The Echo of a Distant Time: July 2024

Friday, July 26, 2024

Born #OTD 1930: Barbara Jefford, OBE

Continuing with the theme of renowned Shakespearean actresses from England, and undoubtedly an influence upon Helen Mirren, behold Barbara Jefford (1930 - 2020). She is shown here in one of her most famous roles as Molly Bloom in ‘Ulysses’ (1967), a British Lion Films production.

Photo: The character of Molly Bloom is lying on a bed in a languid pose. Her tresses, dark as night, are scattered on the pillow’s soft embrace. Case in a gown of gossamer adorned with lace, she lies in contemplation deep. A gentle smile plays upon her lips, a secret mirth within her eyes.

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.

Born #OTD 1945: Dame Helen Mirren

Photo: Shutterstock/British Vogue. Colourised.

Wishing England’s most valorous and celebrated living actress a very happy 79th birthday. May her star continue to shine ever brightly.

Photo: A young Helen Mirren, circa 1968, is seen leaning against a stone column with effortless grace. She is wearing a dress of sombre hue, with long sleeves and a short hemline, accentuating her slender legs. She stands in a relaxed pose with her legs crossed at the ankles, wearing light-coloured ballet flats. Her blonde hair is styled with a slight wave, and she gazes directly at the camera with a steady and serene expression. The background consists of a textured stone wall, adding a rustic charm to the image.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

#OTD 1814: One of the bloodiest battles of the War of 1812, the Battle of Lundy’s Lane (a/k/a the Battle of Niagara)

Illustration via the New York State Military Museum

On 25 July 1814, British and Canadian forces, under the command of the valiant General Sir Gordon Drummond, successfully repelled an American invasion at what is now Niagara Falls, Ontario, forcing the aggressors to retreat to their position at Fort Erie. In this hour of peril, a local resident named Catherine Lundy nobly offered succor to the weary British forces and shelter to their wounded. In gratitude for her valor, it is told that a British officer bestowed upon her his very sword. This day of triumph - albeit one that came at a very heavy cost - was later memorialised in the lyrics of the Canadian patriotic standard, ‘The Maple Leaf Forever’:

At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane our brave fathers, side by side
for freedom, homes, and loved ones dear, firmly stood and nobly died.
And those dear rights which they maintained, we swear to yield them never.
Our watchword evermore shall be, the Maple Leaf forever!

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Died #OTD 1965: Constance Bennett

Fairest Constance Bennett, portraying Venice Muir in ‘Lady with a Past’ (1932) by RKO Pathé Pictures, Inc., is remembered today, marking the 59th anniversary of her departure from this mortal coil, stricken by a grievous haemorrhage of the cerebrum. Owing to her status as a devoted military wife and her unwavering efforts in entertaining troops stationed in Europe, she was granted the honour of interment within the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. May she forever rest in well-deserved peace.

Photo: Constance Bennett dazzles in the character of Venice Muir. In this portrait, she strikes an elegant pose, seated upon a polished wooden sideboard flanked on either side by ornate lamps. Constance is garbed in a stylish ensemble befitting the early years of the 1930s, with a shimmering silk blouse cinched at the waist, and trousers that flow most becomingly. Her tresses, styled with meticulous care, cascade in gentle waves. Upon her visage rests a thoughtful, slightly enigmatic expression. The scene behind her is adorned with a tapestry, its patterns intricate and captivating. She is a veritable embodiment of vintage glamour and timeless elegance.

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Demi Moore in the 1980s: a jewel of her time

Photo: Oui magazine

In this image from the bygone 1980s, the radiant actress Demi Moore, aglow with the blush of youth, is perched upon the floor, her knees drawn close to her breast. She is clad in a burgundy long-sleeved sweater and colourful, striped knee-high socks, her luscious thighs laid bare. Demi’s raven locks, a cascade of midnight beauty, flow freely over her shoulders. A countenance both thoughtful and imbued with a touch of intensity marks her features. She is set against a canvas of soft, ethereal blue that creates a striking contrast with her dark attire. Intimate and stylish, capturing the essence of the decade’s fashion and aesthetic, Demi Moore was a glorious beauty of the 1980s, and few others could compare.

Rest in Peace, John Mayall. 1933 - 2024

John Mayall performing at the 1969 Newport Jazz Festival. Photo: David Redfern.

{BBC 24/7} British blues pioneer John Mayall dies aged 90

One of the very first and most important British blues rock guitarists, John Mayall, has surrendered his mortal coil at the grand age of 90. A wellspring of talent who have been mentored by and have been members of Mayall’s Bluesbreakers through the years include Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Peter Green, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, and countless others of lesser renown. Patti Smith, of all people, lent her voice to a 1977 recording.

John Mayall’s devotion to the blues was a beacon, unwavering and bright. He continued to grace stages and studios with his music up until very recently. Though I confess I have not plumbed the depths of his entire catalogue, the seminal 1966 recording, ‘Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton’, stands as a testament to blues rock at its most exquisite. Just this year, John Mayall was bestowed a long-deserved induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Monday, July 22, 2024

A vision of elegance personified: Ida Lupino in 'Out of the Fog' (1941)

The radiant Ida Lupino in a publicity still for ‘Out of the Fog’, a 1941 Warner Bros. film in which she starred opposite John Garfield. In this image, the renowned British actress and filmmaker is posed on a chaise longue, adorned in a stylish, floral-patterned two-piece outfit. She exudes sophistication with a confident yet relaxed demeanour. Her shapely and fair legs are crossed with grace, and a thoughtful hand rests upon her chin. A flower adorns her wavy hair. Rich and textured draperies fill the backdrop, embodying the very essence of luxury and refinement.

Quotables 22 July 2024: Wisdom from Mark Twain, Benjamin Franklin, C.S. Lewis, T.S. Eliot, and more

Illustration: Edwin Larson/National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian Institution

‘An intelligent person never shares three things with anyone - Their innermost fears, past regrets, and ultimate excuse for showing up late’. - Mark Twain

‘The doors of wisdom are never shut’. - Benjamin Franklin, from ‘Poor Richard's Almanack’

‘One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts.’ - C.S. Lewis, from ‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’

‘Man is a strange animal. He generally cannot read the handwriting on the wall until his back is up against it’. - Adlai Stevenson II

‘Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important’. - T.S. Eliot

‘It’s a hell of a responsibility to be yourself. It’s much easier to be somebody else or nobody at all’. - Sylvia Plath

‘When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind’. - C.S. Lewis

A life without mine best friends is a life diminished

FRANK, c. 2009 - 2022, ROCKET, 2009 - 2024.

Sunday, July 21, 2024

British actress Sienna Miller captured in a playful and carefree moment

Courtesy of the November 2013 edition of ELLE magazine, the celebrated American-born British actress Sienna Miller is seen reclining upon a luxurious bed, a veritable nest of soft, light-coloured blankets and pillows cradling her form. She is attired in a top of delicate blue lace, adorned with intricate patterns. Her nether regions are swathed in shimmering blue panties. Matching socks of the same hue hug her creamy calves. A cascade of sun-kissed blonde hair is loosely spread around her. A wide and joyous smile graces her lips, radiating contentment and tranquillity. With her left hand, she playfully covers a portion of her face, adding a touch of mystery amidst the merriment. Her right arm, extended aloft, speaks of liberation and ease. The background is a tapestry of verdant hues, a haven adorned with blooms of various colours, the very essence of summer’s bounty.

Born #OTD 1929: Sensual jazz vocalist Helen Merrill

Born to Croatian immigrant parents in New York City, Helen Merrill (née Jelena Ana Milcetic) was destined to sing, performing in jazz clubs by the tender age of fourteen. Over a career spanning six decades, she worked with a veritable ‘who’s who’ of performers and luminaries, including Quincy Jones, Clifford Brown, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Ennio Morricone, and Gil Evans. She became a notable star in Europe and, beginning in the late 1960s, Japan. Wishing this nightingale a very happy 95th journey around the sun.

Photo: An evocative album cover graces us, as the veritable siren of song, Helen Merrill, is captured in a moment of serene introspection. The image, part of a series extolling the ‘Great Women of Song’ by Verve Records, showcases her in profile against a bewitching, deep magenta backdrop. Her platinum blonde tresses are styled in soft, voluminous waves. With her eyes gently closed and lips slightly parted, she appears lost in the celestial melodies that dance within her soul. Her dexter hand rests gracefully near her chin, fingertips brushing against it with tenderness.

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Jane Greer: RKO’s ‘woman with the Mona Lisa smile’

The model, actress, and fair beauty Jane Greer is laid bare before our eyes in LIFE magazine, 8 June 1942. It was this very photoshoot that compelled Howard Hughes—a man of immeasurable wealth and influence, and one with a keen eye for talent—to take the young aspirant under his wing and bring her to Hollywood stardom. Their business relationship endured roughly a decade but was not without its share of tribulations. Arguably, her best-known role was in 1947’s 'Out of the Past', starring opposite Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas.

She was born Bettejane Greer in Washington D.C. on 9 September 1924 but legally changed her name to Jane Greer in 1945, proclaiming to the press: 'Mine is a sissy name. It's too bo-peepish, ingenueish, for the type of role I've been playing. It's like Mary Lou or Mary Ann.' For a very brief time (separating after just three months), she was the wife of saxophonist and bandleader Rudy Vallee. Her talents were recognised in 1960 when a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was bestowed upon her. She continued to work in television into the 1980s.

Photo: Verily, Jane Greer is smoking in this relaxed and alluring pose. Seated against a dark backdrop, a playful smile dances upon her lips. She is draped in a dark sheet that covers her torso. In her dexter hand, a slender cigarette rests, with a wisp of smoke curling upwards like the very tendrils of desire. Her other hand, a vision of creamy flesh, finds a gentle resting place upon her breast. Her hair is a cascade of soft waves, amplifying her natural beauty.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Born #OTD 1907: Barbara Stanwyck

Photo: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis/Getty Images

A paragon of elegance and among the most lauded thespians of her generation, possessing an unmatched work ethic and a smouldering fire to her artistry, the undeniably beautiful Barbara Stanwyck - née Ruby Catherine Stevens - entered this world in the New York City borough of Brooklyn on this day in 1907. She is shown here leaning slightly forward, her posture both poised and approachable, with her hands resting on the back of a chair. She is attired in a glamorous, sleeveless gown adorned with sparkling details, drawing the eye to her slender form. Her hair is a cascade of gentle waves, framing her delicate and captivating face. A serenity washes over her countenance, with a hint of wistfulness lingering in her eyes as they gaze softly upon us.

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Bastille Day: Catherine Deneuve in 'La Sirène du Mississippi' (Mississippi Mermaid), 1969

Photo: Les Artistes Associés

Whereas today is Bastille Day, we turn our gaze to the land of Gaul and one of its most esteemed actresses, the incomparable Catherine Deneuve. Shown here in a scene from the 1969 crime drama 'Mississippi Mermaid', she stands poised and elegant, leaning gracefully against a marble mantelpiece, her arms crossed in front of her. She is attired in a dark, long-sleeved garment and high-waisted fishnet tights that cling most becomingly to her shapely legs. Her hair, a cascade of gold, is styled in a voluminous updo, and her visage exudes a divine calmness and an air of confidence. Behind her, a large mirror reflects her noble profile. The chamber itself speaks of refined taste, with an ornate clock gracing the mantelpiece and a painted backdrop adding to the scene. Catherine Deneuve’s timeless elegance and presence holds one captive. A beauty that transcends the ages, a marvel to be treasured. Thank you kindly for this much, at least, France.

Friday, July 12, 2024

Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe in New York City, circa 1957

Captured by Sam Shaw, iconic actress Marilyn Monroe is seen with her then-husband, renowned playwright Arthur Miller, standing in front of a backdrop of the Queensboro Bridge in New York City. Arthur Miller, attired in spectacles and a suit of light hue with a cravat of darkest night, stands with purpose, his finger outstretched towards something unseen that lies beyond the frame. His brow is furrowed, and his gaze fixed with the intensity of a scholar deep in contemplation. Marilyn Monroe, clad in a gown of purest white, its edges adorned with delicate scallops that mimic the seashore, rests her arm gently upon her husband’s back. Her visage is graced with a hint of a smile, her lips slightly parted and her classic beauty evident.

A vision of refinement and allure: Mamie Van Doren by Earl Leaf, Anno Domini 1956

Captured by the esteemed Earl Leaf circa 1956, the ever-captivating Mamie Van Doren leans most gracefully upon a counter, attired in a strapless top that accentuates the bountiful gifts bestowed upon her by Venus herself. Her platinum blonde tresses cascade in waves both soft and voluminous. In the foreground is an intricate and artistic mobile fashioned from various natural materials, including driftwood and stones. The background features a stylish and somewhat bohemian atmosphere. She is alluring and confident, completely encapsulating the essence of 1950s Hollywood glamour.

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Rest in Peace, Shelley Duvall. 1949 - 2024

20th Century Fox/Everett Collection

I am saddened to learn of the passing of the eccentrically beautiful actress with large eyes, Texas-born Shelley Duvall. A frequent muse of director Robert Altman, her most memorable and heroic role arguably came under director Stanley Kubrick, starring opposite Jack Nicholson as Wendy Torrance in the immortal 1980 thriller 'The Shining', a role which took a grievous toll on her body and psyche. Noted film critic Roger Ebert once likened her to 'a precious piece of china with a tinkling personality', a description that is probably as apt as any. Godspeed, fair lady.

Photo: Shelley Duvall is captured in a radiant and charming pose, attired in a sleeveless yellow garment, the fabric held aloft near her clavicle. Her raven locks, fashioned in a sleek bob with a fringe most becoming, frame her large and expressive eyes. She has a slight, whimsical smile on her face, adding to her eccentric beauty. The backdrop is adorned with several framed pictures and a bouquet of dried flowers.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Born #OTD 1904: Lili Damita

Warner Bros.

Upon this day, one hundred and twenty years ago, model, dancer, and actress Lili Damita graced the world with her presence, born in the fair town of Blaye, France. After a degree of success in the German cinema, she ventured to Hollywood in 1928, working for various studios over the next decade.

In 1935, she would take Errol Flynn, a young actor yet to achieve renown, as her husband. Alas, their union was fated to be short-lived, and Flynn later claimed her demeanor to be erratic and even violent throughout their seven years of marriage. Many years hence, their son, Sean Flynn, a photojournalist, vanished without a trace in Cambodia, during the brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge. He was never to be found, and was presumed dead in 1984.

Lili Damita succumbed to the cruel clutches of Alzheimer's disease in the year 1994, at the age of 89.

Photo: A promotional still from the 1932 film 'The Match King' features a cheerful Lili Damita emerging from a small, old-fashioned bathtub, a towel chastely wrapped about her form. Behind her stands an older woman, played by Greta Meyer, holding up another towel to provide additional cover.

#OTD 1553: The tragic teenage monarch: Lady Jane Grey begins nine days’ reign as Queen of England and Ireland

AI generated image

A tragic and innocent figure thrust into an impossible situation,15 year-old Lady Jane Grey reluctantly takes the throne of Queen of England and Ireland, a reign that would last all of nine days. For her trouble, she would be executed by Mary Tudor in 1554.

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Born #OTD 1964: Courtney Love

Courtney Love, circa 1994. Photo: Jeff Thurnher/CORBIS

By what machinations of fate has this most tempestuous woman, Courtney Love, reached the ripe age of threescore? Though she resides outside the public eye of late, and rock music is no longer a commercially viable genre, in the bygone days of the 1990s, she was ever-present, and she was a hot mess if ever there was one.

As a musician, one cannot laud her as a songbird of unparalleled voice nor a guitarist of prodigious skill. Indeed, the tasks of melody and intricate fretwork fell to the token male in the otherwise female band. Yet, for all her eccentricities (which likely persist to this day), she and her band, Hole, recorded two albums of undeniable merit: 1994’s ‘Live Through This’ and 1998’s ‘Celebrity Skin’. Both resonate with a power that defies the ravages of time, standing superior to the vast majority of the ‘alternative rock’ which dominated the airwaves and popular discourse during that halcyon decade.

Though she may have been, and perhaps remains, as mad as a hatter, the memory of Courtney Love stirs a yearning for a simpler time. An era before everything in music became fixated solely on the vapid offerings of the top forty, and everyone else was shut out of the conversation.

Quotables 9 July 2024: Irish poet W.B. Yeats on politicians

National Library of Ireland

‘The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.’ - W.B. Yeats

Sunday, July 7, 2024

A publicity photo of Carole Lombard for Pathé Studios, dating back to circa 1929

A radiant star of Hollywood, the illustrious Carole Lombard, though snatched from this mortal coil far too soon, graces us with her presence in this most elegant and cunning portrait, crafted by the artisans of Pathé Studios circa 1929. She is draped partially in luxurious, shiny fabric, forming a dramatic frame around her womanly form. Upon her head rests a dazzling contraption, a bejewelled headdress fit for a queen, shimmering and gleaming with otherworldly light. Her gaze, cast ever so slightly to the side, speaks of contemplation and mysteries untold. The cunning play of light, masterfully employed, illuminates both the beauty of her face and the rich texture of the fabric, weaving a tapestry of light and shadow most striking to the eye.

Quotables 7 July 2024: Christina Ricci on having a womanly body

Getty Images

‘Now my body is really womanly - a little too much so. It's something I can fall back on. When I don't know what else to do, I stick my chest out’.

Quote via https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1438939

Photo: Behold a beautiful thespian of much renown, Christina Ricci, as she doth recline upon a bed in a chamber both intimate and tranquil. Partially veiled by white sheets, she rests upon her side, one arm supporting her head in contemplation. The other lies at her ease by her side. A thoughtful mood doth seem to overtake her, and a touch of melancholy, perchance, hangs in the air as her gaze is fixed directly upon thine own. Her raven tresses, unbound and loose, do frame her face, angelic in its form, with a natural grace. Expect, dear reader, to see more of this singular lady, for she is a treasure without compare, and gracing these pages she shall.

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Quotables 6 July 2024: Sophia Loren on her ‘peculiar yardstick for measuring a man’

‘I have my own peculiar yardstick for measuring a man: does he have the courage to cry in a moment of grief? Does he have the compassion not to hunt an animal? In his relationship with a woman, is he gentle? Real manliness is nurtured in kindness and gentleness, which I associate with intelligence, comprehension, tolerance, justice, education, and high morality. If only men realized how easy it is to open a woman's heart with kindness, and how many women close their hearts to the assaults of the Don Juans’.

Quote via https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1377973

Photo: Captured by Michael Donovan, circa 1955: Sophia Loren strikes a pose to captivate the very soul, seated upon the deck of a vessel, the vast expanse of the ocean glistening around her. She is wearing a floral-patterned summer gown, its bodice embracing her curves with grace, while the skirt billows forth in a cascade of blooms. A necklace of fiery rubies adorns her neck, mirrored in the crimson jewels that dance in her ears. Her hair is a masterpiece of bygone days, and a confident expression reigns upon her visage.

Born #OTD 1927: Janet Leigh

Discovered by Norma Shearer at a ski resort in the Sierra Nevada mountains, actress Janet Leigh graced this woeful world with her presence on this day, 97 years ago. Lo, here she stands, in an MGM publicity photo, her tresses artfully arranged, and attired in a simple yet elegant gown, its neckline most becoming. A brooch, fashioned in the likeness of a butterfly, adorns her necklace. Her visage, with a hint of a smile, betrays a soul both poised and composed, her gaze cast slightly askew. Verily, a paragon of versatility throughout her five decades in Hollywood, and a beauty of uniquely striking nature and classic form.

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Audrey Hepburn in the kitchen

Captured by the lens of Bill Avery, the illustrious Audrey Hepburn doth grace us with her presence in a domestic setting. With noble posture and pleasing form, she croucheth low, unshod of foot, before an open oven. Adorned is she in a gown of floral fancy, the bodice clinging to her neck in delicate fashion. The chamber surrounding her speaks of practicality, a den of culinary craft from the mid-20th century, with cupboards and countertops in the scene.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Marilyn Monroe, taken by Gordon Parks, circa 1956

The epitome of loveliness, Marilyn Monroe, gracing us with her presence in this image captured in White Plains, NY, but photographer Gordon Parks around the year 1956. Lush greenery serves as the backdrop for this vision of pulchritude. Upon her form, a black, form-fitting top with thin straps, exquisitely fitted to showcase the wonders of her figure. Her tresses are like waves upon a moonlit sea. An expression both sultry and alluring plays upon her lips, her eyes like half-moons, hinting at mysteries untold. With her head tilted back in a gesture of regality, Marilyn Monroe displays why she is a very goddess amongst mortals.

Monday, July 1, 2024

Born #OTD 1945: Debbie Harry

Photo: David LaChapelle, circa 1993

Wishing the great Blondie singer, Debbie Harry, a joyous 79th birthday. In this photograph, she is posed against a backdrop featuring a yellow taxi cab and the New York skyline, with the Empire State Building prominent in the distance. She be a vision in crimson: a plunging halter-neck top, red silken panties, and fishnet stockings. A red headscarf adorns her golden locks. A black coat, held open with one hand, completes the look. Her vibrant red lipstick ties the outfit together.

Canada Day: Vancouver-born Ann Rutherford in an MGM publicity photo, circa 1940

Canadian actress Ann Rutherford, photographed around 1940 in an MGM publicity shoot by Eric Carpenter. She is perched upon a raised platform, wearing a vintage floral-patterned swimsuit tied afore in cunning fashion. Her tresses are like waves upon a summer’s morning as they cascade down her shoulders. Upon her lips, a radiant smile.

Canada Day: Montreal-native Norma Shearer in a publicity shot for ‘Riptide’, 1934

MGM

Norma Shearer clad in a full-length satin gown. The dress features a halter neck and a bow detail at the chest. In her hands, she carries a diaphanous, delicate shawl which is draped over her arms and flowing out behind her. The background is dimly lit, with soft drapes visible.