Movies and History

I love movies and history. When I can combine the two, I am in heaven. That happens when I watch “Silent Sundays” on Turner Classic Movies. Last week the silent movie was D.W. Griffith’s Broken Blossoms. Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl was released in 1919, which makes the film ninety years old. That is unbelievable, especially to realize the fact while watching the movie. When I watch these old silent movies, I get caught up in the backgrounds. Sometimes the movie companies filmed outside of the studios on the streets. So a glimpse is provided into how the streets appeared at that time. Costumes can also reflect the clothing styles of the period the film was made.

Old movies reflect the thinking of the times in which they were made. Broken Blossoms addresses the issue of the few choices available to women during this time. The young girl is advised not to marry by a friend who is made old before her time by having many children, little money, and a lazy husband. The young girl’s only other option is the streets. Local prostitutes warn her away from that life. The film was conversational when it was released because it was an interracial love story. The alternative title says it all, The Yellow Man and the Girl. An Asian man falls in love with a Caucasian girl. That wouldn’t be very conversational now but it was pretty racy stuff for 1919.

What would raise eyebrows today is the age of the girl in the film. In the original story on which the film was based, the young girl is twelve years old. Griffith changed her age to fifteen. This change had nothing to do with the character but everything to do with the actress playing the role. Lillian Gish was twenty-six when she played the role of the young girl in Broken Blossoms. Griffith upped the character’s age from twelve to fifteen to make Gish’s appearance more believable. Either age would make audiences uncomfortable today.

“Silent Sundays” comes on TCM at midnight, which really makes it Monday, doesn’t it? Check these movies out sometimes. Use that handy DVR. It’ll be a nice combination of movies and history.

Christmas In July

Last week I celebrated the holiday season by having Christmas in July. What I mean by that is that usually Christmas is the only time of the year when my whole family is together in one place. All our family photos have Christmas trees in them. Well now we have a couple of family photos without any Christmas decorations in them.


Tuesday we had a nice family day like on Christmas Day. We played games together and had a nice meal. The only difference was instead of a board game at the kitchen table we played arcade games at a Putt-Putt. The meal was not ham or turkey and we ate at a restaurant. An added plus was no cleaning up to do. Gotta love that!


The best thing about Christmas in July; knowing that another Christmas will come around again in December. Then we can take the picture with the tree in it. An extra Christmas in the year is wonderful. I propose having one every July with a regulation photo session.

The Truth About Elvis and Michael

I wrote about Michael Jackson fans last week. What I said was that Elvis Presley fans could relate to what the Jackson fans are going through with the death of their hero. Well, there is another thing that Michael Jackson fans will or probably already have in common with Elvis fans – the conspiracy theories about Jackson. I have already read claims that Jackson’s body was not in that golden casket. Can the rumor be far behind that Jackson isn’t dead? Elvis fans are very familiar with that theory. The first time I heard the story that Elvis had not really had died but faked his own death was August 17, 1977. I was on Elvis Presley Boulevard across the street from Graceland, spending the night sleeping in the parking lot of a shopping center. Some fans can’t accept the truth. Of course from time to time, stories would pop up about Elvis sightings; like in a Burger King. Remember how Grandpa Huxtable on The Cosby Show talked several times about Elvis being seen at a mall in New Jersey? If it hasn’t already this is going to happen to Michael Jackson fans. It is just amazing to me how far people will take these theories.


A couple of years ago I read a news report about a movie being released in August, 2007. The name of the movie was The Truth About Elvis. The film maker claims that this documentary was devoted to finding out if Elvis is dead or alive. People in the movie trailer swore Elvis was alive and even some claimed to have seen Elvis. A website was mentioned. Curious, I went to check out this website.


Okay, I know there are strange people in the world. I think this website is weird center. Not only was a movie coming out but the same guy was releasing a book. This book was to be composed of fan letters to Elvis. The film maker wanted all handwritten, present tense letters. In other words, the people writing the letters had to believe they were writing to a live person. People were sending them in. Wake up and smell the coffee. You wrote a book for this guy. He will publish it and get paid. You'll get nothing; expect maybe, to look foolish. Looking foolish is a very easy thing to do on this website.


Like all good fan sites, The Truth About Elvis had a message board. Not only were fans posting but so was someone claiming to be Elvis. He was nice enough to explain that he went into the witness protection program in 1977. The witness protection program didn't work for the presumed Elvis, so he dropped out. Over the years this person claims he made a few recordings. BMG might be interested in that piece of news. Elvis was under contract to their RCA division in 1977. He may still owe them a few recordings. If a record company isn’t going after this guy then he isn’t Elvis. Record executives would get what is owed them, as well as the profit to be made on releasing newly recorded Elvis material. People were responding to this person as if he really was Elvis. Now I'm not a genius but I do wonder if this poster claiming to be Elvis could be the result of the reward offered on the website for information that proves Elvis is not dead or a publicity stunt to promote the movie and book?


I loved Elvis. My husband said just the other day, he still misses Elvis. I do too, but I don't miss him enough to be convinced he didn't die on August 16, 1977. This guy, with his film and book, will make what money he can. In order to make that money, he'll need to spread the word about his project. The film was supposed to be released during Elvis Week in August, 2007. Since I never heard any more about the movie I went back to check on how The Truth About Elvis did at the book office. What I learned was the film has not yet been released. If you are curious, Google The Truth About Elvis. Now look, see what I've done. I've given the film publicity. Of course that may not matter since the film has never made it into release. It was kind of scary to read the fan board. Do all these people really believe they were writing to Elvis? Things that make you go mmm.


Watch out, Michael Jackson fans. This will happen to you. It is not only Elvis -- there are people who believe JFK was not assassinated in November, 1963. I always tell people that I know Elvis is dead because I don’t go to people’s funeral unless they have died. Who I really feel bad for is the people who truly cannot accept that someone has passed on. With Michael Jackson’s death being so new, it is understandable that fans may be dealing with accepting it as fact. After so many years, it would seem that people would accept that Elvis is gone. Maybe some never will. That still doesn’t give someone the right to make money off the pain and suffering of others. That will keep happening as long as there are people around to take advantage of others. Just watch out for these vultures.

Memory Keepers

Like most everyone I have read thousands or maybe millions of words written since the death of Michael Jackson. These words are just the tip of the iceberg compared to the television coverage of the event. In all this media reporting one group of people have been overlooked – the fans. Once in awhile some reporter will point out someone who had purchased tickets to a London O2 concert and planned to fly over from the United States. That story always turns into the issue of refunding ticket money. The group I’m talking about is not someone who bought a concert ticket. I am talking about die-hard fans; like the ones who stayed outside of Michael Jackson’s Los Angles home in the vans. I can so relate to these people because I was them in August, 1977.

This is not an easy time for these fans. Grieving is never easy for anyone but it is made harder by all the information and stories being reported every day. People don’t have much sympathy for fans. Understanding a fan’s loss is impossible for most of the general public, but it is a very big loss. Fans are part of a group people joined together by a common interest. When that interest is a person and not a sport or hobby, it is looked upon as strange. Other fans understand and support Michael Jackson fans at this terrible time. They become a surrogate family for each other.

In the coming days Michael Jackson fans will hear many disturbing things about Jackson. Things they will not want to believe or accept. All of this is part of the legacy of Michael Jackson. Nothing takes away from the talent he shared with the world. It is a great sadness that so many people with such great gifts suffer so much unhappiness and pain. Maybe that suffering is part of what allows a super talented artist to connect with an audience. We all have pain at one time or another. It’s a common thread running through life. Fame and wealth doesn’t take the pain away. It does provide the means to deal with the pain in a way not available to everyone and that is not always a good thing.

Take heart, Michael Jackson fans. His music will outlast all the stories. Remember that fans of other artists, who left us too early, like Elvis Presley, understand what you are going through. Your world is dark now but it’ll get brighter. Life will never be the same. You are the ones who are keepers of the memories. The reasons for you being a die hard fan are pure. Money and greed was not involved – only love. When the time is right, and you’ll know, the world will know your story. This is the story I’m waiting to hear.