Tyrus Wong is a Chinese-American artist who's most best-known work was as the background artist largely responsible for the look of Walt Disney's 1942 film Bambi. He's also worked as a landscape painter, muralist, ceramicist, lithographer, designer and kitemaker. Some of his well known paintings include Self Portrait, Fire, Reclining Nude, East and West. At … Continue reading Happy Hundredth Birthday, Tyrus Wong!
Month: October 2010
California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Skid Row, Hell’s Half-Acre (aka The Nickel)
Mural in Skid Row This blog entry is about Skid Row. Joining me on the adventure were Aussie Chinese American film-producer Diana Ward and Colombian Chinese American designer/illustrator/downtown resident Wendy Chin -- both by now used to playing the role of "traveling companions" to my Doctor. Skid Row is a neighborhood in Los Angeles's Central City East … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Skid Row, Hell’s Half-Acre (aka The Nickel)
California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Fullerton, The Education Community
Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California. On this blogventure, I was accompanied by Chronicle Books' Southern California Trade Sales Representative and Fullerton native Dave Erlich. Pendersleigh & Sons' Official Map of Fullerton Fullerton is bordered by La Habra and Brea on the north, La Mirada on the northwest, Buena Park on the … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Fullerton, The Education Community
The Story of Frankie & Johnny — Happy Missouri Day
In recognition of Missouri Day, here's a brief breakdown on Missouri's second most famous couple (after the fictional Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher), a real-life couple usually referred to as Frankie and Johnny. After Frankie caught her man in flagrante delicto with another woman, Alice Pryor, and shot him dead, it was commemorated in numerous songs and … Continue reading The Story of Frankie & Johnny — Happy Missouri Day
The Story of Stagger Lee — Happy Missouri Day
Stagger Lee is one of Missouri's most celebrated characters in song. Loads of people have sung about the seemingly amoral anti-hero, but here are the facts, ma'am. Lee "Stag" Shelton was born on March 16, 1865. As a young man he drove a carriage cab and pimped. He also operated a "sporting club," the Modern … Continue reading The Story of Stagger Lee — Happy Missouri Day
Happy Birthday, Oscar Wilde!
The second most-read writer in the English language is also, in my opinion, the funniest. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born on 16 October 1854 in Dublin, Eire. He is probably the most quotable figure in the English language as well, having coined too many clever epigrams to choose just one to represent his wit. Oscar … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Oscar Wilde!
Famous Grey Raincoat — or — Silly Goth, Vampires Are for Kids!
In honor of this lovely weather we're having here in Los Angeles, I'm going to blog about the so-called Raincoat scene. Before Goth -- for that matter, before New Grave, Dark Wave, Cold Wave or any of those other overly specific scenes (that I will dutifully write about in time), the British music press took to … Continue reading Famous Grey Raincoat — or — Silly Goth, Vampires Are for Kids!
California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Highland Park
This blog entry's focus is the Northeast Los Angeles neighborhood of Highland Park. Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography's official maps of Highland Park and Northeast Los Angeles, available as prints and on merchandise As mentioned already, HLP is in NELA. Its neighbors are Pasadena to the northeast; Garvanza, Hermon, and South Pasadena to the east; Montecito … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Highland Park
Eric Brightwell 