for tommy

JOYEAUX ANNIVERSAIRE! Bonne Fete! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! FELIZ CUMPLEANOS! Hau`oli la hanau! BUON COMPLEANNO! Fortuna dies natalis! Wszystkiego Najlepszego! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Huttida Habba Subashayagalu! FELIZ ANIVERSARIO! Vill Glück zum Geburri!

cheers buddy!

Ziegfeld's Girls

The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of popular and elaborate Broadway productions, inspired by the Follies Bergère of Paris. These American vaudevillian variety shows ran from 1907 through 1931. Many of the top entertainers of the era got their start on Ziegfeld's stage.

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The chorus girls, or "Ziegfeld Girls" were not your customary faceless backup dancers. Many of these female performers would go on to become leading ladies. Louise Brooks (pictured below) was spotted by Charlie Chaplin while dancing on the Ziegfeld stage. Marion Davies (below, right), Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Blondell, and others started their careers in Ziegfeld's chorus.

Risqué images of the actresses decked out in elaborate, provocative costumes designed by Erté, Lady Duff Gordon, and Ali Ben Hagan, have influenced numerous fashion spreads. (Right click the image for a larger view.)

The Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2008 fashion campaign featuring Kirsten Dunst immediately comes to mind.

Coincidentally, Kirsten also got to portray the actress and former follies girl Marion Davies in Peter Bogdanovich's 2001 film The Cat's Meow. (Lucky duck.)

Sadly, on May 12, 2010, Doris Eaton Travis, the last of the Ziegfeld Follies girls, died at age 106. Doris began dancing with the Follies at age 14.

Source: Wikipedia.org, Variety.com

"and I seem to find the happiness I seek..."

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance in Top Hat, 1935. Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin.

Growing up, I mainly watched black & white movies and musicals with my mom. This was the way I pictured romance— I thought that naturally, when you dated someone, you would break out into spontaneous song.

Needless to say, when I got my first boyfriend, it was a great disappointment.

People Take Pictures of Eachother

This 1930's press photo (Clara Bow, top) and vintage snapshots below are examples from my vintage photography collection.

If you're looking for interesting, affordable wall art, photography is the way to go.

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Over the years, I've procured quite a few vintage press photos from newspaper photo archives, along with old snapshots and film shots I've discovered online. Fashion photos by Richard Avedon, music photos by Jasper Dailey, film reel photography from Hal Hartley's estate— the possibilities are endless, really. They're interesting, relatively inexpensive, and look great grouped together on a wall.

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Here's one of Marilyn Monroe/Bus Stop I came across a moment ago— I've no clue what the back story is on it, but if you don't care about provenance or authenticity, it's a nice looking photo.

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Press photos also make a great gift- you'll find something for your pickiest friend, if you keep your eyes open. Examples: Bardot fans? Check. Nancy Sinatra? Check. Old movies/ big drinker? Check. Sports enthusiast? Check. B-movie/ Bad Hair-do collector? Check. Paul Newman fan? Sign me up. See what I mean?

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I tend to favor vintage press photography over snapshots and studio photography, because you get the candid quality of a snapshot, along with the photography skills of a professional photographer. Many photos shot for newspapers have an intimate feel, and aren't mass-produced and turned into kitsch like a studio photograph.

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I'll share more of my collection later— they're stashed around my house. None displayed at the moment— no wall space!

Honor Your Mother & Make a Difference

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Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9th! Are you looking for a last minute gift?
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One of my favorite charity organizations, Women for Women International, supports thousands of women who are survivors of war by enabling them to rebuild their lives. If you go here, you can make a donation to the cause in honor of your mother, and Women for Women will send your mom a beautiful Mother's Day Card, designed by the women in their Rwanda program.

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You still have time to participate- if you donate today, your mom will receive the card in time for Mother's Day. If you miss the deadline, you can still check out their site for more info about the organization, and to donate whenever you feel inclined. xxxxxxxxxxxx♥Every little bit helps! ♥

xPhoto: "Jackie Kennedy and Caroline in Hyannis Port" Mark Shaw, 1959