Simanaitis Says

On cars, old, new and future; science & technology; vintage airplanes, computer flight simulation of them; Sherlockiana; our English language; travel; and other stuff

ETYMOLOGY: BUNCO PART 1

FOR ONE REASON or another, the idea of a Mueller bunco squad came to mind. And this got me thinking about the etymology of the word “bunco.” I found some … Continue reading

September 13, 2018 · Leave a comment

PROOFSHEETS, POSTERS, ETC.

SORTING OUT some shelves, I came upon a large cardboard folder preserving two neat posters and several 4/c proofsheets kept for one reason or another. Here they are, with accompanying … Continue reading

September 12, 2018 · 4 Comments

SHAKESPEARE’S ARTISTIC INFLUENCES PART 2

SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS inspired artists in his own era as well as those who came later. Today in Part 2, we pick up with an important 19th-century invention, the photograph. Other … Continue reading

September 11, 2018 · Leave a comment

SHAKESPEARE’S ARTISTIC INFLUENCES PART 1

THE GREATEST PLAYWRIGHT in the world had a hand in the arts other than stagecraft. Here are works inspired by William Shakespeare, ranging from those of his fellow Elizabethans to … Continue reading

September 10, 2018 · Leave a comment

“THAT’S FROM DISNEYLAND!”

A FABULOUS AUCTION brings back special memories. More than 900 bits of Disneyana collected over 25 years by Hollywood talent agent Richard Kraft were auctioned off by Van Eaton Galleries. … Continue reading

September 9, 2018 · 2 Comments

CHEVROLET CORVETTE ROADSTER—1954

WHAT WITH the real mid-engine Vette waiting in the wings (as opposed to R&T’s random speculations back in the old days), it seems most appropriate to look at the original … Continue reading

September 7, 2018 · 1 Comment

CLEOPATRA’S QUAFFING PART 2

THIS ALL STARTED yesterday with private investigator George Valentine (of SiriusXM “Radio Classics” Let George Do It) reading Pliny’s account of Cleopatra downing a pearl dissolved in vinegar. Today in … Continue reading

September 6, 2018 · 3 Comments

CLEOPATRA’S QUAFFING PART 1

IT’S GOOD FUN to be encouraged into interesting directions by SiriusXM’s “Radio Classics” old-time mysteries. Let George Do It is a fine example, with a recently aired episode titled “42 … Continue reading

September 5, 2018 · 2 Comments

ELLIE MANNETTE, MUSIC MAN EXTRAORDINAIRE

TRINIDADIAN ELLIE MANNETTE brought music to many during his 90 years. His obituary by Karen Zraick in The New York Times, August 31, 2018, cited Mannette as “Father of the … Continue reading

September 4, 2018 · Leave a comment

TROTTIE TRUE—AN EDWARDIAN ROMANCE

THE COMEDIC NOVELS of Caryl Brahms and S.J. Simon, principally their Stroganoff ballet mysteries, were topics here at SimanaitisSays more than four years ago. Recently, I’ve read Trottie True, another … Continue reading

September 3, 2018 · Leave a comment