Miss Charlotte Bronte meets Miss Barbara Pym: In the Autumn of our Years; Women of a Certain Age

Miss Charlotte Bronte meets Miss Barbara Pym: In the Autumn of our Years; Women of a Certain Age:   Women of a Certain Age; Autumn   “You’re ageless, timeless, lace and fineness/ you’re beauty and elegance.”                  

       ...

American Doll and Toy Museum: Musings on Museum Movings

American Doll and Toy Museum: Musings on Museum Movings:   Musings on Museum Movings   Yesterday finished cleaning and emptying the old museum.   I will miss that space, cozy and in the hub of ...

Skyward for August 2020. Of a comet, a cosmic beacon, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life

From our esteemed guest blogger, Dr. David Levy

Skyward for August 2020.

Of a comet, a cosmic beacon, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life

David H. Levy

A few months ago I wrote in this space about Comet Atlas (C/2019 Y4), a comet that at the time showed signs of becoming a bright comet visible without a telescope or binoculars with just one’s eyes.  I also repeated my maxim that “Comets are like cats; they both have tails, and they both do precisely what they want.”  This comet indeed did not live up to its billing, and neither did the next one,  comet Swan (C/2020 F8).

The third Comet, however, did!  Comet Neowise (C/2020 F3) put on a beautiful performance in the morning sky at the start of the Summer of 2020.  (First picture.) It was a shining cosmic beacon amidst the terrible time we are all having this year.  Over the course of July, this comet faded slightly as it moved into the evening sky, but it moved so far north that for a time it was visible in the night sky all night long.  (Second picture.)

When I look at a comet, my thoughts often dwell on the role that comets have played in the origins of life, and in particular why and how I am here looking up at the sky to ask.  For a long time we have suspected that when a comet strikes a planet, it leaves behind four of its substances—carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen—CHON particles, the simple alphabet of life. For impacts in the oceans, long-lasting  hydrothermal vents might have helped form prebiotic molecules which began to replicate themselves before evolving into proteins, amino acids, then RNA, and finally DNA. 

Gene Shoemaker, the famous geologist, loved to say the “we are the progeny of comets.”  Comet Neowise itself had nothing to do with it.  This comet was formed when the solar system was very young, and trillions of other comets formed at the same time.    Some of these other comets might have.  Certainly at least one of them did collide with the Earth well over three billion years ago.  If the impact were in an ocean, it could have led to the start of one of those hydrothermal vents at the ocean bottom.  So much time has elapsed, and we are still here somehow.  We also have the opportunity to look at the sky and witness a cosmic cousin of the comet that did collide, that cousin being comet Neowise.  In all its magnificence, this comet is visiting, to tell us its story, and ours.

1)  Comet Neowise just after dawn, July 5, 2020

2) Comet Neowise after dusk, July 18, 2020.

Μουσείο κουκλών του Δρ Ε στα Ελληνικά : Δεν είμαστε σνομπ κούκλα

Μουσείο κουκλών του Δρ Ε στα Ελληνικά : Δεν είμαστε σνομπ κούκλα: Δεν είμαστε σνομπ κούκλα Καθώς όλοι συνεχίζουμε να αντιμετωπίζουμε τις προκλήσεις του Covid19 και τις προκλήσεις της ζωής γενικότερα, β...

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Doll Snobs Stay Home!

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Doll Snobs Stay Home!: We’re no Doll Snobs As we all continue to face Covid19 challenges and life challenges in general, we find ways to move on.   Fo...

American Doll and Toy Museum: The Dolls are Moving soon to their Forever Home!

American Doll and Toy Museum: The Dolls are Moving soon to their Forever Home!: The Dolls are Moving soon to their Forever Home! It’s happening; the citizens of American Doll & Toy Museum are moving to thei...

American Doll and Toy Museum: The Dolls are Moving soon to their Forever Home!

American Doll and Toy Museum: The Dolls are Moving soon to their Forever Home!: The Dolls are Moving soon to their Forever Home! It’s happening; the citizens of American Doll & Toy Museum are moving to thei...

Erzebet in Film and Pop Culture

My book

This post was inspired by a 1963 Italian Gothic movie called The Blancheville Horror.  It's pretty much stock Gothic romance; a young girl is called home to a spooky mansion because her father has allegedly died.  Her older brother is creepy, a little handsome, just plain weird.  She has a fiance, people who try to save her, but she is destined to die for the family honor.  I won't give the ending away, but this was the feature film on Midnight Mausoleum, a local horror show that does its own films, too, hosted by Marlena Midnight.  Check them out.

Anyway, the sinister woman in the film has her hair styled like portraits of Erzebet; her hair, black is wound around her head.  She is part Dracula bride, part Erzebet, part Mrs. Danvers of Rebecca.  The film is loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe stories, including "The Fall of the House of Usher".  Really loosely based, but it got me thinking.

Most of the vampirism and silliness associated with Erzebet is what Ingrid Pitt herself, who played Erzebet in Countess Dracula, called "rubbish!"  Still, our Countess has captured the imagination of many artists, including myself.  I just finished the second volume of The Bathory Chronicles, The Doll Museum, and am working on the third and final volume.  I've written three poems about her, created a shadow box in her honor called The Vampyre Doll Collector, written one short story about her, and one picture book for children.  I've made one a mixed media collage of her where she holds a real glass, wears a blue satin dress and has long, black hair.  I was 14, and she was the topic of a health report I did.  I got an A+.  I needed it in those day.  Health was combined with gym.  Later, I was on the gymnastics team, and earned a presidential physical fitness award, but that was after my Erzebet report.

Since the late Prof. McNally got it all wrong in Dracula was a Woman, the myths about Erzebet have only exploded.

I have a doll representing her, and there are many others, some pictured here in this blog.  Below is a list of films I found on The Internet, some silly, some artistic.

I hope you enjoy reading them.

1. The Brothers Grimm (2005) where Erzebet appears as The Mirror Queen, aka, the evil queen in Snow White.

2. Immoral Tales (1973) French.  Very gory and erotic with lots of blood.  I don't get what is sexy about blood.  The sight of other people's in gory movies doesn't upset me much.  The sight of mine does.

3. Thirst (1979)   Australia.  A descendant of Erzebet must drink blood to satisfy a cult that has kidnapped her.  More or less.  Blood drinking is not usually associated with Erzebet to my knowledge.

4. Hostel II (2007)

5. Stay Alive (2006).  Erzebet plays a virtual villain in connection with a video game.

6. Chastity Bites (2013)

7. Daughters of Darkness (1971)

8. Countess Dracula (1971) with Ingrid Pitt.

9. The Countess (2009)

10. Bathory (2008)

11. Elizabeth Bathory (2014)

12. Bathory, Countess of Blood (2011)

While I don't usually mention Wikipedia, there is a good article on Erzebet in popular culture.

The best book on her life and legacy is by Tony Thorne, called Countess Dracula.  There are also documentaries about her; search on YouTube. E.g., the Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory Documentary 2019,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsbQfQUkdGE.

I'm working on my own bibliography; I'd appreciate any listings you would be willing to share with me. Don't forget she was supposed to be the inspiration for le Fanu's Carmilla.   Also, there is Dracula's Daughter with Gloria Holden, with allusions to Erzebet, and Erzebet allegedly was Stoker's first choice for Dracula.

Elizabeth Bathory Castle | PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION | Cachtice Castle, S...

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: World Doll Day!

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: World Doll Day!: Once again we celebrate this notable day in doll collecting.  How did you spend your day?  I checked on American Doll & Toy Museum; we a...

RIP Anne Boleyn

It is May 19th, the day Anne was murdered by Henry and his henchmen. Nearly all who brought about her death died themselves by Henry's order.

Years ago, I did a law review article on her trial. The charges against her, and later her cousin Catherine Howard, had no basis in contemporary English law.

Trying to finish writing a short novel about her, but it's hard. The story is too sad.

Yet, each year, I try to honor her.

Miss Charlotte Bronte meets Miss Barbara Pym: Review of Great Expectations

Miss Charlotte Bronte meets Miss Barbara Pym: Review of Great Expectations: Great Expectations , 1861 This could be the title or hashtag addressed to all of our lives right now.   We have great expectations of ...

Well, still under house arrest/siege.

Well, still under house arrest/siege.  It’s hard to be optimistic, though it could be much, much worse.  How do all of you, dear readers, keep busy in all this madness?   Here’s a link from Healthline, for whoever cares.  SARS and other things seem to have higher death rates, though I don’t get what the article means by SARS killed more people, but Corona Virus has a higher death rate.  What? https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-deadly-is-the-coronavirus-compared-to-past-outbreaks

As for me, I’m always busy, but it was nice having places to go.  Even the option of having places to go when I couldn’t get somewhere. I’m dragging out the shattered dolls and putting them back together.  I’m becoming an expert on super glues.  I’m planning elaborate doll costumes, and making doll hats, rearranging the museum, and cleaning.  We’re still working on getting our larger building, and that will require monumental moving and packing. 

From my box, The Vampyre Doll Collector

Money worries all of us.  No stimulus this way, and I’m a small, brand new nonprofit business.  Oh well. 

It has snowed twice this week, then the weather soars to above 60.  It was 80 degrees last week.  It’s good writing weather, and I’m trying.  Mainly short stories and one novel I’d like to finish in all this.

The doll houses re getting overhauls, too.  Fairy gardens are under way.  If the grocery stores have flowers, then I can get some.  The TP and cleaners shortage is slowly going away, too.  Finally.  I got stuck at the grocery store and had to back my way out of the parking lot; the usual outlet was closed because the green house was going up.  Driving is an adventure.  People act as if they flunked drivers ed these days.  Someone with a “BabyAnn” license place forced me out of my lane, no signal, of course.  She then honked about half a mile, and was trying to get my attention in the rearview mirror, gesturing madly for me to look at her.  Shouldn’t she be looking at the road?  Obviously she has trouble with turn lanes and street signs.

I should start a journal of my plague year.  Read DeFoe; he was also right about everything. 

So, keep being brave.  This has to end.  And if you have been branded nonessential, as I have, take heart.  Every business is essential, safety issues notwithstanding.  This will end, and we’ll get through it.  And, we will prosper once more.  Be safe, be well.  Try to keep your sanity.  I also love puzzles, needlework, any craft, drawing, word search, and reading, any reading.  Of course, I have you my readers, and my blogging.

God bless. 

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Guest Blogger; Dr. David Levy on Comets

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Guest Blogger; Dr. David Levy on Comets: We an still look to the heavens for hope and inspiration: Skyward for April 2020. The Great Comet of 1844, and the Great Comet of 20...

Miss Charlotte Bronte meets Miss Barbara Pym: The Class that Began this Blog

Miss Charlotte Bronte meets Miss Barbara Pym: The Class that Began this Blog: These are my lesson plans that started this blog: B.     The Brontës, Rebel Angels of the House Ellen M. Tsagaris, J.D., Ph.D. Wee...

American Doll and Toy Museum: Keep Smiling!

American Doll and Toy Museum: Keep Smiling!: If ever we needed Shirley Temple, we need her optimism and sunny smile, now.  Yet, we can remember her, and other friends and family no long...

International Women's Day and Women's History Month

Joan of Ark

Anne Boleyn, Uneek Doll Designs.  Collection American Doll and Toy Museum

L:  Elizabeth II, Peggy Nisbet dolls with two Welsh dolls.  American Doll and Toy Museum.

Boadicea, Celtic Queen of the Iceni, by Uneek Doll Designs, Debbie Ritter

We celebrate historical women like Anne Boleyn, Erzebet, and other like them, persecuted and misunderstood.  We celebrate the 100th anniversary of women getting the vote in the US.

Here are some dolls of historical women; see also my boards on Pinterest and pictures on Flickr:

Scarlett O'Hara, creation of Margaret Mitchell and Madame Beatrice Alexander

American Doll and Toy Museums's Tribute to the Girls Day Festival.  Note Yoko Ono's
Book on Creativity, Grapefruit

American Doll and Toy Museum: These were my Remarks at the Ribbon Cutting, with ...

American Doll and Toy Museum: These were my Remarks at the Ribbon Cutting, with ...: Mr. Mayor, Members of the City Council, and Honored Guests, Thank you for coming today.   I’d like to thank the City and everyone else...

Skyward Jan. 2020 by Guest Blogger David Levy

Skyward for January 2020.

By David H. Levy.

First Light.

For those of us who are not astronomers, the phrase first light means dawn.   If we are up early to go fishing, hunting, or to search for a missing person, we awake at first light.  For skywatchers, first light has an entirely different meaning.    Instead, it celebrates the first time starlight enters a new telescope or the inside walls of a new observatory.  On Sunday evening, December 15,  David Rossetter, one of the United States’s most famous amateur astronomers, celebrated first light for his new observatory, completed  after he relocated to the Tucson area.  Wendee and I were there, along with some neighbors, friends, and the new executive director of the International Dark Sky Association.

          The object David selected as the first thing to be observed from his brand-new observatory was Messier 15, one of the grandest globular star clusters in the entire sky.  It is different from the object I traditionally use for my new telescopes, the planet Jupiter.  Last fall, for example, I pointed Eureka, a brand new telescope, at Jupiter for its first light ceremony.

        Jupiter shines at us from about 50 light minutes away, meaning that light reflected from the Sun leaves it and takes about 50 minutes to reach us. The globular cluster Messier 15, is much much farther away. It shines at us from well beyond the stars of its home constellation of Pegasus, from a distance of at least 33,000 light years, and at magnitude 6.2, it is barely visible to the unaided eye on a very dark night. 

          I was very glad to see M15 using David’s giant 25-inch diameter reflector from his new observatory, for I recall seeing it frequently at our Adirondack Astronomy Retreat. At the first Star Night of the Montreal Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, my first one since becoming a member, I was assigned Messier 15, the globular star cluster that was discovered by Jean-Dominique Miraldi in 1746, and added by the comet hunter Charles Messier to his catalogue in 1764.  I recently wrote about that experience in my autobiography:

“At Star Night that September I was assigned to point my telescope at M15, the beautiful globular cluster in Pegasus.  I recall doing my homework about that cluster. I learned that its distance was listed at about 33,000 light years.  We now know that M15 is also one of the oldest globular star clusters in the Milky Way, dating from at least 12 billion years ago.  We also suspect now that the central portion of M15 underwent a collapse of its core deep in the past, and that its central core consists of a huge number of stars orbiting a massive black hole.  Most of this information is more recent.  Back then the pertinent facts were that the cluster had a membership of upwards of a hundred thousand stars.”  (A Nightwatchman’s Journey, p. 68.)

Years later, I wrote: “On a beautiful clear night at one of our Adirondack Astronomy Retreats, I peered through Fritz, David Rossetter’s 25-inch Obsession Dobsonian reflector.  The telescope was pointing at Messier 15 in the Pegasus constellation, but what I had was not just a view.  It was an extended leisurely stroll among the stars of this cluster. I made some left turns, walked up hills, crossed bridges and explored valleys all decked with uncountable stars.”  (A Nightwatchman’s Journey, p. 289.)

          I thoroughly enjoyed another look at the beautiful and mysterious Messier 15 from David’s new observatory on that night.  I especially enjoy showing younger people this fabulous cluster of so many stars.  As each new generation is introduced to it, may Messier 15’s myriad stars shine for a distant and newer generation, or from another observatory as it undergoes its first light.