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Disney’s Classic Animated Films and Rotoscoping
While Disney has made some of the most popular animated features of all time, they had the good sense to use the most advanced animation technology available at that time - rotoscoping. Rotoscoping is a technique in which animators trace over footage, frame by frame, for use in live-action and animated films. The recorded live-action film images were projected onto a frosted glass panel and re-drawn by an animator. This projection equipment is called a rotoscope, although this device was eventually replaced by computers. It is the vintage predecessor to the computer simulation techniques James Cameron used for his Avatar characters.
The Haunted Film - Ghosts of Movie Stars Make a Comeback
Filmmaker Alex Monty Canawati made a short film called Birth of Babylon, which won “Best Short” at the American Film and Music Festival in 2000. The short was then developed into a feature-length film, Return to Babylon. The film shot between 2001 and 2004, but was shelved due to “problems” with strange images in the film.
The film’s release had a long delay due to the discovery of “odd figures, morphing of characters and ghost-like images” in some scenes. These were especially clear in still framing. The images were found to be on the original negatives and not in any special effects.
The film is said to have been infiltrated by phantom figures — ghosts of the dead stars that are the subject of the film, which is about assorted scandals in Hollywood at the beginning of the 20th Century. The images occurred without splicing in old footage or engaging in CGI re-constructions.
It was filmed on location in the estates of deceased stars. Lead cast member Jennifer Tilly and other members of the cast and crew began to feel that they were not alone on the sets. Jennifer Tilly was quite vocal during filming about the presence of “ghosts”. She kept reiterating that they were touching her. The still photographer would also capture strange images on her film.
Another star of the movie, Maria Chonchita Alonso, spoke of the experience on Biography Channel’s My Ghost Story. She stated that it was all very real and a truly frightening experience.
The film was studied by many industry professionals and it was concluded that there was paranormal activity occurring in the film. When certain shots are seen frame-by-frame, one can see “morphing” taking place with the actors that has no apparent cause or explanation.
(Source: imdb.com)
Talking to the Dead - A Brief History of the Ouija Board
The Ouija board (Wee-ja), also known as a spirit board, is a flat board marked with the letters of the alphabet, numbers 0-9, and the words “yes”, “no”, and “hello” and “goodbye”. The invention of the original design in unknown but the first patent was granted in 1891 to Elijah J. Bond as the inventor and the assignee as Charles W. Kennard. Kennard stated that he named the spirit board “Ouija” because the board named itself and said that the word meant ‘Good Luck.’
Through generations of families and different toy companies, the look of the board kept changing. It was not until 1897 that William Fuld held the sole legal right to manufacture and sell the boards.
The Ouija board was regarded as a harmless parlor game unrelated to the occult until American Spiritualist Pearl Curran popularized its use as a divining tool during World War I. Mainstream religions and some occultists have associated the use of the Ouija board with the threat of demonic possession and have cautioned their followers not to use them.
Despite being repeatedly debunked by the efforts of the scientific community, the Ouija board remains popular. There are many who claim that it can indeed communicate with the dead. Television is filled with shows about hauntings that began with the use of the board.
People have claimed that using the board has made their lives, literally, a living hell. It is believed that demons, disguising themselves as deceased friend or family member, can trick the users of the board and unwittingly invite “it” into their homes. To be rid of such hauntings or negative paranormal phenomena, experts in the paranormal advise either burning the board or disposing of it in a lake since spirits are believed to not be able to cross water.
(Source: museumoftalkingboards.com)
Vintage Matchbook Cover Art from Around the World
The collecting of matchboxes, matchbooks, match labels and other match-related items is called phillumeny and is, like the collecting of stamps, a specialized field of interest.
(Source: darkroastedblend.com)
The Invention of “Home” Photography
Popular photography can properly be said to have started 120 years ago with the introduction of the Kodak camera, the invention of an American, George Eastman (1854-1932). It was a simple, leather-covered wooden box – small and light enough to be held in the hands. Taking a photograph with the Kodak was very easy, requiring only three simple actions; turning the key (to wind on the film); pulling the string (to set the shutter); and pressing the button (to take the photograph).
The Kodak produced circular snapshots, two and a half inches in diameter. The Kodak was sold already loaded with enough paper-based roll film to take one hundred photographs. After the film had been exposed, the entire camera was returned to the factory for the film to be developed and printed. The camera, reloaded with fresh film, was then returned to its owner, together with a set of prints. To sum up the Kodak system, Eastman devised the brilliantly simple sales slogan: ‘You press the button, we do the rest.’
(Source: publicdomainreview.org)
Unusual Underground Hotel - Hotel Troll; Victoria, Australia
Enter the gaping mouth below the shining eyes of a stone troll and follow a cave passageway lit with torches down to your hotel room. Three outdoor terraces allow for plenty of natural light inside. One is even equipped with a barbecue - this is Australia.
One room, referred to by some guests as the bondage room, is equipped with leather straps and horse harnesses above the bed. Kinky…
“Femme Fatale” Vampires, Part 2
Bolesław Biegas (1877–1954) was a Polish surrealist artist (painter and sculptor), best known for his “vampire-as-femme fatale” style of painting as seen above. Biegas created a small museum for his art in Paris, France, called the Musée Boleslas Biegas.
- The Third Vampire Metamorphosis, 1916 - 1917
- The Vampire in the Form of the Serpent, 1916 - 1917
- Ironic Fight Vampires, 1915-1916
- The Vampire in the Form of the Elephant, 1915 - 1916
- Humanity’s Victory Over the Vampires, 1918
(Source: Wikipedia)
“Femme Fatale” Vampires, Part 1
Bolesław Biegas (1877–1954) was a Polish surrealist artist (painter and sculptor), best known for his “vampire-as-femme fatale” style of painting as seen above. Biegas created a small museum for his art in Paris, France, called the Musée Boleslas Biegas.
- The Vampire in the Form of the Demon, 1917
- A Vampire in the Form of the Lizard, 1916
- Kiss of the Vampire, 1916
- Vampire Suyene, 1917
- The Vampire in the Form of the Dragon, 1917
(Source: Wikipedia)
Strange Inventions from the Past (Part 1)
- A hat that is also a radio. (USA, 1931)
- A bike for the entire family… that also has a built in sewing machine. (USA, 1939)
- A piano for bedridden people. (England, 1935)
- A shield to protect the face during snow storms and blizzards. (Canada, 1939)
- Glasses that enable you to read while lying down. (England, 1936)
(Source: iliketowastemytime.com)
