Saturday, 31 August 2013
Friday, 30 August 2013
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Monday, 26 August 2013
WHAT IS 'IT' THAT THE GREEKS HAVE A WORD FOR?
Did you know...
The phrase, 'The Greeks Had a Word for It' (see my last-post-but-one) was coined by American Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, poet and screenwriter, Zoë Akins whose show with that title opened on Broadway on 25 September, 1930.
The play – a comedy about three young 'gold diggers' on the hunt for wealthy men – was optioned as a film by Twentieth Century Fox in 1932 with Joan Blondell, Madge Evan and Ina Claire.
The title – changed to The Greeks Had a Word for Them – proved too scurrilous and suggestive for the American film censors and was amended to the safe (and dull) Three Broadway Girls.
In 1953, the play became the basis for another film that, despite having no reference to the Greeks, is still fondly remembered...
So, that's the origin of 'The Greeks Had a Word for It'.
As for what 'It' is, I'm sure I can safely leave that to your imagination...
The phrase, 'The Greeks Had a Word for It' (see my last-post-but-one) was coined by American Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, poet and screenwriter, Zoë Akins whose show with that title opened on Broadway on 25 September, 1930.
The play – a comedy about three young 'gold diggers' on the hunt for wealthy men – was optioned as a film by Twentieth Century Fox in 1932 with Joan Blondell, Madge Evan and Ina Claire.
The title – changed to The Greeks Had a Word for Them – proved too scurrilous and suggestive for the American film censors and was amended to the safe (and dull) Three Broadway Girls.
In 1953, the play became the basis for another film that, despite having no reference to the Greeks, is still fondly remembered...
So, that's the origin of 'The Greeks Had a Word for It'.
As for what 'It' is, I'm sure I can safely leave that to your imagination...
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Saturday, 24 August 2013
THE GREEKS HAD A WORD FOR IT...
According to the dictionary... Well, a dictionary...
The word orgy has become connected in the minds of many with unrestrained sexual activity, but its origins are much less licentious... The Greek word, orgia, was used with reference to the secret rites practiced in the worship of various deities, such as Orpheus and Dionysus.In fact, here in Greece, it's now something to do with an ICE CREAM!
The word in Greek did not denote sexual activity, although this was a part of some rites. The rites of Dionysus, for example, included only music, dancing, drinking, and the eating of animal sacrifices. Having passed through Latin and Old French into English, the word orgy is first recorded in English with reference to the secret rites of the Greek and Roman religions in 1589. It is interesting to note that the word is first recorded with its modern sense in 18th-century English and perhaps in 17th-century French. Whether this speaks to a greater licentiousness in society or not must be left to the historian, but certainly the religious nature of the word has gone into eclipse.
Friday, 23 August 2013
PICK OF THE PIX: DONKEY
We are currently somewhere near those far-off white buildings just below the donkey's muzzle and above the thistle...
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
THE LAND WHERE TIME STANDS STILL
After a year of domestic upheavals and sojourns in hospital, it's time to relax with a little sun and sea on our favourite Greek island, Kalymnos...
This will be our twelfth annual visit and, as readers of this blog may remember, I have a ritual that is unerringly observed: when we arrive at Artistico taverna in Emporios, I take off my watch, pull out the winder and it stays off until it's time to return to reality...
And, of course, Snoopy is always glad to give his little arms a rest!
While we are away (and probably not able to blog efficiently) I will be leaving you with a few Greek Pick of the Pixs to amuse you...
This will be our twelfth annual visit and, as readers of this blog may remember, I have a ritual that is unerringly observed: when we arrive at Artistico taverna in Emporios, I take off my watch, pull out the winder and it stays off until it's time to return to reality...
And, of course, Snoopy is always glad to give his little arms a rest!
While we are away (and probably not able to blog efficiently) I will be leaving you with a few Greek Pick of the Pixs to amuse you...
Monday, 19 August 2013
THE PRICE OF FAME
John Cleese is selling part of his art collection at Chris Beetles gallery: there's a John Bratby portrait, a couple of Henry Moores, a nice collection of Albert Goodwins, some great cartoons by Rowland Emett, Ronald Searle and Gerald Scarfe as well as a smattering of movie and TV memorabilia – you can view the lots here.
Prices range from £4000-£14000+ but there are one or two cheaper buys, notably a black-and-white publicity photo from the 1970 Walt Disney animated film Artistocats, which, unsigned, is going for a mere £250!
Now the things is, these glossy 8"x10" publicity shots were produced by the zillion, circulated to every movie reviewer and every newspaper and magazine that carried a feature on the film. Gremlin Fire Arts are selling similar items for a mere $75 a still ($109 framed) and at the film mart or boot fare you're talking of prices in single figures.
Now, I've come up with a great wheeze, if Messrs Cleese and Beetles will only go along with it... The thing is I've got boxes of these publicity still and colour front-of-house sets (of the kind we used to look longingly at outside the Odeon and Roxy) several thousand in fact and many of them going back to a time when Walt Disney was still alive including his first animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937.
So, I was thinking, if I 'sold' them to John Cleese then he – acting as a 'fence', as it were – boosted the price by virtue of his fame and association and sold them on, through Beetles Gallery, to his many admirers eager for a slice of Cleese, we could divi up the proceeds and all do very nicely, thank you!
Come to that, in the case of Aristocats, I've actually got a couple of original cel paintings from the film that Mr Cleese (for a consideration) might be willing like to help me shift...
Prices range from £4000-£14000+ but there are one or two cheaper buys, notably a black-and-white publicity photo from the 1970 Walt Disney animated film Artistocats, which, unsigned, is going for a mere £250!
Now the things is, these glossy 8"x10" publicity shots were produced by the zillion, circulated to every movie reviewer and every newspaper and magazine that carried a feature on the film. Gremlin Fire Arts are selling similar items for a mere $75 a still ($109 framed) and at the film mart or boot fare you're talking of prices in single figures.
Now, I've come up with a great wheeze, if Messrs Cleese and Beetles will only go along with it... The thing is I've got boxes of these publicity still and colour front-of-house sets (of the kind we used to look longingly at outside the Odeon and Roxy) several thousand in fact and many of them going back to a time when Walt Disney was still alive including his first animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937.
So, I was thinking, if I 'sold' them to John Cleese then he – acting as a 'fence', as it were – boosted the price by virtue of his fame and association and sold them on, through Beetles Gallery, to his many admirers eager for a slice of Cleese, we could divi up the proceeds and all do very nicely, thank you!
Come to that, in the case of Aristocats, I've actually got a couple of original cel paintings from the film that Mr Cleese (for a consideration) might be willing like to help me shift...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)