schmeterpitz

gutenberg_org, 2 months ago to books

#OTD in 1847.

The String of Pearls, probably written by James Malcolm Rymer & Thomas Peckett Prest, concludes its serial publication in the 'penny dreadful' The People's Periodical issued by Edward Lloyd in London, begun in November 1846. This is the first literary appearance of Sweeney Todd. The story was then published in book form in 1850 as "The String of Pearls", subtitled "The Barber of Fleet Street. A Domestic Romance".

The String of Pearls
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/59828

#books #literature

schmeterpitz, 3 months ago to philadelphia

That January night, the great diva was back in #philadelphia Her longtime fans all gathered at the venue, waiting for her entrance. Would she arrive on time? Now well into her 60s, would she keep her beauty, her style, her charisma for which she was so famous?

It wasn't #Madonna - not this time - no, it was the great French actress, Sarah #Bernhardt, who under an exclusive agreement with the Shubert Brothers, was traveling around America on her "final farewell" tour.

ekknappenberger, 5 months ago to random

An interesting development in the local theater history of Rockingham, Virginia

@schmeterpitz

gutenberg_org, 6 months ago (edited 6 months ago) to books

"One drop of hatred left in the cup of joy turns the most blissful draught into poison."
Schiller: Joan of Arc ; William Tell

German poet and playwright Friedrich Schiller was born #OTD in 1759. He is best remembered for such dramas as Die Räuber (1781; The Robbers), the Wallenstein trilogy (1800–01), Maria Stuart (1801), and Wilhelm Tell (1804). via @Britannica

Books by Friedrich Schiller at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/289

#books #literature #theatre

juergen_hubert, 6 months ago to Germany

#FolkloreMoment : I've been translating a lot of vampire folklore from northeastern Germany as of late. And they are not at all similar to modern media portrayals of the phenomenon.

For starters, they rarely if ever actually leave their graves. Instead, all their "feasting" is usually done via some sort of sympathetic connection to their victims (usually their relatives).

The reason why someone becomes a vampire after death also varies a lot. But the account I am currently translating ("Der Vampyr im Wendlande"/"The Vampyre in the Wendland Region") has a particularly interesting take on this.

You see, people will become vampires if they have been weaned off their mother's breast twice as infants - that is to say, the first attempt at weaning them off mothers' milk didn't take. They must survive to become adults, but then, once they die, they will become vampires. They are also called "Dubbelsüger" or "Doppelsauger" - "Double Sucker" for this reason.

And then, once they are dead, they will sit up in their graves and attempt to suck their own breasts - presumably because they are so used to sucking breasts during their infancy. And this "sucking" is then somehow transferred to their next of kin, who will become pale, scrawnly, and weak until they finally die.

Quite a difference to the usual Anne Rice-type vampire, isn't it?

(Incidentally, I will publish the full translation of this account on my Patreon page this December.)

#Germany #folktale #folklore #vampire
https://books.google.de/books?id=DYlUAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA924#v=onepage&q&f=false

schmeterpitz, 7 months ago to philadelphia

Drove across the Strawberry Mansion Bridge on my way home through West Fairmount Park today. Thought about how this whole area was seriously in the running to be the site of the United Nations, once. #philly #philadelphia #phillyhistory

RollingStone, 9 months ago to random

Ron DeSantis is cracking down on education in Florida, and now some schools are cutting back on Shakespeare to comply with the governor’s expansive slate of restrictions. https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/shakespeare-cut-florida-schools-desantis-agenda-1234802500/

Deglassco, 9 months ago to history

Paul Robeson’s courage in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee made him a symbol of resistance for subsequent generations of civil rights activists & dissenters, who saw in his actions a model of courage in the face of political intimidation. He stood firm for his beliefs, despite the significant cost, and pushed back against the violation of civil liberties.

https://youtu.be/VhnCrHZkgNk

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@blackmastodon @BlackMastodon #BlackMastodon #Histodons #History #StillWeRise #BlackHistory

Deglassco, 9 months ago (edited 9 months ago) to history

When they were called before the House Un-American Activities Committee, athletes Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson were compelled to advocate for the loyalty, value, and patriotism of Black Americans to a predominantly white society riddled with pervasive racial prejudice. As symbolic representatives for the entire Black community, they bore a burden heavy with expectations and public scrutiny.

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@blackmastodon @BlackMastodon #BlackMastodon #Histodons #History #BlackHistory #sports

JMMontpelier, 9 months ago to philadelphia

#OTD 1805 #DolleyMadison went to #Philadelphia for an ulcerated tumor on her knee: “Doct. Physick has seen it, & says he will cure me in a month.” Dr. Philip Syng Physick immobilized the knee with splints and used caustics to destroy the tumor, avoiding surgery.
📸Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.

#sschat #histodons #HistoryTeacher #apgov #ushistory @academicchatter

gutenberg_org, 9 months ago to books

"[U]n honnête homme n'est ni français, ni allemand, ni espagnol, il est Citoyen du Monde et sa patrie est partout."
Lettre contre les frondeurs, 1631

Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac died #OTD in 1655. He is best known as the inspiration for Edmond Rostand's most noted drama, Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), which, although it includes elements of his life, also contains invention and myth. via @wikipedia

Books by Cyrano de Bergerac at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/43842

#books #literature

Frontispice de l’Histoire comique contenant les États et empires de la Lune dans le tome II des Œuvres de Monsieur de Cyrano Bergerac éditées par Jacques Desbordes, à Amsterdam, en 1709. Le narrateur s'élève dans les cieux grâce à des fioles de rosée.

skyfaller, 10 months ago to Hair

Suppose I generally like having #hair on my face and body. Perhaps it's because I want society to perceive me as a man, since boys and women tend to have difficulty growing such hair.

Is there any reason to have hair on my neck? What purpose does it serve? Can I just remove it permanently?

When was the last time #neckbeards were considered fashionable or attractive? Is it likely to ever happen again? If they did become trendy again, would I want to be fashionable under such conditions?

schmeterpitz, 11 months ago to Theatre

June 22, 1936: The demolition of the Arch Street #Theatre began.

The former #Philadelphia home of thousands of plays and players had stood on the north side of Arch, just west of 6th Street, since 1828. Developers had bought it, and it was leveled to become a mere parking lot.

But . . . what happened to the statue of Apollo, by sculptor Nicholas Gevelot, on the facade?

I would deeply appreciate it if anybody out there can help me solve this #arthistory #mystery.

schmeterpitz, 11 months ago to Theatre

June 21, 1876: The comedian E.A. Sothern brought Lord Dundreary and his famous whiskers to Philadelphia, in "Our American Cousin" and other plays at the Walnut Street #Theatre.

However, the Philadelphia summer heat was brutal, and Sothern evidently suffered, like many other visitors to the Exposition, when he had gone out to view the fairgrounds.

By the end of July, with both his health and his audiences faltering, Sothern called it quits, and other actors were booked to complete the summer.

ekknappenberger, 11 months ago to random

if there was social media in 1860, there would be a status box for "slavery"

most northerners would select "prefer not to say" and most southerners "it's complicated"

ekknappenberger, 11 months ago to random

we could avoid all problems of the past without exception if only historians were required by law get a philosophy degree before they were allowed to study history

davidrevoy, 1 year ago to random

Tried to install cat on Windows. Failed, instruction unclear.
#caturday

Deglassco, 1 year ago to random

Originally shot in Black and White, here is the colorized version of The Nicholas Brothers in one of the GREATEST dance sequences ever performed!

From the 1943 film, “Stormy Weather,” the clip also features Cab Calloway and Orchestra playing “Jumpin’ Jive.”

Childhood prodigies, The Nicholas Brothers don’t get nearly the recognition they deserve. They were truly astonishing to behold!

https://youtu.be/IoMbeDhG9fU

#BlackMastodon #BlackTwitter #BlackFedi #BlackJoy #BlackExcellence #BlackFriday