Saturday, October 30, 2010

A window to the past


I'm a big fan of Mad Men, the television series that depict the life in an advertising agency in the 60's. And today, when I passed by this open door, I immediately thought of this because of the "Dactylo" sign at the end or this entrance corridor. Dactylos means typist in French, in other words people (well mostly women...) who used to type on a typewriter what their male boss used to dictate them... Now everyone has computers, blackberries and so on, so everyone knows how to type ;-)

21 comments:

  1. Oh Eric, I love this! The cobalt door with all the detail, the mosaic floor; where did you find it? It's like the light at the end of the tunnel; you are so good!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Eric, I've spent most of my working life as a Dactlos. Started out on a manual typewriter and took shorthand. I'm a fan of Mad Men too. Can't wait till July when the next season starts. Lovely photo - especially the Blue Door. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oops. I could use some white-out to fix that typo. Should be Dactylos.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love this shot—great colors and great composition! And am also a big fan of Mad Men. (About this season's finale: What was Don thinking?) My mom is almost 91—and can still type at least that many words per minute! Moi? I still use two fingers.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great photo! It feels almost alive as it transports me to this spot. It evokes such feeling in me as it reminds me of the entrance to Reid Hall, the lovely place in the 6me arrondissment where I took classes one summer in Paris.

    Thank you, Eric, once again, for providing my "Paris fix." Your photos bring right into my heart a touch of the city I love.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I must confess I use only two fingers to type, this message for example.

    Regards

    Valery

    [Barcelona Daily Photo]

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ahh...but does everyone know how to TOUCHtype (without looking)? lol... this is one of the most useful things I learned at school and have used the skill daily since then. I have been a dactylos many times and have taken dictation from those Mad Men! Some of those scenes remind me of the early days lol the second rate office position of secretary, dining on mere crumbs from the male table...it inspired me to write a short story some time ago. If you fancy a coffee break, here's that piece of fiction about a dactylos! ;)
    The Last Word by Lynn Ede

    ReplyDelete
  8. hmm in case that link doesn't work (I've forgotten how to put one here) - here's the URL http://ukdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2007/02/last-word-coffee-break-short-fiction-by.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. @Cathy. Well actually just outside my door, rue Grange-Batelière (an interesting street that hides an underground river, I will tell you more about one day...). But it's the first time I noticed it.

    @Rimabirdgirl "Eric, I've spent most of my working life as a Dactylo". And was it like in Mad Men. July? Gee, that is a long time to wait...

    @Alexa "(About this season's finale: What was Don thinking?) " Well, I guess he could not resist the appeal of a French girl LOL! Now your mom would use Dragon Dictate (160 words per minute!).

    @Parisian heart "Thank you, Eric, once again, for providing my "Paris fix." Your photos bring right into my heart a touch of the city I love." You're welcome ;-)

    @Valery "I must confess I use only two fingers to type, this message for example." It's not about the number of fingers, it's about the speed ;-)

    @Lynn "it inspired me to write a short story some time ago. If you fancy a coffee break, here's that piece of fiction about a dactylos! ;" This proves that dactylos can not only take dictation, but also write...

    ReplyDelete
  10. How pretty! I love color, as you all probably know by now!, and this blue is just an invitation to walk down the dark corridor and into the light at the other end! Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Awesome "snapshot" into the preserved past which is partly what makes Paris so "amazing" to so many people. J'adore! Have been dealing with a lot of French travelers at work this week and I asked a few if they knew about PDP. I was happy to hear several tell me they knew about it and I reminded them to check everyday for a new photo of their city! I love advertising for PDP!!! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. @Tonton " I was happy to hear several tell me they knew about it" Ohhh come on!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mais oui M. Tenin!! There are other "friendly Parisians" out there that check out PDP!!! You may even run into a few one day!! ;-) LOL!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a social network that PdP !!!!
    That's something about David Fincher should lthink of seriously :-)
    Agree with me ? ;-)
    I'm the first to be extremely pleased! M. Tenin deserves at least a movie or a big kiss from all of his followers... Me first ?! Oh nobody would let me be first :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Flore: LOL! Of course you go first! I'll be first in line to buy tickets to Eric Mad Man Tenin The Movie. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like a very entertaining movie! I'll be there! So long as you have a screening in Texas! Of course I'd LOVE to be at the premiere, which would be in Paris, of course! :D

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great shot, Something about a beautiful cobalt blue door and an alleyway makes it all alluring. Would love to be in this one! Best wishes, Therese

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful shot! -- Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi again, I am loving scrolling through the past posts of your blog. I have to become a follower. A bientot!

    ReplyDelete