Friday, May 16, 2008

Léon Gaumont


In Paris, you always visit the same cemetaries: Père Lachaise, Montpartnasse and Montmartre. But there are many more... such as Le Cimetière de Belleville, a little cemetary where I found the grave of Léon Gaumont, a famous French inventor and engineer who got involved in the cinema business at the end of the 19th century 1895, to be exact). His company (La Gaumont! ) produced as early as 1910 the first "news" that people could watch in movie theaters. They still had them when I was a little boy (yes I'm showing my age!!). He was a friend of the famous Lumiere Brothers of Lyon, direct competitor of Charles Pathe, and produced films from 1895 until he retired to the Riviera in 1929 (Judex, Vampires, Tih Minh, Onesime, Bebe, etc.) and his company remains one of the oldest exisitng film companies still operating under the same name.

88 comments:

  1. That's kind of creepy. I don't know if it's because it's just half a face, or what, but yikes!

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  2. I love the way you make even cemeteries look interesting!
    Last time was the Adams Family place now this one...
    Another perfect photograph Eric!
    Ah everyone...did anyone mentioned that Eric wore his funky shoes (the trainers he wore for that interview) for the picnic?

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  3. Buzzgirl, your fingers are too fast!

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  4. Interesting bit of trivia, Eric. I had never heard of Gaumont and his involvement with news in cinema. Perhaps, broadcast journalists would have heard of him. Yes, Buzzgirl is fast.

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  5. Maybe Eric should start the FFGDP?

    Famous French Guys Daily Photo

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  6. During the SF PDP picnic I was showing Buzzgirl and Katie paintings that I had done of graves. I told them in Paris -- specifically Père Lachaise -- many statues on graves have their lips painted red. And some graves are stained red from lipstick because women kissed the grave. Buzzgirl said ewww - creepy. I think Katie did to. So I just kind of dropped the subject of graves and moved on to something a little brighter and lighter.

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  7. Guille: Yes, I heard. Very sad.

    At least he died after a long, productive career - and at home.

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  8. I have only been to one cemetary in Paris, unfortunately I can't remember which one. But, I went there specifically because I had heard that there was a tombstone of a man in bed with his wife! Sure enough, it was there! It's lifesize and thank goodness they're only sleeping :) Eric, you should take a picture of it some day. I can't remember who he was, but he was pretty famous if memory serves.

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  9. The Rauschenberg theme continues with the cemetary photo. A loss, a loss, after such contributions. There are hundreds of red lips on Oscar Wilde's marker at Pere Lachaise. And who was it with the trip to the moon film? Ah, Michel explained that on the tour. And Katia explained "atmosphere, atmosphere" to me. Well, I need dinner, a sip, a thought, and a little chilling out. I'm worn out from Paris and I don't want to see my face in green on marble yet! A bientot.

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  10. I noticed that Eric marked it under "Cinema". Le Festival de Cannes is in the news everyday right now. I'd say that this photo is perfect subject matter for the PDP.

    Jeff, Yes, that's the one I was referring to, Oscar Wilde's.

    Pont Girl, You can take a virtual tour of the graveyard at the Père Lachaise cemetary's website. It's unique.

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  11. BTW, It's 30 C today in SF in the shade. I bet you could fry an egg on the sidewalk -- as the saying goes in the US. I've been standing in front of my easel painting. In this heat, it makes my ankles swell. I will be sleeping with my feet up tonight.

    Rauschenberg theme continues... He use to hang out at the Cedar Bar too. That was before Max's. My dad use to hang out at the Cedar Bar during the 50's and 60's. My dad gave me a verrbal run down of the crowd that use to be there. It was all the greats. DeKooning hung out there and so did Pollock. All these men knew each and were friends with one another. There were women too. My dad said DeKooning wife was nice and a good artist. He also thought Pollock's girlfriend was very sweet. He gave me several of her books. Oh, and he liked Grace Hartigan as well. He gave me one of her books too. You don't hear too much about her -- or Rothko.

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  12. Abelard and Eloise are lying down together In Pere Lachaise. I hope their feet don't get cold.

    I was surprised to see Brancusi's The Kiss (or a version thereof) in Montparnasse Cemetery. Yes, a walk through a cemetery teach us much. However somber and "grave," and even quite "crypt"ic" the message imparted might be, the memory "remains" with us for eternity.

    I'm going to try to "bone" up on little known Parisian cemeteries before my next trip to Paris.

    Realizing that we all have a last resting place, to be no more, is leaving me emotionally distraught.

    I must exit here now. My asthma is acting up, leaving me gasping and "coffin."

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  13. Ha, ha, ha, "coffin"

    Anyway, nice photo and great history lesson for us, Eric.

    Does anyone have an opinion of the difference between a cemetary and a graveyard?

    (I do, but don't want to influence any possible answers.)

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  14. "In Paris, you always visit the same cemetaries..." doesn't any one find this sentence hilarious? I mean, how many times do we start a conversation like this: "well you know, when I'm in London I always visit cemetary this or that...".

    Unless you're visiting someone who has passed away, not many times.

    Only in Paris!

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  15. Lois, it was 37C up here today! That's 100F in American money. Not good. Not good at all.

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  16. From Cali and Point Girl, I answered you in yesterday's comments.

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  17. USElaine, I'm so glad I'm not there. The sun is going down now. I prefer to paint by natural light. And it was hot! -- sweaty, yuck! I'm done for the day -- I just have to clean my brushes. I wear a type of uniform while painting. A spaghetti-strap tee without a bra; cotton draw-string slacks that I wear on my hips; and sandals. I have a gazillion of these little outfits. They are comfy. I don't wear them outside my studio.

    Monica, I know -- that is hysterical the way he started his comment. I read somewhere once that Americans visit the Paris cemetaries more than any other nation. I did not check it for validity though. I just thought, Americans are weird.

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  18. I've never been to the cemetery in Belleville; I'll have to check it out. Not sure if I'll give M. Gaumont a kiss while wearing bright red lipstick (yes Lois, I thought your story was a little creepy!), but I love French cinema so I'm glad to know more of the Gaumont story, and see this photo.

    Monica it's so hot right now, just seeing you in that scarf is making me sweat!

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  19. Jeff!!!!!! Bienvenue!!!!

    I knew I good count on you, loved the picture. Can you live without Laduree macarons now that you've tasted it??!!

    Lois, I made a joke but I myself have visited Pere Lachaise cemetary. Fascinating!


    Katie LOL, don't look at my pictue then!!! It is a little cold here right now, so the scarf stays!

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  20. Hi Katie, You read what I wrote about you. haha ;-) You didn't like my graves that glow in the dark -- I was testing a new invention. Many of my paintings glow under a black light.

    Hey, I was just thinking, this head lots like a death mask. I wonder if they made the mold after he died. He sure does look old. Look at his neck.

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  21. Actually Lois, I love the idea of putting glow in the dark lips on the graves; wouldn't that be an amazing site if you happened to be in the cemetery after dark!

    I can't believe it's cold in Brazil Monica! Is that allowed??

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  22. Thanks for that link, Tall Gary - I liked hearing about that couple. They weren't the same ones I saw. I'm home now and I just checked. The one I saw that was so unique was in the Cimetiere du Montparnasse. It's the Charles Pigeon (an industrialist and inventor) Family Tomb. I wish I knew how to do a link - it's worth checking out!

    Monica - sounds very promising. I'll keep my fingers crossed :)

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  23. Lois> Oscar.

    Good luck with the heat. Here - in south Turkey - it's only 23, in the shade.

    On my way to Temessos (an ancient city) for the day.

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  24. I never thought that cemetaries are creepy, but maybe you're right(?). The parisien once are great(on a sunny day), I think they're more like parks and I just love the very different sarcophagi and picturesque mausoleums.

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  25. I think the photo would be less eerie if you'd shot it straight on, Eric. You made it spooky by looking at it sideways. And wow! The Oscar Wilde crypt pic--ick! It's not the gravestone that's gross to me, it's getting my lipstick on other peoples' lipstick! Eeeuw!

    But I loved Pere Lachaise. I found it moving and beautiful, one of the loveliest places I visited in Paris. I don't know why or how a cemetery is so beautiful, but that one is. I don't know about the other ones in Paris.

    You all are so interesting talking about art and artists. I know so little about it. It is its own world.

    Any word on Lynn?

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  26. The local cemetary in Partenheim, Germany was a little Eden. Families meticulously tended the graves.It was bursting with flowers, bees and well life! If you were walking down to the cemetary people would call out, 'Don't forget to water grandpa ... Would you mind watering my husband ..etc'It made the experience of losing someone not as heart wrenching... It made visiting that grave bearable:)

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  27. Wow Tall Gary...thanks for that link. I have always adored the story of Eloise and Abelard and have read their letters a few times.
    But for some reason I never knew they were buried together. I must go and visit their last resting place next time I am in Paris.

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  28. The grave of Abelard and Eloise is an especially beautiful one. But they're all beautiful at Pere Lachaise.

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  29. Christie: Graveyards are places where people are buried or entombed, while cemeteries are places where everybody else is buried or entombed. Either way, the residents can't tell the difference and the waiting lists for both are positively endless!

    The only people to whom it ALWAYS seems to make a difference, however, are undertakers, who are unlikely to offer you a plot in a "graveyard", as opposed to one in a cemetery, if only because the latter carries connotations of a "Ritz for the departed", while the former sounds suspiciously like the kind of dive you wouldn't be seen dead in!

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  30. Lucio
    A little like the difference between a B & B and a hotel?
    lol

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  31. Rose: LOL! For those who don't remember - or simply have no idea what Rose-of-the-very-good-memory is alluding to - a few days ago I posted the following aphorism:

    "B&B's are to hotels what lovers are to "ladies of the night": an upgrade, but not to the discomforts of home."

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  32. In French, we have only one word: "cimetière". So no difference between graveyard and cemetery. Sorry ;-)

    Lucio, I love your aphorism. Good friends of mine have a "4*" B&B in my little village of Cheverny. I'm sure they will love it too ;-))

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  33. Ok, let's see...Gaumont first began in 1910 and you watched the films as a little boy (2008 - 1910 = 98).

    Yikes! Eric, you're 98!?

    ;)

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  34. Eric, I've been following your fantastic blog for a long time now, and I really want to thank you; see, although I am French I've been living abroad for the past 15 years now - in London to be precise. My vision of my own country has become increasingly negative, probably because it is slowly being warped, filtered by the media - French or not. And what you're doing; day after day, is like an antidote. I teach French in High school and your blog is one of the pages I highly recommend to my students; we often mention it in class, too.

    So that's it. Thank you. You're a star in my little A Level French teaching group, and a bresh of fresh air in my own life!

    Mylene

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  35. The difference between graveyard and cemetery? Here's one approach.

    Erik, I'm glad you didn't show more of Oscar Wilde's gravestone. It somehow makes me cringe. (Let's just say that what used to be a somewhat masculine angel, now might make an acceptable guard for a harem.) You've been to Turkey before. It's great that you can return and spend time in a place that appeals to you.

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  36. Eric, I love your blog! It makes me want to go to Paris NOW!! Unfortunately I'll have to wait till July... You've inspired me to start an Edinburgh blog - edinburghphoto.blogspot.com. Do come and visit sometime!

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  37. The overall theme today brought to mind a Masaccio (Early Renaissance painter, 1410-1428) fresco we were shown in an art history class that was titled "The Holy Trinity." There is an inscription on the tomb, just above the skeleton, that can be translated as, "What you are, I once was. What I am, you will become." Since the age of eighteen I have carried a clear awareness of our mortality which makes me appreciate the French approach all the more: Enjoy life!

    Savor it. It is a rare and precious thing.

    (Lucio's B&B/hotel analogy is great. I almost thought he was quoting Oscar Wilde!)

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  38. Tall Gary: Thanks for the link - I think that must be the best explanation.

    Personally I've always liked (in a way) walking around churchyards looking at the graves. It gives you something; as someone said: a reminder of our own mortality. But there's another dimension to it as well, I don't know, but to me there's a certain melancholy beauty to it, that I can't quite describe or put into words. There's a certain modd that inevitably catches you there, a sort of peace. A final resting place.

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  39. Bonjour!
    I've just discovered your blog. I have a special affinity for Paris. I lived there for 3 years in my 20s while I was modeling in Europe and out of all the places I lived in a period of ten years, it was my favorite.
    I returned there last summer after many years for my honeymoon and found it as magic as ever.
    Je serai de retour pour visiter votre blog très bientôt!

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  40. Marie-Louise, I just checked out your blog and it reads great. Short enough (to keep MY attention) and a lot of the same feelings I'm going through at the moment. I look forward to following your dream as well!

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  41. I would remind Tall Gary of the old saying
    It wasn't the cough that carried him off, 'twas a coffin they carried him offin.

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  42. The sunlight on Gaumont's head is really nice. It emphasizes the texture of the bronze.
    You're not THAT old Eric, 98...I can't trust you. Or you're well-preserved. LOOOOOOOL

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  43. Deduct 50 from 98 and you will get his age ... :)

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  44. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  45. But I can agree Eric's well-preserved anyway, Guille! lol!

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  46. Thank you Eric for the link to Oscar photo. It's the best I have ever seen. If Oscar were alive today, I think he would be amazed by all his female admirers. Who could have guessed it? I wonder if they do that to Elvis. I have never gone to Graceland.

    Thank you Tall Gary for all those links. That takes time, and believe me when I say, I appreciate it.

    Bettina, The Hollywood Forever Cemetery located at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA, is just such a place as you described, "more like parks and I just love the very different sarcophagi and picturesque mausoleums". And so many famous Hollywood cinema people are there.

    Marie, That cemetery in Germany sounds just like paradise.

    Lucio, That's funny the "Ritz" -- good one.

    Alexandra, I too like to walk through graveyards. There are two that are my favorites: 1) the graveyard at Bodie, CA. Now a ghost town, an old grave yard on a hill that overlooks the ruins of the town, and 2) a graveyard from the early pioneer and gold rush days. I don't know it's name. We stop there when we are driving out to the Wine Country. It's beautiful and spooky. It's maintained by a group called daughters of the pioneers (or something like that).

    Petrea, "You all are so interesting talking about art and artists. I know so little about it. It is its own world." Once a woman (she has a PhD in Chemistry) was buying some of my paintings. She said to me, "I don't know much about art; but, I know what I like."

    Michael, Is this comment "Short enough (to keep MY attention)". Funny;-)

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  47. Well if anyone still needs to be convinced that WE are obsessed with death, then look no further than today's blog. After browsing through 44 comments there are only a handfull of comments on poor old Monsieur Léon Gaumont!

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  48. Lois, I'll have to look those up; they might be worth adding to the list of things to see/do if - when! - I make it to California and San Francisco.

    "Michael ... 'Short enough (to keep MY attention)'. Funny;-)"
    Remember that Michael is a man! ;)

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  49. Alexandra, as it is again a matter of calculation today, Guille and I are really interested in it, aren't we Guille ??? :))
    So, Alexandra, could you tell me why you wrote "deduct 50 from 98?" Why 50? Just to know because otherwise Eric's age does not interest me at all ;)!! Not at all!! :) Well, 98 is far too old, that is true!
    Hello Mylène, I wanted to tell you that I totally agree with your nice comment. Yes, it is 'a bresh of fresh air'.

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  50. Thanks Navrad. I laughed and love it.

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  51. Doesn't this blog feel weird without Lynn?

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  52. Michel was kind enough to remind me that the man who made the film "De la terre à la lune" is Georges MELIES. (I saw it, but I'm not 98 !) It really is a hilarious little film.

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  53. You can see the 1902 Méliès, Le voyage dans la Lune, on YouTube, for example here. I had no idea it was French. Cool.

    The only connection with anything above that I can see is that there is no one "acting" in that film who has not put on a daisy overcoat.

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  54. Corinne: How I know? Oh, a little bird whispered in my ear ... ;) Just kidding! Here's a hint: Eric's profile. So it's not that great a secret as I would've wished it!

    Yes, I'd agree, Rose, that this blog feels weird without Lynn.

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  55. Thanks for the link Eric. I thought I'd seen that name before.

    Lois: Hollywood Forever has been cleaned up by it's newish owners. You should have seen it before. For truly beautiful park like settings go to Forest Lawn in Glendale, CA. The chapels are even used for weddings! Ronald Reagan married 1st wife Jane Wyman there. It is the final resting place of many names from Hollywood's history: Gable, Lombard, Harlow, Selznick, Thalberg, Shearer, Skelton. Truly worth a visit.

    Monica: now I'm even more curious, but yes, flowers do the trick. Congrats to you.

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  56. Thanks for posting, Tall Gary - you're my hero!

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  57. You're welcome pont girl. I live to serve you. Ha ha.

    In honor of Léon Gaumont, and with Celine Dion singing the title track, we present from 1912 "The Titanic Disaster".

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  58. Thanks for answering Alexandra!!
    I thought you had found something directly connected to the Gaumont story (and especially to the first 'news' >> Eric mentioned in his caption). But never mind!
    Otherwise, you are right, there was no matter for a secret ;)
    For example, I know you are almost as young as Guille! ;)
    Sorry, I am too lazy to create my own profile... But I can say my age is closer to Eric's one than to Guille's age or to yours, I am afraid! :)

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  59. Did somebody say flowers? I received a lovely yellow rose recently. I enjoyed it immensely and hope to enjoy it for a long time. Maybe I'll get more.

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  60. Lois, it's probably only funny if you know me... Now it DOES feel weird without Lynn.

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  61. Michael
    I just spoke to Lynn's son and he said she is waiting to have a scan and she is still in hospital.
    I asked him to let her know that we all miss her.

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  62. Oh that's nice. You can be our daily updater now!

    LynnDailyHospitalStay.com

    Thanks for the update!

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  63. I also asked Marley to update us if he hears anything.

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  64. Hello all, Lynn's son here.

    As Rose said, I spoke to her briefly earlier (sorry if I sounded strange, I wasn't expecting a call from someone off the internet!).

    My mum is in hospital at the moment, there was a possibility that she would come out today, but sadly not :-(

    She is staying tonight, and will most likely be out tomorrow.

    I rang her in hospital as soon as I got off the phone with Rose to tell her that you all send your love. She was extremely pleased and she returns the kind gesture :-)


    If anyone has anything they want me to pass on to her, i'll do my best. I'll be ringing her again in a couple of hours.


    Thank you for ringing. You made her extremely happy :-)


    Charlie.

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  65. Alexandra -- I thought your comment on the feeling you get when visiting a cemetery was very well put.
    I totally agree that they are the most peaceful places.
    Was in Paris with my daughters when the older one turned 18. When asked how she wanted to spend the day, she said "Walking around Pere Lachaise." (The celebration continued in a much less peaceful way that night.)
    Also love the small graveyard behind San Miiniato, in Florence. Very touching and sad, but beautiful.
    Interesting discussion today, n'est-ce pas?

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  66. Alexandra, since we're calculating Eric's age, his profile indicates a combination of astrological signs that can only mean he is 49, not 48 as it says. I know, because I have exactly the same astrological signs - year of the boar/pig was 1959, and the days of Aquarius are passed!

    Eric, you were warned!!! ;^)

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  67. Another coincidence, Eric -- was just in the archive again, where I saw your June 2006 picture of the Gaumont Parnasse theater. Looks huge, BTW. No 14-theaters-in-one when I lived there. Now?

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  68. Thank you, Charlie for the update on Lynn!

    I visited Pere Lachaise in March, and I found the grave of Victor Noir, which at the time struck me as a little amusing. You can probably tell why if you look him up on the link to P-L below. It was this BBC story though, that really made me laugh. Sorry in advance if it offends...

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3975607.stm

    If you want to take a virtual tour of P-L, you can try this link:
    http://www.pere-lachaise.com/

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  69. Jeff,
    Just saw the meaning of:
    "Yellow Roses: Yellow roses indicate friendship and freedom ― so don't send them if your intentions are romantic and long-lasting. Yellow roses are also appropriate for sending congratulations to newlyweds, graduates, and new mothers."
    That rose wasn't accompanied by a bassinett was it?

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  70. Thank you, Alexa, I wrote from the heart. :)

    I'm unconcentrated right now, WC-hockey semifinal Canada-Sweden is on!!

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  71. Corinne, you're welcome!

    Eliane, I'm sure you know more than I on that subject. ;)

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  72. Hi Charlie - welcome to PDP and thanks for letting us know how your mom is doing. She brings many of us much laughter and fun on a daily basis, and we miss her deeply. Hope she is able to go home tomorrow. Please let her know that I am sending her good cheer and good health!

    Thank you, Rose for checking on her and letting us all know, too!

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  73. Charlie, thank you for checking in! Really sweet of you! All our best to Lynn!

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  74. There is something about cemeteries that brings to mind that great visual pun by Charles Gilbert.

    And speaking of this and lipstick on grave markers, we have our own version here in Southern California a la the late MM.

    By the way, Hugh Hefner paid $80,000 for the crypt to her left.

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  75. Thank you, Charlie! Glad to hear she'll be home soon. You're a good son.

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  76. Charlie hey! Thanks for the update about your adorable mom Lynn.

    Yes, do tell her that we miss her very much and hope she'll be back soon.

    your mom rocks you know!!!!!!

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  77. Oh yes thank you Rose for checking on Lynn.

    I think now her son Charlie will have to stop by here on a regular basis, don't you agree folks?!

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  78. cali: Yes, I saw Hollywood Forever before. We use to live about four blocks from there when I was 5 and 6 years old. My little brother use to go there at night with his friends and collect frogs. I recently went there with a friend from Paris. I put flowers on Tyrone Powers' grave. I like Douglas Fairbanks too.

    I don't really like Forest Lawn. It's too big -- it always makes me think of a mall. Very commercial -- too expensive.

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  79. Hello again, Charlie here.

    Mum says thank you very much for the flowers, it was a very nice surprise :-)

    She's still recovering, but home from hospital now. I'm sure she'll be with you guys soon :-)

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  80. Glad to hear she's home, Charlie! Thanks for letting us know.

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  81. Here I am! Brief i know but thanks so much for missing me. On the mend i hope. It's been a trial. I've left a bit more at Cheltenham.

    Hi Charlie darling, thanks for doing that, i got my PDP fix through you!

    He's looking after me fabulously, folks. Isn't he great? He's shopped, cooked and he and his lovely girlfriend Lucy made everything tidy and welcoming, with the PDP flowers in my bedroom. I dived - well i stepped actually but who's counting - into my own shower again on return (nothing quite like home) and straight to bed. For a while. Back when i can. xxx Hopefully with my sense of humour back intact. It's gone a little walkabout at the moment lol. I'm looking forward to all the catching up.

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  82. Lynn, yay!

    You got PDP flowers? Whoever did that (Eric?) did a lovely thing.

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  83. Yes who did organise that lovely thing? I think it might have been thoughtful Rose, but not sure. Wonderful though, thank you. They will of course be making an appearance at Cheltenham when i get my act together a bit more. Night night.

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  84. I am wondering exactly what Alexander thinks about this..

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  85. Possibly the greatest blog that I read all day :)

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