ALLONS ENFANTS!

Happy Bastille Day to our French Friends! St. Louis was founded by French explorers and one of our historic neighborhoods, Soulard, was established by a French couple of the same name. It has an annual tongue-in-cheek celebration of the event with Louis and Marie Antoinette being chased by the mob very slowly through the district, stopping at the several bars. It ends with a mock execution.

Note the sign in the upper left. Some of the mob rode through the streets on golf carts.          

ROARING

Yesterday, we went to a show at the Saint Louis Art Museum called Roaring: Art, Fashion, and the Automobile in France, 1918–1939. There was a stunning combination of cars and clothing. This is a 1939 Buggati, a wedding present for the Shah of Iran and his Egyptian bride for their nuptials in Cairo (hence the Arabic numerals). The reflections on the fenders are from the skylights in the ceiling.

And happy birthday to Mrs. C (b. 1944 and going strong).

                     

THE LONELINESS OF THE CARNEY

The people who work the carnivals must have a lonely existence. Rootless, traveling from town to town, probably without family. They can’t make much money and it’s seasonal work. If there are no customers at the game they are running, there is little to do but stare through the night at the bright colored lights. Or maybe notice a photographer.                         

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

Most of us have those “Hey, mister, take my/our picture!” moments.These kids at the carnival were Webster Groves High School students. Well, they aren’t all white. Very clean cut. If you went 5 or 10 miles west, similar kids’ clothes, or at least the shoes, would be a couple of notches more expensive. 5 or 10 miles northeast and the look would be - what’s the right word these days? - urban.                         

PINK SNEAKERS

When I was a kid (50s-60s), sneakers were Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars in black or white. That’s it. By 1989, my then 9 year-old son became the fashion sensation of Paris by wearing Chucks in mismatched colors, one red, one green. (Yes, we were there on the bicentennial, and it was really weird watching the festivities on TV in our hotel). Now, anything goes. When I go to the gym the footwear has more colors than the spectrum of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine.                   

CRICKET SKILLS

There was a group of young South Asian men at one of the arcade games at the carnival. Off to the right of the frame were shelves of empty glass beer bottles, spaced somewhat apart. Players got three baseballs for their money and were awarded a prize if they could break one or more bottles. This contestant broke one. I showed him this picture and told him he was the best fast bowler in Webster Groves.             

I WANTED TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE

Brassy color, harsh lights and dark skies made me wonder what one of the carnival images would look like in black and white. I think it’s interesting.