Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Strangerhood -- Mission District -- April 9, 2014
The San Francisco Arts Commission (http://www.sfartscommission.org/) has set up a series of posters by artist Lordy Rodriquez called "Strangerhood." Rodriquez reimagines San Francisco neighborhoods as countries. This is his version of the Mission District. I took the photo on 14-January-2014. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Le Roy Talma & Bosco -- April 7, 2014
To play the Palace in New York was the height of accomplishment in vaudeville. Le Roy-Talma-Bosco were a popular team of magicians. Servais Le Roy was a Belgian magician. Talma (Mary Ford) was his wife and an expert coin manipulator. Bosco was the rotund comic relief. There were several Boscos over the years. John Bosco is the patron saint of magicians.
Headliner Lucille Cavanaugh was a dancer. "Miss Cavanaugh is Georgeously Attractive." Georgously? "Beautiful Face -- Beautiful Figure -- Beautiful Steps." The Avon Comedy Four was a popular comic act which included Smith and Dale.
The ad is from the New York Tribune 22-September-1918.
Here is an ad from a 1915 appearance at the Palace:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2011/03/magic-3-march-5-2011.html
The Giants are off to a good start. They won 3 of 4 against Arizona and 2 of 3 against the Dodgers.
The ad is from the New York Tribune 22-September-1918.
Here is an ad from a 1915 appearance at the Palace:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2011/03/magic-3-march-5-2011.html
The Giants are off to a good start. They won 3 of 4 against Arizona and 2 of 3 against the Dodgers.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Aeromarine Airways -- April 5, 2014
Aeromarine Airways was a subsidiary of the Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company. Aeromarine Airways operated from 1920 to 1923. The images and the text are from the 1922 Aircraft Yearbook. Be sure to click on the images to see larger versions.
The first, and at the present time the only, regularly operated aerial transportation line in the United States, and the largest in the world, utilizing flying boats exclusively, is Aeromarine Airways, Inc., the service of which covers the Florida Straits, between Florida and Cuba, and various points in the Caribbean Sea. The history of this company is an inspiring example of faith and courage. The Key West-Havana route was selected in 1920, first, because of the extraordinary volume of traffic, pleasure and business the year round; second, because passage of the stormy Channel required an entire night of discomfort, and third, as the course lay over water, operation need not await the establishment of terminals or routes or even the enactment of Federal Law.
Starting with one eleven-passenger cruiser, the fleet has been steadily increased until, at the close of 1921, it embraced thirty flying boats of various capacity, the are of operations being extended north along the Atlantic seaboard to Boston, and westward, over the Hudson and the Great Lakes to Chicago and Detroit; south through the Mississippi Valley to New Orleans, thence around the Gulf Coast to the Key West base. During 1921, Aeromarine Airways flew 95,020 miles, according to their log, carrying 6814 passengers and 29,002 pounds of freight. They operated their Cuban services daily, making a total of 162 flights during the season, maintaining an average scheduled time of 96 minutes for the 110 miles, and this frequently notwithstanding the gales which sweep the Straits. and what is most important of all, there has never been a single person -- passenger or employee, injured.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Hugh Masekela 75 -- April 4, 2014
Today is the 75th birthday of South African musician and activist Hugh Masekela. He plays the trumpet, flugelhorn and cornet. He was inspired to take up the trumpet when he saw Young Man With a Horn, which was loosely based on the life of Bix Biederbecke. Masekela played with pioneering jazz groups in South Aftica, but left the country after the Sharpeville Massacre. He worked against apartheid around the world. I think I first learned about him when he had his big US hit, "Grazing in the Grass."
The photo of Hugh Masekela and the album cover are from www.listal.com.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Be Sure It Is a Victrola -- April 3, 2014
In 1906, the Victor Talking Machine Company introduced a revolutionary phonograph with an internal amplifying horn. They called it the Victrola. Victrola almost became a synonym for phonograph. Many of my older relatives called any phonograph a Victrola, just as they called a refrigerator a Frigidaire.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Marvin Gaye 75 -- April 2, 2014
Happy 75th birthday to the late Marvin Gaye, a wonderful singer and songwriter who shaped American soul music. I listen to his album What's Going On a lot. I have trouble believing that yesterday was the 30th anniversary of his death.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
NBC Announces New Fall Lineup -- April 1, 2014
NBC announced that its Fall lineup will be "going back to basics." Among the stars of new shows is beloved veteran Felix the Cat.
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