In this issue:
Blackwood's Terror
Chat: Les Vampires coming up on TCM
Detection by Gaslight
Correction
Re: Detection by Gaslight
Re: Detection by Gaslight
Chat: Mummy movies
Re: The Irish Zorro
Re: This week's author
Re: Chat: Les Vampires coming up on TCM
Today in History - Feb. 3
The Desert Islander
Today in History - February 4
Re: Today in History - February 4
Concerning _Les Vampires_
Re: Concerning _Les Vampires_
Re: Concerning _Les Vampires_
Re: Concerning _Les Vampires_
Re: Concerning _Les Vampires_
Re: Concerning _Les Vampires_
OT: Flapper slang
-----------------------------THE POSTS-----------------------------
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 00:19:32 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: Blackwood's Terror
I haven't heard the book mentioned on the list, but I thought I would pass
on the following information about...
Tales of Terror from Blackwood's Magazine
Edited with an Introduction by ROBERT MORRISON and CHRIS BALDICK
The tales of terror and hysteria published in the heydey (1817-32) of
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine became a literary legend in the nineteenth
century. Blackwood's was the most important and influential literary-political
journal of its time, and a major institution not just in Scottish letters but
in the development of British and American Romanticism. This edition selects
some of the best tales from the magazine's first fifteen years, and includes
works by well-known writers such as Walter Scott, James Hogg, and John Galt
alongside talented but now almost forgotten authors like William Godwin,
Samuel Warren, and William Mudford.
The World's Classics
1996 328 pp.
$11.95 paper 0-19-282366-3
Bob C.
_________________________________________________
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Robert L. Champ
rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu
Editor, teacher, anglophile, human curiosity
Whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report, if
there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy; meditate on these things
Philippians 4:8
rchamp7927(at)aol.com robertchamp(at)netscape.net
_________________________________________________
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
===0===
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 01:49:00 -0500 From: clementk(at)alink.com (Clement, Kevin) Subject: Chat: Les Vampires coming up on TCM Caught a promo for this and it looks like it might be of interest. TCM (Turner Classic Movies) is going to be showing a newly restored version of the 1915 serial Les Vampires. Starts this Sunday as part of TCM's Silent Sunday Nights, Sundays at Midnight ET. from a TCM newsletter and website: Les Vampires The year is 1915. A bizarre underworld of criminals that call themselves LES VAMPIRES is looting the Parisian aristocracy. The gang's leader, Irma Vep is dangerous, sexy, a creature of the night. TCM is proud to present the television premiere of Louis Feuillade's 10-part serial LES VAMPIRES (1915). Believed to be lost for decades, the landmark film has been fully restored with a new score. One of the most sophisticated and surreal of the silent era's serial epics, LES VAMPIRES is not to be missed by lovers of film. This restored version of Les Vampires was produced by David Shepard of Film Preservation Associates. Several of Shepard's previous restoration efforts, including The Birth of a Nation (1915) and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919), have been aired previously on TCM. For this new version, the film is presented in the correct projection speed with newly translated title-cards, color tints and a period-authentic orchestral score prepared by Robert Israel. All times are EST. I believe a video version is available but have no idea how it compares to this version. from http://tcm.turner.com/MONTH_SPOTS/99/02/lesvampires.htm note this should mean that the episodes start Sundays at midnight and continue into early Monday am if I'm reading this right. A crusading journalist tracks down a beautiful jewel thief and her gang. Musidora, Edouard Math?, Marcel Levesque. D: Louis Feuillade. BW 42 m. 2/7/99 12:00 AM - Les Vampires (Episode 1) (1915) 2/7/99 12:30 AM - Les Vampires (Episode 2) (1915) 2/7/99 1:00 AM - Les Vampires (Episode 3) (1915) 2/7/99 1:30 AM - Les Vampires (Episode 4) (1915) 2/14/99 12:00 AM - Les Vampires (Episode 5) (1915) 2/14/99 1:00 AM - Les Vampires (Episode 6) (1915) 2/21/99 12:00 AM - Les Vampires (Episode 7) (1915) 2/21/99 1:00 AM - Les Vampires (Episode 8) (1915) 2/28/99 12:00 AM - Les Vampires (Episode 9) (1915) 2/28/99 1:00 AM - Les Vampires (Episode 10) (1915) More info can be found in TCM's Now Playing (Adobe Acrobat required) http://tcm.turner.com/NOW_PLAYING/ This page has an unofficial listing that includes episode titles. http://www.mdle.com/ClassicFilms/tcm0299.htm or a page on the series at http://www.mdle.com/ClassicFilms/HotTips/hottip75.htm (the above two links I found off of Bob Birchard's page from http://www.mtroyal.ab.ca/programs/arts/english/gaslight/MOREABT.HTM Thanks to the Gaslight website and to Bob's page!) Kevin Clement clementk(at)alink.com
===0===
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 05:05:26 -0500 From: Blue Pencil <bluepencil(at)earthlink.net> Subject: Detection by Gaslight DETECTION BY GASLIGHT is a stellar collection. After two decades combing the used bookstores from the coast of Maine to the tip of southern Florida looking for turn-of-the-century detective fiction, this jewel of an anthology is one of the finest compilations I have ever read and an essentia read for anyone even remotely interested in the Gaslight era. The grisly tale "The Dead Hand" by R. Austin Freeman (1913) contained therein (in its first U.S. publication) enthralled me so that I spent a good year looking for the expanded novel version: The Shadow of the Wolf (1925). I highly recommend this short story for our future reading list. On a more personal note, Doug, aren't you the author of the Edgar-award winning biography of John Dickson Carr: The Man Who Explained Miracles? Another milestone in the mystery field. I believe we once exchanged e-mails about Carr in the early days of AOL. In any case, it's an honor to have you in our group. Welcome, Doug! As for the new publication, when do you expect it to be released? One of the more elusive items on my personal want list is is L.T. Meade's collection Stories From the Diary of a Doctor, portions of which were discussed at some point in the newsgroup. It was apparently reprinted by Arno Press in their Literature of Mystery and Detection Series (1976) but I'm still hunting for a copy of this little devil--- as well as G.J. Whyte-Melville's novel M or N (1869). Has anyone from the group read either of these titles? I've tried the hyperlink mentioned in last week's digest for Ayer Publishing but have difficulty connecting to http://www.scry.com Anyone experiencing the same problem? Stephen, I am still proofing the second half of Haunted Lives. Sadly, my mother passed away last week--these past two months were real rough-- so I've fallen behind with this special project-- but promise to get rolling real soon. All the best, Robert G.
===0===
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 05:15:41 -0500 From: Blue Pencil <bluepencil(at)earthlink.net> Subject: Correction Consulting Detection by Gaslight, I see that The Dead Hand was published in the Oct/Nov issues of Pearson's in the year 1912-- not 1913. My bad, as they'd say in perfect Spanglish. RG.
===0===
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 07:28:56 -0500
From: JDS Books <jdsbooks(at)ameritech.net>
Subject: Re: Detection by Gaslight
I tried the link to Ayer again off Robert's e-mail & connected right away.
A search for Meade pulled up the book:
Ayer Company Publishers
Phone (888)-267-7323 FAX: (603)-922-3348
Meade, L. T. (pseud. of Elizabeth Thomasina Smith) and Clifford Halifax
STORIES FROM THE DIARY OF A DOCTOR
This is an interesting collection of twelve short stories blending medical
experience, scientific experiment and mystery. The modern reader may find it
curious that psychology is treated as an avant-garde curiosity. L. T. Meade
was the pseudonym of Mrs. Elizabeth (Lillie) Thomasina Smith (1845-1914),
among the most prolific writers of her day. Her speciality was the mystery
story with a "scientific" or "medical" orientation.
LC 75-32767 Philadelphia, 1895
ISBN: 0405078862illus. $31.95
So I don't know what the problem is.
Best,
John Squires
- -----Original Message-----
From: Blue Pencil <bluepencil(at)earthlink.net>
To: gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA <gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA>
Date: Wednesday, February 03, 1999 5:11 AM
Subject: Detection by Gaslight
>DETECTION BY GASLIGHT is a stellar collection. After two decades combing
>the used bookstores from the coast of Maine to the tip of southern Florida
>looking for turn-of-the-century detective fiction, this jewel of an
>anthology is one of the finest compilations I have ever read and an
essentia
>read for anyone even remotely interested in the Gaslight era. The grisly
>tale "The Dead Hand" by R. Austin Freeman (1913) contained therein (in
its
> first U.S. publication) enthralled me so that I spent a good year looking
>for the expanded novel version: The Shadow of the Wolf (1925). I highly
>recommend this short story for our future reading list.
>
>On a more personal note, Doug, aren't you the author of the Edgar-award
>winning biography of John Dickson Carr: The Man Who Explained Miracles?
>Another milestone in the mystery field.
>I believe we once exchanged e-mails about Carr in the early days of AOL.
In
>any case, it's an honor to have you in our group. Welcome, Doug!
>
>As for the new publication, when do you expect it to be released? One of
the
>more elusive items on my personal want list is is L.T. Meade's collection
>Stories From the Diary of a Doctor, portions of which were discussed at
some
>point in the newsgroup. It was apparently reprinted by Arno Press in
their
>Literature of Mystery and Detection Series (1976) but I'm still hunting for
>a copy of this little devil--- as well as G.J. Whyte-Melville's novel M or
N
>(1869). Has anyone from the group read either of these titles? I've
tried
>the hyperlink mentioned in last week's digest for Ayer Publishing but have
>difficulty connecting to http://www.scry.com Anyone experiencing the same
>problem?
>
>Stephen, I am still proofing the second half of Haunted Lives. Sadly, my
>mother passed away last week--these past two months were real rough-- so
>I've fallen behind with this special project-- but promise to get rolling
>real soon.
>
>All the best,
>
>Robert G.
>
===0===
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 08:01:34 -0500
From: JDS Books <jdsbooks(at)ameritech.net>
Subject: Re: Detection by Gaslight
P. S.
Ayer also has:
Whyte-Melville, George John
M. OR N.
George John Whyte-Melville (1821-1878) was a soldier, novelist, poet, and
authority on fox-hunting and steeple-chasing. Whyte-Melville's most
ambitious venture into the novel of mystery and suspense, contains many of
the characteristics of his other novels- and exemplifies also the invasion
of popular Victorian Fiction by some of the plot clich?s of Victorian
theatre.
3 vols. in 1
LC 75-32792 London, 1869
ISBN: 0405079087 $51.95
- -----Original Message-----
From: JDS Books <jdsbooks(at)ameritech.net>
To: gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA <gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA>
Date: Wednesday, February 03, 1999 7:23 AM
Subject: Re: Detection by Gaslight
>I tried the link to Ayer again off Robert's e-mail & connected right away.
>A search for Meade pulled up the book:
>
> Ayer Company Publishers
>Phone (888)-267-7323 FAX: (603)-922-3348
>
>
>Meade, L. T. (pseud. of Elizabeth Thomasina Smith) and Clifford Halifax
>STORIES FROM THE DIARY OF A DOCTOR
>This is an interesting collection of twelve short stories blending medical
>experience, scientific experiment and mystery. The modern reader may find
it
>curious that psychology is treated as an avant-garde curiosity. L. T. Meade
>was the pseudonym of Mrs. Elizabeth (Lillie) Thomasina Smith (1845-1914),
>among the most prolific writers of her day. Her speciality was the mystery
>story with a "scientific" or "medical" orientation.
>LC 75-32767 Philadelphia, 1895
>ISBN: 0405078862illus. $31.95
>
>So I don't know what the problem is.
>
>Best,
>
>John Squires
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Blue Pencil <bluepencil(at)earthlink.net>
>To: gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA <gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA>
>Date: Wednesday, February 03, 1999 5:11 AM
>Subject: Detection by Gaslight
>
>
>>DETECTION BY GASLIGHT is a stellar collection. After two decades combing
>>the used bookstores from the coast of Maine to the tip of southern
Florida
>>looking for turn-of-the-century detective fiction, this jewel of an
>>anthology is one of the finest compilations I have ever read and an
>essentia
>>read for anyone even remotely interested in the Gaslight era. The
grisly
>>tale "The Dead Hand" by R. Austin Freeman (1913) contained therein (in
>its
>> first U.S. publication) enthralled me so that I spent a good year
looking
>>for the expanded novel version: The Shadow of the Wolf (1925). I highly
>>recommend this short story for our future reading list.
>>
>>On a more personal note, Doug, aren't you the author of the Edgar-award
>>winning biography of John Dickson Carr: The Man Who Explained Miracles?
>>Another milestone in the mystery field.
>>I believe we once exchanged e-mails about Carr in the early days of AOL.
>In
>>any case, it's an honor to have you in our group. Welcome, Doug!
>>
>>As for the new publication, when do you expect it to be released? One of
>the
>>more elusive items on my personal want list is is L.T. Meade's
collection
>>Stories From the Diary of a Doctor, portions of which were discussed at
>some
>>point in the newsgroup. It was apparently reprinted by Arno Press in
>their
>>Literature of Mystery and Detection Series (1976) but I'm still hunting
for
>>a copy of this little devil--- as well as G.J. Whyte-Melville's novel M or
>N
>>(1869). Has anyone from the group read either of these titles? I've
>tried
>>the hyperlink mentioned in last week's digest for Ayer Publishing but have
>>difficulty connecting to http://www.scry.com Anyone experiencing the
same
>>problem?
>>
>>Stephen, I am still proofing the second half of Haunted Lives. Sadly, my
>>mother passed away last week--these past two months were real rough-- so
>>I've fallen behind with this special project-- but promise to get rolling
>>real soon.
>>
>>All the best,
>>
>>Robert G.
>>
>
===0===
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 08:30:24 -0700 From: Deborah McMillion Nering <deborah(at)gloaming.com> Subject: Chat: Mummy movies As most readers know, I am a real mummy fan. A year or so ago it was rumored that two different movie versions had been made of Bram Stoker's JEWEL OF THE SEVEN STARS, one a period British movie and the second was contemporary (?). Then about 6 months ago I saw one had been released on video and finally arrived here this month. As luck would have it, it was the contemporary version. Frankly, only someone who really loves mummy movies would sit through this...horror. It is called "Bram Stoker's MUMMY" but there is about as much here of the story as there was in an earlier version "The Awakening" with Charleton Heston. The hero was a zero and his informative sidekick was "Al" from Tooltime (who may have taken the part to get one of the few nude scenes in the movie). One or two scares where you hope, please, please, please, that the mummy will get sick of this household of losers and just elminate them all. Rent Karloff's consummate performance as the dried and dusty Egyptian (favorite scene of all mummy movies: "He went for a little walk!") if you want mummies. I will keep looking for the British period version. Deborah Deborah McMillion deborah(at)gloaming.com http://www.gloaming.com/deborah.html
===0===
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 08:32:56 -0700 From: Jerry Carlson <gmc(at)libra.pvh.org> Subject: Re: The Irish Zorro Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 16:12:29 -0800 From: Patricia Teter <PTeter(at)getty.edu> Subject: Re: The Irish Zorro >Bob C. wrote: <<When I was a kid--a long time ago--I was a faithful watcher of Walt Disney's "Zorro." Zorro was played by Guy Williams, who looked every inch the son of a Spanish grandee--dark, masculine, handsome; and had just enough of a lilt in his voice that one might >swear that he had been brought up in old Spain. ><<Now an Italian historian claims to have discovered that that lilt probably should have been Irish. Here, from the _Times_ of London is a story about Fabio Troncarelli's researches into the character >who (more than likely) inspired the Zorro legend.>>> >Sheesh! thanks for bursting the bubble! Red hair and beard??? >Not MY Zorro! <grin> Ah, but our Zorro is the 19th-century incarnation of Zorro, where Redbeard was the 17th-century Zorro. Don Diego merely picked up where the Irishman left off. As a 1930's Zorro (in the serial _Zorro Rides Again_) told someone who thought Zorro had died over a century ago, "Zorro is a legend - and legends never die". They just take more or less new forms. Jerry gmc(at)libra.pvh.org
===0===
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 08:32:51 -0800
From: Patricia Teter <PTeter(at)getty.edu>
Subject: Re: This week's author
Bob E. wrote: <<I seem to be out of the loop on this Benson story. When I go to
Gaslight's home page, and search Current Reading Schedule, it only goes
up through January, and the first installment of _Haunted Lives_ by Le
Fanu. Which story are we supposed to be reading?>>
Stephen announced the Benson story last week; see the
information below. Bob E., thank you for more information
regarding Benson. I look forward to reading more.
Patricia
<<<Stephen's announcement>>>>>
DSRTISLN.HTM) (Fiction, Chronos, Scheds)
Stella Benson's "The desert islander"(1939 ed.)
dsrtisln.sht
I've not been able to date "The desert islander" by Stella
Benson, but I agree with Maugham that it deserves to
be in his anthology of short stories. It's a
psychological tale of an interestingly complex
Foreign Legionnaire.
This story will be the basis of next week's discussion.
It is now available on the website and as an ASCII etext
thru FTPmail.
To retrieve the plain ASCII file,
send to: ftpmail(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA
with no subject heading and completely in lowecase:
open aftp.mtroyal.ab.ca
cd /gaslight
get dsrtisln.sht
or visit the Gaslight website at:
http://www.mtroyal.ab.ca/gaslight/dsrtisln.htm
===0===
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 09:39:12 -0800 From: Patricia Teter <PTeter(at)getty.edu> Subject: Re: Chat: Les Vampires coming up on TCM At last....Irma Vep is back on the screen! Kevin, thanks for the information on TCM's screening of Les Vampires. Not too long ago, the Times Literary Supplement published an article on the restoration of the serial, and I had thought I would never see the 10 part series. It sounds very interesting. Patricia Patricia A. Teter PTeter(at)Getty.edu
===0===
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 13:30:02 -0700
From: Jerry Carlson <gmc(at)libra.pvh.org>
Subject: Today in History - Feb. 3
1904
Colombian troops clash with U.S. Marines in Panama.
1908
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that union-sponsored boycotts are
illegal, and applies the
Sherman Antitrust Act to labor as well as capital.
1912
New U.S. football rules are set: field shortened to 100 yds.;
touchdown counts six points
instead of five; four downs are allowed instead of three; and
the kickoff is moved from
midfield to the 40 yd. line.
1917
A German submarine sinks the U.S. liner Housatonic off coast of
Sicily. The United States
severs diplomatic relations with Germany.
Born on February 3
1811
Horace Greely, founder of the New York Tribune and crusader
against slavery who
popularized the phrase "Go west, young man." (Some who did
named Greeley, CO
in his honor)
1821
Elizabeth Blackwell, first woman to get an MD from a U.S.
medical school
Sometime before the American Civil War
Joseph Eggleston Johnston, Confederate army commander.
1874
Gertrude Stein, poet and novelist who wrote Three Lives.
1894
Norman Rockwell, artist and illustrator who painted scenes of
small-town America. Most
of his work appeared in the The Saturday Evening Post.
===0===
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 22:07:44 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: The Desert Islander
I hate to reduce people--even characters in stories--to psychological
categories, but it seems evident that Constantine is intended to be
a paranoiac. His megalomania; his twisting of everything so that
it reflects well on himself, even if that is not the truth; his disgust
with his own body and failure to identify it as part of his humanity;
his secret fear that someone will find out something about him that
he considers awful; his self-mposed isolation--all these are
symptomatic of an intellect and spirit too far out of the range
of normal human thought and action to be supposed as rational.
The ending of the story seems to me paradoxical. Constantine is
on his way to be helped, through the good offices of Mr. White
(shoulderer of the White Man's Burden). Yet there is no
question that, through the startling death of this Good Samaritan,
Constantine becomes mentally sicker than ever. Consider that he
asks God to strike White down, and immediately White is killed.
If you were a paranoiac your "delusions of grandeur" would be
much increased by such an event: after all, God listens to you,
as He has just proved. Your sense of invincibility would be trebled,
quadrupled, though you are on your way to physical death.
I am most curious, however, about Benson calling the two
men "friends"at the end. I can not quite see how they have become
friends, but will reread the story and try getting at it from another
angle. It seems to me, in any case, that if there is a friendship it is
never fully demonstrated. Perhaps, in an odd way, Constantine's request
that God strike White dead is a twisted way of showing his friendship
(never expecting it to happen, of course). Rather than have this
man (of all men) think ill of him, he would have him miraculously
killed. Surely he would not have cared what White thought if White
had not demonstrated a quality that Constantine admired.
This story is very economically told.
Bob C.
_________________________________________________
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Robert L. Champ
rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu
Editor, teacher, anglophile, human curiosity
Whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report, if
there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy; meditate on these things
Philippians 4:8
rchamp7927(at)aol.com robertchamp(at)netscape.net
_________________________________________________
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
===0===
Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 08:40:17 -0700
From: Jerry Carlson <gmc(at)libra.pvh.org>
Subject: Today in History - February 4
1861
State delegates meet in Montgomery, Ala., to form a Confederate
government.
1889
Harry Longabaugh is released from Sundance Prison in Wyoming,
thereby acquiring the
famous nickname, *the Sundance Kid.*
1904
Russia offers Korea to Japan and defends its right to occupy
Manchuria.
1906
The New York Police Department begins finger print
identification.
1909
California law segregates Japanese schoolchildren.
1915
Germans decree British waters part of war zone; all ships to be
sunk without warning.
Born on February 4
1902
Charles Lindbergh, first man to fly solo across the Atlantic.
1913
Rosa Lee Parks, civil rights activist whose refusal to give up
her seat on a segregated bus in
Alabama started the Civil Rights Movement.
1961
Jerry Carlson, medical librarian and eclectic dilletante.
===0===
Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 08:03:15 -0800 (PST) From: Susan Demers <susandemers(at)hotmail.com> Subject: Re: Today in History - February 4 >(4.0a) > > 1861 Happy Birthday, Jerry!!!!!!!! > > Born on February 4 > 1902 > Charles Lindbergh, first man to fly solo across the Atlantic. > 1913 > Rosa Lee Parks, civil rights activist whose refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus in > Alabama started the Civil Rights Movement. > 1961 > Jerry Carlson, medical librarian and eclectic dilletante. > > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
===0===
Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 12:52:48 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: Concerning _Les Vampires_
The following is the better part of "Sam Rubin's Classic Clinic," a
regular feature in _Classic Images_:
VINTAGE VIDEO REVIEW
"Les Vampires" (1915)
Gaumont Company
Water Bearer Films has released a virtual piece of film history: the 1915
10-chapter French serial _Les Vampires_, with English titles. It's on four
cassettes. We're told that this is the first time it's been available in
the U.S.
This is my first exposure to the renowned serial. I discovered that it is
not the cliffhanger fare we usually find in serials. Each chapter does
not leave you in the midst of a life-threatening incident in which it
appears the hero is about to be eliminated; and which is planned to drag
you back to the theater next week to find out how the predicament is
resolved.
Here's the background information direct from Water Bearer's
descriptive publicity release:
"(1) Use of authentic titling cards and fonts. All title cards are in
period idiomatic English. All titles have been recreated with fonts used
by the original French production company.
"(2) Digital respeeding for visual correctness. Each episode is returned
to the orinigal running time. The spped which the film was originally
photographed has been duplicated.
"(4) Authentic full orchestral scoing using especially selected vintage
music."
David Shepard...restored all ten episodes.
Robert Israel...complied the film's music and scored the entire serial
with a live orchestra.
The serial was directed by Louis Feuillade, who had hundreds of films to
his credit. This serial, filmed in 1915, was made during World War 1...
and, no doubt, was filmed under great handicaps because of the conflict
and its obvious restrictions.
Generally, the overall quality of this serial is good, considering its
age. In a few instaqnces some faces are slightly washed out; they're only
a teeny bit distracting. I must say that this is the best quality foreign
serial of that vintage I have seen. It has been mastered from excellent
35mm material.
The serial offers real silent film melodrama; the action is aptly
described in the press release that accompanied the video: "_Les Vampires_
is an arch criminal gang of brillant and blood thirsty thieves, led by the
indomitable and electrifying Irma Vep. The gang's exploits include the
use of kidnapping, poisonous gas, heavy artillery, sexual domination,
and murder to gain physical and psychological power over Paris elite."
There are many "death defying" acion stunts with accompanying
hazardous "daring-do" on buildings, trains, and such. Members of The
Vampire gang run around with masks and tight-fitting black costumes
as they do their dirty tricks. This is "reel" exciting action. Its
rarity and quality should appeal to serial buffs, foreign film collectors,
solid silent film enthusiasts, and those looking for unusual vintage
film fare which will anchor their guests to their seats, especially those
who have not seen ancient films of this quality.
_Les Vampires_, 4 video boxed set can be purchased from Water
Bearer Films for $99.95. Address: 48 West 21st Street, Suite 301,
New York, NY 10010. Ph: (212) 242-86-86. Fax (212) 242-4560.
www.Waterbearer.com. (800)-551-8304
Bob C.
_________________________________________________
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Robert L. Champ
rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu
Editor, teacher, anglophile, human curiosity
Whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report, if
there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy; meditate on these things
Philippians 4:8
rchamp7927(at)aol.com robertchamp(at)netscape.net
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Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 13:20:31 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: Re: Concerning _Les Vampires_
In my post about this serial, I neglected to add an item
"(5) Full color tinting: Each episode incudes the originally
intended logical tinting: night exteriors in blue, night
interiors in amber, and day exteriors in green."
Bob C.
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Robert L. Champ
rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu
Editor, teacher, anglophile, human curiosity
Whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report, if
there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy; meditate on these things
Philippians 4:8
rchamp7927(at)aol.com robertchamp(at)netscape.net
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===0===
Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 17:17:50 -0800 From: Patricia Teter <PTeter(at)getty.edu> Subject: Re: Concerning _Les Vampires_ Bob C., thanks for the information on the upcoming screening of _Les Vampires_. This series came out during the Fantomas craze, did it not? I seem to remember a few Fantomas fans in the group. Patricia Patricia A. Teter PTeter(at)Getty.edu
===0===
Date: Fri, 05 Feb 1999 01:40:02 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: Re: Concerning _Les Vampires_
On Thu, 4 Feb 1999, Patricia wrote:
> Bob C., thanks for the information on the upcoming
> screening of _Les Vampires_. This series came out during
> the Fantomas craze, did it not? I seem to remember
> a few Fantomas fans in the group.
The first Fantomas film, simply entitled _Fantomas_, appeared in
1913 and was directed by the same man who made _Les Vampires_,
Louis Feuillade.
Bob C.
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Robert L. Champ
rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu
Editor, teacher, anglophile, human curiosity
Whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report, if
there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy; meditate on these things
Philippians 4:8
rchamp7927(at)aol.com robertchamp(at)netscape.net
_________________________________________________
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
===0===
Date: Fri, 05 Feb 1999 09:55:01 -0500 (CDT) From: MEDS002(at)UABDPO.DPO.UAB.EDU Subject: Re: Concerning _Les Vampires_ am I going crazy or what? Did I just read on this list or was it another list that Turner Classic Movies will begin broadcast of this serial this Sunday night Feb 7, showing two episodes a week???--aj wright
===0===
Date: Fri, 05 Feb 1999 10:37:54 -0600 From: Moudry <Moudry(at)uab.edu> Subject: Re: Concerning _Les Vampires_ A.J., Nope; you weren't dreaming. This Sunday evening TCM will do the first four installments, following up with the remainder on their "Silent Night" slot until all ten have been done. You might want to check the TCM monthly calendar on their Web site for full particulars. Be warned, though, that the downloadable Feb. calendar/viewer's guide was off by one day's name through-out the month. Side note: we need to find a time and have a jazzers' lunch real soon. At 09:55 05-02-99 -0500, you wrote: >am I going crazy or what? Did I just read on this list or was it another list >that Turner Classic Movies will begin broadcast of this serial this Sunday >night Feb 7, showing two episodes a week???--aj wright Saturnally, Joe Moudry Technical Training Specialist & SOE WebMaster Office of Academic Computing & Technology School of Education The University of Alabama (at) Birmingham E-Mail: Moudry(at)uab.edu MaBell: (205) 975-6631 Fax: (205) 975-7494 Snail Mail: 901 13th Street South 149 EB Birmingham AL 35205 USA Master of Saturn Web (Sun Ra, the Arkestra, & Free Jazz): <http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry> Producer/Host of Classic Jazz (Armstrong -> Ayler ->)on Alabama Public Radio: WUAL 91.5FM Tuscaloosa/Birmingham WQPR 88.7FM Muscle Shoals/NW Alabama WAPR 88.3FM Selma/Montgomery/Southern Alabama
===0===
Date: Fri, 05 Feb 1999 23:27:07 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: OT: Flapper slang
While perusing some of the online newsletters at "Taylorology"--a site
devoted to the mystery surrounding the death of Hollywood director
William Desmond Taylor--I came across this little dictionary of
flapper slang. I know this is out of our period, but it seemed too
good not to pass on to the lovers of language on the list.
Bob C.
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A Dictionary of Flapper Slang
The following are extracts from several "flapper dictionaries" published in
newspapers within two months of Taylor's murder, from the NEW YORK EVENING
MAIL, BALTIMORE EVENING SUN, and CINCINNATI COMMERCIAL TRIBUNE.
Airdale -- homely man.Alarm clock -- chaperon.An alibi -- a box of flowers.
Anchor -- bank roll.Apple-sauce -- flattery or bunk.
Bean picker -- one who tries to patch up trouble.
The berries -- applied to express surprise, disgust, indignation; said this
way: "Ain't that the berries!"
Blouse -- to leave, to beat it, to take the air, to blow; "Let's blouse."
Button shining -- close dancing, or achieving the same effect without the
music.Cake basket -- a limousine.
Cake eater -- a small-salaried male person who frequents teas and other
entertainments and never makes any effort to repay his social obligations;
harmless lounge lizard.The cat's pajamas -- anything that is very good.
Cellar-sheller -- a young man who always turns up where liquor is to be had
without cost.
Cheaters -- same as glimmers, optics, eyes; sometimes meaning eye glasses.
Clothesline -- one who tells the neighborhood secrets.
Cluck -- a girl who dances clumsily.
Corn shredder -- young man who dances on lady's feet.Crepehanger -- reformer.
Cuddle-cootie -- young man who takes a girl for ride on a bus.
Cutting yourself a piece of cake -- making yourself wait patiently.
Darbs -- a person with money who can be relied on to pay the check.
Did I was -- an exclamation of approval.Dimbox -- a taxicab.
Dingledangler -- one who persists in telephoning.Dog kennels -- pair of shoes.
Dogs -- feet.Dropping the pilot -- getting a divorce.
Ducksoup -- anything agreeable, easy or congenial to the moment.
Dud -- a wall flower.Dumbdora -- a stupid girl.Ear muffs -- radio receivers.
Egg harbor -- a dance hall where no admission is charged.
Father Time -- any man over thirty years of age.Feathers -- small talk.
Fig leaf -- one-piece bathing suit.
Finagler -- a young man who stalls until some one else pays the checks.
Finale hopper -- a young man or a young woman who makes a business of
appearing late at dances after the ticket takers have gone.
Fire alarm -- a divorced woman.
Flatwheeler -- young man who takes young lady to an egg harbor.
Forty-niner -- man who is prospecting for a rich wife.
G. G. -- refers to a man; coded form of the English expression Gullible Goof,
which speaks for itself, but he doesn't.
Given the air -- when a girl or fellow is thrown down on a date.
Glimmers -- the eyes of either sex; "To put the glimmers on" is to take
notice.Goofy -- To be in love with or attracted to, "I'm goofy about Jack."
Grubstake -- invitation to dinner.Handcuff -- engagement ring.
Hiphound -- one who drinks hooch.
His tempo's bad -- a phrase used about any one off color in any way.
Holyholy -- Flapper who won't indulge in mugging match.
Hush money -- allowance from father.Jane -- a girl who meets you on the stoop.
Jewelers -- flappers who measure college success by the number of fraternity
pins they collect.
John Bananas -- otherwise a goof, chump, sap; one who is silly, impossible,
dense or dead, but too lazy to lie down.John D. -- an oily person.
Lollygagger -- a young man addicted to attempts at hallway spooning.
Mad money -- carfare home if she has a fight with her escort.
Monogs -- Taken from the old English "monogamist," referring to the male or
female student who plays with but one person of the opposite sex.
Mugging match -- a necking party.
Nice girl -- one who takes you in and introduces you to her family.
The office -- a sign of warning, done covertly; vis: "I gave him the office
to duck."Oilcan -- an impostor.
Out on parole -- a person of either sex who has been divorced.
Owl -- Flapper who cuts classes and is only seen at night at dances and
parties; usually wise enough to get high grades in academic work.
Pillowcase -- young man who is full of feathers.
Pocket twister -- girl who eats, dances and drinks up all of a man's spare
change.Police dog -- young woman's fiance.
Punching the bag -- Act of a man who chats with a girl--and keeps on
chatting.
Ritzy -- stuck up.
Rug hopper -- a young man who never takes a girl out; a parlor hound.
Seraph -- Girl who likes to be kissed, but not violently.Slat -- young man.
Smudger -- one who does all the closefitting dancing steps.
Snake-charmer -- a female bootlegger.
Snugglepup -- young man who frequents petting parties.
Sodbuster -- an undertaker.Static -- conversation that means nothing.
Stilts -- legs.
Strike breaker -- young woman who goes with her friend's "steady" while there
is a coolness.Struggle -- a dance.
Strut your stuff -- otherwise show them how it is done; to dance, sing, etc.
Sugar -- money.Sweetie -- anybody she hates.
Swift's premium -- clumsy flapper; wall flower.
Tomato -- good looking girl with no brains.
Weeping willow -- same as crepehanger.Whangdoodle -- jazz band music.
Whiskbroom -- a man who cultivates whiskers.
Windsucker -- any person giving to boasting.
A Wow -- denoting something extremely clever, brilliant or pleasing.
_________________________________________________
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Robert L. Champ
rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu
Editor, teacher, anglophile, human curiosity
Whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report, if
there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy; meditate on these things
Philippians 4:8
rchamp7927(at)aol.com robertchamp(at)netscape.net
_________________________________________________
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End of Gaslight Digest V1 #40
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