Crazy busy this week as I help to launch the 50th anniversary celebration of a local elementary school -- the kids are going to have a fun school-year! Tons of research (land deeds, grave sites, etc.), collecting photographs, organizing an assembly and reception, and so much more! It's completely worth it and I am amazed at the outpouring of community support for this school's golden anniversary.
Then the History Carnival starts Saturday! There's still time to nominate a favorite history blog post, so don't be shy -- go ahead and nominate yourself or a fellow history blogger or a favorite post from a history-themed blog you like to read! I'll have quite a varied selection of history blogs for you to savor and enjoy all month long. You don't want to miss it -- we'll laugh, we'll cry and maybe even get scared out of our wits! You'll see (or read) just how fun history is.
We learn valuable lessons from the lives & experiences of those who lived before us. As the saying goes, “how can we know where we’re going if we don’t know where we’ve been?”
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Nineteenth Century Photo Sparks Internet Interest
Since I love to sift through old photos and share some of my favorites here on the History Reporter, I have to share this link to an article about an 1870s photo of a man who apparently resembles a current (albeit fading) and famous Hollywood actor. The photo was, until recently (the listing was removed), for sale on eBay. The seller jokingly suggested that the actor may really be a vampire who enjoys immortality. The auction was taken down, but check out the photo for yourself. Doctored photo or the real deal? Have you ever come across an old photo of someone who resembles a modern-day person or a family member?
Saturday, September 17, 2011
History Carnival Coming to the History Reporter Blog in October
Hello, Everyone!
I'll be hosting the next History Carnival beginning October 1. Each month, the History Carnival is hosted by a different blogger and features a selection of some of the best history blogs from around the world wide web. Blogs chosen for inclusion in the History Carnival feature a number of different perspectives about history, as well as a variety of historical topics.
If you'd like to nominate a history blog for the October carnival, visit the History Carnival Nomination link and fill out the form.
I hope you'll enjoy reading and learning more about some great history blogs. So, check back on October 1 for the next History Carnival right here!
In the meantime, check out this month's History Carnival!
I'll be hosting the next History Carnival beginning October 1. Each month, the History Carnival is hosted by a different blogger and features a selection of some of the best history blogs from around the world wide web. Blogs chosen for inclusion in the History Carnival feature a number of different perspectives about history, as well as a variety of historical topics.
If you'd like to nominate a history blog for the October carnival, visit the History Carnival Nomination link and fill out the form.
I hope you'll enjoy reading and learning more about some great history blogs. So, check back on October 1 for the next History Carnival right here!
In the meantime, check out this month's History Carnival!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
9/11
Commemoration. Anniversary. Memorial. Tribute. Celebration.
Anniversaries not only serve as reminders of important occasions, but connect us to the past in a way that few things can or do. Remembering life's major events -- weddings, births, survivals, deaths -- remind us of who we were and who we've become in light of those events.
In watching the news coverage this morning about the terror attacks on 9/11, our need and desire for commemoration, celebration and remembrance is powerfully evident and speaks to the intrinsic nature of such occurrences.
I'm in awe of such memorials because all who share in that moment of remembrance are connected to a time long since past whether they lived it or not. Remembrance truly becomes living history.
Perhaps that's why we are naturally drawn to mark anniversaries, birthdays and other important events -- both tragic and joyful. There's comfort in nostalgia, inspiration in learning from the past, and knowledge in the fact that remembrance means endurance.
On September 11, 2001, I was working at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in downtown Detroit. News of the attacks came over the car radio as I was driving down Woodward Avenue to the symphony offices.
The disturbing events of that day left all of us at the symphony shaken, shocked and saddened. Phone lines were jammed as was the Internet. Still, there was work to be done and publication deadlines loomed as we were working on a program book for the orchestra's upcoming tour of Europe.
We all recognize history in the making, but historians tend to save things from the time so that, years later, we have an opportunity to peek into the past and see what was happening on the day history was made.
Personally, I kept the major newspaper headlines, but I also printed copies of emails I made and received on September 11, 2001, and the days that followed.
One of the emails I received was sent by a representative of the League of American Orchestras in New York City. It stated that "all of us at the League are OK. Some of us may have difficulty getting home but we have made arrangements for those staff members to stay with staff who live in the neighborhood . . . we have e-mail communication but phone service is sporadic at best."
At the time, one of my responsibilities as Manager of Publications was to forward or answer emails sent to the Detroit Symphony's general email address. I was fortunate to be the first to read emails sent from patrons and arts and music agencies from all over the world -- all of whom expressed their grief and sadness over what happened on September 11. Their outpouring of sympathy for Americans and the nation was touching and memorable.
Patron's sent emails requesting that the performance scheduled for the following day begin with "a playing of either 'The Star Spangled Banner' or 'America, the Beautiful.'"
An email sent on September 12 from an artists agency in Germany stated that, "This is to express our deepest sympathy to you and all of your American friends, business partners and the entire nation. We cannot tell you in so many words how incredibly shocked we were and still are. Please kindly accept that we wish to offer you our shoulders -- we are with you day and night. Immediately after we heard about this unbelievable disaster . . . we closed our office and also kept it closed today, but returned tonight in order to confirm our straight loyalty to you and all people in the United States of America . . ."
September 11, 2011
Today is a day of remembrance and thoughtful reflection; a day that connects all of us to the past, no matter how recent that past may seem. Whether you remember the day or not, lost a loved one or empathize with those who did, know that you are part of living history, helping to ensure that the tragic events of that day and the lives lived anew by so many since then will never be forgotten.
"Take with you the knowledge of yesterday and make tomorrow brighter." -- Tiffany
Anniversaries not only serve as reminders of important occasions, but connect us to the past in a way that few things can or do. Remembering life's major events -- weddings, births, survivals, deaths -- remind us of who we were and who we've become in light of those events.
In watching the news coverage this morning about the terror attacks on 9/11, our need and desire for commemoration, celebration and remembrance is powerfully evident and speaks to the intrinsic nature of such occurrences.
I'm in awe of such memorials because all who share in that moment of remembrance are connected to a time long since past whether they lived it or not. Remembrance truly becomes living history.
Perhaps that's why we are naturally drawn to mark anniversaries, birthdays and other important events -- both tragic and joyful. There's comfort in nostalgia, inspiration in learning from the past, and knowledge in the fact that remembrance means endurance.
On September 11, 2001, I was working at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in downtown Detroit. News of the attacks came over the car radio as I was driving down Woodward Avenue to the symphony offices.
The disturbing events of that day left all of us at the symphony shaken, shocked and saddened. Phone lines were jammed as was the Internet. Still, there was work to be done and publication deadlines loomed as we were working on a program book for the orchestra's upcoming tour of Europe.
We all recognize history in the making, but historians tend to save things from the time so that, years later, we have an opportunity to peek into the past and see what was happening on the day history was made.
Personally, I kept the major newspaper headlines, but I also printed copies of emails I made and received on September 11, 2001, and the days that followed.
One of the emails I received was sent by a representative of the League of American Orchestras in New York City. It stated that "all of us at the League are OK. Some of us may have difficulty getting home but we have made arrangements for those staff members to stay with staff who live in the neighborhood . . . we have e-mail communication but phone service is sporadic at best."
At the time, one of my responsibilities as Manager of Publications was to forward or answer emails sent to the Detroit Symphony's general email address. I was fortunate to be the first to read emails sent from patrons and arts and music agencies from all over the world -- all of whom expressed their grief and sadness over what happened on September 11. Their outpouring of sympathy for Americans and the nation was touching and memorable.
Patron's sent emails requesting that the performance scheduled for the following day begin with "a playing of either 'The Star Spangled Banner' or 'America, the Beautiful.'"
An email sent on September 12 from an artists agency in Germany stated that, "This is to express our deepest sympathy to you and all of your American friends, business partners and the entire nation. We cannot tell you in so many words how incredibly shocked we were and still are. Please kindly accept that we wish to offer you our shoulders -- we are with you day and night. Immediately after we heard about this unbelievable disaster . . . we closed our office and also kept it closed today, but returned tonight in order to confirm our straight loyalty to you and all people in the United States of America . . ."
September 11, 2011
Today is a day of remembrance and thoughtful reflection; a day that connects all of us to the past, no matter how recent that past may seem. Whether you remember the day or not, lost a loved one or empathize with those who did, know that you are part of living history, helping to ensure that the tragic events of that day and the lives lived anew by so many since then will never be forgotten.
"Take with you the knowledge of yesterday and make tomorrow brighter." -- Tiffany
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The "Little Women" of Rochester Featured in This Week's "Patch of History"
My local library received a grant to present an anticipated series about the life and times of Louisa May Alcott, famed writer of the children's novel, Little Women. The series promises to reveal an author many of us never knew existed (for instance, Alcott wasn't fond of writing children's books, preferring instead to pen pulp fiction and other not-so-innocent tales).
Interestingly, Alcott and her Little Women characters shared some similarities to four little Rochester women of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The article was my "A Patch of History" column today on Rochester Patch.
http://rochester.patch.com/articles/rochesters-own-little-women
Interestingly, Alcott and her Little Women characters shared some similarities to four little Rochester women of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The article was my "A Patch of History" column today on Rochester Patch.
http://rochester.patch.com/articles/rochesters-own-little-women
These Vintage Recipes from Hollywood's Leading Men of the 1940s Spark the Imagination
Recently, I came across an old cookbook my mom had given me a few years ago. She picked it up at an antique store and thought I'd like it. I did and I do -- cookbooks are similar to diaries and journals as they represent the flavor and tastes of the culture and time in which they were written. It's hard to recreate old recipes exactly, as the textures and tastes of the food have changed, but you can get pretty close.
Favorite Recipes of Famous Men was written by Roy Ald and published in 1949. It includes recipes for Cary Grant's ritzy Oysters Rockefeller, Joe Louis's delectable Lobster Cardinal, Frank Sinatra's favorite Lasagna and Jimmy Stewart's Shoo-Fly Pie, among many other fish and meat entrees, pastas, salads and desserts.
I had forgotten about the book and enjoyed perusing through its pages, all the while tempted to try the vintage recipes and serve them at my own dinner table.
I haven't yet, but if I did (or when I do), I would start with Jean Pierre Aumont's Melon Soaked in Port Wine. A leading French actor at the time, Aumont appeared in the motion picture Atlantis opposite his wife, Maria Montez.
Willard Parker's Luncheon Salad would follow -- a bed of spinach sprinkled with cheddar cheese, bacon, chives and topped off with a French dressing. Parker was a tennis professional before becoming an actor, Ald notes, and made his debut in the film A Slight Case of Murder.
For the main course, I'd go with bad boy Errol Flynn's Chicken a la Riesling. In Ald's book, Flynn called this recipe "hard to beat." It features a whole chicken broiled in butter, wine and herbs.
Actor Guy Madison's Scalloped Potatoes would do nicely as a side dish.
Dessert would have to be as fabulous as the Hollywood leading men who concocted the appetizers and main course. Since the meal would start with a French appetizer, it would end with a French dessert -- Burgess Meredith's Grand Marinier Souffle as prepared by Arthur at the Paris Qui Chante in New York City.
There you have it! A dazzling, vintage leading-man dinner! A truly tasty bit of time travel.
Interestingly, Ald notes in the preface that his idea for the book originated "when I operated a gymnasium and massage salon for men and women opposite the Grand Central Terminal in New York." Apparently, Ald was recommending balanced and tasty recipes to his clients "interested in reducing or weight-gaining."
With all the butter, sour cream, salad dressing and chocolate in the book, I'd say the recipes are far more "weight-gaining" than reducing. Of course this was written at a time when food was full-bodied and full-flavored -- no low-fat foods or artificial sweeteners wanted.
I'll post additional historic and vintage recipes from time-to-time. If you try any of them, let me know!
Taken directly from Favorite Recipes from Famous Men:
Jean Pierre Aumont's Melon Soaked in Port Wine
Select a ripe, juicy melon. A Persian melon is ideal, but a cantaloupe or honeydew melon will serve the purpose. Chill and cut into cubes. Soak cubes in port wine, and serve.
Willard Parker's Luncheon Salad
1/2 lb. fresh spinach
1/4 lb. cheddar cheese, shredded
4 slices bacon, crisp and crumbled
1 tablespoon chives, chopped
French dressing
Wash spinach, removing stems. Combine with remaining ingredients. Toss all in a bowl with basic French dressing.
Errol Flynn's Chicken a la Riesling
1 young broiler
1/4 cup butter
Riesling or Sauterne wine
Mixed herbs, such as tarragon
Flour
Pinch of pepper
Salt to taste
Parsley, minced
1/2 cup sour cream
Cut broiler into serving pieces. Dredge in flour, salt, pepper. Put butter in skillet; when it is hot, brown and fry chicken until tender. Remove chicken and keep warm until ready to serve. To butter in skillet add wine and herbs. Simmer 10 minutes. If added zest is desired, add sour cream. Place chicken on serving plate, pour mixture around it, garnish with parsley.
Guy Madison's Scalloped Potatoes
1 qt. raw sliced potatoes
3 large onions, sliced
2 cups milk
4 tablespoons butter
Salt
Pepper
Place layer of sliced potatoes in greased casserole with a cover. Add layer of onions. Continue alternating layers. Top with remaining ingredients. Cover and bake in 350 degree oven until spuds are tender, about 45 minutes.
Burgess Meredith's Grand Marinier Souffle
Place half of Vanilla Souffle mixture, as below, into a greased mold. Cut a layer of spongecake slices, dipping them into Grand Marinier liqueur. Line mold with slices, and cover with remaining half of Souffle. Bake in 325 degree oven for one hour. When serving, stir some whipped cream into a vanilla custard, and arrange on top. Add more Grand Marinier.
Vanilla Souffle:
1/3 cup flour
7 tablespoons sugar
1 cup milk
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
4 eggs, separated
Combine flour, sugar, and salt in saucepan. Pour milk in gradually, stirring briskly. Cook over low heat until smooth and thick. Add beaten egg yolks. Cool. Whip egg whites until frothy. Sprinkle with cream of tartar and continue whipping until whites are stiff. Add vanilla, and combine with first mixture.
Favorite Recipes of Famous Men was written by Roy Ald and published in 1949. It includes recipes for Cary Grant's ritzy Oysters Rockefeller, Joe Louis's delectable Lobster Cardinal, Frank Sinatra's favorite Lasagna and Jimmy Stewart's Shoo-Fly Pie, among many other fish and meat entrees, pastas, salads and desserts.
I had forgotten about the book and enjoyed perusing through its pages, all the while tempted to try the vintage recipes and serve them at my own dinner table.
I haven't yet, but if I did (or when I do), I would start with Jean Pierre Aumont's Melon Soaked in Port Wine. A leading French actor at the time, Aumont appeared in the motion picture Atlantis opposite his wife, Maria Montez.
Willard Parker's Luncheon Salad would follow -- a bed of spinach sprinkled with cheddar cheese, bacon, chives and topped off with a French dressing. Parker was a tennis professional before becoming an actor, Ald notes, and made his debut in the film A Slight Case of Murder.
For the main course, I'd go with bad boy Errol Flynn's Chicken a la Riesling. In Ald's book, Flynn called this recipe "hard to beat." It features a whole chicken broiled in butter, wine and herbs.
Actor Guy Madison's Scalloped Potatoes would do nicely as a side dish.
Dessert would have to be as fabulous as the Hollywood leading men who concocted the appetizers and main course. Since the meal would start with a French appetizer, it would end with a French dessert -- Burgess Meredith's Grand Marinier Souffle as prepared by Arthur at the Paris Qui Chante in New York City.
There you have it! A dazzling, vintage leading-man dinner! A truly tasty bit of time travel.
Interestingly, Ald notes in the preface that his idea for the book originated "when I operated a gymnasium and massage salon for men and women opposite the Grand Central Terminal in New York." Apparently, Ald was recommending balanced and tasty recipes to his clients "interested in reducing or weight-gaining."
With all the butter, sour cream, salad dressing and chocolate in the book, I'd say the recipes are far more "weight-gaining" than reducing. Of course this was written at a time when food was full-bodied and full-flavored -- no low-fat foods or artificial sweeteners wanted.
I'll post additional historic and vintage recipes from time-to-time. If you try any of them, let me know!
Taken directly from Favorite Recipes from Famous Men:
Jean Pierre Aumont's Melon Soaked in Port Wine
Select a ripe, juicy melon. A Persian melon is ideal, but a cantaloupe or honeydew melon will serve the purpose. Chill and cut into cubes. Soak cubes in port wine, and serve.
Willard Parker's Luncheon Salad
1/2 lb. fresh spinach
1/4 lb. cheddar cheese, shredded
4 slices bacon, crisp and crumbled
1 tablespoon chives, chopped
French dressing
Wash spinach, removing stems. Combine with remaining ingredients. Toss all in a bowl with basic French dressing.
Errol Flynn's Chicken a la Riesling
1 young broiler
1/4 cup butter
Riesling or Sauterne wine
Mixed herbs, such as tarragon
Flour
Pinch of pepper
Salt to taste
Parsley, minced
1/2 cup sour cream
Cut broiler into serving pieces. Dredge in flour, salt, pepper. Put butter in skillet; when it is hot, brown and fry chicken until tender. Remove chicken and keep warm until ready to serve. To butter in skillet add wine and herbs. Simmer 10 minutes. If added zest is desired, add sour cream. Place chicken on serving plate, pour mixture around it, garnish with parsley.
Guy Madison's Scalloped Potatoes
1 qt. raw sliced potatoes
3 large onions, sliced
2 cups milk
4 tablespoons butter
Salt
Pepper
Place layer of sliced potatoes in greased casserole with a cover. Add layer of onions. Continue alternating layers. Top with remaining ingredients. Cover and bake in 350 degree oven until spuds are tender, about 45 minutes.
Burgess Meredith's Grand Marinier Souffle
Place half of Vanilla Souffle mixture, as below, into a greased mold. Cut a layer of spongecake slices, dipping them into Grand Marinier liqueur. Line mold with slices, and cover with remaining half of Souffle. Bake in 325 degree oven for one hour. When serving, stir some whipped cream into a vanilla custard, and arrange on top. Add more Grand Marinier.
Vanilla Souffle:
1/3 cup flour
7 tablespoons sugar
1 cup milk
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
4 eggs, separated
Combine flour, sugar, and salt in saucepan. Pour milk in gradually, stirring briskly. Cook over low heat until smooth and thick. Add beaten egg yolks. Cool. Whip egg whites until frothy. Sprinkle with cream of tartar and continue whipping until whites are stiff. Add vanilla, and combine with first mixture.
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