The Echo of a Distant Time: June 2024

Friday, June 28, 2024

Fare thee well, Orlando Cepeda

Topps 1968

The 1967 NL MVP departs at age 86. Orlando Cepeda did grace the rosters of six Major League franchises, most famously the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals. In the twilight of his career, he did become the first designated hitter in Boston Red Sox history during the 1973 season, when that role was first introduced. The 1958 National League Rookie of the Year, and eleven times an All-Star. His 46 home runs in 1961 led the National League, although this feat was overshadowed by Roger Maris’ 61 home runs for the New York Yankees in the American League. One of the first and undeniably greatest stars of Puerto Rico in Major League Baseball, may Orlando Cepeda rest in eternal peace.

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.

Marguerite Chapman: a vision of timeless elegance and coquettish charm

Verily, a classic and captivating beauty, actress Marguerite Chapman is photographed in this enchanting pose for Yank magazine (which I believe was a French publication) on 3 December 1944. Reclining gracefully on plush fabric, her crossed legs adorned in fishnet stockings, she is clad in a sheer, flowing garment that reveals her form, adorned with sparkling embellishments. With one hand raised, she playfully tousles her locks, a playful smile gracing her visage.

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Carole Lombard, captured by Eugene Robert Richee for the September 1935 issue of Picture Play magazine

Actress Carole Lombard striking a glamorous pose. Her arms are raised gracefully above her head. She is clad in a delicate, light-coloured dress with thin straps. A serene and poised expression doth adorn her visage, accentuated by carefully arched eyebrows and dark lipstick.

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

‘You’ve come a long way, baby’. Virginia Slims ad from around 1971

A damsel with wavy locks of brown sitteth with her knees drawn up, a gentle smile playing upon her lips. She is the very picture of casual confidence, sporting a red knitted hat, a patterned blue jacket, a red miniskirt, and knee-high red socks matched with red heels. A cigarette resteth casually in her right hand. The tagline doth read: 'You’ve come a long way, baby'. In the bottom right corner, a packet of Virginia Slims cigarettes resteth beside the text: 'Slimmer than the fat cigarettes men smoke. With rich Virginia flavor women like'. Photo: Condé Nast.

I am not entirely certain, but I believe this be the model and actress Veronica Hamel in the portrait.

Quotables 25 June 2024: Groucho Marx on principles

Sporting a visage both dignified and merry, Groucho Marx doth exude a charm and confidence most profound. A cigar held aloft in his right hand, he peers through his round spectacles. A neatly trimmed moustache completes the picture, all framed by a check suit jacket over a checked shirt. Photo: Getty Images

‘Those are my principles, and if you like them… well I have others’.

Quote via https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/groucho_marx_122547

Monday, June 24, 2024

Publicity shot of model, actress, and dancer Adele Lacy, circa 1933

Keystone-France/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

In a most glamorous and playful pose, Adele Lacy reclines on a cushioned bench with a luxurious fur stole draped across her upper torso. Her legs are elegantly extended, showing off her high-heeled shoes, and her visage doth beam with delight. A joyful smile and hands raised high complete the lighthearted and flirtatious look. The backdrop consists of marbled panels; a sophisticated and vintage aesthetic.

Actress Alicia Silverstone in Rolling Stone magazine, 1995, captured in a playful and whimsical setting

Lying on her back against a pink background, garbed in a pink tunic and matching pink knickers. About her, several pink plush elephants are scattered. Holding one of the plush elephants above her with both hands, she looks up at it with a joyful countenance. A lighthearted and vibrant aesthetic.

Friday, June 21, 2024

Born #OTD 1921: Jane Russell

The Minnesota-born Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell, lensed by the celebrated photographer George Hurrell, circa 1946. She reclines on a luxurious fur throw, her head tilted back and eyes closed, suggesting a sense of relaxed sensuality. A silky gown drapes elegantly around her, adding to the overall glamorous and sophisticated mood.

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Farewell to the masterfully melancholic French actress, Anouk Aimée: 1932-2024

Actress Anouk Aimée in 'Lola' (1961). She cuts a striking figure in a seductive ensemble. The outfit features an intricately detailed lace corset, a feather boa draped around her shoulders, and a tall top hat, which she adjusts with a steady hand. Her expression is one of poise and confidence, with slightly parted lips and an intense gaze. Soft waves in her hair complete the overall glamorous and theatrical look. Photo: Euro-International Films.

A pillar of French cinema for many decades, the celebrated Anouk Aimée, known as 'an icon of doomed romance', has passed away at the age of 92. This remarkably beautiful actress also made her mark on Hollywood, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in 'A Man and a Woman' (1966).

BBC: French film star Anouk Aimée dies aged 92 - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clllev363y3o

Gene Tierney administ a riot of colourful umbrellas and clad in a pink and white striped dress, 1940

A striking and stylish portrait of actress Gene Tierney. She sits amidst a riot of colourful umbrellas, creating a lively and eye-catching backdrop. She is clad in a pink and white striped dress with puffed sleeves and buttons down the front. The dress is cinched at the waist with a belt, emphasising her figure. Her dark hair is styled in soft waves, and she gazes to the side with a poised and elegant expression. A small bunch of yellow flowers in one hand adds a touch of brightness and charm.

Photographed for Vogue magazine, 15 May 1940.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Kate Moss in a pose, circa 1992

Model Kate Moss adopts a pose that accentuates her natural figure. Seated and leaning back slightly, she has her head tilted upwards and her eyes closed. Her hair flows down her back, and the background is kept minimal.

Photographed by Irving Penn.

Quotables 19 June 2024: Veronica Lake on being a ‘misfit’ in 1940s Hollywood

A sepia-toned picture of actress Veronica Lake, taken around 1941. She's posing in front of a backdrop with a drawn horse. Dressed in a long, flowing gown and a striking necklace, she's seated on a cushioned surface. The photograph captures her enigmatic glamour. Photo: Louise Dahl-Wolfe

‘There's no doubt I was a bit of a misfit in the Hollywood of the forties. The race for glamour left me far behind. I didn't really want to keep up. I wanted my stardom without the usual trimmings. Because of this, I was branded a rebel at the very least. But I don't regret that for a minute. My appetite was my own and I simply wouldn't have it any other way’.

Quote via https://www.azquotes.com/quote/747145

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

A sad night for anyone who loves the history of baseball: The legendary Willie Mays has died at the age of 93

Willie Mays in a San Francisco Giants uniform. He is clutching a baseball bat, poised to hit, in a stadium with the crowd in the background. Photo: Louis Requena/MLB Photos/Getty Images.

A 24-time All-Star and a record-holding 12-time Gold Glove winner, Willie Mays was the first National League player to achieve the feat of 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season. With 660 career home runs and a World Series win in 1954, he has long widely been considered to be one of the top five players of all-time.

His on-field brilliance was matched by his resilience, having overcome significant barriers to acceptance faced by Black players in the 1950s. Renowned for his generosity and spirit, ‘The Say Hey Kid’ was a baseball legend without equal. Thank you for your life, Willie Mays.

AP: Willie Mays, Giants’ electrifying ‘Say Hey Kid,’ has died at 93 - https://apnews.com/article/willie-mays-33b31cc2d6382676ed54517d20ea36a3

Marilyn Monroe’s mountainside resilience

Actress Marilyn Monroe strikes a pose for the camera against a stunning mountain and woodland backdrop. Clad in a two-piece swimsuit and high heels, she exudes confidence despite a bandaged foot supported by crutches. Her determined expression captures both her resilience and enduring glamour in the face of this clear injury. Photo: John Vachon.

Must get back on the proverbial horse with posting. Been outright catatonic for weeks; this world is doing my head in, and at a more rapid pace than ever. Well, just to show even the best of us get a knock sometimes, here is Marilyn Monroe on crutches, circa 1953.

Friday, June 7, 2024

Quotables 7 June 2024: Joan Crawford on where to find ‘the girl next door’

B&W icon: Joan Crawford in a striking floral dress by George Hurrell (MGM, c. 1932). Classic waves frame her confident gaze. Dramatic light accentuates her strength and elegance in this timeless portrait.

From a 1937 Los Angeles Times interview: ‘I never go outside unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door’.

Quote via https://www.azquotes.com/quote/67131

Glamorous actress Martha Hyer, clad in a white towel, prepares to toast with champagne

Actress Martha Hyer, circa 1955, wearing a strapless white towel that she is holding up in front of her, giving the impression that she has just stepped out of a bath. Several bottles of champagne lined up along the edge. Photo: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images.

The daughter of a well-respected Texas lawyer and a devout Methodist family, Martha Hyer ventured to Hollywood in her early 20s and landed a contract with RKO. She subsequently married two Hollywood producers, the latter being Hal B. Wallis, who was responsible for classics like ‘Casablanca’ (1942) and ‘True Grit’ (1969). Martha Hyer was a successful supporting player on film throughout the 1950s, and also served as a screenwriter for the 1974 John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn film ‘Rooster Cogburn’.

Thursday, June 6, 2024

#DDay 1944: The liberation of Europe from Nazi tyranny commenced with the Allied invasion of occupied France

Allied soldiers on the eve of the D-Day landings, Normandy, 1944. Photo: Getty Images.

Today, we commemorate all those who stormed the Normandy beaches on the 80th anniversary of the pivotal event in the 20th century. Their bravery and sacrifice secured a period of relative peace, prosperity, and stability that lasted up until recent years. I fear a conflict of this scale and with such perilous consequences will have to be fought again. And I worry that this time, #Murcia might not be on the righteous side. Heaven help us all.

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Quotables 5 June 2024: Paulette Goddard on ‘the most fascinating person in the world’

Photo: Bud Fraker

‘Actors and actresses who say they never go to see their own pictures are talking through their hats. You don't have to be a Freud to know that the most fascinating person in the world - actors or anybody - is yourself’.

Quote via https://www.azquotes.com/author/34540-Paulette_Goddard

Saturday, June 1, 2024

Happy 98th heavenly birthday to the goddess

Marilyn Monroe, born 1 June 1926. Shown here photographed by Milton Greene in 1956.