Maayan

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

November 1, 2019 by Robert J. Avrech 5 Comments

*Silent star Mary Pickford and the great screenwriter Frances Marion.*

“I don’t know what the hell you’re doing here… Selling your soul, I suppose? All you writers have such a bloody romantic attitude. You think you’re too good for the movies. Don’t you believe it. The movies are too good for you. We don’t need any romantic nineteenth-century whores. We need technicians.”
A wise and experienced film editor to a first time screenwriter.
—Prater Violet by Christopher Isherwood

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

March 2, 2018 by Robert J. Avrech 4 Comments

“Out here in California, I knew as much as the rest of the girls in movies, which was nothing. The difference was I would take any part. I never sought to be a star. I didn’t mind being typed. I wanted to be typed. One of the greatest thrills of my life was hearing a director say he wanted a Lucille Ball-type for a picture. Of course, later it was different when they said they wanted a young Lucille Ball-type.”
—Lucille Ball

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

February 16, 2018 by Robert J. Avrech 6 Comments

“Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it’s not an art. The main thing about directing is: photograph the people’s eyes.”
—John Ford

Succos: 2016

October 16, 2016 by Robert J. Avrech 5 Comments

A Yemenite Jew named Yehia holding a lulav and etrog—the four species— in a succah, Jerusalem, 1939. — A Yemenite Jew named Yehia holding a lulav and etrog—the four species—in a Sukkah, Jerusalem, 1939.

You will dwell in booths for seven days; all natives of Israel shall dwell in booths.

—Leviticus 23:42

On the first day, you will take for yourselves a fruit of a beautiful tree, palm branches, twigs of a braided tree and brook willows, and you will rejoice before the L-RD your G-d for seven days.

—Leviticus 23:40

All over the world Jews are preparing—decorating the Sukkah, cooking, and more cooking—for the holiday of Sukkot.

Here are some eye-catching photos pictures of Jews celebrating this joyous holiday in Israel, Samarkand, and America, a reminder that Torah Judaism is universal and eternal.

In observance of the holiday and because of a hectic schedule Seraphic Secret will be offline until Friday.

[Read more…] about Succos: 2016

Friday Photos: ObamaNet Edition

February 27, 2015 by Robert J. Avrech 8 Comments

The other day Karen and I were walking along La Cienaga Boulevard when we spotted this giant sculptor of Lenin. We could not believe our eyes. Naturally, whoever is responsible for this hunk of junk will claim that this is deconstruction, an ironic comment on postmodern art and politics, yadda, eider. As far as karen and I are concerned, it's an insult to the millions of victims of Communist genocide that was a central foundation of Lenin's pitiless political program. — The other day Karen and I were walking along La Brea Boulevard when we came upon this giant sculpture of Lenin outside a building owned by Ace Gallery. “Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenin’s Head” is by the Chinese artist brothers Gao Zhen and Gao Qiang. I have no doubt the brothers will claim that this is an ironic comment on postmodern art and politics — yadda, yadda. As far as Karen and I are concerned, it’s an insult to the millions of victims of Communist genocide that was engineered by Lenin.

Few noticed that a significant erosion of liberty took place this week in a room in Washington where three Democrat party commissars voted to classify the internet as a public utility.

This means that over the next few years, slowly, almost imperceptibly, the federal government will levy increasingly heavy taxes on the internet. In ways both subtle and flagrant, internet content will be heavily influenced by Washington bureaucrats. Keep in mind that the internet is becoming indistinguishable from TV or even the movie screen. Thus, the greatest tool of propaganda—American movies—will, over the next few years, fall under the shadow of federal regulations.

The internet has been one of the greatest engines of innovation and free market capitalism since the invention of the printing press. The truth is, if the government had controlled the internet from the outset we’d still be using dial-up to get a slow-poke connection.

Of course, the Democrats understand that to control the internet is to control the message, which is what’s needed in order to centralize power. And the postmodern Democrat party is all about the exercise of raw power in order to establish a soft tyranny of the very highly paid whose mission is to redistribute every one else’s wealth and foster the illusion of liberty and equality.

We have gone from ObamaCare to ObamaNet.

And on that cheery note, let’s look at some moments in time that will, hopefully, brighten your weekend.