; Billy Connoly as Professor Edward Johnson; David Thewlis as Robert Doniger; Plot Summary: Chris, Andre, Kate, and David are four college students of brilliant but eccentric Professor Edward Johnson. Working at an archaeological site in France, the Professor becomes missing. The four students are brought quickly to the US by a mysterious corporation, ITC. Insomniac ITC President Robert Doniger tells them about the Time Machine he's developed. He sends them back to rescue their professor from medieval France, or maybe an Alternate History timeline. Chris, Andre, and Kate go back in Time, while david stays in the present to deduce ITC's real motive. I didn't find the medieval stuff or the high-tech stuff credible. Where is the Michael Crichton of "Andromeda Strain"? Trapped in the wealth and power of "Jurassic Park" and "ER."
Timemaster (1995): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page
Timerider (1983) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A motorcycle and its rider is thrust back in time to the old west."
Timestalkers (1983)(TV) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page as "Timestalkers (1987)" [slightly different title and date] "A time-travelling woman from the 26th century convinces a modern-day college professor to help her track down her scientist father's evil associate - who's fled back to the 1800s. This has one of the neatest time travel gimmicks I've ever seen used in a TT film: The evil associate wants to get into a military facility. But it's too heavily guarded. So, he goes up on a hill, overlooking the facility. Then, he goes back in time to the 1920s- BEFORE the facility is built. Then, he walks down the hill to where the facility WILL BE built in the future. Then, he goes ahead again to the present day. Brilliant!"
Turn Back the Clock (1933): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page
Twelve Monkeys (1995) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Bruce Willis plays a man who lives in a world that has been ravaged by disease brought on by biological terrorism. Following leads discovered by a ruling caste of doctors, he is sent back to 1996 to prevent the 'Army of the 12 Monkeys' from carrying out their anti-human plot. The film is a perfect example of circular logic, i.e., all of the "clues" were/are sent by the person going back in time to follow-up on the clues! Besides this, the film is well-acted (see Brad Pitt as a convincing psychotic!) I'll have to see it again, because it's a bit confusing, but the ending is good." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Steve, in the above capsule review, seems to have missed the point that this film is a big-budget remake of the French very-low-budget but brilliant "La Jetee (1962)."
Two Way Mirror, The (1990)(TV) : Also Known As: Don't Fool with Love: The Two Way Mirror (1990) (TV) 27 minutes, Mexico (Spanish language, location shots in Mexico), Color; Director: Carlos Garc�a Agraz Screenplay: Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Susana Cato Production Companies: Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Scriptwriters' Workshop, The Fundacion del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano, Producciones Amaranta [Mexico], RM Associates Distributor: RM Associates Genre: Drama / Romance / Short / Time-travel "Susana [Arcelia Ramirez], a beautiful young girl living in 1990, is happily looking forward to her forthcoming marriage - and has bought an antique mirror to grace her future home. Three weeks before the wedding, the mirror is delivered to her Grandmother's [Mar�a Rubio] home and taken to Susana's room. Later that day, when looking into the glass, Susana is startled to see the image of a handsome soldier [Daniel Gimenez Cacho as Lt. Nicolas de Regulo] (from 1863), instead of her own reflection. It soon becomes obvious that he can see Susana as clearly as she can see him - and life, for them both, is never quite the same again." Summary edited from David McAnally ([email protected]) Complete credited cast: * Arcelia Ramirez as Susana * Daniel Gimenez Cacho as Lt. Nicolas de Regulo * Maria Rubio as Grandmother * Victor Hugo Mart�n del Campo as Alonso * Antonieta Murillo Nieto as Cook * Ines Murillo Nieto as Seamstress * Garcia Vazquez Gil as Wedding Guest *Jose' Antonio Marros as Wedding Guest
Two Worlds of Jennie Logan, The (1978)(TV) mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "When a bored housewife sees a picture of herself in an attic, she is drawn to it, and wonders how it's possible. Open to the idea of time travel, she finds herself wearing an antique dress, and travelling 78 years into the past. There she meets a man who is everything her husband is not, and falls in love. But can she find true love there? Can she save her new lover from a terrible fate as the new century chimes in? Starring Lindsay Wagner and co-starring future Dallas star Linda Gray, this film is well-acted and is worth seeing."
Undead, The (1957) : 71 minutes, USA, English language, Black and White, Unrated Director: Roger Corman Screenplay: Charles B. Griffith, Mark Hanna Production Companies: American International Pictures (AIP), Balboa Distributors: American International Pictures (AIP) Genres: Horror / Time-travel / Hypnotism / Devil / Magic / Witch Tagline: Terror... that screams from the grave! "Two psychical researchers procure the services of a lady of the night and send her back in time under hypnosis. She finds herself in the body of a past existence - a woman in medieval times waiting to be beheaded as a witch. By avoiding this fate she unwittingly starts to alter history." Summary written for IMDb by Jeremy Perkins ([email protected]) Cast Includes: * Pamela Duncan as Diana Love/Helen, the witch * Richard Garland as Pendragon * Allison Hayes as Livia * Val Dufour as Quintus Ratcliff * Mel Welles as Smolkin, the gravedigger * Dorothy Neumann as Meg Maud * Maurice Manson as Prof. Ulbrecht Olinger * Billy Barty as The Imp * Bruno VeSota as Scroop, the innkeeper * Richard Devon as Satan * Aaron Saxon as Gobbo * Don Garralt as The Knight * Dick Miller as The Leper * Paul Blaisdell as Corpse Review from
: "THE UNDEAD (Roger Corman 1957) This may not come as a surprise to you, but Roger Corman was and still is infamous for making films fast and cheap. Some of them, namely 'Little Shop of Horrors' and the Poe/Price-series, have achieved cult status, while others, like 'The Undead', lie in the bywaters - which is a pity, for overall, this is one of his most charming works - probably the only one to fit that term. Apart from a few shots, the film - originally double-billed with 'Voodoo Woman' - was made entirely in an abandoned supermarket on Sunset Boulevard (or Santa Monica Boulevard, sources differ, damn those sources) in ten days for about $70,000 spent mostly for fake shrubbery and lots of fog. The film does look cheap indeed: even the main titles, often quite artistic in AIP productions of the time, are cheesy: some flames with Letraset-style titles superimposed, and a Ronald Stein score with the main instrument apparently an oscillator. No, I'm not being sarcastic, that's what Stein himself said (about his score for 'It Conquered the World' (1956)): 'I could set the frequencies and just move my hand nervously on the oscillator.' Naturally. Why not? After all, a theremin would have cost money. Anyway, who needs a budget when there's a story like this: after a short prologue with the devil (Richard Devon) informing us that we are about to see 'a story of (his) eternal work', ambitious psychologist Richard Garland (then husband of Beverly) picks up a woman of the streets (Pamela Duncan) and proceeds to hypnotize her by tickling his hand with a finger in order to lead her back to her past lives. Obviously, it's Bridey Murphy time, and we come to expect something along the lines of 'The She-Creature' (1956). But instead, screenwriter Charles Griffith, soon to write 'Little Shop of Horrors' (1960), gives us something quite different. Originally, the screenplay had been written in blank verse, but it was toned down shortly before shooting; even so, enough cod Shakespearian gems remain, as Duncan finds herself literally imprisoned in medieval England, accused of being a witch and to be beheaded at dusk. When her re-incarnated self intervenes by suggesting she knock down the guard, things rapidly go mad. Now, several commentators have complained that they could not follow the film's plot. I could, but why should I spoil the fun for you? Just a few of the ingredients: there's Mel Welles as a gravedigger spouting nursery rhymes slightly adjusted for his business, there's Allison Hayes (a delight in her other sizeable role than 'Attack of the 50 Foot Woman' (1958) - who was, of course, quite a lot more sizeable) as a real witch preparing for the Witches' Sabbath who keeps changing into a cat and back, assisted by familiar Billy Barty. The devil himself turns also up (as does Dick Miller in a cameo, with a bell around his neck). Halfways through, the psychologist feels the need to follow his patient into the past to iron things out, but apart from impressing somebody with his wrist watch, matters turn out to be much more complicated than expected, as... but, oh well, you get the picture by now, don't you? No? Well, what are you waiting for? Go and get it!"
Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979) : Also Known As: * Spaceman and King Arthur, The (1979) * Spaceman in King Arthur's Court, A (1979) * UFO (1979) UK (English language), Color, Rated G (USA) Director: Russ Mayberry Screenplay: Don Tait Story: very loosely based on Mark Twain's novel "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" Production Company: Walt Disney Productions (a.k.a. Walt Disney Pictures) Distributor: Buena Vista Producer: Ron Miller Original music: Ron Goodwin Cinematographer: Paul Beeson Film Editor: Peter Boita Costume Designer: Phyllis Dalton Lighting/Grip Package: Lee Lighting Ltd. Genres: Comedy / Family / Kids / Time-travel "A NASA spacecraft proves Einstein right when, travelling faster than light, it ends up near King Arthur's [Kenneth More] Camelot. On board are big-hearted Tom Trimble [Dennis Dugan] and Hermes, the look-alike robot he built. Tom immediately makes friends with pretty Alisande [Sheila White] and enemies with the awful knight Sir Nordred [Jim Dale]. It seems Nordred is out to oust Arthur, while Alisande's father is not the goose she believes him to be but is also a victim of Nordred's schemes. It's as well the Americans have arrived." Summary written by Jeremy Perkins ([email protected]) Cast (in alphabetical order): * Robert Beatty as Senator Milburn * Rodney Bewes as Clarence * Kevin Brennan as Winston * Jim Dale as Sir Mordred * Dennis Dugan as Tom Trimble/Hermes * John Le Mesurier as Sir Gawain * Reg Lye as Prisoner * Ron Moody as Merlin * Kenneth More as King Arthur * Pat Roach as Oaf * Cyril Shapes as Dr. Zimmerman * Ewen Solon as Watkins * Sheila White as Alisande
Virtualia Episode Five: The Dark Side (2002)(Video) Produced in Sweden. English language. X-rated?
Visiteurs, Les (1993) : Also Known As: Visitors, The (1993) France (French language) 107 minutes (UK) / 105 minutes (Spain) Director: Jean-Marie Poire' Screenplay: Christian Clavier, Jean-Marie Poire' Production Companies: Alpilles Productions, France 3 Cinema (FR 3), Gaumont International, Amigo Productions Distributors: Cine Company, S.A. (Spain), Lions Gate Films Inc. [formerly Cinepix Film Properties (CFP)] (Canada), Miramax Films [USA] Special Effects: Duboi Producer: Alain Terzian Original Music: Eric Levi Cinematographer: Jean-Yves Le Mener Film Editor: Catherine Kelber Production Designer: Hugues Tissandier Costume Designer: Catherine Leterrier Hair Stylist: Patrick Archambault Makeup Artist: Muriel Baurens Assistant Directors: Gilles Bannier, Isabelle Beauchesne, Laurence Coq, Paul Gueu, Pierre Guithaumou, Pierre Pochy, Gary Saint-Martin Visual Effects Supervisor: Pitof Rated: USA: R for language, France:U, UK:15, Germany:12, Spain:13, Sweden:11, Australia:M, Finland:K-12/9 Fantasy / Comedy / Time-travel Tagline: "Ils ne sont pas nes d'hier!" "A medieval nobleman [Luc Besson regular Jean Reno as Godefroy] and his squire [co-screenwriter Christian Clavier as Jacquouille] are accidentally transported [from 1123 A.D.] to contemporary times [1993] by a senile sorcerer [Pierre Vial as Wizard Eusebius]. He enlists the aid of his descendent to try to find a way to return home, all the while trying to cope with the cultural and technological changes distinguishing his time from ours." Edited from summary written by Stewart M. Clamen ([email protected]) The Australian, Reviewer: David Stratton
"When Les Visiteurs opened in Paris in March 1993, it quickly became the most successful French film in 30 years, breaking box-office records all over the country. The reason isn't hard to discover: this hilariously funny film with its devastatingly simple premise combines skilful slapstick with a probing satire on contemporary manners and mores. It opens in the year 1123, with the brave knight Godefroy (played by Luc Besson regular Jean Reno). After triumphs on the battlefield he travels across the country to marry his betrothed, Frenegonde [Valerie Lemercier], accompanied by his loyal squire, Jacquouille [co-screenwriter Christian Clavier]. After an unfortunate encounter with a sorceress, resulting in an act that seriously jeopardises Godefroy's marriage and the future of his line, knight and squire quaff a magic potion that is supposed to turn the clock back, allowing Godefroy a chance to make amends. Instead, the pair are rocketed 870 years into the future, to France of the 1990s, where the knight finds that his castle is now a hotel run by Jacquart (Clavier again), a hilariously sleazy descendant of his squire. The simple but clever premise of having a pair of fish-out-of-water and rather smelly characters from the 12th century confronted by France in the 20th century, provides the basis for a string of increasingly clever, but not always politically correct, jokes, confidently handled by cowriter and director Jean-Marc Poire. The dialogue is stuffed with puns and the language is cheerfully mangled with modern yuppieisms as the newcomers speak in a semi-invented variation of ancient French. The shadow of Monty Python hovers over the often brilliantly funny exchanges, but the English subtitles have to struggle a bit to keep up with it all. (Mercifully, a cockeyed plan to have the film dubbed over by Mel Brooks has been abandoned - what a nightmare that would have been.) Much amusement is to be found as the time travellers encounter modern facilities (there's an emphasis on toilet humour), and Clavier and Lemercier, who hail from the cafe-theatres of Paris where vaudeville still enjoys popular success, bring all their experience to this enormously appealing farce. " Nominated for, and winner of, several Cesar Awards: * Winner, 1994 Cesar for Best Supporting Actress (Val�rie Lemercier) * Nominated, 1994 Cesar for Best Actor (Christian Clavier, Jean Reno) * Nominated, 1994 Cesar for Best Director (Jean-Marie Poire') * Nominated, 1994 Cesar for Best Music Written for a Film (Eric Levi) * Nominated, 1994 Cesar for Best Writing - Original or Adaptation (Christian Clavier, Jean-Marie Poire') Complete Cast: * Christian Clavier as Jacquouille/Jacquart * Jean Reno as Comte Godefroy de Montmirail, dit Godefroy le Hardi * Valerie Lemercier as Beatrice/Frenegonde * Marie-Anne Chazel as Ginette la clocharde * Christian Bujeau as Jean-Pierre * Isabelle Nanty as Fabienne Morlot * Gerard Sety as Edgar Bernay * Didier Pain as King Louis VI * Jean-Paul Muel as Marechal des Logis Gibon * Arielle Semenoff as Jacqueline * Michel Peyrelon as Edouard Bernay * Pierre Vial as Wizard Eusebius/Monsieur Ferdinand * Francois Lalande as Priest * Didier Benureau as Intern Beauvin * Frederic Baptiste as Freddy * Pierre Aussedat as Chief Sergeant Morlet * Tara Gano as Witch * Stephanie Marie as Princess Kathlyn, mistress of Louis VI * Jean-Luc Caron as Ganelon * Anna Gaylor as Godfroid de Mont-Mirail's Mother * Claire Magnin as Rejuvenate's Old Woman * Eric Averlant as Brother Raoul * Jean-Pierre Clami as Restaurant's Boss * Thierry Liagre as Restaurant's Cook * David Gabison as Maitre d'hotel * Patrick Burgel as Duc de Pouille, Frenegonde's Father * Paul Bandey as Henri 1st Beauclerc, King of England * Jerome Berthoud, Amandine Boyadjian,Yohan Boyadjian Katia Delagarde, Eric Denize, Bela Gruschka, Dominique Hulin, Jean-Guillaume Le Dantec, Madeleine Marie, Andre' Raffard, Michel Scourneau, * Theophile Sowie as The Postman * Nadia Vasil, Katja Weitzenbock, Olivier Wojciechowski
The Visitors (2000): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "(Soon to be released comedy-time travel film.) Haven't seen this one, but I'd love to! Forever (2001) - As the long-distant past beckons to a modern Australian woman, drawing her into a reluctant journey of self-discovery crossing 700 years and two continents, a story emerges, piece by piece, of trust, love, revenge, forgiveness, hope and redemption told through choices made and fates embraced, as she faces a second chance that could change her destiny, and those around her - forever." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide wonders: is this a remake of Visiteurs, Les (1993) ?
Warlock (1989):mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A warlock flees from the 16th to the 20th century, with a witch-hunter in hot pursuit."
W.E.I.R.D. World (1995)(TV) : USA (English language), Color Director: William Malone Screenplay/Story: Gilbert Adler, A L Katz, Scott Nimerfro Production Company: Two Fisted Productions Producers: Gilbert Adler (co-executive), Richard Donner (executive), David Giler (executive), Walter Hill (executive), A L Katz, Omneya 'Nini' Mazen (associate), F.A. Miller (co-producer), Scott Nimerfro (co-producer), Joel Silver (executive), Robert Zemeckis (executive) "Greed, murder, sex - all appear to thrive at the Wilson Emery Institute for Research and Development, aka W.E.I.R.D., where brilliant, young, but emotionally unstable scientific genius[es] are recruited to develop cutting-edge projects in such fields as virology, time-travel, rejuvenation and robotics." Summary written by Doug Sederberg ([email protected]) Original music: Nicholas Pike Cinematographer: Levie Isaacks Film Editosr: Anthony Adler, Stanley Wohlberg Production Designer: Gregory Melton Art Directior: Alex Hajdu Costume Designer: Randall Thropp Makeup Artist: Donna-Lou Henderson Hair Stylist: Kenneth Walker First Assistant Director: Leigh A. Webb Second Assistant Director: Carole Keligian Sound Mixer: Vince Garcia Special Effects Makeup: Todd Masters Camera Operator: Rick Davidson Script Supervisor : Joyce King Property Master: Steve Melton Apprentice Editor: Vartan Nazarian Assistant Editor: Henry Te Set Designer: Karen Weber Complete Cast: * Dana Ashbrook as Dylan Bledsoe * Marshall Bell as Industrial Spy * Audie England as Diane * Paula Marshall * Kathryn Morris * Miguel A. Nunez Jr. as Bob Provost * Gina Ravera * Clayton Rohner * Jim True as Noah Lane * Ed O'Neill as Dr. Monochian * Cyia Batten * Bryan Rush * Rachael Bella * Tony Cox * Stephen Liska * Michael Wu as Dr. Chu * Zachary Harris * Scott Nimerfro
Yesterday Machine, The (1963) : an Independent film Production Company: Carter Film Productions Distributors: Video City ; Sinister Cinema (video) Director: Russ Marker Screenplay: Russ Marker Producer: Russ Marker Cinematographer: Ralph K. Johnson ISFDB mangles and oversimplifies as: "A Nazi scientist invents a time machine enabling him to go back to alters [sic] the events of WWII. Starring: * Tim Holt as Police Lt. Partane * James Britton as Jim Crandall * Jack Herman as Professor Ernest Von Hauser Other cast includes: * Sandra De Mar * Ann Pellegrino as Sandy * Bill Thurman as Police detective ISDB has less than usual on this one. For Nazi past-changing, see also: The Philadelphia Experiment I and II
| Bill & Ted (franchise) |
Which title character was again involved in time travel last year after beginning in 1984? | TIME TRAVEL page of ULTIMATE SCIENCE FICTION WEB GUIDE
A spasso nel tempo (1996) : One of the few Italian Time Travel films.
All Over Again (2000): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A 17-year old boy meets up with his 67-year old self, who tries to warn him of the things that took him down the wrong path in life."
The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "After their mother is hired as the caretaker of a Victorian mansion, a pair of youngsters see a ghost. They are transported back in time to the turn of the 20th century, where they come to the aid of two children who are about to be murdered."
"Andromeda" (2000)(TV) also known as "Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda" Captain Dylan Hunt commands the sentient Andromeda Ascendant starship, which is part of the military muscle of multi-galaxy utopian All-Systems Commonwealth monarchy. That Commonwealth is a blend of the Federation (as Roddenberry invented for "Star Trek") without the depth of Ken McLeod's Communist utopian Solar Union ("Cassini Division" is its elite military force), or Iain Banks' Anarcho-socialist Culture novels ("Consider Phlebas", "The Player of Games", "Use of Weapons", "Excession") or the very Capitalist Qeng Ho interstellar trading fleet in Vernor Vinge's novels ("A Fire Upon the Deep", "A Deepness in the Sky"). That is, in my opinion, "Andromeda" is Space Opera without the deep politics of literary science fiction, or the exuberent fun of, say, "5th Element." The Nietzcheans back-stab the Commonwealth, Hunt has little choice but to order his crew to abandon ship, and fling Andromeda Ascendant into a black hole. Three centuries later, the passing salvage ship Eureka Maru drags the ship out of the frozen time near the black hole. To Hunt's horror, the All-Systems Commonwealth is virtually forgotten, and the Three Galaxies have sunken to barbarianism (as ripped off from Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" novels). The rag-tag crew of salvage crew, alien Nietzchean mercenary, alien predator monk must, under the quixotic leadership of Captain Dylan Hunt, aboard the intelligent living spaceship (think HAL-9000 of Clarke & Kubrik's "2001" crossed with Sci-Fi Channel's "Lexx") to re-establish the Commonwealth and restore the glory of civilization (as in David Brin's self-indulgently filmed "The Postman" with its Re-United States of America." So, in summary, Gene Roddenberry was a TV genius, but Star Trek was his real hit. "Andromeda" is utterly derivative, and so stupid that I could never sit through any full episode. Almost as stupid as "Star Wars", politically speaking, but without the cool special effects. So shoot me.
APEX (1994): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page In an obvious steal from the "Terminator" movies, in 2073, a time travel lab inadvertently loses control of an experiment that goes to a desert in 1973. An APEX (Advanded Prototype EXtermination unit - think 'Blade Runner') is sent back in time to 'sterilize' the area, but one of the scientists goes back with it when he notices a young child caught in its sights. This causes a 'time paradox', and he's sucked back into an alternate future - a world in which the clones of the original robot, who stayed in the past with the command to 'sterilize' the area of people, are still programmed to kill all living things. The 'paradox' plot has massive holes, such as 'Who built the time travel lab in the future created by the paradox?', and 'How are the same people together in this timeline?' You'll find yourself focused more on the unnecessary 'R-rated' language than the plot, what there is of it."
Army of Darkness (1993) : Also known as "Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness" "Trapped in Time, Surrounded by Evil, Low on Gas" This tongue-in-cheek Sam Raimi film combines the genres of Action/Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, and Horror. Capsule Review based on comments by Ed Sutton ([email protected]) and David Thiel ([email protected]): "This sequel to 'Evil Dead 2', has discount-store employee 'Ash' time-warped to a medieval castle, and stranded in the 13th Century with only his car, shotgun, and chainsaw to save him. Soon he is discovered, assumed to be an enemy spy for a rival kingdom, and imprisoned. He shows that he's made of brave stuff in 'The Pit', after which he agrees to help the kingdom by retrieving the Lovecraftian 'Necronomicon', a book which might drive away evil, and which holds out hope of returning him to the present. The Necronomicon is essential for battling dread supernatural forces which beseige the castle and land. Ash, however, unwittingly releases the 'Army of Darkness' (an army of skeletons, led by his own Deadite counterpart) while retrieving the book and mispronouncing the magic spell. An epic battle begins between Ash's modern tactics and the ancient minions of darkness. In this fight, Ash is revealed to be the prophesied savior of the kingdom. Allegedly, this cult film inspired the 'Duke Nukem' comics/games/novels. It is exciting, if creepy/goofy fun.
Ausgestorben (1995) : According to "torsten.dewi", of Munich, Germany (26 November 1999) writing for isdb.com, this amazing student short feature tells a gripping story. Hoping against hope to save his plague-ridden, world a scientist time-travels to the time of the dinosaurs, to locate and retrieve an extinct plant that might enable a cure. In this desperate trip, he screws up up the timelines. Torsten praises the good German actors (including SciFi/Horror specialist Udo Kier), and makes good use of high-tech design, including left-over sets from the science fiction Space/Alien film "Enemy Mine." Torsten credits the director, Michael Pohl , with "a great eye for details", and hopes that this short-film "business card" will be Pohl's ticket to big-budget features. Pohl's new project, the 45 minute "Vortex", will be eagerly awaited.
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "This sequel to the first 'Austin Powers' movie employs time travel as a devise to great effect, as Austin Powers must go back in time to regain his 'mojo' (his sexual powers), stolen by Dr. Evil. Don't look for continuity here, just laugh. Dr. Evil steals the show here with his hilarious send ups of modern culture and his strained relationship with his son and 'mini me'. It's not an excellent film, but go just to see Dr. Evil." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Well, there's credit to be given to Mike Meyers for successfully inventing and playing at least 3 different characters in the same film..."
Back to the Future Part II(1989)
Back to the Future Part III(1990) : Back to the Future Parts I through III (1985, 1989, 1990): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "In this timetravel classic, Michael J. Fox plays Marty McFly, whose friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) builds a time machine from a modified DeLorean. Explores time paradoxes in great detail, these films are the best of the genre. Part One happens in 1955, where he arranges for his parents to meet and fall in love. Part Two happens in the future, where he has to save his kids. Part Three finds him and Doc in the Old West. (I've seen Part One at least 20 times!)"
Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991) : Director: Sylvio Tabet Screenplay: Ken Hauser, Doug Miles, et al. Fantasy / Action / Adventure (Time Travel is a sub-plot) This film is the middle part of trilogy: * The Beastmaster (1982) * Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991) * Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus (1995) As in the first (1982), Mark Singer plays "Dar", a warrior able to communicate (Dr.Doolittle-like) with beasts, and also see through their eyes, hear through their ears, and so forth. Dar is not to be confused with a charcter of the same name as played by Darren Young in "Cave Girl" (1985). Beastmaster Dar travels to Los Angeles, on our Earth, to prevent his evil brother from stealing a neutron detonator for building an atomic bomb, to use in their native desert world. Filimng of the desert was on location at Glen Canyon, Utah. The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide basically agrees with the following on-line review, as we found the film irritating. At-a-Glance Film Reviews : "A sensuous, mysterious witch (we know she is sensuous and mysterious because she said so) makes an offer to evil badguy Arklon; she can take him to modern day L.A. where they can steal a neutron detonator, return to their own world, and rule it. Arklon realizes a couple of nukes would be more effective than crushing his enemies with styrofoam boulders, so he agrees. Before seeing this film, I was warned that there was interaction with the modern world, and that this effectively killed the fantasy atmosphere created by the original. (It did.) This was regrettable, but I decided that I would take the film for what it was, rather than comparing it with the first. It might have worked -- but what makes Beastmaster 2 so unbearably awful, even as a stand-alone film, is the awkward, cliched, corny dialogue, and painful acting by Kari Wuhrer, a girl from L.A. who accidentally drives her car through the portal to the Beastmaster's world. When she isn't attempting to pass off lines like 'I'd rather eat breakfast than be breakfast,'viewers are subjected to a horribly contrived storyline, where flawed logic abounds. Why must the Beastmaster go to the tiger and help him keep watch -- can't the Beastmaster see through the tiger's eyes anymore? Why does Arklon spend as much energy deliberately detaining the Beastmaster, planning to kill him later, as he would if he destroyed him then and there? Not to mention one of the character's inexplicable change of heart. As if that wasn't enough, every scene plays as predictably as if you'd seen the movie once already. To its credit, the film as a whole is not particularly predictable, yet at the beginning of each and every scene, you know exactly how it will pan out. Finally, the finale, alas, is devoid of suspense, due to inane humor. Perhaps I'm being too harsh on this film; it does have some small merit. The opening scene is good (alas, it's the best), and it's never boring (how many bad films can make that claim?)."
Berkeley Square (1933) : Directed by Frank Lloyd Screenplay by: John L. Balderston (who also wrote the play) & Sonya Levien; This 84 minute, black & white Fantasy/Romance stars: Leslie Howard (as Peter Standish) Heather Angel (as Helen Pettigrew) Valerie Taylor (as Kate Pettigrew), and Lionel Barrymore (as Innkeeper) Grady E. Jensen ([email protected]), of Scarsdale, New York, wrote for ISDB (10 June 1999) that: "'Berkeley Square' is similar in theme to [the novel by] Jack Finney 'Time and Again.' A present day American is transported back to the home of his ancestors in London, during the American Revolution. He knows, of course, what will happen and even falls in love with one of his female ancestors. An old film but a terrific one..." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "In Jack Finney's novel, New York City, specifically the Dakota apartments next to Central Park, is the location, not London. Also, Jack Finney's protagonist goes back roughly a century, not the two centuries of 'Berkeley Square.' Of course, both male protagonists fall in love with women in the past (that's what happens in hetero Romances), but Jack Finney does not fall for one of his own ancestresses. That twist is explored rather thoroughly in the novel 'Up the Line' by Robert Silverberg."
Beyond the Time Barrier (1959): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A 1950s jet pilot breaks the time barrier and flies into World War III America, which is populated with mutants and plagued with a deadly virus."
Biggles: Adventures in Time (1986) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Jim Ferguson - who lives in New York in the 1980s - is suddenly transported back to World War I to help his 'time twin', 'Biggles', who is in danger. Whenever either of them is in danger, they are transported to help one another. There are some problems with the film: with paradox, with character reactions to being shifted in time (i.e. they aren't very surprised by it), with the 'secret weapon' and its unexplained origin, and even with the age of one character (A WWI officer would have been well over 90 in 1985, yet he still appears to be in his 60s!), but these don't detract from this interesting, well-filmed and at times very funny film. (What Ferguson and Biggles bring back to 1917 will amaze you!)"
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Not as good as the first film [Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure], though this sequel features a hillarious series of contests with Death'. ('Twister', anyone?)" The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Steven neglects to mention that the death-gaming is a parody of Bergmann's famous Chess scene in 'The Seventh Seal."
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Two teenagers from California travel through time in a phone booth to get ready for their history report, which is very important for them to pass. They end up in a future world where their (yet to be unwritten) music is the basis of all of society - a frightening thought, once you hear the music and the platitudes that go along with it! For their history report, they bring back personalities like Socrates, Abraham Lincoln, Joan of Arc, Sigmund Freud and Napoleon. (Forget continuity, forget plausibility, just enjoy it!) Look for George Carlin playing their mentor. The film explores paradoxes in a funny way (watch the scenes where they sneak around the police station - and try to follow it!)" The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "This is a surprisingly clever film. Besides the broad humor of the dumb-but-likeable protagonists, who (for instance) insist on calling Joan of Arc 'Ms.Arc", the best plotting occurs in seeing the same scene twice, once when the dudes in the 'present' are visited by themselves from the future, and don't understand what they're being told. When we loop through this the second time, from the viewpoint of the 'future' dudes, they say 'This makes a whole lot more sense this time through', or words to that effect."
Blackadder: Back and Forth (1999): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "To fool their friends on Millenium Eve, Blackadder and Baldrick build a bogus time machine and charge people to bring back artifacts (which Blackadder already owns). Trouble is, the time machine actually works!"
Blast from the Past (1999): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Brendan Fraser plays a naive man who comes out into the world after�being in a nuclear fallout shelter for 35 years. Sets up numerous funny lines and situations." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Brendan Fraser almost single-handedly carries this film. He is much more effective when given good lines and good supporting actors, plus special effects, as in the very fine remake of 'The Mummy' -- which deals with time travel forwards by an agonizing mechanism..."
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1978)
Carnivale (1999): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Animated tale by former Tim Burton art director Deane Taylor has many of Burton's dark themes. Children playing by the sea shore are lured into a time travel portal where they are taken to an amusement park. There they are having loads of fun until they discover that if they don't escape immediately, they will be forever trapped there as inanimate objects."
Cave Girl (1985) : Director: David Oliver Screenplay: Phil Groves Comedy / Romance Summary expanded from Tom Zoerner ([email protected]): "On a class excursion to a cave with stone age paintings the clumsy Rex [Daniel Roebuck] gets lost. A mysterious crystal opens a gateway in time and sets him back to the stone ages, where he meets a group of prehistoric fellows and the gorgeous Eba [Cynthia Thompson]. While teaching her English and doing some pseudo-research on her fellows, his main goal is to get her sleeping with him. However the curiosity of the clan chief disturbs his attempts." There is also Darren Young playing the character "Dar", not to be confused with the "Dar" in "Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991), as played by Mark Singer." At-a-Glance Film Reviews gave one-word review: "Ugh."
Clockstoppers (2002), Directed by Jonathan Frakes. Blatantly ripped off from "The Girl, the Gold Watch, and Everything." But without the kinky sex of "The Fermata" (2005?), currently being scripted by Hugo Award-winning Best Novelist Neil Gaiman. Dim Leave-It-To-Beaver teenager Zak Gibbs has never had a tougher puzzle than how to buy a car (think: "Dude, Where's My Car?"). His inventor father left a weird wristwatch among his gadgets. When Zak puts it on, he soon discovers that it can stop the world around him, freezing everyone and everything in place while he moves through hypertime. He and his purportedly clever girlfriend Francesca waste this amazing opportunity with pathetic practical jokes. Soon, they are in over their heads, because they are not the only ones maneuvering in hypertime. Juvenile and disappointing.
The Cold Room (1984): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A young woman visiting East Berlin is transported back in time to World War II when she enters a strange room behind her hotel room's wall."
Command and Conquer: Red Alert (1996)(Video Game)
Conceiving Ada (1997) Low-budget avant-garde, a film by Lynn Hershman Leeson, with Tilda Swinton, Karen Black, Dr. Timothy Leary (the Harvard Psych prof/LSD guru/software philosopher), and Reverend John Perry Barlow (Grateful Dead lyricist, Electronic Freedom Foundation). Opened 19 Feb 1997 (?) in San Francisco, 26 Feb 1997 (?) in New York. I hate to admit it, but I never caught the underground oddity. But it does have time travel...
Doctor Who (1996)(TV)
Donnie Darko (2001) The disturbed (schizophrenic?) medicated Junior High School teenager Donnie Darko, during the 1988 Presidential Election, sleepwalks out of his Middlesex, Iowa, home one night. He is confronted by a huge rabbit-demon named Frank who warns him that the world will end "in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds." The next morning, as he heads home, he is shocked to find that a jet plane's turbine engine has crashed through his roof and bedroom. His vaguely dysfunctional family, and more totally dysfunctional school are no help to his attempts to figure out why he survived, and how to save the world. The creepy bunny becomes his guru, leading him to subversive and destructive acts that escalate from overcoming the school bully, a knee-jerk conservative Health Ed teacher, and a smarmy self-help lecturer (Patrick Swayze as the cultish head Jim Cunningham of the "Controlling Fear" seminars, which have entranced many in the town), to vandalism, career-destruction, flooding the school, and arson against a sexually perverted writer. That writer is the epitome of specialization -- Donnie Darko insists that things are not so simple -- one must recognize the entire spectrum of human emotions. The subtle plot eventually discloses that Donnie Darko did actually die in "our" universe, and he's in a strange parallel alternate reality. He is faced with an ultimate choice: save the world by sacrificing himself, or save himself in the tangent world by dooming his home universe. The ending resolves as weird a set of paradoxes as have ever been paradoctored. Donnie Darko is directed by Richard Kelly, and well-acted by Jake Gyllenhaal as the title character Hip, clever, ironic, and unique. Cool sound track, too. Recommended.
Dragon's Lair II: Timewarp (1991)(VG) Videogame
Dreamcatcher (2003) Director: Lawrence Kasdan; Adapted: from the novel by Stephen King; Screenplay: William Goldman & Lawrence Kasdan; Executive Producer: Bruce Berman; Starring: Morgan Freeman as Col. Abraham Curtis; Damien Lewis as Prof. Gary "Jonesy" Jones; Thomas Jane as Dr. Henry Devlin; Jason Lee as Joe "Beaver" Clarendon; Timothy Olyphant as Pete Moore; Tom Sizemore as Capt. Owen Underhill; Andrew Robb as Young Duddits; Production Companies: Castle Rock Entertainment [USA]; NPV Entertainment [USA]; SSDD Films Inc. [Canada]; Village Roadshow Prods. [Australia]; Special Effects: Industrial Light & Magic; Steve Johnson's Edge FX; Length: 136 minutes (134 in USA); Rated: R; Genres: Alien/Telepathy/Horror/Sci-Fi/Military/Male-Bonding; Plot Summary: The critics simply "did not get" this movie. That's because few of them read the thick novel of the same name by Stephen King. It is actually one of the best screen adaptations of King, and compresses most of its subplots into a complicated and fast-paced thoughtful action-adventure film, a rare combination indeed. The critics also couldn't tell if this was Horror or Sci-Fi. It's neither. It is true Science Fiction. The critics also condemned the film as derivative, and a rehash of King's favorite themes. Actually, the film captures King's unique spin on each otherwise familiar element. Four closely-bonded men, having a hard time with life, meet for their annual drinking/hunting getaway in the remote Maine woods. At first, the foursome from fictional Derry, Maine, are threatened only by a blizzard. But things go unhinged when a disoriented stranger staggers in. The four already have mid-life crises to contend with, and ready to talk them out at "Hole in the Wall." Comic/Sad Beav has problems with the opposite sex; Henry, a bookish psychiatrist, is close to suicide. Pete has slipped into beery alcoholism. Jonesy has weird premonitions, ever since a hallucination almost caused him to die as a pedestrian hit by a car. But the stranger talks about lights in the sky, wild animals with odd red patches migrate past the cabin, and the stranger has something bloody moving around inside him, which kills him horribly. What was it, and how can they fight it? And is the greater danger inside or outside? The story takes on paranormal tones as they recall the heroic act that bound them together, in childhood. They'd saved an apparent idiot, Duddits, from being tortured by school football-team bullies. But the idiot is something more unusual, and the four have even stranger powers as a result. Soon we are plunged into a nightmare of interplanetary aliens with either shape-shifting or telepathic powers, or both, and something deadly that is either symbiote or not, and a fast-growing red fungus. And is the secret military hero leading forces against the aliens a real hero, or a psychotic vigilante? Nothing is quite what it seems. And the blizzard bears down on all. Who will prevail: the aliens, or the Colonel? Will the Colonel destroy the town to save it, kill innocent civilians, or even nuke Maine? And has an alien taken over one of the four friends' minds, or become lost in the man's mental warehouse? And what about spreading the alien invasion through the water supply? This is a tricky and exciting film. My wife and I loved it. So did Stephen King, who often hates his screen adaptations. The critics miss the boat completely. Recommended.
Drivetime, The (1995) : Director: Antero Alli (who also appears as an actor) Screenplay: Antero Alli & Rob Brezsny Stars: Cristien Storm, Kristen Kozmas 88 minutes, USA, Independent production, Drama/Fantasy "Opencity" (New York, 25 October 1999) told ISFDB: "Antero Alli's brilliant, eccentric sci-fi commentary on a society whose obsession with telecommunications is mirrored by its increasing failure to relate on a person-to-person basis. Shot on a micro-budget, the film literally soars with an extraordinary screenplay rich in wit and irony, spiced with a remarkable music score that flavors the visual and intellectual genius depicted on-screen. Clearly one of the best underground films of the 1990s." Film.com : Tonight We're Going to Party Like It's 1999, by Teresa Parks: "1999. And Seattle looks suspiciously like it does now...a world of infomercials, CD-ROMs, newsgroups, webnets, netwebs...and confused media rebel artists trying to penetrate the hard screen and make their own meaning. Intended as the first videofilm in a trilogy, The Drivetime... is an engrossing fable about the possible effects of information overglut and cocooned reality withdrawal. "In 1999, "The Televisionary Terrorist NetWeb" serves as part of a government sponsored broadcast system through which people have vicarious experiences in DRIVETIME - an untouchable place where 'daytime' and 'dreamtime' interesect - instead of leaving the assurance of their ultra-high-security-patrolled living quarters. People called 'stringers' videorecord footage of police riots and street festivals to manipulate into cyberspace dreams to broadcast for voyeuristic pleasure. Media has reached the saturation point, or as Baudrillard would have said, 'the hyperreal,' where people consume much more than they produce. Others work against this techno-tyranny. Zola [Susan Mansfield] is involved in 'Telepathics Anonymous', a group for those 'addicted to real connection between people in a world that is rapidly disappearing into virtual on-line communities'; her lover, Vid [Michael George], struggles spiritually with his servile stringer job. "Alli is extremely effective in portraying a technocratic world without excessive use of special effects or overdramatization, (a contrast to Oliver Stone's overwrought Natural Born Killers). The devices he uses to reveal the technological overstructure - bites of commercial entertainment services, rumors of weapons testing behind the moon, hidden rituals in the Oddfellows Temple, and persons huddled alone in their rooms speaking to monitors - is emotionally evocative and probing. And it's not paranoid or ultra-utopian either, which is a constant danger with this sort of theme. And as an added bonus, The Drivetime features plenty of Seattle musicians and performance artists such as Kristen Kosmas, Cristien Storm, Cyndia Pickering, and a comic-ritualistic group, 'The Menstrual Temple of the Funky Grail' that makes this videofilm even more engaging to watch. See The Drivetime and 'turn on the TV inside yourself'."
The Erotic Time Machine (2002)(Video) X-rated for woman-woman action, introducing Kelli Summers. The Time Travel frame-plot is just an excuse for Seduction Cinema anthologizing of scenes you don't want the under-aged, or Attorney General Ashcroft, to watch. Basically here to warn you not to be fooled by the title into expecting a real plot.
Event Horizon (1997) An attempt to combine interstellar travel with time travel and mesh a science fiction look and plot with a Horror film pacing and emotionalism. Uneasy cross-genre result, with several admittedly impressive visuals and intense bloody scenes. Could have been so much better...
Evil Dead II (1987) : see: "Army of Darkness (1993)", also known as "Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness"
Final Countdown, The (1980) mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Interesting plot, in which an aircraft carrier is sent back to the Pacific Ocean just before Pearl Harbor is attacked in 1941. Do they have a duty to try to change history and win the war right then and there? Or should they allow history to remain as it is? An interesting moral discussion and the special effects are good. (Starring Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen)."
Frankenstein Unbound (1990) : Fine adaptation of the even better novel by Brian Aldiss.
Freejack (1992) : Fun film from the fine novel by Norman Spinrad. Surprisingly good acting by Mick Jagger. mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page as "A maniacal billionaire wants to transfer his mind into a younger body. To do this, he takes the body of a race car driver who is about to die in the past, and brings him into the future, just before his car is destroyed in a race. Look for Mick Jagger as the billionaire's security chief. Emilio Estevez is the driver."
Frenchman's Farm : Australian (English language) film, 100 minutes runtime, color, Dolby sound mix Director: Ron Way Screenplay: James Fishburn & Ron Way Runtime: Australia:100 Summary written by Brian J. Wright ([email protected]): "An Australian woman's car breaks down in the country, and when she goes to get help, she's whisked back in time to 1944 and witnesses a murder. Returning to her car, time reverts to normal, but unable to convince anyone of her story, she investigates the crime herself." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Frequency (2000) does a better job of combining time paradoxes with murder investigations." Cast includes: * Ray Barrett as Harry Benson * Alexander Black as Archives clerk * Andrew Blackman as John Mainsbridge * Tui Bow as Miss Morton * Phil Brock as John Hatcher * Robert Eastgate as Second detective * Gennifer Flowers (NOT President Clinton's ex-girlfriend) as Mrs. Grenville * Laurence Hodge as Man at telephone * Maurice Hughes as Country Policeman * Andrew Johnston as William Morris * Penny Jones as Programmer * Norman Kaye as Reverend Andershot * Ian Leigh-Cooper as Librarian * Kym Lynch as George Slater * John Meillon as Bill Dolan * Errol O'Neill as Programmer * David Reyne as Barry Norden * Lynne Schofield as Madame Cheveraux * Keith Scott as Radio announcer * Tracey Tainsh as Jackie Grenville * Rod Warren as TV newsman * Bill Watson as Farmer Review by Calvacade of Schlock : "Frenchmen in Australia? Another Aussie horror film? Where are these movies coming from? Please don't answer that. A woman's car breaks down in the Australian countryside, which is being devastated by uncontrollable brush fires. She's whisked back to 1944 and witnesses a murder. By the time she gets back to her car, time's back on track, but of course nobody believes her, and she has to investigate the matter herself. It's a fairly intriguing setup, and for the most part reasonably well executed. The mystery unfolds well for the most part, although there's a subplot involving two bumbling cops and their 'malfunctioning' crime computer which I could have done without. There's quite a bit of good atmosphere, although there's no gore or sex or really any violence to speak of, except for this great decapitation at the beginning. Extra points for the creepy smile on the face of one guy whose head is in a guillotine. Really awful pop music mars this one, though, and overall one's left with an impression of how much better the film could have been with more focus from its makers. Still, not bad overall."
From Time to Time (1992) : Also Known As: * Timekeeper (1992) * Le Visionarium (1992) (France) Color Short (18 minutes) French/American (English/French language versions) Production Companies: Walt Disney Productions (aka Walt Disney Pictures) and Theme Park Productions Shown only at Disney World, EuroDisney, and other Disney theme parks) Director: Jeff Blyth Special Effects: Rhythm & Hues Summary expanded from David Mullich ([email protected]): "The Timekeeper [Robin Williams] has invented the world's first functional time machine and sends his sidekick, a flying robot named 9-Eyes, on an excursion through time from the prehistoric age of the dinosaurs to fantastic cities of the future. Along the way 9-Eyes kidnaps Jules Verne [Michel Piccoli] and hears Mozart with his first composition, watches Leonardo da Vinci [Franco Nero] paint a masterpiece, takes a bobsled ride down a mountain, and meets fellow inventor H.G. Wells [Jeremy Irons]." Starring: * Patrick Bauchau * Nathalie Baye * Gerard Depardieu as Paris Airport Employee * Jeremy Irons as H.G. Wells * Franco Nero as Leonardo da Vinci * Rhea Perlman as voice of 9-Eye * Michel Piccoli as Jules Verne * Jean Rochefort as Louis XV * Robin Williams as Timekeeper
Grand Tour, The (1992)(TV) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page as "The Grand Tour: Disaster in Time (1992): A widower who is about to open a small inn is greeted by strange guests who insist on renting some rooms even though the inn is still under construction. He accepts, but begins to suspect that something about them isn't quite right. Yup, they're time travellers, and what he finds out shocks him. He must do something to redeem himself and soothe his tortured conscience (I don't want to give ANYTHING away on this one, because this is a high quality film, despite an obvious paradox.)"
Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)
Herrliche Zeiten im Spessart (1967) : Country: West Germany (German language) Color, 105 minutes Director: Kurt Hoffmann Screeplay: G�nter Neumann Comedy / Sci-Fi with Time Travel plot Starring: * Liselotte Pulver as Anneliese * Harald Leipnitz as Frank Green Other Cast includes: * Vivi Bach as Rosalinde * Hannelore Elsner as Johanna * Tatjana Sais as Frau Mummelmann * Joachim Teege as Hugo * Rudolf Rhomberg as Onkel Max * Hans Richter as Toni * Kathrin Ackermann as Katrin * Klaus Schwarzkopf as Roland * Peter Capell as Burgermeister * Paul Esser as Monch * Sibille Gilles, Ewald Wenck, Erich Fiedler...
It's About Time (1966): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Two astronauts, after breaking the speed of light, accidently travel back in time to prehistoric Earth. Unable to return, they make friends with the "natives".
Karate Cop (1991)
Kate and Leopold (2002?) Director: James Mangold; Screenplay: James Mangold, Steven Rogers; Producer: Cathy Konrad; Production Design: Mark Friedberg; Cinematography: Stuart Dryburgh; Editor: James M. Micthell; Music: Rolfe Kent; Length: 2 hours 1 minute; Rating: PG-13; Distributor: Miramax; Starring: Meg Ryan as Kate McKay; Hugh Jackman as Leopold; Liev Schreiber as Stuart Bessler; Natasha Lyonne as Darci; Bradley Whitford as J. J. Camden; Genres: Sci-Fi/Romance/Comedy; Plot Summary: For stupid reasons, the crux of the Time Travel paradox (intergenerational incest, as well-probed in "Up The Line" in print by Robert Silverburg) was cut after release, and so the film you can see makes no sense. Oh, wait. It would have made no sense anyway. And it's so cute it's sickening. And yet, and yet, the production design and photography is so good, that there is almost a film worth seeing. So wait for the Director's Cut. Dashing inventor/aristocrat Leopold, aburdly purported to have invented the elevator, leaves a tony party to celebrate the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1876, in order to chase mysterious stranger Stuart Bessler, whereupon both fall off the new bridge into the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Leopold climbs out, wet, and finds himself in 2001. In the original version which you can't see, Stuart Bessler is revealed as Leopold's great-great-grandson. They have fallen through a once-a-week opened time portal. Stuart's starved-for-romance former girlfriend Kate McKay, a focus-group consultant, lives upstairs. Stuart runs off for an errand, and falls down an elevator shaft which is empty because he vanished from 1876 and thus the elevator was never invented. So, one ponders, why have buildings been built for over a century with empty elevator shafts? Andy why, if Stuart fled 1876 unmarried, how does he have a great-great-grandson in 2001? And how can Leopold sing a number from "The Pirates of Penzance" (written 1879) and best Kate's boss/suitor J. J. Camden with trivia about the opera "La Boheme" (written 1896)? These are not clever clues. rather, this is an "idiot plot" -- as proven by Leopold never bothering to get the facts from his host, Stuart, in the hospital. The producer and director think we're idiots too, hoping that we are charmed by Leopold taking to manhattan of 2001 like a duck takes to water, selling butter on TV, catering swank parties, and moving in seuctively on Kate. Incest with one's great-great-grandmother? On the cutting room floor, along with any shred of logic.
Kid in King Arthur's Court, A (1995) : see: "Unidentified Flying Oddball" (1979)
The Langoliers (1995)(TV) : Also Known As: Stephen King's The Langoliers (1995) (TV) 180 minutes (first saired as 2-part TV miniseries) USA (English language) Color, Ultra Stereo, PG-13 Director: Tom Holland Screenplay: Tom Holland and Stephen King Story: Stephen King (from his collection "Four Past Midnight") Producers: Mitchell Galin, David R. Kappes (executive), Richard P. Rubinstein (executive) Original music: Vladimir Horunzhy Cinematographer: Paul Maibaum Film Editor: Ned Bastille Production Design: Evelyn Sakash Art Director: Harry Darrow Costume Designer: Linda Fisher (I) First Assistant Director: Michael Green Second United Director: David R. Kappes Sound Department: Neil Cedar, foley recordist Sound editor: Tony Pipitone Special Effects Supervisor (Pyro/Mech): Vincent Montefusco Special Effects: Beecher Tomlinson Other Crew: Steven Caouette (assistant to Mr. Pinchot) David R. Kappes (camera operator: second unit) R. Kappes (location manager) Eric Lee (still photographer) Pamela Williamson (assistant location manager) Genre: Sci-Fi / Time-travel / Airplane / Monsters The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide's staff unanimously enjoyed this when it aired on TV, yet on-line reviews run hot and cold. Plot Summary for ISFDB written by Anonymous: "A blind girl, a teacher, a machine worker, a musician, a stoner, a mystery writer, a businessman, a mysterious Englishman, and a raving psychopath in a business suit on a flight to Boston find themselves utterly alone when the rest of the passengers and all of the crew vanish. Diverting the plane to Bangor, Maine, they discover that they seem to be the only people left on the planet, and that time and the Langoliers are catching up with them all too quickly..." Plot Summary written for ISFDB by Brian Barjenbruch ([email protected]) "When a plane passes through a mysterious time warp, all but a few onboard vanish. The survivors manage to land, and discover that time seems to stand still--and the mysterious Langoliers are in hot pursuit. The Langoliers' job is to erase moments in time that have already passed into history. The survivors still exist because they were asleep when the plane passed through the warp, and they determine that if they can all be asleep once again when the plane returns, they will survive. However, one passenger must remain awake--and doomed to die--to pilot the plane on its return through the warp..." Mutant Reviewers from Hell : "In the movie, 10 strangers awaken amidst their flight from LA to Boston. All the other passengers are gone, as are the crew and the pilots. The plane is fine and luckily one of the 10 survivors is a pilot. At first they assume that the plane landed and everybody else got off, but the pilot points out that there's no way a plane could land or take off without a pilot. They also start to realize that there's no one on the ground, because the radio only picks up static and the lights of major cities, like Denver, can't be seen from the plane. If I tell much more plot, it'll give away the neat parts of the movie, but this is definitely one of my favorite Stephen King movies. There are some great performances given by Bronson Pinchot (Balchy from 'Perfect Strangers') and Dean Stockwell (Al from 'Quantum Leap'). I never knew Balchy could be so creepy. Also, the whole concept behind what happened to these 10 people isn't something that had ever even crossed my mind until I saw this movie. I'm not saying it's the greatest movie ever, but I liked it a lot and it's worth viewing." Didja Notice? * Stephen King has a pretty funny cameo towards the end of the movie. * How much King relies on kids and the infirmed as heroes? * Laurel claims that Los Angeles is deserted, yet cars can be seen moving. At-A-Glance Film Review: "This three hour TV movie could have been shortened to 90 minutes if the stars didn't spend so much time looking open-mouthed at the weird happenings they encounter. Even when time is of the essence and their lives hang in the balance, if something fantastic is going on, everybody stops what they're doing and gawks as if time stands still while they aren't actively doing something productive. I've come to the conclusion that Stephen King should be banned from attempting science fiction. His ideas for The Langoliers are intriguing enough for it to be frustrating when his execution of the ideas falls flat on his face. Lapses in logic are commonplace, and no explanation is given for anything that happens. Among the very few redeeming qualities is Bronson Pinchot as a very intense, disturbed airline passenger." The Video Graveyard : "Originally airing in two parts this TV adaptation of Stephen King's novella has nine airline passengers going through a time-rift and being caught fifteen minutes in the past. So while they try and figure out what's happened to them they have to contend with mental businessman Bronson Pinchot and the toothy creatures of the title. Overlong telefilm takes a nugget of a decent idea from King's story and stretches it out into this fairly tedious affair that suffers from some poor dialogue and weak computer effects. Heck even the title creatures are only in this for about five minutes. Pretty poor and not worth seeing." Cast includes: * Patricia Wettig as Laurel Stevenson * Dean Stockwell as Bob Jenkins * David Morse as Brian Engle * Mark Lindsay Chapman as Nick Hopewell * Frankie Faison as Don Gaffney * Baxter Harris as Rudy Warwick * Kimber Riddle as Bethany Simms * Christopher Collet as Albert Kaussner * Kate Maberly as Dinah Bellman * Bronson Pinchot as Craig Toomy * Tom Holland as Harker * Julie Arnold Lisnet as Aunt Vicki * Michael Louden as Richard Logan * Kymberly Dakin as Doris Heartman * David Forrester as Danny Keene
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000)(Videogame) also known as Zelda: Mask of Majora; also known as Zeruda no densetsu: Mujura no kamen. Japan. {to be done} awaiting analysis by my 14-year-old son.
Lilovyj shar (1987) : Also Known As: Purple Ball, The (1987) Soviet Union (Russian language) Color film Production Company: Gorky Film Studios [Russia] Director: Pavel Arsenov Screenplay: Kir Bulychyov Genres: Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Time-travel / Space-travel / Virus / Dragon / Magic Summary edited from Boris Shafir ([email protected]) "Alisa Seleznyova [Natalya Guseva] and her father Professor Seleznyov [Boris Shcherbakov] are traveling in space. They meet their old friend archaeologist Gromozeka [Vyacheslav Nevinnyj], who's just discovered a planet all inhabitants of which died. It became known that they discovered a virus of hostility, got infected and killed each other. Gromozeka also discovered that they had left the virus on Earth 26000 years ago, and the virus is about to become loose. The only chance to save the Earth is to travel 26000 years back in time - to the epoch when witches, dragons and magicians lived along with usual people." Cast includes: * Natalya Guseva as Alisa Seleznyova * Aleksandr Gusev as Gerasik * Vyacheslav Nevinnyj as Gromozeka * Boris Shcherbakov as Professor Seleznyov * Vyacheslav Baranov as Zelyonyj * Svetlana Kharitonova as Baba Yaga * Igor Yasulovich as Kashchey * Viktor Pavlov as Lyudoed ("Man Eater") * Sergei Nikonenko as Konoyed * Vladimir Nosik as Volshebnik ("Magician") Uuuh * Marina Levtova as Tsarevna-Lyagushka
Lost In Space (1998): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Loosely based on the 1960s TV show, it was panned by the critics. It features a time travel sequence, which is crucial to the plot. (I'm assuming, since I didn't see it during the 4 days it was in the theatres!)".
Millennium (1989) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A future time-travelling society infiltrates the past to take bodies of those who are about to die on plane crashes. Stars Kris Kristofferson. The best parts take place in the 'present', and the somewhat lame explanation of paradoxes (and the resulting 'time quakes') mar the film, slightly. Also - a hokey ending. ('Goof': Watch her hair when she enters the bar, then when inside. She got quite a perm in that doorway!!)" The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide says this about the novel on which the film is based: (screenplay by and from the novel by John Varley) Millennium links to 4 reviews Millennium Hugo Award 1984 Finalist, Locus Poll Award 1984 Finalist
Minority Report (2002): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Because of future technology they have somehow obtained, a police division arrests people before they commit crimes. But the tables are turned when one cop finds himself arrested for a future crime. He must find out what he is accused of doing, and stop it. (The film, based upon a Philip K. Dick story, isn't the result of such viewing technology! It was found on Internet Movie Data Base!)"
Miraklet i Valby (1989) : Also Known As: Miracle in Valby, The (1989) Runtime: Denmark: 80 minutes / Netherlands: 85 minutes Countries: Denmark (Danish language) / Sweden Certification: Finland:K-8 / Sweden:7 Eastmancolor, Dolby Director: Ake Sandgren Screenplay: Stig Larsson & Ake Sandgren Production Companies: Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) [Sweden], Det Danske Filminstitut [Denmark], Esselte, Nordisk Film [Denmark] Winner, 1990 Guldbagge Awards for Best Direction, Best Film, and Best Screenplay Winner, 1990 Robert Festival Award for Best Cinematography (Dan Laustsen), Best Costume Design (Manon Rasmussen), Best Production Design (Henning Bahs), and Best Screenplay Genres: Time-Travel, Children Cast includes: * Jakob Katz as Sven * Troels Asmussen as Bo * Lina Englund as Petra * Amalie Ihle Alstrup as Hanna * Gregers Reimann * Jens Okking * Ingvar Hirdwall as Petra's Father * Karen-Lise Mynster as Sven's Mother * Peter Hesse Overgaard * Mona Seilitz as Petra's Mother * also: Kjeld Norgaard, Julie Wieth, Lars Bom, Nis Bank-Mikkelsen, Eric Reiss
My Science Project (1985) : Touchstone Pictures 94 minutes, Color, Dolby USA (English language) USA:PG / Norway:15 Director: Jonathan R. Betuel Screenplay: Jonathan R. Betuel Genre: Adventure / Sci-Fi / Time-travel Plot Summary edited from Michael Silva ([email protected]): "Michael [John Stockwell] and Ellie [Danielle von Zerneck] break into a military junkyard to find a science project for Michael's class, and discover a strange glowing orb which absorbs electricity. When the orb begins to blend past, present, and future, it's up to Michael and Ellie to stop the orb and save mankind." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: blending Past, Present, and Future all at once on the same planet was done first (and better) in Fred Hoyle's novel "October the Fifth is Too Late." Cast includes: * John Stockwell as Michael Harlan * Danielle von Zerneck as Ellie Sawyer * Fisher Stevens as Vince Latello * Raphael Sbarge as Sherman * Richard Masur as Detective Jack Nulty * Barry Corbin as Lew Harlan * Ann Wedgeworth as Dolores * Dennis Hopper as Bob Roberts * Candace Silvers as Irene * Beau Dremann as Matusky * Pat Simmons as Crystal * John Vidor as Jock #1 * Vincent Barbour as Jock #2 * Jaime Alba as Jock #3 * Robert Beer as President Eisenhower
Navigator: A Mediaeval Odyssey, The (1988) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "In this magical film, 14th century European villagers dig a hole to the other side of the Earth to escape the coming plague - and to explain a young boy's visions of the 20th century. The villagers reach the modern world - a 20th century city - but are unable to find anything but violence and confusion. The interaction between the characters and modern life is enchanting and believable, and you'll be rooting for the characters."
Nino Invisible, El (1995) : Production Company: Xaloc & Benjamin 80 minutes, Color, Dolby Country: Spain (location shooting in Toledo, Spain), Spanish Language Director: Rafael Moleon Screenplay: Aurora Guerra Story: Manolo Matji (as Manuel Matji) Producers: Federico Bermudez de Castro, Manolo Matji Original Music: Bom Bom Chip, Jose' Carlos Parada Cinematographer: Hans Burman Production Designer: Miguel Chicharro Costume Designer: Nereida Bonmati' Makeup Artist: Jose' Antonio Sanchez Sound: Miguel Rejas Genres: Time-travel / Adventure / Musical / Children / Middle-ages ISFDB says: "A group of children find a magic stone that transports them to the [12th] century." Hotlink to Ultimate SFWG page on 12th Century {to be done} Staring: * Bom Bom Chip * Pedro Mari Sanchez * Laura Cepeda * Lidia San Jose' * Joaquin Climent * Carmen Godoy Cast also includes: * Carlos Caniowski * Jose Luis Cid De Rivera * Cristina Hervas * Chete Lera * Rebeca Marcos * Sergio Martin * Gary Piquer * Estela Sala
Norman's Awesome Experience (1988) : Also Known As: Switch in Time, A (1988) 87 minutes, Color, US/Canadian production (USA:PG-13) Languages: English / Latin (!) the only known Sci-Fi feature with Latin dialogue Location Shooting in: Lanin National Park, Argentina Director: Paul Donovan Screeplay: Paul Donovan Independent Production Companies: Norstar Entertainment Inc.; Salter Street Films Genres: Comedy / Sci-Fi / Roman / Time-travel For an earlier Roman Time-travel Comedy, see: 'Roman Scandals' (1933) Summary edited from Tom Zoerner ([email protected]): "Through the experiment of a crazy scientist [Brian Downey as Doctor NobleMeyer], his colleague Norman [Tom McCamus], model Erica [Laurie Paton] and her photographer are sent back in time to the Romans. They arrive in a small village, controlled by the Roman Septimus Fabius [David Hemblen] and a fat village mayor. They teach the people the Rock'n Roll... and revolution. Of course the Romans don't appreciate their efforts - will Norman's Know How save them? " The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Interesting how Rock & Roll is part of so many time travel films, including 'Star Trek: First Contact', 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure', 'Star Trek: First Contact', and the first 'Back to the Future' film (where Marty McFly paradoxically time-loops Rock by playing it at the school prom (as 'oldies') so that Chuck Berry could hear it, through telephone, and create the same thing he's heard, which was based on him. Perhaps a combination of mere targeting of an adolescent movie-viewer demographic with two different artistic attempts to deal with alienation, wish fulfilment, and Romantic escapism." Cast includes: * Tom McCamus as Norman * Laurie Paton as Erica * Jacques Lussier as Umberto * David Hemblen as Septimus Fabius * Lee Broker as Marcus Titanus * Marcos Woinsky as Serpicus * Gabriela Salos as Felix * Brian Downey as Doctor NobleMeyer * Armand Capo as Blacksmith * Enrique Latorre as Neron * Jorge Luis Estrella as Grand Priest * Jacques Arndt as Administrator * Theodore McNabney as Chief of the Scientists * Bill Carr as Guard at the Laboratory Gate * Marcello Serre as Britannicus
Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "In a thinly-veiled attempt to be a female version of 'Marty McFly', [Back to the Future] a much too-old Kathleen Turner plays the teen-aged 'Peggy Sue', who goes back to the 1950s and inhabits her own body. What follows is a weak plot and silly, predictable hindsight remarks about getting married and her father buying an Edsel. She is transported back to her own time in the most ridiculous manner. (Don't look for complicated physics here, think, 'wacky lodge ritual'). The 'wrap up' of this film - showing how things change (if they do at all - it's not too clear) isn't as satisfying as in 'Back to the Future', either." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Two nice touches in a flawed film: (1) plausible stumbling into anachronism by the protagonist when, for example, she asks in a store for 'Panty Hose'; (2) wish fulfilment moment when, challenged by a teacher in Math class, the protagonist says: 'I happen to know for a fact that I will never, in my entire adult life, need Algebra.' Of course, that's exactly the difference between Fantasy and Science Fiction. Algebra matters!"
Philadelphia Experiment, The (1984) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "In 1943, a battleship in Philadelphia is part of an experiment trying to make it invisible to radar. Instead, it's sent into a time vortex, where many men are hurt or killed. Two men jump overboard, and find themselves flung ahead in time to Nevada in 1984, where further experiments are taking place. The shock of them adapting to modern life is enjoyable to watch. Just a note: this film is supposedly based upon a real event."
The Philadelphia Experiment II (1993): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Nine years after the events of the first film, it turns out that the experiment has been reinitiated. Using the time-traveling capabilities of the experiment, a scientist sends a Stealth Bomber back to Nazi Germany, where his father - also a scientist - uses it to win the war for Germany. One of the protagonists of the first film, living in 1993, is thrust into a parallel universe caused by the change in history. Interesting exploration of parallel universes and paradox - especially the 'grandfather/father paradox'. Though the Nazi version of America is somewhat cartoonish and stereotypical, and there's a flaw or two regarding paradoxes, it's a well-filmed story." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Your Humble Webmaster was the uncredited and unpaid Technical Advisor on this film, after Dr. Thomas McDonough, who'd been Technical Advisor on the first film was unavailable and recommended me. I did numerous Story Conferences and research, and was ripped off by the Producer, and I dare the bastard to take me to court for saying so!"
Retroactive (1997): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page
Roman Scandals (1933) : 85 minutes, Black and White, Mono sound, English language, Unrated Director: Frank Tuttle Story: George S. Kaufman Screenplay: William Anthony McGuire Production Company: Samuel Goldwyn Company Distributor: United Artists Genre: Comedy / Musical/ Time-travel Starring: * Eddie Cantor as Eddie * Ruth Etting as Olga * Gloria Stuart [elderly star of 'Titanic'!] as Princess Sylvia * Edward Arnold as Emperor Valerius * David Manners as Josephus * Verree Teasdale as Empress Agrippa * Alan Mowbray as Majordomo * Jack Rutherford as Manius * Willard Robertson as Warren F. Cooper * Lee Kohlmar as Storekeeper Cast also includes (alphabetically): * Bonnie Bannon as Woman * Dolores Casey as Woman * Jane Hamilton as Woman * Gigi Parrish as Woman * Leo Willis as Torturer "Eddie imagines himself back in ancient Rome where he uncovers corruption similar to his small town in this musical comedy choreographed by Busby Berkeley. Eddie's clothes are found on statues in West Rome's new museum. Its builder Cooper pays off the mayor and chief of police. Eddie (Eddie Cantor) tells the people displaced by the new jail project to live there and sings 'Build a Little Home.' Eddie criticizes Cooper for building the museum and jail, but he is escorted out of town by the police. Eddie finds himself in ancient Rome and is soon tied up for insulting Empress Agrippa. He is sold in the slave market to Josephus (David Manners), who calls him Oedipus. Olga (Ruth Etting) is to be sold and sings 'No More Love.' Naked women covered with their long hair are chained while other women dance. Josephus lets Oedipus handle his whip, accidentally knocking down the Majordomo (Alan Mowbray). Oedipus runs after the captured British princess Sylvia (Gloria Stuart) and is imprisoned. Emperor Valerius (Edward Arnold) wants his slave Olga back. A prisoner gives Oedipus lava gas to make him laugh. Josephus comes to free Sylvia and Oedipus, but Valerius makes him leave. Valerius tells Sylvia she must stay in prison until she desires him; she agrees to go to the palace when Valerius promises not to hurt her people. The lava gas affects Oedipus and then his torturers and the emperor. Valerius is about to drink with Agrippa (Verree Teasdale), but his food taster dies. Oedipus tells Valerius and Agrippa about America and wins with crooked dice. Valerius hires him as his food taster. Josephus kisses Sylvia but is shot by an arrow in the arm. Agrippa summons Oedipus to her couch and wants him to poison Valerius. Valerius banishes Josephus, who tells Oedipus he will wait with a chariot for Sylvia. The Majordomo catches Oedipus trying to escape, but Oedipus pretends he can't be hurt. Oedipus hides in the women's quarters with black mud and gives Sylvia the message from Josephus. Oedipus and the women sing 'Keep Young and Beautiful.' Oedipus finds a corrupt agreement between Valerius and two senators. Agrippa tells Oedipus not to eat the poisoned bird. He sings 'Put a Tax on Love' and feeds the crocodile first. Agrippa accuses Josephus and Sylvia of poisoning the food. Olga takes Sylvia to Josephus, while Valerius orders Oedipus thrown to the lions. Josephus rides off with Sylvia, and Oedipus escapes, trying to catch them to prevent Josephus being killed at Ostia. After a dramatic chariot race on the roads Eddie wakes up in America, finding Cooper's bribe to the police chief in his pocket. This satire of various movies and the social mores of America and Rome uses humor, music, and pretty women in revealing costumes to keep the audience entranced." Copyright � 1999 by Sanderson Beck, from the web page:
Movie Mirrors
Running Against Time (1990)(TV) : USA (English language), Color, Rated: (USA) PG / (Finland) K-8 Distributor: MCA (video) Director: Bruce Seth Green Screenplay: Robert Glass Adapted from: Stanley Shapiro's novel "A Time to Remember" Genre: Sci-Fi / JFK assassination/ Time-travel "History professor David Rhodes [Robert Hays] never has got over the death of his older brother, 1966 in Vietnam. When he hears the rumor that a famous professor [Sam Wanamaker as Doctor Koopman] is working on a time machine, he immediately contacts him and persuades him to allow him to travel back in time and correct history. If he could save President Kennedy's life, [the] Vietnam war might never have happened!" Edited from Summary written by Tom Zoerner ([email protected]) Starring: * Robert Hays as David Rhodes Cast also includes: * James DiStefano as Lee Harvey Oswald * Catherine Hicks as Laura Whittaker * Juanita Jennings * Brian Smiar * Wayne Tippet * Sam Wanamaker as Doctor Koopman
"Samurai Jack" (2001)(TV) My 14-year-old son and I both love this stylish animation created by Gennedy Tartakovsky. In a Fantasy version of ancient Japan, the world is menaced by evil shape-shifting wizard Aku, never defeated, and having attacked other nations before Japan. Aku captures the head of a local tribe/city. The leader's son trains throughout the nations of the world in every martial arts discipline. He learns bow and arrow from Robin Hood, wrestles with the best in ancient Greece, masters spear-throwing in the Congo. At last he arrives at a temple of mythical beast/demigods. Grown up, he rejoins his mother, who gives him a sacred sword, which is the only weapon that might defeat Aku. The samurai prince attacks Aku, but is thrust through time to our future, a sort of dystopian "Jetsons" world where Aku is overlord to a panoply of aliens, high-tech robots, spaceships, and other things beyond the samurai's cognition. The samurai adopts the name "Jack" after inner city aliens first address him as "hey, Jack..." His quest is to defeat Aku, free the future, and somehow find his way back to his home country in his own time. The martial arts are the best in any animated series. The graphic style varies from episode to episode, ingeniously combining visual motifs. This moves a hundred times faster than "Dragonball-Z" and is gorgeous to look at, in a minimalist way. Recommended, not for its time travel, but for its panache.
SF Shinseiki Lensman (1984) ...aka Lensman (1984) ...aka Lensman: Secret of the Lens (1984): excellent Japanimation combining Space travel and Time travel in unexpected and poignent way.
Somewhere In Time (1980): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "In a turn of the century hotel, an aspiring actor (Christopher Reeve) wills himself back in time to 1910 in the very same hotel after falling in love with the picture of an actress, played by Jane Seymour, who once stayed there as a guest and performed in the hotel's theatre. Richard Matheson's novel, 'Bid Time Return', inspired this movie. (This is one of my favorite films!) Very well filmed movie is lush and beautifully acted."
A Sound of Thunder (2004) Director: Peter Hyams; Adapted: from short story by Ray Bradbury; Screenplay: Thomas Dean Donnelly; Starring: Ben Kingsley as McCormick; Plot Summary: This classic Time Travel/Alternate History story features big game hunter Burns on a safari into the past to shoot a Tyrannosaurus Rex. he is warned not to step off the levitated metal walkway, but does so, and crushes a butterfly. That accident changes history so drastically as to wipe out humanity in the present. A team of time-track-fixers must go back to the prehistoric moment and replace the butterfly. Can history be unchanged back to our reality? A thought-provoking story, awaiting big-budget release.
Sphere (1998): a great cast wasted on a confused adaptation of a derivative Michael Crichton novel.
The Spirit of '76 (1991): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Twenty-Second Century time travelers, distraught with their own time, try to go back to 1776 to see what went wrong in their world. Instead, they end up on 1976!"
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "The crew of the Enterprise use a captured Klingon spaceship to go back in time to 1986 San Francisco to save the Earth's whales, since this is crucial to saving 24th century Earth. The funniest, and some say the best, of the Star Trek movies."
Star Trek: First Contact (1996) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "The Enterprise, upon encountering a Borg vessel near Earth, witnesses a pod going back in time to the 21st century, in order to prevent earthlings from developing a warp drive which will allow them to have interstellar spaceflight. They follow it, only to find the world now dominated by by the Borg. They must go back to make sure that 'First Contact' occurs between humanity and the first race in this quadrant. The time travel theme is well developed and plausible (within the Star Trek genre themes, as developed by the TV show.)" The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Interesting how Rock & Roll is part of so many time travel films, including 'Star Trek: First Contact', 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure', and the first 'Back to the Future' film (where Marty McFly paradoxically time-loops Rock by playing it at the school prom (as "oldies") so that Chuck Berry could hear it, through telephone, and create the same thing he's heard, which was based on him; and 'Norman's Awesome Experience' (where ancient Romans are taught to Rock). Perhaps a combination of mere targeting of an adolescent movie-viewer demographic with two different artistic attempts to deal with alienation, wish fulfilment, and Romantic escapism."
Star Trek: Generations (1994) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A mad scientist-type creates a 'ribbon of time', in which both Captains of the Enterprise (Kirk/Picard, Shatner/Stewart) must work together. The paradoxical sommersault of a plot devise used to bring the two Captains together is a masterpiece of scriptwriting. Yet, it makes no sense at all."
Terminator, The (1984)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "The second Terminator movie. Skynet, the 21st century computer waging a losing war on humans sends a second terminator back in time to destroy the leader of the human resistance while he is still a boy. His mother is the only one who knows of the existence of Skynet's Terminators, and is in an insane asylum because of her first encounter with them. The humans send a protector back to protect the boy, John Connor, future leader of the human resistance. This film was a pioneer of many special effects, including 'morphing'. The story is told well, and relies on the viewer knowing a great deal about the first film. It's well worth renting."
Terminator 2: 3-D (1996) : Minute for minute, the most expensive feature ever filmed in Hollywood. Combines film, computer animation, and interaction of live actors with the audience, in special theatres (which themselves cost about $30 million). The 3-D effects were supervised by the under-rated Dr.Kenneth Jones, a Ph.D. from Caltech who has worked both for NASA and Hollywood.
That Lady in Ermine (1948): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Circa 1861, the ruling countess of an Italian principality is at a loss when invaded by a Hungarian army. Her lookalike ancestress, who saved a similar situation 300 years before, comes to life from a portrait to help her descendant."
Three Stooges Meet Hercules, The (1962) : USA (English language), Black and White Director: Edward Bernds Screenplay: Elwood Ullman Story: Norman Mauer Producer: Norman Maurer Original music: Paul Dunlap Cinematographer: Charles S. Welbourne Film Editer: Edwin H. Bryant Art Director: Don Ament Set Decorator: William F. Calvert Assistant Director: Herb Wallerstein Sound: James Z. Flaster Sound Supervisor : Charles J. Rice Narrator : Don Lamond Genre: Comedy / Fantasy / Greece / Hercules / Time-travel "Three druggists [the Stooges] travel with a Milquetoast inventor, Schuyler [Quinn K. Redeker], and his girlfriend, Diane [Vicki Trickett], to ancient Greece on a newly invented time machine.There, the evil tyrant, [George N. Neise as King Odius],takes a shine to the woman and has the guys enslaved as galley rowers using the excuse of the three druggists helping a rebel leader, Ulysses [John Cliff], escape. The rigors of the rowing pump Schuyler up into a muscleman with strength comparable to Hercules [Samson Burke] himself, who is in the employ of Odius. The threesome get the idea of raising money by promoting Schuyler as Hercules for a series of physical contests. Using a combination of his great strength and, a judicious use of a large supply of potent tranquilizers Curly-Joe brought with him, Schuyler is a success. However, this leads to trouble when the real McCoy learns about the imposter." Edited from Summary written for IMDb by Kenneth Chisholm ([email protected]) Full Cast (credits order): * Moe Howard as Moe [Stooge/Druggist] * Larry Fine as Larry [Stooge/Druggist] * Joe DeRita as Curly Joe [Stooge/Druggist] * Vicki Trickett as Diane Quigley * Quinn K. Redeker as Schuyler Davis * George N. Neise as Ralph Dimsal/King Odius * Samson Burke as Hercules * The McKeever Twins as Ajax and Argo, The Siamese Cyclops * Emil Sitka as Shepherd/Refreshment Man * Hal Smith as King Theseus Of Rhodes * John Cliff as Ulysses * Lewis Charles as Achilles The Heel * Barbara Hines as Anita * Terry Huntingdon as Hecuba * Diana Piper as Helen * Gregg Martell as Simon Cast also includes (alphabetically): * Cecil Elliott as Matron (uncredited) * Edward Foster as Freddie the Fence (uncredited) * Don Lamond as Narrator (uncredited voice) * Gene Roth as Captain (uncredited) * Rusty Wescoatt as Philo (uncredited)
Time After Time (1979) mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A young H. G. Wells, played by Malcolm McDowell, follows Jack the Ripper through time into San Francisco in 1979. He falls in love with a bank teller, played by Mary Steenbergen, and he tries to avoid her death at the hands of the Ripper. The story is good, and the clothes are sooo 70s!"
Time Bandits (1980) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Six dwarves and a British schoolboy use time portals to travel through Earth's history."
Time Barbarians (1990): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A medieval warrior chases a bad guy to modern day Los Angeles to avenge the death of his wife."
Time Chasers (1994): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "An inventor comes up with a time machine, but must� prevent its abuse at the hands of an evil CEO."
Time Flies (1944): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A minor music hall star uses a professor's time machine to go back to the days of Queen Elizabeth I."
Time Machine, The (1960) Steven's Time Travel Page says: "An adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel. Starring Rod Taylor as H. G. ('George') Wells, the inventor of a time machine with which he travels to the future. The movie's special effects, though dated by today's standards, won Oscars.
The Time Travellers (1964): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page
"Time Tunnel, The" (1966) TV Series
Time Slip (1970): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Simon and Liz were teenage siblings who fell into a time hole and found themselves trapped in various periods of the 20th century, where they encounter all sorts of adventures. Many of them involve the nefarious Commander Traynor, who is also traveling in time."
Timecop (1994) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Jean Claude Van Damme plays a cop who's assigned to a special unit set up to protect Time Travel from being misused. Of course he's too late, and he must go back in time to stop a corrupt Senator from manipulating the past for his own power. This film explores the paradox problem well. Look for some - but not much - of Van Damme's kickboxing skills! The film inspired the short-running CBS TV show in the fall of 1997 which was fairly well done." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "The weakest part, logically, of this fairly decent film is the notion that the you from the future should never touch the you from the past, or the two will morph together into painful and soon-extinguished blob of protoplasm, shape-changing like the melting Terminator II robot. If you accept the paradox of meeting yourself (which is NOT logically inconsistent) and exchanging information with yourself, why not allow physical contact?"
Timeline (2003) Director: Richard Donner; Adapted: from the novel by Michael Crichton; Screenplay: Frank A. Cappello; Starring: Paul Walker as Chris Hughes; Gerard Butler as Andre Marek; Frances O'Connor as Kate Erickson; Ethan Embry as David Stern; Billy Connoly as Professor Edward Johnson; David Thewlis as Robert Doniger; Plot Summary: Chris, Andre, Kate, and David are four college students of brilliant but eccentric Professor Edward Johnson. Working at an archaeological site in France, the Professor becomes missing. The four students are brought quickly to the US by a mysterious corporation, ITC. Insomniac ITC President Robert Doniger tells them about the Time Machine he's developed. He sends them back to rescue their professor from medieval France, or maybe an Alternate History timeline. Chris, Andre, and Kate go back in Time, while david stays in the present to deduce ITC's real motive. I didn't find the medieval stuff or the high-tech stuff credible. Where is the Michael Crichton of "Andromeda Strain"? Trapped in the wealth and power of "Jurassic Park" and "ER."
Timemaster (1995): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page
Timerider (1983) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A motorcycle and its rider is thrust back in time to the old west."
Timestalkers (1983)(TV) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page as "Timestalkers (1987)" [slightly different title and date] "A time-travelling woman from the 26th century convinces a modern-day college professor to help her track down her scientist father's evil associate - who's fled back to the 1800s. This has one of the neatest time travel gimmicks I've ever seen used in a TT film: The evil associate wants to get into a military facility. But it's too heavily guarded. So, he goes up on a hill, overlooking the facility. Then, he goes back in time to the 1920s- BEFORE the facility is built. Then, he walks down the hill to where the facility WILL BE built in the future. Then, he goes ahead again to the present day. Brilliant!"
Turn Back the Clock (1933): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page
Twelve Monkeys (1995) : mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "Bruce Willis plays a man who lives in a world that has been ravaged by disease brought on by biological terrorism. Following leads discovered by a ruling caste of doctors, he is sent back to 1996 to prevent the 'Army of the 12 Monkeys' from carrying out their anti-human plot. The film is a perfect example of circular logic, i.e., all of the "clues" were/are sent by the person going back in time to follow-up on the clues! Besides this, the film is well-acted (see Brad Pitt as a convincing psychotic!) I'll have to see it again, because it's a bit confusing, but the ending is good." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide adds: "Steve, in the above capsule review, seems to have missed the point that this film is a big-budget remake of the French very-low-budget but brilliant "La Jetee (1962)."
Two Way Mirror, The (1990)(TV) : Also Known As: Don't Fool with Love: The Two Way Mirror (1990) (TV) 27 minutes, Mexico (Spanish language, location shots in Mexico), Color; Director: Carlos Garc�a Agraz Screenplay: Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Susana Cato Production Companies: Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Scriptwriters' Workshop, The Fundacion del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano, Producciones Amaranta [Mexico], RM Associates Distributor: RM Associates Genre: Drama / Romance / Short / Time-travel "Susana [Arcelia Ramirez], a beautiful young girl living in 1990, is happily looking forward to her forthcoming marriage - and has bought an antique mirror to grace her future home. Three weeks before the wedding, the mirror is delivered to her Grandmother's [Mar�a Rubio] home and taken to Susana's room. Later that day, when looking into the glass, Susana is startled to see the image of a handsome soldier [Daniel Gimenez Cacho as Lt. Nicolas de Regulo] (from 1863), instead of her own reflection. It soon becomes obvious that he can see Susana as clearly as she can see him - and life, for them both, is never quite the same again." Summary edited from David McAnally ([email protected]) Complete credited cast: * Arcelia Ramirez as Susana * Daniel Gimenez Cacho as Lt. Nicolas de Regulo * Maria Rubio as Grandmother * Victor Hugo Mart�n del Campo as Alonso * Antonieta Murillo Nieto as Cook * Ines Murillo Nieto as Seamstress * Garcia Vazquez Gil as Wedding Guest *Jose' Antonio Marros as Wedding Guest
Two Worlds of Jennie Logan, The (1978)(TV) mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "When a bored housewife sees a picture of herself in an attic, she is drawn to it, and wonders how it's possible. Open to the idea of time travel, she finds herself wearing an antique dress, and travelling 78 years into the past. There she meets a man who is everything her husband is not, and falls in love. But can she find true love there? Can she save her new lover from a terrible fate as the new century chimes in? Starring Lindsay Wagner and co-starring future Dallas star Linda Gray, this film is well-acted and is worth seeing."
Undead, The (1957) : 71 minutes, USA, English language, Black and White, Unrated Director: Roger Corman Screenplay: Charles B. Griffith, Mark Hanna Production Companies: American International Pictures (AIP), Balboa Distributors: American International Pictures (AIP) Genres: Horror / Time-travel / Hypnotism / Devil / Magic / Witch Tagline: Terror... that screams from the grave! "Two psychical researchers procure the services of a lady of the night and send her back in time under hypnosis. She finds herself in the body of a past existence - a woman in medieval times waiting to be beheaded as a witch. By avoiding this fate she unwittingly starts to alter history." Summary written for IMDb by Jeremy Perkins ([email protected]) Cast Includes: * Pamela Duncan as Diana Love/Helen, the witch * Richard Garland as Pendragon * Allison Hayes as Livia * Val Dufour as Quintus Ratcliff * Mel Welles as Smolkin, the gravedigger * Dorothy Neumann as Meg Maud * Maurice Manson as Prof. Ulbrecht Olinger * Billy Barty as The Imp * Bruno VeSota as Scroop, the innkeeper * Richard Devon as Satan * Aaron Saxon as Gobbo * Don Garralt as The Knight * Dick Miller as The Leper * Paul Blaisdell as Corpse Review from
: "THE UNDEAD (Roger Corman 1957) This may not come as a surprise to you, but Roger Corman was and still is infamous for making films fast and cheap. Some of them, namely 'Little Shop of Horrors' and the Poe/Price-series, have achieved cult status, while others, like 'The Undead', lie in the bywaters - which is a pity, for overall, this is one of his most charming works - probably the only one to fit that term. Apart from a few shots, the film - originally double-billed with 'Voodoo Woman' - was made entirely in an abandoned supermarket on Sunset Boulevard (or Santa Monica Boulevard, sources differ, damn those sources) in ten days for about $70,000 spent mostly for fake shrubbery and lots of fog. The film does look cheap indeed: even the main titles, often quite artistic in AIP productions of the time, are cheesy: some flames with Letraset-style titles superimposed, and a Ronald Stein score with the main instrument apparently an oscillator. No, I'm not being sarcastic, that's what Stein himself said (about his score for 'It Conquered the World' (1956)): 'I could set the frequencies and just move my hand nervously on the oscillator.' Naturally. Why not? After all, a theremin would have cost money. Anyway, who needs a budget when there's a story like this: after a short prologue with the devil (Richard Devon) informing us that we are about to see 'a story of (his) eternal work', ambitious psychologist Richard Garland (then husband of Beverly) picks up a woman of the streets (Pamela Duncan) and proceeds to hypnotize her by tickling his hand with a finger in order to lead her back to her past lives. Obviously, it's Bridey Murphy time, and we come to expect something along the lines of 'The She-Creature' (1956). But instead, screenwriter Charles Griffith, soon to write 'Little Shop of Horrors' (1960), gives us something quite different. Originally, the screenplay had been written in blank verse, but it was toned down shortly before shooting; even so, enough cod Shakespearian gems remain, as Duncan finds herself literally imprisoned in medieval England, accused of being a witch and to be beheaded at dusk. When her re-incarnated self intervenes by suggesting she knock down the guard, things rapidly go mad. Now, several commentators have complained that they could not follow the film's plot. I could, but why should I spoil the fun for you? Just a few of the ingredients: there's Mel Welles as a gravedigger spouting nursery rhymes slightly adjusted for his business, there's Allison Hayes (a delight in her other sizeable role than 'Attack of the 50 Foot Woman' (1958) - who was, of course, quite a lot more sizeable) as a real witch preparing for the Witches' Sabbath who keeps changing into a cat and back, assisted by familiar Billy Barty. The devil himself turns also up (as does Dick Miller in a cameo, with a bell around his neck). Halfways through, the psychologist feels the need to follow his patient into the past to iron things out, but apart from impressing somebody with his wrist watch, matters turn out to be much more complicated than expected, as... but, oh well, you get the picture by now, don't you? No? Well, what are you waiting for? Go and get it!"
Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979) : Also Known As: * Spaceman and King Arthur, The (1979) * Spaceman in King Arthur's Court, A (1979) * UFO (1979) UK (English language), Color, Rated G (USA) Director: Russ Mayberry Screenplay: Don Tait Story: very loosely based on Mark Twain's novel "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" Production Company: Walt Disney Productions (a.k.a. Walt Disney Pictures) Distributor: Buena Vista Producer: Ron Miller Original music: Ron Goodwin Cinematographer: Paul Beeson Film Editor: Peter Boita Costume Designer: Phyllis Dalton Lighting/Grip Package: Lee Lighting Ltd. Genres: Comedy / Family / Kids / Time-travel "A NASA spacecraft proves Einstein right when, travelling faster than light, it ends up near King Arthur's [Kenneth More] Camelot. On board are big-hearted Tom Trimble [Dennis Dugan] and Hermes, the look-alike robot he built. Tom immediately makes friends with pretty Alisande [Sheila White] and enemies with the awful knight Sir Nordred [Jim Dale]. It seems Nordred is out to oust Arthur, while Alisande's father is not the goose she believes him to be but is also a victim of Nordred's schemes. It's as well the Americans have arrived." Summary written by Jeremy Perkins ([email protected]) Cast (in alphabetical order): * Robert Beatty as Senator Milburn * Rodney Bewes as Clarence * Kevin Brennan as Winston * Jim Dale as Sir Mordred * Dennis Dugan as Tom Trimble/Hermes * John Le Mesurier as Sir Gawain * Reg Lye as Prisoner * Ron Moody as Merlin * Kenneth More as King Arthur * Pat Roach as Oaf * Cyril Shapes as Dr. Zimmerman * Ewen Solon as Watkins * Sheila White as Alisande
Virtualia Episode Five: The Dark Side (2002)(Video) Produced in Sweden. English language. X-rated?
Visiteurs, Les (1993) : Also Known As: Visitors, The (1993) France (French language) 107 minutes (UK) / 105 minutes (Spain) Director: Jean-Marie Poire' Screenplay: Christian Clavier, Jean-Marie Poire' Production Companies: Alpilles Productions, France 3 Cinema (FR 3), Gaumont International, Amigo Productions Distributors: Cine Company, S.A. (Spain), Lions Gate Films Inc. [formerly Cinepix Film Properties (CFP)] (Canada), Miramax Films [USA] Special Effects: Duboi Producer: Alain Terzian Original Music: Eric Levi Cinematographer: Jean-Yves Le Mener Film Editor: Catherine Kelber Production Designer: Hugues Tissandier Costume Designer: Catherine Leterrier Hair Stylist: Patrick Archambault Makeup Artist: Muriel Baurens Assistant Directors: Gilles Bannier, Isabelle Beauchesne, Laurence Coq, Paul Gueu, Pierre Guithaumou, Pierre Pochy, Gary Saint-Martin Visual Effects Supervisor: Pitof Rated: USA: R for language, France:U, UK:15, Germany:12, Spain:13, Sweden:11, Australia:M, Finland:K-12/9 Fantasy / Comedy / Time-travel Tagline: "Ils ne sont pas nes d'hier!" "A medieval nobleman [Luc Besson regular Jean Reno as Godefroy] and his squire [co-screenwriter Christian Clavier as Jacquouille] are accidentally transported [from 1123 A.D.] to contemporary times [1993] by a senile sorcerer [Pierre Vial as Wizard Eusebius]. He enlists the aid of his descendent to try to find a way to return home, all the while trying to cope with the cultural and technological changes distinguishing his time from ours." Edited from summary written by Stewart M. Clamen ([email protected]) The Australian, Reviewer: David Stratton
"When Les Visiteurs opened in Paris in March 1993, it quickly became the most successful French film in 30 years, breaking box-office records all over the country. The reason isn't hard to discover: this hilariously funny film with its devastatingly simple premise combines skilful slapstick with a probing satire on contemporary manners and mores. It opens in the year 1123, with the brave knight Godefroy (played by Luc Besson regular Jean Reno). After triumphs on the battlefield he travels across the country to marry his betrothed, Frenegonde [Valerie Lemercier], accompanied by his loyal squire, Jacquouille [co-screenwriter Christian Clavier]. After an unfortunate encounter with a sorceress, resulting in an act that seriously jeopardises Godefroy's marriage and the future of his line, knight and squire quaff a magic potion that is supposed to turn the clock back, allowing Godefroy a chance to make amends. Instead, the pair are rocketed 870 years into the future, to France of the 1990s, where the knight finds that his castle is now a hotel run by Jacquart (Clavier again), a hilariously sleazy descendant of his squire. The simple but clever premise of having a pair of fish-out-of-water and rather smelly characters from the 12th century confronted by France in the 20th century, provides the basis for a string of increasingly clever, but not always politically correct, jokes, confidently handled by cowriter and director Jean-Marc Poire. The dialogue is stuffed with puns and the language is cheerfully mangled with modern yuppieisms as the newcomers speak in a semi-invented variation of ancient French. The shadow of Monty Python hovers over the often brilliantly funny exchanges, but the English subtitles have to struggle a bit to keep up with it all. (Mercifully, a cockeyed plan to have the film dubbed over by Mel Brooks has been abandoned - what a nightmare that would have been.) Much amusement is to be found as the time travellers encounter modern facilities (there's an emphasis on toilet humour), and Clavier and Lemercier, who hail from the cafe-theatres of Paris where vaudeville still enjoys popular success, bring all their experience to this enormously appealing farce. " Nominated for, and winner of, several Cesar Awards: * Winner, 1994 Cesar for Best Supporting Actress (Val�rie Lemercier) * Nominated, 1994 Cesar for Best Actor (Christian Clavier, Jean Reno) * Nominated, 1994 Cesar for Best Director (Jean-Marie Poire') * Nominated, 1994 Cesar for Best Music Written for a Film (Eric Levi) * Nominated, 1994 Cesar for Best Writing - Original or Adaptation (Christian Clavier, Jean-Marie Poire') Complete Cast: * Christian Clavier as Jacquouille/Jacquart * Jean Reno as Comte Godefroy de Montmirail, dit Godefroy le Hardi * Valerie Lemercier as Beatrice/Frenegonde * Marie-Anne Chazel as Ginette la clocharde * Christian Bujeau as Jean-Pierre * Isabelle Nanty as Fabienne Morlot * Gerard Sety as Edgar Bernay * Didier Pain as King Louis VI * Jean-Paul Muel as Marechal des Logis Gibon * Arielle Semenoff as Jacqueline * Michel Peyrelon as Edouard Bernay * Pierre Vial as Wizard Eusebius/Monsieur Ferdinand * Francois Lalande as Priest * Didier Benureau as Intern Beauvin * Frederic Baptiste as Freddy * Pierre Aussedat as Chief Sergeant Morlet * Tara Gano as Witch * Stephanie Marie as Princess Kathlyn, mistress of Louis VI * Jean-Luc Caron as Ganelon * Anna Gaylor as Godfroid de Mont-Mirail's Mother * Claire Magnin as Rejuvenate's Old Woman * Eric Averlant as Brother Raoul * Jean-Pierre Clami as Restaurant's Boss * Thierry Liagre as Restaurant's Cook * David Gabison as Maitre d'hotel * Patrick Burgel as Duc de Pouille, Frenegonde's Father * Paul Bandey as Henri 1st Beauclerc, King of England * Jerome Berthoud, Amandine Boyadjian,Yohan Boyadjian Katia Delagarde, Eric Denize, Bela Gruschka, Dominique Hulin, Jean-Guillaume Le Dantec, Madeleine Marie, Andre' Raffard, Michel Scourneau, * Theophile Sowie as The Postman * Nadia Vasil, Katja Weitzenbock, Olivier Wojciechowski
The Visitors (2000): mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "(Soon to be released comedy-time travel film.) Haven't seen this one, but I'd love to! Forever (2001) - As the long-distant past beckons to a modern Australian woman, drawing her into a reluctant journey of self-discovery crossing 700 years and two continents, a story emerges, piece by piece, of trust, love, revenge, forgiveness, hope and redemption told through choices made and fates embraced, as she faces a second chance that could change her destiny, and those around her - forever." The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide wonders: is this a remake of Visiteurs, Les (1993) ?
Warlock (1989):mentioned in Steven's Time Travel Page "A warlock flees from the 16th to the 20th century, with a witch-hunter in hot pursuit."
W.E.I.R.D. World (1995)(TV) : USA (English language), Color Director: William Malone Screenplay/Story: Gilbert Adler, A L Katz, Scott Nimerfro Production Company: Two Fisted Productions Producers: Gilbert Adler (co-executive), Richard Donner (executive), David Giler (executive), Walter Hill (executive), A L Katz, Omneya 'Nini' Mazen (associate), F.A. Miller (co-producer), Scott Nimerfro (co-producer), Joel Silver (executive), Robert Zemeckis (executive) "Greed, murder, sex - all appear to thrive at the Wilson Emery Institute for Research and Development, aka W.E.I.R.D., where brilliant, young, but emotionally unstable scientific genius[es] are recruited to develop cutting-edge projects in such fields as virology, time-travel, rejuvenation and robotics." Summary written by Doug Sederberg ([email protected]) Original music: Nicholas Pike Cinematographer: Levie Isaacks Film Editosr: Anthony Adler, Stanley Wohlberg Production Designer: Gregory Melton Art Directior: Alex Hajdu Costume Designer: Randall Thropp Makeup Artist: Donna-Lou Henderson Hair Stylist: Kenneth Walker First Assistant Director: Leigh A. Webb Second Assistant Director: Carole Keligian Sound Mixer: Vince Garcia Special Effects Makeup: Todd Masters Camera Operator: Rick Davidson Script Supervisor : Joyce King Property Master: Steve Melton Apprentice Editor: Vartan Nazarian Assistant Editor: Henry Te Set Designer: Karen Weber Complete Cast: * Dana Ashbrook as Dylan Bledsoe * Marshall Bell as Industrial Spy * Audie England as Diane * Paula Marshall * Kathryn Morris * Miguel A. Nunez Jr. as Bob Provost * Gina Ravera * Clayton Rohner * Jim True as Noah Lane * Ed O'Neill as Dr. Monochian * Cyia Batten * Bryan Rush * Rachael Bella * Tony Cox * Stephen Liska * Michael Wu as Dr. Chu * Zachary Harris * Scott Nimerfro
Yesterday Machine, The (1963) : an Independent film Production Company: Carter Film Productions Distributors: Video City ; Sinister Cinema (video) Director: Russ Marker Screenplay: Russ Marker Producer: Russ Marker Cinematographer: Ralph K. Johnson ISFDB mangles and oversimplifies as: "A Nazi scientist invents a time machine enabling him to go back to alters [sic] the events of WWII. Starring: * Tim Holt as Police Lt. Partane * James Britton as Jim Crandall * Jack Herman as Professor Ernest Von Hauser Other cast includes: * Sandra De Mar * Ann Pellegrino as Sandy * Bill Thurman as Police detective ISDB has less than usual on this one. For Nazi past-changing, see also: The Philadelphia Experiment I and II
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What are the smallest blood vessels of a body called? | What is the smallest blood vessel in the body? | Reference.com
What is the smallest blood vessel in the body?
A:
Quick Answer
The smallest blood vessels in the human body are capillaries, which connect arteries and veins. Capillaries can be as small as 5 micrometers wide. The average adult body has about 10 billion capillaries.
Full Answer
Capillaries are part of the circulation system in the human body. They help move oxygen, water, carbon dioxide and other nutrients throughout the body. Arteries transfer blood out of the heart. Arteries narrow into capillaries, then widen into venules and veins. The veins transport blood back into the heart. Capillaries work as a group and not individually. During exercise, capillaries assist the lungs with meeting the need for increased blood flow.
| Capillary |
According to mythology which ship rolled off its timbers killing Jason? | Your Body's Systems
Your Body's Systems
Circulatory System
The circulatory system is the body's transport system. It is made up of a group of organs that transport blood throughout the body. The heart pumps the blood and the arteries and veins transport it. Oxygen-rich blood leaves the left side of the heart and enters the biggest artery, called the aorta. The aorta branches into smaller arteries, which then branch into even smaller vessels that travel all over the body. When blood enters the smallest blood vessels, which are called capillaries, and are found in body tissue, it gives nutrients and oxygen to the cells and takes in carbon dioxide, water, and waste. The blood, which no longer contains oxygen and nutrients, then goes back to the heart through veins. Veins carry waste products away from cells and bring blood back to the heart , which pumps it to the lungs to pick up oxygen and eliminate waste carbon dioxide.
Digestive System
The digestive system is made up of organs that break down food into protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and fats, which the body needs for energy, growth, and repair. After food is chewed and swallowed, it goes down the esophagus and enters the stomach, where it is further broken down by powerful stomach acids. From the stomach the food travels into the small intestine. This is where your food is broken down into nutrients that can enter the bloodstream through tiny hair-like projections. The excess food that the body doesn't need or can't digest is turned into waste and is eliminated from the body.
Endocrine System
The endocrine system is made up of a group of glands that produce the body's long-distance messengers, or hormones. Hormones are chemicals that control body functions, such as metabolism, growth, and sexual development. The glands, which include the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, thymus gland, pineal body, pancreas, ovaries, and testes, release hormones directly into the bloodstream, which transports the hormones to organs and tissues throughout the body.
Immune System
The immune system is our body's defense system against infections and diseases. Organs, tissues, cells, and cell products work together to respond to dangerous organisms (like viruses or bacteria) and substances that may enter the body from the environment. There are three types of response systems in the immune system: the anatomic response, the inflammatory response, and the immune response.
The anatomic response physically prevents threatening substances from entering your body. Examples of the anatomic system include the mucous membranes and the skin. If substances do get by, the inflammatory response goes on attack.
The inflammatory system works by excreting the invaders from your body. Sneezing, runny noses, and fever are examples of the inflammatory system at work. Sometimes, even though you don't feel well while it's happening, your body is fighting illness.
When the inflammatory response fails, the immune response goes to work. This is the central part of the immune system and is made up of white blood cells, which fight infection by gobbling up antigens . About a quarter of white blood cells, called the lymphocytes, migrate to the lymph nodes and produce antibodies, which fight disease.
Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is also a defense system for the body. It filters out organisms that cause disease, produces white blood cells, and generates disease-fighting antibodies. It also distributes fluids and nutrients in the body and drains excess fluids and protein so that tissues do not swell. The lymphatic system is made up of a network of vessels that help circulate body fluids. These vessels carry excess fluid away from the spaces between tissues and organs and return it to the bloodstream.
Muscular System
The muscular system is made up of tissues that work with the skeletal system to control movement of the body. Some muscles—like the ones in your arms and legs—are voluntary, meaning that you decide when to move them. Other muscles, like the ones in your stomach, heart, intestines and other organs, are involuntary. This means that they are controlled automatically by the nervous system and hormones—you often don't even realize they're at work.
The body is made up of three types of muscle tissue: skeletal, smooth and cardiac. Each of these has the ability to contract and expand, which allows the body to move and function. .
Skeletal muscles help the body move.
Smooth muscles, which are involuntary, are located inside organs, such as the stomach and intestines.
Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart. Its motion is involuntary
Nervous System
The nervous system is made up of the brain, the spinal cord, and nerves. One of the most important systems in your body, the nervous system is your body's control system. It sends, receives, and processes nerve impulses throughout the body. These nerve impulses tell your muscles and organs what to do and how to respond to the environment. There are three parts of your nervous system that work together: the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, and the autonomic nervous system.
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. It sends out nerve impulses and analyzes information from the sense organs, which tell your brain about things you see, hear, smell, taste and feel.
The peripheral nervous system includes the craniospinal nerves that branch off from the brain and the spinal cord. It carries the nerve impulses from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands.
The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary action, such as heart beat and digestion.
Reproductive System
The reproductive system allows humans to produce children. Sperm from the male fertilizes the female's egg, or ovum, in the fallopian tube. The fertilized egg travels from the fallopian tube to the uterus, where the fetus develops over a period of nine months.
Respiratory System
The respiratory system brings air into the body and removes carbon dioxide. It includes the nose, trachea, and lungs. When you breathe in, air enters your nose or mouth and goes down a long tube called the trachea. The trachea branches into two bronchial tubes, or primary bronchi, which go to the lungs. The primary bronchi branch off into even smaller bronchial tubes, or bronchioles. The bronchioles end in the alveoli, or air sacs. Oxygen follows this path and passes through the walls of the air sacs and blood vessels and enters the blood stream. At the same time, carbon dioxide passes into the lungs and is exhaled.
Skeletal System
The skeletal system is made up of bones, ligaments and tendons. It shapes the body and protects organs. The skeletal system works with the muscular system to help the body move. Marrow, which is soft, fatty tissue that produces red blood cells, many white blood cells, and other immune system cells, is found inside bones.
Urinary System
The urinary system eliminates waste from the body, in the form of urine. The kidneys remove waste from the blood. The waste combines with water to form urine. From the kidneys, urine travels down two thin tubes called ureters to the bladder. When the bladder is full, urine is discharged through the urethra.
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Who became leader of the Indian National Congress in 1912? | BBC - History - Historic Figures: Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964)
Historic Figures
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Jawaharlal Nehru, June 1953 © Nehru was an Indian nationalist leader and statesman who became the first prime minister of independent India in 1947.
Jawaharlal Nehru was born in Allahabad, the son of a lawyer whose family was originally from Kashmir. He was educated in England, at Harrow School, and then at Trinity College, Cambridge. He studied law at the Inner Temple in London. He returned to India in 1912 and practised law for some years. In 1916, he married Kamala Kaul and the following year they had a daughter, Indira.
In 1919, Nehru joined the Indian National Congress which was fighting for greater autonomy from the British. He was heavily influenced by the organisation's leader Mohandas Gandhi. During the 1920s and 1930s Nehru was repeatedly imprisoned by the British for civil disobedience. In 1928, he was elected president of the Congress.
By the end of World War Two, Nehru was recognised as Gandhi's successor. He played a central role in the negotiations over Indian independence. He opposed the Muslim League's insistence on the division of India on the basis of religion. Louis Mountbatten, the last British viceroy, advocated the division as the fastest and most workable solution and Nehru reluctantly agreed.
On 15 August 1947, Nehru became the first prime minister of independent India. He held the post until his death in 1964. He implemented moderate socialist economic reforms and committed India to a policy of industrialisation.
Nehru also served as foreign minister of India. In October 1947, he faced conflict with Pakistan over the state of Kashmir, which was disputed at independence. Nehru sent troops into the state to support India's claim. A United Nations ceasefire was negotiated, but Kashmir remains deeply unstable to this day.
Against the background of the Cold War, Nehru developed a policy of 'positive neutrality' for India. He became one of the key spokesmen for the non-aligned countries of Africa and Asia, many of which were former colonies that wanted to avoid dependence on any major power.
Despite efforts at cooperation by both countries, Indian-Chinese border disputes escalated into war in 1962 and Indian forces were decisively beaten. This had a significant impact on Nehru's declining health. He died on 27 May 1964.
Two years later Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi, became prime minister. With an interruption of only three years, she held the post until her assassination in 1984. Her son Rajiv was prime minister of India from 1984 to 1989, but he too was assassinated.
| Mahatma Gandhi |
What term is usually used for a small English village without a church? | the great Indian leaders
the great Indian leaders
Died : 30th January 1948
Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand, called Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), Indian nationalist leader, who established his country's freedom through a nonviolent revolution.
Gandhi was born in Porbandar in the present state of Gujarat on October 2, 1869, and educated in law at University College, London. In 1891, after having been admitted to the British bar, Gandhi returned to India and attempted to establish a law practice in Bombay, with little success. Two years later an Indian firm with interests in South Africa retained him as legal adviser in its office in Durban. Arriving in Durban, Gandhi found himself treated as a member of an inferior race. He was appalled at the widespread denial of civil liberties and political rights to Indian immigrants to South Africa. He threw himself into the struggle for elementary rights for Indians.
Passive Resistance
Gandhi remained in South Africa for 20 years, suffering imprisonment many times. In 1896, after being attacked and beaten by white South Africans, Gandhi began to teach a policy of passive resistance to, and noncooperation with, the South African authorities. Part of the inspiration for this policy came from the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, whose influence on Gandhi was profound. Gandhi also acknowledged his debt to the teachings of Christ and to the 19th-century American writer Henry David Thoreau, especially to Thoreau's famous essay �Civil Disobedience.� Gandhi considered the terms passive resistance and civil disobedience inadequate for his purposes, however, and coined another term, Satyagraha (Sanskrit, �truth and firmness�). During the Boer War, Gandhi organized an ambulance corps for the British army and commanded a Red Cross unit. After the war he returned to his campaign for Indian rights. In 1910, he founded Tolstoy Farm, near Durban, a cooperative colony for Indians. In 1914, the government of the Union of South Africa made important concessions to Ghandhi's demands, including recognition of Indian marriages and abolition of the poll tax for them. His work in South Africa complete, he returned to India.
Campaign for Home Rule
Gandhi became a leader in a complex struggle, the Indian campaign for home rule. Following World War I, in which he played an active part in recruiting campaigns, Gandhi, again advocating Satyagraha, launched his movement of passive resistance to Great Britain. When, in 1919, Parliament passed the Rowlatt Act, giving the Indian colonial authorities emergency powers to deal with so-called revolutionary activities, Satyagraha spread through India, gaining millions of followers. A demonstration against the Rowlatt Act resulted in a massacre of Indians at Amritsar by British soldiers; in 1920, when the British government failed to make amends, Gandhi proclaimed an organized campaign of noncooperation. Indians in public office resigned, government agencies such as courts of law were boycotted, and Indian children were withdrawn from government schools. Through India, streets were blocked by squatting Indians who refused to rise even when beaten by police. Gandhi was arrested, but the British were soon forced to release him.
Economic independence for India, involving the complete boycott of British goods, was made a corollary of Gandhi's swaraj (Sanskrit, �self-ruling�) movement. The economic aspects of the movement were significant, for the exploitation of Indian villagers by British industrialists had resulted in extreme poverty in the country and the virtual destruction of Indian home industries. As a remedy for such poverty, Gandhi advocated revival of cottage industries; he began to use a spinning wheel as a token of the return to the simple village life he preached, and of the renewal of native Indian industries.
Gandhi became the international symbol of a free India. He lived a spiritual and ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and meditation. His union with his wife became, as he himself stated, that of brother and sister. Refusing earthly possessions, he wore the loincloth and shawl of the lowliest Indian and subsisted on vegetables, fruit juices, and goat's milk. Indians revered him as a saint and began to call him Mahatma (Sanskrit, �great-souled�), a title reserved for the greatest sages. Gandhi's advocacy of nonviolence, known as ahimsa (Sanskrit, �noninjury�), was the expression of a way of life implicit in the Hindu religion. By the Indian practice of nonviolence, Gandhi held, Great Britain too would eventually consider violence useless and would leave India.
The Mahatma's political and spiritual hold on India was so great that the British authorities dared not interfere with him. In 1921 the Indian National Congress, the group that spearheaded the movement for nationhood, gave Gandhi complete executive authority, with the right of naming his own successor. The Indian population, however, could not fully comprehend the unworldly ahimsa. A series of armed revolts against Great Britain broke out, culminating in such violence that Gandhi confessed the failure of the civil-disobedience campaign he had called, and ended it. The British government again seized and imprisoned him in 1922.
After his release from prison in 1924, Gandhi withdrew from active politics and devoted himself to propagating communal unity. Unavoidably, however, he was again drawn into the vortex of the struggle for independence. In 1930 the Mahatma proclaimed a new campaign of civil disobedience, calling upon the Indian population to refuse to pay taxes, particularly the tax on salt. The campaign was a march to the sea, in which thousands of Indians followed Gandhi from Ahmadabad to the Arabian Sea, where they made salt by evaporating sea water. Once more the Indian leader was arrested, but he was released in 1931, halting the campaign after the British made concessions to his demands. In the same year Gandhi represented the Indian National Congress at a conference in London.
Attack upon the Caste System
In 1932, Gandhi began new civil-disobedience campaigns against the British. Arrested twice, the Mahatma fasted for long periods several times; these fasts were effective measures against the British, because revolution might well have broken out in India if he had died. In September 1932, while in jail, Gandhi undertook a �fast unto death� to improve the status of the Hindu Untouchables. The British, by permitting the Untouchables to be considered as a separate part of the Indian electorate, were, according to Gandhi, countenancing an injustice. Although he was himself a member of the Vaisya (merchant) caste, Gandhi was the great leader of the movement in India dedicated to eradicating the unjust social and economic aspects of the caste system.
In 1934 Gandhi formally resigned from politics, being replaced as leader of the Congress party by Jawaharlal Nehru. Gandhi traveled through India, teaching ahimsa and demanding eradication of �untouchability.� The esteem in which he was held was the measure of his political power. So great was this power that the limited home rule granted by the British in 1935 could not be implemented until Gandhi approved it. A few years later, in 1939, he again returned to active political life because of the pending federation of Indian principalities with the rest of India. His first act was a fast, designed to force the ruler of the state of Rajkot to modify his autocratic rule. Public unrest caused by the fast was so great that the colonial government intervened; the demands were granted. The Mahatma again became the most important political figure in India.
Independence
When World War II broke out, the Congress party and Gandhi demanded a declaration of war aims and their application to India. As a reaction to the unsatisfactory response from the British, the party decided not to support Britain in the war unless the country were granted complete and immediate independence. The British refused, offering compromises that were rejected. When Japan entered the war, Gandhi still refused to agree to Indian participation. He was interned in 1942 but was released two years later because of failing health.
By 1944 the Indian struggle for independence was in its final stages, the British government having agreed to independence on condition that the two contending nationalist groups, the Muslim League and the Congress party, should resolve their differences. Gandhi stood steadfastly against the partition of India but ultimately had to agree, in the hope that internal peace would be achieved after the Muslim demand for separation had been satisfied. India and Pakistan became separate states when the British granted India its independence in 1947. During the riots that followed the partition of India, Gandhi pleaded with Hindus and Muslims to live together peacefully. Riots engulfed Calcutta, one of the largest cities in India, and the Mahatma fasted until disturbances ceased. On January 13, 1948, he undertook another successful fast in New Delhi to bring about peace, but on January 30, 12 days after the termination of that fast, as he was on his way to his evening prayer meeting, he was assassinated by a fanatic Hindu.
Gandhi's death was regarded as an international catastrophe. His place in humanity was measured not in terms of the 20th century but in terms of history. A period of mourning was set aside in the United Nations General Assembly, and condolences to India were expressed by all countries. Religious violence soon waned in India and Pakistan, and the teachings of Gandhi came to inspire nonviolent movements elsewhere, notably in the U.S. under the civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964)
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India and architect of India's foreign policy, grew from a anglicized child into a dedicated nationalist par excellence.
Early Life
Jawaharlal Nehru was born on 14th November 1889, the first child of Motilal and Swarup Rani Nehru. By 1900, the family had moved to Allahabad and Motilal's flourishing practice saw them residing at a Palatial home, complete with swimming pool and tennis courts.
Between 1902-1904, Jawaharlal was tutored by Ferdinand T. Brookes and in 1905, he entered Harrow, one of England's leading schools. Jawaharlal went on to get a degree in natural science from Trinity College, Cambridge and a law degree from the Inner Temple.
Whilst in England, Nehru frequently asked for Indian newspapers, particularly "The Times" and much of his correspondence was based on the Indian National Congress. He was happy at his father's entry into the Congress, though he often expressed more severe views than the moderate Motilal. An only child of 11 years, Jawaharlal was a voracious reader and his areas of interest included literature, history, science, philosophy and economics.
Already a close friend of Annie Besant, Jawaharlal's holiday to Dublin in 1907 acquainted him with the Lrish Republican Movement. Thus by the time Jawaharlal returned to India in 1912, this young man with a very English upbringing, was already full of nationalist ideas.
Jawaharlal, Motilal and Gandhi
Jawaharlal, Motilal Nehru and Gandhi shared a unique relationship and their combined importance to the Congress led to them being called the 'Holy Trinity" by some journalists. Indeed the inclusion of the Nehrus into the National Movement had much to do with the relationship between father and son and Jawaharlal's loyalty to Gandhi.
By the time Jawaharlal was in England, he had become the intellectual partner of his father Motilal. Motilal Nehru, born a posthumus child, had from the age of 26 years, supported his wife and child and the widow and seven children of his brother. A tough, self confident, witty lawyer, Motilal paved his way to the top of the legal profession with tremendous hard work and honour. His home, "Anand Bhavan," at Allahabad was the focal point of attention and Motilal refused to conform to convention over eating separately like other Brahmins or purifying himself after foreign visits etc. His children (Jawaharlal, Swarup Kumari and Krishna) received the best education possible. Practical and gritty, Motilal was a leading member of the Moderates in the Congress but by 1920, he followed his impetuous son to become a staunch supporter of Gandhi. During the 1920 Non Co-operation movement, Motilal grabbed the headlines when he got rid of his horses, cars, carriages, servants, crystal and Seville Row suits and adopted sudh Khadi and the Gandhi cap. Both father and son gave up flourishing legal practices to follow the national movement and in the words of B. R. Nanda,
"what seemed a tryst with destiny in 1947 was, 28 years earlier, a leap in the dark."
The relationship between Gandhi and Jawaharlal was still harder to define, as inspite of many differences they remained loyal to each other. Jawaharlal first met Gandhiji at the 1916 Lucknow Session of the Congress and by 1919 had joined the Satyagraha Sabha. Jawaharlal recognized Gandhi's amazing ability to rouse the masses and Gandhi treated Nehru like a son.
1920's and 1930's:
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919) had a profound influence on Jawaharlal and his mother's ties with people in Lahore, brought Nehru face to face with official butchery. During the Non Co-operation Movement (1920), the Nehrus became staunch Nationalists.
In 1926, Jawaharlal and his family (wife Kamala and daughter Indira) spent a year in Europe, during which time Nehru became associated with Socialism. At the Congress of Oppressed Nationalities in Brussels (1927), Nehru was elected to a 9 member executive committee along with Romain Rolland, Mme Sun Yat Sen and Albert Einstein of the Russian Revolution.
Returning to India, Jawaharlal threw himself into the anti-Senior Commission Satyagraha and was severely beaten in a lathi charge. At this juncture a letter to Jawaharlal by Gandhi dated Dec 3rd, 1928 said,
" May God spare you for many a long year to come and make you his chosen instrument for freeing India from the yoke" -- a truly prophetic vision".
In 1929 Jawaharlal Nehru was elected President of the All India Congress Committee and was given the reception fit for a king at the Lahore session of 1929. As the Civil Disobedience movement began, Jawaharlal and Motilal spent long periods in jail (beginning in 1921, Jawaharlal was arrested several times - spending approximately 10 years under arrest between 1920 - 1947), but the women of the Nehru family threw themselves into the nationalists movement. Tragedy struck Jawaharlal when his father died in 1921 and his wife, Kamala, died in 1936, both after prolonged illnesses.
Independence and after
Jawaharlal remained at the forefront of the National movement and became the Chief Negotiator of the Congress for the Transfer of power. A close friend of Lord Mountbatten, Nehru became the P.M. of the Interim government and on 15th August 1947, became the first Prime Minister of Independent India.
Along with Vallabhai Patel as Interior minister, Jawaharlal Nehru ensured the accession of the Princely states to India and extended a hand of friendship to other Afro - Asian Countries. The architect of India's foreign policy, Nehru defined it as anti-imperialist, anti-arpatheid and anti-colonial. Nehru also believed that the newly independent states in Asia and Africa had the right not to join either the Soviet or Capitalist Power Blocs. Thus he along with Tito (Yugoslavia) and Nasser (Egypt) founded the Non-Aligned Movement. Nehru did not consider the "Non Aligned Policy" to be neutral but he believed it allowed Nations to accept aid and maintain good relations with Nations from both Power Blocs.
The only blot on Nehru's foreign policy was the breakdown of the "Panchasheel" agreement signed with China -- In 1962, the Chinese Aggression on India was a huge blow to Nehru. But Nehru's numerous trips abroad, India's membership in the commonwealth and commitment to anti-apartheidism and anti-colonialism were well received.
In December 1929, Nehru had declared that "our economic programme must be based on a human outlook, and must not sacrifice men to money". In keeping with this, Nehru's economic policy was socialist in leaning, giving India a mixed economy and five year planning. Unlike Gandhi who believed that village development was more important, Nehru concentrated on industrialization, refeuing to dams and power units as India's new Temples.
Nehru died in 1964, plunging India into mourning. By no means a perfect leader, Nehru was an introspective, sometimes impetuous man. Passionately fond of children, his birthday is celebrated as children's Day in India.
Much has been written in hindsight criticizing Nehru's economic policy, questioning his foreign policy and speculating on his friendship with Edwura Mountbatten. But few who knew him were immune to Jawaharlal's deeply passionate love for India and his dreams for her future. In the words of Rabindranath Tagore, Nehru was
"the Rituraj representing the season of youth and triumphant joy of an invincible spirit of fight and uncompromising loyalty to the cause of freedom."
Born : 1875
Died 1950
Indian nationalist leader, born in Gujarat. He studied law in England but returned (1915) to India and practiced in Ahmadabad. Influenced by the nationalist leader Mohandas Gandhi, he joined the civil disobedience movement and successfully organized (1928) the landowners of Bardoli against British tax increases. In 1931 he served as president of the Indian National Congress. The British imprisoned Patel a number of times for his activities.
As home minister, minister of states, and deputy prime minister (1947-50) under Jawaharlal Nehru, Patel adroitly achieved the peaceful integration of the princely Indian states into the Union. His swift, cool reaction to Gandhi's assassination in 1948 is widely believed to have averted a possible civil war.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak (29th Couplet) Described by British as "The Father of Indian Unrest " Tilak was born on 23.07.1856. His slogan, "Swaraj (Self Rule) is my birthright", inspired millions of Indians. His book "Geetarahasya"a classic treatise on Geeta in Marathi was written by him, in prison at Mandalay.Great journalist- editor, an authority on Vedas, Sanskrit Scholar, mathematician and a natural leader of India. Died 01.08.1920 "Swaraj is our birthright," thundered Tilak, the Lion of India.He founded schools andpublished newspapers, all for his motherland. He rotted in a distant jail at Manda lay, in Burma. he wore himself out till his last breath, to awaken his countrymen.
THE CHILDHOOD
"If 5 sheep eat up all the grass in a meadow in 28 days, how many sheep will eat up the grass in 20 days?"
"Seven sheep, sir," flashed back the answer even before the teacher finished his question.
'Who is it that answered without working out the sum?" Thundered the teacher.
Two or three voices shouted, "Bal, sir."
The teacher went near Bal. He took his note book and glanced through it. Should he not at least take down the problem, let alone work it out?
"Where have you worked the sum?"
Bat, with a mischievous smile, pointed to his head with his index finger.
"You should work the problem in your. book," the teacher said.
'Why? I will do it orally," replied Bat.
Bal's classmates found it difficult to under- stand certain problems even when the teacher did them thrice. But, to Bat mathe- matics was as easy as drinking Water. Sanskrit, of course, was like peeled banana to him!
Swaraj -- Our Birth-Right
After his visit to Lucknow, he came to Kanpur.
'Swaraj -- Our Birth-Right' "We want equality. We cannot remain slaves under foreign rule. We will not carry for an instant longer, the yoke of slavery that we have carded all these years. Swaraj is our birth right. We must have it at any cost. When the Japanese, who are Asians like us, are free, why should we be slaves? Why should our Mother's hands be hand- cuffed?"
Swaraj's alter blazed. The government was again alarmed and troubled.
As days passed, Tilak began to stamp the slogan 'Swaraj is our birthright' on the minds of every Indian. Lokaman ya Tilak's popularity grew rapidly.
Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)
Swami Vivekananda became one of India's leading social reformers of the modern era and was a champion of humanitarianism and service to God through service to others. He is revered both in the East and West as a rejuvenator of mankind through the eternal truths of Hinduism. He spoke widely on Hinduism and its true meaning as written in the vedas and founded the Ramkrishna Mission, one of India's leading charitable institutions.
Early Life
Swami Vivekananda was born on 12th January 1863 in Calcutta to Bhuvaneshwari and Vishwanath Datta. Bhuvaneshwari had many daughters and longed for a son. And it is said that a son was born after long worship of Lord Shiva. Bhuvaneshwari believed that her son was gift from Vireshwar Shiva and so named him Bireshwar. As the name was too long, everyone began calling Biley.
As a child, Biley was strong-willed but restless. But his mother knew to control him. She would pour a few pots of water on his head saying all the while, "Shiva, Shiva, Shiva!". This would immediately quieten him and he would start meditating. Biley was always fascinated by the sanyasis (monks) in their saffron dress. He would give anything to them which was handy. He would love to play with his friends "king and court" where he would always become king. Sometimes they would play the game of meditation. Whenever he used to do this, he used to forget everything and would only think of God.
Biley was a sharp boy and before he was six, he knew all the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharta by heart. Biley used to remember everything that he heard once. This was because he used to give complete concentration to it. Biley always told the truth and always wanted to test the truth of what he was told. In times of danger, Biley always kept a cool head and did his duty.
Influence of Ramkrishna
When Biley grew up, he was given the name of Narendranath Datta. By adolescence, he had stopped meditating mindlessly in front of images as he could not accept religion on blind faith. He began asking many questions such as "who is God?", "Where is God". He would go to all the religious people he met and ask them just one question - "Have you seen God?" But no one would reply him.
Soon he met Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansa (1836-1886) who was a scholar of the Vedas, Upanishads, Sufism, the Bible, Sikhism and Buddhism. In him, Narendra found the spiritual teacher he was searching for and so he became his disciple. One night, Narendranath went into deep meditation and had a spiritual experience which filled him with bliss. Ramkrishna stressed "not mercy, but service" and encouraged Narendranath to change his name to Vivekananda. It was on August 16, 1886 Sri Ramkrishna left his body. After the death of Ramkrishna, Vivekananda committed himself to serving humanity for the rest of his life.
Lal Bahadur Shastri
Small of stature, simple and soft-spoken, Lal Bahadur proved to be one of the heroes of the history of India. A great general in Gandhi's army of peaceful soldiers of freedom. He became the symbol of India's valor and self-respect.After Nehruji's demise the big question in front of nation was who will take the responsibility of leading the nation.Finally all the leaders came to the decision that Lal Bahadur Shastri was the only person to pilot the nation at such critical times.
A short man. A lean body. Eyes wide as the wheels of a cart. His clothes were simple, his voice soft and almost inaudible. But there was always a smile, which overarched his words. There was not the slightest sign of pride or authority in his bearing. Could he administer a nation of five hundred million people, doubted some.Lal Bahadur never praised himself. On the contrary he used to say: "I am an ordinary man and not a very bright man." He never aspired to power. He never worked for it.And yet power and authority came in search of him. Fame set a crown on his head. The short man grew into a colossus. He showed by his work that, though he was tender like a flower, he could be hard as diamond, too. He filled the Four Corners of the world with the fame of India. At a time when the world sang his praises as a hero, an incomparable patriot-hero and as the architect of peace, and just as he touched the peak of his life, Lal Bahadur passed away all too suddenly. He came to power unexpectedly, and he left the world equally suddenly.The 27th of May 1964 is an unforgettable day in the history of India.On that day the citizens of Delhi woke and attended to their routine work.During the day came shocking news from Teen Moorti Bhavan. Thefirst Prime Minister of free India, Jawaharlal Nehru, lived in Teen MoortiBhavan; the citizens learnt that he had a heart attack.
Born : 1897
Died : 1945
Indian nationalist leader, who fought against the British in World War II. Born in Cuttack, Bengal, and educated at the universities of Calcutta and Cambridge, he left a career in the Indian civil service to fight for India's independence and was imprisoned a dozen times by the British. He shared leadership of India's youth and peasant societies with Jawaharlal Nehru and became president of the Indian National Congress in 1938. Bose was opposed, however, by Mohandas Gandhi, whose principle of nonviolence he did not accept, and was forced to resign the following year. In 1941, hoping to take advantage of the war to free India of British rule, Bose fled to Germany. From there he went to Malaya, where he set up (1943) a Provisional Government of Free India and, with Japanese help, organized the so-called Indian National Army. Bose led his troops against the British on the Burma-India frontier until 1945; he was killed in a plane crash while fleeing to Japan in August of that year.
Subhash Chandra Bose
"Patriot of Patriots", this is what Mahatma Gandhi described Subhash Chandra Bose. Subhash Chandra Bose was a brilliant young man set for a glittering future in the Indian Civil Services when he chose to dedicate himself to the Indian National movement instead. Beginning as youth Congressman, Bose tired of Gandhian politics and organised the Azad Hind Fauj to defeat the British during World War II. Inspite of the defeat of the Azad Hind Fauj, Subhash Chandra Bose won an immortal place in Indian History. "Jai-Hind" was his battle cry and he roused the nation to a great patriotic heights.
Early Life of Subhash Chandra Bose
Born in a Bengali family on January 23, 1897, at Cuttak in Orissa, Subhash Chandra Bose spent sixteen years of his life there. His father Jankinath Bose was an able public lawyer and believed in orthodox nationalism. He was a public prosecutor in Cuttak and later became a member of the Bengal Legislative Council. With eight brothers and six sisters, Subhash's family was large bust a disciplined one. Subhash loved to read and was fascinated with religious truth and self-control. He used to do social service. After reading Vivekananda's writings, selfless service became his motto.
Subhash Chandra Bose was even expelled from the college which at it turned out was the turning point of his career. Recognising his son's intellect, Subhash Chandra Bose's father was determined that Bose should become a high ranking Indian Civil Servant. He went to England for further studies. In 1920, Bose passed the Civil Service open examination and stood fourth. Though Bose excelled at all the prescribed courses in India and England, he was determined to join the struggle for India's freedom. Bose joined the Congress and was particularly active in its youth wing. He resigned from the Indian Civil Service in April 1921.
After returning to India, Subhash went to Gandhiji. But his ideas did not match with that of Gandhiji's belief in non-violence. So he left and returned to Calcutta to work under CR Das, the Bengali freedom fighter. In 1921, Bose organised a boycott of the celebrations to mark the Prince of Wales' visit to India. This led to his being imprisoned. In April 1924, Bose was elected the Chief Executive Officer of the newly constituted Calcutta Corporation. Later, in October, Bose was arrested as one of the suspected terrorist. First, he was in Alipore jail and later exiled to Mandalay in Burma.
In June 1925, Bose was deeply struck by the sudden loss of his leader CR Das. In end-1926, he was nominated as a candidate for the Bengal Legislative Assembly. On May 16, 1927 he was released from jail due to ill-health. The two years in Mandalay gave him lot of confidence and strength. By December 1927, Bose with Jawaharlal Nehru became the the General Secretary of the Congress. In January 23, 1930, Bose was once again arrested for leading an "Independence " procession. After released from jail on September 25, he was Mayor of Calcutta.
In 1932, Bose visited Vienna for medical reasons and there he was deeply influenced by Vithaldas Patel, another Indian freedom fighter. They recognised the need for collaboration between Indian nationalists and countries opposed to Britain and in their joint manifesto they proclaimed, "Non-co-operation cannot be given up but the form of non-co-operation will have to be changed into a more militant one and the fight for freedom waged on all fronts." In October 1933, Vithalbhai Patel died and left Bose with lot of money for spreading the knowledge of India abroad.
BHAGATH SINGH
Introduction
He is the symbol of the heroism of the youth of India. A revolutionary He threw a bomb when the Legislature was in session to warn the British Government. He was put to death but lives in the hearts of his countrymen.
Author - Eswarachandra
One evening a boy of three was out for a walk with his father. There was also an elderly man with the father. Chatting they walked on and went beyond the village. Green crop delighted the eyes. The elders were walking along the edge of a field. Not hearing the footsteps of the boy, the father looked back. The boy was sitting on the ground and seemed to be planting some thing. The father became curious.
"What are you doing?" said he.
"Look, father, I shall grow guns all over the field" was the innocent reply of the boy. His eyes shone with the strong faith that guns would grow in the field. Both the elders were struck with wonder at the little boy's words.
The boy was Bhagat Singh who later fought like a hero for India's freedom and sacrificed his life.
BIRTH
Banga was a village in Layalpura district of Punjab province. A brave man, Sardar Kishan Singh by name, lived there. Vidya vati was his wife. Kishan Singh's family was noted for bravery and love of adventure. Many heroes of his family had fought to free India from the British. Such fighters are called revolutionaries. Kishan Singh too was a revolutionary. His younger brothers, Ajit Singh and Swaran Singh, too, had fought to drive the British out of India. Kishan Singh, Ajit Singh and Swaran Singh had all been sent to prison by the Government.In those days such a revolution hadspread all over the country. People were full of determination to win freedom. It was at such a time that Bhagat Singh was born (on September 28, 1907). He was the third son of Sardar Kishan Singh and Vidyavati. At the same time, Kishan Singh and the Uncle Swaran Singh were freed from the jail. It was learnt that another uncle of his, Ajit Singh, too, would be freed. As he thus brought good fortune to his family the child was named Bhagat Singh. 'Bhagat Singh' means 'the fortunate'.
In The Stream of Revolution
Even at home, Bhagat Singh could not sit idle. At that time the Akali Dal arranged a procession. But in order to prevent it, the District Collector Dil Bagh Singh issued an order: Nobody should supply either food or drink to the members of the Akali Dal.
Even at home, Bhagat Singh could not sit idle. At that time the Akali Dal arranged a procession. But in order'-to prevent it, the District Collector Dil Bagh Singh issued an order: Nobody should supply either food or drink to the members of the Akali Dal.The Collector who issued the order belonged to Bhagat Singh's family. But being a government officer, he hated the revolutionaries.
Bhagat Singh thought of helping the Akali Dal people visiting his village. He explained the situation to the villagers and arranged to supply food secretly to the Akali Dal people at night. Thus a week passed. The Dal's program went on continuously and successfully. Throughout the day, there used to be talks on the country's freedom and the duty of the people. Bhagat Singh also used to speak.The Collector grew angry that the people had helped the Dal against his orders, He issued a warrant to arrest Bhagat Singh. Then Bhagat Singh was only seventeen. So he was a minor and could not be arrested.The Collector grew angrier. "Bhagat Singh may be too young but his brain is not too young!" he grumbled.
Arrest and Release
Bhagat Singh was a fountain of zeal. His village was too small for his activities. He went to Lahore. There a union of revolutionaries by name 'Naujavan Bharat Sabha' was founded. Bhagat Singh became the Secretary.Like the Kranti Dal in Bengal, the new union started teaching lessons of revolution to the people of Punjab. Outwardly its objects were to spread Indian culture, to make the youth strong and so on. But the real purpose was to bring about a revolution for the country's freedom.Within a few days, it started branches in different places. The celebration of the birthdays of revolutionaries became an important part of the program of the union. The members would take out pictures of revolutionaries, decorated with Khadi garlands, in processions. They would cut their fingers and put a mark of blood on the foreheads of the heroes in thepictures. They would lecture about them. It was in these days that Bhagat Singh gained good practice in public speaking. Within a few days he became a good speaker. He got into touch with the students' unions of colleges. He spread the message of revolution everywhere. By this time, Bhaaat Singh had caught the eye of the police. His movements were carefully watched by spies.Once, as he was just leaving the train at Amritsar, the spies followed Bhagat Singh. Trying to escape from them, he began to fun. But where ever he went he could not escape. At last he rushed into a lawyer's house and escaped from the police. Then he traveled to Lahore. When the train reached Lahore, he was caught by the police and pushed into the Lahore Fort Jail.Bhagat Singh did not know why he was arrested. A few days earlier some rogues had thrown a bomb on procession during the Dussara Festival.It killed some people. The police suspected the hand of revolutionaries in it. That was why they arrested Bhagat Singh and pushed him into jail. To find out the secrets of other revolutionaries, they tortured him in many ways. They flogged him with a knot and gored with a spear. But Bhagat Singh did not open his mouth.Finally, a Magistrate decided that Bhagat Singh could be released only on a bail of sixty thousand rupees who would be prepared to bear such a responsibility? Yet, out of sheer affection for Bhagat Singh, two rich persons came forward. They were Duneechand and Daulatram. On their surety, Bhagat Singh was set free.If Bhagat Singh participated inrevolutionary activities during the period of bail, the two wealthy men would have to pay sixty thousand rupees to the Government. Bhagat Singh did not wish that others should be troubled on his account. That was why he decided to keep quiet during the period of bail. At this time his father built a cowshed in his native place, so that Bhagat Singh could run a small diary. Bhagat Singh took up that work in earnest.Every day he got up at four. Then he fed the cows, removed the cow dung and cleaned the shed. Next he milked the cows and sold the milk. It was all systematic, and tidily done. Whatever he undertook Bhagat Singh did a good job.
The entire day he was busy with his dairy, but the night brought thoughts of revolution. He joined his friends for discussions. At the same time, he got into touch with the newspapers, 'Kirtee' and 'Akalee'. He wrote articles for them. A journal brought out a special issue to honor fighters who had been hanged; Bhagat Singh himself introduced some of the revolutionaries.
The Dussara Bomb case involving Bhagat Singh was still going on. ' At last he was released. He was not even on bail. At once Bhagat Singh closed the milk center. He returned to work for the revolution. After attending a meeting of revolutionaries in Delhi in 1928, he never returned home.
Vengeance
In Delhi, Chandrasekhar Azad, a young revolutionary, was introduced to Bhagat Singh. It was as if fire and wind were united. The activities of the revolutionaries gained new strength. Bhagat Singh removed his beard and had a closer crop, so that the police might not recognize him. All these days he had been a hero of the Sikhs; he now became a national hero.There was a revolutionary party called the 'Hindustan Prajatantra Sangha' (The Indian Republic Party). The name was changed to 'Hindustan Samajvadi Prajatantra Sangha' (The Indian Socialist Republican Party). Its aim was to establish a republic in India by means of an armed revolution.
When a bomb is thrown to the ground, it explodes causing a deafening sound, and destroys everything near-by. The revolutionaries needed any number of bombs to drive out the British. But where could they get them? Bhagat Singh went to Calcutta to learn to make bombs. There he bought as many bombs as he needed. He also learnt from Jatindranath Das, a revolutionary, how to make bombs.The revolutionaries set up a factory secretly at Agra to make bombs. But how could they get the money they needed? Sometimes for three days together they lived only on a cup of tea. They did not have beds or rugs though it was biting cold. They were starving. And all the while the thought of the police plagued them. In the midst of all this they went on with their sacred work. And, for money they would sometimes loot government off ices.At last they could make bombs. The bombs were tested at Jhansi Fort. The test was a success.In February 1928, a committee from England visited India. It came to be known as the Simon Commission. The purpose of its visit was to decide how much freedom and responsibility could be given to the people of India. But there was no Indian on the committee. Naturally Indians were very angry. They decided to make it impossible for the Commission to work. They decided to drive it back to England. Wherever the committee went, people protested with black flags, shouting "Simon, go back."When the Simon Commission reached Lahore in October, it had to face a big procession opposed to it.'Naujavan Bharat Sabha' arranged the procession. Thousands of people took part in it. Its leader was the elderly patriot, Lala Lajpat Ray. Trouble started near the railway station itself. The revolutionaries did not allow the Simon Commission to proceed. The police could not protect the members. By that time, the Police Superintendent, one Scott by name, ordered a lathicharge. The police began to beat people with heavy sticks. People started running. But Lajpat Ray and his companions did not move. A police officer by name Saunders
rushed forward and hit Lajpat Ray on the chest. It was a powerful blow. Lajpat Ray was old and he was ill. The blow brought him death. He suffered for a month and died.In his death, the revolutionaries suffered a heavy loss. They decided that they should take revenge and that they should kill Scott who ordered the lathi-charge. They thought of a plan. A revolutionary by name Jaya- gopal was to observe Scott's movements. Bhagat Singh and Rajguru were to shoot him. They had to plan carefully their escape. So much was planned under the leadership of Chandrasekhara Azad.But in the beginning itself, a small mistake was committed. Jayagopal mistook Saunders for Scott.The appointed day came. That evening Saunders came out of the police station and got on his motor bicycle. Jayagopal who was behind made a sign. Bhagat Singh and Rajguru were waiting on the way. As the motor bicycle neared Rajguru shot at Saunders from his pistol. At once Bhagat Singh also fired. A bullet struck the
chest of the man who had struck Lajpat Ray's chest with a heavy stick; Saunders fell down dead. Bhagat Singh and Rajguru ran away. The police chased them. Both of them rushed into a lodge near-by. Then they escaped from the place.The whole city was filled with the news of Saunders' murder. The police spies began a search for the murderers all over the city.Next day posters appeared on the walls in all the streets of Lahore. They declared, "Lala Lajpat Ray's death is avenged. Saunders has been murdered." Besides, there were some words of caution addressed to the Government. The posters also contained the name of The Hindustan Samajvadi Prajatantra Sena (The Indian Socialist Republican Army) in red letters. So every one could know who were behind the murder of Saunders, The people's respect for the Kranti Dal grew. Saunders' murder shook the British Government.Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Chandra sekhara Azad all three escaped from Lahore. Bhagat Singh dressed himself as a foreign youth and wore a hat. Durga Bhabhi, the wife of a revolutionary by name Bhagavaticharan, and their child followed Bhagat Singh, so that people would think they were Bhagat Singh's wife and child. These three traveled by train in a first class compartment. Rajguru left the place disguised as an ordinary worker. Azad traveled as a pundit (scholar). The railway station was filled with eagle-eyed spies; but all the three went away.
A Bomb Bursts
The police searched and searched for Bhagat Singh and Rajguru, but could not find them. Three months passed. In April 1929, the Central Legislative Assembly met in Delhi. The British Government wanted to place before the Assembly two bills which were likely to harm the country's interests. Even if the Assembly rejected them, the Viceroy could use his special powers and approve them, and they would become laws. The Hindustan Samajvadi Prajatantra Sena (The Indian Socialist Republican Army) decided to resist the move. Of course, the revolutionaries escaped after Saunders' murder. But the people of Lahore were subjected to torture by the police. The Sena decided that such a thing should not happen again. The revolu- tionaries must oppose the British and court arrest. They must see that the objects of the Prajatantra Sena were explained to the people all over the country. With this object in view, the Sena resolved to send Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt to Delhi. Both of them were to go there, throw a bomb in the Legislative Assembly and, get arrested. For this purpose two harm- less bombs were made. On the 8th of April 1929 the two men took the bombs and entered the Assembly Hall. They sat in the visitors' gallery.The session commenced. The bills were placed before the Assembly by the Government. The members rejected them. In the end, a member of the Government began an announcement that the Viceroy had exercised his special powers. At once, a bomb fell from, above and exploded causing a fearful sound. Immediately another bomb fell. There were sounds of shooting, too. The entire hall was filled with smoke. People ran helter skelter. Some were so frightened that they fell down unconscious. By that time, red pamphlets fell from the visitors' gallery. In them, particulars of Prajatantra Sena (the Republican Army) were given and the Government was condemned. The Hall was filled with the slogan, 'Long Live Revolution!' The police rushed to the spot. Only Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt were there. They were holding pistols. Afraid of them, the police moved back. But both threw down their pistols and got them hand- cuffed. The bombs thrown into the Assembly Hall killed no one.Four or five personsreceived very minor injuries; that was all. It was not the revolutionaries' object to kill any body. The incident drew the attention of the entire world. The Kranti Dal's name became a household word. The British Government trembled. After the incident, the Government got scent of the factory at Lahore. The Government seized enough material to make seven thousand bombs. Another big factory at Shaharanpur too was discovered by the Government. Within a few days, most of the leaders of the Kranti Dal were arrested. The Government filed a case against them, accusing them of executing the Lahore plot. Bhagat Singh and his companions were kept in prison in Lahore.
A Welcome to Death
The trial of the accused commenced. In those days political prisoners were not treated properly in the jail. They were not given proper food. They were made to suffer in every possible way. Bhagat Singh and his companions decided to fight against the wretched conditions. Bhagat Singh was sure of being hanged. But he thought at least the other political. Prisoners could benefit. All the revolu- tionaries went on fast. They fasted for two months. Then the Government said it would consider their demands. Some gave up the fast. But Jatin Das did not. He did not listen to anybody. On the 64th day of his fast, he died. Bhagat Singh fasted for thirty-two days thereafter. The trial of Bhagat Singh and hiscompanions began; it drew the attention of the whole world. The court was heavily guarded by the police. No spectators were allowed inside the court. The prisoners were brought to the court in chains. They used to shout 'Long Live Revolution I' and only then enter the court hall. Bhagat Singh and BatukeshwarDutt stated, "If the deaf are to hear, the sound has to be very loud. When we dropped thebomb, it was not our intention to kill anybody. We have bombed the British Government. The British must quit India and make her free." They also explained the objects of their association. The whole world came to understand their aim and activitiesbecause of the press reports. Finally judgment was given. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were to be hanged; some were to undergo life imprisonment; some were to be kept in jail for five years, some for seven, some for ten years. Bhagat Singh was to be hanged! When the news spread, the people all over the country were mad with rage. Thousands of appeals were sent to the Government, pleading that he should be saved. Several leaders of public life joined in the appeal. But all attempts failed. It was decided to hang them on the 24th of March 1931. Even the members of the prisoners' families were hot allowed to meet them. Moreover, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were hanged a day before the appointed day, that is, on March 23rd.Even on the day of their hanging they were fearless. They were cheerful. They com- peted with one another to be hanged first. It was decided that first Sukhdev would be hanged and then Bhagat Singh and finally Rajguru. All the three climbed the platform. Kissing the rope, they themselves put it round their neck. They died with the name of Bharat Mata on their lips. Such was the end of the three champions of freedom. That day no one in the jail touched food. Everyone was in tears. The next day, not knowing that the three prisoners had already been hanged, their relatives came to meet them. But it was all over with them. The dead bodies of the martyrs had been secretly burnt on the bank of the river Sutlej. Getting a clue thousands of people raced to the spot; but only the ashes remained. The people sobbed, with the ashes in their hands. All over the country tributes were paid to the heroes who fought for freedom and sacrificed their lives.Hundreds of songs werecomposed and sung about the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh. Even today, the heroic spirit of Bhagat Singh is an unfailing source of inspiration to the youth of the country. His courage, spirit of adventure and patriotism are an example to one and all.
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Which general was nicknamed Old Blood and Guts? | “Old Blood and Guts” dies - Dec 21, 1945 - HISTORY.com
“Old Blood and Guts” dies
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On this day, General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. 3rd Army, dies from injuries suffered not in battle but in a freak car accident. He was 60 years old.
Descended from a long line of military men, Patton graduated from the West Point Military Academy in 1909. He represented the United States in the 1912 Olympics-as the first American participant in the pentathlon. He did not win a medal. He went on to serve in the Tank Corps during World War I, an experience that made Patton a dedicated proponent of tank warfare.
During World War II, as commander of the U.S. 7th Army, he captured Palermo, Sicily, in 1943 by just such means. Patton’s audacity became evident in 1944, when, during the Battle of the Bulge, he employed an unorthodox strategy that involved a 90-degree pivoting move of his 3rd Army forces, enabling him to speedily relieve the besieged Allied defenders of Bastogne, Belgium.
Along the way, Patton’s mouth proved as dangerous to his career as the Germans. When he berated and slapped a hospitalized soldier diagnosed with “shell shock,” but whom Patton accused of “malingering,” the press turned on him, and pressure was applied to cut him down to size. He might have found himself enjoying early retirement had not General Dwight Eisenhower and General George Marshall intervened on his behalf. After several months of inactivity, he was put back to work.
And work he did-at the Battle of the Bulge, during which Patton once again succeeded in employing a complex and quick-witted strategy, turning the German thrust into Bastogne into an Allied counterthrust, driving the Germans east across the Rhine. In March 1945, Patton’s army swept through southern Germany into Czechoslovakia—which he was stopped from capturing by the Allies, out of respect for the Soviets’ postwar political plans for Eastern Europe.
Patton had many gifts, but diplomacy was not one of them. After the war, while stationed in Germany, he criticized the process of denazification, the removal of former Nazi Party members from positions of political, administrative, and governmental power. His impolitic press statements questioning the policy caused Eisenhower to remove him as U.S. commander in Bavaria. He was transferred to the 15th Army Group, but in December of 1945 he suffered a broken neck in a car accident and died less than two weeks later.
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In which novel does the valet Passerpartout appear? | George, American general nicknamed 'Old Blood and Guts' - Crossword clues & answers - Global Clue
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Which group from Liverpool had a hit single with “Hello Little Girl”? | Nice The Biggest Treasure Found photos
Nice The Biggest Treasure Found photos
Check out these the biggest Treasure Found images:
Sounds of the Sixties
This group of 40 British pop stars posed for the photo in April 1964, some are obvious but others are harder to recognize.
1. Mike Millward, guitar and vocals for the Fourmost. He died from leukaemia in 1966.
2. Mike Maxfield, lead guitar for Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. Later suffered a stroke but still involved with the band behind the scenes.
3. Robin MacDonald, bass guitar for the Dakotas. No longer involved with music.
4. Billy Hatton, bass guitar for the Fourmost. Now seen on YouTube giving guitar lessons and talking about the Merseybeat boom.
5. Charlie Watts, still drumming for the Rolling Stones after all these years.
6. Chris Curtis, drummer for the Searchers. Left the band in 1966. Died in 2005.
7. Dave Lovelady, drummer for the Fourmost. Their first hit was the John Lennon song Hello Little Girl, which Lennon didn’t think good enough for The Beatles.
8. Griff West, tenor saxophone and flute for Sounds Incorporated —one of the great backing groups of the Sixties.
9. Tony Newman, drums for Sounds Incorporated. Became a top session player, working with David Bowie, Crystal Gayle, the Everly Brothers, and on the rock musical Tommy.
10. Brian O’Hara, lead guitar with the Fourmost. Died in 1999.
11. Aaron Williams, guitarist with the Merseybeats. Now retired from music and still living in Liverpool.
12. John Banks, drummer for the Merseybeats. Died 1988.
13. Mike Hugg, drummer with Manfred Mann. Now plays keyboards with reformed Manfreds.
14. Patrick Kerr, dancer and co-presenter on Ready, Steady, Go! Famous for demonstrating the latest dance ‘moves’ for eager viewers.
15. Paul Jones, vocals/harmonica, Manfred Mann. Went solo in 1966.Starred alongside Jean Shrimpton in the movie Privilege. Now back with the reformed Manfreds.
16. Keith Richards, lead guitarist for the Rolling Stones. Seemingly indestructible.
17. Mick Jagger. What more can we say?
18. Manfred Mann, jazz musician and founding member of the Manfreds. Now lives partly in Sweden and has his own band.
19. Kenny Lynch, East Ender who was one of the first black UK singers to achieve success. Also a songwriter, he is still a lively raconteur, TV personality and occasional actor.
20. Peter Birrell, bass guitar for Freddie and the Dreamers. Later became a taxi driver.
21. Tony Jackson, bass player with the Searchers. Later played with the Vibrations and died in 2003.
22. Roy Crewdson, guitarist with Freddie and the Dreamers. Owns a Tenerife bar called Dreamers. Still lives in Manchester.
23. Freddie Garrity, leader of Freddie And The Dreamers. After string of hits, he became a children’s TV star. Died 2006.
24. Kathy Kirby, singer whose big hit was Secret Love. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, she died in 2011.
25. Keith Fordyce, disc jockey and TV presenter. Died in 2011.
26. Cilla Black, singer. From Liverpool’s Cavern to TV presenting and national treasure status — had a TV biopic earlier this year. Says she’s going deaf and lives in Barbados.
27. Alan Holmes, saxophones and flute with Sounds Incorporated. Later played on The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
28. Tony Crane, guitar and vocals as founding member of the Merseybeats. Went into property and now owns a hotel. Still with the Merseybeats, who continue to perform.
29. Cathy McGowan, breathless young presenter on Ready Steady Go. Divorced actor Hywel Bennett and now the long-term partner of singer Michael Ball.
30. Michael Aldred, co-presenter on Ready Steady Go. Now deceased.
31. John Gustafson, bassist with the Merseybeats previously in highly-respected Big Three. Played in hard rock bands and later worked with Roxy Music. Died earlier this year.
32. Billy J. Kramer, singer. Now lives in America and still tours with the reformed Dakotas.
33. Brian Jones, guitarist and founder of Rolling Stones. Found dead in his swimming pool days after being sacked in 1969.
34. Bill Wyman, original Stones bass player. Now tours with his band, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings.
35. Barrie Cameron, keyboards and baritone sax with Sounds Incorporated. Played on a Beatles session.
36. Tony Mansfield, Dakotas drummer. Real name Tony Bookbinder, brother of singer Elkie Brooks. Left for a career in finance.
37. Mike Pender, guitarist with the Searchers. Left the band in 1985 and now leads his own line-up, Mike Pender’s Searchers.
38. Derek Quinn, guitarist with Freddie and the Dreamers. Now retired and living in Hyde, Greater Manchester.
39. John McNally, Searchers guitarist. Still touring with the band.
40. Bernie Dwyer, drummer with Freddie and the Dreamers. Died in 2002.
Big bluets continue – yesterday (Enallagma durum)
| The Fourmost |
What was the second UK Number 1 from Gerry and the Pacemakers? | Nice The Biggest Treasure Found photos
Nice The Biggest Treasure Found photos
Check out these the biggest Treasure Found images:
Sounds of the Sixties
This group of 40 British pop stars posed for the photo in April 1964, some are obvious but others are harder to recognize.
1. Mike Millward, guitar and vocals for the Fourmost. He died from leukaemia in 1966.
2. Mike Maxfield, lead guitar for Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. Later suffered a stroke but still involved with the band behind the scenes.
3. Robin MacDonald, bass guitar for the Dakotas. No longer involved with music.
4. Billy Hatton, bass guitar for the Fourmost. Now seen on YouTube giving guitar lessons and talking about the Merseybeat boom.
5. Charlie Watts, still drumming for the Rolling Stones after all these years.
6. Chris Curtis, drummer for the Searchers. Left the band in 1966. Died in 2005.
7. Dave Lovelady, drummer for the Fourmost. Their first hit was the John Lennon song Hello Little Girl, which Lennon didn’t think good enough for The Beatles.
8. Griff West, tenor saxophone and flute for Sounds Incorporated —one of the great backing groups of the Sixties.
9. Tony Newman, drums for Sounds Incorporated. Became a top session player, working with David Bowie, Crystal Gayle, the Everly Brothers, and on the rock musical Tommy.
10. Brian O’Hara, lead guitar with the Fourmost. Died in 1999.
11. Aaron Williams, guitarist with the Merseybeats. Now retired from music and still living in Liverpool.
12. John Banks, drummer for the Merseybeats. Died 1988.
13. Mike Hugg, drummer with Manfred Mann. Now plays keyboards with reformed Manfreds.
14. Patrick Kerr, dancer and co-presenter on Ready, Steady, Go! Famous for demonstrating the latest dance ‘moves’ for eager viewers.
15. Paul Jones, vocals/harmonica, Manfred Mann. Went solo in 1966.Starred alongside Jean Shrimpton in the movie Privilege. Now back with the reformed Manfreds.
16. Keith Richards, lead guitarist for the Rolling Stones. Seemingly indestructible.
17. Mick Jagger. What more can we say?
18. Manfred Mann, jazz musician and founding member of the Manfreds. Now lives partly in Sweden and has his own band.
19. Kenny Lynch, East Ender who was one of the first black UK singers to achieve success. Also a songwriter, he is still a lively raconteur, TV personality and occasional actor.
20. Peter Birrell, bass guitar for Freddie and the Dreamers. Later became a taxi driver.
21. Tony Jackson, bass player with the Searchers. Later played with the Vibrations and died in 2003.
22. Roy Crewdson, guitarist with Freddie and the Dreamers. Owns a Tenerife bar called Dreamers. Still lives in Manchester.
23. Freddie Garrity, leader of Freddie And The Dreamers. After string of hits, he became a children’s TV star. Died 2006.
24. Kathy Kirby, singer whose big hit was Secret Love. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, she died in 2011.
25. Keith Fordyce, disc jockey and TV presenter. Died in 2011.
26. Cilla Black, singer. From Liverpool’s Cavern to TV presenting and national treasure status — had a TV biopic earlier this year. Says she’s going deaf and lives in Barbados.
27. Alan Holmes, saxophones and flute with Sounds Incorporated. Later played on The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
28. Tony Crane, guitar and vocals as founding member of the Merseybeats. Went into property and now owns a hotel. Still with the Merseybeats, who continue to perform.
29. Cathy McGowan, breathless young presenter on Ready Steady Go. Divorced actor Hywel Bennett and now the long-term partner of singer Michael Ball.
30. Michael Aldred, co-presenter on Ready Steady Go. Now deceased.
31. John Gustafson, bassist with the Merseybeats previously in highly-respected Big Three. Played in hard rock bands and later worked with Roxy Music. Died earlier this year.
32. Billy J. Kramer, singer. Now lives in America and still tours with the reformed Dakotas.
33. Brian Jones, guitarist and founder of Rolling Stones. Found dead in his swimming pool days after being sacked in 1969.
34. Bill Wyman, original Stones bass player. Now tours with his band, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings.
35. Barrie Cameron, keyboards and baritone sax with Sounds Incorporated. Played on a Beatles session.
36. Tony Mansfield, Dakotas drummer. Real name Tony Bookbinder, brother of singer Elkie Brooks. Left for a career in finance.
37. Mike Pender, guitarist with the Searchers. Left the band in 1985 and now leads his own line-up, Mike Pender’s Searchers.
38. Derek Quinn, guitarist with Freddie and the Dreamers. Now retired and living in Hyde, Greater Manchester.
39. John McNally, Searchers guitarist. Still touring with the band.
40. Bernie Dwyer, drummer with Freddie and the Dreamers. Died in 2002.
Big bluets continue – yesterday (Enallagma durum)
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Which of Brian Epstein’s recording artists was born William Howard Ashton? | Billy J. Kramer’s Biography — Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and photos at Last.fm
Listeners
Biography
Billy J. Kramer (born William Howard Ashton, on August 19, 1943, in Bootle, Liverpool, England) was a British Invasion / Merseybeat singer. He is known today primarily as the singer of various Lennon-McCartney compositions that The Beatles did not use.
Early career
The performing name Kramer was chosen at random from a telephone directory. It was John Lennon's suggestion that the "J" be added to the name to further distinguish him by adding a 'tougher edge'. Billy soon came to the attention of Brian Epstein, ever on the look-out for new talent to add to his expanding roster of local artists. Kramer turned professional but his then backing band, The Coasters, were less keen, so Epstein sought out the services of a Manchester based band, The Dakotas, a well-respected combo then backing Pete MacLaine.
Even then, The Dakotas would not join Kramer without a recording deal of their own. Once in place, the deal was set and both acts signed to Parlophone under George Martin. Collectively, they were named Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas to keep their own identities within the act. Once the Beatles broke through, the way was paved for a tide of "Merseybeat" and Kramer was offered the chance to cover a song first released by the Beatles on their own debut album, Please Please Me. The track had been allegedly turned down by Shane Fenton (later Alvin Stardust) who was looking for a career reviving hit.
Success
With record producer George Martin, the song "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" was a number two UK Singles Chart hit in 1963, and was backed by another tune otherwise unreleased by The Beatles, "I'll Be on My Way". After this impressive breakthrough another Lennon/McCartney pairing "Bad to Me" c/w "I Call Your Name" reached number one. "I'll Keep You Satisfied" ended the year with a respectable number four placing.
Billy was given a series of songs specially written for him by John Lennon and Paul McCartney which launched him into stardom and a proper place in the history of Rock and Roll. I'll Keep You Satisfied, From A Window, I Call Your Name and Bad to Me all became international million sellers for Billy, and won him appearances on the TV shows Shindig!, Hullabaloo and The Ed Sullivan Show.
The Dakotas , meanwhile, enjoyed Top 20 success in 1963 on their own with Mike Maxfield's composition "The Cruel Sea", an instrumental retitled "The Cruel Surf" in the U.S., which was subsequently covered by The Ventures. This was followed by a George Martin creation, "Magic Carpet", evoking a dreamy atmosphere with a subtle echo laden piano, playing the melody alongside Maxfield's guitar. But it missed out altogether and it was a year before their next release. All four tracks appeared on a highly-collectable EP later that year.
The three big hits penned by Lennon and McCartney meant that Kramer was always seemingly in the Beatles' shadow, unless he did tried something different. Despite being advised against it, he insisted on recording the Stateside chart hit "Little Children" - the lyrics were allegedly about getting his girlfriend's brothers and sisters out of the way so they could make love. It became his second chart topper and biggest hit. It was Kramer's only major hit outside of the UK. In the U.S., this was followed up with "Bad to Me" which reached number nine. Despite this success Kramer went backwards with his second and last UK single of 1964; another Lennon/McCartney cast-off "From A Window", which only just became a Top Ten hit.
After the peak
The year 1965 saw the end for the Merseybeat boom, and the next Kramer single was "It's Gotta Last Forever", which harked back to a ballad approach. In a year where mod-related music from the likes of The Who prevailed, the single missed completely. Kramer's cover of "Trains and Boats and Planes" saw off Anita Harris' cover version only to find itself in direct competition with its composer, Burt Bacharach's effort, which won the day. Kramer's effort still reached a respectable number 12, but was the group's swansong, as all future cuts missed the chart.
The Dakotas ranks were then strengthened by the inclusion of Mick Green, the ex-guitarist with the London band the Pirates who backed Johnny Kidd. This line-up cut a few tracks which were at odds with the balladeer's usual fare. These included a take on "When You Walk in the Room" and "Sneakin' Around". The Dakotas final outing whilst with Kramer was the blues driven "Oyeh!" - but this also flopped.
The final showing
After releasing "We're Doing Fine", it too missed the charts leaving singer and group to part company. Kramer had a brief solo career which took him eventually to live in America.
The Dakotas re-formed in the late 1980s and recruited vocalist Eddie Mooney and session musician Toni Baker. They still tour and record. Other latter-day members are drummer Pete Hilton and guitarist Alan Clare.
In 2005, Kramer recorded the song "Cow Planet" for Sandra Boynton's children's album, Dog Train. A long-time fan of Kramer's, Boynton had sought him out for her project: in 1964, at age 11, she had bought Little Children as the first album she ever owned.
| Billy J. Kramer |
What was the name of Bernie Winters’ St. Bernard? | Billy J. Kramer - IMDb
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17 January 2017 4:34 PM, UTC
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Billy J. Kramer was born on August 19, 1943 in Bootle, England as William Howard Ashton. See full bio »
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2012 Pan Am (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Secrets and Lies (2012) ... (performer: "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" - uncredited)
1965 Go Go Mania (performer: "Little Children")
1964 Shindig! (TV Series) (performer - 2 episodes)
- Episode #1.9 (1964) ... (performer: "I Call Your Name", "Tennessee Waltz")
- Episode #1.7 (1964) ... (performer: "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Little Children", "From a Window", "Great Balls of Fire")
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1998 Arena (TV Series documentary)
Himself
1998 Rock Family Trees (TV Series documentary)
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1982 The Compleat Beatles (Video documentary)
Himself
1980 This Is Your Life (TV Series documentary)
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- Episode #2.9 (1976) ... Himself - Guest
1968-1969 Discotheque (TV Series)
1963-1966 Ready, Steady, Go! (TV Series)
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- Episode #3.26 (1966) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas)
- Episode #3.13 (1965) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas)
- Episode #2.40 (1965) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas)
- Episode #2.21 (1965) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas)
- Episode #2.13 (1964) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas)
1965 The Music of Lennon & McCartney (TV Special documentary)
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- Episode #9.8 (1965) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas)
- Episode #7.34 (1965) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas)
- Episode #7.19 (1965) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas)
- Episode #6.5 (1964) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas)
- Episode #5.22 (1964) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas)
- Episode dated 5 August 1964 (1964) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas)
- Episode #1.14 (1964) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas)
- Episode #1.13 (1964) ... Himself (as Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas)
1964 Big Beat '64 (TV Movie)
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1964 Big Night Out (TV Series)
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1963 Beat City (TV Short documentary)
Himself (as Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas)
Did You Know?
Trivia:
Managed by Brian Epstein , who bought his contract from Kramer's original manager, who had made Ashton practice singing while standing on a chair. Fellow NEMS artist 'John Lennon contributed the J to Kramer's stage name, and also the songs "Do You Want To Know A Secret?", " Bad To Me" , "( A Light) From A Window", and "I'll Keep You Satisfied" to his repertoire. See more »
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What was the name of the dog in Hart to Hart? | "Hart to Hart" The Dog Who Knew Too Much (TV Episode 1984) - IMDb
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The Harts have entered their dog 'Freeway' in a dog show when a stranger asks them to mind his dog and he then runs off with people shooting at him. The dog is carrying stolen industrial secrets and some callous people want them back.
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Title: The Dog Who Knew Too Much (24 Jan 1984)
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Storyline
The Harts have entered their dog 'Freeway' in a dog show when a stranger asks them to mind his dog and he then runs off with people shooting at him. The dog is carrying stolen industrial secrets and some callous people want them back.
24 January 1984 (USA) See more »
Filming Locations:
Did You Know?
Trivia
The buildings and fountain in the background at the dog show, should be familiar to "Friends" viewers. That scenery is on the Warner Brothers lot in Burbank, and is the backdrop for "Friends" opening credits. See more »
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User Reviews
This Is another One That Goes to the Dogs, but it's better than others this season
9 June 2009 | by HilaryElizabeth9
(United States) – See all my reviews
Another completely silly episode. The Harts enter Freeway in a dog show (for real?!) and just so happen to bump right into a guy who's being chased by people shooting at him. So, this guy dumps off his dog on the Hart's, who take him in and name him Watson in honor of being shrouded in mystery. The only mystery I want the answer to is who is coming up with these lame-ass scripts in Season 5. BLOOPER ALERT --> Freeway tries to jump out of the car ten minutes in,a nd Stefanie has to ad lib. Minor. So, throughout the episode, the bad guys pursue the guy and then eventually the dog. Stefanie's hair is better today than last episode. RJ seems to be delivering his lines with insouciance the entire episode. Lke why should I bother to care about the lines I'm saying if you can't bother to write me lines that aren't obnoxiously boring and stupid?
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Which Moroccan port lies on the Western entrance to the Straits of Gibraltar? | All Hart To Hart Episodes | List of Hart To Hart Episodes (196 Items)
List Photo: Freebase /Fair use
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1
Crimes of the Hart Mar 25 1994 Someone is trying to sabotage a Broadway production of a play Jennifer wrote in college. When one of the stage hands is murdered, even Jonathan is a suspect. The Harts don't have much time to ensure
;
2
Hart to Hart Returns Nov 05 1993 Jonathan expresses an interest in buying an aircraft company from a friend and finds himself implicated in a murder case when corrupt defense contractors aim to prevent the takeover. Meanwhile,
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3
Hart to Hart Aug 25 1979 A friend of millionaire Jonathan Hart appears to have committed suicide whilst returning home from The Golden Goose Health Spa. He is joined undercover by his wife, Jennifer, as they try to find out
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4
Home is where the Hart is Feb 18 1994 When Jennifer's beloved teacher and mentor dies suddenly, she leaves the town she owned, Kingman's Ferry, to Jennifer. A trail of mysterious clues leads the Harts to long-kept secrets about the town
;
5
Secrets of the Hart Mar 06 1995 At a Hart Industries charity auction, Jennifer finds a locket that could hold the key to unlocking Jonathan's early years spent at the Mission Street Orphanage and the family he never knew.
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6
Harts in High Season Mar 24 1996 The Harts travel to Australia to purchase a wildlife reserve from Jennifer's former love interest. Believing that Jonathan stole Jennifer from him years before, Elliott Manning plots to frame Jonathan
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7
Two Harts in ¾ Time Nov 26 1995 Grief-stricken Jonathan and Jennifer travel to Montreal for the reading of Max's will. A special gift from Max to the Harts holds the key to murder, intrigue, and suicide.
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8
Till Death do us Hart Aug 25 1996 Munich is the setting of yet another Hart Anniversary except this time Jennifer takes on a whole new personality. She's there to save a young boy's life, who knew she'd have to save her own too.
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9
Old Friends never die May 06 1994 Jonathan and Jennifer travel to publisher Alfred Raines' private island for a party at which Raines is hoping to sign Jennifer to a writing contract. When Jennifer overhears someone plotting to murder
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The Hart of Season 1 Season 1 interviews and retrospective on the series.
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You Made Me Kill You Oct 23 1979 A deranged woman who works for Hart Industries has an obsession for Jonathan. She sees Jennifer as a threat to her fantasies of love and finds it essential to eliminate her.
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Color Jennifer Dead Jan 08 1980 Jennifer has her protrait done as a gift to Jonathan for their anniversary. When the young artist is murder, the Harts mingle in the high-society art world where Jennifer becomes the target of a shady
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The Man with the Jade Eyes Dec 11 1979 A dying man gives Jonathan and Jennifer an ancient Buddha statue. The Harts are then thrown into intrigue and danger when they are pursued by Chinese henchmen and a diabolic giant.
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A New Kind of High Nov 27 1979 A Hart Industries chemist is shot and the Harts suspect a female scientist who has discovered a powerful new narcotic. Jennifer and Jonathan find themselves in a weather chamber subjected to brutal
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Hit Jennifer Hart Sep 22 1979 After extending her hospitality to a young author claiming to be a distant cousin, Jennifer experiences a series of near fatal accidents.
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With This Gun I Thee Wed Dec 04 1979 The Harts are invited to the wedding of Jonathan's former girlfriend in Monte Carlo. She is being forced into a marriage to a power-hungry, ruthless, blackmailer. The Harts uncover the truth and help
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Death in the Slow Lane Oct 13 1979 The Harts become involved in the world of espionage when Jonathan purchases an antique car for Jennifer. A mysterious jet-setting couple will stop at nothing to acquire the classic auto.
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Cop Out Nov 06 1979 An article written by Jennifer leads a prostitute to ask for her help and the Harts go under cover to bait a killer who is murdering prostitutes.
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Jonathan Hart Jr. Oct 06 1979 A young boy shows up at the Harts gate in the middle of the night claiming to be Jonathan Hart, Jr. The child proves to be the unwitting pawn in his biological father's criminal plot.
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Max in Love Nov 13 1979 The Hart home is stripped of everything. It looks like an inside job and all clues point to Max's new love. When Max is framed for murder, the Harts intervene.
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Murder Between Friends Oct 30 1979 When a prominent lawyer is murdered, two close friends of the Harts are accused. Jennifer sets out to clear the wife while Jonathan attempts to absolve the husband.
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22
Which Way Freeman? Jan 29 1980 Freeway runs away with a gun used to murder a wealthy neighbor. The Harts get involved in capturing the killer and intercepting a multi-million dollar jewelery shipment.
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Downhill to Death Feb 05 1980 Intrigue in Vail lead Jonathan and Jennifer into the midst of severe bizarre murder plot, including an electrifying scheme against them.
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A Question of Innocence Jan 15 1980 The Harts suspect a college fencing champion of being behind a murderous drug ring. Jonathan fights a razor-sharp duel with the sadistic student.
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Passport to Murder Sep 29 1979 The Harts south-of-the-border boating holiday turns Jonathan and Jennifer into desperate fugitives, on the run from Mexican police and a gang of drug dealers.
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Too Many Cooks Are Murder May 06 1980 The menu features murder when the Harts take a gourmet cooking class. The Harts vie with an unscrupulous financier for a recipe which might benefit the world.
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27
Death Set May 13 1980 The Harts are caught up in a tangled scheme when a wealthy playboy attempts to take over the family fortune using his brother's wife as his unknowing pawn.
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The Raid Feb 26 1980 The Harts are asked to ransom two scientist employed by Hart Industries when they are kidnapped in South America. When Jonathan, Jennifer, and Max, they wind up mounting a mid-night raid against the
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Does She, or Doesn't She? Mar 18 1980 The Harts uncover a scheme designed to blackmail wealthy patrons of a beauty salon.
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Cruise at Your Own Risk Apr 08 1980 The Harts take a luxurious cruise on a Hart Industries liner to investigate a series of jewel thefts. They find themselves at the mercy of the jewel thieves' rival burglars.
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31
Night Horrors Jan 22 1980 The Harts are invited to a unique, off-beat party -- a treasure hunt at a haunted house. When another guest is murdered, the Harts race against time to find the murderer before someone else becomes
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Sixth Sense Mar 11 1980 The Harts have a deadly encounter when they enter the mysterious world of psychic phenomena. A Hart Industies employee with amazing powers of ESP, a twin sister, and a wealthy grandfather, becomes the
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Blue Chip Murder May 26 1981 The Harts return home and find their house ransacked. During the clean-up, they discover a hidden hallway and vault. The Harts and their friend Ida are sealed in the vault when the crooks return to
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34
The Latest In High Fashion Murder May 05 1981 Jennifer's article on the world of high fashion leads to Jonathan and Jennifer modeling for a famous photograper while trying to determine who is murdering beautiful models.
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Solid Gold Murder Mar 24 1981 Vince, a friend of Max's, arrives in USA to open a chain of health clubs. International criminals smuggle a solid gold barbell into the country with Vince's entourage.
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Homemade Murder Mar 03 1981 An employee delivers some papers to Jonathan, along with evidence of a murder. She hides the clue in Freeway's toy and the Harts are held hostage by the murderer.
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Murder Takes A Bow May 19 1981 Jennifer's death scene in an amatuer production could become the real thing when the director realizes she can identify him as a murderer of a young playwright.
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38
Operation Murder May 12 1981 Jennifer, flying a kite in the park, falls and hits her head. She's hospitalized with a slight concussion. While in hospital, she witnesses the murder of another patient and tries to convince Jonathan
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Getting Aweigh with Murder Apr 14 1981 Jonathan and Jennifer set sail, incognito, on a gambling ship in an attempt to crack a counterfeiting ring.
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Murder in the Saddle Feb 24 1981 To strip mine the entire area, a ruthless mining tycoon is driving cattle ranchers out of business by poisoning the livestock via the stream that waters the properties. The Harts get involved when
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The Murder of Jonathan Hart Apr 28 1981 The Harts' unscrupulous lawyer hires an assassin to eliminate Jonathan with plans to court and marry Jennifer and thus gain control of the sizeable estate.
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Slow Boat to Murder Feb 17 1981 Chief accountant of Hart Industries, Stanley Friesen, is set up to take a murder wrap after an evening on the town. In an attempt to clear him, the Harts retrace his steps and discover a gambling ring
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Ex-Wives Can Be Murder Jan 20 1981 Max's ex-wife, presumed dead for over 10 years, arrives in Los Angeles. Her friend is murdered, so she calls Max for help. When two thugs try to grab her at the park, she is injured and Max is
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Murder is Man's Best Friend Dec 09 1980 Normally finicky, Freeway is quite fond of a new dog food and ends up in a dog food commercial. When the Harts have a party, some of Freeway's new food is mistakenly ingested by some guests who then
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Murder is a Drag Feb 03 1981 At the opera, Jonathan is mistaken for a hitman and is given an envelope containing $100,000 for the job. When the messenger is murdered, Jonathan poses as the hitman in an attempt to save the victims
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Hart-Shaped Murder Feb 10 1981 Jennifer orders three chocolate valentines. Someone makes a mistake and delivers the wrong heart for the Harts. One contains a smuggled object that the thieves want at any cost.
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47
What Murder? Nov 18 1980 Jonathan witnesses a murder. In his rush to approach the scene of the crime, he is hit by someone on a mo-ped. The blow to his head causes temporary amnesia and the killer must get rid of Jonathan
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Murder, Murder On The Wall Nov 11 1980 When a bridegroom disappears abruptly and leaves his wife, who is an acquaintance of Jennifer's, to face a couple of thugs by herself, the Harts step in to help her.
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This Lady is Murder Nov 25 1980 Jennifer is mistaken for her look-alike, Dominique, and is kidnapped by ruthless killers. With the help of an unscrupulous columnist, the police, and the real Dominique, Jonathan devises his plan to
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'Tis the Season To Be Murdered Dec 16 1980 Industrial espionage is a problem at Hartoy company. When the investigator Jonathan has hired is murdered, the Harts go undercover in an attempt to foil the crooks and save the company from financial
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Due to the number of its population which country is known as the “Giant of Africa”? | Africa Continent, Africa Facts
Africa Continent, Africa Facts
Africa is the second largest and the second most populous continent of the world. This is the continent of wonder and the place for evolution of human history. Africa is a continent with diverse culture, uncountable languages and immense natural resources. Considered as the oldest inhabited territory on the earth, Africa had no nation states for a long time. This Saharan-Nile complex has always been the center of interest for the world as the slave trade was the major occupation of this region. Later on, the slave trade was replaced with commerce trade that opened a new chapter in the history of this continent. Africa is not only important due to its geographical location but also for its extensive natural resources which are playing an important role in the development of this continent. Its eye catching places and magnificent sights along with climatic diversity have made it premium spot for the tourists.
Top Economies Of Africa
Africa has occupied distinct place in the world's economy. Its natural resources, youth power and its geographical position have quadrupled its charm in the world. Despite its financial crunch, Africa continues to maintain its growth. Many international agencies are gaining interest in investing in the emerging economies of Africa. Most progressing economy of Africa is South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia. These countries are rich in mineral resources and fossil fuel.
Rivers in Africa Continent by Length and Size
Rivers have been of fundamental importance for human being throughout the human history. Rivers are immensely important geologically, biologically and historically. They provide settlement, food and means of transport. Major rivers of Africa are the Nile, The Congo, The Niger and Zambezi. Rivers in Africa are the blood for irrigation and fulfill the needs of human consumption. The Nile is 600km long and the oldest of historical rivers. It is the longest river of Africa as well as the longest river of the world. It flows in Ethiopia, Egypt, and Rwanda and in Sudan. This river is historically important which had given the birth of civilized nation of the world. The second longest river of Africa is The Congo which flows westward through Central Africa. It has the largest basin delta which covers 4.1million sq km of the land. The Niger River flows through four countries of Africa (Zambia, Angola, Namibia and Botswana) and empty into Mozambique Channel.
Great Lakes Of Africa
Africa is not only blessed with rivers but also with lakes too. There is a group of big lakes in central Africa that might be called the "Great Lakes" of this continent. The largest of these lakes is Lake Victoria that also holds the reputation of being the 2nd fresh water lake in the world. Another among many famous lakes in Africa is Lake Tanganyika which is the 7th largest freshwater lake in the world. Other lakes which carry equal importance for Africa are Lake Malawi, Lake Turkana, Lake Albert, Lake Kivu and Lake Edward.
Wonders Of Africa
Natural wonders of Africa are spectacular, spell bound, mesmerizing and enthralling. The amazing wonders of nature are found throughout the continent of Africa. Namibia Desert is one of the natural wonders found in Africa that stretches 1,000 miles from North to South and is known for being the oldest desert on the earth.
Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in the entire world. It has a height of 19,341 feet with its peak covered with snow year around.
Ecologically significant and extremely beautiful Congo caves stand among the most mysterious natural wonders of the world. They present a majestic display of limestone formation with an extensive range of natural colors. Situated between the limestone hills, this wonder attracts flocks of people every year.
A visit to Africa would be incomplete without witnessing the majestic and breathtaking beauty of Victoria Falls that extend along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is among the two most powerful water falls in the world. Besides viewing the falls, you can set a boat trip below the falls or even observe it from the helicopter depending upon your wish!
Tourists Attraction In Africa
Africa is the continent where rainbow duplicates itself over the Victoria Falls, where man and beast exist in the dense jungle. It's a land where beating of drums create magnificent image in the mind, a land where we find lofty pyramids to the legendry treasure they hold is the great spot of tourism. Sahara Desert and Kalahari Desert are the two major deserts of Africa that attract the people from all over the world. These deserts accommodate too many historical monuments and are embellished with sand dunes. Africa is a combination of tender and wilderness. Adventure safari tour is a golden opportunity to meet with natural life of the earth. Its Victoria fall is one of the Seven Wonders of the World; Pyramids in Egypt, Djenne and the old Sub-Saharan city are the exotic places for tourism.
Important Universities In Africa
Education plays fundamental role in the development of society. After a long period of ignorance, education in Africa began as a tool to prepare the youth to take their place in the respective societies. Africa has a numerous universities famous worldwide. University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria, University of Johannesburg and Stellenbosch University are among the highly ranked universities in Africa whereas University of Cairo has crept on to 5th ranking. American university in Cairo and Mansoura university of Egypt are among the most important universities of Africa.
Major Sports Of Africa
Sport is the emblem of peace and relation in the world. Africa can use this card well. Every country in Africa has its own sporting preferences but largely Soccer is the most common. Olympic Games and cricket are popular in some African countries.53 countries have football teams in the Confederation of African football. According to FIFA ranking, Egypt currently has the best soccer team in Africa. Their team has won the 7 African Cups. South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe cricket teams have played internationally. Rugby is also popular sport in South Africa and in Namibia. Africa is rising as an emerging star in the sports of the world.
Why Africa Is Called The Dark Continent
Africa was formerly known as Dark Continent. It was previously believed that it was primarily due to the black skin of its inhabitants and the absence of lights. This old notion has lost its significance now. It is actually known as the Dark Continent because of its stricken masses who were suffered badly in the hand of colonialism. Furthermore, it is the last of the continents to be influenced by the western civilization. This can be stated as another reason for Africa's underdevelopment.
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Madagascar declared its independence from which country in 1960? | Hippopotamus amphibius (Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo)
Home » Hippopotamus amphibius (Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo)
Hippopotamus amphibius
Hippopotamus, Large Hippo, Common Hippopotamus
French
Lewison, R. & Oliver, W. (IUCN SSC Hippo Specialist Subgroup)
Reviewer(s):
Lewison, R., Oliver, W. ( Pig, Peccary & Hippo Red List Authority) & Hoffmann, M. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)
Justification:
The 1996 assessment described Common Hippo populations as widespread and secure. Since then, there have been substantial changes in several key countries where Common Hippo are found. The most recent population estimates suggest that over the past 10 years there has been a 7–20% decline in Common Hippo populations. Over three generations (approximately 30 years), it is likely the population reductions will exceed the 30% size reduction considering both past and future. Although the causes of the population decline are known (exploitation and habitat loss), the threats have not ceased, nor is there evidence the threats will be removed in the near future. Therefore, the species is listed as Vulnerable A4cd.
For further information about this species, see 10103_Hippopotamus_amphibius.pdf .
A PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader is required.
Previously published Red List assessments:
2006 – Vulnerable (VU)
Geographic Range [top]
Range Description:
Common Hippos are found in many countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and were previously found in virtually all suitable habitats. The species still occupied much of its former range in 1959, although it had disappeared from most of South Africa except for the Kruger National Park (Sidney 1965). They occur in rivers throughout the savanna zone of Africa, and main rivers of forest zone in Central Africa, in Angola, Benin, northern Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, southern Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Dem. Rep. Congo, Egypt (extinct; formerly along Nile to its Delta), northern Eritrea, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea (Mbini), Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia (only two records), Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia (Caprivi Strip, Okavango River), Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, South Africa (now only in northern and eastern Limpopo Province, eastern Mpumalanga Province, and northern KwaZulu-Natal), Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The Common Hippopotamus was already rare in Egypt by the time of the Renaissance. From the end of the Roman Empire up until towards 1700 at the latest, the Hippo was still present in two well disjunct zones in the Nile Delta and in the upper Nile. Through the 1700s, records become increasingly scarce, and the latest definite records are from the early 1800s (Manlius 2000).
Countries occurrence:
Native:
Angola (Angola); Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Congo; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Côte d'Ivoire; Equatorial Guinea; Ethiopia; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Kenya; Liberia; Malawi; Mali; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Rwanda; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sudan; Swaziland; Tanzania, United Republic of; Togo; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe
Regionally extinct:
Population [top]
Population:
There are clear regional differences in population size and distribution. Eastern African countries (including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia) form the conservation stronghold for this species and are where the largest numbers of Common Hippos occur. Although common hippos are found in many West African nations, overall population sizes tend to be much smaller, either because of less available habitat or the higher density of human populations. Populations appear to be decreasing in many countries. The largest populations are found in East Africa. A country-by-country assessment conducted in 1993–1994 found that there were approximately 160,000 Common Hippos across their range, although this was considered to be an overestimate. A more recent assessment suggests that there are likely between 125,000 and 148,000 Common Hippos remaining. In contrast with the 1994 estimate, this range is not likely to underestimate the populations size. Of the 29 countries in which Common Hippos are found, confirmed population declines have been reported in half. The largest declines have occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country once thought to have the largest populations.
Western Africa
The species is not common in West Africa and the population is split into a number of small groups totalling about 7,000 spread over 19 countries. Populations most at risk are those in West Africa, where the distribution is particularly fragmented.
Hippopotamus are absent from the rain forests except near large rivers. They are most abundant in estuarine habitats and on the lower reaches of rivers. Some are found in the sea in the Archipelago of Bijagos off Guinea Bissau. Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Senegal probably contain the bulk of the West African Common Hippopotamus, with total numbers likely to be in the region of a few thousand. Although small in area, Guinea Bissau supports a substantial population, which is particularly abundant on the islands of the Bijagos Archipelago and along the numerous inland rivers. The species is common on most of the rivers in Guinea and in the east and south of Senegal with an estimated country-wide population of between 500 and 700. The Gambia contains no more than about 40 animals. There are probably less than 200 in Sierra Leone or Mali and none at all in Liberia or Mauritania.
The group of contiguous countries, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso, contain a total of, at most, two thousand Common Hippopotamus with the majority in Burkina Faso. There have been no recent counts except on the Comoe River on the border with the Côte d’Ivoire, where 720 were recorded in 1989. A further group is found on the Pendjari River system bordering Benin. This numbered about 500 in 1979 but only some 280 remained in 1987. The Mono River between Benin and Togo supported a small but stable population of 53 in 1986. Only remnant populations remain in Ghana.
Nigeria and Niger between them contain at least 400. No recent information was obtained for Chad but according to Sidney (1965) the species was common in the vicinity of Lake Chad during the 1950s. Common Hippopotamus were also once numerous in Cameroon but the only information obtained during the present survey was from the Korup National Park, where signs of the species are common around the confluence of the Miri and Bake Rivers although sightings are few. It is likely that the species does not occur in the Bake River much further upstream than Bajo although some traces were found as far up as Bakut. At least 150 Common Hippopotamus (possibly as many as 1,500) are known to exist in the Central African Republic in addition to an unknown number in Bamimgui-Bangoran National Park, where 136 were counted in 1973 although now there are probably only 20 to 30 present. Common Hippopotamus occur along most of the coastline of Gabon and for a considerable distance up the Ogooue River and although there are no recent estimates of numbers, they are said to be abundant in places. A few are found in neighbouring Equatorial Guinea on the Campo River. No counts have been made in the Congo, but the species is reported by one correspondent to be widely distributed and numerous on suitable rivers but another reports its presence on only one, the Nyanga River. The entry for the Congo in the IUCN Directory (IUCN/UNEP, 1987) lists Odzala National Park, Lefini Reserve (Louna and Lesio Rivers), and Nyanga North Reserve as containing hippopotamus. Zaire will be considered with East Africa as most of the hippopotamus are in the east of the country.
The total number of Common Hippopotamus in the nineteen west African countries considered here cannot be assessed with any accuracy because of the absence of recent counts but the figure is likely to be in the region of 7,000.
Eastern Africa
East Africa holds substantial numbers with 30,000 in eastern DR Congo and populations numbering tens of thousands in Ethiopia, Sudan and Tanzania. Several thousand also occur in Kenya and Uganda bringing the total for East Africa as a whole to about 70,000.
Many of the Common Hippopotamus in Africa are found in the east, especially in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and DR Congo. The Common Hippopotamus occurs in the southern Sudan on the Rivers Nile, Sobat and Jur south of Malakal and in several national parks and reserves. Other localities include the Sudd and tributaries of the Nile. There is no information on population sizes but it is said to occur in good numbers in most places. The species is also abundant between altitudes of 200 and 2,000 m in neighbouring Ethiopia, where its main strongholds appear to be the Omo, Awash and Great Abbi (Blue Nile) Rivers. It also occurs in most of the larger lakes and as isolated populations in smaller swamps and pools. The few that occur in the dry south-east are confined to the Webi, Shebeli and Ganale Rivers. The northern limit of the species is the Setit River. No precise counts have been made recently but the Common Hippopotamus is said to be numerous throughout its range. The total for the two countries combined is probably to be numbered in tens of thousands. Very few animals remain in neighbouring Somalia although some small groups have been reported on the lower Shebeli River and along the Juba River, where they are rather more numerous. No Common Hippopotamus have been reported from Djibouti.
The species occurs in most of the many suitable habitats throughout Kenya and some recent counts have been made in the Mara River area (2,132 in 1980), Lake Naivasha (220 in 1988) and along part of the Tana River between Osako and Adamson's Falls (220 in 1983) (Coe and Collins 1986, Karstad et al. 1980, Smart, in litt). The Mara figure includes some from over the border in Tanzania. Elsewhere in Tanzania, Common Hippopotamus are common in the Selous Game Reserve, where 1,894 were counted on 115 km of the River Rufigi in 1987 (Samuels, in litt). An estimate for the total population of the Selous in 1986 was 16,900 (with a standard error 6,307) from an aerial sample count made by I. Douglas-Hamilton. Independent aerial counts in the Selous reported by Games (1990) returned figure of 15,483 in 1986, 24,169 in 1989 and 20,589 in 1990. The last total is a rather crude extrapolation from an observed figure of 6,866. A large population occurs on the Akagera River and associated lakes on the border between Tanzania and Rwanda, but no recent count has been made. The total counted from the air in 1969 was 671 (Spinage et al. 1972). Common Hippopotamus are found in most other national parks and reserves of Tanzania and although not present anywhere in large numbers, the total probably amounts to several thousand more.
The principal concentrations of the species in Uganda are in the two large national parks, Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth. At one time the population in the latter park reached 21,000, but this was reduced to about 14,000 in the culling programme of the 1950s. Counts in the early 1970s returned about 11,000 but heavy poaching during the Amin years had left only a couple of thousand by 1989 when 2,172 were estimated from an aerial sample count. Similar numbers were found in the Murchison Falls National Park in the past but there, too, heavy poaching has reduced the population to remnant numbers although a recent count has not been made. The latest appears to have been in 1980 when 1,202 were recorded on the Nile between the falls and Paraa Lodge. The total for the whole park is probably about the same as in Queen Elizabeth National Park i.e., a few thousand. Other regions in Uganda where substantial numbers of hippopotamus occurred include the Semliki River and lakes Victoria and Kyoga. An educated guess of about 7,000 for the present total population of hippopotamus in the whole country is probably not far wrong.
Common Hippopotamus have a wide distribution in DR Congo including some in the north-west of the country although the bulk is in the east, where they occur around Epulu and Wamba and along some of the larger rivers in the Ituri Forest. Other populations occur on the Zaire River (Yangabi), Bomu River and elsewhere in several national parks including Garamba, Kundelungu, Salonga, Upemba and Virunga. The latter contains the greatest concentration with a total of 22,875 estimated from a 1988 aerial count made by C. Mackie, who with K. Hillman Smith also recorded 2,851 in Garamba National Park in 1988. In round figures, these counts suggest a total of some 26,000 Common Hippopotamus for the two parks. Numbers elsewhere in DR Congo probably do not amount to more than a few thousand, perhaps bringing the country-wide total up to about 30,000.
There are not many Common Hippopotamus in the remaining East African countries of Rwanda and Burundi. Numbers on the Akagera River have been mentioned above in the section on Tanzania and there are probably still a few in wallows within the Akagera National Park or Mutara Game Reserve but no recent information has been received. Common Hippopotamus occur in Burundi on the Malagarazi, Ruvubu and Rusizi Rivers but there are conflicting reports over numbers. P. Chardonnet reports good populations numbered in hundreds and P. C. Trenchard puts the total on these rivers as over 1,000 as a conservative estimate. K. M. Doyle, however, casts doubt on these figures, for along a 120 km stretch of the Ruvubu River where several hundred were reported by P. Chardonnet, he recorded only 39 animals, all but two within the Ruvubu National Park, although there may have been more in wallows etc. away from the river, which were not surveyed.
Although there are many gaps in the data, the above analysis suggests that there could be as many as 70,000 Common Hippopotamus in the east African countries.
Southern Africa
Southern Africa also has flourishing populations, with Zambia containing the biggest population, 40,000, of any country in Africa. Others with large numbers include Mozambique (16,000–20,500), Malawi (10,000), Zimbabwe (6,900) and South Africa (5,000). The total in the whole of the region may be around 80,000.
No information has been received from Angola. According to Sidney (1965), the Common Hippopotamus was widespread throughout Angola particularly in the east on the Cunene, Cubango, Cuando, Cuanza, Longa and Zambezi Rivers.
There are probably more Common Hippopotamus in Zambia than in any other single country. F. E. C. Munyenyembe puts the country-wide total at 40,000 with 20-25,000 in the Luangwa Valley according to R. H. V. Bell. They are reported to be widespread on the Kafue Flats and in Lochinvar National Park. Neighbouring Malawi, although small, is also densely populated with Common Hippopotamus, which occur on all rivers and lakes of sufficient size. The main concentrations are at Elephant Marsh (lower Shire River), the south-west arm of Lake Malawi, Upper Shire River and Lake Malombe in Liwonde National Park. R. H. V. Bell makes a guess that there are some 10,000 Common Hippopotamus in the whole of Malawi. Further south in Zimbabwe, the species is still common. It is found on most of the large rivers particularly the Limpopo. Zambezi and the Sabi/Lundi systems. It is also found in smaller rivers and dams where there is permanent water. Some wander over long distances to provide isolated records. The only estimate for the country-wide total is that made by R. B. Martin on the basis of some limited counts, which have revealed some dense populations e.g. 2,000 on a 50-km section of the Zambezi. His estimate is 6,900, of which 5,530 occur in national parks or reserves, 1,020 on communal lands and 350 elsewhere.
A surprising number of Common Hippopotamus appear to have survived in Mozambique, at least up to 1986, despite the recent civil strife. The species is still widely distributed throughout the country and is present on most river systems. Several national parks and reserves contain hippopotamus although only Gorongosa, with about 2,000, has a sizeable population. L. Tello's estimate made in 1986 year puts the total at between 16,000 and 20,500 for the country as a whole with most (10,000 -12,000) in the Zambezi Wildlife Utilization Area, which includes Marromeu Reserve and four safari hunting blocks. It is also contiguous with the Gorongosa National Park. This is the only region where numbers have increased (by some 20% since 1974). Elsewhere there has been a decline, except in Tete Province, whose population of between 1,500 and 2,500 is said to be stable.
Namibia is too dry to support many Common Hippos except in the north, where the species is present in some numbers on the Cuando and Zambezi Rivers in the Caprivi Strip. Elsewhere it occurs along the boundary with Angola on the Okavango River. Botswana is also too dry, except in the north of the country, where some animals occur in the Okavango Delta and in the Chobe/Linyati River system. A few (18+) exist on the Limpopo in the east. Outside this area, a small population may still exist near Ghanzi although some observers think this is unlikely. C. A. Spinage puts the total in northern Botswana at 1,600 in the wet season and 500 in the dry.
Common Hippopotamus are confined to the north-east of the country in the Republic of South Africa, mainly in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West provinces and the northern tip of KwaZulu-Natal. Most of them are in the Kruger National Park in perennial rivers, dams and the larger pools of seasonal rivers. The total counted in the park in 1989 was 2,761 with 2,575 in rivers and 191 in dams and pools. R. H. Taylor gives a total (for 1986) of 1,264 for KwaZulu-Natal, with the largest concentration (595) on Lake St Lucia, but he suggests a better estimate of 1,423 averaged over the five years 1982-1986. Those in kwaZulu-Natal outside the Kruger National Park are mainly confined to the large rivers in the eastern and northern regions of the province. These figures suggest that there are approaching 5,000 Common Hippopotamus in the country as a whole.
It is not possible to provide a total for the whole of southern Africa because of the lack of data from Angola, which used to support large populations and may do so still, although the disturbed political situation in the country makes it more likely that most hippopotamus have been shot. Assuming the worst and that only a few hundred remain in Angola, a very rough estimate for the regional total would be 80,000.
Follow link below for Table 1: country information including population status, trend, etc.
Current Population Trend:
Habitat and Ecology [top]
Habitat and Ecology:
As its name suggests, the Common Hippopotamus is an amphibious creature, which spends the day in water and emerges at night to feed. The hippopotamus uses the water only as a retreat and it does not eat aquatic vegetation to any extent. Open water is not essential and the animal can survive in muddy wallows but it must have access to permanent water to which it can return in the dry season. The essential factor is that the skin must remain moist for it will crack if exposed to the air for long periods. The skin physiology is complex and not fully understood but is clearly adapted for an amphibious existence. A curious feature is the red secretion from modified sweat glands, which is thought to have an antibiotic function.
The water body must be large enough to accommodate a number of animals for the Common Hippo is highly gregarious when resting by day. The social habits of the species have been studied by Klingel (1991), who found that the "schools" are unstable groups of females and bachelors. The social system is based on mating territoriality. Common Hippos are gregarious, social, polygymous animals. Females become sexually mature between the ages of 7–9, and males 9–11. Females typically bear a single offspring every other year as lactation can extend for 18 months. Territorial males monopolize a length of the shoreline of the river or lake but tolerate bachelors within the territory provided they behave submissively. Non-breeding males also settle outside territorial areas, especially seasonal wallows. Fights for the possession of a territory can be fierce and the animals may inflict considerable damage on each other with their huge canines but minor conflicts are usually settled by threat displays, of which the "yawn" is the most conspicuous. Territorial males do not normally fight each other and severe fights usually occur only when a bachelor challenges a territorial male for control of its territory. There is little association between animals when they are feeding at night, except between females and their dependent young, and the males do not then behave in a territorial fashion.
The male Common Hippopotamus, rarely the female, spreads its dung by wagging its tail vigorously while defecating, both in the water and on land, where it is thought to have a signalling rather than a territorial function. The dung piles may serve for orientation.
Vocalizations take the form of complex bellows and grunts, which presumably have a signalling function. Sounds may be made either on land or in the water and may be transmitted simultaneously through air and water. This is the only known case of amphibious calls in a mammal.
It is probable that the need to avoid the direct rays of the sun has determined the nocturnal feeding habits of the animal. It leaves its wallow soon after sunset and spends the night grazing on short grass swards for up to several kilometres from water. These swards, which are kept short by the activities of the hippopotamus, are known as hippo lawns. Although the hippopotamus grazes every night, except for mothers with very young calves, there are usually animals present in the water all night, as some return after a few hours and others leave later. The animal feeds by plucking the grass with its wide, muscular lips and passing it to the back of the mouth to be ground up by the molars. The front teeth (incisors and canines) play no part in feeding. The amount of food ingested is small relative to the size of the animal but its resting habits by day reduce its energetic demands. The stomach is a complex four-chambered structure with a ruminant type digestion although the animal does not chew the cud.
The ecological requirements for hippopotamus, therefore, include a supply of permanent water, large enough for the territorial males to spread out, and adequate grazing on open grassland within a few kilometres of the daytime resting sites.
Systems:
Threats [top]
Major Threat(s):
The primary threats to Common Hippos are illegal and unregulated hunting for meat and ivory (found in the canine teeth) and habitat loss. Illegal or unregulated hunting of Common Hippos has been found to be particularly high in areas of civil unrest (Kayanja 1989; Shoumatoff 2000; Hillman Smith et al. 2003). A recent field survey found that Common Hippo populations in DR Congo have declined more than 95% as a result of intense hunting pressure, during more than eight years of civil unrest and fighting (Hillman Smith et al. 2003). Widespread poaching for meat has also been reported from Burundi and Ivory Coast (Associated Press 2003; H. Rainey pers. comm.). In many countries were Common Hippos are found, populations are not confined to protected areas; some of these unprotected areas are included in Table 1 (see Supplementary Material). Although it is likely that the majority of the total Common Hippo population occurs in some form of protected area (national park, biosphere, game or forest reserve, sanctuary, conservation area), the proportion of protected Common Hippos likely varies among countries. For countries with a high proportion of Common Hippo populations outside protected areas, the likelihood of persistence is much lower as there is no impediment to hunting or incentive for habitat protection.
Estimates of the amount of Common Hippo ivory illegally exported have also increased. A 1994 assessment by TRAFFIC, the monitoring agency of international trade for the IUCN, reported that illegal trade in hippo ivory increased sharply following the international elephant ivory ban in 1989. Between 1991-1992, approximately 27,000 kg of hippo canine teeth were exported, an increase of 15,000 kg from 1989–1990 estimates (Weiler et al. 1994). In 1997, more than 1,700 hippo teeth en route from Uganda to Hong Kong were seized by customs officials in France (TRAFFIC 1997). Five thousand kilos of hippo teeth (from an estimated 2,000 hippos) of unknown origins were exported from Uganda in 2002 (New Vision 2002).
Common Hippo’s reliance on fresh water habitats appears to put them at odds with human populations and adds to their vulnerability, given the growing pressure on fresh water resources across Africa (WWC 2004). Habitat loss stems from water diversion related to agricultural development (Cole 1992; Jacobsen and Kleynhaus 1993; Viljoen 1995; Viljoen and Biggs 1998) as well as larger-scale development in and around wetland areas (Jacobsen and Kleynhaus 1993). Reports of human mortalities from Common Hippo interactions have also increased in recent years. Ten countries reported growing numbers of hippo-human conflicts, in several cases exacerbated by drought conditions.
Although there are several ongoing research projects in captive facilities and with wild populations, little research has focused directly on common hippo conservation. Mwanika et al. (2003) considered the genetic consequences of the intense unregulated hunting that occurred in Uganda in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Based on both nuclear and mitochondrial data, they conclude that although populations were reduced to 70% of initial population size, their current levels of genetic diversity are substantial and not a cause for concern. This suggests that for some populations, once the hunting disturbance is removed, recovery from intense hunting is likely and may not result in detrimental long-term population effects.
Lewison (2007) evaluates the relative impacts of the known threats to persistence—habitat loss (from agricultural or larger-scale development) and hunting pressure—on a model population. While accounting for rainfall variability and demographic stochasticity, the model results suggest that combinations of habitat loss and even moderate levels of adult mortality from hunting (1% of adults) can lead to a relatively high probabilities of population declines over the next 30–40 years.
See the Supplementary Material for Table 1: country information including population status, trend, etc.
For further information about this species, see 10103_Hippopotamus_amphibius.pdf .
A PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader is required.
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What did Richard Sharpe capture at the battle of Talavera? | Richard Sharpe | Sharpe | Fandom powered by Wikia
Richard Sharpe was a British soldier who fought in India, the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo .
Biography
Edit
Sharpe was born in London, England in the 1770's to prostitute Lizzie Sharpe and a unidentified Father. He would late move to Yorkshire at a young age, picking up a strong local accent. Some years later he left Yorkshire and joined the British Army. He saw action in India, including surviving the massacre at Chasalgaon, perpertrated by renegade East India Company officer William Dodd, in 1803. It was in India where he met his nemesis, Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill, who had him flogged. However Sharpe proved himself, and by the end of his time in India had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
Edit
He then saw action in the Peninsula War. While in Portugal he managed to save the life of General Arthur Wellesley, killing three French Cavalrymen in the process. After saving Arthur Wellesley 's life, Sharpe was field promoted to Ensign. Later, Sharpe met Major Hogan who gave him his first assignment, asking him to find James Rothschild , who was carrying a bank draft vital to the continued funding of the British army.
Sharpe was sent to take command of the so called " Chosen Men ". When he first met them, he found them sleeping without a sentry and largely drunk. Angered, he tried to wake the sleeping Patrick Harper who took him to be a thief and they fought. The appearance of a superior confirmed that Sharpe was in command.
Sharpe was initially shunned by his men as he had come up from the ranks and was hostile to them. While making camp in a barn, led by Harper, they staged a mutiny. Sharpe once again fought Harper but the appearance of Teresa Moreno and Count Blas Vivar along with their men stopped the fight. Sharpe agreed that they could accompany his men and had Harper tied up, ready to be sentenced once they returned to camp.
Sharpe rigged the barn with explosives that detonated when the French soldiers entered. He confronted the Count, telling him that he was escorting them, not the other way around. He also questioned the contents of the box they were carrying and was told it contained important documents for the Spanish government.
Teresa convinced Sharpe to treat his men with more respect, and when he did so she was happy. The Count told Sharpe about this, saying it was the first time she had smiled since she was a child and saw French soldiers kill her parents and sister in Salamanca, and thanked him for it. After Harper successfully defended the Count's box, Sharpe told him to rejoin the column. They met the Parkers, a Methodist missionary group, at the village of Casa Antigua and Sharpe took them into his protection.
While staying in a small village, Sharpe broke into the chapel and found Teresa and the Count there. They told him that the box contained the gonfalon of Santiago , a legendary flag supposed to call upon Saint James to assist them as he had centuries before during the invasion of the Moors. Sharpe was angered that they had lied to him and did not believe the banner could inspire the people as the Count wished it would. However, Major Hogan entered and ordered Sharpe to do as the Count commanded. Sharpe agreed but left angrily, followed by Teresa who tried to convince him it would work.
Sharpe with Teresa Moreno . ( Sharpe's Rifles )
Upon entering Torrecastro , they fought the garrison, led by the Count's brother, the Count of Matamoro . They managed to enter the chapel and raise the banner. They were met with the cheers of the people.
When the fighting ended Sharpe reported back to Wellesley and unmasked "Mrs. Parker" as the missing James Rothschild, still carrying the much needed bank draft. Sharpe then met with Teresa in a barn and they slept together. Hogan promoted him to Second Lieutenant and he waved goodbye to Teresa as she left with the Count.
Edit
Sharpe suffered from a leg wound at some point between Sharpe's Rifles and Sharpe's Eagle. This prevented him from gaining further advancement from the position of lieutenant. He was placed under the command of one Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson, of the South Essex Regiment, and was tasked with blowing up the Bridge at Val De la Casa. Sharpe quickly developed a feud with Simmerson after being snubbed by Simmerson, his nephew, Lieutenant Christian Gibbons, and his friend Lieutenant Berry.
Simmerson quickly proved an incompetent commander, and his actions resulted in the death of veteran Major Lennox and the loss of the regimental colors. Sharpe, who developed a friendship with Lennox, promised to capture a French Eagle, which was Lennox's dying wish to wash away the dishonor of losing the colors. Due to his actions at Val De la Casa, Arthur Wellesly promoted Sharpe to the rank of Captain. Sharpe distinguished himself at the battle of Talavera, capturing a French Eagle, although he was badly wounded in the process. At some point after the battle he married Teresa Moreno.
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In which conflict are the Starbuck novels set? | Richard Sharpe | Sharpe | Fandom powered by Wikia
Richard Sharpe was a British soldier who fought in India, the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo .
Biography
Edit
Sharpe was born in London, England in the 1770's to prostitute Lizzie Sharpe and a unidentified Father. He would late move to Yorkshire at a young age, picking up a strong local accent. Some years later he left Yorkshire and joined the British Army. He saw action in India, including surviving the massacre at Chasalgaon, perpertrated by renegade East India Company officer William Dodd, in 1803. It was in India where he met his nemesis, Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill, who had him flogged. However Sharpe proved himself, and by the end of his time in India had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
Edit
He then saw action in the Peninsula War. While in Portugal he managed to save the life of General Arthur Wellesley, killing three French Cavalrymen in the process. After saving Arthur Wellesley 's life, Sharpe was field promoted to Ensign. Later, Sharpe met Major Hogan who gave him his first assignment, asking him to find James Rothschild , who was carrying a bank draft vital to the continued funding of the British army.
Sharpe was sent to take command of the so called " Chosen Men ". When he first met them, he found them sleeping without a sentry and largely drunk. Angered, he tried to wake the sleeping Patrick Harper who took him to be a thief and they fought. The appearance of a superior confirmed that Sharpe was in command.
Sharpe was initially shunned by his men as he had come up from the ranks and was hostile to them. While making camp in a barn, led by Harper, they staged a mutiny. Sharpe once again fought Harper but the appearance of Teresa Moreno and Count Blas Vivar along with their men stopped the fight. Sharpe agreed that they could accompany his men and had Harper tied up, ready to be sentenced once they returned to camp.
Sharpe rigged the barn with explosives that detonated when the French soldiers entered. He confronted the Count, telling him that he was escorting them, not the other way around. He also questioned the contents of the box they were carrying and was told it contained important documents for the Spanish government.
Teresa convinced Sharpe to treat his men with more respect, and when he did so she was happy. The Count told Sharpe about this, saying it was the first time she had smiled since she was a child and saw French soldiers kill her parents and sister in Salamanca, and thanked him for it. After Harper successfully defended the Count's box, Sharpe told him to rejoin the column. They met the Parkers, a Methodist missionary group, at the village of Casa Antigua and Sharpe took them into his protection.
While staying in a small village, Sharpe broke into the chapel and found Teresa and the Count there. They told him that the box contained the gonfalon of Santiago , a legendary flag supposed to call upon Saint James to assist them as he had centuries before during the invasion of the Moors. Sharpe was angered that they had lied to him and did not believe the banner could inspire the people as the Count wished it would. However, Major Hogan entered and ordered Sharpe to do as the Count commanded. Sharpe agreed but left angrily, followed by Teresa who tried to convince him it would work.
Sharpe with Teresa Moreno . ( Sharpe's Rifles )
Upon entering Torrecastro , they fought the garrison, led by the Count's brother, the Count of Matamoro . They managed to enter the chapel and raise the banner. They were met with the cheers of the people.
When the fighting ended Sharpe reported back to Wellesley and unmasked "Mrs. Parker" as the missing James Rothschild, still carrying the much needed bank draft. Sharpe then met with Teresa in a barn and they slept together. Hogan promoted him to Second Lieutenant and he waved goodbye to Teresa as she left with the Count.
Edit
Sharpe suffered from a leg wound at some point between Sharpe's Rifles and Sharpe's Eagle. This prevented him from gaining further advancement from the position of lieutenant. He was placed under the command of one Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson, of the South Essex Regiment, and was tasked with blowing up the Bridge at Val De la Casa. Sharpe quickly developed a feud with Simmerson after being snubbed by Simmerson, his nephew, Lieutenant Christian Gibbons, and his friend Lieutenant Berry.
Simmerson quickly proved an incompetent commander, and his actions resulted in the death of veteran Major Lennox and the loss of the regimental colors. Sharpe, who developed a friendship with Lennox, promised to capture a French Eagle, which was Lennox's dying wish to wash away the dishonor of losing the colors. Due to his actions at Val De la Casa, Arthur Wellesly promoted Sharpe to the rank of Captain. Sharpe distinguished himself at the battle of Talavera, capturing a French Eagle, although he was badly wounded in the process. At some point after the battle he married Teresa Moreno.
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Which car company currently sponsors the Kennington Oval? | Contact Kia Oval | Surrey CCC Events
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Which singing legend died in a plane crash in Montana in 1967? | The Kia Oval Cricket Ground London | Nearby hotels, shops and restaurants | LondonTown.com
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Though it does not have quite the same kudos as Lord's , The Kia Oval (known so because of a sponsorship deal, but usually referred to simply as The Oval) is in many ways just as pleasant to watch a day's cricket. Test matches against the West Indies and teams from the Indian subcontinent are particularly atmospheric, with south London's large Caribean and Asian populations turning out in force to support their heroes. The Oval is often the venue of the last Test match of the English summer and has played host to many famous finishes to a series, not least England's historic final day Ashes win in 2005. It is also the home of Surrey County Cricket Club and supports a busy programme of fixtures throughout the summer. Believe it or not, but The Oval was first a football ground before giving away to cricket - and the first ever FA Cup Final was played there back in 1872. As such, The Oval is one of two sports ground (Bramall Lane in Sheffield being the other) to have staged both England Football and Cricket internationals, as well as FA Cup Finals. The 23,500-capacity stadium also holds an exhibition match for Australian Rules Football in October each year - and in 2005 drew a record Aussie Rules crowd of 18,884.
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Which military legend died in Germany in December 1945 as the result of a car crash? | “Old Blood and Guts” dies - Dec 21, 1945 - HISTORY.com
“Old Blood and Guts” dies
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On this day, General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. 3rd Army, dies from injuries suffered not in battle but in a freak car accident. He was 60 years old.
Descended from a long line of military men, Patton graduated from the West Point Military Academy in 1909. He represented the United States in the 1912 Olympics-as the first American participant in the pentathlon. He did not win a medal. He went on to serve in the Tank Corps during World War I, an experience that made Patton a dedicated proponent of tank warfare.
During World War II, as commander of the U.S. 7th Army, he captured Palermo, Sicily, in 1943 by just such means. Patton’s audacity became evident in 1944, when, during the Battle of the Bulge, he employed an unorthodox strategy that involved a 90-degree pivoting move of his 3rd Army forces, enabling him to speedily relieve the besieged Allied defenders of Bastogne, Belgium.
Along the way, Patton’s mouth proved as dangerous to his career as the Germans. When he berated and slapped a hospitalized soldier diagnosed with “shell shock,” but whom Patton accused of “malingering,” the press turned on him, and pressure was applied to cut him down to size. He might have found himself enjoying early retirement had not General Dwight Eisenhower and General George Marshall intervened on his behalf. After several months of inactivity, he was put back to work.
And work he did-at the Battle of the Bulge, during which Patton once again succeeded in employing a complex and quick-witted strategy, turning the German thrust into Bastogne into an Allied counterthrust, driving the Germans east across the Rhine. In March 1945, Patton’s army swept through southern Germany into Czechoslovakia—which he was stopped from capturing by the Allies, out of respect for the Soviets’ postwar political plans for Eastern Europe.
Patton had many gifts, but diplomacy was not one of them. After the war, while stationed in Germany, he criticized the process of denazification, the removal of former Nazi Party members from positions of political, administrative, and governmental power. His impolitic press statements questioning the policy caused Eisenhower to remove him as U.S. commander in Bavaria. He was transferred to the 15th Army Group, but in December of 1945 he suffered a broken neck in a car accident and died less than two weeks later.
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Which railroad legend died in Mississippi as the result of a train crash in 1900? | George S.Patton
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He’s been called a number of things, including military genius, a legend, and a son-of-a-bitch. But, almost 50 years after his death, hes still considered to be the one U.S. Army General epitomizing the fighting soldier of World War II.
Patton was a man of contradictory characteristics. He was a noted horseman and polo player, a well-known champion swordsman and a competent sailor and sportsman. He was an amateur poet. Sixteen of his analytical papers were published in military magazines, the trade journals of the military profession. While he was a rough and tough soldier, he was also a thoughtful and sentimental man. Unpre-dictable in his actions, he was always dependable. He was outgoing, yet introverted. History proves him to be a complex and paradoxical figure.
He’s mostly remembered for his unique brand of leadership. It was a role he cultivated and fully exercised. He managed to obtain a supreme effort from his men. His charisma, symbolized by a flamboyant and well-publicized image, stimulated his troops to an incredible level. His unflagging efforts generated desire from his soldiers to fight and destroy the enemy.
He personified the offensive spirit, a ruthless drive, and an imperative Will To Conquer. Being the prominent champion of combat effectiveness, particularly with respect to the employment of armored forces, Patton elevated the blitzkrieg (lightning war) concept to a state of scientific precision.
His occasionally brutal methods were, for the most part, approved by his men. Pattons battle hardened soldiers understood and shrewdly sanctioned his actions. They were fully cognizant of wars demands. They also knew that if anyone could help them to get home alive, Patton was the one.
Patton understood that war means fighting and fighting means killing. Hes the one soldier from the Second World War who stands apart from the rest, who best personifies that murderous concept, who embodies indispensable warlike virtues, and the will to conquer.
Patton, without deviation, exerted his full energies toward the pursuit of excellence. He fought the temptations to relax, to be lazy. He was harder on himself and more demanding of himself than he was of any subordinate.
Benjamin Davis Wilson was a remarkable man: a pioneer, trapper, adventurer, Indian trader and Indian fighter and finally, a respectable man of means. Born in Tennessee, he worked his way across the American continent to southern California long before it was California. By marrying a daughter of a wealthy Mexican he gained vast landholdings. After the death of the first Mrs. Wilson, Benjamin married an American citizen. The second Mrs. Wilson gave birth to a daughter who would eventually meet and marry George S. Patton, Sr. Their union would produce the future general and World War II commander of the famous United States Third Army.
Don Benito Wilson, as he was called by the Mexicans and Indians of Old California, established orange industry in California, planted the first vineyards, and furnished the name for Mount Wilson. Twice elected to the state legislature, he was highly and widely respected. Don Benito was the future generals grandfather.
The Patton side of Pattons family regarded themselves as genteel Virginians. Their lineage was traced to George Washington and beyond that to a king of England and a King of France. The Pattons were reportedly related to at least 16 signers of Englands Magna Charta. This is the heritage of General Patton
At age 11, Patton entered a private school in Pasadena, California. At 18 he entered the Virginia Military Institute, following in the tradition of his father and grandfather. Compiling a splendid record, he received no demerits in a full years attendance.
He accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point after a year at Virginia Military Institute. The principal reason for entrance to the Academy was because upon graduation he would automatically receive a commission in the United States Army.
In 1909, he graduated 46th in a class of 103. He had held the rank of Cadet Corporal, Sergeant Major, and Adjutant. He won his school letter by breaking a school record in the hurdles event. Upon graduation, he became a Cavalry officer and soon afterward, married a charming young lady from Massachusetts. Her family was immensely wealthy, her father owning the American Woolen Company.
In 1912, Patton attended the Olympics held at Stockholm, Sweden. That same year, a young Indian named Jim Thorpe made history by winning and dominating the games.
Patton competed in the modern military pentathlon. The events included pistol shooting, a 300 meter swim, fencing, a steeplechase, and a cross-country foot race. He finished a very respectable fifth place.
After the games and at his own expense, Patton traveled to the French Cavalry School located at Saumer, France to take lessons from the fencing instructor there. He purposely cultivated his own reputation as a swordsman and he later designed a saber that the United States Cavalry adopted the M-1913 Saber. Long before he became known as Old Blood and Guts (a name he hated), he was known as Saber George. For a very young second lieutenant, it was a great distinction.
Upon assignment to the Cavalry School at Fort Riley, Kansas, he took over the instruction of the Cavalry Course where he instructed the men in the use of the new saber he had designed. His impressive title was Master of the Sword. He was the first to hold the newly create title and he was only a second lieutenant.
In March of 1916 Pancho Villa and several hundred of his bandits raided the town of Columbus, New Mexico, killing a total of 17 American citizens. Villas reasoning for this barbaric butchery was that he was angry at the American government because it refused to assist him in his revolution and his attempted takeover of the Mexican government.
In response to the raid, General John J. Pershing organized a Punitive Expedition to pursue Villa into Mexico. Pershings action was prompted by the Mexican governments inaction. They refused to do respond to Villas criminal action. Pershing took Patton along as an unofficial aide, giving him a variety of duties, most of which Patton considered dull and uninspiring. He longed for some action, some contact with the enemy. He finally got his chance in May of 1916.
During the month of May, Patton was in charge of a 15 man contingent traveling in three Dodge Touring Cars, for the purpose of buying corn from Mexican farmers. Relying purely on a hunch, Patton led a raid at a place called the Rubio Ranch, believing that one of Villas men might be there. As it turned out not one, but three of the enemy were there and during their attempted escape, Patton and his men engaged them in a lively skirmish resembling an old western movie gun fight. All three of the banditos were killed.
Patton triumphantly strapped the bodies to the cars, one on each hood. He took them directly to Pershings headquarters for identification where he created quite a commotion. Later he carved two notches in his Ivory-Handled Colt .45 to commemorate his good fortune. After that Pershing always referred to Patton as his bandit.
Because it was the only real action to come out of the entire expedition, young Lieutenant Patton immediately became a national hero. Newspapers in the United States carried stories about his exploits for a full week before the furor died down.
More importantly, Pattons actions signaled the inauguration of motorized warfare. It was the first time a United States Army contingent engaged an enemy using motor vehicles.
Although service in Mexico was monotonous, Patton took the opportunity to observe General Pershing closely, studying him assiduously. Patton learned how Pershing operated, how Pershing gave orders, trained his men, judged his subordinates, maintained troop morale and carried out his command duties. Patton began to model himself after the General Pershing.
When Pershing assumed command of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), heading for France in World War I, he decided to take Patton with him.
While performing boring, tiresome office jobs the AEF headquarters, Patton became interested in a new contraption called a tank. They were not only new, they were also unreliable, unwieldy and unproven instruments of warfare. There was a great deal of doubt as to whether or not tanks even had any function or value on the battlefield.
Patton was the first officer assigned to the United States Tank Corps. Throwing himself into his job with his usual enthusiasm, he quickly became the AEFs leading tank expert. He almost single-handedly formed the American Tank School. He wrote the training manuals, devised the training doctrine and methodologies, wrote a seminal paper which became the basis for the United States Tank Corps. He taught and trained his tankers and eventually led them into combat.
On the first day of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Patton was very nearly killed. A bullet striking him in the upper leg, passed completely through him, finally ripping out a large piece of flesh. It tore a large hole in the rear of his lower cheek. In spite of his profuse bleeding he kept advancing, until the loss of blood forced him to stop. He was luckily evacuated to a rear echelon hospital before he bled to death on the battlefield. It was the final combat that he would see in WWI. The armistice was signed on the day that he sneaked out of the hospital to return to his unit.
It was this wound that occasionally prompted Patton to refer to himself as a half-assed general.
After the armistice was signed, Patton returned to the United States as an officer of the Tank Corps, but shortly afterward he returned to his first love; the Cavalry.
The major reason for his departure from the Tank Corps was the stinginess of the U.S. Congress. After Congress allotted a total of $500 for a full years worth research and development for the Tank Corps, Patton realized that during the years of peace there would be no American development of the tank because of the miserly Congress.
He was correct.
The development of the tank and armored doctrine was stagnated in the United States. It took the events of the Second World War and the German Blitzkrieg to open the eyes of the pacifistic Americans.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Patton served in a variety of assignments where he completed his military education. He was an honor graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, and a distinguished graduate of the Army War College.
In the early 1930s while stationed at Pearl Harbor, Patton wrote a highly prophetic discussion paper. Its subject matter dealt with the possibility of an air attack by the Japanese against the Hawaiian Islands. Patton held the firm opinion that Japan had explicit and definite ideas about domination of the Pacific Basin. His paper outlined almost exactly the plan used by the Japanese on December 7, 1941.
In 1939, Patton was assigned to the 2nd Armored Brigade stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. His skillful management of the 2nd Brigade soon prompted his being given command of the entire 2nd Armored Division. He was soon considered to be Americas leading tank expert.
In 1942, Patton was assigned the task of creating the Desert Training Corps (DTC) in the Mojave Desert, which spans large parts of California, Nevada, and Arizona. It was at the DTC that U.S. Tank doctrine and tactics were created and perfected by Patton and his men.
The first contingent of trained tanker units deployed from the DTC was eventually designated as the Western Task Force. It was the first American force to land and fight on foreign soil during WWII. The landing operation was called Operation Torch and the objective was North Africa. Patton had been instrumental in the detailed planning of the entire amphibious operation. He was chosen for this operation because he was one of the very few amphibious landing experts in the U.S. Army, having studied the subject for years. The task force sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, landing on the shores of French Morocco in 1942.
In the spring of 1943, after the disastrous American defeat at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia, Patton was given command of the II Corps.
In customary Patton fashion, he not only took command, he grabbed it by the throat.
Patton quickly straightened out the disorganized American units, led them to victory at El Guettar, and then turned over command of the Corps to his deputy commander, Omar Bradley.
During the Tunisian campaigns final stages, Pattons attempts to help plan for the invasion of Sicily were obstructed by General Bernard Montgomery who attempted to take complete control of the entire operation.
As Commanding General of the Seventh Army, Patton and his soldiers stole the glory that General Montgomery so badly wanted. Hampered by higher echelon, sparse supplies, and forced to use secondary roads, Patton and his Seventh Army still managed to reach Messina first. Montgomery was surprised and embarrassed to march into the town and find Patton and his men sitting there, waiting for him.
In the spring of 1944, Patton sailed to England on the world famous Queen Mary ocean liner. The Queen Mary, built by the Cunard-White Star Company, was pressed into military service as a troop transport for most of WWII. His job was to assume command of the United States Third Army, his most remembered and victorious weapon.
Once disembarked on the continent, Patton and Lucky Forward (Third Armys code name) swept through Europe with a vengeance. Attacking in four directions at once, they drove west, south, east, and north across France, destroying everything in their path that was German.
In December, when the Germans launched the Ardennes Offensive (known to Americans as the Battle of the Bulge), Pattons army made a spectacular battle march to relieve the 101st Airbornes Screaming Eagles who were holding Bastogne against all odds.
In the spring of 1945, Pattons Army drove relentlessly into Germany, across the Rhine, and into Austria. At wars end, his soldiers were in Czechoslovakia.
Throughout the war, Patton and his warriors had given a magnificent performance. Third Army had gone farther, faster, conquered more territory, killed, wounded, and captured more enemy soldiers than any other Army in the recorded history of war.
Patton died at the age of 60 in December, 1945 as a result of an automobile accident near Mannheim, Germany. The term age of 60 is expressly used instead of 60 years old. Patton was never old. Men half his age were hard pressed to keep up with him. He was always the most modern of warriors, always looking for a new, better way to do his job.
It has often been voiced by those who knew well him that perhaps it was a good thing for him to die when he did. He died at the peak of his success, known for the many great things he had accomplished. He would have been disgusted at the way the American politicians wasted and perverted the great victory American fighting men had won. The United States had destroyed the German Nazis only to replace them with what Patton called, ... the Mongolian savages known as Russians.
During his lifetime, Patton displayed so many different personalities that it seems difficult to know who the real person was. Of course, the most well known image was his war mask. His toughness, his profanity, his bluster and braggadocio were appurtenances that he assumed because he believed that only he-men stimulated other men to fight. In the same way the Indian War Cry, the Rebel Yell, and the paratroopers shout of “Geronimo” help men in battle to disguise their fear, Pattons fierce countenance helped him to disguise and overcome his fear.
Psychologists call these disguises reinforcing factors. They are the sights, sounds, and other stimuli that start adrenaline flowing. They spur men into action and help men act against one of their deepest intuitive drives, the urge for self-preservation.
The battle field is an frightening and eerie place and the emotion most prevalent is fear; of disfigurement, disability, and ultimately, death. Cultivation of these reinforcing factors is only one of many ways used by men in battle to overcome their fear.
This is what Patton did so well. This was the total reasoning behind his acts, his demeanor, and his dress. His Ivory-Handled Revolvers, his oversized stars, his tough, and his blunt blue-flamed profanity were what he gave to his men in large doses to create the necessary warrior psychology, the will to confront and to destroy the enemy. These things gave his men the confidence to defeat the enemy. His gift to his men was the gift of Leadership.
Pattons ability to inspire his men were perhaps too visible at times. It often camouflaged a thoroughly competent and professional combat soldier.
Apart from the psychology involved in leading men, the military profession requires an immense technical competence, a knowledge of weapons and equipment, of tactics and operation, of maneuver and logistics. Scarcely appreciated today, is the fact that Patton throughout his career, expended vast amounts of time and energy to learn the intricacies of his chosen profession. He read enormously, voraciously, endlessly in the literature of warfare and history. Not only was he conversant with the field and technical manuals of his time, he was also familiar with the pages of history. During his lifetime, he accumulated one of the best military libraries in the world. Today, that library is located at the Military Academy at West Point, New York. The library was a gift from his son, George S. Patton, III, a retired United States Army Major-General and West Point graduate (1946).
He studied the past to discover the great historical continuities. Patton felt that all of recorded history is one contiguous string of accomplishments.
Patton understood that history is not just a record of isolated, individual events non-related to each other. Every act of history is contiguous totally dependent upon the previous act. Because William the Conquer defeated Harold of Hastings in 1066, the whole future and history of England was changed. England took a vastly different path than it would have if Harold had been victorious. All of history was thusly changed. England would have followed a much different path in its context within the world community.
Patton recognized this historical cohesiveness and its contiguous correlation for what it is. Its the basis for all cultural habit, tradition, custom, and the nature of man. The main fascination for Patton in his search for the common elements of mans historical behavior was the significance and importance of military leadership. He continually sought those elusive factors that produce victory or defeat in battle. He was intrigued by the relationships of tactics and supply, maneuver and shock, weapons and will power.
He could easily lecture on such the subjects of scale, chain, and armor, on German mercenaries, the Italian Wars, Polish tactics and techniques, the Peninsular War, and so on, for hours at a time. He wasnt simply cognizant of history, he was familiar and intimate with it; Greek phalanx, Roman Legions, Napoleons columns, Baron de Jomini, Marshal Saxe, Sun Tzu, Flavius Renatus, J.E.B. Stuart, Mosbys Rangers, Grant and Lee, Samson and his ass jaw, all the way up to and including the mass armies used in World War I. He could subjectively compare the heavy cavalry of Belisarius with the modern armored vehicle. He discovered a certain craftiness in the 6th Century tactics of Belisarius that he actually applied to the use of modern tanks.
At the same time, he was thoughtful and contemplative. Unlike intellectuals, he believed that the ultimate virtue in warfare was action. His officers often received lectures on the value, advantage, and benefits of not only reading, but studying history. On numerous occasions, he reported to sick call for the treatment of conjunctivitis, an infection and inflammation of the eyes. It was caused by many nights of non-stop reading.
Nor was this casual reading. It was purposeful, intense study. He had a habit of making profuse notes in his books, easily and often filling the margins of a page with his own thoughts and concepts. In one particular instance, after finishing a book by General J.F.C. Fuller (the acknowledged father of tank doctrine) Pattons written reactions covered seven pages of single-spaced typed notes.
Neither was reading the only method in which Patton gained his military expertise. To him, training was the glue that held an army together. Proper training accustomed men to obey orders automatically. Patton knew full well that soldiers could only perform their duties during battlefield conditions when those duties were as second nature to them.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Patton was working hard and soldiering very seriously. In addition to reading and polo playing, he invented a machine gun sled that could give assault riflemen more direct fire support. He conceived and designed a new saddle pack to increase the range and striking power of Cavalry. He worked closely with J. Walter Christie to improve the silhouette, suspension, power, and weapons of tanks. He designed and constructed tank models. He originated plans to restructure infantry divisions into a triangular form, as opposed to the old square formation, to squeeze more maneuverability and firepower out of fewer men. This triangular division pre-dated the similar World War II reorganization formed by General Leslie McNair.
Patton continually sought ways to create more and better mobility in operations. He became an authority on amphibious landings. To better understand airplanes and the role of air power in war, he obtained a pilots license. He was one of the first to see the importance and flexibility of employing a light airplane for communications and liaisons. He did all of this on his own before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Pattons unswerving dedication and focused attention to his chosen profession reaped exceptionally immense rewards during World War II. For example, although Patton is primarily remembered today as a tank general, hardly anyone remembers the fact that Patton was the leading American amphibious authority in the European Theater of Operations.
His landings in Morocco were the only ones executed by an All-American force; the other two simultaneous landings were conducted by Anglo-American forces.
His tactics in Sicily became the prototype for subsequent invasions of southern Italy, Anzio, Normandy, and southern France. Although Patton was not allowed to play a part in invasions following Sicily, he was the one who set the pattern. Although he wasn’t often consulted officially, he was consulted on every invasion unofficially and never given the credit he deserved.
Still another example of his professional expertise was Pattons use of close support aircraft. Throughout the European Campaign of World War II, the XIX Tactical Air Command supported Pattons Third Army. Patton encouraged and promoted the closest cooperation possible between the air and ground forces. He made sure his ground headquarters and air headquarters were physically located in close proximity. He encouraged a close knit working atmosphere between the two staffs, going so far as to have them eat their meals together.
He constantly applauded the efforts of the airmen and continually directed the attention of newspaper correspondents to the value and importance of air support. He cultivated a feeling of camaraderie, mutual admiration, and cooperation that was beneficial to both the Third Army and the XIX Tactical Air Command.
Patton enjoyed shocking people. He liked to create the impression that he was impulsive in his decisions, acting as though everything he did was from instinct. Although it might seem that he did, indeed, have some sort of sixth sense regarding possible enemy action, the simple fact is that he was so imbued with military knowledge, history, and doctrine, that everything was already in his mind. All he had to do was to recall it.
As Patton explained it,, ... by studying history from recorded time until today, when a situation occurs on the battlefield, somewhere in that knowledge there will be a similar example. All the general has to do is retrieve the information from his memory and use the current means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wounds, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum of time.
Its exactly this type of knowledge and perception that enabled him to deploy his forces confidently, with pure audacity.
But, even for all of Pattons knowledge and leadership qualities, underneath his sharp and boldly announced course of action, he always displayed loyalty to and an immense appreciation of the solid, dependable, and reliable work performed by his staff. His staff planned well and left little to chance. His staff was always built of men he had personally hand picked Loyal Men.
Very probably, the best example of his certain grasp on planning occurred in December, 1944, when the Germans Ardennes Offensive drove a bulge into the lines of the First Army. Within 48 hours, Patton turned his entire Third Army 90 degrees to the left and started a drive that ultimately linked with the embattled defenders of Bastogne. He threatened the southern flank of the German bulge. The German attack was as good as contained.
Patton had no silly, romantic illusions about warfare. He knew how horrible and hateful war is. He once wrote, Ever since man banded together with the laudable intention of killing his fellow man, war has been a dirty business.
Contrary to popular belief, Patton did not like war. He loathed the chaos, disorder, and destruction of the battlefield. He felt a personal and deep responsibility for the lives of the men in his command. He knew, however, that he must retain a certain detached attitude. The moment he allowed his personal feelings to get in the way, his effectiveness as a general was finished. A similar analogy would be the detachment of a doctors feelings while performing surgery on a patient.
Pattons motivation and inclination toward the military life was the chance for glory, greatness, achievement, for fame and applause, no matter how fleeting it might be. He despised the misery, death, and horror of the battlefield, yet, he loved the responsibility and excitement of the battlefield.
Being exceptionally pragmatic he viewed himself, his virtue and courage, as the ultimate weapon of war. In his words, New weapons are useful in that they add to the repertoire of killing, but be they tank or tomahawk, weapons are only weapons after all. Wars are fought with weapons, but they are won by Men.
In 1909, while a plebe at West Point, Patton wrote in his diary, Do not regard what you do as only a preparation for doing the same thing more fully or better at some later time. Nothing is ever done twice! There is no next time! This is of special importance and application to war. There is but one time to win a battle or a campaign. It must be won the first time.
In order for a man to become a great soldier, it is necessary for him to be so thoroughly conversant with all sorts of military possibilities that whenever an occasion arises, he has at hand, without effort on his part, a parallel. To attain this end, it is necessary for a man to begin to read military history in its earliest and hence crudest form, and to follow it down in natural sequence, permitting his mind to grow with his subject until he can grasp without effort the most abstruse question of the science of war because he is already permeated with all of its elements.
Ultimately, what made it possible for George S. Patton, Jr. to achieve greatness was not just his driving, obsessive will power. Patton believed in luck and he was lucky enough to have fate on his side. He was the right man, at the right time, and in the right place.
Luck was only a part of it, too. Patton firmly believed that he had been born for this purpose. As a believer in reincarnation, he felt that this was his fate forever. He said as much in his poem,
Through A Glass, Darkly
So forever in the future,
Shall I battle as of yore,
Dying to be born a fighter,
But to die again, once more.
Pattons luck, the needs of his nation, and fate all came together. When opportunity knocked Patton was ready, willing, and able. Patton was in many respects similar to a diamond. Hard, multi-faceted and fascinating to watch. George Patton was a warriora man of action. He was also a man of wit, culture, and knowledge. America was lucky to have him.
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In which pantomime do the broker’s men traditionally appear? | It's Behind You - Cinderella
THE ORIGINS
Cinderella- the most popular pantomime story owes its popularity to Perrault. Either Charles or Pierre Perrault retold this already ancient tale in �Histories ou Contes du temps pass��, published in Paris in 1697.
There are many older versions of this �rags to riches� story �Scotland had a version called �Rashin Coatie�-after the garment of rushes a King�s daughter had to wear because of her three wicked step-sisters. In this version, as with many others, there is no fairy godmother- Rashin Coatie received her magic from a slaughtered calf- other versions , like �Ashenputtel� from the Grimm Brothers sees her with two step-sisters, and she is aided by a white bird, perched on a tree. In each case the heroine is able to meet her Prince through her kindness to others.
One version of the story had already been printed in English before the Perrault publication- �Finetta the Cinder Girl� had been published in 1721 by Madam d�Aulnoy
In this story three children are abandoned in the wood, and are taken in by an Ogre. Two sisters live the grand life, and Finetta is forced to be their servant. In this tale she discovers a golden key in the ashes of the fire. This opens a chest filled with beautiful gowns, and again, she gets to meet her Prince in disguise.
Even earlier was the Italian story of �La Gatta Cenerentola�- �The Hearth Cat� which dates from 1634. This is a much darker tale, with the heroine not so pure of heart- by her plotting to rid herself of her Step-mother events pass which see her faced with six step-sisters! This version actually has a fairy (living in a date tree) who grants her wishes.
Possibly the oldest version exists in China, from a book written around 850-860AD.
Yeh-hsien the heroine is kept in rags by her step mother. This time it is a magic fish- or the ghost of a
magic fish that grants her desires. The version includes the loss of a slipper, and after a search for the owner, Yeh-hsien gets to marry the King.
The Chinese story has nearly all the elements that occur in the later European versions. The slipper- in some versions made of silk, is often believed to be the result of a mis-translation of Perrault�s story- It has been mooted that he described the slipper as �Vair�- rabbit fur, rather than �verre�-Glass. However, it is likely that Perrault always intended the slipper to be made of glass- glass cannot be stretched, and by being made of glass, it could be seen to fit. The final proof must be that the Perrault title was �Cendrillon, ou la petit pantoufle de verre�.
THE PERRAULT 'CINDERELLA'
'CINDERILLA' or The Little Glass Slipper
A gentleman- now a widower, married his second wife �The proudest and most haughty woman that ever was known�. She had two daughters who were exactly like her. The gentleman had a daughter by his former wife �but of unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper�.
After the wedding the Step-Mother began to display her ill humour. She could not bear the good qualities in her step-daughter, as it made her own daughters all the more hated and despised. The gentleman�s daughter was treated as a servant by these three, and lived in the top rooms of the house in a garret,on a bed of straw, while her own daughters lay in fine rooms, upon beds in the newest fashion.
The poor girl bore all patiently, and dared not tell her Father, who was governed entirely by his wife. When she had finished her work, she would sit in the chimney corner, and sit down upon the cinders. Her cruel step-sister gave her the name �Cinderbreech�, but the youngest of her step-sisters, not as rude and uncivil as her sister called her �Cinderilla�.
It happened that the King�s son gave a ball, and invited all persons of quality to it. The step-sisters were invited to it, and were very busy choosing out �such gowns, petticoats, and head-clothes as might become them best�. This was a new trouble for Cinderilla, as she had to iron, and pleat their ruffles. The Sisters talked of nothing but how they should be dressed. �For my part�, said the eldest �I�ll wear my red velvet suit, with French trimming. �And I�, said the youngest �will have my common petticoat: but then, to make amends for that, I�ll put on my gold flowered manteau, and my diamond stomacher�.
Whilst Cinderilla attended to dressing their hair, her sisters taunted her about going to the ball. They declared that all the people would laugh to see a �Cinderbreech� at the ball. The sisters went two days without eating and even then �broke above a dozen laces in trying to be laced up close, so they might have a fine slender shape�.
At last the happy day came, and the sisters went to court. Cinderilla �followed them with her eyes as long as she could, and, when she had lost sight of them, she fell a crying�.
Her Godmother, seeing her in tears asked what was the matter. �I wish I could��I wish I could�.�Her Godmother, who was a Fairy replied �Thou wishest thou could�st go to the ball?� �Yes�, said Cinderilla, with a great sob.
Her Fairy Godmother gave her instructions- �Go into the garden, and bring me a pompion� -a pumpkin. Cinderilla brought her the finest she could get, not being able to imagine how this pompion could make her go to the ball. Her Godmother scooped out all the inside of it, leaving just the rind. She touched it with her wand, and the pumpkin was turned into a fine coach, �gilt all over with gold�.
After that she looked in the mouse-trap, where she found six mice all alive. She ordered Cinderilla to lift up the little trap door, and turned each mouse into a fine horse- each one a beautiful mouse-coloured dapple grey. As she was at a loss for a coachman, a rat from a rat trap became the coachman with �the finest whiskers as ever were seen�.
Cinderilla returned to the garden and brought six lizards, which her Godmother turned into six footmen, with their liveries �all bedaubed with gold and silver�. The Fairy then said �Well, you see her an equipage fit to go to the ball with: are you not pleased with it?�
�Oh yes�, said she, �But must I go thither as I am, with these ugly nasty clothes?� Her Fairy Godmother touched her with her wand, and instantly her clothes were turned �into cloth of gold and silver, all beset with jewels�. After this she gave her a pair of Glass Slippers- the finest in the world.
Her Godmother gave her one final command: She was not to stay at the ball beyond twelve o�clock at night. If she stayed one moment longer, her coach would be a pumpkin again, her horses mice, her footmen lizards, and her clothes would resume their old form.
Cinderilla promised she would not fail to leave the ball before midnight, and then departed into the night.
The King�s son was informed that a great Princess, whom no-one knew had arrived, and he ran out to receive her. He gave his hand as she alighted out of her coach, and led her into the hall. There was a great silence. Everyone left off dancing, �so attentive was everybody to contemplate the extraordinary beauties of this unknown person�.
The Prince and Cinderilla danced. A fine meal was provided, during which the Prince ate nothing, he was taken up in looking at her. Cinderilla herself joined her two step-sisters, and gave them some of the oranges and lemons that the Prince had given her, which very much surprised them, for they did not know her. She heard the clock chime eleven and three quarters, upon which she made a curtsey to the company, and left the ball as fast as she could.
As soon as she arrived home she thanked her Godmother, and told her how much she desired to go to the Ball the next evening, because she had enjoyed the Prince�s company. Shortly afterwards her step-sisters returned. Cinderilla pretended she had been awoken. �If thou had�st been at the ball� said one of her sisters �thou would�st not have been tired: there came thither the most beautiful Princess, she shewed us a thousand civilities, and gave us oranges and lemons�.
Cinderilla seemed indifferent and asked the name of this Princess. They did not know. They told her that the Prince would give all the world to know who she was Cinderilla asked her sisters if she might borrow an everyday dress to go to the ball and see the Princess.. One sister, named Charlotte , refused. �Lend my clothes to such a Cinderbreech as you? Do you think me a fool?� Cinderilla was relieved she had been refused, �for she would be sadly put to it, if her sister had lent her her clothes�.
The following day her sisters returned to the ball, as did Cinderilla- but this time dressed more richly than she was at first. The Prince remained at her side all night. Cinderilla forget the words of warning from her Fairy Godmother, and when she heard the clock strike twelve (she thought it was eleven) �she rose up and fled as nimbly as a deer�.
The Prince followed her, but she fled, leaving behind one of her glass slippers, which the Prince took up very carefully. She arrived home without footmen, coach or finery, but one of her slippers remained in her possession. The Prince questioned his guards about the fleeing Princess, but they reported they had only seen a young woman �very badly dress�d, who had more the air of a poor country wench than a lady�.
A few days later the King�s son caused it to be proclaimed that he would marry �her whose foot this slipper would just fit.� They began to try it upon the Princesses, the Duchesses and all the court in vain. It was brought to the two sisters �who did all they possibly could to thrust their foot into the slipper, but they could not effect it�.
Cinderilla saw this, and, knowing the slipper, asked if she could try it on. The Sisters burst out laughing, and began to banter her. The gentleman who had brought the slipper looked earnestly at Cinderilla, and, finding her very handsome allowed her to try, as he had orders to let everyone do so.
Cinderilla sat down, and placed her foot into the glass slipper. It fitted her �as if it had been made of wax�. Her Sisters were astonished, but were more so when she produced the other slipper from her pocket. Upon this, her Fairy Godmother came in, touched her with her wand, and Cinderillas clothes became more rich and magnificent than they ever were before.
The sisters, realising it had been Cinderilla at the ball, threw themselves at her feet, to beg pardon for all the ill treatment they had made her undergo. She raised them up, and told them that she forgave them with all her heart, and desired them always to love her. She was conducted to the Prince, dressed in her finery, and a few days later he married her.
Cinderilla, who was as good as she was handsome, gave her sisters lodgings in the Palace, and married them the same day to two great lords of the court.
CINDERELLA - THE PANTOMIME
The Pantomime �Cinderella� takes place in the home of the Baron, Cinderella�s Father, and at the Royal Palace. In the Pantomime the opening scene usually takes place outside the Baron�s hall- usually called �Hardup Hall�, or sometimes �Stoneybroke Hall�.
In many productions there is a prologue, set in Fairyland. Here the Fairy Godmother will set the scene for the story, without giving away too much of the plot!
The Opening scene often has the Baron- Baron Hardup, or Stoneybroke returning home. He informs the villagers and his daughter that he has got married to a woman with two daughters. They will be arriving shortly. The part of The Baroness is not used very much in recent times, although there are still a few productions that retain her character. Where she does not appear the Baron will tell the assembled crowd that she has sent her two daughters in advance �to see if they like it�. Often he is engaged to be married, and that way the complication of seeing no Baroness can be avoided.
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Cinderella (rather puzzlingly) is usually discovered in her rags at the beginning of the pantomime- even before her sisters have arrived and made her their servant. Quite often they have already been installed for a while, which solves the �rags� problem, and in some versions they tear her dress on an early entrance, and reduce her to wearing rags.
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The �Ugly� Sisters make their entrance, and having proved some comedy- bickering amongst themselves as to who is the more beautiful, they will shortly meet Cinderella and bully her- exiting to loud �boos� from the audience.
Enter Buttons- his character is the servant or page to the Baron- except that in the pantomime he is rarely, if ever seen to do any work! He is the principal comic, and often sets up a sub plot that he is secretly in love with Cinderella, and throughout the panto never plucks up the courage to tell her. Often, when he finally does, Cinderella replies with the line often heard by young hopeful males world-wide. �I do love you Buttons.. but as a brother!�
The Prince arrives, usually in the village, along with his valet, Dandini. The Prince complains that he is never allowed to meet �ordinary girls�, and he tires of life in the stuffy Palace. A plot is hatched between the two that they will �swap places�. The Prince- despite never changing his clothes, is to be the valet, and Dandini will enjoy himself pretending to be the Prince. This plot allows the Prince more freedom- it will help him to meet Cinderella later without her being cowed by his Royal Title.
The plot continues when, having met Cinderella (usually in the woods) the Prince loses her. He doesn�t even know her name. Dandini suggests that the Prince announces that there will be a Grand Ball.- and that every lady in the realm is invited. That way he is bound to see her again. They retire to organise the ball and to issue the all important invitations.
Cinderella is a moral pantomime- to achieve the wonderful things that are granted to her, Cinderella must face some sort of test to prove she is worthy. Although being bullied, and treated like a servant would count, there is usually a further test she must take to prove worthiness. This generally happens in �The old lady in the woods� scene.
Here, the Fairy Godmother disguises herself as an old lady, and stumbles across Cinderella in the woods. Cinderella helps the old lady, and gives her her own bundle of firewood before setting her on the right path. The old lady tells her that her goodness will be rewarded.
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Up until recently most Cinderella pantomimes had a hunting scene. This took place in the woods, and often involved the Prince and Dandini, the huntsmen and women, and often juveniles dressed as animals. Over the years the emphasis has gone from a simple hunting scene to one in which the fox outwits the hunters, and Cinderella often has a political comment when she asks the Prince (in disguise as Dandini) �Why do they hunt the poor animals? I think it�s cruel�. The Prince often replies that he will have it stopped immediately if it distresses her. Things are so much simpler to sort out in pantoland!
Over the past few years several pantomimes have dropped the hunting theme altogether, or just have a cursory glimpse of a few hunters dancing to utilise costumes already in stock. The days of seeing dancers dressed in �hunting pinks� are definitely on the way out in �Cinderella�.
The plot that has almost vanished in recent years (possibly because of economy) is the poverty plot. The Baron has no money, and traditionally would be forever pursued by The Brokers Men- two characters that would also be available to take part in �three hander� money gags with the Baron, or Buttons. Often nowadays there are no Broker�s men, and in some versions the Broker�s MAN can be found with his side-kick as a puppet- it is the ideal role for the ventriloquist speciality act.
In Act one you might find a �Boudoir� scene, involving the Ugly Sisters getting ready for the ball. Quite often now it can be found in Act Two- the problem with Cinderella being that is has a long first half, and a shorter Act Two.
The last part of Act One involves the issuing of the invitations. Usually delivered by the Prince-in his persona as Valet- he issues tickets for the Baron and his THREE daughters. Buttons is usually chosen to give Cinderella her ticket, usually when she is at her lowest ebb, scrubbing the kitchen floor at the command of her Ugly step-sisters.
Her joy is short lived. The Sisters discover she too has been invited to the ball, and in a scene that should be bereft of comedy, they are at their most cruel. Her ticket is torn up, and they depart for the ball leaving Cinderella a sobbing figure on the kitchen floor.
Traditionally this is the moment when Buttons will enter and attempt to cheer her up. The scene can involve traditional �business�- he declares they can have their own ball, right there in the kitchen. He can dress her in a tablecloth for a gown, a colander as a tiara, and provide her with a �16 Carrot necklace�. Another traditional piece of business here, not seen so often today was the �Eating the apple� business, where Buttons claims he will share his apple with Cinderella, and watches it get completely consumed. Sometimes this is the place for a song and dance between Buttons and Cinders, but ultimately he fails to cheer her up, and, like Greta Garbo, she desires to be left alone.
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The knocking on the door is the cue for the entrance of the Fairy Godmother. She often enters as a cloaked figure and transforms into a glittering Fairy Queen, and in recent years often provides light comedy in the role: she can be �scatty� sometimes �bossy�, but she is always in command. Recently this role has been open to a novel change. It is no longer solely the role that can only be played by an actress. Men have taken the role on a few occasions. Dame Hilda Brackett (Patrick Fyffe) was a remarkable Fairy Godmother- although it has to be admitted that the character of Dame Hilda was a truly real creation, and Patrick played Fairy Godmother as Dame Hilda playing the role. Recently Danny La Rue has played the part, and in Edinburgh Alan Stewart will be creating it at the King�s Theatre.
The Fairy Godmother asks Cinderella for the pumpkin and the mice- it is not often that she requests lizards as footmen these days- with the reduction of chorus dancers since Victorian times it would be stretching limits to provide companion fairies and lizards!
Another difference from the Victorian versions is the transformation. In an era when pantomimes could last for four hours or so, and the stage was filled with flying ballets and a chorus of forty, the transformation would be slow. Each different scene would be revealed, ending in a tableaux. Often the four seasons would appear before the final transformation and the coach appeared.
Today we would generally transform from the kitchen into a scene that allows room for the coach and hopefully four or six white Shetland ponies. Before this, the Cinderella transformation takes place when, during a brief dance sequence, she changes costume and appears in her finery. Recently it has been the fashion for Cinderella to chose Buttons as her Coachman, and the tabs fall as they set off for the ball.
Act Two traditionally used to open with a scene called �The Palace Gates�. In this frontcloth scene various characters would arrive for the ball, and some would be rejected. The Sisters often had a struggle to be admitted despite having tickets.
�Ticket? My face is my ticket!� screams a Sister. The Major Domo replies �I have instructions to punch all tickets!�
In recent times the �Palace gates� scene has all but vanished. It is more usual now to open act two with the ballroom scene.- usually the most lavish scenery in the show, constructed during the interval. This scene would involve the chorus in ballgowns, often a Major Domo, and is often the place for Dandini to have a solo �spot� or song. The Baron arrives at the ball, followed by the two Ugly Sisters.
When the Prince and Dandini exchanged identities the �Sisters� both made a play for Dandini, believing him to be the Prince, and either ignoring, or being rude to the actual prince. Shortly after they arrive at the ball the Real Prince is announced, and they realise their terrible mistake. They do not recognise Cinderella as the mysterious Princess at the ball however.
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Cinderella, disguised as a Princess arrives at the ball. In some versions the Prince does not recognise her as the girl he met in the woods, and in some versions he does. Either way it is essential that he never knew her name when they met, or else the plot would be sunk!
On occasion the Fairy Godmother makes an appearance at the ball, and sometimes Buttons. The Ball scene is often divided into two. The Prince and Princess glide off into an ante room, and often the �Cabaret� or �Star turn� happens in the ballroom. Following this the dancers return, Cinderella and her Prince dance and the clock begins to chime midnight.
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Cinderella rushes from the ball, and the slipper is found. The Prince vows that he will not stop searching until he has found the girl who�s foot fits the crystal slipper.
The following scenes are often to be found in the pantomime �Cinderella�. There might be a scene where Cinderella tells Buttons about her night at the ball, during which he discovers that his love for Cinderella is definitely unrequited.
The Sisters will often have a boudoir scene in Act Two, if there has not been space and time for one in Act One. This can involve slapstick, or a comedy strip, and sometimes it can involve a �ghost Gag�, often with the Baron or Buttons in attendance.
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The final scene in �Cinderella� is �The Slipper Fitting�. Dandini and The Prince arrive to fit the slipper. Often the sisters have contrived to get rid of Cinderella while the fitting takes place. In many cases she has already revealed to them the fact that she has the second slipper. The two sisters both struggle to fit the slipper- traditionally this scene involves one sister with a very long stocking that is pulled off, and the other often has a dummy leg hidden beneath �her� costume in a vain attempt to win the Prince�s hand.
Their best comic efforts fail, and Cinderella is discovered- often through the magic of the Fairy Godmother. She tries on the slipper- it fits! The sisters get their come-uppance, or in some cases, very true to Perrault�s version, they are forgiven, and exit with two gentlemen! The Prince asks the Baron for his daughter�s hand in marriage, there is a brief love duet reprise, and the scene ends.
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Traditionally this is followed by the songsheet, often led by Buttons, and then the final scene, as in all pantomimes is the Finale or �Walk-down�.
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WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Cinderella the pantomime has had many influences, over hundreds of years to draw on for it�s characters.
The First �Pantomime�- but not as we would recognise it today was �A New Grand Allegorical Pantomime Spectacle� at Drury Lane in 1804. In 1809 the pantomime was repeated at the Lyceum Theatre. The only recognisable elements we would see would be that the Sisters were served by a servant called �Pedro�. (Played by Joseph Grimaldi). There was no Baron, Baroness, no valet and the magical arts were supplied by �Venus�.
The more important influence was an Opera- �La Cenerentola� by Rossini. It premiered in London in 1820, and within a few months the Pantomime version had taken elements of the opera on board. The Sisters in the Opera were named Clorinda & Thisbe, �Cenerentola� herself was named �Angela�, Her Father was Baron MonteFiascone, Don Ramiro was the Prince of Solerno, and DANDINI was his valet!
Of all the named characters to remain to this day, Dandini would seem to be the only one we would recognise.
1893 Lyceum Theatre - FURTHER INFORMATION
The Opera had a Baron, and a Dandini, but it still lacked A Fairy Godmother and, of course, Buttons.
In 1820 �Harlequin and Cinderella� was the Covent Garden Easter Pantomime- although entangled with the harlequinade, it had a story, unlike it�s predeccessors. The Principal girl was called �Finetta�, Joseph Grimaldi played the Baroness, it had a Baron Pomposino, A Dandini and a Prince Aledore. There was no Fairy Godmother still.
In later Operatic versions (1830) the sisters were frequently still Clorinda and Thisbe, the Baron was now Pumpolino, and a Fairy-Queen character in this comic opera provided the magic. Pedro the servant was retained, and the Prince was named Felix.
Many versions followed during the period 1830-1860 when, at the Royal Strand Theatre in 1860�A Fairy Burlesque Extravaganza� was presented entitled �Cinderella! Or the lover, the lackey, and the little glass slipper� In this version the playing of the Ugly Sister by a man was of significance. Still not our pantomime, but well on the way! This version had Baron Balderdash, Prince Poppetti, Clorinda and Thisbe, and most importantly..the page was called BUTTONI. Played by Mr H.J. Turner.
�Buttons� was in his infancy.
1905 Drury Lane
Dandini
However- Dandini was facing a crisis- his name (and he was the first that we recognise today) kept changing- the Victorians called him �Flunkini�, �Chappini� and �Masherino�- all burlesque names (A �Masher� to the Victorians was a �Swell� about town) �Popinjay� and Sprightly�. Often the Prince exchanging places with Dandini was omitted from the plot.In 1905 Harry Fragson (a rare male �boy� for those times, when Dandini would usually be played by a Lady) was called �Dandigny at Drury Lane. Sometimes he became Count Dandini as well.
The Prince:
We all think of Cinderella�s Prince as �Prince Charming� today. In fact that name was not used in Central London Pantomimes before the London Palladium Pantomime of 1915. The part of �Prince Charming� was played by Nora Delaney. He had been called �Prince Charming� in Wakefield in 1880, and again at Walthamstow in 1898.
Prior to that he had been Ramiro, Aledore, Floribel, Cheramour, Prettypet, Lollipoppet, Sapphire, Primrose, Jaspar, Rupert, Evergreen, Rudolph, Glorio, Paramount, Splendid and Prince Paragon, amongst others throught the 1880�s and �90�s.
In 1904 at Liverpool both the names Prince Charming and Buttons appear together. Possibly for the very first time, but Prince Charming as a name was not set in stone, and it changed many times after that. In 1912 Bradford had a �Prince Charming� and at the Palladium in 1915. A few years later �Charming� was to found in several provincial pantomimes, but even then he was �Paragon� in 1918 at the Lyceum, and Prince of Floravia� at Covent Garden in 1920!
Cinderella:
The heroine of the pantomime today is always called �Cinderella�, and sometimes �Cinders�. In her early beginnings in pantomime the plot recalled that �Cinderella� is actually a nickname given to her by her cruel step-sisters. In the Opera she was called �Angela� and has been �Angelina� (of the Angels- to reflect her kind nature), and she has been �Finetta�- and �Fioretta� �afterwards �Cinderella the Baron�s daughter�.
There has been the version where her name was simply �Ella�, and the Sisters added �Cinder� to her name as they mocked her (Lyric Hammersmith) for lying among the cinders of the fire.
The Fairy Godmother:
As mentioned previously, the Fairy Godmother has been known as Aledore, has been portrayed as �Venus� bestowing her gifts, and over the years has had other names- Fairy Crystal, Fairy Goodheart, Fairy Kindheart and Claribel amongst others. Most often in pantomime today she is simply �The Fairy Godmother�, and seems to have lost her first name somewhere along the line.
The Baron:
He has been MonteFiasconi, Baron Balderdash, Pumpolino, Baron De Broke and Baron Lacklands, as well as Baron Backscratcher.(Sadlers Wells). In addition he has been called Baron Huffenduffendort (1860) Baron Bluster (1872) Baron Blunderboar (Covent Garden 1875) as well as Baron Pumpernickle of Groswig (Drury Lane 1878), Baron Filletoville � think about it..got it? (Drury Lane 1883) Boosey De Blackfriars, De Bluff, Baron de No Cash (not so subtle- Lyceum 1910 & 1918) Baron Beauxchamps (Drury Lane 1919 and even Baron de Boeuf!
My personal favourite was when Julian Wylie named Dan Leno Jnr�s part, �Baron Mumm� at Drury Lane 1931. Wylie had booked Ethel Revnell and Gracie West as the Ugly Sisters. Their variety act was billed �The long and the short of it�- Revnell towering at 6� over the diminutive West at barely 5�. They were the step-daughters of Baron Mumm and were therefore called Maxie Mumm and Minnie Mumm.!
Eventually the Baron seemed to settle on the titles of Baron De Broke, Baron Stoneybroke, and Baron Hardup. Of these Hardup and Stoneybroke remain the favourites throughout the country today.
The Baroness:
A role played by Joseph Grimaldi (1820), and by Dan Leno at Drury Lane.(1895)
Quite simply, the Baroness usually has the same name as the Baron. Whatever his title is (as we are rarely told his Christian name) she follows suit.There have been a few exceptions-especially when The Baroness is merely engaged to the Baron. When Danny La Rue played Baroness at Southampton the title borne was �Baroness Voluptua�. Liverpool Everyman recently had �Baron Basil Bootles and Baroness Pandora Bootles�. At Billingham last year Helen Fraser (from �Bad Girls�) played Baroness Bodybag! Most often, when the Baroness appears she would be Baroness Hardup.
The Broker�s Men:
When the plot of �Cinderella� made the Baron a man with grave financial difficulties, the part of two Broker�s Men- bailiffs were introduced. Usually to �distrain his goods and chattels�, and to pursue him throughout the pantomime for money. This lent itself to employing �double acts� in the show, with opportunities for �three hander� gags and knockabout. The Broker�s men have often been a triple act, and in some cases as many as five! They also represented the law (like the Chinese policemen in �Aladdin�) and is flouting them, the tradition dates back to Grimaldi and the Harlequinades.
�Nabbem and Nailem� were their names in Birmingham (1898), they have been �Flipper and Flopper�, �Boko and Bloko� (1883)�Spottem, Grabbem & Collarem� (Drury Lane 1931), �Smash & Grab�, �Dottem, Skinnem & Rookem� (Coliseum 1939), Prince Littler�s pantomimes in the 1950�s called the Broker�s men �Jake & Sydney� in nearly every production (if anyone knows why I would be interested to know!)
Hope & Keen used their own names at the Palladium appearing as �Mike & Albie� .Cliff Richard had his group �The Shadows� as three Broker�s men at the Palladium when he played Buttons.
The Sisters:
They began life as Clorinda and Thisbe. The only named Sister in the original Perrault fairy tale was Charlotte.
Today the Ugly Sisters are played by men- Although you will still find exceptions to that rule. In earlier times the roles were played by women, possibly as a direct result of the Opera �La Cenerentolla� and the fact that the Baroness could be played by a comic man, and the Sisters by actresses. Today you may still find the eldest played by a man, and the youngest by a woman, or by two women. Still following the plot?
They remained Clorinda and Thisbe for a while, then their names were forever to be changed on a regular basis. In 1841 the eldest was called �Blowsabella, and was played by a man- Jefferini at Sadlers Wells, and the youngest by an actress!
The Sisters names have varied according to fashion and whim. They have never established a set name, and often the names are chosen because they �pair up� with each other. For example �Felina and Tigerina� (1860), �Blondina and Brunetta� (1883), they have been Gladys and Cynthia (1918) Flossie and Birdie, Bella and Amy, Vixen and Pavonia (1878) �Annie & Fanny�, �Cleopatra & Barbarella�, �Slender Glenda & Glorious Gloria�, and so on. Recent names have included �Cinnamon & Nutmeg� (a reference to the Spice Girls� even �Posh & Bex�
When Terry Scott and Julian Orchard played �Sister� at the Palladium, their names were �Theresa & Julia�. Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce played �Sister� there and, of course, were �Georgina & Mildred�! When Elsie & Doris Waters played Sisters at Leeds (1939) they were named after their Radio characters- �Gert & Daisy�- and as real Sisters playing Sisters, they reflect the Patton Brothers today- real brothers playing Sisters!
Peter Robbins and I have played Ugly Sisters in �Cinderella� together for 25 years consecutively, in 28 productions (yes, we did two pantomimes in one year, and also transferred a panto from Cardiff to Leeds!). In that time we have been Germolina & Valderma, Buttercup & Daisy, Hydrophobia & Hysteria, Alexis & Krystle (Dynasty Era)
Sharon & Tracie (Essex Girls!) before moving on to the �pop� scene- �Whitney & Britney�, �Kylie and someone I�ve forgotten!�, �Sporty & Posh� , �Sporty and Scary� (Spice Girls Era), Jordan & Jodie and I think we�ll be �Trinny & Susannah� in our next incarnation!
Little wonder that we personally NEVER refer to each other by character name on stage, preferring to call each other �dear�- the brain just doesn�t work that fast! Like their costumes, the Ugly Sister�s names will always echo and mimic the times we live in right now!
Buttons:
When Mr Turned played �Buttoni� in 1860, at the Royal Strand Theatre, you might expect to see the name �Buttons� appearing shortly afterwards. This did not happen. Beginning his life as �Pedro�, he remained �Pedro�, not Buttoni at Covent Garden in 1864, then Kobold at Drury Lane (1878) Dozy at the Pavilion Whitechape (1882) and Hobbedyhoy at Drury Lane in 1883. The part was not similar to the one we think of today.
Buttons emerged from the provinces. �Puffpaste�, �Podgio� �Jack Pickles� �Pickles�, or �Peter� were cheeky young house servants in various productions. Once he appeared as �Billy Buttons�, and was often played by a male juvenile. Young Billy Buttons was at Birmingham in 1898, and at Newcastle a year later he was called �Tickleum�.
Older actors rescued the role from the Juvenile, and by 1897 Pedro was �A severely put-upon lackey�. In 1905 his character- called Alphonso professes true love for Cinderella, and in 1910 he was called �Buttons� at the Lyceum Theatre London.
By 1918 at the Lyceum, Buttons had graduated to a love scene in the kitchen with Cinderella, but the character vanished from Drury Lane in 1919, and was a servant called Walter in 1920 at Covent Garden.
His name and his now traditional costume- either Blue or Red with many shiny buttons is in the style of a Bellboy, Bell-hop� or �Bus-boy�. �Buttons� had been a late Victorian slang word for an under servant.
Even by 1921 his name was not set in stone- like Prince Charming he had a struggle to hold on to it. The Pantomime at the Lyceum in 1921 probably set the seal on his name. His Kitchen scene where he has a �pretend� ball with Cinderella probably had it�s origins in the Empire Ballet of 1906. There was no Buttons in the ballet, but the legendary Adeline Genee performed a dance where �Up she jumps, plucks a couple of feathers from her broom and sticks them in her hair, snatches up the tablecloth to make a train, and whirls around her broom as an imaginary partner�- this type of business, dating back to Commedia dell�arte is the same as you would see today.
RELATED MEDIA - Pathe News Reel 'Siftings from Cinderella'
Cinderella at the Palladium - 1926
Footage of the Palladium Pantomime with Clarice Mayne, Lennie Deane and Charles Austin
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London Palladium - 1966 Cinderella
Footage of the audience around the London Palladium
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| Cinderella |
Which traditional pantomime is based on a work first published in 1719? | V&A
The Origin of Popular Pantomime Stories
Frontispiece for 'Jack and the Beanstalk', published by JL Marks, London, 1850s. Museum no. MB.JACB.MA, © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Pantomime text for 'jack and the Beanstalk' at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, 1899. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
In the 19th century topical subjects began to be included in pantomime stories. 'The Birth of the Steam Engine or Harlequin Locomotive and Joe Miller and his Men' was a pantomime that appeared shortly after the first railway engine made its journey from Stockton to Darlington.
By the 1840s the subject matter of Harlequinades had become more and more nonsensical. Pantomimes such as 'Harlequin and the Tyrant of Gobblemupandshrunkemdowno', and 'The Doomed Princess of the Fairy Hall with Forty Blood-red Pillars', told imaginative stories dominated by tomfoolery and slapstick.
By the 1870s the fashion for Harlequinades was dying out and most pantomimes were drawing on fairy tales and nursery rhymes such as 'Aladdin', 'Cinderella', and 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears'.
Pantomime writers
In 1843 a Parliamentary Act stipulated that any theatre could now produce a play containing spoken dialogue. Before this date only some theatres were granted such a licence. Harlequin chase scenes were mimed, so theatres had been able to produce pantomime without the appropriate theatre licences. After this law was passed new writers began to script pantomimes.
Two writers predominated in London pantomimes, Henry James Byron and James Robinson Planché. H.J. Byron had introduced burlesques into the theatre, and was a theatre manager and a playwright. Both writers specialised in puns or word play, a tradition that continues into pantomime today. Planche's stories, originally written in the 18th century included 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Little Red Riding Hood', 'Bluebeard' and 'Puss in Boots'.
Pantomime stories
Stories derived from English folk tales or ballads include: 'Dick Whittington and his Cat', 'Robinson Crusoe', 'Babes in the Wood', 'Robin Hood', 'St George and the Dragon', and 'Little Goody Two Shoes'. The stories derived from Madam d'Aulnoy's 1721 tales published in France include 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears', and a version of 'Cinderella'. Several pantomime stories come from the book The Arabian Nights, which was first published in the UK between 1704 and 1714: 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves', 'Aladdin', and 'Sinbad the Sailor'. 'Mother Goose' comes from French poet and essayist Charles Perrault who wrote a book of the same name dedicated to the King of France's niece. 'Cinderella' is one of the tales in this book.
Cinderella
Lillian Stanley as Cinderella, published in The Sketch Magazine, 20th January, 1897. Museum no. 131655, © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Newspaper illustration of a scene from Cinderella at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, from 'The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News', 1875. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Finale of Cinderella at the Birmingham Hippodrome, 1995-6. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The story of Cinderella appears in many countries from Romania to Scandinavia. One version of it can be traced back to Madame d'Aulnoy's Fairy Tales published in 1721. The story was originally called 'The Story of Finetta, the Cinder Girl'. The first stage appearance of the story in England was at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1804 as part of the 'New Grand Allegorical Pantomime Spectacle'. This was written anonymously but based on a story by another French writer, Perrault, in Mother Goose's Rhymes.
By 1820 the story of Cinderella had become a comic opera: Rossini's 'La Cenerentola'. This was the first version in which Cinderella's father was a Baron. It also featured Dandini, the prince's faithful servant. Just 12 weeks later the King's Opera in Covent Garden opened an Easter pantomime entitled 'Harlequin and Cinderella or the Little Glass Slipper'. This featured Baron Pomposini, and his wife was played by Grimaldi, the clown. It would be hard to imagine Grimaldi playing a serious role and this was probably an early example of a pantomime dame.
In 1860 H.J.Byron added the Ugly Sisters and Buttons to the tale. His Ugly Sisters were originally called Clorinda and Thisbe and both were played by men. It was not until after the First World War that the principal boy in Cinderella became known as Prince Charming. Many versions of the Cinderella story exist, some of which are fairly gruesome. In an old Swedish variation of the story, the Ugly Sisters cut off their toes in an attempt to force their feet into the glass slipper.
The print on the right shows a version of Cinderella in 1875 had the full title of 'Cinderella and the Butterflies' Ball and Grasshoppers' Feast'. It was not unusual for a pantomime story to incorporate two tales into one in order to include a larger number of extraordinary locations for the action. A review of this production points out that 'much sacrifice is... made to spectacle, and the original stories are scarcely recognisable'. But although the core stories were traditional fairy or folk tales, pantomimes also reflected social aspects of their day. The Victorians are well known for their stern morality and disapproval of self-indulgence. In this scene, we see 'Honeydew' (the Queen Bee, Spirit of Industry), fighting the evil 'Papillona' (her rival, Queen of the Butterflies and Spirit of Pleasure). As well as a whole range of giant insects, the pantomime featured an entire stud of miniature ponies.
The image of the finale on the right is from the 1995/6 season Cinderella at the Birmingham Hippodrome. Apart from having Prince Charming played by a man (the ice skater Robin Cousins) rather than a female ‘principal boy’, it was in many respects a very traditional Pantomime. Real Shetland ponies pulled Cinderella’s coach. woodland animals were played by children from Birmingham Dance School, and it ended with a spectacular 'walk-down' with everyone in their wedding finery. A magical feature was the frosty woodland scene when Prince Charming skated on a pond, its surface a large sheet of a type of plastic developed for artifical joints (and chopping boards!), which allowed his ice skates to edge and glide. Cinderella’s father was played by Rolf Harris, and the parts of the ‘two brokers men’ were played by Bob Carolgees and his hand puppet ‘Spit the Dog’.
Pollock's Toy Theatre: Dick Whittington, United Kingdom, about 1840. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Dick Whittington
The first performance of Dick Whittington was at Covent Garden in 1814. Dick Whittington was based on a real character who lived in the 15th century and was Lord Mayor of London three times. In 1419 he was said to have married an employer's daughter, Alice Fitzwarren, and this is where the name of the female character comes from. The cat may have originated as a pun on 'achat', the French word for 'purchase'. However other countries also have their own version of the story which derives from Persia (now Iran), and which tells the tale of an old woman's son who embarked for India with a cat.
In H.J Byron's version Dick escapes to Algiers but is chased by a villain in a hot air balloon. He is also pursued by Alice's father and mother. Ballooning was topical in the year that the pantomime was produced (1862) when two English balloonists reached a height of 11km in a hot air balloon. In the early versions of the pantomime the balloon scene was the Harlequin chase scene and the characters of Dick and Alice would transform into Harlequin and Columbine hotly pursued by Pantaloon.
In 1891, Lottie Collins performed her 'Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay' song and dance in Dick Whittington at Drury Lane. She was a huge success.
Costume designs by Attilio Comelli for the 1908 Drury Lane pantomime Dick Whittington
| i don't know |
In which pantomime does Robin Hood normally appear? | It's Behind You - Babes in the Wood
HISTORY:
Based on an old English Ballad (preserved in the British Museum) of 1595, it tells the story of two children, abandoned deep in the forest upon the orders of their Wicked Uncle.
First presented on the stage in 1793 as �The Children In The Wood�, an Opera performed at the Haymarket Theatre. It was created by Dr. Samuel Arnold. In this version the children survived, and were restored to their parents, but other versions stuck to the more gloomy conclusion of the original ballad.
It was the subject of an operatic �Burletta� in 1812 at the Surrey Theatre.
They succumbed to the elements in �Harlequin and Cock Robin: or, The Babes In The Wood� at Drury Lane in 1827,in what was the first �pantomime� version, and again in 1856 at the Haymarket.
In 1867 the character of Robin Hood was introduced to the story. He rescued the babes from their fate, but this was not always the case. Covent Garden�s pantomime in 1874 kept the unhappy ending, and also saw their Wicked Uncle meeting his death. In modern versions the babes always survive their ordeal, and the evil uncle is unmasked.
The parts of the children have been interpreted in different ways-from small children to comedians. Dan Leno and Herbert Campbell appeared as �The Babes� at Drury Lane in 1897. More often the roles are taken by Juveniles, or actors who comfortably pass as juveniles to play �Boy Babe and Girl Babe�.
THE STORY:
When their Father dies, two young children- their names vary from one version to another- are entrusted into the care of their Uncle (sometimes portrayed as a wicked Baron). The uncle is eager to acquire the fortune left to the children and knows that it will pass to him if the children should die.
He persuades two cronies (often called Good & Bad Robbers) to take the children deep into the woods and murder them.
One of the cronies relents at the last moment, and kills his companion. The children are left to their fate. In some versions they are looked after by a guardian Fairy. They eat wild berries to survive, and when they fall asleep the birds cover them over with leaves to keep them warm.
In the original ballad this was the ending- the Babes did not survive. In pantomime it is traditionally the end of Act One.
ROBIN HOOD and The Babes In The Wood
In later versions of the pantomime the Babes were discovered by Robin Hood and Maid Marion. The children are taken into their encampment in the forest and Marion often becomes their nurse. The Merry Men are often part of this story. The Story ends when the evil deeds of their uncle are revealed, and the children are restored.
The introduction of Robin Hood to the pantomime version became very popular- often the title became �Robin Hood and The Babes In The Wood�.
How exactly Robin Hood came to be connected to the story of �The Babes� is uncertain.
The character of Robin Hood had been the subject of his own pantomime since �Merry Sherwood� in the 1790�s. a very far fetched theory could be that, in the original ballad the Babes were discovered by a Robin (Redbreast)- the feathered type, and that by word association the name of Robin (Hood) came into play. Unlikely, but then so is Robin Hood�s appearance in their story!
He first appeared in the �Babes In The Wood� in 1867 at Covent Garden. Robin Hood and his Merry Men, all played by women, were joined by Maid Marion who became the Nurse to the babes.
Robin historically had lived two hundred years before the Babes In The Wood were born, but soon he became associated with their story in the world of pantomime.
Because the story-line of the babes themselves is quite thin, introducing a second story- one already known to children- was a sensible idea. Rather than wait until the beginning of Act Two for Robin to find the babes, the pantomime versions often started with part of the Robin Hood legend.
As late as 1888 The Times could still express surprise at Robin Hood�s connection with the Babes In The Wood, claiming the babes were �mixed up with the proceedings of Robin Hood and his merry men in Sherwood Forest, owing to the accidental circumstance, as it would seem, of Maid Marion having been engaged as their Governess�.
From the beginning of the pantomime often Maid Marion would be the companion, sometimes nurse to the babes. The character of the �wicked� Sheriff of Nottingham became involved- sometimes he was the Babes Uncle. From the very start a plot could be woven that included Robin Hood disguising himself to meet up with Maid Marion, giving an opportunity for traditional Principal Boy and Girl love duets.
The Merry Men made an imposing chorus, often including Friar Tuck, Alan a Dale and Will Scarlett. The Good and Bad Robbers would interact with the Sheriff, and one, or sometimes both would find they could not carry out the Wicked Uncle/Sheriffs grisly task.
The Fairy would appear and command the birds to cover the Babes with leaves, and by the opening of Act Two they would be guided to Robin Hoods encampment in Sherwood Forest.
Often Act Two involved a scene at Nottingham Goose Fair, and the famous archery scene- where the Sheriff would attempt to lure Robin into his castle by staging an archery competition.
By the end of the pantomime, the babes were returned to the castle, and the wicked uncle/Sheriff would be unmasked as the villain. The children would inherit their wealth and be looked after by Robin and Marion who might well marry at the end of the act.
Click on Images to Enlarge
1907 - Theatre Royal, Drury Lane - Babes In The Wood
ORIGINS
The Ballad
The original ballad �The Children In The Wood: or, the Norfolk Gentleman�s Last Will and Testament� was first recorded in 1595.
It tells of a wealthy widower from Watton in Norfolk, who left his two children in the care of his brother.
The children�s uncle then plotted their deaths. He employed two �ruffians strong� to take the children into nearby Wayland Wood.
�He bargained with two ruffians strong,
Who were of furious mood,
That they should take these children young
And slaye them in a wood�
Wayland Wood today stands alongside the A1075 East Dereham to Thetford road, and is owned by the Norfolk Naturalist�s trust.
One of the ruffians took pity on the babes, and instead murdered his companion before making off, on the pretence he was going to search for food.
The children survived for a time eating wild berries, but eventually died and a robin redbreast covered their bodies with leaves. This act refers to an ancient superstition that robins never suffer a dead body to remain unburied.
�In one another�s arms they died
Awanting due relief:
No burial this pretty pair
Of any man receives,
Till Robin redbreast piously
Did cover them with leaves�
Ill fortune then dogged the children�s uncle, with the death of his own sons, the loss of his farm and animals, and finally his own death in jail. The remaining murderer was condemned to death after his arrest for highway robbery and his confession to his part in the children�s deaths.
Griston Hall, where the wicked uncle of history lived, has ancient stone carvings that tell the tale of the children in the wood.
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The Pantomime Versions:
Drury Lane
Dan Leno appeared as Boy Babe in �Babes In The Wood� at Drury Lane in 1897. In fact he started his career at Drury Lane in the same pantomime in 1888. In this early production he played the wicked Baroness. The pantomime�s full title was �Babes in the Wood and Robin Hood and his Merry Men and Harlequin who killed Cock Robin!�
In this version the �Babes� were played as comics by Herbert Campbell and Harry Nicholls. Hariette Vernon was a strapping Robin Hood. The Babes grew up during the second act, and were �leading an exciting and fashionable life about town!�
Leno was paid �28 a week for his first Drury Lane appearance, and, on the strength of his Baroness, was booked for the next three years.
In the 1888 Drury Lane �Babes In The Wood� the Griffith Brothers were the robbers, and Victor Stevens played The Baron.
Baron: You are two awful scoundrels?
Robbers: Right you are.
First Robber: At ev�ry jail, for all kinds of offences.
Baron: And do you charge by time, or by the job?
First Robber: It all depends-
Second Robber: Are we to kill or rob?
Baron: Oh, just a murder- a mere ev�ryday one.
First Robber: Hum! Well, that kind of work don�t hardly pay one-
Second Robber: But seeing as it�s you- we�ve no objection
First Robber: And as we wish to work up a connection
Second Robber: And if it�s understood the gent intends to highly recommend us to his friends-
First Robber: Consider it settled.
Baron: Say no more! Your hands, my friends. Hurrah for crime and gore!
In the 1907 version at Drury Lane the two robbers handed over the babes to The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe, who intended to poison them with mushrooms. Managing to escape they met a family of Giants, were later imprisoned by rabbits, released by ferrets, and still managed to reach �Lollypop Land� where they became King and Queen!
In 1916 at the same theatre the babes escaped from the wood, and opened up their own Music Hall. The Baron and Baroness in this pantomime opened up a hairdressing salon, where they scalped their customers through incompetence- a scene similar to �The Exploding Hair Dryer� scenes to be found today in some versions of �Cinderella�, where one of the Ugly Sisters will be revealed as bald!
Drury Lane�s last pantomime was �Babes In The Wood� in 1938. It was produced by Tom Arnold.
In 1917 Wylie Tate produced �Babes In The Wood� at The Palace Manchester.
Their rosta of stars now included the husband and wife team of Dorothy Ward and Shaun Glenville , along with Wee Georgie Wood and Ernie Mayne. Again Lauri Wylie wrote the book (with Clifford Harris), and James Tate wrote the music.
Artistes in the Wood:
Over the years Babes In The Wood has appealed to pantomime artistes who found a special niche. Double Acts in particular have found the roles of Good and Bad Robber to suit their material.
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Jimmy Jewell & Ben Warriss appeared in�Babes In The Wood� at the London Palladium- later Jan Hunt (then called June Gaynor ) appeared with this Tom Arnold production as Girl Babe in the provinces. Jewel and Warris played Robbers many times in their career, as did Mike and Bernie Winters, Hope and Keen, Cannon & Ball, Little & Large, Gordon and Bunny Jay, and in earlier times The Hengler Brothers specialised as �robbers�. Sid James-from �Carry On� fame played robber several times in his pantomime career, and in recent times Geoffrey Hughes and Roy Hudd played these roles many times in Roy�s version of this pantomime.
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The role of Nurse appealed strongly to two comedians who, specialised in being �A fella in a frock�- always playing themselves- Arthur Askey and later Les Dawson. These two great comics played �Big Hearted Martha� and �Nurse Ada� respectively, and made the part their own.
The role was often played by the late Jack Tripp in Roy Hudd�s version, and was played by the artistes including Old Mother Riley (Arthur Lucan), Clarkeson Rose, Sonnie hale, John Inman at the London Palladium , and by Ossie Morris the Welsh comedian in his native Wales. Max Wall even played Dame Trott in �Babes�- at Bristol in 1953, and several ladies have played the role including Betty Jumel.
Roy Hudd, Keith Barron and Geoffrey Hughes - Babes in the Wood, Sadlers Wells
The Villainous Uncle- This role, whether Baron or Sheriff has appealed to the great Panto Villains. Previous incarnations have included Alan Curtis- at the Palladium in 1965, Keith Baron, John Nettles and, in a very unusual piece of casting �Monsewer� Eddie Gray, from Crazy Gang Fame in the 1940�s.
Among the heroic Robin Hood�s the list includes artistes like Patricia Burke, Adele Dixon, Eve Acott, John Hanson, Edmund Hockridge, Frank Ifield, Edward Woodward, Julie Rogers, Marty Webb, Ruth Madoc, Nigel Pivaro, Anne Nolan, Lisa Hull, Anne Sidney, Jonathan Kiley, Hilary O�Neil,
Maid Marions have included Eunice Gayson, Ruby Murray, Lulu, Cheryl Baker, Katie Budd, Bernadette Nolan, Lesley Ash, and Danniella Westbrook.
The Character Names:
Robin Hood- Earl of Huntingdon.
The Principal Girl:
Maid Marion.- ward of the Sheriff or the Baron.. Sometimes Nurse or cousin to the babes . Sometimes Lady Marion Fitzwalter. Often spelled as Marian.
The Dame:
Often the Nurse to the Babes:
Nurse Glucose, Nurse Ada (Les Dawson) Nurse Gladys Glucose (Desmond Barrit), Nurse Ribena (Jack Tripp �90�s) Martha, Big Hearted Martha (Arthur Askey),Nurse Gertie (Freddie Lees) Nurse Tickle (Christopher Biggins),Nurse Gloria Goodbody, Nurse Bunty Biddle (Julian Orchard ), Dame Durdan,
Dame Trott , Dame Trot, Nurse Merryweather (�50�s), Wilhelmina Whackster (Governess), Phyllis MacWhackington (1908), Dame Golightly,
Comics:
Simple Simon, Jack Spratt, Marmaduke (The Squire�s Son), Simple Sammy, Sandy The Page (Sandy Powell),
The Babes:
Their names change with every production- there are no set traditional names.
Dorothy & Norman (1908), Eric & Phyllis, (�20�s), Winnie & Bertie (1930�s), Ethel & Gussie, (Ethel Revnell & Gracie West 1940�s), Reggie & Cissie (�50�s), Peter & Mary, Bobby & Betty, Peter & Jane, Paul & Pauline, Dickie & Daisy, Peter & Pauline (Palladium 1965) Jack & Jill, John & Jennifer.
The Robbers:
Stopum & Copham,(�30�s) Rob & Plunder, Jimmy & Harry (Jewel & Warriss 1950�s),Marmaduke & Horace (Jewel & Warriss), Horace & Herbert, Bill & Ben, Bubble & Squeak, Slippery Sam & Dangerous Dan, Sidney & Cecil, Percy & Cecil, Kind Heart & Pie Face, Cecil & Sebastian, Rudolph the Ruthless & Bertram The Bold, Smash & Grab, Daffy & Taffy (Wyn Calvin & Len Lowe), Hector & Les (Les Dawson & Hugo Myatt) Jasper Snatchem & Rodney Willoughby Fortesque (Bill Maynard & Derek Nimmo)Bob Over & Ben Dunder (Brian Freeman & Sid James Mike & Bernie (Mike & Bernie Winters �75),�Orful Onslow & �Orrible �Uddy (Geoffrey Hughes & Roy Hudd �90�s)
�Orful Onslow & �Orrible �Uddy (Geoffrey Hughes & Roy Hudd)
The Merry Men:
In keeping with the legends of Robin Hood they can include:
Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Mutch The Miller, Allan-a-Dale.
The Villain: �The Wicked Uncle�
In older productions he could be the Baron:
The Baron Swanker (1908-of Swankpot�s Manor), Baron de Rostonveg, Baron Humphrey, Baron Baddun, Baron Cul-de-Sac, Baron Stonehart, Baron Badheart, Squire Snatchall, Sir Diddlum Dumpling (Sheriff of Nottingham).
In more recent times- from the 1960�s, more often it is The Sheriff of Nottingham who becomes the Uncle of the Babes.
The Fairy:
Queen Mab, Fairy Bluebell, Fairy Queen, Fairy Sunbeam, Lovelight (a good fairy 1908), Fairy Silverleaf, Fairy of the Leaves, The Forest Fairy, Fairy Moonbeam, Meadowsweet, The Snow Fairy.
King Richard I (The Lionheart).
Additional Characters have included:
Tilly (The Baron�s Maid), Marjory Daw (The Baron�s Maid), Nicholas (The Baron�s Page), Billy (The Page), Perks (The Page), Bonzo- The Babes� Dog, Neddy The Donkey, Additional Merry Men included Will o� the Willow, Ben the Bow. Tom the Tinker. Mythical characters have included Herne The Hunter, and Cock Robin, �The Merry Maidens�- Played by �The Roly Poly�s�, Mr. Blobby, & Falcon The Gladiator, (1995).
1954 saw Vera Lynn join as �Special Guest Star� in the Tooting �Babes In The Wood�, with Hal Monty and Sally Barnes, touring to Sutton and Woolwich.
THE PANTOMIME VERSION:
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The Pantomime versions differ from one production to another, but generally the story line is fairly consistent. This Pantomime has two stories in fact- almost two separate tales: that of the Babes In The Wood, and the Tale of Robin Hood.
They are joined together by the device of Robin Hood discovering the two babes in Sherwood forest, not generally for the first time, but certainly taking them under his protection, and in revealing the villainy of their Uncle, he also regains his rightful title as Earl Of Huntingdon by the end of the pantomime. The babes are safe-and wealthy- and Robin is no longer an outlaw by the final curtain.
The Prologue
In some panto versions the first entrance would be the Forest Fairy, setting out a little of the story. Hopefully she would fly across the stage and land- flying one fairy today is thought quite spectacular. In Victorian times almost the entire chorus would fly in �Babes In The Wood�- on stage AND in the auditorium at the end of the act!
The Village of Sherwood/The Town Square of Nottingham
1987 Palladium - Babes in the Wood
The Opening Scene would most likely be set in the village, or the town square. Colourful dancers- in some productions a Maypole dance, in others the villagers sell their wares.
The Characters are introduced. The plot would be set: The arrival of the two babes- boy and girl into the village. They are orphans, and to be looked after by their Uncle. In modern productions he would be the Sheriff of Nottingham. In older productions he would be the local Squire or Baron.
Into this scene we would meet the Lady Marion. Maid Marion is often the cousin of the babes, and in some older versions she would be employed as their nurse. Into this story line, when the Sheriff had met the babes for the first time, the details of their late Father�s will would be revealed. The babes would inherit their Father�s estate and wealth when they �come of Age�. The Sheriff is therefore their guardian.
From the Hilda Campbell-Russell Collection
However- should anything happen to the babes- if they should both die- Their Uncle would inherit everything! The plot is set. The babes are already in danger!
Out of sight of the Sheriff, a disguised Robin Hood would creep into the village to meet up with his sweetheart, Maid Marion. Robin Hood in pantomime has always had a strong singing role, and opportunities for rousing songs, ballads and love duets abound. Often Robin�s Merry Men would provide a chorus to many of his numbers.
Where there is a comic (often when the robbers are the established comedy duo there might NOT be another comic) the �Simple Simon� part would be introduced, and then the entrance of the Dame.
The Dame in modern versions would be the Nurse (not Marion), and in addition she would be the local school mistress. Comedy, songs and plot conclude the opening scene.
1987 Palladium - Babes in the Wood
A Road Nearby/The edge of the Forest
If The Good & Bad Robbers are the �top Turns� in the panto, they would have most certainly appeared in the opening scene. If not, they might well make a brief appearance with The Sheriff, when he discovers they are available for any �Dirty Doings Going On�.
Certainly in this front cloth scene the Robbers would establish their characters- one a bit of a bully, the other a bit of a simpleton- but clever with it!- and certainly both of them cowards. They set out their store to rob, pillage, maim and murder, and rapidly employ comic cross-talk and double act routines. In this frontcloth they would most likely meet the Sheriff, who will outline his plot. They will be employed to take the �sweet babes� deep into the forest, and kill them both.
The robbers might well encounter Maid Marion and the Babes at this point. The Dame and comic would most likely be involved in this front cloth scene. The Fairy would most likely make another appearance, to let the audience know she was looking out for the babes.
The Schoolroom
A traditional �Set Piece� in this pantomime. The School Room scene would normally open with the chorus and juveniles on stage. The set would contain benches, a teachers old fashioned lecturn, and, of course, a blackboard! This scene contains a lot of historical reference to Will Hay routines from variety and film, and from a �comic book� idea of a classroom- older than the Will Hay Comedies, it retains a very 1930�s atmosphere!
The curtain rises to mayhem. The �school children� misbehaving, and in a state of near riot. (perhaps that is the modern reference to daily classroom life today?). Into this chaos enters the Dame as School mistress. Traditional academic robe and square mortar board hat usually worn.
The class (and audience) are subjected to some very old but classic school room jokes. The class is silenced by the clanging of a school bell. The Dame may call the register- �Hands up those who are not here�. Invariable the Good and Bad Robber will have disguised themselves (badly) as school children in an attempt to kidnap the two babes. They will take part in a lot of the banter with the Dame, as will the comic �Simple Simon� if there is a comic.
Dame: �You�re late! Why are you late?�
Robber: �Sorry Miss. I saw this sign. It said �School. Slow Down�. So I did.
The Dame will order the Robbers/Comic to sit down. The �Trick Bench� will be put into good use. That involves a bench made in such a way that when one or two persons sit on the one end, the third person can sit down with no problem. The problem is, as he goes to sit, they rise, causing him to fall on the floor. This �business� is repeated several times, accompanied by loud crashing from the drummer in the pit. At some point the �victim� will realise, and the bench will be swapped around, but sadly he will still fall on the floor.
This behaviour would generally outrage the Dame, and punishment would follow. In past times the �Caning Business� would be an essential part of this routine. The Dame would administer a hearty �Whack�, the victim would sit down, fall off and the Dame�s �Slapstick� cane would be put to use again. Finally the Victim, or his tormentor would be summoned to the front.
Dame: �Bend Over!�
Comic: �I don�t know how Miss!�
Dame: �You don�t know HOW? Ridiculous boy.. Hold this cane.. I�ll show you.. now you bend over like this and�.�
The gag is pretty obvious! However today you might find this scene missing. Political correctness has sometimes left more of a mark than �Six of The Best!�
The Comic will be summoned to the front for chewing gum.
Dame: �Hand it over- That�s chewing Gum. No chewing gum in class.�
Comic: �It s �not.
Dame: �I said hand over that chewing gum!�
Comic: S�not
Dame: �For the last time- hand it over!�
Comic: It�s Snot! (hands it over)
Dame: �Ugh! It IS Snot!�
There are dozens of set pieces to a school room scene. The counting routines on the blackboard, proving the teacher never works a day in her life, the hanging up of a school cap on a blackboard- the comic draws a hook, and hey-presto- he hangs his hat. Spelling routines, Question and answer routines-
Dame: �What is the shape of the world?�
Class: �Dunno Miss�
Dame: �Foolish children. Look I�ll help you out. What is the shape of my hat?�
Class: �Square Teacher�
Dame: �That�s the shape of the hat I wear on week days. What is the shape of the hat I wear on Sundays?
Class: �Round Teacher�
Dame: �Correct! So what is the shape of the world?�
Comic: �Square on weekdays, round on Sundays!�
During this scene the robbers may make a few attempts to kidnap the babes, but, under the watchful eye of Teacher, they will not succeed. The scene ends, as it started in chaos!
Frontcloth: A road in Nottingham
This scene might include an appearance by the Fairy, and an encounter between Robin Hood and Maid Marion. It might certainly include the Robbers in some further plotting with the Sheriff, and the chance of some comedy interludes between them.
The Nursery
Another �Set Piece� in �Babes In The Wood� is the Nursery Scene. Mainly involving the Dame and the babes. This would be a scene to feature the Dame preparing to go to bed. The traditional dame �Strip Routine� would probably be found here, with Nurse Glucose divesting herself of a multitude of garments, corsets and kitchen appliances!
The Babes might be brought to the nursery by Maid Marion (and possibly Robin Hood- although he would be in danger of being discovered inside the Sheriff�s Castle). It is likely the Dame would read the children a story, with many interruptions for requests for glasses of water.
Some versions might incorporate a �Haunted Bedroom� scene here, but more often that might be found in the second half, or set in a spooky part of the forest.
Finally the Dame might have a moment of �Pathos�, and sing the babes to sleep. As she tiptoes away she might whisper �Nighty-Nighty�, to which the babes would most definitely reply �Pajama-Pajama!�.
Robins Camp
From the Hilda Campbell-Russell Collection
Not a title you�d be likely to read in the programme, but a very old panto joke that would find its way into the script somewhere! The plot might well continue with Marion arriving at Sherwood Forest to warn Robin and the Merry Men that she fears for the Babes safety, with the opportunity of a song involving the lovers and the outlaws.
The First Half Finale:
Pantomime plots vary from one production to another. In some versions there may well be a scene in the Palace Kitchens, with the Dame and the Comic. Often this will be the Dame�s last appearance before Act Two, as it is not really possible to involve the dame in the �murderous plot� that is about to unfold. There may be a further frontcloth. In some versions directly after the Babes fall asleep in their nursery, the �speciality� act is introduced under the pretext of �The Babes Dream�- this could be a toyland scene, a speciality involving puppets or U.V (Black Light) dancers and puppets, or- in some extreme cases- even a glimpse �Under The Sea!�.
Many pantomimes will conclude Act One with the essential plot- the Babes being taken into the Wood. In older versions this was certainly the case. However- the plot for the Babes themselves is thin. This is the reason the Robin Hood story was �tagged-on� in the 1880�s- and in some modern versions you might well find the babes do not get taken into the forest until a quarter way through act two.
1987 Palladium - Babes in the Wood
Deep In The Forest:
In our imaginary version, the Babes meet the Sheriff who promises them a special treat- they are to go with their �bodyguards�- the two robbers- into the woods to pick berries. (the same ruse used in both �Hansel and Gretel� and �Snow White�).
The Robbers take the two children into the woods, and are duty bound to kill them. One robber finds he cannot do this- the children are sent off stage, and they begin a fight,
The Duel
Two of the finest exponents of �The Duelling Routine� were Hope and Keen. As Robbers they had perfected a brilliant and well executed routine involving their comedy duel. It was the highlight of any production they appeared in.
At the end of the duel, with both of them of one mind- they cannot kill the babes- they abandon the children to fend for themselves, and set back to Nottingham to report they have �Done the deed� to the Sheriff.
A set of illustrations by Rene Cloke taken from "Pantomime Stories" published by Ward, Lock & Co. Limited (London and Melbourne)
The Birds:
The babes wander until they are totally lost. At this point the Fairy will appear, and summon the birds to protect the children from the dark, cold night. As in the original ballad the birds will cover the sleeping children with leaves. Traditionally a flying ballet would take place. The Victorian productions often had dozens of chorus ladies flying across the stage, dressed as birds. In the auditorium a set of �Auditorium chorus� would swoop low over the heads of the audience at the same time. Showers of glittering leaves would be dropped on to the sleeping children.
Grand productions might reveal a waterfall effect in the woods. Possibly as the children slept the figure of Robin Hood might be seen crossing a bridge over �Curries Waterfall Effects� to discover the children as the curtain falls.
Today we would expect less flying- if any- but the use of all the lighting and �snow� effects to create a magical ending to act one. The tableaux of the �Babes In The Wood�.
ACT TWO
Nottingham Fair
Traditionally, whether the babes were abandoned at the end of Act One, or, if this plot does not occur until a few scenes into Act Two- the opening of Act Two is Nottingham Fair. Sometimes called �Nottingham Goose Fair�.
The Scene has the villagers enjoying a bank holiday at the fair, with Robin and his Merry Men attending in some form of disguise. The song and dance routine often centres around villages selling wares, stalls set up, and often a �floral� type dance.
This scene has as part of the plot to do with the Sheriff�s desire to capture Robin Hood. An archery contest has been arranged with a large prize. Robin attends in disguise, wins the competition by scoring a bulls eye on the target, and is nearly captured by the Sheriff.
The target has long been a complicated prop for the prop makers. A large circular target, often placed near the wing, it has one or more �flat� arrows flush against the surface of the target. These are painted to look like the target and are invisible to the eye.
When Robin fires his arrow there has to be some distraction. As he fires the chorus will shout and point at the target. The audience looks at the target, and hopefully does not witness Robin not actually firing his arrow. It vanishes into his cloak. Meanwhile behind the target a spring is released, and the �flat� disguised arrow flips up. This all happens in a few seconds, and appears as if Robin has shot an arrow across the stage and scored a bulls eye!
If the Babes have been rescued by Robin at the end of Act One- in some versions they are kept hidden in Robin�s hideout in the forest. In one or two versions they are returned to Nottingham (much to the displeasure of the Sheriff) and the Robbers are once again employed to kidnap them. In one version the Robbers pretend to be fairground magicians, and perform a trick. The Dame is placed into a �magic Cabinet�, vanishes and re-appears. They repeat this with the babes, and this time both robbers and Babes vanish.
The last section of the pantomime involves comedy front cloths with Dame, Robbers and comic. Often there will be a scene in the dungeons of the Sheriff�s Castle- possibly a �Ghost Gag�.
In other versions either Marion or Robin- or sometimes even both are imprisoned deep inside the castle, and the Merry Men help them to escape.
One thing is certain- whether the babes are abandoned at the end of the first half, or during the second half, Robin comes to the rescue. He will fight the Sheriff of Nottingham. In some versions he wins outright, in others he is tricked, and set for execution. The Sheriff has to be seen to be a villain by someone with more authority than he has.
From the Hilda Campbell-Russell Collection
Enter King Richard
In many versions the fate of Robin is hanging in the balance when unexpectedly King Richard (The Lionheart) returns from the Crusades. This part is usually doubled with a chorus man, or even a �merry Man�, as he only appears in the very last scene.
The King has entrusted his realm to the likes of the Sheriff of Nottingham, and upon his return the Sheriff�s villainy is revealed. He has raised taxes, stripped nobles of their titles, attempted to murder his wards, and now is disgraced and exiled by the King.
In the final scene Robin Hood kneels before King Richard, and has his former title- Earl Of Huntingdon restored. The Babes are put in the care of Robin and Marion, who announce they are to be married.
The Songsheet follows- if the Robbers were the �star Turns� they will lead this sing-a-long, having been pardoned: And the scene is set for the Royal Wedding, often in a Grand Hall of the Castle, or even within the walls of the Tower Of London.
The two tales of the Babes & Robin Hood come together at the end. They may not sit too comfortably together during the pantomime, but aided by the comedy of Dames and Robbers, the heroic deeds of the Principal Boy and the out and out villainy of the Sheriff, they make a jolly British Pantomime based not on Fairy Story, but on Fable.
Further Reading
| Babes in the Wood |
Which boat made a famous crossing from Peru to Polynesia in 1947? | Principal boys
Madame Vestris as Orpheus, 1831. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The tradition of women dressing up as men on stage started in the 18th century. Male roles played by women were known as 'breeches parts'. With the increase in popularity of the ballerina in Romantic Ballet male dancers went out of fashion and women would often perform the male role. In the theatre Madame Vestris made her name playing the roles of boys and men in burlesques and operas. This was a period when women dressed modestly covering their legs with long dresses. To see a woman in short trousers and tights was considered particularly risqué and Madame Vestris was the sex symbol of the 1830s.
Madame Vestris was exceptional in that she was the first actress-manager, a successful female performer who leased and ran a London theatre, the Olympic Theatre, from 1830-1849. The picture on the right is from a production called Olympic Devils, a burletta staged as the Christmas entertainment in 1831 and based on the classical Greek legend of Orpheus. The show was appropriately pantomimic in style: the script was full of verbal puns and slapstick humour. In the legend, Orpheus' severed head floated down a river still singing. This effect was created by Madame Vestris sticking her head through a hole in a painted model of some water, and the model being pulled across the stage. Unfortunately the contraption did not move smoothly, and the effect was apparently spoiled by shouts from offstage of 'Faster! Slower! Looser! Pull... Damn it! You'll strangle her!'. Apart from this the production was a huge success.
Like the pantomime dame, the principal boy character evolved slowly throughout the 19th century. Women such as Vesta Tilley made their names as male impersonators in the music halls before treading the boards in pantomimes as principal boys. By the 1880s the hero role in the pantomime was always played by a woman.
Famous principal boys have included Marie Lloyd, the Queen of the Music Halls, and in the 20th century, Dorothy Ward.
More recently principal boys have been played by TV soap stars, pop stars and sports personalities. In the 1950s and 1960s there was a trend for male principal boys with pop stars like Cliff Richard playing the role.
Pantomime dames
Nellie Wallace, black and white photograph, early 20th century. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
There were no pantomime dames in early pantomime but there is a long tradition of women's roles being performed by men in English theatre. In Shakespeare's day women were not allowed to perform on the stage and all the female roles were played by boys or men.
Comic dames first began to appear in pantomime in the early 19th century. In 1820 the clown Joseph Grimaldi played the Baron's wife in one of the earliest versions of Cinderella. The dame role slowly evolved over the next fifty years and really took off at the end of the 19th century.
Dames came in several types: working class and plain, glamorous and snobbish, or grotesque and elegant. In the late 19th century it became the vogue for Music Hall and Variety stars to perform in pantomimes. Some female impersonators from the Halls began to play the Dame role. Famous 19th century dames include Dan Leno and Herbert Campbell.
In the 1940s and 50s Variety stars such as Arthur Askey took on the Dame role for the pantomime season. More recently pop stars, television personalities and sports stars have played the role of the Dame.
The Dame character has remained consistent for the last hundred years or so. Dames have a bawdy sense of humour, outrageous costumes and extrovert characters. They interact with the audience, initiate slapstick and play tricks on the other performers. The costumes they wear play a large part in the jokes and are often visual puns.
Most pantomime dames have been played by men, however there are a few exceptions. Nellie Wallace, a comedienne in the 1930s, was a popular dame. Nellie Wallace was a music hall star who made her name playing comic characters and singing comic songs such as 'I was the early birdie after the early worm' and 'I've been jilted by the baker Mr White'. Nellie began performing in pantomime when she was only seven years old and added a comic fall to her tiny part in the pantomime, to get more laughs. She did attempt serious roles, but her performance in Little Willie's deathbed scene in East Lynne was received with so much laughter that Nellie was finally convinced she should not attempt to be a serious actress. This is one of Nellie's music hall characters - a spinster with buck teeth and heavily drawn eyebrows who wore an ill- fitting tweed suit, a hat with one feather protruding at the top, and a fur which she referred to as 'me little bit of vermin'. Her exaggerated dress sense, bordering on the grotesque, made her one of the few women who appeared successfully as a pantomime dame.
Dan Leno as Widow Twankey, 1896. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Dan Leno played his first pantomime Dame at the Surrey Theatre in 1886. George Conquest, the Surrey's manager, had seen him singing the comic song 'Going to buy milk for the twins' at the Middlesex Music Hall. He noticed how well skirts suited Leno, and booked him as the Dame for Jack and the Beanstalk. It was not long before Leno was hired by Augustus Harris, who produced the spectacular pantomimes at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Leno was such a success as the Baroness in the 1888 Babes in the Wood, that Harris booked him for the next three pantos, and eventually - as Leno would boast - 'for the term of my natural life'.
The production of Aladdin in 1896 was not seen as one of Drury Lane's best shows, but Dan Leno's Widow Twankey was judged by many to be his finest Dame. The Stage's review was typical: 'Singing, dancing or acting, Mr Leno is at his best this season... he stands out through the production as certainly the most clever actor who has been seen for many years in this class of work'.
Affectionately known as 'Bunch', Nelson Keys was a well known comedian and impersonator. He appeared in music halls all over London, and acted in reviews in the 1920s and 1930s with Ciceley Courtneidge, Beatrice Lillie and Gertrude Lawrence. His gift for mimicry even enabled him to bluff his way as a dancer, copying the steps until he had learnt them well enough to appear with professional dancers.
Bunch played Mother Hubbard in Red Riding Hood at Covent Garden in 1938. The young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were taken to see it by their mother, the Queen. Red Riding Hood turned out to be the last pantomime presented at Covent Garden theatre, the theatre that had contributed so much to the birth of British pantomime over 200 years before.
Animal impersonators
Johnny Fuller, cat impersonator, August 1910. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Pantomime animals appear in many of the traditional pantomimes. Jack has a cow in Jack and the Beanstalk and Dick Whittington has his famous cat. There are also pantomime horses, geese and dogs.
In the 19th century, some actors specialised in performing animal roles, which were known as 'skin parts'. Johnny Fuller specialised in 'skin parts' - particularly cats - and was one of the most well known animal impersonators in pantomime, along with a few others such as Charles Lauri. Puss in Boots and Dick Whittington cannot happen without a cat, but all the early Victorian pantomime subjects allowed generous leeway for the addition of cats if they wished, and a 'highly clever and comical cat' featured in A, Apple Pie, or, Harlequin, Jack in the Box and the Little Boy Blue.
Charles Lauri was famous for his animal impersonations and regularly appeared at Drury Lane as one creature or another. The photograph of Lauri as a dog is from the 1888 Drury Lane pantomime, Babes in the Wood. Although referred to in the programme as 'The Pug Dog', Lauri is quite clearly meant to be a poodle.
Charles Lauri's imitations were exceptional for the accuracy with which they reproduced the movements of different animals. When rehearsing for a part, he spent hours watching the animal he would be impersonating: he borrowed a poodle in the weeks before Babes in the Wood opened so that he could observe it. The performances were physically extremely demanding and Lauri had to be an acrobat as well as an actor. In Babes the poodle performed tricks, such as jumping through a hoop, and he was described in a review as 'the most agile performing poodle ever seen'.
Charles Lauri as 'The French Poodle', The Sketch Magazine, 15th March 1893. Museum no. 131655. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Animals are a regular feature of pantomime and were added into pantomime stories if they were not already part of the plot. Real animals were often used on stage, but there was plenty of humour to be found in animals played by human actors wearing animal costumes (known as 'skins'). The first animal to make an appearance in a pantomime was a donkey, ridden by a clown. Occasionally, actors made a career out of playing animals.
Charles Lauri, for example, was known as the 'Garrick of Animal Mimes', and perfected the parts of the dog in Sinbad the Sailor and the cat in Puss in Boots. The Conquest family, George Senior, Fred, Arthur, and George Junior brought to life a remarkable menagerie, appearing variously as a parrot, monkey, and goose as well as well as the more unusual octopus, oyster and flying fish! Here, Fred Fitzroy, a former trapeze artist, is pictured playing a pantomime cat later in his stage career.
We have an interview with Dick Whittington's cat played by Mr Charles Lauri. This first appeared in a newspaper called The Sketch on March 15 1893.
'My first appearance as pussy was made some thirty years ago in Birmingham. Even as a child I was devoted to animals and always took particular note of their ways and doings; still a considerable time elapsed before I again thought of acting an animal. All London was running to see a performing monkey called Pongo. I said to myself I am sure that I could do as well as that Monkey. Well I went to the zoo and spent hours in the Monkey House watching the creatures and I believe learning their language.
It was no easy matter to get a proper skin or costume made; you see what is wanted when impersonating an animal is really a wig for the body and it was difficult to make anyone understand that, so I not only designed but practically made my first skins. Each hair had to be put in separately, and after many trials I found that brown or grey wool was the best material to use on the foundation. Then we had to invent the head mask for the monkey. At last we hit on a brown leather one and as for the big eyebrows which on being worked up and down produce the peculiar grimaces which are so characteristic of monkey faces, I managed to make them workable by means of brown threads reaching down to and fastened on the coat.
My monkey face requires more makeup than any other beast character I have ever played.
I have also been a bear, a wolf, an ostrich, a kangaroo, a white poodle etc. But I find that the public really prefers domestic animals – a cat, a dog, and monkey are unfailing favourites. You see people like to watch the thing with which they are already familiar and there is literally always something new to see and discover about animals. I need hardly say that I am an entire believer in studying from life. When getting my poodle part I had one always with me at home and it was from him that I learnt nearly all my tricks.'
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Which film featured the villainous Blue Meanies? | Blue Meanies | Villains Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Role in the film
Taking over Pepperland
Their first appearance is right at the beginning, when they assemble their troops to take over the fictional, musical land of Pepperland, as they hate any kind of music. Assembled and ready, they attack using anti-music missiles and small guns that petrifies the citizens. To add insult to injury, they lock the land's biggest source of music, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, inside a huge glass sphere that neutralizes their music. The land soon becomes a big gray wasteland and every Pepperlander ends up petrified, except for one man called "Old Fred" that is told by Pepperland's mayor to seek help, moments before his own capture. Fred quickly sails his Yellow Submarine to Liverpool, where he asks for the Beatles' help. Gathered by Ringo, they all agree to help the land and drive the Meanies away.
Fighting the Beatles and redeeming
After meeting the Nowhere Man Jeremy Hillary Boob Ph.D and having him captured by the Blue Meanies, the Beatles and Fred soon reach Pepperland, discovering that the whole land has become gray and devoid of color, and every citizen has been petrified and are now being used by the Meanies as a source of amusement. They
The main Blue Meanie Chief.
quickly sight the Chief Blue Meanie between the crowd and wait until nighttime so they can act while the Meanies are asleep. As they rush to an old stage where the Lonely Hearts Club Band's instruments are impounded, one of the common Meanies sights them and tries to shoot them, only to miss every shot. The Beatles manage to recover the instruments and disguise themselves as the band. When the sun rises, they try to sneak past the sleeping Meanies, but Ringo accidentally steps on a bagpipe, causing one of the Countdown Clowns to awake and alert the other Meanies of their escape. As they finally gain a chance to hide, they begin to sing " Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band " as they play the instruments, managing to revive Pepperland's citizens, as well as defeating a bunch of Blue Meanies as they sing.
The singing immediately angers the Chief Meanie , so he sends his most destructive "soldier", the "Dreadful Flying Glove", to take out the band before they can sing any other songs. However, John manages to single-handedly defeat it by discovering that without its "G", all that is left of "glove" is "love", thus inspiring him to sing " All You Need is Love ". The song defeats the Glove and revives Pepperland to its fullest. The group also manages to free the Lonely Hearts Club Band from their prison, as they discover that the Band's members are alternate versions of themselves.
Not wanting to give up so easily, the Chief decides to send in his Four-Headed Bulldog to finish them, but the new union of the Beatles and the Club Band sing " Hey Bulldog " together, defeating the Meanies' final effort to enslave the population and causing them to retreat. Amongst the ruckus, Ringo frees Jeremy from the Meanies as the Nowhere Man faces the Chief Meanie himself, managing to conjure a magic spell that fills the Chief's body with flowers and causing him to have a breakdown. As they cheer on their victory, John asks if the Meanies want to join them, which they happily do as they all celebrate with " It's All Too Much " playing on the background.
Personality
The Meanies are supposed to represent every bad person in the world. As a result, they are all despicable and abhorrent creatures who hate any source of music and never accept "Yes" as an answer.
Types
There are many types of Blue Meanies seen in the film. The only common trend between them is that they all have blue or at least bluish parts or garments on their bodies.
Storm Bloopers: The most common variety, and the most seen. They wear navy-blue woolly coats, domino masks and Mickey Mouse -ear-like hats. Another common trend is that they have six claws on each hand, and wear a pair of yellow-and-orange striped tights. They are usually seen carrying weapons that fire pale-blue jagged arrows, which can petrify people (to an extent) and cause extreme sadness upon the victim, paralyzing them and draining them of color. The Chief Blue Meanie and his main henchman Max are variations of this type, but the Chief and Max wear jackboots with spurs instead of tights, and the left one is navy-blue while the right one is light-blue. Their hats are also different, as they resemble Bugs Bunny 's ears.
Butterfly Stompers: Wide cat-like Meanies carrying numbers on their woolly coats (like sports jerseys). Their name is due to their strange love of stomping butterflies.
Apple Bonkers: These are towering, Abraham Lincoln -like Meanies that are extremely thin and use Baldwin apples as their primary weapon, which they use to hit people on the head and cause similar effects to the Meanies' jagged arrow guns. These Meanies are referenced in the 2007 film Across the Universe , when Mr. Kite introduces one of his circus' characters called the "Blue People".
Countdown Clowns: Large, fat clown-like Meanies with no arms. They can generate loud shrieks that are used to alarm other Meanies of an enemy's presence, as well as announce their attacks. Their noses can be pressed to create big explosions wherever they look (it must be done by another Meanie, as the clowns have no arms). After they become good, their explosions are replaced by sounds of "Yes" and "OK".
Snapping-Turtle Turks: Relatively short, fat Meanies dressed in stereotypical Turkish attire. Their stomachs are actually giant predatory faces with sharp-toothed mouths that consume whatever they see.
Hidden-Persuader Men: Large gentleman Meanies that constantly smoke cigars and hold martinis in their hands, with what seems to be an eye on the glass. They hide two more arms beneath their shoes that hold concealed guns, which they use to threaten people who are close by. After their redeeming, they are seen prompting toasts to each other and using their extra hands to give friendly shakes.
Jack-the-Nippers: The least seen variation. These Meanies resemble jazz musicians wearing green tailcoats and sunglasses with two reptilian heads for hands. These guys can be easily defeated by tricking their "hands" into biting their own tongues. Their name is a play on Jack the Ripper.
The Four-Headed Bulldog: A large, light-blue Bulldog with four heads that is remarkably strong, each of its mouths having razor-sharp teeth. Only one of this variety is seen in the movie. Its very owner has no strength to contain this beast if it wants to walk in a particular direction. It is defeated when the Beatles and the Lonely Hearts Club Band sing "Hey Bulldog" to get its attention and then run in opposite directions to confuse it.
The Dreadful Flying Glove: The fiercest of the Meanies. It is literally a giant glove sporting a stylized face, with the thumbnail acting as the eye and the index finger as the nose, constantly pointing forward. This creature is a force to be reckoned with; crushing and "o-blue-terating" anything its master orders it to. It is defeated when John sings "All You Need is Love" and covers it with the words that come out of his mouth.
Trivia
The term "Blue Meanies" is also a slang term in Britain for the police or traffic wardens, especially certain traffic wardens that were hired by private firms and thus earned money via distributing fees to motorists.
The Bulldog was edited out of the American version so it wouldn't create an anti-climax after the "All You Need is Love" scene.
The Meanie known as "Max" is a reference to the 1966 film The Blue Max.
A Blue Meanie appears in the South Park episode "Imaginationland".
Despite being the antagonists of the film, the Meanies have little screen time.
The Meanies were originally going to be red, as a reference to the Cold War.
| Yellow Submarine |
Bridgetown is the capital of which island? | Yellow Submarine Movie Review
Not applicable
Consumerism
While it's not necessarily the intention of this movie, there are many sequences featuring Beatles' songs from various albums, and, as with any music video, there is an inherent marketing context at work.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
The word "LOVE" is spelled out like a lit cigarette. Cigar smoking. Rumors suggest that songs like "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" are veiled references to drugs.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Yellow Submarine is a 1968 animated feature starring the Beatles and inspired by their song of the same name. Although rumors suggest that songs such as "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" are veiled references to drugs, and the animation sometimes has a psychedelic look, there is nothing that remotely approaches drug or alcohol use of any kind. The violence is extremely mild, especially by cartoon standards. The Meanies take over by "bonking" people with green apples; Ringo is shot with arrows but is unharmed. The animation is highly imaginative and playful, although the looks of some of the Blue Meanies, with their mean grins and yellow teeth, might be a bit nightmarish for younger or more sensitive kids.
User reviews
Review this title!
What's the story?
All is peace, love, and music in gentle Pepperland until the wicked Blue Meanies take over. The Beatles come to the rescue via the title vessel, meeting all kinds of strange and interesting characters along the way.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
YELLOW SUBMARINE is a pleasure for the eyes, ears, and heart. It features spectacular animation, gorgeous music (including "When I'm 64," "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," "All Together Now," and the lovely "Sea of Time," written by longtime Beatle collaborator George Martin), witty wordplay (lots of puns and some sly political satire), and a sweet story with a nonviolent happy ending. Younger kids will appreciate it on a different level from their older siblings and parents, and that's just fine.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about the different ways to interpret this movie. Do you think there are hidden messages? Why do you think the Beatles wanted to make this movie?
What are the ways in which the animation is distinct and unique, often imitated but never duplicated?
It has been over 50 years since the Beatles first attained international success and recognition. Why do you think they and the messages contained in their music continue to remain popular? Do you think people will still be listening to their music in the next 50 years?
Movie details
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What is the European term of a golf score known in the USA as a double eagle? | Double eagle: The golf term that makes no sense
Double eagle: The golf term that makes no sense
Everywhere but the USA, a score of 3-under par on a hole is known as an albatross.
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Double eagle: The golf term that makes no sense
AP Published 12:03 p.m. ET April 9, 2013 | Updated 12:05 p.m. ET April 9, 2013
Gene Sarazen as an honorary starter for the Masters in 1997. He was a seven-time major champion and one of only five players to win all four of golf's modern majors. Sarazen, who also helped put the Masters on the map, died in 1999.
(Photo: USA TODAY)
Gene Sarazen's "shot heard round the world" in 1935 put the Masters on the map
It also led to a golf term, double eagle, that doesn't really make sense
Padraig Harrington: "It's an albatross ... There's no such thing in life as a double eagle"
168 CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN 3 COMMENTEMAILMORE
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Gene Sarazen hit "the shot heard 'round the world," holing out with a 4-wood from 235 yards in the 15th fairway at Augusta National in 1935. He put a 2 on his card, made up a three-shot deficit with one swing, and then beat Craig Wood in a playoff the next day.
It was the shot that put the Masters on the map.
And it led to a golf term that was made in America, used only in America, and doesn't make a lick of sense.
Double eagle?
The golf writers deserved a double bogey for that one.
"It's an albatross," Padraig Harrington said, incredulous that anyone would dare call it anything else. "There's no such thing in life as a double eagle. Is there? Two eagles side by side are two eagles, not a double eagle. You don't refer to animals ... 'Oh, I just saw a double elephant over there.' There's no doubting what it is. It's an albatross."
On every other continent where golf is played, a score of 3-under par on a hole is known as an albatross.
Where the term "double eagle" came from is one of golf's mysteries, and it simply doesn't add up. A birdie is universally known as a score of 1-under par on a hole. An eagle is 2-under par. Double that — a double eagle — and it would be 4-under par.
"That's American mathematics for you," Hunter Mahan said. "That's why we're 40th in the world or whatever. I think albatross sounds cool."
By whatever name, it's one of the rarest shots in golf. And it returned to the conversation last year at the Masters when Louis Oosthuizen made an albatross on the second hole of the final round. He hit 4-iron from 253 yards, the first 2 on that hole in Masters history.
There has been one albatross on each of the par 5s at Augusta National — Bruce Devlin on No. 8 in 1967, Jeff Maggert on No. 13 in 1994 and Sarazen on the 15th in 1935. Sarazen's was the most famous. It was the first of its kind, and it led to him winning the tournament.
GALLERY: GETTING READY FOR THE MASTERS
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Tiger Woods and Fred Couples walk across the Nelson Bridge on Wednesday.
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Tiger Woods walks up to the 12th tee box on Wednesday.
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Bubba Watson and his pink driver on Wednesday.
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Three-time Masters champion Gary Player practices his putting on Tuesday.
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Phil Mickelson talks to the media after this Tuesday practice round.
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Tiger Woods speaks to the media Tuesday
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Former Masters winner Tom Watson hits an approach shot during a practice round
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Professional golfer Cheyenne Woods at Augusta National. Woods is the niece of Tiger Woods and is working this week for Back9Network.
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Rory McIlroy walking down the 13th fairway
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Former British Open winner Paul Lawrie on the 2nd green during Tuesday practice.
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Three time Masters champ Phil Mickelson walking the 2nd fairway during practice rounds on Tuesday.
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2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson hits to the number 2 green during practice round on Tuesday, April 9, 2013.
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Rory McIlroy hitting tee shot on number 8 at the Augusta National Golf Club on Monday.
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Tigers Woods walking with practice round partner 14-year-old Tianlang Guan.
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George Coetzee practices his iron shots on Monday at Augusta National.
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Bubba Watson blasts out of the sand during a Monday practice round for this week's Masters. Watson is the defending champion.
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Bernhard Langer chipping during a Monday Masters practice round play at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Y.E. Yang of South Korea during Monday's practice at Augusta National.
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Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler play a practice round Monday.
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Ben Crenshaw laughs along with Guan Han Wen, the father of 14-year-old Guan Tianlang from China, after Crenshaw sank a difficult putt he was demonstrating to the teenage golfer on the 14th green at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Spectators watch as Tiger Woods, center, tees off to the 12th hole during a Monday practice round.
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A patrons wears a Masters shirt during a practice round on Monday.
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Hunter Mahan on the 15th green during practice round play at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Spectators watch practice rounds for the Masters golf tournament Monday.
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Russell Henley, right, talking with two-time Masters champ Tom Watson on the 2nd green during Masters practice round play at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano putting on the 2nd green during Masters practice round.
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In front of the clubhouse early Monday morning.
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The sun rises on Masters week.
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Jose Maria Olazabal, of Spain, putts on the practice green during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament.
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Defending champion Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler stroll down the fairway during a Monday practice round for the 2013 Masters.
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Huntler Mahan lines up a putt during a Monday practice round for the Masters.
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The azaleas are blooming at Augusta National.
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Defending champion Bubba Watson waits to hit a shot during a practice round prior to the start of the 2013 Masters Tournament.
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The USA's Michael Thompson hits a tee shot during a practice round prior to the start of the 2013 Masters Tournament.
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Mark O'Meara, the 1998 Masters winner, practices on Monday prior to the 2013 tournament.
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Defending champ Bubba Watson at the practice tee on Monday.
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Guan Tianland of China gestures during a practice round for the 2013 Masters. The 14-year-old is the youngest ever in the Masters. He won the Asia Pacific Championship.
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| Albatross |
Which TV series was about a quartet of students at Scumbag college? | What Is An Albatross In Golf? (And Origins of the Term)
Updated May 06, 2016.
In golf, "albatross" is a term for scoring 3-under par on an individual hole.
Yes, albatross is another word for a double eagle - the two terms are identical in meaning. But, as we'll see below, albatross is the more widely used term.
Albatrosses - save for holes-in-one on par-5s , which are nearly (but not quite) non-existent - are the rarest scores in golf. Albatrosses are far more rare than aces .
Related: What are the odds of making an albatross?
The Scores That Result in an Albatross
Remember that " par " is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete the play of a hole. And each hole on a golf course is assigned a par rating. With that in mind, a golfer gets to claim an albatross by:
Scoring a 1 (making a hole-in-one) on a par-4 hole ;
Scoring 2 on a par-5 hole .
Par-6 holes are rare in golf, but they do exist. So you can also make an albatross by scoring 3 on a par-6. Albatrosses on par-3 holes are impossible.
Origins of the Golf Use of 'Albatross'
You know what an albatross is in golf, but why that word?
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How did "albatross" come to be used as the word for 3-under par on a hole?
It was simply in keeping with the already established avian theme of terms applied to below-par golf scores. Birdie , for 1-under par on a hole, came first. Eagle , for 2-under par, evolved next. (See The Origins of Birdie and Eagle in Golf for more about that.)
Scores of 3-under par on a hole are rare today, but were even rarer in the early part of the 20th century, when, because of equipment limitations, golfers generally hit the ball shorter distances. So a term for the score of 3-under might not even have been considered necessary for a long time.
According to ScottishGolfHistory.org, the earliest use of albatross, in its golf sense, in print occurred in a British newspaper in 1929. The British Golf Museum, meanwhile, says that "albatross" became commonly used by golfers only in the 1930s.
But again, why albatross? The albatross is a bird, of course, and some albatrosses are quite large with impressive wingspans. Perhaps golfer and U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy said it best: "It (an albatross bird) is grand, which is what describes the shot." (The shot being the one the golfer holed out with to make the score.)
Double Eagle vs. Albatross
The two terms are identical in meaning, but where are they used? This is easy: "Double eagle" is the preferred term in the United States, "albatross" is used almost everywhere else.
Why "double eagle" came to be the commonly used term in the U.S. probably dates to the 1935 Masters . That's where Gene Sarazen hit a shot that is still among the most famous in golf history, a par-5 hole-out from 200-plus yards on the 15th hole of the fourth round for a double eagle (excuse me, albatross) that helped propel him to victory. In the American newspaper articles the next day, the shot was called a double eagle. And that term gained primacy in American golf over "albatross."
Outside the United States, however, albatross is used almost exclusively - except when golf fans in other countries hear American golfers or golf broadcasters using "double eagle."
Australian golfer Ogilvy once told USA Today that, "I didn't know what a double eagle was until I came to the United States."
Another Australian golfer, John Senden, said the same thing: "Growing up it was always an albatross. I never knew it was anything different until I was maybe 15."
The same article quotes Irish golfer Padraig Harrington disparaging the use of "double eagle":
"It's an albatross. There's no such thing in life as a double eagle. Is there? Two eagles side by side are two eagles, not a double eagle. You don't refer to animals ... 'Oh, I just saw a double elephant over there.' There's no doubting what it is. It's an albatross."
There are many American golfers (and golf media members) who'd like to get the United States onto "albatross" and off of "double eagle." But, then, the rest of the world has been trying to get us to switch to the metric system for decades, so ... it probably won't work.
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US History
Back in the 1500s, the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León landed on the coast of Florida and Spain established the first European colony in North America.
In 1700s, Britain gained control of the territories on the east of the Mississippi River.
The motto displayed on the Great Seal of the USA is “E pluribus unum”, which means “Out of many, one.”
The USA has no official language.
The USA is divided into nine time zones .
The total area of the USA is 9,857,306 sq. km, making it the third largest country in the world.
The major rivers of the country are the Colorado, Columbia, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Rio Grande, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Snake River, and the Yellowstone.
More than 800 rivers crisscross the Continental U.S. This map shows some of the longest rivers in the US .
The Mississippi River combines with the Missouri River to form the fourth longest river system in the world.
Of the five great lakes, Lake Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario are shared by the USA and Canada and only Michigan lies entirely in the USA.
The highest point in the USA is Mount McKinley in Alaska, which is 6,194 meters high. The lowest point is the Death Valley in California which lies 86 meters below sea level.
The USA has more diverse ecosystems than any other nation in the world.
Iconic flora of the USA includes the Prairie grass, the Giant Redwood of California and the Giant Saguaro cacti in the US deserts.
Alaska's coastline is longer than the coastlines of all other states combined.
The USA has 59 officially-designated National Parks spread over the 50 states. Here is a list of US National Parks .
More on US Climate...
Education and Health
Public education is free and available to all students. Apart from public schools, private schools and home schools are two other options for schooling in the United States.
Some of the American colleges and universities consistently rank among the top 20 in the world. Here is a list of Top Universities in USA .
The literacy rate in the US is 99%.
The life expectancy at birth is 78.7 years. However, it is not in the list of Top 10 Countries with Highest Life Expectancy .
US Travel and Tourism
The USA receives around seven million international visitors every year.
Some of the most visited cities in the USA are New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Honolulu, Boston, Chicago, San Diego, Philadelphia, and Seattle.
Some of the favorite destinations for domestic American tourists were the US Virgin Islands , Hudson River Valley, Four Corners Region, California Gold Country, and Yellowstone National Park.
The most visited tourist spots include the Times Square, the Las Vegas Strip, National Mall and Memorial Parks, Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Niagara Falls, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, and Navy Pier.
The state of Kentucky has the longest cave system in the world.
The Universal Studio and Disneyland are among the best Theme Parks in the US
Famous Americans
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United States
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Alternative Titles: America, U.S., U.S.A., United States of America
United States
federal republic with two legislative houses (Senate [100]; House of Representatives [4351])
Head of state and government
(2010) 308,745,538; (2016 est.) 323,349,0002
Total area (sq mi)
Literacy: percentage of population age 15 and over literate
Male: (2000–2004) 95.7%
GNI per capita (U.S.$)
(2014) 55,200
1Excludes 5 nonvoting delegates from the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands , American Samoa , the Northern Mariana Islands , and Guam and a nonvoting resident commissioner from Puerto Rico .
2Includes military personnel overseas.
3Total area (excluding 42,334 sq mi [109,645 sq km] of coastal water and 76,804 sq mi [198,921 sq km] of territorial water) equals 3,677,649 sq mi (9,525,067 sq km), of which land area equals 3,531,925 sq mi (9,147,643 sq km), inland water area equals 85,631 sq mi (221,783 sq km), and Great Lakes water area equals 60,093 sq mi (155,641 sq km).
list of cities and towns in the United States
United States, officially United States of America, abbreviated U.S. or U.S.A., byname America, country in North America , a federal republic of 50 states. Besides the 48 conterminous states that occupy the middle latitudes of the continent, the United States includes the state of Alaska , at the northwestern extreme of North America, and the island state of Hawaii , in the mid-Pacific Ocean . The conterminous states are bounded on the north by Canada , on the east by the Atlantic Ocean , on the south by the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico , and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. The United States is the fourth largest country in the world in area (after Russia , Canada, and China ). The national capital is Washington , which is coextensive with the District of Columbia, the federal capital region created in 1790.
United States of America
Fishing boat at the harbour at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Craig Blouin/New England Stock Photo
The major characteristic of the United States is probably its great variety. Its physical environment ranges from the Arctic to the subtropical, from the moist rain forest to the arid desert, from the rugged mountain peak to the flat prairie. Although the total population of the United States is large by world standards, its overall population density is relatively low. The country embraces some of the world’s largest urban concentrations as well as some of the most extensive areas that are almost devoid of habitation.
The United States.
Roger B. Taney
The United States contains a highly diverse population. Unlike a country such as China that largely incorporated indigenous peoples, the United States has a diversity that to a great degree has come from an immense and sustained global immigration. Probably no other country has a wider range of racial, ethnic, and cultural types than does the United States. In addition to the presence of surviving Native Americans (including American Indians, Aleuts , and Eskimos ) and the descendants of Africans taken as slaves to the New World, the national character has been enriched, tested, and constantly redefined by the tens of millions of immigrants who by and large have come to America hoping for greater social, political, and economic opportunities than they had in the places they left. (It should be noted that although the terms “America” and “Americans” are often used as synonyms for the United States and its citizens, respectively, they are also used in a broader sense for North, South, and Central America collectively and their citizens.)
USA Facts
The United States is the world’s greatest economic power, measured in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). The nation’s wealth is partly a reflection of its rich natural resources and its enormous agricultural output, but it owes more to the country’s highly developed industry. Despite its relative economic self-sufficiency in many areas, the United States is the most important single factor in world trade by virtue of the sheer size of its economy. Its exports and imports represent major proportions of the world total. The United States also impinges on the global economy as a source of and as a destination for investment capital. The country continues to sustain an economic life that is more diversified than any other on Earth, providing the majority of its people with one of the world’s highest standards of living.
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The United States is relatively young by world standards, being less than 250 years old; it achieved its current size only in the mid-20th century. America was the first of the European colonies to separate successfully from its motherland, and it was the first nation to be established on the premise that sovereignty rests with its citizens and not with the government. In its first century and a half, the country was mainly preoccupied with its own territorial expansion and economic growth and with social debates that ultimately led to civil war and a healing period that is still not complete. In the 20th century the United States emerged as a world power, and since World War II it has been one of the preeminent powers. It has not accepted this mantle easily nor always carried it willingly; the principles and ideals of its founders have been tested by the pressures and exigencies of its dominant status. The United States still offers its residents opportunities for unparalleled personal advancement and wealth. However, the depletion of its resources, the contamination of its environment, and the continuing social and economic inequality that perpetuates areas of poverty and blight all threaten the fabric of the country.
The District of Columbia is discussed in the article Washington . For discussion of other major U.S. cities, see the articles Boston , Chicago , Los Angeles , New Orleans , New York City , Philadelphia , and San Francisco . Political units in association with the United States include Puerto Rico, discussed in the article Puerto Rico , and several Pacific islands, discussed in Guam , Northern Mariana Islands , and American Samoa .
Land
The two great sets of elements that mold the physical environment of the United States are, first, the geologic, which determines the main patterns of landforms, drainage, and mineral resources and influences soils to a lesser degree, and, second, the atmospheric, which dictates not only climate and weather but also in large part the distribution of soils, plants, and animals. Although these elements are not entirely independent of one another, each produces on a map patterns that are so profoundly different that essentially they remain two separate geographies. (Since this article covers only the conterminous United States, see also the articles Alaska and Hawaii .)
United States of America
The Colorado River in Marble Canyon at the northeastern end of Grand Canyon National Park, …
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The centre of the conterminous United States is a great sprawling interior lowland, reaching from the ancient shield of central Canada on the north to the Gulf of Mexico on the south. To east and west this lowland rises, first gradually and then abruptly, to mountain ranges that divide it from the sea on both sides. The two mountain systems differ drastically. The Appalachian Mountains on the east are low, almost unbroken, and in the main set well back from the Atlantic . From New York to the Mexican border stretches the low Coastal Plain , which faces the ocean along a swampy, convoluted coast. The gently sloping surface of the plain extends out beneath the sea, where it forms the continental shelf, which, although submerged beneath shallow ocean water, is geologically identical to the Coastal Plain. Southward the plain grows wider, swinging westward in Georgia and Alabama to truncate the Appalachians along their southern extremity and separate the interior lowland from the Gulf.
West of the Central Lowland is the mighty Cordillera, part of a global mountain system that rings the Pacific basin. The Cordillera encompasses fully one-third of the United States, with an internal variety commensurate with its size. At its eastern margin lie the Rocky Mountains, a high, diverse, and discontinuous chain that stretches all the way from New Mexico to the Canadian border. The Cordillera’s western edge is a Pacific coastal chain of rugged mountains and inland valleys, the whole rising spectacularly from the sea without benefit of a coastal plain. Pent between the Rockies and the Pacific chain is a vast intermontane complex of basins, plateaus, and isolated ranges so large and remarkable that they merit recognition as a region separate from the Cordillera itself.
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These regions—the Interior Lowlands and their upland fringes, the Appalachian Mountain system, the Atlantic Plain, the Western Cordillera, and the Western Intermontane Region—are so various that they require further division into 24 major subregions, or provinces.
The Interior Lowlands and their upland fringes
Andrew Jackson is supposed to have remarked that the United States begins at the Alleghenies , implying that only west of the mountains, in the isolation and freedom of the great Interior Lowlands, could people finally escape Old World influences. Whether or not the lowlands constitute the country’s cultural core is debatable, but there can be no doubt that they comprise its geologic core and in many ways its geographic core as well.
Learn about the different physcial landscapes that make up the American Midwest.
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This enormous region rests upon an ancient, much-eroded platform of complex crystalline rocks that have for the most part lain undisturbed by major orogenic (mountain-building) activity for more than 600,000,000 years. Over much of central Canada, these Precambrian rocks are exposed at the surface and form the continent’s single largest topographical region, the formidable and ice-scoured Canadian Shield .
In the United States most of the crystalline platform is concealed under a deep blanket of sedimentary rocks. In the far north, however, the naked Canadian Shield extends into the United States far enough to form two small but distinctive landform regions: the rugged and occasionally spectacular Adirondack Mountains of northern New York and the more-subdued and austere Superior Upland of northern Minnesota , Wisconsin , and Michigan . As in the rest of the shield, glaciers have stripped soils away, strewn the surface with boulders and other debris, and obliterated preglacial drainage systems. Most attempts at farming in these areas have been abandoned, but the combination of a comparative wilderness in a northern climate, clear lakes, and white-water streams has fostered the development of both regions as year-round outdoor recreation areas.
Mineral wealth in the Superior Upland is legendary. Iron lies near the surface and close to the deepwater ports of the upper Great Lakes . Iron is mined both north and south of Lake Superior , but best known are the colossal deposits of Minnesota’s Mesabi Range , for more than a century one of the world’s richest and a vital element in America’s rise to industrial power. In spite of depletion, the Minnesota and Michigan mines still yield a major proportion of the country’s iron and a significant percentage of the world’s supply.
South of the Adirondack Mountains and the Superior Upland lies the boundary between crystalline and sedimentary rocks; abruptly, everything is different. The core of this sedimentary region—the heartland of the United States—is the great Central Lowland, which stretches for 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometres) from New York to central Texas and north another 1,000 miles to the Canadian province of Saskatchewan . To some, the landscape may seem dull, for heights of more than 2,000 feet (600 metres) are unusual, and truly rough terrain is almost lacking. Landscapes are varied, however, largely as the result of glaciation that directly or indirectly affected most of the subregion. North of the Missouri – Ohio river line, the advance and readvance of continental ice left an intricate mosaic of boulders, sand, gravel, silt, and clay and a complex pattern of lakes and drainage channels, some abandoned, some still in use. The southern part of the Central Lowland is quite different, covered mostly with loess (wind-deposited silt) that further subdued the already low relief surface. Elsewhere, especially near major rivers, postglacial streams carved the loess into rounded hills, and visitors have aptly compared their billowing shapes to the waves of the sea. Above all, the loess produces soil of extraordinary fertility . As the Mesabi iron was a major source of America’s industrial wealth, its agricultural prosperity has been rooted in Midwestern loess.
The Central Lowland resembles a vast saucer, rising gradually to higher lands on all sides. Southward and eastward, the land rises gradually to three major plateaus. Beyond the reach of glaciation to the south, the sedimentary rocks have been raised into two broad upwarps, separated from one another by the great valley of the Mississippi River . The Ozark Plateau lies west of the river and occupies most of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas ; on the east the Interior Low Plateaus dominate central Kentucky and Tennessee . Except for two nearly circular patches of rich limestone country—the Nashville Basin of Tennessee and the Kentucky Bluegrass region —most of both plateau regions consists of sandstone uplands, intricately dissected by streams. Local relief runs to several hundreds of feet in most places, and visitors to the region must travel winding roads along narrow stream valleys. The soils there are poor, and mineral resources are scanty.
Eastward from the Central Lowland the Appalachian Plateau —a narrow band of dissected uplands that strongly resembles the Ozark Plateau and Interior Low Plateaus in steep slopes, wretched soils, and endemic poverty—forms a transition between the interior plains and the Appalachian Mountains. Usually, however, the Appalachian Plateau is considered a subregion of the Appalachian Mountains, partly on grounds of location, partly because of geologic structure. Unlike the other plateaus, where rocks are warped upward, the rocks there form an elongated basin, wherein bituminous coal has been preserved from erosion. This Appalachian coal, like the Mesabi iron that it complements in U.S. industry, is extraordinary. Extensive, thick, and close to the surface, it has stoked the furnaces of northeastern steel mills for decades and helps explain the huge concentration of heavy industry along the lower Great Lakes.
The western flanks of the Interior Lowlands are the Great Plains , a territory of awesome bulk that spans the full distance between Canada and Mexico in a swath nearly 500 miles (800 km) wide. The Great Plains were built by successive layers of poorly cemented sand, silt, and gravel—debris laid down by parallel east-flowing streams from the Rocky Mountains . Seen from the east, the surface of the Great Plains rises inexorably from about 2,000 feet (600 metres) near Omaha , Nebraska , to more than 6,000 feet (1,825 metres) at Cheyenne , Wyoming, but the climb is so gradual that popular legend holds the Great Plains to be flat. True flatness is rare, although the High Plains of western Texas , Oklahoma , Kansas , and eastern Colorado come close. More commonly, the land is broadly rolling, and parts of the northern plains are sharply dissected into badlands.
The High Plains, near Fort Morgan, Colorado.
Epimethius
The main mineral wealth of the Interior Lowlands derives from fossil fuels. Coal occurs in structural basins protected from erosion—high-quality bituminous in the Appalachian, Illinois , and western Kentucky basins; and subbituminous and lignite in the eastern and northwestern Great Plains. Petroleum and natural gas have been found in nearly every state between the Appalachians and the Rockies, but the Midcontinent Fields of western Texas and the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma, and Kansas surpass all others. Aside from small deposits of lead and zinc, metallic minerals are of little importance.
The Appalachian Mountain system
The Appalachians dominate the eastern United States and separate the Eastern Seaboard from the interior with a belt of subdued uplands that extends nearly 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from northeastern Alabama to the Canadian border. They are old, complex mountains, the eroded stumps of much greater ranges. Present topography results from erosion that has carved weak rocks away, leaving a skeleton of resistant rocks behind as highlands. Geologic differences are thus faithfully reflected in topography. In the Appalachians these differences are sharply demarcated and neatly arranged, so that all the major subdivisions except New England lie in strips parallel to the Atlantic and to one another.
Screw Auger Falls in the Mahoosuc Range, northern Appalachian Mountains, Maine.
© George Wuerthner
The core of the Appalachians is a belt of complex metamorphic and igneous rocks that stretches all the way from Alabama to New Hampshire . The western side of this belt forms the long slender rampart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, containing the highest elevations in the Appalachians ( Mount Mitchell , North Carolina, 6,684 feet [2,037 metres]) and some of its most handsome mountain scenery. On its eastern, or seaward, side the Blue Ridge descends in an abrupt and sometimes spectacular escarpment to the Piedmont , a well-drained, rolling land—never quite hills, but never quite a plain. Before the settlement of the Midwest the Piedmont was the most productive agricultural region in the United States, and several Pennsylvania counties still consistently report some of the highest farm yields per acre in the entire country.
West of the crystalline zone, away from the axis of primary geologic deformation, sedimentary rocks have escaped metamorphism but are compressed into tight folds. Erosion has carved the upturned edges of these folded rocks into the remarkable Ridge and Valley country of the western Appalachians. Long linear ridges characteristically stand about 1,000 feet (300 metres) from base to crest and run for tens of miles, paralleled by broad open valleys of comparable length. In Pennsylvania, ridges run unbroken for great distances, occasionally turning abruptly in a zigzag pattern; by contrast, the southern ridges are broken by faults and form short, parallel segments that are lined up like magnetized iron filings. By far the largest valley—and one of the most important routes in North America—is the Great Valley , an extraordinary trench of shale and limestone that runs nearly the entire length of the Appalachians. It provides a lowland passage from the middle Hudson valley to Harrisburg , Pennsylvania, and on southward, where it forms the Shenandoah and Cumberland valleys, and has been one of the main paths through the Appalachians since pioneer times. In New England it is floored with slates and marbles and forms the Valley of Vermont, one of the few fertile areas in an otherwise mountainous region.
Ridge-and-valley topography in the Appalachian Highlands, near Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
Bantosh
Topography much like that of the Ridge and Valley is found in the Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, an area generally thought to be a detached continuation of Appalachian geologic structure, the intervening section buried beneath the sediments of the lower Mississippi valley.
The once-glaciated New England section of the Appalachians is divided from the rest of the chain by an indentation of the Atlantic. Although almost completely underlain by crystalline rocks, New England is laid out in north–south bands, reminiscent of the southern Appalachians. The rolling, rocky hills of southeastern New England are not dissimilar to the Piedmont, while, farther northwest, the rugged and lofty White Mountains are a New England analogue to the Blue Ridge. ( Mount Washington , New Hampshire, at 6,288 feet [1,917 metres], is the highest peak in the northeastern United States.) The westernmost ranges—the Taconics , Berkshires , and Green Mountains —show a strong north–south lineation like the Ridge and Valley. Unlike the rest of the Appalachians, however, glaciation has scoured the crystalline rocks much like those of the Canadian Shield, so that New England is best known for its picturesque landscape, not for its fertile soil.
Mount Washington, in the White Mountains, New Hampshire.
William Hemmel/© New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development
Typical of diverse geologic regions, the Appalachians contain a great variety of minerals. Only a few occur in quantities large enough for sustained exploitation, notably iron in Pennsylvania’s Blue Ridge and Piedmont and the famous granites, marbles, and slates of northern New England. In Pennsylvania the Ridge and Valley region contains one of the world’s largest deposits of anthracite coal, once the basis of a thriving mining economy; many of the mines are now shut, oil and gas having replaced coal as the major fuel used to heat homes.
The Atlantic Plain
The eastern and southeastern fringes of the United States are part of the outermost margins of the continental platform, repeatedly invaded by the sea and veneered with layer after layer of young, poorly consolidated sediments. Part of this platform now lies slightly above sea level and forms a nearly flat and often swampy coastal plain, which stretches from Cape Cod , Massachusetts , to beyond the Mexican border. Most of the platform, however, is still submerged, so that a band of shallow water, the continental shelf, parallels the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, in some places reaching 250 miles (400 km) out to sea.
Discover the climate, landscape, and waterways of the northeastern United States.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
The Atlantic Plain slopes so gently that even slight crustal upwarping can shift the coastline far out to sea at the expense of the continental shelf. The peninsula of Florida is just such an upwarp: nowhere in its 400-mile (640-km) length does the land rise more than 350 feet (100 metres) above sea level; much of the southern and coastal areas rise less than 10 feet (3 metres) and are poorly drained and dangerously exposed to Atlantic storms. Downwarps can result in extensive flooding. North of New York City, for example, the weight of glacial ice depressed most of the Coastal Plain beneath the sea, and the Atlantic now beats directly against New England’s rock-ribbed coasts. Cape Cod , Long Island (New York), and a few offshore islands are all that remain of New England’s drowned Coastal Plain. Another downwarp lies perpendicular to the Gulf coast and guides the course of the lower Mississippi. The river, however, has filled with alluvium what otherwise would be an arm of the Gulf, forming a great inland salient of the Coastal Plain called the Mississippi Embayment.
South of New York the Coastal Plain gradually widens, but ocean water has invaded the lower valleys of most of the coastal rivers and has turned them into estuaries. The greatest of these is Chesapeake Bay , merely the flooded lower valley of the Susquehanna River and its tributaries, but there are hundreds of others. Offshore a line of sandbars and barrier beaches stretches intermittently the length of the Coastal Plain, hampering entry of shipping into the estuaries but providing the eastern United States with a playground that is more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) long.
Learn about the landforms and climate of the southeastern United States.
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Poor soils are the rule on the Coastal Plain, though rare exceptions have formed some of America’s most famous agricultural regions—for example, the citrus country of central Florida’s limestone uplands and the Cotton Belt of the Old South, once centred on the alluvial plain of the Mississippi and belts of chalky black soils of eastern Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi . The Atlantic Plain’s greatest natural wealth derives from petroleum and natural gas trapped in domal structures that dot the Gulf Coast of eastern Texas and Louisiana . Onshore and offshore drilling have revealed colossal reserves of oil and natural gas.
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What did bluesman B.B. King name his first guitar? | The Legacy of Lucille: The Surprising Story Behind B.B. King's Guitar - Rolling Stone
The Legacy of Lucille: The Surprising Story Behind B.B. King's Guitar
The Legacy of Lucille: The Surprising Story Behind B.B. King's Guitar
After it was rescued from a fire, the guitar became an icon
B.B. King and his guitar, Lucille, were virtually inseparable for more than a half-century. Credit: Paul Natkin/Getty
Eric Clapton had "Blackie" and "Brownie"; Willie Nelson has "Trigger" ; Keith Richards, "Micawber." But before all of them, B.B. King had "Lucille."
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For more than a half-century, the bluesman and Lucille have been virtually inseparable — few, if any, relationships between man and guitar have persevered for as long or proven more fruitful. Lucille is the stinging single-note lines that punctuate "The Thrill Is Gone" and "Sweet Little Angel"; the embodiment of the whole of American blues music on U2's "When Love Comes to Town"; and, more generally speaking, the sound that has stirred and inspired guitarists for generations. Lucille also serves as B.B. King's voice, as much as the bluesman's actual voice. "The minute I stop singing orally," he once said , "I start to sing by playing Lucille."
One thing that Lucille is not — unlike Blackie, Trigger or Micawber — is a one-of-a-kind instrument. Through the years, there have been many Lucilles. Today, Lucille is widely recognized as a black-with-gold-hardware Gibson ES-355–style guitar. But she came into being as a much different instrument, one born — in a origin story befitting a blues icon — in a burst of fighting and fire.
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Lucille's beginnings date to 1949, when King, then in his early 20s, was performing at a nightclub in Twist, Arkansas, in the dead of winter. To heat the cold room, King recalled in a video interview , "they would take something that looked like a big garbage pail, half fill it with kerosene, light that fuel [and] set it in the middle of the dance floor." All well and good, but on this night, a fight broke out between two men, and the pail was knocked over. "It spilled on the floor, it looked like a river fire," the guitarist said. "And everyone started to run for the front door, including B.B. King."
The blueseman managed to make it to safety outside — only to realize he had left his guitar behind. He raced back inside to retrieve it even as the wooden building, he said, "started to fall in around me." The next day, he learned that two men had died in the blaze and that the fight that had set off the tragic chain of events had been over a woman who worked at the club. Her name was Lucille.
Werner
B.B., who claimed he "almost lost [his] life" rushing back into the nightclub, christened his guitar after her, he said, "to remind me never to do a thing like that again."
The original Lucille — the guitar King rescued that night in the fire — was an inexpensive, small-bodied Gibson L-30 archtop. The singer would go on to play a range of guitars over the ensuing years, attaching the Lucille name to each one. He was particularly drawn to Gibsons of the semi-hollow "ES" (Electric Spanish) variety, such as the ES-335 model that can be heard on his legendary 1965 disc, Live at the Regal. He eventually arrived at the ES-355, a top-of-the-line model boasting stately looks (gold-plated hardware, multi-layered binding, big mother-of-pearl fretboard markers) and a sharp but sweet tone bolstered by dual humbucking pickups and stereo and mono outputs.
The ES-355 remained B.B.'s instrument of choice until the early Eighties, when he collaborated with Gibson to create his own signature model. Known as the Gibson "Lucille," the guitar was essentially a 355 outfitted with several modifications, some of them aesthetic (the personalized "Lucille" headstock), and others more functional — King, who reportedly would occasionally stuff rags into the f-holes of his guitars to reduce feedback, requested that on his signature model the f-holes simply be removed entirely.
Related
PHOTOS: B.B. King's 5 Greatest Live Performances
The recordings that prove the blues legend was one of the greatest live performers in history
Over the years, the Gibson Lucille has been issued in a variety of iterations, including a limited-edition "King of the Blues" version and an ostentatious "Super Lucille." In 2005, Gibson produced an 80th Birthday model Lucille for the bluesman, which he summarily adopted as his main stage instrument — until, in the summer of 2009, it was stolen. But a few months later, a guitar trader and appraiser named Eric Dahl came across this very Lucille in a Las Vegas pawn shop. "The whole thing was covered in sweat. The strings were nasty," Dahl told Gibson.com . "Then I flipped it over and looked at the headstock and it said, 'Prototype 1' in a white stamp.... I assumed it meant this was one of the original 80th Birthday model Lucilles that B.B. King had approved."
Unaware of what he was holding in his hands, but curious about its unusual headstock stamp, Dahl contacted Gibson about the guitar. Following several months of dead-end inquiries, he was notified that the instrument was not merely a Lucille approved by B.B. King but, rather, King's actual Lucille. Upon hearing his guitar had been recovered, King met with Dahl and traded him a new Lucille for the prized 80th Birthday model. Following the exchange, Dahl recalled that King "told me he hoped I'd enjoy playing mine as much as he enjoys playing his."
Indeed, it would seem that B.B. King has continued to enjoy playing his Lucille, right up to and through his most recent show, on October 3rd, 2014. That night, like thousands of nights before it, could likely have been summed up by the opening lines of King's song "Lucille," the paean to his trusty companion that King recorded for his 1968 album of the same name:
The sound that you're listenin' to
Is from my guitar that's named Lucille
It's a sound blues fans have been listening to now for more than 50 years, and it's one the world won't soon forget.
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What was the original name of Leicester City F.C.? | Lucille Is Silent: B. B. King Dies at 89
Lucille Is Silent: B. B. King Dies at 89
May 15, 2015
The guitar made so famous by B. B. King is now silent. Like King himself, how the guitar first got its name is a complicated story. Not yet 25, King had already earned a reputation in the Mississippi Delta, trekking from town to town to play at juke joints. These bars were sometimes called buckets of blood, because of the fights that broke out in them. On one night, as King played and growled out his blues, one of these ubiquitous fights resulted in upsetting a kerosene lantern. Fire raged through the mostly wooden structure. In the panic, King fled, leaving his guitar behind. Foolishly he ran back in to get it. The guitar was worth $30; in those days and in that place, he thought it was worth it. A woman died in that fire that night. Her name was Lucille.
The guitar he retrieved was a black Gibson. King has played them ever since.
I heard King and his guitar, Lucille, on a hot summer’s night in Jackson, Mississippi. King didn’t come on until 10:30 p.m. or so, and didn’t finish ‘till after midnight.
He sat for the concert, playing Lucille. Every once in a while, he would stop playing, tilt his head back and start swinging his hand in slow circles above his head. And as he did his voice boomed out and filled the rather large hall. No microphone. Just the voice lifted far above his band, booming like thunder.
That was seven years ago. King was 82 years old. After the concert I joined the autograph seekers who gathered around him. King waited for a while. The large crowd cleared the hall, and about 30 of us were left. King gave a slight nod to the band, and they started in on “When the Saints Go Marching In.” It lasted 20 minutes. It was sheer beauty.
Church and the Bluesman
I was reminded of stories about Elvis, who, during his Vegas years, would invite his musicians and opening bands to his suite. He would sit at his grand piano and play Gospel music. Here was Elvis, drug-addled and spiraling down fast, but holding on to his past, holding on to Gospel music. Elvis first learned to sing in the church, stretching on his toes to look on to the pages of his mother’s songbook. Was Elvis looking for redemption in singing these old Gospel songs?
I also thought of Charley Patton, the original bluesman from the Delta. Patton was dying and went back to the little town where he spent most of his life, Holly Ridge, Mississippi. Patton started preaching, almost preaching for two weeks straight. When Patton started out on his career, he could have tossed a coin. Heads, he’d be a pastor. Tails, he’d be a bluesman. It was tails. Now at the end, knowing he was about to die, he wanted to undo his path, make up for lost time. I think he was looking for redemption. I hope he found it.
B. B. King was born just down the road from Holly Ridge. Indianola, Mississippi, takes credit for being King’s birthplace. That’s an approximate truth. He was actually born in a place not even on a map. Somewhere on a plantation between Itta Bena and Berclair, Riley B. King was born on September 16, 1925. Mississippi meant a lot to B. B. King. One biographer said that above all, Mississippi meant Nora Ella King, his mother. It also meant Elkhorn Baptist Church and the preaching of Luther Henson and the church songbook, full of Gospels and spirituals. It also meant the Holiness Church, pastored by the Rev. Archie Fair, King’s kin. Fair was his first guitar teacher.
Like every other black boy in the Delta, Mississippi also meant cotton. Rows and rows of cotton. King didn’t hear blues first in the juke joint. He heard the blues as he picked cotton and put it in the large sack hung over his shoulder. Row after row of cotton.
Heat, family, cotton, church, and music—that’s what it took to produce a legend.
King wanted to escape the plantation life in the Mississippi Delta. The guitar provided his way out.
King went straight to Memphis, soon landing a regular show on WDIA. There he got his stage name, “B. B. King.”
In 1950, he walked up Beale Street and on to Union Avenue. He set up behind the microphone and began recording with Sam Phillips in the booth of Sun Studios. He escaped.
Life in the Minor Key
Now that King has died, attention will turn to his legacy. Can we not pause and honor an octogenarian who so loved his craft and calling that he didn’t give up? To be in your 80s and belt out lyrics, to have that burst of energy like a racehorse out of the gate—is that not commendable? When it comes to his legacy I go back to the summer night in 2008 and a consummate performer giving it all he had.
When it comes to the legacy of his songs, many will talk of “The Thrill Is Gone,” that sad tale of unraveling love. Or maybe “Why I Sing the Blues.” Why? It had to do with the Delta. We really should never forget the experiences of those who lived in the Delta during these pivotal years. They deserve a place in memory. Maybe they’ll remember “Everyday I Have the Blues.” King lived a hard life. He witnessed the realities of our fallen-falling world. His songs remind us of life in the minor key.
I would, again, go back to that summer night in 2008, to “When the Saints Go Marching In.” A curious song, this one. Theologically speaking, it lacks confidence. It’s not “Lord, I want to be in that number.” It’s, “Because of Christ and what he has done for me, I am in that number.” But is it a longing for redemption? Is that why King sang it after the crowd left?
When the crowd is gone, when even the thrill is gone, what is left? Is it not the ultimate question? Is it not about marching in with the saints?
B. B. King and other bluesmen, such as Charley Patton, do far more for us than entertain, or even impress. They remind us that along with life’s hardships, inequities, and injustices, and all the harsh realities of life in a fallen world, there is the church. The cotton rows are lined up. There are the juke joints, offering a temporary escape. But there is the church, the witness to redemption in a fallen world. That longing for redemption echoes in the music of B. B. King, even now that Lucille is silent.
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In “Open All hours” which actress delivered the milk? | Open All Hours Cast | List of All Open All Hours Actors and Actresses
Open All Hours Cast List
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Open All Hours cast list, including photos of the actors when available. This list includes all of the Open All Hours main actors and actresses , so if they are an integral part of the show you'll find them below. You can various bits of trivia about these Open All Hours stars, such as where the actor was born and what their year of birth is. This cast list of actors from Open All Hours focuses primarily on the main characters, but there may be a few actors who played smaller roles on Open All Hours that are on here as well.
This list features items like David Jason Barbara Flynn , and many more.
If you are wondering, "Who are the actors from Open All Hours?" or "Who starred on Open All Hours?" then this list will help you answer those questions.
In most cases you can click on the names of these popular Open All Hours actors and actresses to find out more information about them. If you're looking for a particular Open All Hours actor or actress, then type their name into the "search" bar to find them directly.
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In “Porridge” which warder was played by Brian Wilde? | Open All Hours Cast | List of All Open All Hours Actors and Actresses
Open All Hours Cast List
6.5k views 8 items tags f t p @
Open All Hours cast list, including photos of the actors when available. This list includes all of the Open All Hours main actors and actresses , so if they are an integral part of the show you'll find them below. You can various bits of trivia about these Open All Hours stars, such as where the actor was born and what their year of birth is. This cast list of actors from Open All Hours focuses primarily on the main characters, but there may be a few actors who played smaller roles on Open All Hours that are on here as well.
This list features items like David Jason Barbara Flynn , and many more.
If you are wondering, "Who are the actors from Open All Hours?" or "Who starred on Open All Hours?" then this list will help you answer those questions.
In most cases you can click on the names of these popular Open All Hours actors and actresses to find out more information about them. If you're looking for a particular Open All Hours actor or actress, then type their name into the "search" bar to find them directly.
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Which character was Charlie Farley’s partner in” the Two Ronnies”? | "The Two Ronnies" Episode #6.7 (TV Episode 1978) - IMDb
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In the sketches we see some of the side effects of medicine, Dr Spooner goes to a book shop, Piggy Malone and Charlie Farley continue with "Stop You're Killing Me", we see what happens one ... See full summary »
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Storyline
In the sketches we see some of the side effects of medicine, Dr Spooner goes to a book shop, Piggy Malone and Charlie Farley continue with "Stop You're Killing Me", we see what happens one night in a hotel laundry, there is reunion in The Adventurers Club, Ronnie tells a very old joke about a traveller to Portsmouth, and the final musical item is a barbershop quartet set in a barbers shop. The performance in this episode is by The Nolan Sisters. Written by jem
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Which Shakespeare play has the subtitle ‘What you will’? | The Two Ronnies - WikiVisually
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The Two Ronnies
The spectacles logo from the show's opening. Both performers wore glasses; Barker's are on top, Corbett's underneath.
Created by
10 April 1971 – 25 December 1987
Chronology
The One Ronnie
The Two Ronnies is a BBC television comedy sketch show created by Bill Cotton for the BBC, which aired on BBC One from 1971 to 1987. It featured the double act of Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett , the two Ronnies of the title.
Contents
Origins[ edit ]
Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett met for the first time at the Buckstone Club in the Haymarket , London, where Ronnie Corbett was serving drinks between acting jobs. They were invited by David Frost to appear in his new show, The Frost Report , with John Cleese , [1] but the pair's big break came when they filled in for a few minutes during a technical hitch at an awards ceremony in 1970. In the audience was Bill Cotton , the Head of Light Entertainment for the BBC, and Sir Paul Fox , the Controller of BBC1. Cotton was so impressed by the duo that he turned to Fox and asked "How would you like those two on your network?". As a result, Barker and Corbett were given their own show by the BBC. [2]
Format[ edit ]
The show was based on the complementary personalities of Barker and Corbett, who never became an exclusive pairing, but continued to work independently in television outside of the editions of the Two Ronnies. The show was produced annually between 1971 and 1987. It had many notable writers including Ray Alan , John Cleese , Barry Cryer , Spike Milligan , David Nobbs , David Renwick , Eric Idle , John Sullivan , Michael Palin , Terry Jones and Laurie Rowley . In addition, Barker used the pseudonym Gerald Wiley when writing sketches.
The show featured comic sketches in which Barker and Corbett appeared both together and separately, with various additions giving the programme the feeling of a variety show. The sketches often involved complex word-play, much of it written by Barker, who also liked to parody officialdom and establishment figures, as well as eccentrics. Corbett appeared quieter, more often acting as a foil for Barker, but remained an important part of the chemistry. Many of the jokes revolved around his lack of height, with him delivering many of them himself: when Barker said that the next part "does suit Ronnie C. right down to the ground", Corbett replied "Mind you, that's not far is it?". Other jokes could be of a sexual nature of the sort found on seaside postcards : for example:
"Tickle your botty with a feather tonight?" ( sotto voce )
"I beg your pardon?" (outraged)
"Particularly grotty weather tonight"
Some of the show's material contained elements of surreal or left field humour, in the vein of Monty Python , and was considered edgier and more sophisticated than the more traditional routines of Morecambe and Wise . The duo had formed some time after their peers by which time the comedy world had moved on to satire , absurdist surrealism and the beginnings of alternative humour . Furthermore, there was more comedic parity between the show's two stars, with the diminutive Corbett less of a foil to Barker than Ernie Wise was to Eric Morecambe.
Popular sketches[ edit ]
The following list details some of the notably popular sketches that the comedy duo did on the show:
" Four Candles " - Corbett runs an old-fashioned ironmonger's store, and is greeted by a customer (Barker) who asks for what sounds like "four candles", which Corbett provides. Barker reveals he misinterpreted what he said, stating that he asked for "fork handles – 'andles for forks", meaning garden forks . Barker continues to ask for other items from a list, very tersely, and grows more and more frustrated as Corbett continues to misinterpret what he actually says. The sketch was written by Barker.
Mastermind Sketch - In a parody of the quiz show, Barker plays the host Magnus Magnusson , while Corbett is a contestant named Charlie Smithers whose specialist subject is "answering the question before last". For example, when Smithers is asked "What is the name of the directory that lists members of the peerage?" he replies with the answer to the previous question ("What is palaeontology ?") which is "A study of old fossils."
" Nothing's Too Much Trouble " – Set in an old-fashioned sweet shop, Corbett decides to test Barker's "Nothing's too much trouble" policy, and forces him to perform many tedious tasks to fulfil his order, eventually driving him insane.
"Rook Restaurant" (originally titled Complete Rook) - Barker is a disgruntled waiter in a restaurant that only serves rook , with Corbett and Claire Nielson playing the role of a diner and his wife respectively. The sketch was written by David Nobbs .
"Swear Box" - Barker and Corbett are in a pub which has a swear box and keep swearing during the sketch. The swear words are bleeped out.
"Opticians" - Barker and Corbett play as an optician and his customer, who both have equally poor sight. The sketch was written by Barker.
"You Can Say That Again", - Corbett plays as a man named Bert, who hesitates when speaking, leaving up to Barker (who plays as a man named Charlie) to finishes his sentences.
"Dr. Death" - Barker plays as a GP who has the unfortunate name of "Dr. Death", while Corbett plays as a new patient to his practice whim he tries to sign up to. Throughout his efforts to do so, he has the unfortunate luck of making everything and everyone he touches to inexplicably die.
"The Confusing Library" - Corbett is an individual trying to locate a book in a library that Barker is the librarian of, and who classifies the books by colour, size, thickness and thinness.
"The Confusing Shopping List" - Barker and Corbett play as a customer and shopkeeper, who try to decipher a shopping list written by the customer's wife.
"It's A Duck!" - Corbett plays as a man named Sid who tries to convince his friend George (Barker) that a duck he has bought is actually an Argentinian racing pigeon. The sketch was written by John Sullivan .
"Spanish Bartender" - An English tourist in Spain (Corbett), whose car had broken down, tries to make a bartender at a tourist bar (Barker) understand his situation. Barker's character could only say English names like ' Bobby Charlton ' throughout the sketch.
"Crossed Lines" - Barker and Corbett are two men within separate, but adjacent telephone booths, each of whom are having a phone conversation, but seem to almost be in conversation with each other.
Solo sections[ edit ]
Both Barker and Corbett had their own solo sections on each show. Barker would have his own heavily wordplay-based sketch, often as the head of a ridiculous-sounding organisation (for example, the "Anti-Shoddy Goods Committee"). Likewise, Corbett always had a discursive solo monologue in each show, when he sat in a chair, facing the camera, attempting to tell a simple joke, but constantly distracting himself into relating other humorous incidents. The joke itself was normally deliberately corny; the humour came from Corbett's wild tangents, as well as the anticlimax when he finally reached the punchline.
An example of Ronnie Corbett's humour is this short excerpt from a monologue:
“
I was lying in bed with my wife last Sunday morning when she called me by a special pet name she has for me, a loving and endearing term that only she uses. 'Hey Shorty' she said, 'would you like to hear the patter of little feet?' Somewhat taken aback, I replied 'Yes, I would.' She said 'Good. Run down to the kitchen and get me a glass of water.'
”
Serial stories[ edit ]
It became a tradition of the shows to have a continuing serial story which progressed through the eight episodes of a series. These were often fairly bawdy tales with special guest stars. The very first serial was Hampton Wick (1971) written by Barker, which began as a pastiche of costume dramas about a governess called Henrietta Beckett, played by Madeline Smith , with the Ronnies playing a wide variety of other characters, but had a neat twist ending that turned this notion on its head.
Piggy Malone and Charley Farley.
There were four modern-day mystery serials featuring the comic detective characters "Piggy Malone" (Barker) and "Charley Farley" (Corbett). Done to Death (1972), a mystery about a murdered family, featuring Sue Lloyd ; Death Can Be Fatal (1975), in which the duo are sent in search of the formula for the Clumsy Drug, alongside Cyd Hayman ; Stop! You're Killing Me (1977–78), in which Devon 's yokels are murdered and dumped in London, with support from Kate O'Mara as the gypsy temptress, Lucy Lee; and Band of Slaves (1981–82), where an all-girls orchestra is sold into white slavery by a demented Chinaman.
One of the most famous serials was The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town (1976), written by Spike Milligan and Ronnie Barker but credited as "Spike Milligan and a Gentleman". Set in Victorian times, it is a Jack the Ripper parody in which a mysterious figure goes around blowing raspberries at members of the upper classes. The raspberries were done by Barker's friend David Jason . This entire section of sketches was included in Milligan's book "I Told You I Was Ill".
Another memorable serial was The Worm That Turned (1980); Diana Dors guest-starred in this spoof piece of dystopian fiction set in 2012 in which women rule Britain. Male and female gender roles are completely reversed, even down to men having women's names and vice versa. Men are housekeepers and wear women's clothes, and law and order is managed by female guards in boots and hot pants.
In one series this slot was occupied by Sid and Lily, George and Edie, which revolved around two married couples and their daily lives.
The Two Ronnies also starred in two spin-off silent films labelled The Two Ronnies Present..., By the Sea and The Picnic , written by Barker, mainly silent comedies featuring a squabbling upper-class family with a 1920s feel about them.
Musical finales[ edit ]
Another regular feature of the shows was an elaborate musical finale in which Barker and Corbett – often in drag – and company would sing a medley of songs in character, in barbershop , music hall , Gilbert and Sullivan [3] or other styles, with the original words altered to suit whatever comic situation they were portraying. There would also be a cabaret musician or group appearing as a special guest, including Samantha Jones , Dana , Elkie Brooks , Manhattan Transfer , Pan's People , Michel Legrand , Barbara Dickson , Tina Charles , the Nolan Sisters , Elton John , New World , Elaine Paige and Phil Collins , the last of whom also took part in a few sketches.
Newsdesk[ edit ]
The show always opened and closed at the newsdesk, which featured the Ronnies as newsreaders, reading spoof news items. This gave rise to the famous catchphrase at the end of each show:
Corbett: That's all we've got time for, so it's "Goodnight" from me.
Barker: And it's "Goodnight" from him.
Popularity[ edit ]
The programme became one of the most successful and long running light entertainment shows on British television, broadcast in the prime-time slot of 8 p.m. on a Saturday night, and at its peak, was watched by 17 million viewers a show. [2] Following the departure of Morecambe and Wise from the BBC in 1978, The Two Ronnies became the BBC's flagship light entertainment programme, regularly gaining the top viewing figures in the critical Christmas Day audience battle. A memorable Radio Times cover for the extended Christmas issue in 1973 had both double acts appearing side by side. [5]
Spin-offs and compilation series[ edit ]
In 1986, 1987 and 1988 multi-part compilation series titled Twenty Years of the Two Ronnies were aired, which featured the pair picking some of their classic sketches.
The pair made no new shows after Christmas 1987 , following Barker's decision to retire from show business. This was unknown to the audience and even the production team – the only person Barker told was Corbett, and they and their wives all went for a meal straight after the recording, keeping it a very low-key affair.
The Two Ronnies in Australia[ edit ]
The Two Ronnies was regularly screened in Australia on ABC Television , and was repeated several times. In 1986 the series was reported as being into its second or third airing, and being broadcast in a respectable time slot. [6]
In 1979 a series was made for the Nine Network in Australia under the title of The Two Ronnies in Australia. It was followed by another series in 1986 with six episodes. These episodes contain many of the original sketches done for the BBC, but reworked for an Australian audience.
Parodies[ edit ]
The show was parodied twice by the Not the Nine O'Clock News team in 1982. One was as "The Three Ronnies", including footage of Ronald Reagan , at the time the President of the United States. The other controversialy parodied them as "The Two Ninnies", a pastiche of their opening routine and a musical routine, using exaggerated innuendo, e.g. "Oh vagina, oh vagina, over Chinatown !" Barker in particular was quite offended by this sketch while Corbett was reportedly amused by it. [7] [8] [9] [10] The latter sketch was written by John Lloyd and Nigel Planer , while the writer of the song was Peter Brewis , who also wrote songs for The Two Ronnies.
Revivals and comebacks[ edit ]
The show resurfaced in 1999 for a Two Ronnies Night. Ronnie Corbett also presented a Two Ronnies at the Movies special that same year. In 2000 A Tribute to the Two Ronnies was hosted by Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett themselves.
In 2004 Barker announced that he and Corbett would return to make new episodes, entitled The Two Ronnies Sketchbook . This involved the two sitting at the newsdesk introducing their classic sketches. A Christmas special was recorded in July 2005 due to Barker's failing health.
Whilst the Sketchbook series was transmitted, The Two Ronnies was also the subject of an episode of the BBC documentary Comedy Connections . Ronnie Corbett, producers James Gilbert , Terry Hughes and Michael Hurll as well as writers Ian Davidson , Peter Vincent, David Renwick and Barry Cryer all spoke about the making of the series. Ronnie Barker did not appear, but excerpts from an interview he gave in 1997 were included.
On Ronnie Barker's death on 3 October 2005, Ronnie Corbett is reported to have said that throughout their many years of association there was never an angry word between them.
In September 2006, they were voted by the general public as Number 6 in a poll of TV's greatest stars.
As of 2012, full shows of The Two Ronnies are repeated on ITV3 and Gold . On 24, 25 and 26 December 2006, the ITV3 channel devoted the whole three days to the show interspersed with Ronnie Corbett's reminiscences of the show and Ronnie Barker. On 28 May 2007 many more episodes new to ITV3 were broadcast as well a showing of The Picnic and By the Sea .
Adverts[ edit ]
Barker and Corbett also made a number of advertisements that appeared on ITV , most notably for British Leyland (Austin/Morris) in 1979 where Corbett played a villain on the run and, "needing some wheels", gets salesman Barker to show him round the Austin Morris range. They did a second ad in 1981, for the "BL Double Bonus" campaign, which featured Corbett playing a tax inspector inquiring as to why Barker is running four cars. They also did a series of ads for Hertz car rentals in the 1980s.
When adding DVD release dates that are in the future, please include a reliable reference .
Unreferenced dates will be treated as speculation and removed.
Unlike many comedy performances transmitted before 1980, during the period of widespread wiping of television material, the BBC Archives remarkably retains all episodes of The Two Ronnies in their entirety that were originally transmitted. In April 2007 (18 months after Barker's death), 2 Entertain began releasing The Two Ronnies on DVD in Britain. Series One and Two, including a definitive collection of their Christmas specials with segments from Christmas Night with the Stars , the Old-Fashioned Christmas Mystery and three other Christmas shows, were released on 30 April, 2 July and 29 October 2007.
As of 24 September 2012 with the release of The Picnic , By the Sea and The One Ronnie as part of The Complete Collection, every single episode has now been released on DVD. [11] [12]
The Two Ronnies were released in Region 4 (Australia) on the following dates: The Best of The Two Ronnies Volume 1 on 4 March 2002, The Best of The Two Ronnies Volume 2 on 17 March 2003, Series 1 on 4 July 2007, Series 2 (two discs) on 8 May 2008, Series 3 on 5 March 2009, Series 4 (two discs) on 4 August 2009, Series 5 on 4 March 2010 and Series 7 on 3 March 2011.[ needs update ] The Two Ronnies in Australia was released on 28 June 2008 with all-region coding.
DVD Title
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Edinburgh university lecturer Joseph Bell was the inspiration for which character? | Joseph Bell | Baker Street Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Edit
Bell was a great-grandson of Benjamin Bell, a forensic surgeon. In his instruction, Joseph Bell emphasized the importance of close observation in making a diagnosis. To illustrate this, he would often pick a stranger and, by observing him, deduce his occupation and recent activities. These skills caused him to be considered a pioneer in forensic science (forensic pathology in particular) at a time when science was not yet widely used in criminal investigations.
Bell studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School and received an MD in 1859. Bell served as personal surgeon to Queen Victoria whenever she visited Scotland. He also published several medical textbooks. Bell was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, a Justice of the Peace, and a Deputy Lieutenant.
Bell wrote the book Manual of the Operations of Surgery, which was published in 1883. [1]
Joseph Bell died on 4 October, 1911. He was buried at the Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh alongside his wife, Edith Katherine Erskine Murray, and their son Benjamin, and next to his father's and brother's plots.
Inspiration for Sherlock Holmes
Edit
sir Arthur Conan Doyle met Bell in 1877, and served as his clerk at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Doyle later went on to write a series of popular stories featuring the fictional character Sherlock Holmes , who Doyle stated was loosely based on Bell and his observant ways. [2] Bell was aware of this inspiration and took some pride in it. According to Irving Wallace (in an essay originally in his book The Fabulous Originals but later republished and updated in his collection The Sunday Gentleman),[citation needed] Bell was involved in several police investigations, mostly in Scotland, such as the Ardlamont Mystery of 1893, usually with forensic expert Professor Henry Littlejohn (surgeon born 1826).
Dramatisation
Edit
The BBC television series Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes was a fictionalised account of Doyle 's time as Bell's clerk. The series may have exaggerated Bell's criminal investigations, as well as the degree to which Holmes was based on Bell (played by Ian Richardson ), and positioned Doyle in the role of a Dr Watson to Bell's Holmes. The original one-off production – which led to the later series – was released on DVD and VHS in the US in 2003, titled Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle – The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes.
In 2006, Stone Publishing House published a book, written by historian Dr Robert Hume, aimed at schoolchildren titled Dr. Joseph Bell – The Original Sherlock Holmes.[citation needed]
Memorial
Edit
A bronze plaque was erected to Joseph Bell at 2 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh on 8 October 2011, marking the centenary of his death. Organised and funded by The Japan Sherlock Holmes Club, the building at this address, which was his home for his final decades, is now the Japanese Consulate in Edinburgh.
| Sherlock Holmes |
What information did members of the Waffen S.S. have tattooed on their arms? | The Real Life Inspiration for Sherlock Holmes - Neatorama
Neatorama
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Did Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes out of thin air? Elementary, my dear Neatoramanauts, he did not. Meet the real life inspiration for Sherlock Holmes: Dr. Joseph Bell , a physician and lecturer at the medical school of the University of Edinburgh.
Conan Doyle met Bell in 1877 while he was studying to be a physician. Later, Bell would appoint Conan Doyle as his clerk, which allowed the author plenty of opportunities to learn about Bell's legendary deductive abilities (somewhat similar to playing Dr. Watson to Bell's Sherlock Holmes.)
Bell emphasized the importance of close observation when making medical diagnosis - to demonstrate this, he would often pick a stranger and deduce the man's occupation and recent activities by observation alone.
In the book Teller of Tales: The Life of Arthur Conan Doyle , author Daniel Stashower illustrated Bell's observation skills: Bell was able to tell that a man was an alcoholic by observing that he habitually carried a flask in the inside breast pocket of his coat, and that another man was a cobbler by seeing that the inside of the knee of the man's trousers was worn (that's where the man had rested the lapstone - a tool used by cobblers to condition leather). Bell was able to discern different accents to deduce a man's origin. He was also able to tell the difference between hand calluses of a carpenter from a mason, and the difference in the walking gait of a solider and a sailor.
Conan Doyle recounted this celebrated example of Bell's abilities when a patient whom Bell had never seen or talked to before came forward:
"Well, my man," Bell said, after a quick glance at the patient, "you've served in the army."
"Aye, sir," the patient replied.
"Not long discharged?"
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What was the Monkees’ second UK hit single? | The Monkees: The Monkees - Music on Google Play
( 5)
Description
The Monkees is the first album by the band The Monkees. It was released in October 1966 by Colgems Records in the United States and RCA Victor in the rest of the world. It was the first of four consecutive U.S. number one albums for the group, taking the top spot on the Billboard 200 for 13 weeks, after which it was displaced by the band's second album. It also topped the UK charts in 1967. The Monkees has been certified quintuple platinum by the RIAA, with sales of over five million copies.
The song "Last Train to Clarksville" was released as a single shortly before the release of the album and went to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the only hit single from the album. "I'll Be True to You" was previously released as a single by The Hollies in January 1965 under the title "Yes I Will".
| Last Train to Clarksville |
In 1957 who took “Last train to San Fernando” into the UK charts? | The Monkees - "The Monkees Greatest Hits" [Full Album] - YouTube
The Monkees - "The Monkees Greatest Hits" [Full Album]
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Published on Sep 7, 2012
The Monkees - "The Monkees Greatest Hits" (Arista Version) [Full Album]
01. 00:00 "(Theme From) The Monkees"
02. 02:20 "Last Train to Clarksville"
05. 10:51 "Listen to the Band"
06. 13:34 "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You"
07. 16:27 "I'm a Believer"
08. 19:14 "I Wanna Be Free"
09. 21:42 "Pleasant Valley Sunday"
10. 24:58 "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone"
11. 27:23 "Shades of Gray"
The Monkees Greatest Hits was a 1976 greatest hits compilation album of songs by the Monkees released by Arista Records, and a reissue of an earlier Bell Records compilation, Re-Focus.
While the Monkees were among the top-selling bands of the mid-1960s, their decline was sharp and their last new albums and singles sold poorly. Earlier best-of collections (the first two from their original label, Colgems Records) had seen only limited release, and were hard to find in stores. Several of the Monkees' hits had become radio staples, though, and with the sale of their television series into syndication in 1975, they found a new audience on daytime TV. Popular demand from old and new Monkees fans prompted the album's release.
The cover included a photo of the group on the front, and a still from the show on the back. The songs were an all-stereo mix of both hit singles and album tracks featured in the series. The album became a best-seller, and remained available through the 1980s, with cassette and compact disc editions also appearing.
When Rhino Records reissued the entire Monkees catalog during 1995, this and all previous Monkees compilations were deleted. The song selection was largely repeated on Rhino's own Monkees Greatest Hits collection, though not all the versions presented were the same.
Category
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Which is the smallest true thrush normally seen in Britain? | List of countryside birds in more urban areas - Telegraph
Wildlife
List of countryside birds in more urban areas
Countryside birds are increasingly moving into towns because the big freeze has meant food is harder to find, according to the RSPB.
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Here is a list of the unusual visitors, courtesy of the RSPB:
Redwing: Most commonly encountered as a winter bird and is Britain's smallest true thrush. Its creamy strip above the eye and orange-red flank patches make it distinctive. They roam across the countryside, feeding in fields and hedgerows, rarely visiting gardens, except in the coldest weather when snow covers the fields.
Fieldfare: Large, colourful thrushes, much like a mistle thrush in general size, shape and behaviour. They stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are very social birds, spending the winter in flocks of anything from a dozen or two to several hundred strong.
Bittern: A thickset heron with all-over bright, pale, buffy-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars. It flies on broad, rounded, bowed wings. Very difficult to see, as it moves silently through reeds at water's edge, looking for fish. The males make a far-carrying, booming sound in spring. Its dependence on reedbeds and very small population make it a Red List species - one of the most threatened in the country.
Woodcock: A large bulky wading bird with short legs, and a very long straight tapering bill. It is largely nocturnal, spending most of the day in dense cover. Most of the birds in the UK are residents; in the autumn birds move to the UK from Finland and Russia to winter here.
Related Articles
| Redwing |
What is the correct term for a female bear? | Birds 2 - Bury Wildlife
Bury Wildlife
Pyrrhula pyrrhula Bullfinch Woodlands, orchard and hedgerows. Best looked for at woodland edges scattered in bury.
Carduelis chloris Greenfinch Around the UK in woodlands, hedgerows, fields, parks and gardens anywhere
Fringilla coelebs Chaffinch Around the UK in woodlands, hedgerows, fields, parks and gardens anywhere
Fringilla montifringilla Brambling Winter visitor who likes beech woodland, farmland fields near woods. Look in flocks of chaffinches and other finches. Scarse in Bury.
Carduelis carduelis Goldfinch Anywhere there are scattered bushes and trees, rough ground with thistles and other seeding plants. Likes orchards, parks, gardens, heathland and commons
Emberiza schoeniclus reed Bunting Predominantly a farmland and wetland bird. Typically found in wet vegetation but has recently spread into farmland and, in winter, into gardens. When singing the male usually perched on top of a bush, or reed. scattered in bury.
Passer domesticus House Sparrow a severe decline in the UK house sparrow population, recently estimated as dropping by 71 per cent between 1977 and 2008 with substantial declines in both rural and urban populations. Red Staus. Spasmodic in Bury.
Carduelis spinus Siskin Often seen in winter flocks eating seeds, especially of conifers, alders and birch, and some insects. Spasmodic in Bury
Emberiza citrinella Yellowhammer20/07/2013W Not uncommon in the west of the County.
Passer montanus Tree Sparrow19/10/2013O Not frequent this waas seen at Castleshaw
Carduelis cabaret Lesser Redpoll 21/04/2013B
Carduelis cannabina Linnet 27/04/2013B
Aegithalos caudatus Long Tailed Tit, Found across the UK except for the far north and west of Scotland. They can be seen in woodland, farmland hedgerows, scrubland, parkland and gardens. In winter they form flocks with other tit species. Common in Bury
Poecile montanus Willow Tit Found in Bury around Elton but not common. They are often, but by no means exclusively, found in willow thickets in damp places, such as the edge of lowland peat bogs, marshes, and around gravel pits.
Cyanistes caeruleus Blue Tit common
Parus major great tit varied songster common.
Periparus ater Coal Tit woods common.
Troglodytes troglodytes Wren common.
Erithacus rubecula robin common.
Turdus pilaris fieldfare. They begin to arrive from October and numbers build up as the winter progresses. Birds start to return in March and some may stay into May. Best looked for in the countryside, along hedges and in fields. Hawthorn hedges with berries are a favourite feeding area. not uncommon in Bury in winter.
Turdus philomelos Song Thrush A familiar and popular garden songbird whose numbers are declining seriously, especially on farmland making it a Red List species. Smaller and browner than a mistle thrush with smaller spotting. Its habit of repeating song phrases distinguish it from singing blackbirds. It likes to eat snails which it breaks into by smashing them against a stone with a flick of the head. common
Turdus merula Blackbird common.
Turdus iliacus Redwing The redwing is most commonly encountered as a winter bird and is the UK's smallest true thrush. Its creamy strip above the eye and orange-red flank patches make it distinctive. They roam across the UK's countryside, feeding in fields and hedgerows, Common in Bury winter.
Oenanthe oenanthe Wheatear The wheatear is a small mainly ground-dwelling bird. It hops or runs on the ground. It is a summer visitor and passage migrant. Birds breed mainly in western and northern Britain. It winters in central Africa and return to upland areas of Bury in summer
Alauda arvensis skylark Found everywhere in the UK. Likes open countryside, from lowland farmland to upland moorland. Often inconspicuous on the ground, it is easy to see when in its distinctive song flight.. Red status declining in Bury but not uncommon.
Anthus petrosus Rock pipit It breeds around the coast where there are rocky beaches, and most of the birds that breed in the UK are residents, with only the young birds dispersing once they become independent. Rare migrant through Bury
Anthus pratensis meadow pipit Found across the UK but commonest in the west and north. In winter it moves south, to more lowland areas. Found in open country - upland moors to saltmarshes in summer, more agricultural land and marshes in winter. Fairly common in Bury
Turdus viscivorus Mistle Thrush28/04/2012B
Certhia familiaris Treecreeper Best looked for on the trunks of trees in suitable woodland. In autumn and winter. Eats Insects and spiders, and some seeds in winter.. Common in Bury woods.
Sitta europaea Nuthatch, Best looked for in mature woods and established parkland of Bury. Quite common on the sides of tree trunks and underside of branches. Distinctive call.
Saxicola rubetra Whinchat The whinchat is a summer visitor and passage migrant. Birds breed in upland areas of northern and western Britain. It winters in central and southern Africa. Declining but present in Bury
Saxicola torquata Stonechat Birds are frequently seen flicking their wings while perched, often doing so on the tops of low bushes. Heaths, conifer plantations or coastal sites, and present in Bury.
Sturnus vulgaris Starling , Noisy and gregarious, starlings spend a lot of the year in flocks. Still one of the commonest of garden birds, its decline elsewhere makes it a Red List species. Declining in Bury.
Corvus monedula Jackdaw Can be found in fields, woods, parks and gardens. They're social birds and roost communally in woodlands. They're widespread and common
Corvus corone Carrion Crow. common
Garrulus glandarius Jay Shy woodland birds, rarely moving far from cover but eat anything.
Corvus frugilegus Rook 06/04/2013B A bird of farmland breeds in Bury.
Pica pica Magpie21/04/2013B Common.
Corvus corax Raven 06/04/2013B Breeds in GM and not uncommon in Bury
Bombycilla garrulus Waxwing. Winter visitor, in some years in larger numbers, called irruptions, when the population on its breeding grounds Scandanavia gets too big for the food available. Spasmodic in Bury.
Regulus regulus Goldcrest Common in Bury migrants also come from from Scandinavia like conifers..
Prunella modularis Dunnock Inhabits any well vegetated areas with scrub, brambles and hedges. Look in deciduous woodland, farmland edges, parks and gardens. Keeps largely on the ground. amber
Phasianus colchicus Pheasant They were introduced to the UK long ago and more recent introductions have brought in a variety of races and breeds for sport shooting. Fairly common in Bury.
Columba palumbus Woodpigeon 21/04/2013B
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Which is the largest type of kangaroo? | kangaroo: Types of Kangaroos
kangaroo
Types of Kangaroos
The largest kangaroo, and largest of all marsupials, is the great red kangaroo, M. rufus, which inhabits the inland plains of Australia. Males of this species may be over 7 ft (210 cm) tall and weigh over 200 lbs (90 kg). They are bright maroon in color, with white faces and underparts. Females, called blue flyers, are blue-gray; smaller and faster than the males, they may achieve speeds of 30 mi (48 km) per hr. The great gray kangaroo, M. canguru, is almost as large; it is found in open forest areas of E and W Australia and in Tasmania. A related kangaroo, M. robustus, is known as the wallaroo and inhabits rocky hills throughout most of the continent.
Smaller, but quite similar in appearance and behavior, are members of the kangaroo family called wallabies and pademelons, of which there are many species, classified in several genera. Some of these are plains dwellers, others live among rocks or in scrub country; most are about the size of a rabbit. Of similar size are the tree and rat kangaroos. Tree kangaroos, species of the genus Dendrolagus, are the only arboreal members of the family. Found in the rain forests of New Guinea and N Australia, they climb well and can leap from branch to branch. Rat kangaroos are omnivorous animals of ratlike appearance. They feed largely on roots and fungi; members of many species live in burrows. They are classified in several genera and are distributed throughout the Australian region.
Sections in this article:
| Red kangaroo |
Who was the first sportsman to be British Sports Personality of the Year twice? | The Types of Kangaroos | eHow
The Types of Kangaroos
Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Kangaroos are members of the Macroprodinae family of animals, of which there are 62 different species. Of those 62 species, only four are commonly known as kangaroos. The rest of the species are known as wallabies, wallaroos or tree kangarood. All four species of kangaroo are native to Australia.
Red Kangaroo
The red kangaroo is the largest marsupial in the world, with adults growing close to nine feet in length from head to tail and weighing up to 200 pounds. Males are larger than females and tend to have a deeper tinge of red to their fur. They range throughout most of Australia with just a few areas in the south and north where they are not found. Using their powerful tails and legs, the red kangaroo can hop up to 35 miles per hour and cover up to 25 feet in a single bound.
Eastern Gray Kangaroo
The eastern gray is somewhat smaller than the red kangaroo, growing to around 7 feet in length from head to tail and just 120 pounds in weight. Both sexes of the eastern gray have a gray-brown coat; males are larger than females. Like all species of kangaroo, the gray travels in small groups known as mobs and is a herbivore. As its name suggests, the eastern gray is native to eastern Australia. It can reach speeds of over 35 miles per hour and can cover up to 25 feet with one hop.
Western Gray Kangaroo
The western gray kangaroo looks almost identical to the eastern variety, but grows slightly larger. The males can reach lengths of 7.5 feet and weigh around 121 pounds with the females being shorter and weighing about half as much. Like all large kangaroos, they are able to balance their whole weight on their muscular tails, which also serve to aid balance as they hop along. They range along the west of Australia in forest and woodland habitats.
Antilopine Kangaroo
The Antilopine kangaroo is the smallest of the four main species, growing to around 6 feet in length and weighing up to 108 pounds. Similar in color to both gray species of kangaroo, they differ by having less on their muzzles compared to other species. The Antilopine kangaroo has a very small range, making it the least common variety. It is found only in the grassy eucalypt forests of northern Australia.
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In the legends of Robin Hood what was the profession of Mutch’s father? | Legends
Soundestiny albums focus on medieval adventures. Two of the most well-
known heroes from medieval times are King Arthur and Robin Hood. Were these men purely mythical or based on real persons. At present, I (Darryl Potter) am interested in one particular historical 'Arthur' of early medieval times who may have been the seed for the legend of King Arthur (perhaps more on this at a later date?). In the meantime, here's my opinion about who Robin Hood may have been.
Who was Robin Hood?
Early Records
Was Robin Hood a mythological character or perhaps based on one (or more) real people from history. The first passing literary reference to him was in 1377 – a throw-
away line in a poem called Piers Plowman by William Langland. However, a great deal more is found in the earliest ballads about Robin Hood written down in the 1400s. These are A Gest (tale) of Robyn Hode (c.1450), Robin Hood and the Monk (c. post-
1450) and Robin Hood and the Potter (c.1500). Two other ballads recorded later (c.1650) but believed to have much earlier origins are Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne and The Death of Robin Hood. In all these ballads, Robin's exploits take place chiefly in the forests of Barnsdale in Southern Yorkshire. Only one (Robin Hood and the Monk) refers to Sherwood (Scherwode) but others contain references to Nottingham (some 50 miles south of Barnsdale) and Sherwood lies between Barnsdale and Nottingham. So, in searching for a real Robin, it would seem we need to locate an outlaw that operated in southern Yorkshire / Nottinghamshire in the early 1300s or before that time. (Robin, Hob, Robart are variations of Robert... and Hode, Hod, Hude similarly of Hood.)
So where do we start?
Earliest Hood Candidate?
Numerous men had names similar to Robin Hood but one of the most promising early candidates to fill his shoes is Robert Hod (sometimes Hobbehod) of Yorkshire. This fellow, a thief and fugitive, was also probably known as Robert of Wetherby. Around 1225 he was being pursued by Eustace of Lowdham who was the Sheriff of Yorkshire and previously had been the Deputy Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. The outlaw was eventually caught by the Sheriff's men and hung. It is likely that the exploits of this outlaw later prompted clerics to assign surnames such as Hobbehod, Robehod and Robinhood to many criminals regardless of their real names. Thus, the term 'Robinhood' became synonymous with 'outlaw'. But was Robert Hod the origin of the popular long-
standing legend – the names 'Robert' and 'Hood' being common in those times? Or are some writers correct in stating that the person immortalised in the legend had a different name altogether and just adopted a 'Robin Hood' identity?
An Alias or Title
Various authors over the years have postulated that Robin Hood was not the outlaw's real name but an alias or perhaps a nickname. The problem with this approach is where to stop. Contenders advanced have included William of Berkshire (1261), Hereward the Wake (1070s), Eustace the Monk (1217), Fulk fitz Warin (1200), William Wallace (1298), Roger Godberd (1260s), Earl David of Huntingdon (1190s), Robert fitz Odo (1196) and so on. But no convincing reasons can be advanced for their adoption of the name Robin Hood. Additionally, if these characters were already recorded in history, it's unlikely they were also recorded in separate histories under a different name. If Robin Hood existed, it is more likely that he had that name (or a variation) and nothing can be gained by putting forward other contenders that can't be substantiated. So was there a real outlaw called Robin Hood, along with other historical individuals with events and a setting, that bear similarities to the legendary stories and ballads?
Back to the Ballads
The earliest ballads written down in the 1400s refer to Robin Hood and characters such as Little John (John Little), Will Scarlet (Scatheloke, Scarlock, etc), and Much (Midge) the Miller's son. Importantly, they also refer to the king as Edward, not the much earlier King Richard -
who didn't enter the stories till 1521. Individuals such as Marian, Friar Tuck, and Allan a Dale are also later introductions to the legend. The Sheriff, while often present in early ballads is never named. Another enemy, Guy of Gisborne, is also named in Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne. Lastly, an anonymous document that appears to be based on the early A Gest (tale) of Robin Hood called the Sloane Manuscript (c.1600) adds that Robin Hood came from Locksley. Some writers have placed this in Nottinghamshire or in Warwickshire. However, the town of Loxley in Yorkshire is not far south of Wakefield. Interestingly, there is one Robin Hood candidate who came from Wakefield near Loxley that has elements in common with the legend.
Robin of the 1320s
Robert Hood (or Hode) of Wakefield, near Barnsdale, in southern Yorkshire is thought to have been the son of a forester named Adam Hood. In 1316, Robert and his wife Matilda had bought land at Bichill, Wakefield, and in 1322, records show there was a five-
roomed house on the site. Also in 1316, Robert was in trouble with the law for not joining the forces of King Edward II in his invasion of Scotland and was fined. Earlier records show that Robert Hood committed various offences such as "resisting the lord of the manor", and on two occasions he "drew blood" from people. Later, a fellow called Thomas the earl of Lancaster decided to make a bid for Edward's throne. He took over Wakefield and raised an army gathering men from Yorkshire and Lancashire. Because Robert Hood is not mentioned among the defaulters, it has been postulated he joined this army that was then defeated in 1323 at Boroughbridge. Thomas and twenty of his leaders were executed and many other followers that were declared outlaws fled, some to forests such as Barnsdale where they feasted on the king's deer. A newly constructed five-
roomed house at Bichill is listed as one of the seized properties in 1323, giving strong suggestion that Robert Hood was branded an outlaw and consequently lost his house. As Robert's father was a forester (and men generally followed their fathers' profession), he would have been well equipped for hiding out in the forests of Barnsdale -
but perhaps not during the bitterly cold winters. Foresters had good outdoor survival skills honed while patrolling the woods protecting the king's deer from hunters, and they also sourced appropriate trees for the crafting of bows and arrows. This Robert Hood could be a prime candidate for a forest-
dwelling outlaw, but what of his ability with the longbow?
The King and the Age of Archery
As previously mentioned, the first passing reference to Robin was in 1377, and the reigning king according to the earliest ballads was called Edward. There were three Edwards (I, II and III) before 1377 and according to historians, only one of them could have possibly journeyed north to Yorkshire (as outlined in the ballads) to confront the rebels! Edward II made this trip in 1323 to confront the Lancastrian rebels that were under the leadership of Thomas. So this Edward fits in with the time of Robert Hood of Wakefield who (according to the theory) became an outlaw after the Boroughbridge battle. Edward II who was keen on hunting, did hunt in Sherwood and also visited Nottingham. Another important point is that prior to the Edwards, the longbow was a minority weapon. Under the three Edwards, archery became compulsory. Any 'Robin Hood' outlaw of earlier times such as in the days of Richard the Lionheart would be very unlikely to be an expert with the longbow! Did this 1320s Robert Hood who lived in the days of skilled archers associate with real people who may be mentioned in the ballads?
'Merry Men' in the 1320's
The unusual feature of the Robert Hood of the 1320s compared to earlier Hood candidates is that historical records reveal some real people of his time who fitted the characters of the legend to some degree. The stories, no doubt, grew in the telling, but were they based on actual individuals? For instance:
Little John – in 1318 a 'John le Litel' of Yorkshire was part of a band of raiding thieves, and likely the same person, a 'Litel John' made off with deer in Yorkshire in 1323. Did this fellow join Robert Hood in the forests of Barnsdale?
Will Scarlet – a William Schakelock of 1316 who was a soldier, and a William Scarlet who two years later received a pardon for offences, may be the same person due to the many spelling inconsistencies of this name (Scathlock, Scarloke, etc). This fellow was from the same time period and region as Robert Hood of Wakefield. Although not listed as an outlaw, this Will Scarlet had already received a pardon for previous convictions. Additionally, the surname Scarlet (and Scathlock, etc) means 'lock-
smasher'. Did this fellow hail from a long family line of thieves?
Lady Marian – Robin's lady-
friend that he married didn't appear in the legend till the late 16th century. Interestingly, in Anthony Munday's two Elizabethan plays (1597-
98), the name Marian is not a real name but an alias for one Matilda Fitzwalter. Although not the same person, it may be more than a mere coincidence that the 1320s Robert Hood also had a wife called Matilda.
And what of some 'not so merry men' at this time?
Enemies in the 1320s
Sheriff of Nottingham – There were many Sheriffs of Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire over the years. But from 1318-
1319 and later from 1323-
1325, this position was held by Henry de Faucemberg. In 1322, he was commander of the king's troops known as the 'Yorkshire Array', and was also the Sheriff of Yorkshire from 1325-
1327. Typical of the sheriff of the ballads and later stories, this particular official was quite a shady character. He had charges of extortion against him and was at one time very heavily in debt to the king. Combined with the possibility that he may also have been the same person as a Henry Faucomberg originally from Wakefield, this man would likely have been very familiar with Robert Hood of Wakefield.
Guy of Gisborne – There is no historical record of this person. However, according to historians, Gisborne, as outlined in the early ballad Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne is definitely in the same area as the ballad setting –Yorkshire. The often-
quoted Gisburn in Lancashire is far-
removed from this setting, but historians have asserted that Guisborough in Yorkshire was called Gisburne in the Middle Ages. Although this 'Guy' cannot be traced to an historical person, it appears that his place of origin is in Yorkshire.
Abbot of St Mary's – In the Gest ballad previously mentioned, the greedy Abbot of St Mary's, York, was owed money by a knight and plans to take his lands. Records show that the Abbot of St Mary's from 1320-
1359 was Thomas de Moulton – and history confirms that this character was well known for his exorbitant money lending.
Considering the above historical evidence, what is the likelihood that Robert Hood of Wakefield is the seed of the legend?
The Outlaw-
Archer
The Robin Hood tales we know today can be traced back to that handful of original ballads (see 'Early Records' at top). Over the centuries the number of ballads increased to almost 40 and there were also many plays and poems added to the list. But, in essence, the early ballads form the core of the legend to which numerous additions and modifications have been made. In modern times, novels, films and television series have vastly increased the number of tales about this legendary figure of northern Britain. While later stories have shown him as a returned nobleman/crusader who 'stole from the rich to give to the poor', this is not the Robin portrayed in the early ballads! Rather, he was a yeoman (attendant or lesser official in a noble household), who became an outlaw in southern Yorkshire / Nottinghamshire. He lived in an age of archery under a king called Edward – not Richard the Lionheart as later claimed. The ballads did not depict him as someone engaged in a revolt against the social and economic structure affecting the people and he did not distribute stolen goods to the peasants – again, elements of later authors. Which historical identity most fits this outlaw-
archer of the early ballads?
One Hood Among Many
This legendary character could be based on the exploits of a number of forest-
thieves from the 1100-
1300s. There were undoubtedly many outlaws known by the quite common name of 'Robin Hood'. Historians are divided on the many choices and some have thus concluded he was mythological. A few have considered Robert Hood of Wakefield the most likely source while others have rejected him in favour of earlier contenders. But if the legend was mainly based on one of these outlaws, it need not be the first one with that name! As already stated, the legendary tales owe their origins to the outlaw depicted in these early ballads, not necessarily to the first bandit named Robin Hood. Robert Hood of Wakefield lived at the same time and in the same region as various other historical persons who fit some of the characters in the ballads, including a king called Edward. In addition, he was a yeoman and probably a forester, with woodland hunting and survival skills, who also had a wife called Matilda -
the real name for the alias Marian in later Elizabethan plays. There is a likelihood his property was seized forcing him to become an outlaw after he and many other (also un-
named) rebels were defeated by the king's forces in 1323. If Robin Hood was based on a real person, there is no absolute proof of his true historical identity. However, in my opinion, no other candidate for this medieval outlaw of northern Britain comes as close to the legend as the fellow recorded around the 1320s as Robert Hood of Wakefield near Loxley in southern Yorkshire!
More Information
For those wishing to read more about the legend of Robin Hood, early ballads and later tales, and also the various outlaws that have been proposed (at one time or another) as contributing to the legend, see these sites below:
Channel 4 History (2003), Fact or Fiction: Robin Hood' (a Spire-
Films production narrated by Tony Robinson), http://www.channel4.com/programmes/fact-
| Miller |
The Cape of Storms was the original name of which cape? | The Legend of Robin Hood – Here Begynneth A Lytell Geste of Robin Hood…
A Forthcoming Public Talk to be delivered at Pontefract Castle, Sunday 8 May 2016
Introduction
The Renaissance poet Michael Drayton authored a monumental work entitled Poly-Olbion which was published in 1612. It is often described as a ‘topographical poem’ and deals with the history of England and Wales. In one part of this poem he wrote the following lines:
In this our spacious isle I think there is not one,
But he of ROBIN HOOD hath heard, and Little John;
And to the end of time the tales shall ne’er be done
Of Scarlock, George-a-Green, and Much the Miller’s son,
Of Tuck, the merry friar, which many a sermon made
In praise of ROBIN HOOD, his out-laws, and their trade.[1]
I would like to echo Drayton’s words and say that surely everybody here ‘in this our spacious isle’ no doubt has heard of Robin Hood. He is the quintessential noble robber who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. His true love is a woman named Marian. His fellow outlaws include Little John, Will Scarlet, Allen-a-Dale, and Friar Tuck. Their stories have been immortalised in books, films, and television series, and with three movies forthcoming, it seems that Drayton’s prophecy that ‘until the end of time the tales shall ne’er be done’ will continue to ring true. I want to talk to you today about the legend of Robin Hood as a whole. I will briefly discuss some of the historical outlaws whom researchers have identified as being possible candidates for the ‘real’ Robin Hood. I then want to move on to discussing how the legend has been continually reshaped over time, and how Robin Hood has been appropriated by different authors for various purposes. My talk, therefore, will take you on a journey through social, cultural, and literary history from the middle ages until the twentieth century.
First page of A Gest of Robyn Hode (c.1450)
A Real Robin Hood?
When I have given public talks before on the legend of Robin Hood, the one question that continually arises is: was Robin Hood a real person, and if so, who was he? It is a question to which there will never be a definitive answer simply due to the paucity of evidence surrounding his life.[2] That being said, this has not stopped people attempting to identify an historic outlaw. I am going to pre-empt your questions by dwelling upon the most likely candidates we have who may be the real Robin Hood.
The late Professor James C. Holt in his work Robin Hood (1982), believed that a man listed in the Yorkshire Assize Rolls between 1225 and 1226 as ‘Robert Hod, fugitive’ was the most likely candidate for the real Robin Hood. And in the image above you can see the entry for this man in the court rolls. The same outlaw turns up years later under the sobriquet of ‘Hobbehod’.[3] Allen Wright, an independent Robin Hood scholar based in Canada, lists in one of his articles several of the other candidates that have at one time or another been identified as the real Robin Hood. Among them is one Robert of Wetherby who is listed in the Court Rolls as ‘outlaw and evildoer of our land’.[4] Other potential candidates include a Robert Hood from Cirencester who, sometime between 1215 and 1216 murdered a man named Ralph in the local Abbott’s garden.[5] And in 1354 there was a Robin Hood who was incarcerated in Rockingham gaol for forest offences.[6]
Most pertinently for audiences here today, perhaps, there is also the case of the supposed Robin Hood of Wakefield. The Robin Hood of Wakefield was identified by a nineteenth-century antiquary named Joseph Hunter (1783-1861). Hunter was appointed as the Assistant Keeper of the Public Record Office, or National Archives as we know it today. In a tract entitled The Great Hero of the Ancient Minstrelsy of England, Robin Hood, published in 1852, he argued that Robin Hood was from Wakefield. Hunter aimed to fit known facts to the early tales of Robin Hood. Hunter first identified a Robert Hood who with his wife Matilda appears in the Court Rolls of the manor of Wakefield in 1316 and 1317. Without any evidence, he argued that this Robert Hood became an outlaw between this time and 1324, when Hunter discovered that there was a valet de chambre to Edward II named Robyn Hode.[7] For Hunter, this seemed to confirm that that this man was the same Robin who enters into the King’s service at the end of the fifteenth-century poem A Gest of Robyn Hode, when the King travels into the forest and meets Robin, and asks him to join his service. The problem with this approach is:
1) There is no indication that this Robyn Hode from 1324 was ever an outlaw.
2) The idea of a monarch going into the woods, as the king does at the end of the Gest, was a common trope in medieval ballads, and it is highly unlikely that the King ever went incognito among the populace.[8]
This has not stopped local historians from sticking to Hunter’s assertions that Robin Hood was a man from Wakefield. To say that the real Robin Hood was from Wakefield, however, is to mix shaky historical methodology with wishful thinking. The fact of the matter is this: yes there was a man named Robin Hood who lived in Wakefield, but we do not know if he was an outlaw.
Indeed, what if Robin Hood was simply an alias? The name ‘Robin Hood’ was often used as an alias by criminals in the medieval period: ‘In 1498, Roger Marshall had to defend himself in court for leading an uprising of 100 people. He had used the alias Robin Hood, and defended himself by claiming his actions were typical Robin Hood practice.’[9] Furthermore, ‘in 1441 a disgruntled mob in Norfolk blocked the road threatening to murder someone. They sang “We are Robynhodesmen — war, war, war”.’[10] And finally ‘in 1469, two people led separate uprisings against the Yorkist government. They used the aliases Robin of Holderness and Robin of Redesdale. Clearly Robin was a name associated with rebellion’.[11] The nineteenth-century antiquary John Timbs in his work Abbeys, Castles, and Ancient Halls of England and Wales (1870) said that there was a term in use from the time of Edward III, ‘Roberdsmen’ which denoted any type of thief or robber.[12]
Thus I hope I have shown you how difficult it is for anybody to identify an historical outlaw whose life and deeds match those of the legendary Robin Hood. We really are dealing with scraps of information: little notes in court rolls; men who used the name of Robin Hood as an alias. But I think it is the very paucity of evidence regarding a real Robin Hood which has allowed the legend to grow over time, and be adapted continually by different people in different ages. Thankfully academic scholarship has now moved beyond trying to identify a historic outlaw who could have been the ‘real’ Robin Hood. And I think this is a move in the right direction: the tale of Robin Hood has been appropriated and adapted many times, and we will never identify a historic outlaw simply due to the lack of evidence. In the words of Professor Alexander Kaufman, ‘the origins of Robin Hood the person and his original context are perhaps best left to those individuals who wish to search for that which is forever to be a quest’.[13]
A Popular Hero: The Medieval Period
While there is little evidence that enables us to definitively identify a single outlaw whose life and deeds gave rise to the legend of Robin Hood, stories about Robin Hood circulated at an early period of English history. In a thirteenth-century poem by William Langland entitled The Vision of Piers the Plowman (c.1370), we meet a lazy Priest named Sloth. Poor Sloth is not a very good cleric. He cannot read or write, and he does not even know his Paternoster by heart. However, the one thing he can recite from memory is ‘rymes of Robyn Hode’. He tells us in the poem that:
I can noughte parfitly my Paternoster as the prest it syngeth,
But I can rymes of Robyn Hode, and Randalf Erle of Chestre.[14]
These words from c.1370 are the first literary reference to Robin Hood. They make clear that during this period ‘rymes of Robyn Hode’, or ballads were circulating orally. Transmission of these tales was often by word of mouth, for England was not a predominantly literate society in the fourteenth century. In fact, the skill of reading and writing was mainly confined to members of the Church and the upper classes.
In time, however, the ‘rymes of Robyn Hode’ were written down. We have five surviving examples of these early rhymes, or ballads, of Robin Hood, and these are: Robin Hood and the Monk which survives in manuscript form and is dated c.1450; [15] Robin Hood and the Potter, which survives in a single manuscript of popular and moral poems that can be dated to c.1500; [16] Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne which is dated to the mid-fifteenth century; [17] and A Gest of Robyn Hode, the content of which is dated to c.1450, but only survives in printed copies from the sixteenth century.[18]
The Robin Hood of these early ballads is very different to the outlaw that we would recognise today. While modern audiences are used to seeing Robin Hood portrayed as the dispossessed Earl of Huntingdon, Robin is not a nobleman in these early texts but is described as a ‘yeoman’. Broadly speaking, a yeoman was a member of the medieval middle classes, for want of a better term, occupying a social position between the aristocracy and the peasantry.[19] This is clear from the outset of the Gest which opens with the following lines:
Lythe and listin, gentilmen,
That be of frebore blode;
I shall you tel of a gode yeman,
His name was Robyn Hode. [20]
All of Robin’s fellow outlaws such as Little John and Much the Miller’s son hail from the same social class of yeomanry. And Robin and his men are quite violent characters. In Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne he cuts off Guy’s head, mutilates his face with a knife, and sticks his head upon the end of his bow:
Robin thought on Our Ladye deere,
And soone leapt up againe,
And thus he came with an awkwarde stroke,
Good Sir Guy hee has slayne.
He tooke Sir Guy’s head by the hayre,
And stickt itt upon his bowes end:
“Thou has beene a traytor all thy liffe,
Which thing must have an ende.”
Robin pulled forth an Irish kniffe,
And nicked Sir Guy in the face,
That hee was never on a woman borne,
Could tell who Sir Guye was.[21]
In Robin Hood and the Monk, one of Robin’s men, Much the Miller’s son and Little John kill a travelling monk and his young page:
John smote of the munkis hed,
No longer wolde he dwell;
So did Moch the litull page,
For ferd lest he wolde tell.[22]
There are also characters whom we would count as staples of the Robin Hood legend today that actually appear nowhere in these early texts. Maid Marian is notable absent from these texts. In fact, Robin has no love interest at all. Marian entered the legend via a different route to the ballads. The first time that two people named Robin and Marian were associated together was in a French pastoral play entitled Jeu de Robin et Marion, dating from c.1282. It is unclear, however, whether the Robin and Marian of this play were understood to be outlaws. There is certainly no proven link between the play and the Robin Hood tradition. We do know, however, that Marian appears alongside the ‘proper’ Robin Hood in sixteenth-century Tudor May Day celebrations. It seems from thence she made her way into Anthony Munday’s two plays The Downfall of Robert, Earle of Huntington and The Death of Robert, Earle of Huntingdon written between 1597 and 1598 . Despite these two plays, however, Maid Marian would not get her “big break” until the nineteenth century with a short novella by Thomas Love Peacock entitled Maid Marian published in 1822, although of this novel I shall speak later.
The poem A Gest of Robyn Hode (c.1450) is the most significant of all the medieval texts. While Robin was an outlaw in Robin Hood and the Monk and Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne, he did not really have a social mission as such. It is with the Gest that this changes. It is a long poem, 1.824 lines in total, and appears to have been constructed from a variety of existing tales which somebody, at some point, endeavoured to give unity to. It is a type of the ‘good outlaw’ tale. Robin will help poor, honest people whom he meets: the first ‘fytte’ of the poem sees him lending money to an impoverished knight named Sir Richard of the Lee, whose lands have been mortgaged to pay a debt to the Abbot of St. Mary’s in York. And in this poem many familiar scenes occur, such as the archery contest, or his meeting with the King and subsequent pardon. At the end of the poem, Robin falls ill and goes to Kirklees Priory to be bled. The prioress, in league with Sir Roger of Doncaster, bleeds him to death. The poem then ends with a benediction:
Cryst have mercy on his soule
That dyed upon the rod.
For was a good outlawe,
And dyde pore men moch gode.
Although the idea that Robin steals from the rich and gives to the poor is not fully articulated in the poem (it was not until John Stowe’s Annales of England in 1592 that this idea would become current),[24] it is in the Gest that we first get the idea that Robin is kind to the poor and ‘dyde pore men moch gode’.
The Seventeenth Century
Robin moved up in the world during the seventeenth century. In the afore-mentioned plays by Anthony Munday, The Downfall of Robert, Earle of Huntington and The Death of Robert, Earle of Huntingdon, Robin was cast for the first time as an Earl. There was no precedent in the ballad tradition for Robin being an Earl. Munday did this because he was catering to a primarily aristocratic audience. Although largely forgotten about today outside of academic circles, these plays established a new narrative in the Robin Hood legend: Robin is depicted as an aristocrat; he is outlawed because of a plot against him by rival courtiers; and instead of a bold yeoman outlaw/rebel, the reason that Robin is outlawed is because he has stayed loyal to King Richard. Hence any subversive political traits are extracted from his character. Thus instead of challenging the establishment, in these plays Robin becomes an upholder of the established order.
The Downfall of Robert, Earl of Huntington (1598) by Anthony Munday.
In fact, in the area of high culture, Robin becomes a very non-threatening and gentle figure. This is the case in a play written by Ben Jonson entitled The Sad Shepherd, or, A Tale of Robin Hood (1641) . Firstly, it’s unclear whether Robin is actually an outlaw at all: he is described as ‘Chief Woodsman, and Master of the Feast’.[25] His men refer to him as ‘gentle master’.[26] Furthermore, in the play, Robin never actually steals from anybody. Instead the story is what we call a ‘pastoral’, which is defined as:
A literary work (as a poem or play) dealing with shepherds or rural life in a usually artificial manner, and typically drawing a contrast between the innocence and serenity of the simple life and the misery and corruption of city and especially court life.[27]
In the play, Robin Hood has invited all the shepherds and shepherdesses of the Vale of Bevoir to a feast in the forest of Sherwood, and then he learns that the shepherd, Aeglamour, fears his true love has drowned in the river – hence The Sad Shepherd. In the meantime, Marian appears to have been possessed by an evil witch, named Maudlin, whom, it is speculated, is also responsible for the disappearance of the Shepherd’s beloved. Jonson never finished the play – that was a task left to subsequent writers. However, as among the cast is one ‘Reuben, the Reconciler’, one academic named Ann Barton suggests that Jonson would probably have had the witch and her children forgiven and present at the final delayed banquet of venison.[28] However Jonson might have ended, as you can see, it’s a very different tale of Robin Hood than the one that we are used to seeing.
At the same time as Jonson was writing, more exciting tales of Robin Hood were appearing in broadside ballads. Broadsides were large folio size sheets of paper with the lyrics of a song printed on one side. They were sold usually for a penny by itinerant hawkers. The ballads which appear in the seventeenth century are not the long type of medieval narrative poem, but rather are shorter stories, supposed to be sung, and they depict Robin as something of a buffoon. Ballads such as Robin Hood and the Tanner, which dates from the seventeenth century, for instance, see Robin meeting a stranger in the forest. Robin bids him to stand, and the traveller takes offence. The traveller challenges Robin to a battle with quarterstaffs. The stranger wins the fight, and afterwards the two fellows make friends, and the stranger usually joins Robin’s band. Now although this is not quite the ‘heroic’ Robin Hood we expect, you may already realise that even these relatively unimportant later texts have left their mark upon modern-day portrayals: anybody who has seen a Robin Hood film or television show will no doubt recall that, in most instance, when Robin meets Little John for the first time, the two men fight and then become friends.
The Eighteenth Century
The eighteenth century is a very interesting century for the Robin Hood legend. On the one hand, he’s depicted as a cold-blooded killer . On the other hand he is celebrated. But let us begin at the beginning of the eighteenth century. Between 1714 and 1737, Robin Hood’s reputation took a beating. In criminal biography, the most popular genre of literature, Robin was portrayed as a cold-hearted killer. It is best to briefly digress, however, to explain why criminal biography emerged when it did.
Johnson’s Lives of the Highwaymen (1734)
In the 18th century crime was the subject on everybody’s lips, and people believed that they were in the midst of a crime wave. The situation apparently became so bad by mid-century that Henry Fielding gloomily prophesied ‘I make no doubt, but that the streets of [London], and the roads leading to it, will shortly be impassable without the utmost hazard’.[30] The legal response to this crime wave was the introduction of a bloody law code, when 200 offences became capital felonies. This resulted in the proliferation of cheap criminal biographies. Major novelists of the period also capitalised on this market for criminal biographies, and Daniel Defoe’s novel Moll Flanders (1722) is often seen as a more sophisticated example of the genre. The first appearance of Robin Hood in criminal biography comes in Captain Smith’s A History of the Lives and Robberies of the Most Noted Highwaymen (1719), where he is listed as ‘Robin Hood: A Highwayman and Murderer.’ Robin also makes an appearance in Captain Johnson’s Lives and Actions of the Most Noted Highwaymen (1734) , as well as the anonymous The Whole Life and Merry Exploits of Bold Robin Hood (1737). The content of Smith’s Highwaymen was heavily plagiarised for subsequent accounts of Robin’s life, and it is Smith’s text which is focused upon here.
Today Robin Hood is usually portrayed as the noble Earl of Huntingdon, which is a legacy of Munday’s plays, but Smith was not convinced:
This bold robber, Robin Hood, was, some write, descended of the noble family of the earls of Huntingdon; but that is only fiction, for his birth was but very obscure, his pedigree ab origine being no higher than poor shepherds, who for some time lived in Nottinghamshire, in which county, at a little village adjacent to the Forest of Sherwood, he was born in the reign of King Henry the Second.[31]
Robin Hood’s social status, however, is fairly immaterial to the reader of criminal biography in the 18th century: all men were capable of committing a crime because all men were sinners – there was no concept of a ‘criminal class’.[32] You became a criminal if, like Robin, you allowed yourself to succumb to your own sinful inclinations.
Smith tells how Robin Hood was ‘bred up a butcher, but being of a very licentious, wicked inclination, he followed not his trade, but in the reign of King Henry the Second, associated himself with several robbers and outlaws’. We are told that Robin Hood steals from the rich and gives to the poor, but in the 18th century people often rolled their eyes when they heard of thieves doing this. When one highwayman in 1763, Paul Lewis, told an official that he stole from the rich and gave to the poor, the sarcastic response was that this was ‘a common excuse for all thieves and robbers’. Even Robin’s meeting with the king is played out differently to how it is portrayed in movies today, for in Smith’s work, instead of the meeting ending amicably, Robin simply robs him:
The King, seeing it was in vain to resist Robin Hood’s power, he [sic] gave him a purse in which was about 100 pieces of gold; but swore when he was got out of his clutches that he would certainly hang him whenever he was taken.[33]
Evidently, the 18th-century Robin Hood is loyal to no man, not even the King. Finally, Smith portrays Robin Hood as a man who is wicked until the day he dies, for he records that:
Robin Hood had continued in his licentious course of life for 20 years, when being very sick, and then struck with some remorse of conscience, he privately withdrew himself to a monastery in Yorkshire, where being let blood by a nun, he bled to death, aged 43 years, and was buried in Kinslay.[34]
Criminal biographies were intended to serve as pieces of moralist literature. Readers were supposed to heed the warnings of the life of the criminal to avoid making the same sinful mistakes that had led felons to the gallows. Eighteenth-century authors had a more nuanced and, dare it be said, ‘realistic’ impression of the type of man that Robin may have been like, if he existed at all. If you lived in the eighteenth century, it was this version of Robin’s life which you were most likely familiar with: criminal biographies such as Smith’s Highwaymen and The Newgate Calendar were the third most common book to be found in the middle-class home, after the Bible and The Pilgrims Progress.
It was only in the latter part of the century when Robin became reimagined as a hero in the conventional sense of the word, with the publication of Joseph Ritson’s two-volume work Robin Hood: A Collection of All the Ancient Poems, Songs, and Ballads (1795) .[35] Joseph Ritson was born in Stockton-on-Tees and was a conveyancer by trade. In his spare time, however, he was an antiquary. He was interested, not in the ‘high’ culture of people in times past, but in the culture of the common man. He published many collections of ancient ballads and songs such as A Select Collection of English Songs (1783) and Pieces of Ancient Popular Poetry (1791). Ritson quickly established himself as an authority on many historical subjects owing to his willingness to seek out obscure primary sources from archives and libraries across the country. He was also cantankerous, and fiercely critical of his rivals such as Thomas Percy who took it upon himself to edit and ‘refine’ Old and Middle English texts.
Ritson, J. ed. Robin Hood (1795 – 1823 Edition).
Ritson’s work is significant in the overall construction of the legend because, as his title suggests, he collected together and made accessible in printed form every Robin Hood text he could find ranging from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. The Middle English ballad A Gest of Robyn Hode, for instance, was first printed for a mass market readership in Ritson’s publication. Some of the other ballads which he included in his collection had been printed before, of course, by antiquaries such as Percy in his Reliques of Ancient English Poetry (1765), and Thomas Evans’ Old Ballads, Historical & Narrative (1784), and in the often reprinted Robin Hood’s Garland chapbooks (‘garlands’ were cheaply printed collections of popular songs). But Ritson’s Robin Hood was the first book to include all of these ancient and modern Robin Hood texts in one place.
The most important part of Ritson’s work, however, was the section entitled ‘The Life of Robin Hood’ which he prefixed to the collection of ballads. In this Ritson laid down the “facts” of the legend, saying:
Robin Hood was born at Locksley, in the County of Nottingham, in the reign of king Henry the Second, and about the year of Christ 1160. His extraction was noble. […] he is frequently styled, and commonly reputed to have been Earl of Huntingdon.[36]
Ritson, furthermore, decides to lay down the ‘facts’ about his character:
With respect to [Robin Hood’s] personal character: it is sufficiently evident that he was active, brave, prudent; possessed of uncommon bodyly [sic] strength, and considerable military skill; just, generous, benevolent, faithful, and beloved or revered by his followers and adherents for his excellent and amiable qualities.[37]
Another thing about Ritson is that he is a bit of an armchair republican/revolutionary. His letters from the 1790s are full of praise for the French Revolution. And so Ritson fashions Robin Hood into an almost quasi-revolutionary leader:
In these forests, and with [his] company, he for many years reigned like an independent sovereign; at perpetual war, indeed, with the king of England, and all his subjects, with an exception, however, of the poor and needy, and such as were ‘desolate and oppressed,’ or stood in need of his protection.[38]
And finally, Ritson tells us that Robin steals from the rich and gives to the poor:
That our hero and his companions, while they lived in the woods, had recourse to robbery for their better support, is neither to be concealed nor to be denyed. Testimonies to this purpose, indeed, would be equally endless and unnecessary […] But it is to be remembered […] that, in these exertions, he took away the goods of rich men only; never killing any person, unless he was attacked or resisted: that he would never suffer a woman to be maltreated; nor ever took anything from the poor, but charitably fed them with the wealth he drew from the abbots.[39]
As you can see, the story of Robin Hood, due in large part to Joseph Ritson, is beginning to look familiar to the story which we see depicted on film and television today. Ritson died shortly after the publication of Robin Hood, but we know from his letters that he was in contact with a young Scotsman, Walter Scott. It is Scott, as we shall see in a few moments, who carried Ritson’s portrayal of Robin Hood even further in his novel Ivanhoe (1819).
The Nineteenth Century
It is indeed during the nineteenth century when the Robin Hood legend assumes the form that we are familiar with today. This was primarily due to three literary works: Scott’s Ivanhoe, Thomas Love Peacock’s Maid Marian (1822) , and Pierce Egan the Younger’s Robin Hood and Little John (1840 ). Scott is perhaps the most famous of all Scottish novelists. Born in Edinburgh in 1771, after completing his studies he was articled to the legal profession through a friend of his father’s. Throughout his life, however, in his leisure time he devoted himself to antiquarian pursuits, avidly reading scholarly works such as Percy’s Reliques.[40] Inspired by Percy, whose three volume work was a collection of Old and Middle English poetry, Scott went on to produce the three volume work, Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border (1802-1803). Scott did not merely produce scholarly editions of old texts, however; he was also a poet, authoring several lengthy narrative poems: The Lay of the Last Minstrel, Marmion, The Lady of the Lake, Rokeby, and Lord of the Isles, to name but a few. His poetry nowadays has been all but forgotten except by scholars, and it is his novels for which he is chiefly remembered. He authored over 25 novels, most of which are now known as the Waverley Novels. Among these novels, it is Waverley (1814) and Ivanhoe which are regarded by scholars as his two ‘key texts’.
Ivanhoe Frontispiece (1871 Edition)
Most of Scott’s novels dealt with the fairly recent Scottish eighteenth-century history. Waverley – regarded as the first historical novel in Western fiction – dealt with the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. His second novel Guy Mannering (1815) is a tale set in Scotland during the 1760s, while his third novel The Antiquary (1816) is set in Scotland during the 1790s. With Ivanhoe, Scott made a departure from Scottish history by writing a novel set in England during the medieval period, and it is with Ivanhoe that Scott is said to have, in the words of John Henry Newman, initiated the Medieval Revival of the early nineteenth century.[41]
Although we class Scott primarily as Romantic novelist today, he would have seen himself as one of the gentlemen antiquaries of the eighteenth century, such as Percy or Ritson. Reflecting his love of antiquarian pursuits, the preface purports to be a letter sent from one (fictional) antiquary, Laurence Templeton, to the (also fictional) Rev. Dr. Dryasdust. The story of Ivanhoe, we are told, is taken from an ancient manuscript in the possession of Sir Arthur Wardour. Readers of Scott novels will quickly realise that this is another fictional character, taken from The Antiquary. The purpose of the novel, Templeton writes, is to celebrate English national history, especially when no one until that date had attempted to:
I cannot but think it strange that no attempt has been made to excite an interest for the traditions and manners of Old England, similar to that which has been obtained in behalf of those of our poorer and less celebrated neighbours [he is referring here to his own Scottish novels].[42]
England is in need of national heroes to celebrate, just as Scotland, through Scott’s novels, had them. Scott says that:
The name of Robin Hood, if duly conjured with, should raise a spirit as soon as that of Rob Roy; and the patriots of England deserve no less their renown in our modern circles, than the Bruces and Wallaces of Caledonia.[43]
The actual novel is set during the 1190s, and England is in a parlous state, divided between the Normans and the Anglo-Saxons:
A circumstance which tended greatly to enhance the tyranny of the nobility, and the sufferings of the inferior classes, arose from the consequences of the Conquest by William Duke of Normandy. Four generations had not sufficed to blend the hostile blood of the Normans and Anglo-Saxons, or to unite, by common language and mutual interests, two hostile races, one of which still felt the elation of triumph, while the other groaned under all the consequences of defeat.[44]
The divisions between the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans come to a head while Richard I is captured by Leopold of Austria, and his brother John rules as Regent. John taxes the people heavily to pay King Richard’s ransom. In reality, John is hoarding the money for himself, hoping to raise an army to overthrow the few remaining barons who support Richard, while buying the others off.
Unbeknownst to John and his Templar henchmen, Richard has also returned to England in disguise. Richard finds his his land in chaos: outlaws roam in the forest; the Normans oppress the good Saxons; and Ivanhoe’s father, Cedric, plans on using his brother Athelstane as a rallying point through whom the oppressed Saxons can rise up and overthrow their Norman conquerors. Recognising the parlous state of the country, the outlaw known as Robin of Locksley teams up with both Ivanhoe and King Richard and so that Richard can regain control of his kingdom and thereby unite the nation. Added into this plot are vividly exciting scenes; jousting tournaments, archery tournaments, damsels in distress, and epic sieges and battles. It is a piece of pure medieval spectacle.
Scott completely invented the idea that the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans were at odds with each other in the 1190s. He did this because he had a message for nineteenth-century readers: society does not have to be divided the way that it was in the 1190s. Scott argues that if all classes of society work together, they can overcome their differences. This is symbolised in the alliance between the yeoman Robin of Locksley (the working classes), Ivanhoe (the middle class), and Richard (royalty/aristocracy). Each class has responsibilities towards and should show loyalty to one another: ‘the serf [should be] willing to die for his master, the master willing to die for the man he considered his sovereign’.[45] Medieval feudalism, where each class owed loyalty to the other, could, Scott argued, be adapted for the nineteenth century. England in 1819 was in fact a very divided society. The end of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars brought in its wake a trade and financial depression along with mass unemployment. In addition, the working classes and the middle classes were agitating for political reform. Issues came to a head in 1819, while Scott was working on Ivanhoe, in Manchester. Peaceful protesters had gathered in Peter’s Fields calling for political enfranchisement. However, the local magistrate ordered the militia to charge at the protesters. Fifteen people died and over 700 people were injured. Scott himself was horrified by this event, and the general state of the nation. Hence the reason that he wrote Ivanhoe was to create a shared sense of history around which all people could rally. This is why we see all classes of people working together. Through Robin Hood, for example, Scott intended to show that:
From the beginning of national history, ordinary men had an important role to play in the shaping of the nation […] his novel dramatizes the idea of history in which the lowest in the social order are as important as the highest.[46]
Robin Hood is the saviour of the nation in Ivanhoe – the upper classes need the working classes as much as the working classes rely on their ‘betters’.
Walter Simeone, an early twentieth-century academic, argued that the modern idea of Robin Hood was practically ‘invented’ by Scott.[47] Robin of Locksley in Ivanhoe is a freedom fighter first, and an outlaw second. And when you think of it, almost every modern portrayal sees Robin as a political fighter first, and a thief second. In fact, as in Ivanhoe, in film and television portrayals we rarely see Robin Hood robbing anybody. Indeed, Robin is only an outlaw in Scott’s novel because he and his fellow Anglo-Saxon outlaws have been deprived of their rights. Out of all the heroes in Scott’s novel, it is only Robin Hood who people remember.
Thomas Love Peacock (1785-1866)
The early nineteenth century was a good time for Robin Hood literature. The year 1818 saw John Keats and John Hamilton Reynolds write two Robin Hood poems each. In 1819 two novels featuring the outlaw hero came out: the anonymously authored Robin Hood: A Tale of the Olden Time (1819) and Ivanhoe. Neither of those novels, however, featured Robin’s love interest, Maid Marian. Marian’s ‘big break’ came in 1822 with the publication of Thomas Love Peacock’s novella Maid Marian. Peacock was a friend of Romantic writers such as Lord Byron and Mary Shelley. Indeed, it has been theorised by Stephen Knight that Robin and Marian in this novel are based upon Byron and Shelley.[48] Although the publication date of the novella is 1822, all first editions carry a note to the effect that the majority of the work was written in 1818. This is perhaps Peacock trying to distance himself and his work from Scott’s Ivanhoe, and to claim originality for it. As the Robin Hood critic Stephen Knight notes, however, the siege of Arlingford in Peacock’s novel seems to be a little too similar to Scott’s siege of Torquilstone in Ivanhoe, and thus it is unlikely that Peacock was not at least partially influenced by Scott.[49]
The novel was originally intended as a satire on continental conservatism and its enthusiasm for all things feudal and medieval.[50] After the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815), many of the pre-Napoleonic governments were restored to power on the continent. But these governments’ power rested on flimsy bases, and some governments, such as that of Spain, attempted to re-impose a new type of feudalism.[51] While the press in some continental countries was hailing the return of established monarchies and ‘the old order’, Peacock was more critical. In particular, he targeted what he called the ‘mystique’ of monarchy and the cult of legitimacy that had grown up around monarchies in the aftermath of Napoleon’s conquests. Through his novella he showed how man’s feudal overlords have always been the same: greedy, violent, cynical, and self-interested,[53] which is the reason why the aristocracy have such a bad reputation in his novel.
Peacock’s novel begins with the nuptials of Robert, Earl of Huntingdon and his lady Matilda. The wedding is interrupted by the Sheriff’s men who seek to arrest him for ‘forest treason’. Robin fights of the Sheriff’s men and then takes to the woods, despoiling the Sheriff and his men of all their goods whenever they can. After resisting the advances of Prince John, Matilda joins Robin in Sherwood Forest and assumes the name of Maid Marian. Together, Robin and Marian effectively rule as King and Queen in the forest:
Administering natural justice according to Robin’s ideas of rectifying the inequalities of the human condition: raising genial dews from the bags of the rich and idle, and returning them in fertilising showers on the poor and industrious; an operation which more enlightened statesmen have happily reversed. [54]
As Peacock’s title suggests, Robin is the secondary character in the novel, with Marian being the main protagonist. However, she is no delicate little lady. Instead she takes an active role in defending Sherwood – Robin’s forest kingdom – from the depredations of the Sheriff. She takes an active role in defending her home from Prince John’s soldiers, and even fights Richard I in disguise. Marian is unsuited to the domestic sphere of life, and longs to be out in the world, as she says herself:
Thick walls, dreary galleries, and tapestried chambers, were indifferent to me while I could leave them at pleasure, but have ever been hateful to me since they held me by force’.[55]
In effect, Peacock, in crafting an image of Marian that was active, strong, and brave, he was rejecting nineteenth-century gender conventions, in which the woman of a relationship was supposed to confine herself to the domestic sphere. Marian in Peacock’s novel is essentially a proto-feminist.[56]
The novel is also significant because it is the first time that the legend of Robin Hood is coherently articulated in the novel form.[57] Early ballads such as the Gest were compiled from a number of different tales, and are not classed as ‘sophisticated’ Middle English literature such as that of Chaucer’s poetry or Langland’s Piers Plowman. Other prose accounts of Robin Hood marginalise the hero to an extent: in Scott’s Ivanhoe, for instance, Robin only appears in ten out of forty-four chapters, and he is just one among many medieval heroes to appear in the novel. And neither does Robin have a backstory before Peacock’s novel.
Peacock set the tone for future interpretations of Maid Marian as an active, brave, and charming heroine. In Joaquim Stocqueler’s Maid Marian, the Forest Queen; A Companion to Robin Hood (1849), Marian is presented again as a fighting woman. The paradox is that, despite this ‘muscular’ portrayal of active femininity, Marian as a character has never been adapted by female writers. Nevertheless, the representation of Marian as an action woman is an interpretation that has lasted until the age of Hollywood; Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), the BBC Robin Hood series (2006), and the Russell Crowe Robin Hood (2010) all show Marian as an active and independent woman.
The man who really brings together the ideas of both Scott and Peacock is an author who is relatively unknown today: Pierce Egan the Younger (1814-1880). Egan was a prolific author who penned a number of medievalist novels, most of which were sold in weekly penny instalments. His quite radical work Robin Hood and Little John (1840) told the story of the hero from birth to death. Robin is portrayed as a freedom fighter, but also at the same time a chivalric, almost “Victorian” gentleman. And neither did Egan flinch from making his novels violent. Illustrating many of the scenes in his novel himself, the pages are full of arrows in people’s eyes, and in the text limbs are cut off and there’s a high body count. It is the perfect novel for a young male readership, even if Egan himself intended his novel to be read by adults as well. Egan’s novel was highly successful, went through six editions, and was even translated into French by the famous author Alexandre Dumas as Le Prince des Voleurs and Robin le Proscrit (1863) which was then retranslated back into English as two novels entitled Robin Hood the Outlawand The Prince of Thieves (1904).[58]
Pierce Egan the Younger (1814-1880)
After Egan, the quality of Robin Hood novels declines somewhat. And there are some terrible, highly moralistic novels. Some of them were written by Churchmen, and they are all overtly patriotic, stressing the duties of loyalty and service to the crown. Whereas the Robin Hood of earlier novels had always represented something of a challenge to the establishment, in this any subversive traits Robin has are totally neutered. He is now a thoroughly Victorian “drawing room hero” – a gentleman, a worthy subject, and in some novels it is unclear whether he is an outlaw or not. The one exception to these late nineteenth-century novels is perhaps Howard Pyle’s The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (1883). Until Pyle, most Robin Hood novels had followed Scott in portraying him as an Anglo-Saxon freedom fighter. But Pyle returned to the earlier ballads, and from them constructed quite a lengthy narrative, telling the story of Robin’s life from birth to death. This was one of the more successful novels, and if you pick up a Penguin Classics edition of the story of Robin Hood today, it will most likely be Pyle’s novel.
The Twentieth Century
At the turn of the twentieth century, however, it is clear that the medium for telling tales of Robin Hood was shifting from the book to the screen. And no twentieth-century Robin Hood novel has ever really had the power to truly have a lasting impact upon the tradition as Scott, Peacock, and Egan did. Robin Hood movies were released in 1912 and 1913,[59] but the first major Robin Hood movie was released in 1922 and starred Douglas Fairbanks in the title role. The idea of Robin wearing tights was something which Victorian actresses adopted so that they could, with propriety, show their legs on stage, but in the 1922 movie the semi-acrobatic costume allowed Fairbanks to make darting leaps from castle edges, and Robin becomes a true swashbuckling hero.[60]
The next major Robin Hood movie was Errol Flynn’s The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). Flynn’s portrayal of Robin Hood is very much influenced by Fairbanks’ movie and Walter Scott’s novel. Robin Hood is an Anglo-Saxon freedom fighter, but he is more of an American hero than an English hero in this movie. And the movie endorses Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, which can be seen in the oath that Robin makes the outlaws swear to:
You the freemen of this forest swear to despoil the rich only to give to the poor, to shelter the old and the helpless, to protect all women rich and poor, Norman or Saxon, and swear to fight for a free England, to protect her loyally until the return of our king and sovereign Richard the Lionheart, and swear to fight to the death against all oppression.[61]
It is this American, populist vision of Robin Hood that has persisted in cinematic portrayals. Hollywood has always far outstripped the British Film industry in terms of quantity of output, if not in terms of quality. Robin Hood is perhaps the perfect hero to be “Americanised”: he is the man who stands up for the common man against the strong and powerful, much like an American superhero. There is the idea that Robin is a Lord, but on the whole cinematic portrayals of the outlaw myth are relatively classless, just as American society is supposed to be. Perhaps the most memorable American portrayal of the outlaw legend, for many here today at least, is the Kevin Costner movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). So Americanised it was, that the filmmakers seemingly never even made the effort to have key members of the cast speak with an English accent. Costner’s Robin Hood is a relatively two-dimensional character, and the movie is full of big Hollywood action sequences – Robin catapulting into Nottingham castle to rescue Marian, for instance, is definitely an “American” addition to the legend.
A more “realist” Robin Hood? The 2010 movie starring Russell Crowe.
The Costner movie was a piece of pure Hollywood fancy, a product of a time when cinema audiences evidently required little historical realism when watching a period film. The most recent movie Robin Hood (2010) starring Russell Crowe, although criticised by some reviewers, was an attempt at least to ground the story of Robin Hood in historical “fact”, with the signing of Magna Carta in 1215. It is essentially what, if it was a superhero movie, might be termed an ‘origins’ story. It is not a tale of merry men in Lincoln-Green costumes r big Hollywood set pieces, but a thoughtful and well-executed portrayal of a man who leads his people in an attempt to secure political rights from the monarch.
This is not to say that the British have not produced some good adaptations of the legend, but the most successful British portrayals have tended to be television affairs. There was the weekly TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood, starring the gentlemanly, and quite bland, Richard Green, which was broadcast between 1955 and 1959. In this series, following Scott, Robin is a Saxon nobleman who has returned from the Crusades and becomes an outlaw. But although the TV series may appear to be a thoroughly English affair, the hidden hand of the Americans was not far away: many of the series’ writers were Americans who held communist sympathies and who had fled the States after being accused of ‘Un-American Activities’ by the McCarthy government.[62] So in effect we have America giving us a quintessentially English Robin Hood. The television series Robin of Sherwood which aired in the 1980s is certainly my personal favourite. For me this series represents a return to the bold outlaw of A Gest of Robyn Hode. Robin is no lord in this series, and he does not declare his loyalty to the King at the end of the series. To me, he appears to be closest to how the medieval ballad writers imagined Robin Hood: an outlaw who owed allegiance to nobody.
Conclusion
I just want to finish off by saying that hopefully what you’ve learned today is this: that the legend of Robin Hood has always been varied and adaptable. There may or may not have been a man whose life and deeds gave rise to the legend that was to become Robin Hood. We shall never know, mainly due to the lack of evidence surrounding his life. From early poems and rhymes, the legend rolled on, and acquired new features: in the fifteenth century Robin Hood was a bold yeoman forester; in the sixteenth century he became a member of the aristocracy; in the eighteenth century he was portrayed as both a wicked criminal and simultaneously praised as ‘the celebrated English outlaw’; in the nineteenth century in Ivanhoe, he became an Anglo-Saxon freedom fighter; and in the twentieth century he is now more or less an American hero. It is difficult to know what further turns the legend of the outlaw of Sherwood will take. One thing is certain, however, and that is that, as Drayton prophesied in 1612 that ‘to the end of time the tales shall ne’er be done’.[63]
References
[1] Michael Drayton, Poly-Olbion cited in Joseph Ritson, Robin Hood: A Collection of all the Ancient Poems, Songs, and Ballads, Now Extant, Relative to that Celebrated English Outlaw 2 Vols. (London: T. Egerton, 1795), 1: i.
[2] James C. Holt, ‘Hood, Robin (sup. fl. late 12th-13th cent.), legendary outlaw hero’ in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004) [Internet < http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24741> ; Accessed 11 April 2016].
[3] Allen Wright, ‘The Search for a Real Robin Hood’ Bold Outlaw [Internet <<www.boldoutlaw.com/realrob/realrob2.com>> Accessed 11 April 2016].
[4] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] James C. Holt, Robin Hood 2nd Edn. (London: Thames and Hudson, 1989), p.45.
[8] See Mark Truesdale and Stephen Basdeo ‘Medieval Continuities: Nineteenth-Century King and Commoner Ballads’ in Leeds Working Papers in Victorian Studies, Volume 15: Imagining the Victorians Eds. Stephen Basdeo and Lauren Padgett (Leeds: LCVS, 2016) [Forthcoming].
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] John Timbs, Abbeys, Castles, and Ancient Halls of England and Wales (London: F. Warne & Co. 1870), 356.
[13] Alexander Kaufman, ‘Histories of Contexts: Form, Argument, and Ideology in A Gest of Robyn Hode’ in British Outlaws of Literature and History: Essays on Medieval and Early Modern Figures from Robin Hood to Twm Shon Catty Ed. Alexander Kaufman (Jefferson, NC: MacFarland, 2011), 146-164 (146).
[14] William Langland, The Vision of Piers the Plowman Eds. Elizabeth Robertson & Stephen H. A. Shepherd (New York: Norton, 2006), 82.
[15] Anon. ‘Robin Hood and the Monk’ in Robin Hood and Other Outlaw Tales Eds. Thomas Ohlgren and Stephen Knight (Kalamazoo, MI: Middle English Text Series, 2000), 31-56.
[16] Anon. ‘Robin Hood and the Potter’ in Robin Hood and Other Outlaw Tales Eds. Thomas Ohlgren and Stephen Knight (Kalamazoo, MI: Middle English Text Series, 2000), 57-79.
[17] Anon. ‘Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne’ in Robin Hood and Other Outlaw Tales Eds. Thomas Ohlgren and Stephen Knight (Kalamazoo, MI: Middle English Text Series, 2000), 169-183.
[18] Anon. ‘A Gest of Robyn Hode’ in Robin Hood and Other Outlaw Tales Eds. Thomas Ohlgren and Stephen Knight (Kalamazoo, MI: Middle English Text Series, 2000), 80-168.
[19] See R. Almond and A. J. Pollard, ‘The Yeomanry of Robin Hood and Social Terminology in Fifteenth-Century England’, Past & Present 170: 1 (2001), 52-77.
[20] Anon. ‘A Gest of Robyn Hode’, 90.
[21] Anon. ‘Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne’, 178.
[22] Anon. ‘Robin Hood and the Monk’, 43.
[23] Stephen Knight, Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography (Ithaca: Cornell UP, 2003), 58.
[24] Knight, Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography, 43.
[25] Ben Jonson, The Sad Shepherd, or, A Tale of Robin Hood Ed. Frances Waldron (London: J. Nichols, 1784), 6.
[26] Jonson, The Sad Shepherd, 12.
[27]‘Pastoral’ in Merriam-Webster Dictionary [Internet < http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastoral> ; Accessed 21 April 2014].
[28] Roy Booth, ‘Ben Jonson, The Sad Shepherd’ [Internet << http://personal.rhul.ac.uk/uhle/001/Jonsonsadshepherd.htm>> ; Accessed 18 April 2016].
[29] A version of this section originally appeared in History Today, October 2015.
[30] Henry Fielding, An Enquiry into the Causes of the Late Increase of Robbers (Dublin: G. Faulkner, 1751), 1.
[31] Alexander Smith, A Complete History of the Lives and Robberies of the Most Notorious Highwaymen Ed. Arthur Heyward (London: Routledge, 1933), 408.
[32] Lincoln B. Faller, Turned to Account: The Forms and Functions of Criminal Biography in Late Seventeenth- and Early Eighteenth-Century England (Cambridge, 1987), 60.
[33] Smith, Highwaymen, 411.
[34] Smith, Highwaymen, 412.
[35] A version of this section originally appeared in History Vault, October 2015.
[36] Joseph Ritson (ed.), Robin Hood: A Collection of all the Ancient Poems, Songs, and Ballads 2 Vols. (London: T. Egerton, 1795), 1: iv.
[37] Ritson, Robin Hood, 1: xii.
[38] Ritson, Robin Hood, 1: v
[39] Ritson, Robin Hood, 1: ix.
[40] David Hewitt, ‘Scott, Sir Walter (1771–1832)’ in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).
[41] John Henry Newman cited in Alice Chandler, ‘Sir Walter Scott and the Medieval Revival’ Nineteenth-Century Fiction 19: 4 (1965), 315-332.
[42] Walter Scott, Ivanhoe: A Romance Ed. Andrew Lang (London: MacMillan, 1910), xliii.
[43] Ibid.
[44] Scott, Ivanhoe, 3.
[45] Chandler, ‘Sir Walter Scott and the Medieval Revival’, 324.
[46] W. E. Simeone, ‘The Robin Hood of Ivanhoe’, The Journal of American Folklore 74: 293 (1961), 230-234 (231).
[47] Simeone, ‘The Robin Hood of Ivanhoe’, 230.
[48] Stephen Knight, Reading Robin Hood: Content, Form and Reception in Outlaw Myth (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2015), 127.
[49] Stephen Knight, Reading Robin Hood, 125.
[50] Marilyn Butler, ‘The Good Old Times: Maid Marian’ in Robin Hood: An Anthology of Scholarship and Criticism Ed. Stephen Knight (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1999), 141.
[51] Knight, Reading Robin Hood, 127.
[52] Butler, ‘The Good Old Times’, 141.
[53] Butler, ‘The Good Old Times’, 143.
[54] Thomas Love Peacock, Maid Marian and Crochet Castle Ed. G. Saintsbury (London: MacMillan, 1895), 126.
[55] Peacock, Maid Marian, 84.
[55] Butler, ‘The Good Old Times’, 150.
[57] Knight, Reading Robin Hood, 126.
[58] See Stephen Basdeo, ‘Radical Medievalism: Pierce Egan the Younger’s Robin Hood, Wat Tyler, and Adam Bell’ in Leeds Working Papers in Victorian Studies, Volume 15: Imagining the Victorians Eds. Stephen Basdeo and Lauren Padgett (Leeds: LCVS, 2016) [FORTHCOMING].
[59] Knight, Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography, 153.
[60] Knight, Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography, 152.
[61] The Adventures of Robin Hood, dirs. Michael Curtiz & William Keighley (1938) [DVD]
[62] Knight, Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography, 161.
[63] Drayton, op cit.
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In which film does Will Smith play a superhero with a drink problem? | Hancock (2008) - IMDb
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Hancock is a superhero whose ill considered behavior regularly causes damage in the millions. He changes when one person he saves helps him improve his public image.
Director:
Vincent Ngo (as Vy Vincent Ngo), Vince Gilligan
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4 wins & 11 nominations. See more awards »
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Storyline
The powerful superhero John Hancock has become a joke because of his alcoholism and clumsiness. He has also become the most hated man in Los Angeles. Though he has saved many lives, he also destroyed a lot of property, costing the city millions every time he goes into action. When he saves the life of PR expert Ray Embrey from an oncoming train, the executive is thankful and believes he can restore Hancock's image as a true superhero. He brings the anti-hero home for dinner and introduces him to his son Aaron, a big fan, and to his wife, Mary. But for some mysterious reason Mary doesn't want Hancock anywhere near her or her family. Written by Rob Marshall, Chicago, IL
Bad Behaviour. Bad Attitude. Real Hero. See more »
Genres:
Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and language | See all certifications »
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2 July 2008 (USA) See more »
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£9,589,095 (UK) (4 July 2008)
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[first lines]
Police Officer: All units. All units. Code 3 pursuit of 2-11 white SUV heading east on Alameda service road. Suspects: three Asian males. Request back-up immediately. Be advised. Shots fired. Shots fired.
A scene after the credits start to roll. See more »
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Fix the final Act PLEASE!!!
8 June 2008 | by cmcmanus60
(United States) – See all my reviews
I also was at the test screening in Peoria AZ. The film was spot on for the first hour. Jokes were hitting left and right, Smith and Bateman displayed good chemistry, and the special effects, though not always finished, were eye popping nonetheless.
Without giving it away, the final half hour was flat, straying from the comical nature that had preceded it and instead tried to get philosophical and introduce a week paint'by'numbers villain. I spoke with director Peter Berg after the film and he seemed fully aware of the issues relating to the final act. Hopefully the recent "re shoot" will polish up that last act, making Hancock one of the must see blockbusters of the summer. In the form I saw it; it still has a ways to go.
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In 2014 and 2015 for which Formula 1 team did Felipe Massa drive? | Hancock (2008) | Movie Reviews | Movie News | Movie Ratings & Reviews | JoBlo.com
Jason Bateman as Ray
Plot:
A drunk, uncouth superhero living in Los Angeles is great at saving people�s lives, but not-so-great about giving a shit about anything else. The man likes to drink, sleep and then fly around and save people every now and again. That is until he saves the life of a PR man who wants to help him create a better image for himself. The next thing you know, the superhero checks himself into jail, and the PR man�s wife�stares at the superhero a lot. Is there something else going on? Maybe, but even then�it turns out that it�s not so interesting. --Insert cock joke here--
Critique:
What an odd movie! I think it�s been years since I�ve seen a film marketed so much in one way, only to watch the movie and have it turn out to be a very different product, in the end. The HANCOCK that was sold to us in posters, trailers, clips and shit, was the character of Hancock whom we meet during this film�s first half hour or so. He�s drunk, he�s surly, he�s an asshole and yes�he�s a superhero! Fun premise, right? I thought so. Unfortunately for us, the film slowly starts to introduce a deeper sense of itself at that point, with the character played by Charlize Theron (looking hot, but also not looking quite like herself) throwing odd glances the way of our man Hancock, and director Peter Berg attempting to get as close to someone�s face with the camera, without actually penetrating their skin (i.e. way too many close-ups, dude). By the one hour mark, the film is a completely different movie, a major plot twist is thrown into the mix and the next thing you know, the humor and drunkenness from its first act have disappeared in lieu of some weird showdown featuring Hancock as an �actual superhero� in X-Men jammies.
Theron�s character gains a greater role in the third act as well, although none of it is particularly interesting, since we barely know her by that point, and would rather see Hancock �doing his thang�. I think this film could have worked if they had played the �humor card� all the way through, or heck, give me a dramatic Hancock from minute one, but to mix it up like this, it generally takes a deft hand behind the camera, and Berg just doesn�t pass muster here (although the screenwriters also have to take some of the blame, of course). By the end of the picture, there are darkened skies, gun shots and serious injuries, and boom� you�re in a �serious movie� all of a sudden. What happened to the �fun� Hancock from the film�s first half hour or the sarcastic dude from the trailers? I guess the studio figured that with Will Smith at the helm, it would sell out either way, so they decided to stick with this jumbled concoction of a superhero movie. That said, I can�t say that this is a completely bad movie because I did quite enjoy Smith�s character of Hancock, especially when he would just grab something/someone matter of factly and toss them through a fuckin� wall or into outer space. But other than him, the always humorous Jason Bateman and some decent special effects clicked, although not much about the story really engaged or kept my interest otherwise�especially when things got downright kooky during its final half hour.
And who creates a superhero movie and doesn�t come up with a friggin� bad guy!?!? I mean, c�mon!! That�s like �Superhero Writing School 101�, folks. All we get here is some no-name bank-robber who turns up at the end of the film in a ridiculous circumstance. Sigh. I�m disappointed to be writing this mediocre review because I really thought they had something unique with this premise, but it just goes to show that a good premise alone does not a good movie make. There needs to be an even better follow-up to that premise and of course, an effective execution. HANCOCK only gets halfway there, hence half the points from me.
(c) 2017 Berge Garabedian
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Who wrote the Savoy Operas? | Gilbert & Sullivan | Ottawa Savoy Society
Gilbert & Sullivan
Sir W.S. Gilbert
William Schwenk Gilbert was born near the Strand in London in 1836. As a young man he tried many professions, including civil servant, soldier and barrister, but discovered that his real talent lay in writing, and he became known for his comic verse and stories, many of them appearing in the magazine Fun (a rival to Punch). His series of comic poems known as theBab Ballads, complete with his own whimsical drawings, remains his best-known work apart from his collaborations with Sullivan. Many of the plots of his operas had their origins in theBab Ballads.
Gilbert was also drawn to the theatre, and his early efforts in musical and non-musical productions in London in the 1860s and 1870s lay the foundations for his later success. At the time, London theatrical productions were characterized by pantomimes, farces and burlesques on operatic and dramatic works, replete with low humour and bad puns. Over his career, Gilbert was able to raise the standards of the somewhat disreputable London theatrical world, with his insistence on realistic acting, careful preparation, fidelity to the text, and the avoidance of vulgarity. Gilbert also began to branch out into political satire and social commentary in his plays.
Gilbert worked with a number of composers, including Sullivan for the now-lost Thespis in 1871 and the one-act Trial by Jury in 1875. By their third collaboration, The Sorcerer (1877), Gilbert and Sullivan’s partnership solidified under the careful attention of impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte, a partnership that would bring them great fortune and put them at the top of their professions. Gilbert was not only the writer of the dialogue and lyrics – he was also a very exacting stage director, and was heavily involved in almost all other aspects of the production (sets, costumes, stage management, etc.) except the music. During the 1880s, most of Gilbert’s works were successful comic operas written for Sullivan. These were generally known as the Savoy Operas, after the Savoy Theatre where they were premiered, a modern facility built by Carte on the profits from the early G&S works.
In 1890 the partnership foundered on a dispute over expenses, although things were patched up for two final collaborations in the 1890s. Gilbert collaborated with other composers, but with none of them did he recreate his success with Sullivan. Even in semi-retirement in a grand estate just outside of London, Gilbert still wrote and produced notable plays, and he returned to the Savoy Theatre to supervise new productions of the Savoy operas beginning in 1906. The following year he was knighted by King Edward VII. Gilbert died of a heart attack in 1911 while saving a drowning woman.
Opera and light opera librettists were traditionally afforded little recognition compared to composers, so Gilbert’s standing as Sullivan’s equal is a tribute to the high standard of his librettos. Although he took aim at the foibles of his day, many of Gilbert’s quips are as funny today as they were when they were first delivered. Gilbert is remembered today not only for the Savoy Operas, but for the significant impact he had on the on the London stage of his time and on countless writers in succeeding generations.
Sir Arthur Sullivan
Arthur Seymour Sullivan was born in somewhat more modest circumstances in the Lambeth area of London in 1842. His father was a military band master, and Sullivan acquired a talent for music early on, qualifying as a chorister of the Chapel Royal, where he also started to compose music. He attended the Royal Academy of Music and was then sent to Leipzig for musical studies. As a young man, he produced music in many genres – a symphony, a cello concerto, chamber music, overtures, etc. – and he was seen as a great hope for English music. His affable personality made him popular in high society as well, and he became a fixture at the parties of the well-to-do and at the gaming tables.
To the chagrin of those who wanted him to focus entirely on “serious” music, Sullivan was drawn to the stage, and collaborated with several writers in creating comic operas. However, it was with W.S. Gilbert that he found his lasting success.
Sullivan also wrote many hymn tunes and song settings during this period. His song “The Lost Chord” was immensely popular in its day, and his setting of “Onward Christian Soldiers” remains one of the most famous of hymn tunes. In addition, he worked as a teacher of music and as an organist, and later in his career he turned to more ambitious choral works. His contributions to the musical life of the nation resulted in his being knighted by Queen Victoria in 1883.
In spite of the popularity of the Savoy operas, Sullivan was frustrated by nonsensical plot ideas that Gilbert tried to foist on him. Even though Gilbert wrote The Yeomen of the Guard in part to satisfy Sullivan’s desire for a more substantial theatrical work, Sullivan had to seek out a different librettist to realize his dream of writing a grand opera. Sullivan’s opera Ivanhoewas acclaimed at the time, but it is largely forgotten today.
As was the case with Gilbert, in the 1890s Sullivan also collaborated with other writers to produce comic operas, but none of these proved to be as lasting as the Savoy Operas (or even Sullivan’s earlier non-Gilbert collaborations, Cox & Box and The Zoo). Sullivan died in 1900 at a relatively young age, having been plagued by kidney disease for many years. He was buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral on Queen Victoria’s instructions.
After the Victorian period, Sullivan’s reputation rested almost entirely on his scores for the Savoy operas; however, in recent decades much of his other work has been recorded and reappraised. Sullivan’s ability to create so many song tunes that are familiar even to those who have never seen a Gilbert and Sullivan opera is a tribute to his amazing musical talent.
| Gilbert and Sullivan |
Who played the title role in “the Black Pirate”? | ST.AOS - G&S History
Gilbert and Sullivan
A Brief History of G&S
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900). The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado are among the best known.
Savoy Theatre PosterGilbert, who wrote the words, created fanciful "topsy-turvy" worlds for these operas where each absurdity is taken to its logical conclusion—fairies rub elbows with British lords, flirting is a capital offence, gondoliers ascend to the monarchy, and pirates turn out to be noblemen who have gone wrong. Sullivan, six years Gilbert's junior, composed the music, contributing memorable melodies that could convey both humour and pathos.
Savoy TheatreTheir operas have enjoyed broad and enduring international success and are still performed frequently throughout the English-speaking world. Gilbert and Sullivan introduced innovations in content and form that directly influenced the development of musical theatre through the 20th century. The operas have also influenced political discourse, literature, film and television and have been widely parodied by humorists. Producer Richard D'Oyly Carte brought Gilbert and Sullivan together and nurtured their collaboration. He built the Savoy Theatre in 1881 to present their joint works (which came to be known as the Savoy Operas) and founded the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, which performed and promoted Gilbert and Sullivan's works for over a century.
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If travelling at 30m.p.h. in a car what is the overall stopping distance in feet? | Stopping Distance Explained
You will be mistaken to think that the braking distance is the same as the overall stopping distance!
Stopping distance is made up of 2 parts: 1) THINKING and 2) BRAKING
A lot of learners are caught out during the test, because they aren't aware of the difference!
What is thinking distance?
Thinking distance is the distance that the car travels after the driver has seen the danger and before the brakes are applied.
Some peoples reactions are faster than others, but the average distance it takes before the driver realises the danger ahead is 20 feet, when travelling at 20 mph.
What is braking distance?
The distance that the car travels whilst braking. With the brakes applied the car slows down, and the average car will travel 20 feet before coming to a complete stop, when travelling at 20 mph.
The Overall Stopping Distance is a combination of the 2 above.
When trying to visualise a distance it is useful to remember that the length of an average car is approximately 15ft, therefore, 75ft would be about 5 car lengths away.
Stopping distance at various speeds:
When travelling at 20mph
The Overall stopping distance when travelling at 20mph is 40 feet (12 metres).
This is made up of: (thinking distance: 20 ft (6 m)) + (braking distance: 20 ft (6 m))
When travelling at 30mph
The Overall stopping distance when travelling at 30mph is 75 feet (23 metres).
This is made up of: (thinking distance: 30 ft (9 m)) + (braking distance: 45 ft (14 m))
When travelling at 40mph
The Overall stopping distance when travelling at 40mph is 120 feet (36 metres).
This is made up of: (thinking distance: 40 ft (12 m)) + (braking distance: 80 ft (24 m))
When travelling at 50mph
The Overall stopping distance when travelling at 50mph is 175 feet (53 metres).
This is made up of: (thinking distance: 50 ft (15 m)) + (braking distance: 125 ft (38 m))
When travelling at 60mph
The Overall stopping distance when travelling at 60mph is 240 feet (73 metres).
This is made up of: (thinking distance: 60 ft (18 m)) + (braking distance: 180 ft (55 m))
When travelling at 70mph
The Overall stopping distance when travelling at 70mph is 315 feet (96 metres).
This is made up of: (thinking distance: 70 ft (21 m)) + (braking distance: 245 ft (75 m))
Please Note!
These facts and figures are for a driver who is alert and well rested, in good health and not impaired by alcohol or medication.
Weather and road conditions, as well as type of vehicle and weight of load being carried can also affect these stopping distances.
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What used to clean a big big carpet for less than half a crown? | Vehicle Stopping Distance And Time
CALCULATORS and CONVERTERS | Back
Vehicle Stopping Distance And Time
Highway traffic and safety engineers have some general guidelines they have developed over the years and hold now as standards. As an example, if a street surface is dry, the average driver can safely decelerate an automobile or light truck with reasonably good tires at the rate of about 15 feet per second (fps). That is, a driver can slow down at this rate without anticipated probability that control of the vehicle will be lost in the process.
The measure of velocity is distance divided by time (fps), stated as feet per second. The measure of acceleration (or deceleration in this case) is feet per second per second. That assumes a reasonably good co-efficient of friction of about .75; better is .8 or higher while conditions or tire quality might yield a worse factor of .7 or lower.
No matter the velocity, that velocity is reduced 15 fps every second. If the initial velocity is 60 mph, 88 fps, after 1 second elapsed, the vehicle velocity would be 73 fps, after 2 seconds it would be 58 fps decreasing progressively thereafter. For the true mathematical perfectionist (one who carries PI to 1000 decimal places), it would have been technically correct to indicated the formula is 'fpsps' rather than 'fps', but far less understandable to most drivers. Since at speeds of 200 mph or less, the difference from one method to the other is in thousanths of seconds, our calculations in these examples are based on the simple fps calculations.
Given the previous set of conditions, it would mean that a driver could stop the described vehicle in a total of 6.87 seconds (including a 1 second delay for driver reaction) and your total stopping distance would be 302.28 feet, slightly more than a football field in length!
Virtually all current production vehicles' published road braking performance tests indicate stopping distances from 60 mph that are typically 120 to 140 feet, slightly less than half of the projected safety distances. While the figures are probably achievable, they are not realistic and certainly not average; they tend to be misleading and to those that actually read them, they create a false sense of security.
By increasing braking skills, drivers can significantly reduce both the time it takes to stop and the distance taken to stop a vehicle. Under closed course conditions, professional drivers frequently achieve 1g deceleration (32 fpsps) or better. A reasonably skilled driver could easily get deceleration rates in excess of 20 fpsps without loss of control. It is very possible and probable that with some effort, the driver that attempts to be aware of braking safety procedures and practices can and should get much better braking (safely) than the guidelines used nationally, approaching that of the professionally driver published performance tests.
To determine how long it will take a driver to stop a vehicle, assuming a constant rate of deceleration, the process is to divide the initial velocity (in fps) by the rate of deceleration. You may want to use our Vehicle Stopping Distance Calculator to do actual model calculations.
60 MPH = 88 fps. (fps=1.467 * MPH). If the vehicle deceleration rate is 20 fpsps (rather than the previously calculated 15 fps), then stopping time = 88/20 = 4.4 seconds. Since there is a 1 second delay (driver reaction time) in hitting your brakes (both recognition and reaction time is often 2 seconds), the total time to stop is 5.4 seconds to 6.4 seconds.
To determine how far the vehicle will travel while braking, use the formula of 1/2 the initial velocity multiplied by the time required to stop. In this case, this works out to be .5 * 88 * 4.4 = 193.6 feet, plus a reaction time of either 88 feet for a second delay in reaction time, or 176 feet for two seconds reaction time. That yields 281.6 feet or 369.6 when added to the base stopping distance of 193.6 feet. If the driver is very responsive and takes only a half a second to react, the distance is reduced to 237.6 feet. Notice that the reaction time is a huge factor since it is at initial velocity.
Based on pure math, it is evident that there is a very large difference in the reported performance tests and reality. Assuming a deceleration rate of 32 fpsps (1g), calculations indicate a braking stop time of 2.75 seconds (88/32). Distance traveled now is calculated to be 121 feet, which is for all practical purposed, the published performance figures, excluding reaction times.
The intelligent driver will error on the safe side and leave room for reaction time and less than perfect conditions. That driver will also hone the braking skills to give more of a margin of safety. That margin can save lives. Pay attention to the need to react quickly.
Braking/Stopping Distances
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The Stamp Act of the 18th. Century imposed taxes on which area under British rule? | Timeline of British Acts on America
The Declaratory Act
What was the Declaratory Act?
The Declaratory Act was a measure issued by British Parliament asserting its authority to make laws binding the colonists “in all cases whatsoever” including the right to tax. The Declaratory Act was a reaction of British Parliament to the failure of the as they did not want to give up on the principle of imperial taxation asserting its legal right to tax colonies.
When Parliament it concurrently approved the Declaratory Act to justify its repeal. It also declared all resolution issued by the null and void. This …
Currency Act of 1764
Definition of the 1764 Currency Act
The 1764 Currency Act was a law passed by British Parliament to regulate the issue and legal tender status of paper money in the colonial economy. This act was an extension of the that applied to New England colonies, the 1764 Currency Act applied the same principles to all British colonies in America.
Why was the 1764 Currency Act passed?
British law banned the minting of coins and the issue of official government money in America. To avoid this restriction colonial governments issued “bills of public credit”, …
Currency Act of 1751
What was the Currency Act of 1751?
The Currency Act of 1751 prohibited the issue of new bills of credit by New England colonies: Rhode Island, Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire and Connecticut. Parliament decided to enact the Currency Act of 1751 to control currency depreciation against silver and sterling and to ensure its value for payments of debt to British merchants. extended the policy to all British colonies in the Americas increasing more tension between Britain and America.
Why was the 1751 Currency Act passed?
Most of the hard currency and revenues in …
1774 – Intolerable (Coercive) Acts
The Intolerable Acts also known as Coercive Acts were a package of five laws implemented by the British government with the purpose of restoring authority in its colonies. The first four Acts were passed as reprisal for the rebellion against the that led to the Boston Tea Party Protest.
The Intolerable Acts were a reprisal to the Boston Tea party rebellion.
The first act was The Boston Port Act which came into effect on March 31, 1774; it closed the port of Boston until the East India Tea company was repaid …
1767 – Townshend Acts
In 1766 Charles Townshend assumed the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer; he was an ally of Grenville and a strong supporter of colonial taxation, and decided to reattempt the collection of funds from British colonies.
In 1767 Townshend proposed a new set of measures known as the Townshend Acts. The Acts were passed in early June with an overwhelming support of parliament, and were to be effective on November 20th. After the the British had to show the colonies that Britain had the right to tax the colonies, raise …
Economic Causes of British Taxation
During the early seventeenth century Britain created a mercantile system to maintain close control and regulate trade of its colonies, they tried to make sure all revenues generated from the trade with its American colonies went back to the crown. This system did not allow its colonies to freely trade with other countries other than Britain. The first of its protective measures was the The law was designed to protect British economic interests in colonial trade and to protect its industry against the rapidly growing Dutch navigation trade, it …
1733 – Molasses Act
This was one of the first decisions of British Parliament that gave a real boost to organizers smuggling in New England colonies. Simultaneously it promoted corruption among customs officials. To crack down colonial trade with countries other than Britain, especially France, the government created a new on foreign molasses.
The Molasses Act of 1733 was enacted by the British Parliament on the 13 colonies of America with the purpose of protecting its sugar plantations in the West Indies. This act was not designed to raise revenue but it was part of …
1765 – Quartering Act
The first in the series of Quartering acts passed by the British parliament. Also known as the American Mutiny Act, The Quartering Act of 1765 was passed on May 3rd, 1765 and required colonial assemblies to provide housing, food and drink to British troops stationed in their towns with the purpose of improving living conditions and decreasing the cost to the crown. This act was implemented by General Tomas Gage, the commander in chief of North America. Soldiers were to be housed in barracks or empty public buildings and not …
1765 – Stamp Act
What was the Stamp Act?
The Stamp Act was a tax imposed by the British government on the American colonies. British taxpayers already paid a stamp tax and Massachusetts briefly experimented with a similar law, but the Stamp Act imposed on colonial residents went further than the existing ones. The primary goal was to raise money needed for military defenses of the colonies.
This legislative act was initiated by the British prime minister and adopted by the British Parliament. The decision was taken on March 1765 but did not take effect until …
| Americas |
Which acts affected the ownership of almost 11,000 square miles of common land? | On July 4, A Declaration Of Independence From British Taxes And British Rule
On July 4, A Declaration Of Independence From British Taxes And British Rule
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Tax & Other Tips For A Great Holiday Office Party
US flags in Washington, DC. (Photo credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
On July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence is exactly what it sounds like: an announcement to the world that the United States of America was declaring its independence from King George III and Great Britain. The declaration came more than a year (442 days to be exact) after shots were fired at Lexington, Massachusetts, considered the beginning of the first battle of the American Revolutionary War.
The Declaration did not mark the end of the Revolutionary War. It was quite the opposite: it signaled that the United States no longer wished to accept British rule. This was a big deal. The British had ruled the colonies since the early 17th century when Virginia Company became the Virginia Colony in 1624, the first of what we consider the original thirteen British colonies.
The US wasn't the only part of the world - or even the only part of the Americas - subject to British colonization. The British had also taken over parts of Canada, the Caribbean, and South America. Their influence and wealth were vast, and their holdings were enormous.
But ruling the world gets expensive. Guarding colonies and occasionally invading new ones takes money and sometimes resulted in fights with other empires. That's exactly what happened in the mid-18th century when Great Britain found itself battling a number of countries - but primarily France - in the Seven Years’ War. When the war ended in 1763, Great Britain retained much of its world dominance but the years of fighting came at a significant cost: the British government was nearly bankrupt.
The King needed to raise revenue – and quickly. What better way than a series of taxes and tariffs? And who better to tax than subjects who were far enough away - like the American colonists - to muffle the complaining. There was just one problem with this plan: the King underestimated exactly how loudly the colonists would react.
The first big post-war tax, the Stamp Act of 1765, required that materials which were printed and used in the colonies, like magazines and newspapers, be produced on stamped paper and embossed with a revenue stamp, confirming that a tax had been paid on the materials. The idea of the tax didn’t go over very well, and the Stamp Act was repealed the very next year.
The second attempt at raising revenue was a series of acts which came to be known as the Townshend Acts of 1767 (individually, they were the Revenue Act of 1767, the Indemnity Act, the Commissioners of Customs Act, the Vice Admiralty Court Act, and the New York Restraining Act). The idea behind the series of taxes, after the failure of the Stamp Act, was to try a system of indirect taxes since the colonists had reacted so strongly to the direct stamp tax. However, the result was no different. The colonists were not pleased with the new system which required them to pay taxes on imports of paper, paint, lead, glass, and tea. Three years after the taxes were imposed, they were partially repealed.
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Who was the first U.S. President to wear a full beard in office? | Last President With Facial Hair - Benjamin Harrison
By Tom Murse
Updated October 12, 2016.
It's been more than a century since the last president with facial hair served in office. The last president to wear a full beard in office was Benjamin Harrison , who served from March 1889 to March 1893. The last president to wear any facial hair was William Howard Taft , who sported a mustache during his term in the White House from March 1909 to March 1913.
Take a look around halls of power in Washington, D.C. now, though. Facial hair has all but disappeared from American politicians. There are very few bearded politicians in Congress . Being clean-shaven wasn't always the norm, though. There are plenty of presidents with facial hair in U.S. political history. Where did they all go? What happened to the beard?
List of Presidents With Facial Hair
At least 11 presidents had facial hair.
They are:
William Taft , who wore a mustache.
Why Modern Day Presidents Don't Wear Facial Hair
The last major-party candidate with a beard to even run for president was Republican Charles Evans Hughes in 1916. He lost.
The beard, like every fad, fades and re-emerges in popularity. Lincoln, perhaps America's most famous bearded politician, was the first president to wear a beard in office. But he began his candidacy clean-shaven and only grew his facial hair at the request of an 11-year-old schoolgirl, Grace Bedell.
Times have changed, though. Very few people beg political candidates, presidents or members of Congress to grow facial hair since the 1800s. The New Statesman summed up the state of facial hair since then: "Bearded men enjoyed all of the privileges of bearded women."
Beards, Hippies and Communists
In 1930, three decades after the invention of the safety razor made shaving safe and easy, the author Edwin Valentine Mitchell wrote that, "In this regimented age the simple possession of a beard is enough to mark as curious any young man who has the courage to grow one."
After the 1960s, when beards were popular among hippies , facial hair grew even more unpopular among politicians, many of whom wanted to distance themselves from the counterculture.
There were very few bearded politicians in politics because candidates and elected officials did not want to appear as either Communists or hippies, according to Slate.com's Justin Peters.
"For many years, wearing a full beard marked you as the sort of fellow who had Das Kapital stashed somewhere on his person," Peters wrote in 2012.
"In the 1960s, the more-or-less concurrent rise of Fidel Castro in Cuba and student radicals at home reinforced the stereotype of beard-wearers as America-hating no-goodniks. The stigma persists to this day: No candidate wants to risk alienating elderly voters with a gratuitous resemblance to Wavy Gravy."
Author A.D. Perkins, writing in his 2001 book One Thousand Beards: a Cultural History of Facial Hair, notes that modern-day politicians are routinely instructed by their advisers and other handlers to "remove all traces of facial hair" before launching a campaign for fear of resembling " Lenin and Stalin (or Marx for that matter)."
"The beard has been the kiss of death for Western politicians ..." Perkins writes.
Bearded Politicians in Modern Day
The absence of bearded politicians has not gone unnoticed. In 2013 a group called the Bearded Entrepreneurs for the Advancement of a Responsible Democracy launched a political action committee whose aim is to support political candidates with both "a full beard, and a savvy mind full of growth-oriented policy positions that will move our great nation towards a more lush and magnificent future."
The BEARD PAC claimed that "individuals with the dedication to grow and maintain a quality beard are the kinds of individuals that would show dedication to the job of public service."
Said BEARD PAC founder Jonathan Sessions: "With the resurgence of beards in popular culture and among today’s younger generation, we believe the time is now to bring facial hair back into politics."
The BEARD PAC determines whether to offer financial support to a political campaign only after submitting the candidate to its review committee, which investigates the "quality and longevity" of their beards.
| Abraham Lincoln |
Which highly poisonous substance was once known as prussic acid? | Presidential Fun Facts
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Presidential Fun Facts
BARACK OBAMA is our 44th president, but there actually have only been 43 presidents: Cleveland was elected for two nonconsecutive terms and is counted twice, as our 22nd and 24th president.
EIGHT PRESIDENTS were born British subjects: Washington, J. Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, J. Q. Adams, Jackson, and W. Harrison.
EIGHT PRESIDENTS never attended college: Washington, Jackson, Van Buren, Taylor, Fillmore, Lincoln, A. Johnson, and Cleveland. The college that has the most presidents as alumni (seven in total) is Harvard: J. Adams, J. Q. Adams, T. Roosevelt, F. Roosevelt, Rutherford B. Hayes, J. F. Kennedy, and George W. Bush.
PRESIDENTS WHO would be considered "Washington outsiders" (i.e., the 18 presidents who never served in Congress) are: Washington, J. Adams, Jefferson, Taylor, Grant, Arthur, Cleveland, T. Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Coolidge, Hoover, F. Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and G. W. Bush.
THE MOST COMMON religious affiliation among presidents has been Episcopalian, followed by Presbyterian.
THE ANCESTRY of all 44 presidents is limited to the following heritages, or some combination thereof: Dutch, English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Swiss, German , and Africian.
THE OLDEST president inaugurated was Reagan (age 69); the youngest was Kennedy (age 43). Theodore Roosevelt, however, was the youngest man to become president——he was 42 when he succeeded McKinley, who had been assassinated.
THE TALLEST president was Lincoln at 6'4"; at 5'4", Madison was the shortest.
FOURTEEN PRESIDENTS served as vice presidents: J. Adams, Jefferson, Van Buren, Tyler, Fillmore, A. Johnson, Arthur, T. Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman, Nixon, L. Johnson, Ford, and George Bush.
VICE PRESIDENTS were originally the presidential candidates receiving the second-largest number of electoral votes. The Twelfth Amendment, passed in 1804, changed the system so that the electoral college voted separately for president and vice president. The presidential candidate, however, gradually gained power over the nominating convention to choose his own running mate.
FOR TWO YEARS the nation was run by a president and a vice president who were not elected by the people. After Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned in 1973, President Nixon appointed Gerald Ford as vice president. Nixon resigned the following year, which left Ford as president, and Ford's appointed vice president, Nelson Rockefeller, as second in line.
THE TERM "First Lady" was used first in 1849 when President Zachary Taylor called Dolley Madison "First Lady" at her state funeral. It gained popularity in 1877 when used in reference to Lucy Ware Webb Hayes. Most First Ladies, including Jackie Kennedy, are said to have hated the label.
JAMES BUCHANAN was the only president never to marry. Five presidents remarried after the death of their first wives——two of whom, Tyler and Wilson, remarried while in the White House. Reagan was the only divorced president. Six presidents had no children. Tyler——father of fifteen——had the most.
PRESIDENTS LINCOLN, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy were assassinated in office.
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS were made on the lives of Jackson, T. Roosevelt, F. Roosevelt, Truman, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, G. H. W. Bush, Clinton, and G. W. Bush.
EIGHT PRESIDENTS died in office: W. Harrison (after having served only one month), Taylor, Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Harding, F. Roosevelt, and Kennedy.
PRESIDENTS ADAMS, Jefferson, and Monroe all died on the 4th of July; Coolidge was born on that day.
KENNEDY AND TAFT are the only presidents buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
LINCOLN, JEFFERSON, F. Roosevelt, Washington, Kennedy, and Eisenhower are portrayed on U.S. coins.
WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON, Lincoln, Jackson, Grant, McKinley, Cleveland, Madison, and Wilson are portrayed on U.S. paper currency.
*The above information provided as courtesy of Borgna Brunner, who derived from "Facts About the Presidents" by Joseph Nathan Kane as posted on http://www.infoplease.com/spot/prestrivia1.html
1. George Washington: No formal education. The only president elected unanimously. He received all 69 electoral votes. At his inauguration, Washington had only one tooth. At various times he wore dentures made of human teeth, animal teeth, ivory or even lead. Never wood. In addition to the nation's capital and the state, 31 counties and 17 towns are named in his honor. He stood 6 feet and 2 inches tall, weighed 200 pounds and wore size 13 shoes. He is the only president who didn't live in Washington, D.C. during his presidency. During his presidency the Judiciary Act of 1789 established the federal court system, the Bank Act of 1791 established a nation wide banking system, the Bill of Rights became law on December 15, 1791.
2. John Adams: Graduated Harvard College (1755). Adams was the great-great-grandson of John and Priscilla Alden, pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. In 1800 the U.S. capital moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. Adams and Jefferson were the only presidents to sign the Declaration of Independence, and they both died on its 50th anniversary, July 4, 1826. Vice-President under Washington. Older that any other president at his death, he lived 90 years, 247 days.
3. Thomas Jefferson: Graduated College of William and Mary (1762) Secretary of State under Washington, Vice-President under Adams. Jefferson was the first president to shake hands with guests. Previously people bowed to Presidents. Jefferson's library of 6,000 books was purchased for $ 23.950 and formed the basis of the Library of Congress. Principal author of the Declaration of Independence. First president to take his oath in Washington, D.C. Jefferson and Adams were the only presidents to sign the Declaration of Independence, and they both died on its 50th anniversary, July 4, 1826. He designed his own tombstone and wrote his own epitaph, omitting the fact that he was President of the United States.
4. James Madison: Graduated College of New Jersey (now Princeton University; 1771) Secretary of State under Jefferson. Citing continued attacks on its ships, the United States declared war on Britain in June 1812. British troops burned the White House 1814. First president tho had prior service as a congressman. First president to wear trousers rather than knee breeches. He stood 5 feet 4 inches, the shortest president.
5. James Monroe: Graduated College of William and Mary (1776) Secretary of State under Madison. Secretary of Was under Madison. Convention of 1818 fixed the boundary between the U.S. and British North America. In 1819 purchased Florida from Spain for the cancellation of $ 5 million in debts. On December 2, 1923 proclaimed the Monroe Doctrine, warning European powers not to interfere in U.S. affairs. First president to ride on a steamboat. First U.S. Senator to become president. First inaugural to be held outdoors. His daughter was the first to be married in the White House. The U.S. Marine ban played at his second inaugural and every inauguration since.
6. John Quincy Adams: Graduated Harvard College (1787) Secretary of State under Monroe. Adams swam nude (weather permitting) in the Potomac River every day. First elected president not to receive either the most electoral college votes or popular votes. The first son of a president to become a president. (later followed by the only other father/son presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.) Only president elected to the House after his presidency. He named one of his sons George Washington.
7. Andrew Jackson: No formal education. Was first man elected from Tennessee to the House of Representatives, and he served briefly in the Senate. Placed 2,000 of his political supporters in government jobs and established a "kitchen cabinet" of informal advisors. In 1835 he made the final installment of national debt making Jackson the only president of a debt free United States. He was the only president to serve in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. He was the only president to have been a prisoner of war. He was the first president to have been born in a log cabin. First president to ride a railroad train. Wounded in a duel at the age of 39, Jackson carried the bullet, lodged near his heart, to his grave.
8. Martin Van Buren: Graduated Kinderhook Academy (1796) Secretary of State under Jackson. Vice President under Jackson. First president born in the United States of America. He and his wife spoke Dutch at home. He took his four years salary, $100,000, in a lump sum at the end of his term. After serving one term as president, he made three unsuccessful bids for reelection.
9. William Henry Harrison: Attended Hampden-Sydney College. Harrison gave the longest inaugural address - one hour 45 minutes. Only president who studied to become a doctor. His immediate job before becoming president was clerk of Hamilton County (Ohio) court. First president to die in office. Inaugurated on March 4, 1841, contracted pneumonia in late March, died in the White House on April 4. Served 30 days.
10. John Tyler: Graduated College of William and Mary (1807). Vice President under Harrison. First vice president to assume office after the death of a president. He was a Whig, but the Whig party disowned him after he vetoed banking bills supported by the Whigs. In January 1843, the Whigs introduced impeachment resolutions in the House, but the measures were defeated. Tyler served as president without being a member of any political party. He was a grand-uncle of Harry S Truman.
11. James Knox Polk: Graduated University of North Carolina (1818). Greatly expanded the western U.S. in 1848 through a treaty with Mexico ending a two year war and giving the U.S. control over most of present-day Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Before the advent of anesthetics and antiseptic practices, Polk survived a gallstone operation at age 17.
12. Zachary Taylor: No formal education. Taylor served in the regular Army for 40 years and never voted, never belonged to a political party nor took any interest in politics until he ran for president at age 62. He was elected in the first national election held on the same day in all states (November 7, 1848). He pastured his old Army horse, Whitey, on the White House lawn and visitors would take horse hairs as souvenirs. Died in office of gastroenteritis on July 9, 1850.
13. Millard Fillmore: No formal education. Vice President under Taylor. Fillmore did not meet Taylor until after they were elected. When he moved into the White House, it didn't have a Bible. He and his wife, Abigail, installed the first library. He installed the first bathtub and kitchen stove in the White House. Fillmore couldn't not read Latin and refused an honorary degree from Oxford University, saying a person shouldn't accept a degree he couldn't read.
14. Franklin Pierce: Graduated Bowdoin College (1824). In 1853 the Gadsden Purchase settled boundary disputes with Mexico. In 1854 the Kansas Nebraska Act increased the conflict between pro and anti slavery settlers and required the introduction of federal troops into Kansas in an effort to end the fighting. Because of religious considerations Pierce affirmed rather than swore the Presidential Oath of Office. He gave his inaugural address from memory, without the aid of notes. He installed the first central heating system in the White House.
15. James Buchanan: Graduated Dickinson College (1809). Secretary of State under Polk. In 1857 Buchanan recommended a pro-slavery Kansas constitution. The constitution was rejected and Buchanan lost northern support. 1858 northern candidates opposing Buchanan won a majority in both houses of Congress. 1859 John Brown was seized at Harpers Ferry and hanged for his attempt to start a slave revolt. February 4, 1861 seven southern states formed the Confederacy. By the time Buchanan was 30 years old, he had amassed a fortune of $ 300,000. He was never married, so the duties of White House hostess were performed by his niece, Harriet Lane. One of his eyes was nearsighted and the other farsighted. As a result he always cocked his head to the left. Buchanan tired of being president and refused to run for reelection.
16. Abraham Lincoln: No formal education. On April 12, 1861 Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina setting off the Civil War. Lincoln quickly mobilized the Union by executive order. January 1, 1863 he formally issued the Emancipation Proclamation. On November 19, of that same year he delivered the Gettysburg Address. On April 9, 1865 Generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant signed term of Confederate surrender at Appomattox, Virginia. Five days later, on April 14, 1865 Lincoln went to Ford's Theater to watch "Our American Cousin" and was shot by actor John Wilkes Booth. He died the next morning at Petersen's Boarding House. Lincoln was the first president to die by assassination. At 6 feet 4 inches he was the tallest president. Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd, had a brother, half-brothers and brothers-in-law who fought in the Confederate Army. Lincoln was the only president to receive a patent, for a device for lifting boats over shoals. He was the first president to wear a beard. His son Robert Todd Lincoln, was in Washington, D.C. when Lincoln was killed, was also on the scene when President Garfield was shot in 1881, and President McKinley was assassinated in 1901. A poll of historians named Lincoln the nation's greatest president. Washington was second.
17. Andrew Johnson: No formal education. Vice President under Lincoln. On May 29, 1865 issued Amnesty Proclamation, pardoning all Confederates except those with property in excess of $ 20,000 and certain Confederate leaders. On December 6, 1865 the 13th amendment, officially abolishing slavery, was ratified. On march 30, 1867 the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia for $ 7.2 million. Johnson was married at a younger age than any other president. He was 18 on May 5, 1827 and Eliza McCardle was 16. He is the only president to serve in the Senate after his presidency. He was host to the first Queen to first the White house. Queen Emma of Hawaii. Johnson was the only president to be impeached by the House, but on March 26, 1868 was acquitted by the Senate by a one-vote margin. Has was buried beneath a willow tree he planted himself with a shoot taken from a tree at Napoleon's tomb.
18. Ulysses Simpson Grant: Graduated U.S. Military Academy West Point, New York. Witness to some of the bloodiest battles in history, Grant could not stomach the sight of animal blood. Rare steak nauseated him. While president, he was arrested for driving his horse too fast and was fined $ 20. Grant said he knew only two songs. "One was Yankee Doodle and the other wasn't." He smoked 20 cigars ad, which probably caused the throat cancer that resulted in his death.
19. Rutherford Birchard Hayes: Graduated Kenyon College (1842) and Harvard Law School (1845). On September 8, 1880 Hayes arrived in San Francisco to become the first president to visit the West Coast. He was the first president to graduate from law school. Mrs. Hayes, Lucy Ware Webb, was known as "Lemonade Lucy" because she refused to serve alcohol in the White House. The first telephone was installed in the White House by Alexander Graham Bell himself. The first Easter egg roll on the White House lawn was conducted by Hayes and his wife. He kept his campaign pledge and refused to run for a second term.
20. James Abram Garfield: Graduated Williams College (1856). Only 131 days after taking office, on July 12, 1881, while entering a Washington, D.C. railroad station, he was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a disappointed office-seeker in Garfield's new administration. Garfield was the first left-handed president. He was the last of seven presidents born in a log cabin. On election day, November 2, 1880, he was at the same time, a member of the House, Senator-elect and President-elect. After Garfield's shooting, repeated probing for the bullet with non-sterile instruments resulted in blood poisoning which eventually killed him on September 19, 1881.
21. Chester Alan Arthur: Graduated Union College (1848). Vice President under Garfield. Arthur's wife, Ellen Lewis Herndon, died before he became president, so Arthur's sister, Mary Arthur McElroy, served as White House hostess. Arthur enjoyed walking at night and seldom went to bed before 2 A.M. He had 24 wagon loads of old furniture and junk removed from the White House before moving in. A man-about-town, he entertained lavishly and often, and enjoyed going to nightclubs. Arthur told a temperance group that called on him at the White House, "I may be President of the United States, but my private life is my own damn business." Arthur destroyed all of his personal papers before his death.
22. Grover Cleveland: No formal education. Dedicated the Statue of Liberty on October 28, 1886. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. He lost the 1888 election for second term to Benjamin Harrison, despite garnering a larger popular vote. While sheriff of Erie County, New York, Cleveland was also the public executioner and personally hanged two murderers. Since Cleveland was the sole supporter of his family during the Civil War, he paid a substitute to take his place. He vetoed 414 bill in his first term, more that double the 204 vetoes cast by all previous presidents. The only president's child born in the White House, was Cleveland's daughter, Esther.
23. Benjamin Harrison: Graduated Miami University, Oxford, Ohio (1852). Harrison grew up in a family of 13 children. He was the second president whose wife died while he was in office. An excellent extemporaneous speaker, he once made 140 completely different speeches in 30 days. When the Harrisons moved into the White House, it was in such a dilapidated state that plans were made to build a new mansion elsewhere in Washington. His last daughter, Elizabeth, was younger than his four grandchildren. Harrison was defeated for reelection by Grover Cleveland. Because of his wife's illness, he did not campaign.
24. Grover Cleveland: No formal education. President March 4, 1885 to March 3, 1889. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. See notes under 22ndPresident. Ran for an unprecedented 3rd term but lost the Democratic presidential nomination to Williams Jennings Bryan.
25. William McKinley: Attended Allegheny College. On February 15 1898, the U.S. battleship Maine was blown up in Havana harbor. On April 25, the U.S. declared war on Spain. May 1, Admiral George Dewey led a major U.S. victory over Spain in the Battle of Manila Bay. February 6, 1899, the Treaty of Paris, ending the war was approved by the U.S. Senate. Spain ceded the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam and agreed to the independence of Cuba. September 6, 1901 McKinley was shot twice in the chest at point blank range by Leon Czolgosz while visiting the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. He died on September 14 whispering his favorite hymn "Nearer my God to Thee." McKinley's wife, Ida, was an epileptic and suffered a seizure during the second inaugural ball. He was the first president to use the telephone while campaigning He is thought to hold the record for presidential handshaking - 2,500 per hour. McKinley exercised very little. Had he been in better shape, his doctors said he might have survived his assassin's bullets.
26. Theodore Roosevelt: Graduated Harvard College (1880) Vice President under McKinley. On November 18, 1903 the U. S. and Panama signed a treaty for a canal under U. S. sovereignty. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for arbitrating the end of the Russo-Jananese War. As a child, Roosevelt suffered asthma attacks and was too sickly to attend school. At 42, Roosevelt was the youngest president. The teddy bear is named for him. He lost the sight in one eye while boxing in the White House. He had a photographic memory. He could read a page in the time it took anyone else to read a sentence. He was the first president to travel outside the U.S. - Panama. Roosevelt craved attention. It was said that he wanted to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral.
27. William Howard Taft: Graduated Yale College (1878); Cincinnati Law School (1880). Secretary of War under Roosevelt. February 3, 1913 the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution authorizing income taxes was ratified. It states simply: "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration." Taft is the only person to serve as both President and Chief Justice (1921-1930) of the U.S. He inaugurated the custom of the president throwing out the first ball to start the baseball season. Mrs. Taft was responsible for the planting of the Japanese cherry trees in Washington. Taft, who weighed 332 pounds, got stuck in the White House bathtub the first time he used it. A larger one was ordered. The Taft's owned the last presidential cow and the first White House automobile.
28. Woodrow Wilson: Graduated College of New Jersey (now Princeton University; 1879) First persuaded to run for Governor of New Jersey in 1910. In the campaign he asserted his independence of the conservatives and of the machine that had nominated him, endorsing a progressive platform, which he pursued as governor. On May 7, 1915 more than 100 Americans were killed as a German submarine torpedoed the British liner "Lusitania". The U. S. purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark. April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany. November 11, 1918 an armistice ending World War I is signed. January 16, 1919 the 18th Amendment "Prohibition" was ratified. August 18, 1920 the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote, was ratified. Wilson is the only president to earn a Ph.D. degree. In 1913 he held the first regular presidential press conference. Afterwards, he met the press twice a week. His second wife, Edith, was a great-granddaughter of Pocahontas, seven times removed. An avid golfer, Wilson used black golf balls when playing in the snow. He is the only president buried in Washington, D.C.
29. Warren Gamaliel Harding: Graduated Ohio Central College (1882). On July 2, 1921 the president signed a joint congressional resolution of peace with Germany, Austria and Hungary. The treaties were singed in August. After Harding's death, several of his high officials were linked to the "Teapot Dome" and other scandals. He was the first newspaper publisher to be elected president. Both of Harding's parents were doctors. He was the first president to own a radio. While president, Harding played golf, poker twice a week, followed baseball and boxing, and sneaked off to burlesque shows.
30. Calvin Coolidge: Graduated Amherst College (1895) Vice President under Harding. Sent U.S. Marines to Nicaragua in 1925 after the outbreak of civil war. Despite strong party support, Coolidge announced on August 2, 1927, "I do not choose to run for president in 1928." Charles Lindbergh completed the thirst transatlantic flight in 1927. While governor of Massachusetts, Coolidge was once punched in the eye by the mayor of Boston. He was the only president sworn into office by his father, a justice of the peace and notary public. Coolidge averaged nine hours of sleep a night and took afternoon naps of from two to four hours. His wife recounted that a young woman sitting next to Coolidge at a dinner party confided to him she had bet she could get at least three words of conversation from him. Without looking at her he quietly retorted, "You lose."
31. Herbert Clark Hoover: Graduated Stanford University (1895). Secretary of Commerce under Harding, Secretary of Commerce under Coolidge. The New York Stock Market crashed on October 29, 1929, marking the beginning of a severe economic depression that dominated the Hoover presidency. The School of Engineering and Applied Science of Columbia University in 1964, Herbert Hoover and Thomas Edison were named the two greatest engineers in U. S. History. He was the youngest member of Stanford University's first graduating class. During their first three years in the White House, the Hoovers dined alone only three times, each time on their wedding anniversary. Hoover was the first president to donate his salary to charity. One of the most honored presidents, Hoover received 84 honourary degrees, 78 medals and awards, and the keys to dozens of cities.
3 2. Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Graduated Harvard College (1903) Attended Columbia Law School. In 1933 Roosevelt launched the "New Deal" relief measures, revived the banking industry, and delivered the first of 30 "Fireside Chats". In December, the 21st Amendment, ending Prohibition, was ratified. In 1935 the Social Security Act was passed and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was passed. In 1936 he was reelected in a landslide over Alfred M. Landon. In 1939 Germany overran Poland and war was declared in Europe. In 1949 reelected to an unprecedented third term. December 7, 1941 Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Congress declared war against Japan the next day. June 6, 1944, D-Day, Allied forces landed on the Normandy coast of France. Reelected to an unprecedented fourth term. Roosevelt was the vice presidential candidate on James M. Cox's ticket in 1920. He was the first defeated vice presidential candidate to be elected president. He was related by blood or marriage to 11 former presidents. In 1921, at the age of 39, Roosevelt contracted polio which left him without the use of his legs. A stamp collector, he received the first sheet of every new commemorative issue. In, 1939, he became the first president to apear on television. Died in office on April 12, 1945.
33. Harry S Truman: Attended University of Kansas City Law School, Vice President under Roosevelt. May 7, 1945 Germany surrendered ending World War II in Europe. June 19 he flew to Washington State and became the first president to use air travel within the country. June 26, 1945 the United Nations Charter was signed. August 6, 1945 the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. The second atomic bomb was dropped August 9 on Nagasaki. August 14, announced the surrender of Japan. On January 17, 1946 Truman proposed a 182 cent per hour wage increase to settle the labor dispute between U.S. Steel and the United Steel Workers union. A walkout was not prevented but it, and most labor disputes in 1946 were settled on that basis. On July 15, he signed a bill authorizing loan of $3.75 billion to Great Britain. November 21, 1946 he ordered contempt proceedings against John L. Lewis when the mine leader, defying a government injunction, called members of the United Mine Workers union out on strike. On December 5 Lewis sent the miners back to work after a federal district court had fined him $10 thousand and the union $3.5 million. March 21, 1947 ordered loyalty investigation of all federal government employees. February 2, 1948 he sent a message to Congress asking for civil rights legislation to secure the rights of the country's minority groups. May 10, 1948 he ordered government operation of the railroads by the army to forestall a nationwide railroad strike. May 14, 1948 he recognized new state of Israel. November 2, 1948 won reelection over Thomas E. Dewey in what was regarded as a major political upset. September 3, 1949 he announced that there was evidence of a Russian atomic explosion.. January 31, 1950 He revealed that he had ordered the Atomic Energy Commission to develop the hydrogen bomb. June 26, 1950 Truman ordered U.S. air and sea forces to aid South Korean Troops in resisting the Communist forces of North Korea which had invaded South Korea the day before. June 30 he announced that he had ordered American ground forces in Japan to Korea and the navy to blockade the Korean coast. General Douglas MacArthur, the American commander in Japan, was put in charge of all U.N. troops in the area, which included forces from other nations. August 25 Truman ordered seizure of the railroads by the government on August 27 to forestall a nationwide strike. November 1 Truman escaped attempted assassination by two Puerto Rican nationalists. December 16 Truman proclaimed a state of national emergency following entry of Communist China into the Korean conflict on November 6, after U.N. forces had taken over most of North Korea. April 11, 1951 Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of all posts as commander of American and U.N. forces in the Far East for making statements critical of the government's military and foreign policies in that area. MacArthur replaced by Lt. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway. March 29, 1952 he announced at Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner decision not to run for reelection. April 8, during the Korean action, Truman signed executive order direction Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer to seize steel mills to prevent strike of steel workers. On June 2, seizure was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in a six to three decision. June 14 he laid keel of the USS Nautilus, world's first atomic powered submarine, at Groton, Connecticut. January 20, 1953 Truman attended inauguration of President Eisenhower and then left by train for Independence, Missouri. The middle initial "S" in Truman's name is not an abbreviation and has no significance. At 60 years old, he was the oldest vice president to succeed to the presidency. In recognition of Truman's contribution to medical insurance, President Johnson presented the first two Medicare cards to Mr. and Mrs. Truman. Truman's mother, a Confederate sympathizer, refused to sleep in Lincoln's bed during a White House visit.
34. Dwight David Eisenhower: Graduated U.S. Military Academy, West Point New York. Held no other political office. In 1953 Eisenhower established the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The Korean War ended and he nominated Earl Warren as chief justice of the Supreme Court. In 1956 Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal and the president refused to join Britain, France and Israel in an invasion of Egypt. Also, in 1956 he denounced the USSR for crushing a Hungarian uprising. In 1957, he sent federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to ensure the integration of Central High School. On May 1, 1956, the USSR downed a U.S. U-2 reconnaissance flight over Soviet territory which was flown by Francis Gary Powers, a civilian. This resulted in the collapse of a summit conference with Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Dwight David Eisenhower was born David Dwight Eisenhower. He was the last president born in the 19th century. He was the only president to serve in both World Wars. A skilled chef, he was famous for his vegetable soup, steaks, and cornmeal pancakes. He was the first president licensed to fly an airplane.
35. John Fitzgerald Kennedy: Graduated Harvard College (1940). In 1961 Kennedy established the Peace Corps. On April 17, 1961 a force of anti-Castro Cubans, trained by the Central Intelligence Agency, staged an unsuccessful attempt to establish a beachhead at the Bay of Pigs, Cuba. In August, East Germany in an attempt to curtail defections from East To West, constructed a wall separating East and West Berlin. On February 20, 1962 Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, Jr. became the first American to orbit the earth. In October, 1962 after U.S. reconnaissance flights revealed that Soviet offensive missiles were being installed in Cuba, the United States established a naval "quarantine" around Cuba. This period is generally considered the closest the world has ever come to nuclear war. On October 28, after the U.S. agreed to withdraw the quarantine and never to invade Cuba, the Soviets withdrew their missiles. On August 28, 1963 more than 200,000 persons staged a march in Washington, D.C. and the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech. South Vietnam President Ngo Dinh Diem was overthrown on November 1. On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was killed by an assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, as his motorcade wound through Dallas, Texas. Kennedy, at 43 years old, was the youngest man elected president; and at 46 years old, he was the youngest to die. Kennedy was the only president to win a Pulitzer Prize, for his biography "Profiles in Courage". He was the first president to have served in the U.S. Navy. He was the only president to appoint his brother to a cabinet post.
36. Lyndon Baines Johnson: Graduated Southwest Texas State Teachers College (1930). Vice President under Kennedy. In 1965 he signed an $ 11.5 billion tax-reduction bill and a major civil-right bill which was proposed and initiated under the Kennedy administration. Proclaimed a "War on Poverty". On February 7, 1965 ordered the bombing of targets in North Vietnam and began escalating U.S. troop strength in Indochina. In April, he ordered U.S. troops into the Dominican Republic to end a rebellion. Also in 1965 Johnson signed legislation establishing Medicare and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 1967 he nominated Thurgood Marshall as an associate justice to the Supreme Court. In 1968 Johnson withdrew his candidacy for the presidential race and ordered a reduction in the bombing of North Vietnam.Johnson and his wife, Claudia "Lady Bird" Alta Taylor, were married with a $ 2.50 wedding ring bought at Sears Roebuck. He was the only president to take the oath of office from a female official, Judge Sarah T. Hughes. Johnson rejected his official portrait painting, saying it was the ugliest thing he ever saw. He was the first incumbent president to meet with a pope.
37. Richard Milhous Nixon: Graduated Whittier College (1934) and Duke University Law School (1937). Vice President under Eisenhower. July 20, 1969 Neil A. Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. April 30, 1970 he announced that U.S. troops were being sent into Cambodia to destroy enemy sanctuaries. Nixon visited China in February of 1972 becoming the first president to visit a country not recognized by the U. S. June 17, 1972, five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters located at the Watergate Hotel. The Vietnam cease-fire agreement was signed January 1973. October 10, 1973 Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned and pleaded guilty to one count of income tax evasion and Nixon appointed Gerald R. Ford to replace him. August 9, 1974, effective at noon, Nixon resigned as president, becoming the first president to ever voluntarily leave office. This was a direct result of the scandal created by attempting to cover up the "Watergate Affair".
38. Gerald Rudolph Ford: Graduated University of Michigan (1935) and Yale University Law School (1941). Vice President under Nixon. Appointed Nelson A. Rockefeller as vice president. Granted Richard M. Nixon an "absolute pardon" for all federal crimes he may have committed or taken part in while president. He was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr. Both Ford and his wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Bloomer Warren, had been models before their marriage. Running for Congress in 1948, Ford campaigned on his wedding day. He was the first president to release to the public a full report of his medical checkup. Ford was the only president whose two assassination attempts against him were made by women. Ford was the first president not elected by the people to become president. He became vice president when Agnew resigned, and president when Nixon resigned. He was defeated by Jimmy Carter in his bid to win a full term. Ford was a model for Cosmopolitan and Look magazines in the 1940's.
39. James Earl Carter, Jr.: Graduated U.S. Naval Academy (1946). September 1977, signed treaties providing for the termination of U.S. operation of the Panama Canal in 1999 and for the permanent neutralization of the canal. In 1978 Carter signed the "Framework of Peace in the Middle East and the "Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty Between Egypt and Israel" following eleven days of negotiations at Camp David with Israeli Prime Minister Menahem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat. The treaty was signed March 26, 1979. In December 1978, China and the U.S. agreed to establish diplomatic relations. In 1979 Carter signed an bill creating the Department of Education. Reached Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement with President Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union. Protesting the U.S. support of the Shah, radical Iranian student seized a group of American diplomats and embassy officials in Tehran in November. The "hostage crisis" remained with Carter for the remainder of his term. Carter was the first president born in a hospital. He was the first president graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. He was the first president sworn in using his nickname, "Jimmy".
40. Ronald Wilson Reagan: Graduated Eureka College (1932). Moments after Regan was inaugurated on January 20, 1981, 52 Americans held hostage in Iran since November 1979 were released. September 22 1981 Sandra Day O'Connor is confirmed 91-8 as an associate justice of the Supreme Court. She was the first female to serve on the Supreme Court. While participating in a multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon on October 23, 1983, 241 U.S. Servicemen were killed in a terrorist attack. Later on October 25, U.S. troops invaded the Caribbean island of Grenada in an effort to restore order and democracy. November 6, 1984 winning 49 states, Reagan was reelected in a landslide over Walter Mondale. January 28, 1986, seven astronauts lost their lives on the space shuttle Challenger. April 5, 1986 two American servicemen lose their lives in a terrorist bombing of the La Belle Discotheque in Berlin. April 14 and 15 in retaliation for the disco bombing, American warplanes attack "terrorist related targets" in Libya. November 25, the Iran-Contra Affair becomes public. Ronald Reagan was 77 years old when he left office, making him the oldest president. He was the first president to have been divorced. Reagan was a Hollywood actor before becoming involved in politics. He made more than 50 movies, mostly westerns or action pictures. For those of you who would like to know more about this man, here is a link that will take you to a Ronald Reagan Home Page. http://www.dnaco.net/~bkottman/reagan.html
41. George Herbert Walker Bush: Graduated Yale University (1948). March 24, 1989 the tanker Exxon Valdez leaks history's largest oil spill, 11.3 million gallons, in Alaska. December 20 Bush authorizes the use of U.S. troops to remove Panama's General Manuel Noriega. Noriega avoids capture and on December 24 seeks asylum in the Vatican embassy. Eventually surrenders to U.S. authorities on January 3, 1990. August 2, 1990 Iraq, under President Saddam Hussein, invades Kuwait. August 7, Operation Desert Shield begins. October 2, the U.S. Senate confirms 90-9, David H. Souter as Supreme Court Justice. October 3, East and West Germany merge to become one Germany. January 12, 1991 Congress authorizes President Bush to wage war against Iraq. January 16, Desert Storm begins. February 24, the ground assault against Iraq begins. February 28, a cease fire is granted to Iraq and the "Mother Of All Wars" is ended. April 1, the Warsaw Pact is dissolved an on April 9, Georgia SSR votes to secede from the USSR and the collapse of the Soviet Union begins. August 19, Soviet hardliners stage a coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev. The coup is crushed, but Gorbachev resigns as head of the Communist Party on August 24. September 6, the USSR recognizes the independence of the three Baltic republics. October 15, after a bitter partisan debate, Clarence Thomas is confirmed by a 52-48 vote as Supreme Court Justice. December 8, Russia, Byelorussia and Ukraine form The Commonwealth of Independent States. November 3, 1992 Bush is defeated in his bid for reelection. When Bush received his military commission in 1943, he became, at age 19, the youngest pilot in the Navy. Bush is related to Benedict Arnold, Marilyn Monroe, Winston Churchill, Presidents Franklin Pierce, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Gerald Ford. Bush became the first vice president ever to serve as acting president when Ronald Reagan underwent surgery for three hours in 1985. George Herbert Walker Bush is the second man in US Presidential history whose son became President. In 1992, while at a formal dinner in Japan Bush became ill and vomited on the prime minister of Japan, then fainted.
42. William Jefferson Clinton: Graduated Georgetown University (1968), Yale University Law School (1973) August 10, 1993 Ruth Bader Ginsberg is confirmed 96-3 as Supreme Court Justice. September 30, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, President of Haiti is overthrown in a military coup. September 19, 20, 1994 U.S. forces invade Haiti. October 15, Aristide is returned to office. October 1994 congress fails to enact Clinton's controversial health care program which was a strong priority during the election campaign. November 8, 1994 Republicans gain control of both houses of congress for the first time since 1954. November 17, U.S. Congress votes for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA ). July 1, 1997 China regains sovereignty of Hong Kong. In 1978 when Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas, he was at the time, age 32 and the youngest governor in the U.S. In high school, Clinton played saxophone in a jazz trio. The three musicians wore dark glasses on stage and they called themselves "Three Blind Mice". He was the second president of the United States to be impeached by the House of Representatives. His nickname as a child was Bubba.
43. George W. Bush: Graduated Yale University (1968). He earned a Master of Business Administration Degree from Harvard Business School in 1975. Bush worked in the energy business, and was once part owner of the Texas Rangers baseball franchise. Governor of Texas from 1995- 2000. Elected President of the US in 2001. Bush's first initiative was the No Child Left Behind Act, a measure that raised schools standards, requiring accountability in return for tax dollars and lead to measurable gains in achievement, especially among minority students. Most significant event during his tenure was the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in the United States, after which began the War on Terror. Having lost the 2000 election (for his second term) by more than a half-million popular votes, Bush is the first president since 1888 ( President Benjamin Harrison) to become President without winning the popular votes. Bush lost the popular vote to Al Core by 500,000 votes, then won a disputed recount in Florida by a few hundred. George W. Bush is the second father and son to be elected as presidents in the U.S. Presidential history.
44. Barack Obama: Born to a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, Obama worked his way through college, aided also by student loans and scholarships. He attended Occidental College and Columbia University, and went on to attend law school and became the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review. He later taught law at the University of Chicago. Obama became President of the United States on November 4, 2008. He does not like ice cream as a result of working at an ice cream shop as a teenager. Collects Spiderman and Conan the Barbarian comic books.
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Under what name was nitric acid known to alchemists? | nitric acid
Encyclopedia > Science and Technology > Chemistry > Compounds and Elements
nitric acid
nitric acid, chemical compound, HNO3, colorless, highly corrosive, poisonous liquid that gives off choking red or yellow fumes in moist air. It is miscible with water in all proportions. It forms an azeotrope (constant-boiling mixture) that has the composition 68% nitric acid and 32% water and that boils at 120.5°C. The nitric acid of commerce is typically a solution of 52% to 68% nitric acid in water. Solutions containing over 86% nitric acid are commonly called fuming nitric acid. White fuming nitric acid (WFNA) is similar to the anhydrous variety, and red fuming nitric acid (RFNA) has a reddish brown color from dissolved nitrogen oxides. When treated with hydrogen fluoride, both varieties form inhibited fuming nitric acid, which has increased corrosion resistance in metal tanks, e.g., when used as an oxidizer in liquid fuel rockets.
Nitric acid is a strong oxidizing agent. It ionizes readily in solution, forming a good conductor of electricity. It reacts with metals, oxides, and hydroxides, forming nitrate salts. Chief uses of nitric acid are in the preparation of fertilizers, e.g., ammonium nitrate , and explosives, e.g., nitroglycerin and trinitrotoluene (TNT). It is also used in the manufacture of chemicals, e.g., in making dyes, and in metallurgy, ore flotation, etching steel, photoengraving, and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. It is produced chiefly by oxidation of ammonia (the Ostwald process). Small amounts are produced by the treatment of sodium nitrate with sulfuric acid. Nitric acid was known to the alchemists as aqua fortis; the name is used in commerce for impure grades of it. Aqua regia is a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids. Niric acid is a component of acid rain .
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
| Aqua fortis |
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pseudoscience
Alchemy, a form of speculative thought that, among other aims, tried to transform base metals such as lead or copper into silver or gold and to discover a cure for disease and a way of extending life.
Alchemist, oil on panel by Thomas Wijck, 17th century. 41 × 37.2 …
In a private collection
Alchemy was the name given in Latin Europe in the 12th century to an aspect of thought that corresponds to astrology , which is apparently an older tradition. Both represent attempts to discover the relationship of man to the cosmos and to exploit that relationship to his benefit. The first of these objectives may be called scientific, the second technological. Astrology is concerned with man’s relationship to “the stars” (including the members of the solar system); alchemy, with terrestrial nature. But the distinction is far from absolute, since both are interested in the influence of the stars on terrestrial events. Moreover, both have always been pursued in the belief that the processes human beings witness in heaven and on earth manifest the will of the Creator and, if correctly understood, will yield the key to the Creator’s intentions.
Nature and significance
That both astrology and alchemy may be regarded as fundamental aspects of thought is indicated by their apparent universality. It is notable, however, that the evidence is not equally substantial in all times and places. Evidence from ancient Middle America (Aztecs, Mayans) is still almost nonexistent; evidence from India is tenuous and from ancient China , Greece, and Islamic lands is only relatively more plentiful. A single manuscript of some 80,000 words is the principal source for the history of Greek alchemy. Chinese alchemy is largely recorded in about 100 “books” that are part of the Taoist canon. Neither Indian nor Islamic alchemy has ever been collected, and scholars are thus dependent for their knowledge of the subject on occasional allusions in works of natural philosophy and medicine, plus a few specifically alchemical works.
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Nor is it really clear what alchemy was (or is). The word is a European one, derived from Arabic, but the origin of the root word, chem, is uncertain. Words similar to it have been found in most ancient languages, with different meanings, but conceivably somehow related to alchemy. In fact, the Greeks, Chinese, and Indians usually referred to what Westerners call alchemy as “The Art,” or by terms denoting change or transmutation .
The chemistry of alchemy
chemistry: Alchemy
Superficially, the chemistry involved in alchemy appears a hopelessly complicated succession of heatings of multiple mixtures of obscurely named materials, but it seems likely that a relative simplicity underlies this complexity. The metals gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, and tin were all known before the rise of alchemy. Mercury, the liquid metal, certainly known before 300 bc, when it appears in both Eastern and Western sources, was crucial to alchemy. Sulfur , “the stone that burns,” was also crucial. It was known from prehistoric times in native deposits and was also given off in metallurgic processes (the “roasting” of sulfide ores). Mercury united with most of the other metals, and the amalgam formed coloured powders (the sulfides) when treated with sulfur. Mercury itself occurs in nature in a red sulfide, cinnabar , which can also be made artificially. All of these, except possibly the last, were operations known to the metallurgist and were adopted by the alchemist.
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The alchemist added the action on metals of a number of corrosive salts, mainly the vitriols (copper and iron sulfates), alums (the aluminum sulfates of potassium and ammonium), and the chlorides of sodium and ammonium. And he made much of arsenic’s property of colouring metals. All of these materials, except the chloride of ammonia, were known in ancient times. Known as sal ammoniac in the West, nao sha in China, nao sadar in India, and nushādir in Persia and Arabic lands, the chloride of ammonia first became known to the West in the Chou-i ts’an t’ung ch’i, a Chinese treatise of the 2nd century ad. It was to be crucial to alchemy, for on sublimation it dissociates into antagonistic corrosive materials, ammonia and hydrochloric acid, which readily attack the metals. Until the 9th century it seems to have come from a single source, the Flame Mountain (Huo-yen Shan) near T’u-lu-p’an (Turfan), in Central Asia .
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Finally, the manipulation of these materials was to lead to the discovery of the mineral acids, the history of which began in Europe in the 13th century. The first was probably nitric acid , made by distilling together saltpetre (potassium nitrate) and vitriol or alum. More difficult to discover was sulfuric acid , which was distilled from vitriol or alum alone but required apparatus resistant to corrosion and heat. And most difficult was hydrochloric acid , distilled from common salt or sal ammoniac and vitriol or alum, for the vapours of this acid cannot be simply condensed but must be dissolved in water.
Goals
World Religions & Traditions
“Transmutation” is the key word characterizing alchemy, and it may be understood in several ways: in the changes that are called chemical, in physiological changes such as passing from sickness to health, in a hoped-for transformation from old age to youth, or even in passing from an earthly to a supernatural existence. Alchemical changes seem always to have been positive, never involving degradation except as an intermediate stage in a process having a “happy ending.” Alchemy aimed at the great human “goods”: wealth, longevity, and immortality.
Alchemy was not original in seeking these goals, for it had been preceded by religion , medicine, and metallurgy. The first chemists were metallurgists, who were perhaps the most successful practitioners of the arts in antiquity. Their theories seem to have come not from science but from folklore and religion. The miner and metallurgist, like the agriculturalist, in this view, accelerate the normal maturation of the fruits of the earth, in a magico-religious relationship with nature. In primitive societies the metallurgist is often a member of an occult religious society.
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But the first ventures into natural philosophy , the beginnings of what is called the scientific view, also preceded alchemy. Systems of five almost identical basic elements were postulated in China, India, and Greece, according to a view in which nature comprised antagonistic, opposite forces—hot and cold, positive and negative, and male and female; i.e., primitive versions of the modern conception of energy. Drawing on a similar astrological heritage, philosophers found correspondences among the elements, planets, and metals. In short, both the chemical arts and the theories of the philosophers of nature had become complex before alchemy appeared.
Regional variations
Chinese alchemy
Neither in China nor in the West can scholars approach with certitude the origins of alchemy, but the evidences in China appear to be slightly older. Indeed, Chinese alchemy was connected with an enterprise older than metallurgy—i.e., medicine . Belief in physical immortality among the Chinese seems to go back to the 8th century bc, and belief in the possibility of attaining it through drugs to the 4th century bc. The magical drug, namely the “elixir of life” ( elixir is the European word), is mentioned about that time, and that most potent elixir, “drinkable gold,” which was a solution (usually imaginary) of this corrosion-resistant metal, as early as the 1st century bc—many centuries before it is heard of in the West.
Although non-Chinese influences (especially Indian) are possible, the genesis of alchemy in China may have been a purely domestic affair. It emerged during a period of political turmoil, the Warring States Period (from the 5th to the 3rd century bc), and it came to be associated with Taoism —a mystical religion founded by the 6th-century-bc sage Lao-tzu—and its sacred book, the Tao-te Ching (“Classic of the Way of Power”). The Taoists were a miscellaneous collection of “outsiders”—in relation to the prevailing Confucians—and such mystical doctrines as alchemy were soon grafted onto the Taoist canon. What is known of Chinese alchemy is mainly owing to that graft, and especially to a collection known as Yün chi ch’i ch’ien (“Seven Tablets in a Cloudy Satchel”), which is dated 1023. Thus, sources on alchemy in China (as elsewhere) are compilations of much earlier writings.
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The oldest known Chinese alchemical treatise is the Chou-i ts’an t’ung ch’i (“Commentary on the I Ching ”). In the main it is an apocryphal interpretation of the I Ching (“Classic of Changes”), an ancient classic especially esteemed by the Confucians, relating alchemy to the mystical mathematics of the 64 hexagrams (six-line figures used for divination). Its relationship to chemical practice is tenuous, but it mentions materials (including sal ammoniac) and implies chemical operations. The first Chinese alchemist who is reasonably well known was Ko Hung (ad 283–343), whose book Pao-p’u-tzu (pseudonym of Ko Hung) contains two chapters with obscure recipes for elixirs, mostly based on mercury or arsenic compounds . The most famous Chinese alchemical book is the Tan chin yao chüeh (“Great Secrets of Alchemy”), probably by Sun Ssu-miao (ad 581–after 673). It is a practical treatise on creating elixirs (mercury, sulfur, and the salts of mercury and arsenic are prominent) for the attainment of immortality, plus a few for specific cures for disease and such other purposes as the fabrication of precious stones.
Altogether, the similarities between the materials used and the elixirs made in China, India, and the West are more remarkable than are their differences. Nonetheless, Chinese alchemy differed from that of the West in its objective. Whereas in the West the objective seems to have evolved from gold to elixirs of immortality to simply superior medicines, neither the first nor the last of these objectives seems ever to have been very important in China.
Chinese alchemy was consistent from first to last, and there was relatively little controversy among its practitioners, who seem to have varied only in their prescriptions for the elixir of immortality or perhaps only over their names for it, of which one Sinologist has counted about 1,000. In the West there were conflicts between advocates of herbal and “chemical” (i.e., mineral) pharmacy, but in China mineral remedies were always accepted. There were, in Europe, conflicts between alchemists who favoured gold making and those who thought medicine the proper goal, but the Chinese always favoured the latter. Since alchemy rarely achieved any of these goals, it was an advantage to the Western alchemist to have the situation obscured, and the art survived in Europe long after Chinese alchemy had simply faded away.
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Chinese alchemy followed its own path. Whereas the Western world, with its numerous religious promises of immortality, never seriously expected alchemy to fulfill that goal, the deficiencies of Chinese religions in respect to promises of immortality left that goal open to the alchemist. A serious reliance on medical elixirs that were in varying degrees poisonous led the alchemist into permanent exertions to moderate those poisons, either through variation of the ingredients or through chemical manipulations. The fact that immortality was so desirable and the alchemist correspondingly valued enabled the British historian of science Joseph Needham to tabulate a series of Chinese emperors who probably died of elixir poisoning. Ultimately a succession of royal deaths made alchemists and emperors alike more cautious, and Chinese alchemy vanished (probably as the Chinese adopted Buddhism , which offered other, less dangerous avenues to immortality), leaving its literary manifestations embedded in the Taoist canons.
Indian alchemy
The oldest Indian writings, the Vedas (Hindu sacred scriptures), contain the same hints of alchemy that are found in evidence from ancient China, namely vague references to a connection between gold and long life. Mercury , which was so vital to alchemy everywhere, is first mentioned in the 4th- to 3rd-century-bc Artha-śāstra , about the same time it is encountered in China and in the West. Evidence of the idea of transmuting base metals to gold appears in 2nd- to 5th-century-ad Buddhist texts, about the same time as in the West. Since Alexander the Great had invaded India in 325 bc, leaving a Greek state (Gandhāra) that long endured, the possibility exists that the Indians acquired the idea from the Greeks, but it could have been the other way around.
It is also possible that the alchemy of medicine and immortality came to India from China, or vice versa; in any case, gold making appears to have been a minor concern, and medicine the major concern, of both cultures . But the elixir of immortality was of little importance in India (which had other avenues to immortality). The Indian elixirs were mineral remedies for specific diseases or, at the most, to promote long life.
As in China and the West, alchemy in India came to be associated with religious mysticism, but much later—not until the rise of Tantrism (an esoteric , occultic, meditative system), ad 1100–1300. To Tantrism are owed writings that are clearly alchemical (such as the 12th-century Rasārṇava, or “Treatise on Metallic Preparations”).
From the earliest records of Indian natural philosophy, which date from the 5th–3rd centuries bc, theories of nature were based on conceptions of material elements (fire, wind, water, earth, and space), vitalism (“animated atoms”), and dualisms of love and hate or action and reaction. The alchemist coloured metals and on occasion “made” gold, but he gave little importance to that. His six metals (gold, silver, tin, iron, lead, and copper), each further subdivided (five kinds of gold, etc.), were “killed” (i.e., corroded) but not “resurrected,” as was the custom of Western alchemy. Rather, they were killed to make medicines. Although “the secrets of mercurial lore” became part of the Tantric rite, mercury seems to have been much less important than in China. The Indians exploited metal reactions more widely, but, although they possessed from an early date not only vitriol and sal ammoniac but also saltpetre , they nevertheless failed to discover the mineral acids. This is the more remarkable because India was long the principal source of saltpetre, which occurs as an efflorescence on the soil, especially in populous tropical countries. But it lacks the high degree of corrosivity of metals possessed by the vitriols and chlorides and played a small part in early alchemy. Saltpetre appears particularly in 9th- to 11th-century-ad Indian and Chinese recipes for fireworks, one of which—a mixture of saltpetre, sulfur, and charcoal—is gunpowder . Saltpetre first appears in Europe in the 13th century, along with the modern formula for gunpowder and the recipe for nitric acid.
Hellenistic alchemy
Western alchemy may go back to the beginnings of the Hellenistic period (c. 300 bc–c. ad 300), although the earliest alchemist whom authorities have regarded as authentic is Zosimos of Panopolis (Egypt), who lived near the end of the period. He is one of about 40 authors represented in a compendium of alchemical writings that was probably put together in Byzantium (Constantinople) in the 7th or 8th century ad and that exists in manuscripts in Venice and Paris. Synesius, the latest author represented, lived in Byzantium in the 4th century. The earliest is the author designated Democritus but identified by scholars with Bolos of Mende, a Hellenized Egyptian who lived in the Nile Delta about 200 bc. He is represented by a treatise called Physica et mystica (“Natural and Mystical Things”), a kind of recipe book for dyeing and colouring but principally for the making of gold and silver. The recipes are stated obscurely and are justified with references to the Greek theory of elements and to astrological theory. Most end with the phrase “One nature rejoices in another nature; one nature triumphs over another nature; one nature masters another nature,” which authorities variously trace to the Magi (Zoroastrian priests), Stoic pantheism (a Greek philosophy concerned with nature), or to the 4th-century-bc Greek philosopher Aristotle . It was the first of a number of such aphorisms over which alchemists were to speculate for many centuries.
In 1828 a group of ancient papyrus manuscripts written in Greek was purchased in Thebes (Egypt), and about a half-century later it was noticed that among them, divided between libraries in Leyden (the Netherlands) and Stockholm, was a tract very like the Physica et mystica. It differed, however, in that it lacked the former’s theoretical embellishments and stated in some recipes that only fraudulent imitation of gold and silver was intended. Scholars believe that this kind of work was the ancestor both of the Physica et mystica and of the ordinary artist’s recipe book. The techniques were ancient. Archaeology has revealed metal objects inlaid with colours obtained by grinding metals with sulfur, and Homer’s description (8th century bc) of the shield of Achilles gives the impression that the artist in his time was virtually able to paint in metal.
Democritus is praised by most of the other authors in the Venice–Paris manuscript, and he is much commented upon. But only Zosimos shows what had become of alchemy after Bolos of Mende. His theory is luxuriant in imagery, beginning with a discussion of “the composition of waters, movement , growth, embodying and disembodying, drawing the spirits from bodies and binding the spirits within bodies” and continuing in the same vein. The “base” metals are to be “ennobled” (to gold) by killing and resurrecting them, but his practice is full of distillation and sublimation, and he is obsessed with “spirits.” Theory and practice are joined in the concept that success depends upon the production of a series of colours, usually black, white, yellow, and purple, and that the colours are to be obtained through Theion hydōr (divine or sulfur water—it could mean either).
Zosimos credits these innovations mainly to Maria (sometimes called “the Jewess”), who invented the apparatus, and to Agathodaimon, probably a pseudonym. Neither is represented (beyond Zosimos’ references) in the Venice–Paris manuscript, but a tract attributed to Agathodaimon, published in 1953, shows him to be preoccupied with the colour sequence and complicating it by using arsenic instead of sulfur. Thus, the colour-producing potentialities of chemistry were considerable by the time of Zosimos.
Zosimos also shows that alchemical theory came to focus on the idea that there exists a substance that can bring about the desired transformation instantly, magically, or, as a modern chemist might say, catalytically. He called it “the tincture,” and had several. It was also sometimes called “the powder” (xērion), which was to pass through Arabic into Latin as elixir and finally (signifying its inorganic nature) as the “ philosopher’s stone ,” “a stone which is not a stone,” as the alchemists were wont to say. It was sometimes called a medicine for the rectification of “base” or “sick” metals, and from this it was a short step to view it as a drug for the rectification of human maladies. Zosimos notes the possibility, in passing. When the objective of alchemy became human salvation, the material constitution of the elixir became less important than the incantations that accompanied its production. Synesius, the last author in the Venice–Paris manuscript, already defined alchemy as a mental operation, independent of the science of matter.
An illustration depicting an alchemist combining the philosopher’s stone with gold to produce new …
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Thus, Greek alchemy came to resemble, in both theory and practice, that of China and India. But its objectives included gold making; thus it remained fundamentally different.
Arabic alchemy
Arabic alchemy is as mysterious as Greek in its origins, and the two seem to have been significantly different. The respect in which Physica et mystica was held by the Greek alchemists was bestowed by the Arabs on a different work, the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistos , the reputed Hellenistic author of various alchemical, occultic, and theological works. Beginning “That which is above is like to that which is below, and that which is below is like to that which is above,” it is brief, theoretical, and astrological. Hermes “the thrice great” (Trismegistos) was a Greek version of the Egyptian god Thoth and the supposed founder of an astrological philosophy that is first noted in 150 bc. The Emerald Tablet, however, comes from a larger work called Book of the Secret of Creation, which exists in Latin and Arabic manuscripts and was thought by the Muslim alchemist ar-Rāzī to have been written during the reign of Caliph al-Maʾmūn (ad 813–833), though it has been attributed to the 1st-century-ad pagan mystic Apollonius of Tyana .
Some scholars have suggested that Arabic alchemy descended from a western Asiatic school and that Greek alchemy was derived from an Egyptian school. As far as is known, the Asiatic school was not Chinese or Indian. What is known is that Arabic alchemy was associated with a specific city in Syria, Harran, which seems to have been a fountainhead of alchemical notions. And it is possible that the distillation ideology and its spokeswoman, Maria—as well as Agathodaimon—represented the alchemy of Harran , which presumably migrated to Alexandria and was incorporated into the alchemy of Zosimos.
The existing versions of the Book of the Secret of Creation have been carried back only to the 7th or 6th century but are believed by some to represent much earlier writings, although not necessarily those of Apollonius himself. He is the subject of an ancient biography that says nothing about alchemy, but neither does the Emerald Tablet nor the rest of the Book of the Secret of Creation. On the other hand, their theories of nature have an alchemical ring, and the Book mentions the characteristic materials of alchemy, including, for the first time in the West, sal ammoniac. It was clearly an important book to the Arabs, most of whose eminent philosophers mentioned alchemy, although sometimes disapprovingly. Those who practiced it were even more interested in literal gold making than had been the Greeks. The most well-attested and probably the greatest Arabic alchemist was ar- Rāzī (c. 850–923/924), a Persian physician who lived in Baghdad. The most famous was Jābir ibn Ḥayyān , now believed to be a name applied to a collection of “underground writings” produced in Baghdad after the theological reaction against science. In any case, the Jābirian writings are very similar to those of ar-Rāzī.
Ar-Rāzī classified the materials used by the alchemist into “bodies” (the metals), stones, vitriols, boraxes, salts, and “spirits,” putting into the latter those vital (and sublimable) materials, mercury, sulfur, orpiment and realgar (the arsenic sulfides), and sal ammoniac . Much is made of sal ammoniac, the reactive powers of which seem to have given Western alchemy a new lease on life. Ar-Rāzī and the Jābirian writers were really trying to make gold, through the catalytic action of the elixir. Both wrote much on the compounding of “strong waters,” an enterprise that was ultimately to lead to the discovery of the mineral acids, but students have been no more able to find evidence of this discovery in the writings of the Arabic alchemists than in those of China and India. The Arabic strong waters were merely corrosive salt solutions.
Ar-Rāzī’s writing represents the apogee of Arabic alchemy, so much so that students of alchemy have little evidence of its later reorientation toward mystical or quasi-religious objectives. Nor does it seem to have turned to medicine, which remained independent. But there was a tendency in Arabic medicine to give greater emphasis to mineral remedies and less to the herbs that had been the chief medicines of the earlier Greek and Arabic physicians. The result was a pharmacopoeia not of elixirs but of specific remedies that are inorganic in origin and not very different from the elixirs of ar-Rāzī. This new pharmacopoeia was taken to Europe by Constantine of Africa , a Baghdad-educated Muslim who died in 1087 as a Christian monk at Monte Cassino (Italy). The pharmacopoeia also appeared in Spain in the 11th century and passed from there to Latin Europe, along with the Arabic alchemical writings, which were translated into Latin in the 12th century.
Latin alchemy
In the 12th century the Christian West began to shed its habit of indifference or hostility to the secular literature of ancient and alien civilizations. Christian scholars were particularly attracted to Muslim Spain and Sicily and there made translations from both Arabic and Greek works, many of which were in some degree familiar, but some of which, including the literature of alchemy, were new.
The Greek alchemy of the Venice–Paris manuscript had much less impact than the work of ar-Rāzī and other Arabs, which emerged among the voluminous translations made in Spain about 1150 by Gerard of Cremona . By 1250 alchemy was familiar enough to enable such encyclopaedists as Vincent of Beauvais to discuss it fairly intelligibly, and before 1300 the subject was under discussion by the English philosopher and scientist Roger Bacon and the German philosopher, scientist, and theologian Albertus Magnus . To learn about alchemy was to learn about chemistry, for Europe had no independent word to describe the science of matter. It had been touched upon in works concerned with other forms of change—e.g., the motion of projectiles, the aging of man, and similar Aristotelian concepts. On the practical side there were also artists’ recipe books; but for the first time in the works of Bacon and Albertus Magnus change was discussed in a truly chemical sense, with Bacon treating the newly translated alchemy as a general science of matter for which he had great hopes.
But the more familiar alchemy became, the more clearly it was understood that gold making was the almost exclusive objective of alchemy, and Europeans proved no more resistant to the lure of this objective than their Arabic predecessors. By 1350, alchemical tracts were pouring out of the scriptoria (monastic copying rooms), and the Europeans had even taken over the tradition of anonymity and false attribution . One authority wrote at length about supposed disagreements between two Arabs, Iahiae Abindinon and Geber Abinhaen, who were probably two versions of the name of Jābir ibn Ḥayyān. The most famous Jābirian work in Europe, The Sum of Perfection , is now thought to have been an original European composition. At about this time personal reminiscences of alchemists began to appear. Most famous was the Paris notary Nicolas Flamel (1330–1418), who claimed that he dreamed of an occult book, subsequently found it, and succeeded in deciphering it with the aid of a Jewish scholar learned in the mystic Hebrew writings known as the Kabbala . In 1382 Flamel claimed to have succeeded in the “Great Work” (gold making); certainly he became rich and made donations to churches.
By 1300 alchemists had begun the discovery of the mineral acids, a discovery that occupied about three centuries between the first evidence of the new strong water (aqua fortis—i.e., nitric acid ) and the clear differentiation of the acids into three kinds: nitric, hydrochloric, and sulfuric. These three centuries saw prodigious efforts in European alchemy, for these spontaneously reactive and highly corrosive substances opened a whole new world of research. And yet, it was of little profit to chemistry, for the experiments were inhibited by the old objectives of separating the base metals into their “elements,” concocting elixirs, and other traditional procedures.
The “water of life” (aqua vitae; i.e., alcohol ) was probably discovered a little earlier than nitric acid, and some physicians and a few alchemists turned to the elixir of life as an objective. John of Rupescissa , a Catalonian monk who wrote c. 1350, prescribed virtually the same elixirs for metal ennoblement and for the preservation of health. His successors multiplied elixirs, which lost their uniqueness and finally simply became new medicines, often for specific ailments. Medical chemistry may have been conceived under Islam , but it was born in Europe. It only awaited christening by its great publicist, Paracelsus (1493–1541), who was the sworn enemy of the malpractices of 16th-century medicine and a vigorous advocate of “folk” and “chemical” remedies. By the end of the 16th century, medicine was divided into warring camps of Paracelsians and anti-Paracelsians, and the alchemists began to move en masse into pharmacy.
Paracelsian pharmacy was to lead, by a devious path, to modern chemistry, but gold making still persisted, though methods sometimes differed. SalomonTrismosin, purported author of the Splendor solis, or “Splendour of the Sun” (published 1598), engaged in extensive visits to alchemical adepts (a common practice) and claimed success through “kabbalistic and magical books in the Egyptian language.” The impression given is that many had the secret of gold making but that most of them had acquired it from someone else and not from personal experimentation. Illustrations, often heavily symbolic, became particularly important, those of Splendor solis being far more complex than the text but clearly exercising a greater appeal, even to modern students.
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At which institute was Dolly the Sheep cloned? | cloning dolly the sheep
Cloning Dolly the sheep
Dolly the sheep, as the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell, is by far the world's most famous clone. However, cloning has existed in nature since the dawn of life. From asexual bacteria to ‘virgin births’ in aphids , clones are all around us and are fundamentally no different to other organisms. A clone has the same DNA sequence as its parent and so they are genetically identical.
Several clones had been produced in the lab before Dolly, including frogs , mice , and cows, which had all been cloned from the DNA from embryos. Dolly was remarkable in being the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell. This was a major scientific achievement as it demonstrated that the DNA from adult cells, despite having specialised as one particular type of cell, can be used to create an entire organism.
How Dolly was cloned
Animal cloning from an adult cell is much more difficult than from an embryonic cell. So when scientists working at the Roslin Institute in Scotland produced Dolly, the only lamb born from 277 attempts, it was a major news story around the world.
To produce Dolly, scientists used an udder cell from a six-year-old Finn Dorset white sheep . They had to find a way to 'reprogram' the udder cells - to keep them alive but stop them growing – which they achieved by altering the growth medium (the ‘soup’ in which the cells were kept alive). Then they injected the cell into an unfertilised egg cell which had had its nucleus removed, and made the cells fuse by using electrical pulses. The unfertilised egg cell came from a Scottish Blackface ewe. When the research team had managed to fuse the nucleus from the adult white sheep cell with the egg cell from the black-faced sheep, they needed to make sure that the resulting cell would develop into an embryo. They cultured it for six or seven days to see if it divided and developed normally, before implanting it into a surrogate mother, another Scottish Blackface ewe. Dolly had a white face.
From 277 cell fusions, 29 early embryos developed and were implanted into 13 surrogate mothers. But only one pregnancy went to full term, and the 6.6 kg Finn Dorset lamb 6LLS (alias Dolly) was born after 148 days.
What happened to Dolly?
Dolly lived a pampered existence at the Roslin Institute. She mated and produced normal offspring in the normal way, showing that such cloned animals can reproduce. Born on 5 July 1996, she was euthanased on 14 February 2003, aged six and a half. Sheep can live to age 11 or 12, but Dolly suffered from arthritis in a hind leg joint and from sheep pulmonary adenomatosis, a virus-induced lung tumour that is common among sheep which are raised indoors.
The DNA in the nucleus is wrapped up into chromosomes, which shorten each time the cell replicates. This meant that Dolly’s chromosomes were a little shorter than those of other sheep her age and her early ageing may reflect that she was raised from the nucleus of a 6-year old sheep. Dolly was also not entirely identical to her genetic mother because the mitochondria, the power plants of the cell that are kept outside the nucleus, were inherited from Dolly’s egg donor mother.
Why clone sheep?
Dolly the sheep was produced at the Roslin Institute as part of research into producing medicines in the milk of farm animals. Researchers have managed to transfer human genes that produce useful proteins into sheep and cows, so that they can produce, for instance, the blood clotting agent factor IX to treat haemophilia or alpha-1-antitrypsin to treat cystic fibrosis and other lung conditions. Inserting these genes into animals is a difficult and laborious process; cloning allows researchers to only do this once and clone the resulting transgenic animal to build up a breeding stock.
The development of cloning technology has led to new ways to produce medicines and is improving our understanding of development and genetics.
Since Dolly
Since 1996, when Dolly was born, other sheep have been cloned from adult cells, as have cats , rabbits , horses and donkeys, pigs, goats and cattle. In 2004 a mouse was cloned using a nucleus from an olfactory neuron, showing that the donor nucleus can come from a tissue of the body that does not normally divide.
Improvements in the technique have meant that the cloning of animals is becoming cheaper and more reliable. This has created a market for commercial services offering to clone pets or elite breeding livestock, but still with a $100,000 price-tag.
The advances made through cloning animals have led to a potential new therapy to prevent mitochondrial diseases in humans being passed from mother to child. About 1 in 6000 people is born with faulty mitochondria, which can result in diseases like muscular dystrophy . To prevent this, genetic material from the embryo is extracted and placed in an egg cell donated by another woman, which contains functioning mitochondria. This is the same process as used in cloning of embryonic cells of animals. Without this intervention, the faulty mitochondria are certain to pass on to the next generation.
The treatment is currently not permitted for use in humans. However, the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority in the UK has reported that there is general support in the public for legalising the therapy and making it available to patients.
Research field(s): Anatomy and development, Cell biology, Genetics, Medical technologies
Medical application(s): Basic research
| Roslin Institute |
Which was the first film directed by Tim Burton to star Johnny Depp? | BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Dolly the sheep clone dies young
Friday, 14 February, 2003, 20:28 GMT
Dolly the sheep clone dies young
Dolly the Sheep was born in 1996
Dolly the sheep, who became famous as the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell, has died.
The news was confirmed on Friday by the Roslin Institute, the Scottish research centre which created her.
A decision was taken to "euthanase" six-year-old Dolly after a veterinary examination showed that she had a progressive lung disease, the institute said in a statement.
She was not old - by sheep standards - to have been put down
Dr Patrick Dixon, expert on ethics of human cloning
Dolly became the first mammal clone when she was born on 5 July 1996.
She was revealed to the public the following year.
Post-mortem
Dr Harry Griffin, from the institute, said: "Sheep can live to 11 or 12 years of age and lung infections are common in older sheep, particularly those housed inside.
"A full post-mortem is being conducted and we will report any significant findings"
Dolly was a sheep created totally by design - even her name was picked specifically to be appealing.
It came about during the latter stages of labour when Dolly was born.
Stockmen involved in the delivery thought of the fact that the cell used came from a mammary gland and arrived at Dolly Parton, the country and western singer.
Cloning row
Her birth was only announced seven months later and was heralded as one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of the decade.
But it also prompted a long-running argument over the ethics of cloning, reaching further levels with the latest allegations of human cloning.
Dolly gave birth to four lambs in her lifetime
Dolly, a Finn Dorset, bred normally on two occasions with a Welsh mountain ram called David.
She first gave birth to Bonnie in April 1998 and then to three more lambs in 1999.
But in January last year her condition caused concern when she was diagnosed with a form of arthritis.
Museum piece
The condition would usually be expected in older animals and another debate erupted over what could properly be judged as Dolly's true age, and the risks of premature ageing in clones.
Professor Ian Wilmut, who led the team that created her, said at the time that the arthritis showed their cloning techniques were "inefficient" and needed more work.
Dr Patrick Dixon, a writer on the ethics of human cloning, said the nature of Dolly's death would have a huge impact on possibility of producing a cloned human baby.
If there is a link, it will provide further evidence of the dangers inherent in reproductive cloning
Professor Richard Gardner
He said: "The real issue is what Dolly died from, and whether it was linked to premature ageing," he said.
"She was not old - by sheep standards - to have been put down."
'Profound effects'
Speaking to BBC News 24 on Friday, Prof Wilmut said Dolly's birth should be the important issue.
"The fact that we were able to produce an animal from the cell of another adult - it had profound effects on biological research and in medicine."
Professor Richard Gardner, chair of the Royal Society working group on stem cell research and therapeutic cloning, said: "We must await the results of the post-mortem on Dolly in order to assess whether her relatively premature death was in any way connected with the fact that she was a clone.
"If there is a link, it will provide further evidence of the dangers inherent in reproductive cloning and the irresponsibility of anybody who is trying to extend such work to humans."
Dolly has been promised to the National Museum of Scotland and will be put on display in Edinburgh in due course.
WATCH/LISTEN
| i don't know |
Which darts player was the first to finish a 501 leg in 9 darts live on British TV? | Patrick Chaplin: 9 Darters
9 Darters
Who Threw The Very First Nine-Darter?
I receive a good number of darts history questions via my web site, but one I received in February 2003 from a dart fan in the Netherlands really set me thinking.
The question was:
‘Do you know when the first 9-dart finish was thrown in the history of darts? And I mean ‘In what year?’ I was wondering when that happened.’
What a splendid question! After much thought, a reply was sent. I thought I would share my answer with visitors to my web page. It reads as follows:
The first 9-darter to be seen on TV was, of course, John Lowe's in 1984, followed by Paul Lim's in 1990, but who hit the very first 9-darter is not known and - I would suggest - is lost in history. All I can say is that it is very unlikely that it happened before the introduction of the tungsten dart.
Before that time – the late 1970s - darts were mainly made of brass or wood and were much wider than tungsten. Thus it made it very difficult to hit a 180, let alone two 180s in a row! Tungsten darts, being much thinner, brought the possibility of the ultimate game to reality.
John Lowe, when interviewed after his TV 9-darter in 1984, said that he had hit the magic sequence during exhibition matches but until then never in a major competition.
The question you ask is the same as:
Who scored the first 180?
The Guinness Book of Records used to include a claim for this, but in my research I have not been able to trace the pub in which it was said to have been achieved in the early 1900s or the newspaper in which the event was supposed to have been reported.
Both the first 180 and the first 9-darter will probably never be known. OK, so I might find a report later on which says that 180 was scored by Mr X in a pub in London in 1928 or that Mr Y hit a nine-darter in Holland in 1978, but who's to say that someone else, in a pub, in a private game, hadn't hit one a lot earlier?
So, what do we do?
We have to look at what we actually know for sure has happened and qualify it. So, we applaud John Lowe as the first man to achieve a 9-darter on TV (recorded), Paul Lim as the first man to achieve it in the Embassy Championships and Shaun Greatbatch as the first man to achieve it on 'live' TV.
As my research continues I may well find an earlier report than John Lowe's in 1984 about a nine-darter. That won't prove that that person scored the first ever 9-darter but it be 'the earliest known 9-darter.'
I'm sorry that I have not been able to answer your question exactly as you might have expected, but I hope that this helps - and also illustrates the frustrations that research causes this humble Darts Historian.
Best wishes
Patrick Chaplin
So, instead of you asking me a question, I’ll ask you one. Let me throw out a challenge to all you darters out there.
What is the earliest recorded case of a 9-darter and/or a ‘180’?
Do YOU know?
Frivolous admissions like, “Yeah, my grandfather hit a 9-darter in the White Horse on Christmas Day 1937 with a set of darts he made in his shed” or “I remember my Uncle Ted hitting 180 on a paper dartboard which used to hang on the back of our kitchen door in the 1950s” will not be accepted. The claim must be backed up by a genuine report of some kind, for example, a press cutting.
Either e-mail your information to me or post it to my home address, both of which appear on my ‘Contact’ page.
How Many Permutations?
I immediately knew who to contact when Phil Cook of Cheltenham, England e-mailed me in August 2008 with the question ‘How many possible permutations of a 501 nine-dart finish are there?’
Earlier that year I had been in conversation with Bobby George and he had told me that he had worked out not only the number of combinations for a nine-dart 501 but also the number of possible sequences.
Bobby revealed that there are, according to his calculations, no less than 145 combinations and 3,944 sequences.
(Now watch the mathematicians out there whipping out their pencils and paper and checking out the calcs!)
Thanks to Bobby for the information.
Patrick Chaplin
Check out Bobby George’s website at www.bobbygeorge.com
Sub Navigation
| John Lowe |
Which was the first film directed by Alfred Hitchcock to star James Stewart? | 9-Dart Finishes (Perfect 501 Legs)
9-Dart Finishes (Perfect 501 Legs)
Here are Phil Taylor's two 9-dart legs in one match from the finals of the 2010 Premier League tournament against James Wade. This has to be one of the greatest moments in darts history by the living legend Phil Taylor.
9-Dart Leg: Brendan Dolan's 9-Darter with Double Start and Bull Finish 2011
Brendan Dolan became the first player to achieve a 9-dart leg when playing double starts and finishes. Because of the double start, this is considered by many to be the greatest ever 9-dart finish especially as he finishes on the bull too - Amazing stuff!...
9-Dart Leg: Phil Taylor's 9-Darters against Chris Mason in 2002 (First Live 9-Dart Finish on TV)
The first 9-dart finish broadcast live on TV was threw by Phil Taylor on 1st August 2002 against Chris Mason in the quarter finals of the World Matchplay. He won 100,000 pounds for the 9-darter, and he went on to win the event with a 18-16 victory over Can...
Adrian Lewis gets the 3rd ever 9-darter in the PDC World championships on 3rd Jan 2011 while playing against Gary Anderson. This 9-dart leg won him a bonus prize of 10,000 pounds.
9-Dart Leg: Raymond van Barneveld 9-Dart Finish in the 2009 PDC World Darts Championship
Barneveld threw a perfect 9-dart leg in his PDC World Championship quarter-final against fellow Dutchman Jelle Klaasen on 2nd January 2009. Barneveld hit two maximum 180s before nailing treble 20, treble 19 and double 12 to complete his nine-darter in the...
9-Dart Leg: John Lowe's 9-Dart Finish in 1984 (The 1st Televised 9-Dart Finish)
John Lowe's 9-darter was the first perfect 9-dart finish to be televised. He achieved this feat against Keith Deller in the World Matchplay championship on October 13, 1984. Amazingly, he won a bonus of $175,000 (102,000 pounds) for the first 9-darter on T...
9-Dart Leg: Paul Lim's 9-dart finish in 1990 at the World Professional Darts Championship
America's Paul Lim was the only player to throw a 9-dart leg at a the World Professional Darts Championship. He threw the perfect leg on 9th January 1990 while playing Ireland's Jack McKenna. He won a bonus of 52,000 pounds which was more than the 25,000 p...
Shawn Greatbatch threw his 9-darter in the Dutch Open on 3rd 2 Feb 2002. He was unfortunate to only win 200 Euros for his achievement.
John Boy Walton threw his 9-darter on 17th November 2007 in 1st round of the Winmau World Masters while playing Martin Phillips. He went on to win the match but lost in the semi finals to Fitton.
Darryl Fitton won 4,000 pounds for his 9-darter against Ross Montgomery in the Zuiderduin Masters on 13th December 2009
9-Dart Leg: Van Gerwen 9-Darter at the Masters of Darts 2007
Micheal Van Gerwen in the 2007 Masters of Darts became the youngest player to achieve a 9-dart finish. He did it against is more famous Dutch countryman, Raymond van Barneveld, in the Masters of Darts on 17th Feb 2007 and took home a bonus of 10,000 Euros.
Veteran Canadian John Part threw his 9-darter while trailing Mark Webster 7-3. He went on to lose the match but took home a bonus of 10,000 pounds.
9-Dart Leg: James Wade's 9-Darter in the Grand Slam of Darts 2008
James Wade threw three 9-dart legs in 2006 but none of them were televised. He finally got his perfect leg on TV in the Grand Slam of Darts on 20th September 2008 against Gary Anderson. Wade has also been on the receiving end of televised 9-darters 4-times...
| i don't know |
“Lovers of the stinking Rose” have a fondness for which food? | Lovers of the Stinking Rose | Mississippi Market
Lovers of the Stinking Rose
Posted on August 3, 2011 by Jan
Garlic was not a part of my Minnesota German mother’s cooking, so of course I embraced it ardently when I started cooking on my own—that’s what we did back in the ’60s: tried to make it new.
Along with cooking garlic every which way, I joined the Lovers of the Stinking Rose, a very informal Berkeley group devoted to garlic cooking and eating. When Robert Charles opened La Vielle Maison in Truckee, California, in the 1970s, I hopped the first Southern Pacific train I could to chug up there for a five-course, garlic-infused meal.
What changes have been rung in the status of garlic here in south-central Minnesota!—now each August, Minnesota has its very own garlic festival, and every fall, Mississippi Market stocks a lively variety of locally grown garlics. This is a very happy time to be a lover of the stinking rose in the North Star state.
This year’s Minnesota Garlic Festival —the sixth—will be held at the McLeod County fairgrounds in Litchfield. Chefs from the Twin Cities will offer fabulous garlic-infused food. With any luck, the Minars of Cedar Summit will show up, as they have in past years, with garlic ice cream made in their creamery. Newly harvested local garlic—most of it is hard-necked, and happily lots of it is really firey—will be on sale for Christmas stockings, faux Chanukah gelt, and fall and winter braises. You can sacrifice a head or two to planting for your own harvest in late summer 2012 (Check out our class on the subject). What more can a lover of the stinking rose ask for?
It’s fascinating to look over the varieties for sale at the festival; many, if not most, originate in Russia, Siberia, Poland, and other northerly places—I suppose that should come as little surprise. If all you’ve eaten is the conventional, white-skinned, soft-necked garlic that comes from California (and in supermarkets, from China, which exports more than 75% of the world’s soft-necked garlic), you’re in for a surprise. Hard-necked garlics are fuller bodied, more deeply flavored, and sometimes far hotter than standard-issue garlic. Rocambole varieties (for example, Spanish Roja, German Brown, Argentine Red Stripe, Purple Max) offer deep, memorable flavors. Purple-stripes (for example, Metechi, Siberian, Persian Star) become wonderfully sweet when roasted. Porcelains (for example, Georgian Fire, Georgian Crystal, Music, Leningrad, German White, Polish Hardneck, Romanian Red) have few but uniformly sized, usually very large cloves (4–8 per head) and offer the fieriest taste.
Once you know what garlic you prefer, harden off some cloves of your favorites and plant them in fall for 2012’s harvest. The chartreuse-green scapes that emerge in spring possess a youthful garlic-y flavor: you can chop them up as you would chives or scallions and use them to add a bit of bite and green flavor to salads, soups, and casseroles. The beautiful flower heads that rise atop lengthy stems in spring are edible and add striking color (blue to purple) to salads and otherwise blandly colored cheese and potato dishes.
For a more-than-you-ever-wanted-to-know introduction to garlic lore, cultivation, and cooking, check out Ted Jordan Meredith’s The Complete Book of Garlic: A Guide for Gardeners, Growers, and Serious Cooks (Timber Press, 2008), a book as beautiful as it is comprehensive.
For a blast from the past, find yourself a used copy of Lloyd J. Harris’s The Book of Garlic (Holt, Rinehart, 1975)—good recipes, great lore, a tonic reminder that avid interest in food in this country did not start in the 1980s or 1990s.
GARLIC FAVORITES
Herb Oil
This is one of the most versatile foodstuffs I know of. You can use it on pizzas when they come out of the oven; as a salad dressing or marinade for grilling, with a squeeze of fresh lemon; as a wake-me-up for mashed or smashed potatoes. Use it fresh within a day or freeze it for up to six months. If I were stuck on the proverbial desert island, this is the one sauce I would want with me.
Ingredients:
2 large cloves of garlic, skinned
¼ c. flatleaf parsley
½ tsp. fresh rosemary leaves
½ tsp. fresh thyme leaves
¼–½ tsp. dry oregano
shake of red pepper flakes
¼–½ tsp. sea salt
½ c. extra-virgin olive oil (preferably a peppery one like Napa Valley Naturals
Rich & Robust)
If using a mortar and pestle, grind garlic and other ingredients into a rough paste; add olive oil; pour into a ½-pint jar and leave out for an hour before use so flavors can marry.
If chopping up ingredients, put olive oil into a small jar, then mince garlic, chop parsley, basil, rosemary, and thyme finely; scrape into jar, add pepper flakes and salt. Leave out for an hour before use so flavors can marry.
If used as a marinade or salad dressing, add juice of a half lemon first.
Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic
Yes, this sounds excessive, but the flavor is memorably sweet and complex and cherished by most lovers of the stinking rose. You could probably win a bet with most diners by asking them to name the seasoning; few would be able to identify the garlic. This is adapted from the late Richard Olney’s interpretation of an old provençal recipe (Simple French Food, 1974).
Ingredients:
4 each chicken thighs and drumsticks, or one cut-up chicken, skin on
2/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil
4 heads of garlic, broken into cloves but not peeled
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tsp. dry herbes de Provence
seasoning vegetables: 1 stalk of celery, small handful of flatleaf parsley,
dry bay leaf, greens from a leek or scallions
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Pat chicken pieces dry so they brown well. Heat 1/3 c. olive oil on MEDIUM in heavy skillet, and when it shimmers, add chicken pieces with tongs (do not break skin). Brown lightly on both sides.
Add the rest of the olive oil to a Dutch oven, earthenware pot, Romertopf, or stoneware casserole. Then add the chicken, which should just fit into the cooking vessel; don’t use a huge vessel lest the chicken dry out. The food should be tucked in companionably (a 3-quart pot is about right for one chicken; a 2-quart will do for legs and thighs alone).
Add garlic cloves, salt, pepper, and dry herbs. Use your hands to mix all of the ingredients thoroughly, so everything is well coated.
Push the chicken pieces toward the sides of the roasting vessel and stuff the fresh vegetables into the center. If any garlic cloves pop up to the top, push them back down amid the chicken pieces.
Put a piece of crumpled parchment paper over the contents and cover with a lid or with tightly closed aluminum foil to fully seal the dish. Bake in center of oven for 1¾ hours.
| Garlic |
The motto of which company is “Impossible is nothing”? | The Stinking Rose - Italian Restaurant in North Beach
The Stinking Rose
"The Gilroy Garlic Ice Cream w/chocolate mole sauce is incredible."(26 Tips)
"Definitely try the Bagna Calda, absolutely delicious."(7 Tips)
"It will definitely keep vampires away and also your lover!!"(6 Tips)
"40 clove chicken"(5 Tips)
Log in to leave a tip here.
Post
Hermann Brandi November 25, 2016
Garlic ice cream anyone...?
Hermann Brandi November 25, 2016
The Halibut is very good. I tried the one with paprika and was delicious. I will try the one with garlic and basil. Sounds like a great combination.
Jim Murphy November 14, 2016
Everything was good
Try the Garlic Ice Cream (via @Foodspotting)
Greyhawk68 September 9, 2016
Try the Artichoke Ravioli With Red Pepper Bacon Sauce (via @Foodspotting)
Greyhawk68 September 9, 2016
Tana Babcock August 29, 2016
Pasta portions are kind of small so if you're hungry make sure to get some sort of starter. The Dungeness Crab was the best!
Kate Yan August 1, 2016
I recommend the garlic meatballs and 40 clove chicken. The free bread that they give you isn't that great, so don't fill up on those.
Jennifer Newell July 12, 2016
Th garlic dipping appetizer is delicious. You can get more bread if you'd like.
Jamie Dumbill July 4, 2016
Great prime rib. Pasta dishes tasty too. Get the signature garlic appetiser and scare off vampires for months. You will smell for so long after eating all the garlic in this place!
💕Linds💕 June 29, 2016
The artichoke ravioli was really good.
💕Linds💕 June 26, 2016
Eric William Pitts May 26, 2016
Food is authentic, staff is not. Very expensive.
aprilkalinka ff April 24, 2016
Good place but pastas are waaaay over cooked. My husband is italian so we know what is good pasta. This was not. I order meatloaf, and it was good. Just make sure to tell, not to over cook the pasta
Giovanna Hano March 26, 2016
RUN!!! This place is disgusting, over priced, and has slow service! TOURIST TRAP! But if you do decide to take the plunge, the meatloaf is the only thing worth eating.
Pete Williams February 4, 2016
So much garlic deliciousness
Emiliano Viscarra January 19, 2016
Garlic garlic garlic garlic. Meatloaf and chicken are great.
Siddhant Puri January 11, 2016
The fondue, garlic clove chicken and ribs
Bingül Ispahi January 1, 2016
Garlic beef çok sahane😊
Fredrik Holm December 13, 2015
The Fresh Tomatoes pasta is REALLY fresh and nice ! Recommended for a light lunch.
John Brasley September 6, 2015
Garlic heaven
Jimmy Douglas September 5, 2015
Quantity over quality, but still pretty fun.
Randale August 30, 2015
Steve Beeston August 28, 2015
Nothing. Really bad meal. Don't go. Nothing tastes of garlic, food is cold or over cooked. It's a tourist trap. Don't go!
Culera Connor August 22, 2015
Not many options for "non-so garlic lovers" really expensive, and when u go out u STINK for the rest of the day
Benjamin Roodman August 15, 2015
You're body will reject all the garlic fun in a few hours and the next morning.
Jorg Roodbeen July 29, 2015
Must do in San Francisco.
What's Good Here July 22, 2015
A short walk from the waterfront, come over to this bistro for your garlic fix.
Curtis Allen July 22, 2015
Have more then 3 people? Ask for a booth on the north side of the restaurant, much more comfortable
Timothy Mathews July 20, 2015
Everything
Nancy Tran July 6, 2015
Meatloaf was bomb!
Hector A Parayuelos June 17, 2015
The meatloaf is incredible, best I've ever had. Super tasty and moist!
Keiron Q June 11, 2015
Garlic ice cream is surprisingly good. This place sounds like a gimmick but the food is top notch.
CNN June 5, 2015
The garlic fun is not limited to the food. The Stinking Rose's walls are adorned with animated garlic characters, and the restaurant is filled with garlic-themed collectibles. Read more
Mike Winston June 5, 2015
Do yourself a favor – turn around a leave right now. Yes, everything's got garlic, but nothing at this expensive, kitchy, tourist trap is actually very good. Read more on WinstonWanders below! Read more
PJ Pink Schowalter June 2, 2015
Great place!
Natalie M June 1, 2015
Get the hummus to start. So very yummy!
Sean Miller May 26, 2015
Love this place! We can't make a trip to the Bay Area without having dinner here.
Greg Cal April 28, 2015
It's quirky and unusual but a lot of fun for garlic lovers. The garlic ice cream is revolting but it's a must try
Bernardo Estrella April 11, 2015
Never misses on good taste and a good stink afterwards! Jk. Just go with an entreé and a dish
Silvia Edgell April 5, 2015
Overpriced and nothing special. Service was awful. Not worth the visit specially with so many options around.
Amy B March 30, 2015
Service: Great. Good: Adequate.
Daniel Plemmons March 17, 2015
I feel like it's a bit pricey for what it is.
Joseph Tinner February 3, 2015
Came here for lunch on a Tuesday. Hardly anyone here. Service was a C-. Food was a B. Ambience was B+ Check was pricey.
Robert Black January 25, 2015
Everything is great here
| i don't know |
The ancient ritual of bull-leaping took place on which Mediterranean island? | Strange Horizons - Bull-Leaping in Bronze Age Crete
Bull-Leaping in Bronze Age Crete
comes near the midpoint of the story, on the doomed island of Atlantis. In it, the royal princess Charis takes part in one of the major rituals of her people: bull-leaping.
Sir Arthur Evans;
image courtesy of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture
The idea of acrobats flinging themselves at and over charging bulls was not Lawhead's invention; he took it from Minoan-period Crete. The archaeological record contains many depictions of this activity, and the concept of it has enchanted many people since Sir Arthur Evans first carried out excavations in the palace at Knossos . Since then, however, many scholars have raised questions about it, ranging from the meaning of the activity, to the manner and location of its execution, to who engaged in it. The subject is muddied in part by Evans's own writings; his work at Knossos and elsewhere is the foundation of Minoan archaeology (he was the one to name the period Minoan, after the mythological figure of Minos), and his efforts are laudable, but he approached Crete and its ancient civilization with a romantic light in his eye, and it colored all that he saw. Because his work
is
the foundation upon which so much else is built, that romantic light has also tinted much later scholarship. Disentangling Evans's biases from his own work and that of others in order to form a clearer picture of this characteristically Minoan activity is not a simple task.
What is bull-leaping?
The most commonly cited representation of bull-leaping is a well-preserved member of the four-panel grouping known as the "Taureador" or "Bull-Leaping" frescoes found at Knossos. Large portions of the panel are missing, but it seems that many key parts are preserved. The fresco shows three individuals of debatable gender and a bull with its legs outstretched in the common artistic code for a full gallop. One figure, dark-skinned and apparently male, seems to be somersaulting over the bull's back; his legs are in the air and his arms stretch around the bull's sides. At the bull's head another figure stands and seems to grasp the bull's horns, perhaps preparatory to performing the kind of acrobatics the other is currently engaged in. The third figure stands behind the bull, arms outstretched, perhaps in an attitude of reverence, perhaps to catch or steady the individual doing the somersault. The other three panels are similar in composition, with the primary difference being that in two of them the third figure appears to be landing from a leap rather than reaching out to catch the other acrobat.
The Taureador Frescoes are far from the only representation of bull-leaping in Minoan wall art. Evans's personal count of their instances may be somewhat inflated; he was capable of looking at a fresco fragment showing the front leg of an animal, most likely a bull, and extrapolating from this an entire bull-leaping scene complete with acrobats. His restorers then obligingly provided him with all the missing pieces. And, unfortunately, reproductions of the frescoes often do not show where the fragments end and the reproductions begin, so that many readers are misled into thinking the entire thing is genuine. Elsewhere, Evans's extrapolations may be better founded, as in one fragment which shows not only the forelegs of a bull but also marks which seem to be locks of hair, which could indicate the presence of an acrobat. Nevertheless, when Evans calls bull-grappling a common motif in Minoan art, that designation must be taken with a grain of salt.
Still, the Taureador Frescoes are not alone. A fragment from what Evans called the "Deposit of High Reliefs" shows a man's left arm thrown over a bull's horn; the fist is clenched, but not around the horn itself, and curiously enough the arm is turned in such a direction that it implies the man is facing away from the bull, instead of toward it, as is the case in the Taureador Frescoes. There are, moreover, frescoes from other sites that show the same or similar scenes: Pylos and Tiryns both have bull-leaping frescoes, for example, less well-executed than the examples at Knossos. Bull-leaping scenes appear even so far away as Egypt, at Avaris. There, archaeologists have uncovered frescoes which show strong Minoan influence, and some of the fragments depict bulls and acrobats in a manner not all that dissimilar from those of Knossos. Their most interesting characteristic, however, is not their location, but their age; more than one scholar has suggested that they are older than the surviving frescoes from Crete, which may raise new questions regarding the origins of Minoan wall-painting.
Frescoes are far from the only medium in which bull-leaping is represented. Two
rhyta
(a type of vessel) from tombs at Messara show similar images. Another
rhyton
from Hagia Triada, sometimes called the Boxers' Rhyton, shows an individual who appears to be an acrobat caught on the horns of a charging bull. The Vapheio Cup A portrays a similar scene, although in this instance the scene appears to belong more to bull-hunting motifs than to bull-leaping.
More distinctly identifiable as a bull-leaper is the bronze statue from the Middle Minoan III period. It depicts an apparent acrobat on the back of a charging bull; the acrobat's feet are placed on the bull's hindquarters and his back is arched. His arms are stumped off; they have apparently already released the horns. The remaining connection to the bull (necessary for support) is formed by the boy's hair, which touches the bull's head. Also in the sculptural medium there is a badly decayed ivory figure from the Ivory Deposit at Knossos, which may have been paired with a now lost bull.
Representations in clay sealings are fairly common. The scenes they depict are far less detailed than the large, painted frescoes, but their general outline is clear. One from the Temple Repository at Knossos shows a bull, a human figure with arms around the bull's neck and legs in the air, and a third figure standing behind with one arm raised. Two from Zakros show a bull and the legs of an acrobat who seems to be descending to land on the hindquarters. Another example from Zakros shows a different posture: the acrobat is descending headfirst towards the bull's back with his arms outstretched, much like the central performer in the main Taureador Fresco. In one sealing from the Corridor of the Bays at Knossos the acrobat seems to be beginning another flip: his head is down toward the bull's hindquarters with his arms extended and his legs, from what is preserved of them, on their way to the ground behind the bull.
A few other examples of the motif come from other media. An agate intaglio shows a strange, circular design which includes two bulls galloping in opposite directions with their backs to one another, an acrobat in between the two (apparently in the midst of a somersault), and a second human to one side with arms outstretched. The intaglio, however, belonged to Evans's personal collection and had a very uncertain provenance; he bought it in Athens and claimed it had been found in the Peloponnese. Given the frequency of forgery in the archaeological world, such an item must automatically be suspect.
Other examples are more trustworthy. A signet ring from a chamber tomb at Arkhanes shows a single acrobat with his hands planted on the bull's back and his legs on their way to the ground, much like the Knossos sealing described above. Another signet ring, from Smyrna, shows what Evans took to be an acrobat or cowboy in apparent trouble; he lies on the ground underneath the bull's hindquarters and holds up his hands as if in distress, while the bull's head turns back as if in preparation for trampling him. If this is an example of the same motif, it is not the only one from outside Crete; the Avaris frescoes have been mentioned already, and a clay envelope from Cappadocia showing similar sports has, like the frescoes, been dated to before Minoan times. Even if bull-leaping did not originate outside of Crete, it certainly spread there, as a concept if not as a performed activity.
The mechanics of bull-leaping
The average individual could not possibly hope to take a flying leap at a charging bull and emerge in one piece on the other side. This does not mean, however, that specially trained athletes could not manage it. The gymnastics vault event is not so dissimilar in general principle: the gymnast runs full-speed at the vault "horse" and performs a somersault over it. Granted, the "horse" is not moving, and the gymnast has a springboard to help, but then again, the gymnast is also trained to do something more complicated than a simple somersault.
The exact mechanics of the supposed bull-leaping feat are open to debate. Evans sketched out a hypothetical sequence along the following lines:
The leaper seizes the bull by the horns, near the tips.
The bull raises its head in an attempt to throw him, which gives momentum to the leaper.
The leaper releases the horns, turns a back-somersault, and lands on the bull's back near the tail.
Finally, he makes his last leap from the bull's back to the ground.
This is a fairly literal interpretation of the depictions in the art, although interestingly enough it does not seem to entirely match what is shown in the Taureador Fresco; there, the acrobat's arms seem to be planted across the bull's back.
But how possible is such a feat? In all likelihood the acrobat would end up with a fate not dissimilar from that seen on, for example, the Boxers' Rhyton, which appears to show an unlucky bull-leaper being gored to death. Perhaps the images merely show the concept behind bull-leaping—the defeat of a powerful animal by human skill—and not the mechanics of how it was done.
Oddly enough, Evans acknowledged that in the opinion of some people, including a professional steer-wrestler, what the frescoes show is simply not possible. According to that unnamed individual, the acrobat would have no hope of obtaining his balance against a bull in full charge, and in particular would face the problem that a bull tends to sweep his head sideways for the purpose of goring anyone within reach—which would, presumably, make getting any kind of grip on the horns virtually impossible. In addition, there is also the issue that the relative momentum of the bull and the acrobat would almost certainly result in a landing not on the bull's back but on the ground behind it.
Evans sidestepped the issue repeatedly. He stated quite frankly at one point that the process he had sketched out was beyond the ability of a human to perform, by which he indicated not the somersault itself, but what a gymnast might term the "mount": the commencement of the endeavor, depicted in the art as involving grasping the bull's horns. Nevertheless, Evans still held to his sequence as described above, and showed more concern for questions such as where the waiting "assistant" would stand to catch the leaper than the still-unresolved issue of how the leap began in the first place. He suggested in passing that the bulls were trained for this activity, but this hardly eliminates all the doubts regarding the feasibility of this sequence. Nor do two other comments he made, one pointing out that other media such as seal impressions partially corroborate the image shown on the frescoes, the other holding up instances of bull-wrestling seen on gems as similarly superhuman feats.
But the approach Evans outlines is not the only one theorized. One variation suggests the bull-leaper somersaulted over the head of the bull (without touching the horns) and landed feet first on the bull's back; another would have the leaper diving over the bull's head and landing in a handstand on the back, before continuing to the ground. Alternatively, the acrobats may have vaulted sideways over the bull's back, with or without the grabbing a horn. Finally, one scenario, called the "diving leaper" approach, would have the acrobat come from an elevated position, diving down onto the bull's shoulders and then to the ground. Any or all of these possibilities may have constituted moves in a repertoire from which the acrobats could draw in the course of a performance, with the crowning move being Evans's pattern, seizing the horns and leaping over the back. That last notion is the one Lawhead drew on for his novel; it has the charm of both explaining the frequency of Evans's pattern's representation and allowing for its rarity and difficulty.
Who performed bull-leaping?
Taureador Fresco, Palace at Knossos; image courtesy of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture
The Taureador Fresco depicts three individuals whose identities and even genders have been subject to a great deal of debate. By and large the Minoans followed the same artistic conventions as the Egyptians in coloring males red or brown and females white. When this pattern is applied to the Taureador Fresco, we find that the somersaulting figure is a male—an observation which harmonizes with his short and characteristically male kilt.
The other two figures, however, are more problematic. Both of them are colored white, which on the face of it would seem to suggest that they are women. Indeed, Evans assumed them to be so, and referred to them that way constantly; any fresco showing a white-skinned bull-leaper he classed as depicting a woman. In fact, he seemed to be quite taken with the notion of female acrobats, and saw them practically everywhere; he was capable of identifying the figure on the Vapheio Cup A as a girl based on her long hair and "a slight pectoral development"—a phrase which sounds suspiciously like Evans reaching for the characteristics he wished to see.
The acrobats in question are invariably shown with their upper bodies bare—that is, lacking the open-fronted jacket or shirt characteristic of Minoan women—and wearing the masculine costume of codpieces and phallus sheaths. Evans did not ignore the muscular appearance of the leapers, but neither did this make him question his assumption of female gender.
Certain practical considerations come to mind when the physique of these potentially female figures is evaluated. One is that large-breasted women would not be well suited to an acrobatic activity like cavorting with charging bulls. Another is that women who engage in strenuous athletic pursuits of this sort, particularly if they are trained to do so from a young age, often do not develop large breasts; one glance at Olympic gymnasts will demonstrate this principle in action. Minoan art, however, with its peculiar perspective combining profiles and full-face, its wasp-waisted men and coloring conventions, is hardly noted for its realism in the depiction of human figures. It would be surprising in the extreme if attention to this sort of physiological detail were responsible for female leapers being depicted as flat-chested.
Evans addresses the gender disparities directly. His comments convey his attitude toward the material more clearly than any paraphrase could:
A ceremonial feature, affecting all classes of the bull-sports, and which must be distinctly regarded as of a religious nature, is to be seen in the head-gear of the female performers. These, as may be gathered from their elaborate coiffure and the gay
bandeaux
that some of them wear, clearly occupied a good social position. Thus in the exquisite design of a leaping girl performer given in Fig. 11, her carefully curled locks are confined by a blue ribbon and she wears a beaded necklace. But the most notable feature in the costume of girl performers was of a very different kind. As participants in the feats of the
taurokathapsia
these trained girl athletes—who may be thought to represent the presiding Goddess in a superior degree—had to first undergo a kind of sexual transformation, by divesting themselves of all feminine dress except their head-gear and necklace, and by adopting the sporting costume of the male performers, including the universal exterior sign of the masculine sex, the Minoan version of the 'Libyan sheath.' (4: 21-22)
So he acknowledges up front that some manner of "sexual transformation" is taking place. His assumption, however, is that women are being transformed into men; his proofs for this are their white skin (as previously mentioned), their hair arrangements, and their necklaces, which stand in contrast with their bare upper bodies, their muscled torsos, their masculine sheaths, and their engagement in physical activity which must have required great strength of upper body.
He attributes the presence of girls among the performers to the link between these sorts of bull-sports and the Minoan Goddess. In his opinion,
It was no doubt the religious character of these sports—held under the immediate patronage of the Goddess, whose pillar shrine overlooked the arena—that made it possible and even proper for girls, apparently of high degree, to enter the ranks of these highly skilled performers. (3: 227)
No one doubts that the performers must have been highly skilled—otherwise they would have met a gruesome fate quite soon—and most seem to agree that the performers were of high rank, either by virtue of birth or because their engagement in this activity brought with it prestige. In Evans's opinion, in fact, the girl acrobats were of
higher
status than their male counterparts, based on the elaborate nature of their hairstyles, which sometimes included ribbons or other decorations.
The alternative, however, to assuming some leapers were female, is to assume that the color-coding scheme needs to be reexamined. Archaeologists and art historians must, from time to time, determine the gender of individuals not depicted in color, such as those seen on seals and pottery or metal vessels. In those instances, they turn to characteristics other than color to assign gender. By this count, every other detail of the images, from their physique to their clothing, identifies the leapers as male. Admittedly, Minoan women could not be expected to leap over bulls in their usual flounced skirts, but would they put on something as definitively masculine as a phallus sheath? Given these points, and given that Minoan ritual art rarely depicts men and women together, there seems a fair bit of evidence that the color scheme is off, and the leapers are male. So, why are some of the bull-leapers shown in white, with the hair and jewelry Evans sees as feminine?
One possibility returns to the question of rank. Elsewhere in the Mediterranean, white color sometimes indicated high status (i.e. someone who did not work every day in the sun). It could also mean a young individual. Evans himself referred to the acrobats as "youthful." And there seems to be a noticeable pattern regarding which figures in the frescoes are painted which colors; those in mid-vault are always dark-skinned. The ones shown which appear to be preparing for a leap, landing from one, or waiting to catch another performer, are occasionally dark-skinned, but more often white-skinned.
Therefore, the white-skinned performers may not be female; they may be younger (which fits in with an initiation theory, described further below). They may also, or alternatively, be of higher status; this would account for the more elaborate dress which Evans cited as proof of the prestige of girls in this activity. A third explanation suggests that the color-coding is used to indicate the sequence of events taking place in the fresco, although this seems the least logical possibility, in the context of the rest of Minoan and Mediterranean art.
Other media than frescoes show virtually no sign of female leapers (part of the evidence against taking the color-coding at face value). The one possible exception comes from a seal where one of the figures has what appears to be a triangular marking in the region of the figure's groin, which might indicate a woman. However, the seal is Syrian in origin, and while it may depict Minoans (as such seals often do), this is not certain.
One final point worth raising in this debate is the fact that one of the white-skinned leapers wears a hair band only seen on Minoan women. Moreover, the white-skinned figures always have long hair, which is typical of women. On the other hand, sometimes the dark-skinned figures have long hair as well. Ultimately, the gender debate is still inconclusive, and opinions vary wildly from scholar to scholar.
Where was bull-leaping performed?
Up until now bull-leaping has been considered more or less in an isolated context, but in fact it forms a complex of activities with events that could more accurately be called bull-hunting or bull-capture. Scenes of those latter activities are more commonly shown out in the wild, as might be expected, but for bull-leaping itself the debate centers primarily on two possibilities: within the palaces, or in arenas outside.
The central court is a common feature of Cretan palaces, and in the three major palaces (Knossos, Malia , and Phaistos ) the courts are so similar as to be nearly standardized. All three of them are oriented on a north-south axis and measure approximately 80 ft by 170 ft (24 m by 52 m). These may be likened to the Roman plazas used for gladiatorial combat, and could be the "bull-ring" in which the acrobatic displays took place.
Evans, on the basis of the Grandstand Fresco, envisioned a large amphitheater-like building as the bull-ring, but such buildings have not turned up in the archaeological record, which seriously undermines that possibility. Evans discounted the central court because the bulls could seemingly charge right into the audience, but at Knossos the boundaries of the area are very poorly preserved. When we look to Phaistos, on the other hand, we find evidence of doors protecting all openings to the central court. At Malia there are similar structures, in addition to something which may have been a balustrade along the eastern portico. Since the portico was at the level of the court, such a barrier would not have been needed to prevent falls, and the bars were far enough apart for a person to slip through; therefore, it may have been a structure to prevent bulls from getting into the portico from the court, just as concrete pylons or steel bars may be put in place to stop cars in modern times. There may also have been a similar structure at Phaistos. Because the bulls were not apparently tormented, as they are in the Spanish bullfights, a balustrade might be sufficient to stop them, but another possibility is that the barrier was to keep out rabble, not bulls.
The northwest corner of the court at Phaistos contains an odd structure consisting of a masonry block with an apparent step leading up to it. This is unlikely to be a staircase, although the stone is worn down as if from feet, because it leads nowhere in particular. One artifact from the period, a gem, shows a bull with its forelegs up on some kind of block while a man leaps onto its head. This could potentially be a gambit from the repertoire of a bull-leaper, matching the "diving leaper" pattern. On the other hand, it's difficult to make a bull charge into a corner, and furthermore, the artifacts found on top of the block when Phaistos was excavated suggest it was used as an altar, at least in its final phase, although it may have served a different purpose before.
There are other elements which argue in favor of the courts, such as the small rooms off the west side of the court at Phaistos, which might have been used as temporary stalls for the bulls, and a strange ramp near the court at Malia. Malia's court also contains a stone in the northwest corner which might have been used as a springboard for leaping at a bull, and a structure near the center which was used for burning something, possibly sacrificed bulls. Likewise at Gournia there is a slab in the northwest corner which could potentially have been for the slaughter of sacrificed bulls.
On the other hand, the anti-court evidence does not end with Evans's fear for the safety of the audience. The palace courts were all paved; this would hurt the hooves of the charging bulls, and any leaper who landed badly might also be injured. In a religious context (which bull-leaping almost certainly had) this would no doubt be perceived as a very bad omen. Moreover, many of the bull-leaping scenes either show no background context at all, or scattered bits of vegetation. On the basis of these objections, an outdoor area seems more appropriate, most likely near the palace but not in it, and probably fenced off for the duration of the event.
What was the significance of bull-leaping?
Virtually everyone who has addressed the matter of bull-leaping has admitted that it was most likely religious in character. One possibility for its origin is that it was an outgrowth of processes used in domestication; the skills developed to separate the bull from the herd then led to more stylized acrobatics.
Most scholars agree that one of the purposes of the event was to demonstrate human superiority and control over the wild power of a bull. Because of this power angle and the relation to hunting, some consider it even more likely that all of the leapers were male; female leapers might have been more plausible if the central message of the activity were sexual. There is, however, a distinction between hunting and acrobatics; the purpose of the former is to kill or capture, while the latter's is to show the triumph of human intelligence and skill, as tested (in this case) against the bull.
But what was the purpose of the test? An initiation or coming-of-age ritual seems fairly plausible. Adolescents are the best-suited for physical tests of this sort, and the acrobats are usually referred to in scholarly discussion as boys and girls or youths and maidens. The Avaris fresco shows a blue-headed acrobat; in Aegean artistic terms blue heads are interpreted as shaved, and shaved heads are indicative of preadolescents. If the performers are in fact aristocrats, as their elaborate dress would seem to indicate, and not slaves or professional entertainers, then the coming-of-age argument is even more plausible. Moreover, this could potentially explain the confusion of color in the frescoes; uninitiated (and therefore subadult) males might be considered more "female" and hence painted white.
Another possibility, not necessarily incompatible with the initiation scenario, is that bull-leaping was used to validate the Minoan elite. That the participants were elites is quite likely; as mentioned before, they wear elaborate jewelry and hairstyles, and this is true both of the acrobats and of the hunters. Moreover, bull-leaping is only depicted in elite art; we find evidence of it in palace frescoes, gold cups, signet rings, clay sealings, and well-executed bronze and ivory statues, not in crude, widely available art. Interestingly, although these motifs are known from elsewhere in the Aegean world, such as on mainland Greece, and even farther afield than that, the vast preponderance of bull-leaping art is from Knossos itself. Even elsewhere on Crete, we do not find the overwhelming and pervasive bull-imagery so noticeable at Knossos. Instances of such motifs from elsewhere may have been a nod to the power of that palace and its elite.
In this theory, the point of the activity is not merely to assert the power of humans over animals; it is to assert the power of Minoan elites over the wild strength of the bull, just as Near Eastern rulers hunted bulls, lions, or other dangerous animals. As mentioned before, this is not incompatible with the idea of initiation, provided the leapers are members of the aristocratic class themselves, and not slaves or professional entertainers; from Evans on this has been the popular view. The activity of bull-leaping served to validate the power of the Minoan elite, most especially at Knossos.
Conclusion
The decades since Evans excavated Knossos have seen a complication of bull-leaping, rather than a clarification of it. Whereas female performers were once accepted as a matter of course, now their presence is hotly debated. Details such as the manner of performance and the location have been gone over with a fine-toothed comb, without any truly solid conclusions. Nevertheless, the importance of bull-leaping to the palace culture of Knossos, and from there to the rest of the Aegean and Near Eastern world, cannot be overstated, even if that importance is not fully understood.
[Editor's Note: In attempting to locate appropriate images for this piece, we located a page of videos which show what appears to be a modern descendant of bull-leaping.]
Bibliography / Further Reading
Collon, D. "Bull-Leaping in Syria."
Egypt and the Levant: International Journal for Egyptian Archaeology and Related Disciplines
4 (1996): 81-88.
| Crete |
The Lake District is located in which English county? | Brian Wildeman's Art History Lab Aegean
Ancient Aegean Art c. 3000 - c. 1200 B.C.E.
Brian Wildeman
Slide I.D. Challenge:
Ancient Aegean 3000 - 1200 B.C.E.
Ancient Aegean Art includes pre-Greek art from anywhere in the area above. This breaks down to Minoan art, which comes primarily from Crete, Helladic art, which is the art of the Greek mainland, and Cycladic art, which comes from the islands excluding Crete. These boundaries a very general and it should be noted that in the last two decades or so Minoan art was discovered in Egypt and Israel and Minoan settlements were discovered in Sicily, and the Island of Thera.
Cycladic ca. 3000 - 2000 B.C.E.
There is evidence of Neolithic settlements on the Island of Crete as early as 7000, and on the Cycladic Islands as early as 4000 B.C.E. D.N.A. tests indicate that all of the people in the area were a mixture of Anatolian and Greek ethnicity. Distinctly different Cycladic culture and Minoan culture evolved simultaneously starting around 3000 B.C.E. on the Cyclades and on Crete respectively. With the exception of the Island of Delos, Minoan Civilization absorbed and acculturated the Cyclades by about 2000 B.C.E.
There are remarkable stylistic similarities between Cycladic art and early 20th century modern sculpture. Some of this similarity would disappear if we could see the figurines painted, as they probably originally were. Unfortunately, this similarity to Modern art has made Cycladic art extremely popular, which has lead to archeological confusion. A lot of Cycladic art is removed from where it is discovered for fast profit on the black market and this usually destroys the important archeological record in the earth. There is also a large amount of fake Cycladic art. Not much is known about the Neolithic sea-going people who carved these sculptures, making the sculptures themselves the basis for many theories.
Female figurines were popular. They range in scale from hand-held to life size, but always strike the same rigid pose with their arms folded across their chests and their feet pointing down. It is thought, since they have been found lying on their backs near burial sites, that the figurines have something to do with life, death and or the afterlife. While this may be true, it is unknown whether the female figurines are portraits of deceased individuals, portraits of gods, or something else. Whatever they represent they seem to reflect a similar interest in feminine power and mystery as the Paleolithic, Neolithic and early Mesopotamian female archetypes and deities such as the Venus of Wilendorf and the goddess Inanna. Many civilizations seem to start out revering primarily a female deity and then develop their religious beliefs into more complicated scenarios.
Unlike the female figurines, the sculpture of the harpist can't be sexed on the basis of prominent reproductive organs, but it is generally considered to portray a male. As sculpture, the Harp Player is far more sophisticated than the female figurines. With their many undercuts, the harpist motif would have been much more challenging to carve than the female motif was, which may have something to do with the rarity of Cycladic harpists compared to female figurines. As sculpture the harpist is interesting from all vantage points, and it incorporates dynamic negative spaces and curvalinear lines. I think that while smaller, this harpist is aesthetically the most excellent sculpture of its time compared to contemporaneous Sumerian and Egyptian carvings. Foreshadowing the vibrant art and culture of the Minoans, the sculptural finesse and musical theme seen in the Harp Player, suggests that the Cycladic peoples truly appreciated art.
Minoans 2600 - 1200 BCE
Bronze technology reached Crete, most likely from the Fertile Crescent, as early as 2600 B.C.E. and helped forge a civilization that developed a written language as well as some of the most sophisticated technology, design, and art of the ancient world. The Minoans were lost to history for thousands of years but clues to their existence were preserved in Homeric myths. The civilization was rediscovered in the early 20th Century by British Archeologist and entrepreneur Arthur Evans. The Minoan language known as Linear A has yet to be interpreted. This conundrum, combined with the great beauty of their art and architecture help to cultivate a mystique that is steeped in myths as varied as that of Theseus battling the Minotaur to the lost city of Atlantis.
The Minoans are especially well known for their ceramics, which they traded to other societies such as the Egyptians, Anatolians and Canaanites. Minoan pottery decorated with bold geometric patterns is known as Kamares ware. These examples of Kamares ware date to as early as 2100 B.C.E. for the two on the left, and as recent as 1500 B.C.E. for the octopus jar on the right.
The Palace of Knossos on Crete is the major Minoan settlement that Sir Arthur Evans excavated after purchasing the land. It is not certain that this is the same palace that the mythical King Minos presided over, but it does share the similarity of having a large open courtyard in the center of it where bull leaping probably took place. There is no evidence at Knossos of a subterranean labyrinth, but the citadel itself is somewhat labyrinthine. The city kept building on itself and occasional damage caused by seismic activity and subsequent rebuilding resulted in some false passages and staircases that lead to nowhere. Citizens of Knossos would have come to know its nooks and crannies, but one can imagine that a stranger could easily get lost in Knossos, which could be the grain of truth from which the labyrinth myth grew. Knossos was designed for comfortable living. It's rooms and corridors are painted with beautiful frescos and let in lots of light and fresh air. Knossos had the best plumbing of the ancient world rivaling only that of the richest Romans. There were bathrooms with running water and a closed sewer system, features that thousands of years later, palaces as fancy as the Palace of Versailles still hadn't managed to develop. Another unique feature of Knossos are its inverted columns made of cedar wood. Compared to almost all other columns, which taper upwards, Minoan columns taper downwards. This tends to make the interior spaces feel light rather than evoking a feeling of stability and strength.
The Minoans seem to have invented fresco vero, the process of painting plaster walls while the plaster is still drying. This technique requires a great deal of skill and results in colors that stay brighter and last longer than fresco secco. Minoan wall painting is characterized by curvilinear lines and whimsical nature themes and is primarily decorative rather than being narrative or commemorative. One major difference between Minoan and Egyptian painting is that Minoan paintings decorate the walls of architecture that is made for the living rather than architecture that is made for the dead. The Queen's Megaron in the Palace of Knossos featuring a dolphin painting is an iconic example of Minoan interior design.
The bull leaping fresco from the palace of Knossos on Crete is one of the most famous of all Minoan frescos. It depicts a deadly sport and entertainment that the society enjoyed. Teams of acrobats would work together in an effort to grab the horns of a bull and flip themselves over its back. Scholars originally interpreted this work as a continuous narrative meaning that one person is depicted in different stages of the acrobatic maneuver. However, it is much more likely based on the color scheme of the different figures that the fresco depicts a male participant who is on the back of the bull and two female participants, one getting ready to catch the male and the other starting to grab the bull's horns. Minoans, like Egyptians before them and Romans and Etruscans after them painted males dark and females light. With the pinched wastes and curvaceous bodies of Minoan figures this color convention is sometimes helpful. The difference in color reflects a difference in gender roles where men very generally work outside where they get tan, and women very generally work inside so they don't get as tan.
Sailing and fishing were major parts of Minoan life. This painting of a young fisherman returning with his bountiful catch of tuna reflects not only these important daily activities and a staple of the Minoan diet, but also that the ocean probably had many more tuna in those days than it does today.
The fresco fragment depicting a Minoan woman is a famous artifact. The piece is known as Le Parisiene because the woman depicted with her makeup, billowing bodice, and careful curls shares many stylistic similarities with Parisian women of the late Victorian Era, roughly the time of the initial excavation at Knossos. These similarities in fashion reveal some Minoans were economically successful enough that they could afford to put a lot of time, energy and money into styling their looks.
The fresco featuring boats is believed to chronicle a specific naval battle. If so it is a rare example of Minoan art in that it may be a specific historical narrative and that it depicts human violence as opposed to a benevolent nature theme.
The room painted with a whimsical landscape on three of its walls is the first known example of pure landscape in history and is known as the Spring Fresco. A pure landscape is one that does not include any people in it. The fresco was discovered about twenty years ago on the Island of San Torini. San Torini was known as Thera in the ancient world. Thera underwent an intense volcanic explosion that wiped out and then covered its Minoan residents in volcanic ash. Like Pompeii, the volcanic ash preserved the ruins creating an archeological time capsule. This explosion was so large that it effected much of the ancient world. For many years it was believed that this explosion wiped the Minoans out completely, but is almost certainly not the case. Other scholars have speculated that the explosion sparked a tsunami that caused the Red Sea to first retract (allowing Moses and company to cross it) and then plunge forward (wiping out the pharaoh's pursuing army.) While this theory is impossible to prove, it is the case that the impact effected young Redwood trees growing as far away from the explosion as California. In fact, Redwood tree rings were recently used to more accurately date the explosion of Thera. Prior to studying the tree rings, the explosion was believed to have occurred around 1400 BCE. It is now thought to have happened closer to 1600 BCE, which proves when compared to carbon dates of late Minoan artifacts, that the Minoans recouped and rebuilt after this natural disaster.
The fresco depicting a youth picking crocuses also celebrates spring and symbolizes the girl's rite of passage to womanhood. Crocuses are the first flower to bloom in the spring, and are thus a harbinger of fertility. Minoan's shaved their children's' heads except for a pony tail. This girl's thin rings of hair around her blue head suggest that she is growing her hair out because she is no longer considered a child.
The Harvester Vase is carved from steatite. It is a ritual vessel for dispensing libations. It has a small hole at its base that would be kept closed by hand when not in use. There are frescos from Knossos depicting people walking in procession and using both hands to carry similar looking vessels. This type of vessel that must be emptied before it can be set down is called a rhyton. Some rhytons are used in religious rituals to dispense libations, and others are used in drinking rituals to produce inebriation. The Harvester vase is believed to be the religious type. Carved in bas relief on the cup are men marching and singing and carrying what look like pitchforks. A particular man wearing a cap and shaking what is thought to be a rattle leads the others in song through what is probably a religious ritual of some kind. The relief carving is especially fine and ahead of its time in terms of its figure ground relationship. Overlapping each other, and diminishing in size and detail from front to back, the harvesters comprise one of the oldest examples in the history of art of illusion of spatial depth.
The Vephio cup has a bas relief narrative sculpted in repousee. It is one of two gold cups found in the tomb of a Mycenaean king near Sparta in southern Greece. The other cup is most likely an example of Mycenaean craftsmanship. The two cultures shared many similarities. It may have been that the mercenary culture of the Mycenaeans adopted some of the Minoan's maritime culture and developed a fondness for Minoan art and craftsmanship. Both cups depict an athlete roping a bull presumably to capture it for use in ritual sport or sacrifice. The theme has much in common with a later Greek myth involving the hero Hercules.
These female figurines are depictions of what is generally reffered to as the Minoan Snake Godess. The one on the left is made of fiance and was discovered by Arthur Evans in his excavation f Knossos. The one on the right (shown in front and 3/4 view) is carved out of ivory and was found much later. Whether the woman was an actual goddess or a priestess or just a crazy lady holding snakes is not acctually known. However, considering the precious materials they are made out of, the woman's ornate costume and the consistancy of the motif, it is likely that the figurines have something to do with Minoan religion.
Mycenaeans 1600 - 1100 B.C.E.
The Mycenaeans while sharing / adopting many aspects of Minoan culture were very much a warrior culture rather than being maritime traders. They were ethnically a little different from the Minoans as well coming as they did from mainland Greece and Macedonia. Ask yourself how many examples of war scenes or hunting scenes do you notice in Minoan art? War scenes and hunting scenes reveal the importance a society places on power and dominance. The major thematic differences between Minoan and Myceneaen artworks help to support the theory that Minoan society was mostly peaceful, secure, and possibly gender equal, while Myceneaen society was martial, subject to outside threat, and patriarchical. These profoundly different cultural concerns and circumstances between the Minoans and Mycenea. Mycenaeans organized themselves in city-states that competed with each other as well as other societies. The Greeks adopted this system, and other Mycenaean traditions. In fact, many of the Homeric myths describing the Heroic Bronze Age and celebrated by the Classical Greeks and Romans are about the lives and times of Mycenaeans. In this sense their culture has been celebrated and studied in the western tradition more so than any other Bronze Age society.
Despite the mythical Mycenaeans being so well remembered in writing, the actual Mycenaeans and all archeological record of them was lost for thousands of years. In the 1880s, a German railroad mogul decided to become an archeologist and search for the mythical city of Troy. Henrich Schliemann used his enormous wealth to purchase land on both the coasts of Greece and Turkey where he thought he might find ancient cities long since forgotten and buried. Taking a hint from a local peasant, Schliemann first excavated the Citadel of Mycenae, where Agamemnon was from. He later went on to find what is generally believed to have been Troy itself. Despite the many occurrences of destruction and then reconstruction evident from excavating Troy, there is no conclusive evidence substantiating the details of the Trojan war as it was chronicled by Homer. The closest evidence of the actual Trojan War was found in Greece, and it is an inventory of the spoils of war including a lot of names of women that are specifically Trojan names. Implicit in this finding is the fact that Mycenaeans had a written language, which is called Linear B, and that their language has been deciphered.
The Mycenaeans built townships called citadels that had intimidating defensive walls made from large roughly hewn stones. Homer, who wrote during the Orientalizing Period around 800 B.C.E. when Greece was emerging from its Dark Age, described these walls as cyclopian because he assumed that the stones were much too large to lift and set, so they obviously must have been built by giant Cyclopeses rather than mere men. Some of the defensive walls are hallow on the inside and corbelled making them much stronger than a single-layered wall and allowing for the quick passage of soldiers assembling in defense of the city. The Hittites who were equally bellicose and rivals of the Mycenaeans also built some defensive walls using this technique.
The Mycenaeans were excellent engineers and architects. They developed impressive underground beehive shaped tombs also known as tholi. These tombs are the largest domed structures in the ancient world prior to the building of the Roman Pantheon. Each stone of the dome of a tholos is carved to fit exactly and the earth piled on top of the dome compresses the stones in toward each other, which helps hold the dome together keeping it strong. Minoans also built some tholi tombs and may have invented them, but none of theirs were as lavish as those of the Mycenaeans. Heinrich Schliemann found weapons and other trappings of ancient wealth when he excavated the largest known tholos located near the Citadel of Mycenae. Schliemann assumed that the structure must be a treasury and named it the Treassury of Atreus. Atreus was Agamemnon's son who persuaded the Greeks to unite and attack the city of Troy. This particular tholos is a late Mycenaean work and was built roughly around the time of the Trojan War.
The Mycenaeans built shaft tombs inside Mycenae prior to adopting the beehive motif and Schliemann unearthed many gold artifacts from these shaft tombs including death masks. Schliemann proclaimed one of these masks to be the Mask of Agamemnon. However, it is now understood that the artifacts from the shaft tombs of Mycenae date between 1650 B.C.E. and 1400 B.C.E. The Trojan War, if it happened, probably took place around 1280 B.C.E. or later. The bronze dagger with gold decoration was also found in one of the shaft tombs. The subjects of this dagger have graceful athletic figures with pinched waistes similarly to Minoan anatomical artistic convention. If it didn't directly shape it, Minoan metallurgy, style, and craftsmanship likely influenced this piece.
Schliemann was an odd duck to be sure. He most likely modified the mustache on the Mask of Agamemnon extending it into a handlebar as was the fashion of the day. This is archeologically as bad as it gets, and it's anybody's guess as to why Schliemann felt the need to modernize a mustache. He also divorced his first wife and married a young Greek girl who shared his passion for Homer. Schliemann had his new wife pose for photographs wearing a headdress and jewelry found in the excavation. Treating the artifacts like play things in the way that he did led to much speculation that the the findings were a hoax that Schliemann fabricated. Adding to this speculation, many of the gold artifacts that Schliemann found were brought back to a German museum and then mysteriously disappeared during World War II before being completely authenticated.
This gold lion head is another treasure excavated from the shaft tombs. It is believed to be a rhyton. Mycenaean ceramics is usually less elaborate and colorful than Minoan ceramics. The squid vase is a particularly refined Mycenaean ceramic piece. The Warrior Vase is a late Mycenaean work that is usually associated with the start of the Greek Dark Age. The Dark Age began around 1100 and was a period of constant fighting so destructive that the culture devolved so completely that written language was lost. The reason for the Dark Age is often attributed to the "sea people" who are thought to have added to the fierce competition between Mycenaean and Hittite city-states pitching the whole region into chaos. Both the Hittites and the Greeks reinvented themselves after the Dark Age. The Greeks ended up having the most staying power and Hittite culture faded out completely by around 700 B.C.E.
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On which TV show did Claude Littner replace Nick Hewer? | From Claude Littner to Roisin Hogan: Who could replace Nick Hewer on The Apprentice? | Metro News
From Claude Littner to Roisin Hogan: Who could replace Nick Hewer on The Apprentice?
Duncan Lindsay for Metro.co.uk Monday 22 Dec 2014 11:38 am
Who could possibly replace Nick Hewer? (Picture: BBC)
The Apprentice have been dealt a task more difficult than any of their candidates on the show have ever faced; that of replacing the legend that is Alan Sugar’s right hand man Nick Hewer.
The effortless honesty and wry humour of Mr Hewer has always been one of the show’s biggest highlights and filling his boots is an impossibility.
However, someone must at least try. Here, we take a look at some of the people who could be in line to advise Sir Alan.
From the competent to the ruthless and the hilarious to the utter ridiculous: which of these would you like Lord Sugar to say ‘You’re Hired!’ to?
Claude Littner
I have always thought Claude to have been a bit wasted being used only for the interview stages.
He is notoriously the toughest of Lord Sugar’s candidates to crack and would bring a ruthless and intimidating edge to the boardroom.
And his exchanges with Alan on paying attention to women’s hosiery proved that he has that mischievous edge that we will miss from Nick.
Claude Littner (Picture: BBC)
Margaret Mountford
Did my eyes deceive me when I read that Margaret Mountford wasn’t even invited back for the interview round this year?
This is a wrong that needs righted, and she has done the job before so knows what she is doing. Margaret has had her rest now, get her re hired!
Margaret Mountford (Picture: BBC)
Duncan Bannatyne
Snap him up while you can! Dragons Den’s most notable face is leaving the show.
Duncan has charm, a business head, can take and make a cheeky joke or two and is a distinctive and well known personality who could bring new viewers to The Apprentice.
He knows what it’s like to invest his own cash in business newbies so he is arguably the most qualified for the task. Go on Duncan, let’s hear you say ‘I’m in!’
Duncan Bannatyne (Picture: PA)
Roisin Hogan
I am most certainly not the only one to have felt Roisin was robbed if my Twitter feed was anything to go by.
Roisin was arguably one of the show’s strongest ever all round contestants but once the focus was more on the business idea than anything else, she lost out.
A consolation prize of Nick’s chair is only fair and, as an accountant, she is ideally placed to ensure that Lord Sugar’s money is going to the right place.
Roisin Hogan (Picture: BBC)
Ricky Martin
One of the few winners to actually still be working successfully for Lord Sugar, Ricky has been through the whole process so would bring a different level of understanding to the show.
He proved himself in this year’s interview stages…the Apprentice became the Master. Well, almost.
Ricky Martin (Picture: BBC)
Dara O Briain
Dara is always a hoot and is passionate about the show. Anyone who watches the ‘You’re Fired!’ and ‘You’re Hired’ sections will appreciate that he brings a lighter and more entertaining angle to The Apprentice and the boardroom would be livened up no end with his witty quips and insights.
With a mathematical background, he would prove useful to Lord Sugar in more ways than giving us all a good laugh to break the tension.
Dara O Briain (Picture: BBC / File)
Katie Hopkins
Let’s just pretend that The Apprentice was on Channel 5 and it was time to take the series in a whole new car crash style direction.
Putting Katie and Alan in the same room would be TV gold, let alone giving her responsibility over his businesses.
Failing that, rope in Stella English or Piers Morgan, just for the sheer lolz of course.
Come on, not even for a Children In Need special?
Katie Hopkins (Picture: Getty Images)
| The Apprentice |
Which Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale features 20 mattresses? | Who is Lord Sugar's new advisor? Claude Littner, tough aide in the interview episodes
By Kasia Delgado
Monday 27 April 2015 at 4:36PM
Claude Littner has been announced as Lord Sugar’s new advisor on BBC1's business contest The Apprentice, taking the place of former aide Nick Hewer .
The business executive is already known to fans of The Apprentice as the man who has spent ten years grilling the show's finalists in the interview round, coming out with razor-sharp put-downs that make the most confident of candidates visibly sweat and squirm.
Littner has known Lord Sugar for 25 years, having been a director of the Apprentice star's founding company Amstrad, plus IT company Viglen and football club Tottenham Hotspur. He is also visiting professor at the University of West London.
As Lord Sugar's new aide, he will join Karren Brady in keeping a very beady eye on the candidates during each task and reporting back to Lord Sugar on their progress, successes and failures.
"If the candidates think I am soft and fluffy, they haven't been watching me on The Apprentice over the past decade," said Littner, following his new appointment. "I will now be assessing their performance in the process, individually and within their teams. I will be reporting to Lord Sugar to play my part in ensuring that his personal investment of £250,000 goes to the best candidate. I'm ready, and this won't be a walk in the park!”
FYI Claude, unless they've been living under a rock, none of the contestants will think you're "soft and fluffy", we guarantee you that...
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