THE FLYING MONTEES
IT WAS A FABULOUS time for aviation, the 1920s. Airplanes had proved their mettle in World War I. Plenty of these craft were now surplus, offering inexpensive means for the … Continue reading
TOURING EUROPE
MANY OF YOU might be planning motoring excursions in Europe. Indeed, I realize that some of you already live there and don’t really need the following advice. However, maybe even … Continue reading
HARRY S TRUMAN—SHERLOCKIAN
THE 33RD PRESIDENT of the United States, Harry S Truman, was a dedicated follower of Sherlock Holmes. In fact, the Baker Street Journal, an “irregular quarterly” published by the Baker … Continue reading
A “GOOD OLD DAYS” FERRARI ROAD TEST
AH, THE GOOD OLD DAYS! Fifty years ago a Ferrari 275 GTS could be bought for half the price of today’s average new car. In a September 1966 Road Test, … Continue reading
THE LONDON UNDERGROUND—REDEFINED
THE TERM London Underground used to mean only this city’s subterranean transportation system. But cost of development has prompted some super wealthy Londoners to enhance their residences downward. In Hyde … Continue reading
THE TALE (AND SCENES) OF GENJI
THE TALE OF GENJI is noteworthy for several reasons: This 11th-century work of Japanese literature has been called the world’s first novel. It was more than just a tale; its … Continue reading
DECO DREAMING
I’M LISTENING to a CD of contralto Nathalie Stutzmann singing the songs of Francis Poulenc, and it’s giving me daydreams of Art Deco. This design style, short for Arts Décoratifs, … Continue reading
RED SCARE MADNESS—THE FIFTIES
THE OCCASIONAL CRAZINESS of modern days reminds me from time to time about the Red Scare during the 1950s. Its hysteria included the Hollywood blacklists, as explored in the current … Continue reading
THE HAUDENOSAUNEE
WHO WOULD think that researching the Watkins Glen race circuit would lead to the Iroquois Confederacy and a debunking of a Longfellow poem? And what about the Hiawatha Belt? Benjamin … Continue reading
THE GLEN, 1948
THERE WAS A time when Watkins Glen was known primarily for its salt mines. It was the home of Watkins Salt Company, a major player in salt production in the … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 