It's a Small World, After All!

I'm not exactly a Disneyphile (new word?) however, I'm all about whimsy and fairytales and, that's exactly what this little gem, narrated by the great Walt Disney himself, provides. Welcome to Its a Small World, circa 1964. (Fair warning, if repitition drives you bats, skip this because, not surprisingly, Its a Small World is on a continuous loop. BUT! Its done in different styles & languages too so, its much more bearable.):




Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

Andy Warhol; Artist, and.. Movie Maker?

Perhaps I'm the only one who did not know this until yesterday because, I'll admit, I'm always the last to know about..well, about everything. UNLESS it pertains to Lucille Ball in which case, tell me something I don't know.

Moving right along, I've only glanced at Warhol's art with an intrigued eye but, never gave his person much thought other than "Wow, I like the colors.. OHHH, COLOR!" Which, I readily admit, was very close minded of me. I have no excuse for showing no further interest in this multi-faceted man.

Alas, I had no idea that Andy Warhol delved into film making; creating such, shall I say epic, films like the 485-minute Empire (1964) or, the moderately popular The Chelsea Girls (1966.

That is why I was fascinated by this short clip from a project being put together by The Andy Warhol Museum & DVD distributor, Plexifilm; consisting of "screen tests" done by Mr. Warhol featuring the visages and occasionally quirky mannerisms of of such party legends & movers and shaker of the 1960s party scene as; Edie Sedgwick, Nico, Lou Reed, and Dennis Hopper; among others, entitled 13 Most Beautiful...Songs for Andy Warhol's Screen Tests. Enjoy this preview below:



Its especially haunting when you think about how some of the individuals who were so prominently featured there are either no longer heard of or deceased.
Its a creepy thing to look back on any old footage and knowing how some of the human beings that were so alive and full of life at that moment, came to their tragic ends. Its as if we are privy to their future while they stare back at us, oblivious.

Thanks to Movie Morlocks for bringing this to my attention.

Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

Picture Post: Vintage Vixens & Pretty Places.

Hi loves! I'm very busy as of late so, I'm sorry for the lack of interesting tidbits around these parts. I'm currently helping my best friend get through some tough times. However, I've been collecting some amazing imagery that has tickled my fancy & I wanted to share the beauty with you.
Enjoy.






Oh, how I adore this sparrow of France..








Grace Kelly, of course.


Kitty Carlisle of To Tell the Truth panel fame with husband playwright and director, Moss Hart .







Images collected from FABULON , If Charlie Parker... L O L I T A , Art Deco , and other places I can't recall.

Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

All About The Beatles.

I adore these guys:

THE BEATLES
That's right, I love 'em.

Since birth, the greatness that was this 1960s mega group has been ingrained into my being. My father was an avid fan and as a small child, I was all about blasting some Penny Lane on my family's old record player.

So, I've been thinking, IF you enjoy these four mop topped boys from Liverpool the way I do, I have a question or two.

Ready? Okay!

1.) If you can, (and I know its hard, admittedly, I can't pick just one myself), what Beatles song really set your feets to tappin' with the most vigor and enthusiasm?
I flip flop on this issue every few months or so. A few months ago, I was very much about the Psychedelic Era Beatles, a la Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band, For the Benefit of Mr. Kite, and When I'm 64. Now, this month, I can't get enough of their later, more guitar infused, rocking songs like Revolution, Why Don't We Do It in the Road, and Let it Be.

2.) In a similar vein, what ERA of The Beatles do you prefer?
I've always had a taste for their later endeavors as opposed to their early 60s poppy sound. When I think about it, I guess I am definitely a late 60s kind of gal. The longer hair, the slight beard? SO much more attractive then their closely cropped couiffures and their smooth as a baby's bottom faces in my mind.

3.) Favorite Beatles moment or memory?
I think its hilarious how John Lennon stated that The Beatles were "bigger than Jesus Christ." and every Alma, Mildred, and Rose in America proceeded to ban such 'filth' from their child's record player. I don't know why I love that moment so much so, don't ask why. I'm just badass in that general fashion.

4.) What Beatles records do you have in your possession?
Nowadays I get most of my music transferred to the almighty IPod but, I have my share of Beatles CDs including; Beatles, 1; Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour, and Beatles: Anthology.

And, last but certainly not least by any means;

5.) Who is YOUR favorite member of The Fab Four?

No words needed, am I right?

In conclusion, I leave thee with some of my favorite goodies:

Helter Skelter:


I Am the Walrus:


Visiting India:


Apology for the infamous Jesus Christ statement:




Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

In Honor:

In rememberance of Martin Luther King, Jr ; I have gathered together a few things to share which I found to be of interest.

Washington, D.C., circa 1916. "Slaves reunion. Lewis Martin, age 100; Martha Elizabeth Banks, age 104; Amy Ware, age 103; Rev. Simon P. Drew, born free."

I cannot help but wonder, taking into consideration what advanced ages the first three individuals in the above photograph reached, if perhaps Mr. Drew lived long enough for his heart to swell with joy and hope as human beings of every age, color, and nationality were brought together by the activism, charisma, and wise words of this man:



Join with me in enjoying the entire I Have a Dream Speech, The March on Washington; August 26th, 1963:


As you watch this, keep in mind tomorrow's inauguration and the possibility that perhaps, finally, America as a nation is realizing the great satisfaction in the words; Liberty and Justice FOR ALL.


first image courtesy of Shorpy

Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

The Fruit of Lucy's Womb, & some extras.

Dino, Desi [at drums]. & Billy. A short lived musical trio.


Courtesy of If Charlie Parker Were a Gunslinger

Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

My Favorite Famous Couples; Dedication 1.

There have been so many remarkable couples spanning the last century who have left their imprint on the hearts and minds of all who were aware of their exsistence. This is the first post in a series dedicated to those who have inspired me the most.

Lucille Desiree Ball & Desiderio Alberto Arnaz e de Acha III.


via 4EverDarling

Lucy & Desi became legends of their own time with the premiere of the first and perhaps, best loved television sitcom of the 20th century, I Love Lucy , on October 15, 1951. Unbeknownst to them, the long shot endeavour that was birthed in order to allow these two love birds to work together as opposed to being perpetually seperated by their careers [and also, by teaming up for this project, taming Desi's notorious womanizing nature], they had unleashed a legacy of laughter and unending enjoyment among the American and, a few years into production, the international audience that has carried on into the present day with I Love Lucy still being aired through syndication not only here in the U.S. but in over 80 nations worldwide, including Britain, Central America, Germany, and Japan.



Besides their television shows, Lucy & Desi owned their own studio, which they christened Desilu , and that company produced and housed the production sites of such popular 50s and 60s television favorites as The Andy Griffith Show , Our Miss Brooks , and even, due to Lucy's own good sense, Mission: Impossible and Star Trek .





I Love Lucy itself ceased production in 1957 but the beloved characters; Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel expanded in the continuation of ten years of escapades with The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour , which allowed for 13 hour long segments which expanded their popularity by another two years with this show coming to an end in 1960, the same year that the Arnazes 19 year union dissolved.







Despite the fact that Lucy and Desi could not live together forever in wedded bliss, they were famously in love with one anopther and it is widely acknowledged that, regardless of the fact that both remarried; Lucy to a mediocre stand-up comedian, Gary Morton and Desi to yet another redhead, Edith Mack Hirsch; they never ceased in loving one another very deeply and they remained extremely close until Desi's death in 1986 from lung cancer and Lucy followed suit barely two years later, a week following a seemingly successful heart surgery when her aorta ruptured in the early morning hours of April 26, 1989.









And so, a decades long love affair ceased to be on that date; April 26, 1989; with Lucille Ball's death, because Lucy remained faithful to Desi's memory for the rest of her life, despite their many ups and downs.

The world and the entertainment industry owe a lot to these tireless pioneers of the craft, what with Desi's many innovative ideas in television production, including the three camera filming method which is still in use today on many, if not all, of your current favorites; and Lucy's comedic genius and eye for the type of entertainment that would have staying power when she approved the making of Star Trek and Mission: Impossible.

These two remarkable human beings are remembered by the vox populi today with respect, reverence, and love and appreciation for the sacrifices that they endured in their personal lives to bring us, their adoring public, such everlasting joy and happiness which, as long as their are individuals like myself and the many other lovely people I have connected with as a result of my own devotion and historian-like tendencies.

I leave you with a heartfelt observation, simple but obviously impeccably true, that Desi made many years after the heyday of himself and his legendary former spouse, in an interview:

I Love Lucy was never just a title.

Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

Norman Parkinson-Works 1930s-1960s.

The above photograph is included in this astounding set.
Absolute vintage eye candy!

Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

All You Need is Love.

In animated form:

One of the most amazing pieces of art, ever.


Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

I Met the Walrus.

In 1969, a 14-year old Jerry Levitan snuck into John Lennon's hotel room and conducted a five minute interview with the man. Here is that interview set to an animation which Jerry created to accompany it.

"War is big business and they like war 'cause it keeps 'em fat and happy, and I'm anti-war so, they're tryin' to keep me out but, I'll get in 'cause they'll have to own up in public that they're against peace."




Sunny Side Up!,
Krista

Picture Post:Lucille Ball.

In continuation of my week-long celebration of Lucy-Desi Days, 2008; I thought I'd post just a few of my favorite photographs of my favorite redhead.

Feast your eyes on these:




Weren't they a gorgeous couple?
These are circa mid-forties.


At the 1954 EMMY Awards.


Lucy and Vivian Vance remained close until Viv passed away due to cancer in 1979.


It isn't generally known but, Lucy was among the many young starlets who tested for the coveted role of Scarlett O'Hara in the now classic epic Gone With the Wind.



Lucy, in her role as Mame for the 1975 movie version of the Broadway musical that originally cast Angela Lansbury in the lead, portraying Mame Dennis.


I'm not sure of the story that may be tagged to this photograph but, it's a personal favorite of mine!


Out on the town, circa mid-60s.

That's all I've got, for the time being.

Sunny Side Up!,
Krista.