I've got some time off at the moment while I wait for my next project to start, so another post already and some more art. This time in the form of a lovely old original sheet music book from 1923 which I bought for just a few quid last week. I only wanted it for the front cover as I love
the typography and the very simple graphic image. Also, there's something about it being nearly 100 years old.
Maybe you remember seeing clips of ancient Felix The Cat cartoons on The Old Grey Whistle Test? My big sister used to watch it at its peak in the '70s, eager for appearances by Focus, Rory Gallagher and the like and, although I was too young to stay up with her, I'm sure there were times when I couldn't sleep and may have been allowed to watch a little too; my memories of it seem inextricably linked to that era. But even in later versions of the programme I'm sure this was still a device they used. I can’t specifically recall any of the songs they did it with, but there was always some element of them that worked with the animation, like Felix hammering a nail into a plank to the rhythms of Bob Marley & The Wailers or something. Seem to remember they also used scenes from the 1902 film A Trip To The Moon / Le Voyage Dans Le Lune....
This is one of the Felix cartoons (but without the addition of OGWT's choice of music), only the first five minutes unfortunately, but it gives the idea as it’s chock full of great visual tricks and deceptive surrealism – so simple and so clever at the same time. I love this kind of thing... and again, the fact that it's nearly 100 years old.
Maybe you remember seeing clips of ancient Felix The Cat cartoons on The Old Grey Whistle Test? My big sister used to watch it at its peak in the '70s, eager for appearances by Focus, Rory Gallagher and the like and, although I was too young to stay up with her, I'm sure there were times when I couldn't sleep and may have been allowed to watch a little too; my memories of it seem inextricably linked to that era. But even in later versions of the programme I'm sure this was still a device they used. I can’t specifically recall any of the songs they did it with, but there was always some element of them that worked with the animation, like Felix hammering a nail into a plank to the rhythms of Bob Marley & The Wailers or something. Seem to remember they also used scenes from the 1902 film A Trip To The Moon / Le Voyage Dans Le Lune....
This is one of the Felix cartoons (but without the addition of OGWT's choice of music), only the first five minutes unfortunately, but it gives the idea as it’s chock full of great visual tricks and deceptive surrealism – so simple and so clever at the same time. I love this kind of thing... and again, the fact that it's nearly 100 years old.
Kind of appropriate for this cold weather too, barely a day has gone by lately when I'm not having to don my parka to go in the garden to break the ice on the birdbath.
The inside of the music booklet is very endearing visually too (if you skip past the overtly racist reference/word in one
verse, I know it's just an unfortunate reflection of the attitudes of the time. Although... well...what kind of horrendous prejudiced times are we living in now?)
One other thing caught my eye - an ad in the back for another title, which is apparently:
“a lesson in song. The truest story ever told. An appealing musical sermon that has won the commendation of press and pulpit throughout the nation…”
You just don't see straplines like that for Little Mix, do you?
One other thing caught my eye - an ad in the back for another title, which is apparently:
“a lesson in song. The truest story ever told. An appealing musical sermon that has won the commendation of press and pulpit throughout the nation…”
You just don't see straplines like that for Little Mix, do you?
Lyrics reproduced here:
Just A Girl That Men Forget
Dear little girl, they call you a flirt,
A flapper with up-to-date ways,
You may shine brightly, but just like a lamp,
You’ll burn out one of these days.
The your old-fashioned sister will come into view,
With a husband and kiddies, but what about you?
Wallflower girl, now dry all those tears,
For you won’t be left all alone.
Some day you’ll find yourself up on a throne
Queen of a sweet little home,
And you, gay little flapper, you’ll live and you’ll learn
When you’ve gone down the pathway that has no return.
A flapper with up-to-date ways.
I'm too young to remember Felix the Cat, the film clip is quite imaginative and cute. Yes, has been a cold spell, there was even snow in the Sahara for first time in 37 years!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the clip, Chris. I just love the visual jokes and the fact that there's no need for a narrative.
DeleteI didn't know that about the Sahara snow - v weird!
I love the typography, there's something about old sheet music that's very appealing .... and with the other tune, well who could resist! It's a good job that female emancipation has progressed, at least a little....
ReplyDeleteIt is so appealing, isn't it? The lettering is gorgeous throughout, as are the lovely decorative borders and I can rarely resist these kind of things. Know what you mean about female emancipation!
DeleteJon Langford and the Sadies have a very similar picture to the middle one above as an album coverhttps://www.google.co.uk/search?q=jon+langford+and+his+sadies&rlz=1C9BKJA_enGB617GB617&oq=jon+langford+and+&aqs=chrome.3.69i57j0l3.14829j0j7&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8&hl=en-US#imgrc=Z5L0Clz1pNVquM%3A
ReplyDeleteHaha, a direct rip! Never seen that before, thanks.
DeleteWhat a great set of images - I do remember Felix the Cat from those programs that used to be on featuring old cartoons. 100 years old though, but people back then were just as creative and clever as they are now (if not more so) it was just that they didn't have all the bells and whistles to make things look as polished. It's disgraceful how much money can be spent on a Hollywood blockbuster nowadays but you can leave the cinema and have forgotten it 5 minutes later. All special effects and no substance.
ReplyDeleteA lot of other great items of interest here as well - Love the song lyrics but strangely timeless as well in some ways. And as for the Flapper magazine I think I would have probably parted with my 2 dimes (or 2 bucks a year) for that jaunty periodical - Not a fan of the outfit though. Ladies beachwear was a tad unbecoming and what the heck is she walking?
Oh and one more thing - I'm enjoying revisiting the tracks of my years in vinyl but of course before that there was Bakelite and before that we bought sheet music and there was even a Top 10! On the news tonight there was the story about how loneliness is a massive problem for around 9 million people in the UK - In the days of sheet music we didn't use earphones on our personal devices, all ages gathered round the piano for a sing-song or a recital. Simpler times.
Thanks - you're right about the creativity of people from centuries ago, I love the fact that essentially we are the same when it comes to these things, whatever era we're from, just working within the constraints of the age. And perhaps the more constraints there are, the more truly creative people become?
DeleteI must admit I'm rather oddly taken with the Flapper cover, including the strange outfit (I know! - but it sort of appeals to the weirdo in me) and the even stranger goose (?) on a lead!
What you said about loneliness is so sad - I guess people are becoming so connected to the outside world electronically that there is the danger of being disconnected to it physically. God knows what it'll be like in our dotage - not sure I really want a robot for company...
No can't say I want a robot for company either but of late the people I've communicated with most are my blogging buddies and we've never even met! Is that how we'll spent our dotage - Being octogenarian bloggers!?
DeleteThe same is true for me! Especially as I work alone from home, so all my contacts for work, as well as many for leisure, are at the end of my keyboard - oh it makes you think!
DeletePerhaps we will end up as octogenarian bloggers who gather round a virtual piano for a virtual sing-song? Actually that doesn't sound so bad! :-)
I can well remember Felix the Cat cropping up on OGWT, but can't for the life of me remember what music it was accompanying. The programme featured many imaginative films in those pre-video days - Led Zeppelin's 'Trampled Underfoot' with looped vintage can-can girls comes to mind, unsurprisingly. I can quite see why you picked up the sheet music, I doubt if I would've been able to resist either. I find that period adverts in old publications often provide additional unexpected enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the music either but the imagery sticks - including can-can girls!
DeleteKnow what you mean about old ads too, even ones not dating back that far. Sorting out my aunt and uncle's house last year brought up many fine examples because there were so many mags, brochures and maps to sift through, sadly far too many to keep, but still so interesting to look through - very real reflections of their day.
Those Felix The Cat cartoons remind me of my childhood in the same way Buster Crabbe Flash Gordon serials and Merry Melodies do... Even though all of them were created decades before I was born. I lament the fact that the kids of day are never exposed to anything older than about 6 months when they turn on the TV, and are never forced to watch something old and weird because it's the only thing on...
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of it like that - yes, you're right, the TV was on and we watched whatever we could, 'old and weird' was frequently the case - and how we loved it! My childhood was full of ancient Tom & Jerry cartoons and even Buster Keaton and Laurel & Hardy. I suppose I was aware that they were from a different age but it never mattered.
DeleteThat Felix art is amazing. Looks sooo old. Big fan of Le Voyage Dans Le Lune too. We have a DVD of the earliest Disney animation (from the 1930s), called Silly Symphony, that my kids just love. Here is the Three Little Pigs from 1933. Chances are you may already know it.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM47onzkGek
Oh thanks Brian - that film is great and suddenly took me right back to my childhood too as I realised that, yes, I had seen it before but had long forgotten it. I got that whole feeling back! 1933 too - something about the age of these things that still stand up so well really gets to me. Like the Felix art - a timeless appeal.
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