In honor of friday the 13th, here are some fun facts.
I think superstitions are kinda funny and mostly a load of crap. But it's funny to see what some people do "just in case," like throwing salt over your shoulder, not walking under ladders, knocking on wood. But then again, I do believe in a whole new set of "superstitions" called Feng Shui. Like I will never keep dried flowers in my house. I tie a red ribbon around the bottom of the toilet. I don't store things behind a door so that it can't open all the way. I don't keep broken dishes. And I won't live in a house w/ a spiral staircase. ...So maybe i'm just as weird....
FRIDAY THE 13TH FACTS...
DID YOU KNOW !?!??
*According to Smithsonian Magazine "fear of the #13 costs American a billion dollars per year in absenteeism, train and plane cancellations, and reduced commerce on the 13th of the month."
*Fear of Friday the 13th dates back to Nordic Mythology. Many of their thirteenth Gods met with violent deaths, such as Loki, the trickster.
*Ancient Romans regarded the number 13 as a symbol of death, destruction and misfortune.
*There were 13 original colonies.
*A witches coven consists of 13 members.
*Tarot Card number 13 is the Death Card, depicting the Grim Reaper (although it is read as transition or change and not literal death).
*Hotels rarely have a room number 13. Usually it is called 12a or 14. Same with floors of buildings and the elevators without a #13 button. Highways sometimes will skip exit 13 altogether also.
*There are 13 steps leading to the gallows.
*13 knots in a hangman's noose.
*13 feet which the guillotine blade falls.
*The driver of Princess Diana hit pillar #13 at Place de l'Alma when she was killed in Paris, France.
*13 people, Christ and his 12 disciples, were in attendance at the last supper. This is where the Christian belief ties in, making Friday a believed unlucky day, as the crucifixion occurred on a Friday.
*Certain ocean liners will be held in dock until after midnight to appease passenger's fears of Friday the 13th.
*British study concluded that even though there were less cars on the road on Friday the 13th (as compared with other Fridays) more accidents were reported.
*Trisadekaphobia is the technical name for fear of Friday the 13th.
*Apollo 13, 1970, the 13th mission launched from pad #39 (13 x 3), mission was aborted, after an explosion occurred in the fuel cell of their service module. The rocket had left launching pad at 13:13 CST and the date was April 13th.
*The US Seal has 13 stars, bars, feathers in the eagle's tail, 13 bars in one claw, 13 olive branches in the other.
*A baker's dozen consists of 13 for a reason! So the story goes - a witch near Albany, NY demanded 13 items every time she came in to a particular bakery, and one day the old baker could not afford her extra biscuit. She sneered some strange words at the man, and he suffered terrible luck from then on, until he brought her another 13 rolls. After that life was once again easy for the baker and word spread around town. The custom is still sometimes practiced today.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Life of a Movie Star
Gloria Swanson
A history lesson by Quernzy on a very cool lady...
Born in 1899, started working in silent films when she was 15! Eventually cast in Cecil B. DeMille pictures, which brought her to superstar status. A ton of movies at Paramount Studios. Starring with Rudolph Valentino, going through husbands along the way. (she's up to 3 by now.) She even dated Joe Kennedy (John F. Kennedy's father).
So late 1920's, she decides to get away from the contracts at Paramount and produces her own film. But her next few were unsuccessful and she goes into semi-retirement.
In 1928, Swanson, teamed with Erich Von Stroheim for "Queen Kelly", a project that would never be completed. Erich Von Stroheim's meticulous attention to detail and endless retakes put the production way behind schedule and Swanson herself finally halted the production. Decades later, the unfinished film was botched together with production stills and photographs and declared a masterpiece by film critics.
She attempts one comeback in 1941. But her major comeback was Sunset Boulevard with DeMille in 1950. it's heralded as the most memorable comeback in film history. Even so, her next few projects were only mildly successful. But she still appeared in a couple films and television through the 1970's.
Now granted, she would take a hiatus for years at a time, but her film career spanned 60 years! Her filmography totals 52 movies. These days, that's not a lot, but she was also a clothing designer, artist, and she founded Essence of Nature Cosmetics. Last count of 7 husbands. She survived the Talkies, was one classy lady and also one of the greatest divas of her time.
A few quotes of hers that I enjoy:
"I have gone through a long apprenticeship. I have gone through enough of being a nobody. I have decided that when I am a star, I will be every inch and every moment the star! Everybody from the studio gateman to the highest executive will know it."-Swanson in 1922.
-Telegram sent to Hollywood from Swanson on her way home from France.
"Arriving with the Marquis tomorrow morning. Stop. Please arrange ovation."
"I always look ahead. I never regret. I have excitement every waking minute."
"I can smell the character of a woman the instant she enters a room, but I have the world's worst judgment of men."
Quotes from "Sunset Boulevard" - of course I have to include these, it's one of my favorite movies (and fav Broadway show, for that matter)
"I am big, it's the pictures that got small."
-Norma (Swanson) to Joe (Holden)
"We didn't need dialogue. We had faces. There just aren't any faces like that anymore. Maybe one. Garbo."
-Norma to Joe
A history lesson by Quernzy on a very cool lady...
Born in 1899, started working in silent films when she was 15! Eventually cast in Cecil B. DeMille pictures, which brought her to superstar status. A ton of movies at Paramount Studios. Starring with Rudolph Valentino, going through husbands along the way. (she's up to 3 by now.) She even dated Joe Kennedy (John F. Kennedy's father).
So late 1920's, she decides to get away from the contracts at Paramount and produces her own film. But her next few were unsuccessful and she goes into semi-retirement.
In 1928, Swanson, teamed with Erich Von Stroheim for "Queen Kelly", a project that would never be completed. Erich Von Stroheim's meticulous attention to detail and endless retakes put the production way behind schedule and Swanson herself finally halted the production. Decades later, the unfinished film was botched together with production stills and photographs and declared a masterpiece by film critics.
She attempts one comeback in 1941. But her major comeback was Sunset Boulevard with DeMille in 1950. it's heralded as the most memorable comeback in film history. Even so, her next few projects were only mildly successful. But she still appeared in a couple films and television through the 1970's.
Now granted, she would take a hiatus for years at a time, but her film career spanned 60 years! Her filmography totals 52 movies. These days, that's not a lot, but she was also a clothing designer, artist, and she founded Essence of Nature Cosmetics. Last count of 7 husbands. She survived the Talkies, was one classy lady and also one of the greatest divas of her time.
A few quotes of hers that I enjoy:
"I have gone through a long apprenticeship. I have gone through enough of being a nobody. I have decided that when I am a star, I will be every inch and every moment the star! Everybody from the studio gateman to the highest executive will know it."-Swanson in 1922.
-Telegram sent to Hollywood from Swanson on her way home from France.
"Arriving with the Marquis tomorrow morning. Stop. Please arrange ovation."
"I always look ahead. I never regret. I have excitement every waking minute."
"I can smell the character of a woman the instant she enters a room, but I have the world's worst judgment of men."
Quotes from "Sunset Boulevard" - of course I have to include these, it's one of my favorite movies (and fav Broadway show, for that matter)
"I am big, it's the pictures that got small."
-Norma (Swanson) to Joe (Holden)
"We didn't need dialogue. We had faces. There just aren't any faces like that anymore. Maybe one. Garbo."
-Norma to Joe
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