BUON ANNO!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2014

FEET FIRST

More remarkable (some might say unbelievable) footwear from the streets of Venezia, courtesy of the eagle-eyed David Weeks.

Most of these items have been thoughtfully designed for the embellishment –or do I mean torture? – of the female of the species, but the first pair is especially bizarre: a formal pair of gent's shoes with just the ONE gold toe-cap!! 

ACADEMIC VALUES

The OXFORD School of ENGLISH here in Venice...

 

FANCY FOOTWORK

Venice never fails to delight with a plethora of outlandish purchases including fabulous footwear for the fastidious, frivolous or foolhardy...

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS...

Quite a number of the Christmas cards we received this year featured variations on the well-known Christmas song about the Twelve Days of Christmas and what my True Love brought to me on each of them, and that may because many years ago (1977, heaven help me!) I wrote a little Christmas entertainment for radio that became a kind of annual feature of the BBC seasonal schedule! I was, of course, immensely fortunate to have the one-and-only Penelope Keith perform the piece and make it so wonderfully her own.

As the BBC aren't dusting it off this year, I thought I'd share it with you myself!

So, on this the First Day of Christmas, here are Miss Penelope Keith and Mr Timothy Bateson in–––

...AND YET ANOTHER PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR-TREE

A Cautionary Tale for Christmas

Showing that it is Better to Give than to Receive

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Received the following review request, this morning, from Amazon.co.uk, for a recently purchased product.

Being Christmas Day, it seemed a bit churlish not to give it the full FIVE STAR rating!

DAY OF DAYS!

PEACE, LOVE, JOY

and

EVERY OTHER CHRISTMAS BLESSING

be yours today!

AWAY IN A MANGER

The author P L Travers has received a lot of attention this year (not all of it flattering) as the author of Mary Poppins became a character in a new Disney film, Saving Mr Banks.

Despite all the media coverage given to the film and the 'revelations' about the author's her childhood in Australia and her dealings with the Disney studio, the world at large is probably as far from understanding this complex woman as it was before all the hoop-la and shenanigans began...

The majority of people only know Mary Poppins via Walt Disney's 1964 film as opposed to the six books Travers wrote about the magical nanny. The chances are they are unaware of her other writing which includes a mystical fable for Christmas Eve.

It is called The Fox at the Manger and, in 1990, with the author's permission, I dramatised the book for BBC Radio with a cast headed by Dame Wendy Hiller and Alec McCowen and with a glorious music score from David Hewson.

If you can find yourself forty-five minutes to have a cuppa and a sit down, you might enjoy a very special story about this holiest of nights...

WELL, I'LL BE HUMBUGGED!

As many of you may know, I am something of a fan of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: a little book that has held a very special place in my heart for fifty years or more.

I have amassed a embarrassingly vast collection of versions of this 'Ghost Story of Christmas' in all its many manifestations: as books, stage, film and TV versions, recordings and an acreage of ephemera.

Every year I stumble across something new like these adaptations of John Leech's famous illustrations created by 'Parodies Lost'...

You can see more of their art parodies, here.

And, only the other day, David returned from the supermarket with a bottle of seasonal booze for me...

I wrote a book about A Christmas Carol, staged three adaptations of the story and, in 1993, compiled a radio celebration of Dickens miniature-masterpiece and its various permutations.

Entitled Humbug! it was directed by the late Glyn Dearman who, when a child, had played Tiny Tim to Alastair Sim's Scrooge!

For those of you who've never heard it (or who wouldn't mind hearing it again) here it is–––

VENETIAN TREATS

Today, we are back in our favourite city, Venice, for the first time in two years! Here are few of the Christmas delights awaiting us. Jane Asher and Mary Berry eat your hearts out!

A FEW CROSS WORDS

One hundred years ago today a seemingly innocent little diversion appeared in the pages of  the New York World. Appearing on the paper's 'Fun' pages, it was headed 'FUN'S Word-Cross Puzzle'...

It didn't take long, however, for it to be re-born as the CROSSWORD and the recreation of fitting letters into a maze of vertical and horizontal boxes rapidly became a national and international craze.

Today the crossword is as popular as ever: from simple children's puzzles with picture clues to the cryptically constructed brainteasers in The Times and other top newspapers.

Back in 1997 (under the anagrammatic name 'Basil Birney'), I compiled Many a Cross Word, a lighthearted history of the Crossword puzzle for BBC Radio 4, presented by the late John Wells (or 'Len H Jowles').

It is, I think, still quite informative and, possibly, even mildly amusing!

MANY A CROSS WORD!

   

 

THE GIFT OF GIVING

A little story (from the pen of the great O Henry via a BBC Schools dramatisation (by Yours Truly) from 1984 to listen to while wrapping your Christmas gifts...

GREETINGS FROM TOAD HALL

Here's an old Christmas card which I've put on display amongst this year's current crop of greetings.

Based on a card design by E H Shepard, this scene showing Toad, Rat, Mole and Badger providing seasonal music for two watching children was originally sent to subscribers to the Reprint Society in 1954 to announce the fact that Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows (illustrated, of course, by Shepard) was their 'Christmas extra volume' for the year.

I really like the idea that, having rescued Toad Hall from the stoats and the weasels, Mr Toad's new 'fad' is nothing more adventurous than playing the tuba in the village band!

SNOWFALL

Going through some books in my collection that haven't been accessible (and therefore not perused) for several years, I came across a delightful little Christmas treasure...

Out from between the pages of a signed copy of Raymond Briggs sombre picture book, When the Wind Blows, fluttered this greeting featuring his happiest and most beloved character...

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS...

Ghosts of Christmas Past: how much lower our expectations were (and how easily pleased we were) back then...

DEATH IN VENICE

I am so looking forward to returning Venice for Christmas. It's two years since we were there last but one thing is certain, it won't have changed much!

One of the pleasures of being in this city of wonders is discovering what new wild and unlikely things the Venetian glass-makers have come up with. Here's an example from a year or two back: the grim reaper about to ride off in pursuit of a few errant souls! Terry Pratchett in Venezia!

CHRISTMAS WITH THE STARS

Recruiting the stars to sell Christmas is nothing new as these vintage advertisements clearly show. The one significant difference is that 'back then' most of them were pushing cigarettes!

A spot of alturism amongst the commercialism...

And something for when the festivities are over...

POST-HASTE

If you haven't started tackling the Christmas card list, you'll need to get cracking as (in the UK) you're just a week away from the Last Posting Dates.

As an incentive here's a little animated film from 1949 by that wonderful silhouette artist, Lott Reiniger...

Not sure who's voice Santa is using, but I'm pretty sure that St Peter is played by veteran BBC actor, Norman Shelley. Whoever they are (and the lady actresses being children!), it is a delightful blast from the post––– I mean past!

GOLDEN MELODIES

Sir James Galway, the celebrated flautist – known as 'the man with the golden flute' -– celebrates his 74th birthday today...

In May 1994, I interviewed Sir James for the BBC World Service arts programme, 'Meridian', here, including lots of examples of his music, is that conversation...

You can visit the Maestro's website here.

EMERALDS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND

Everyone loves The Wizard of Oz!

Of course we do! What's not to love? Judy in her gingham frock and  Ruby Slipper dancing down the Yellow Brick Road with Ray, Jack and Bert, plus Munchkins, Winkies and Flying Monkeys, Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch cackling insanely at every opportunity, Billie Burke sweetly simpering as the Good Witch and Frank Morgan humbugging from behind the curtain as the Great and Powerful Oz!

Timeless stuff! But, as it happens, 2013 marks the film's 75th anniversary which has provided an opportunity for the publication of––––––

This is, of course, not the first book on the making of Oz and – when one considers the film's standing in the public's affections – it is unlikely to be the last. But it is without question one of the very best and will be difficult to better. Authors, Jay Scarfone and William Stillman, are noted scholars of Oz lore with one of the world's most comprehensive archives on the subject – outside of the Emerald City library itself!

The book, stunningly laid-out to reflect the Art Deco styling that influenced the film's art direction and original 1930's publicity, is crammed with all-you-need-to-know facts and figures lavishly illustrated, page-on-page, with an amazing array of costume and set designs, production stills, memos and letters, Technicolor tests and behind-the-scenes shots – many of the never-before-seen variety – that bring alive the fascinating story of the making of this historic film and the people in front of, and behind, the camera who made it.

Here are a just one or two of the book's delights...

The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion by William Stillman and Jay Scarfone. Published by Harper Design, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; © 2013 by Author.

 Scarfone/Stillman Collection

The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion by William Stillman and Jay Scarfone. Published by Harper Design, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; © 2013 by Author.

 Scarfone/Stillman Collection

 

The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion by William Stillman and Jay Scarfone. Published by Harper Design, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; © 2013 by Author.

 Scarfone/Stillman Collection

The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion by William Stillman and Jay Scarfone. Published by Harper Design, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; © 2013 by Author.

 Scarfone/Stillman Collection

The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion by William Stillman and Jay Scarfone. Published by Harper Design, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; © 2013 by Author.

 Scarfone/Stillman Collection

The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion by William Stillman and Jay Scarfone. Published by Harper Design, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; © 2013 by Author.

 Scarfone/Stillman Collection

The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion by William Stillman and Jay Scarfone. Published by Harper Design, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; © 2013 by Author.

 Scarfone/Stillman Collection 

The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion by William Stillman and Jay Scarfone. Published by Harper Design, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; © 2013 by Author.

 Scarfone/Stillman Collection

The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion by William Stillman and Jay Scarfone. Published by Harper Design, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; © 2013 by Author.

 Scarfone/Stillman Collection

Tucked inside the back of the book is a cache of collectible treasures including a set of certificates from the Wizard himself (for anyone in need of brains, heart, courage or instructions how to find their way Home) along with other replica memorabilia.

It's safe to say that anyone who loves Oz would be especially happy if Santa were to leave a copy of this knowledgeably and engagingly written – and exquisitely presented – book under the Christmas tree in a few weeks time!

Jay Scarfone and William Stillman's The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion is available from Amazon.com here and from Amazon.co.uk here – where, incidentally, you will find more spreads illustrated that I was permitted to reproduce (even with all the obligatory credit lines peppering this post!). Amazon's sneak-peeks include these...

Dear Warner Bros: Sue Amazon, not me!!