A glimpse of a colorful past
Anyone under the age of seventy could be forgiven for forgetting that the world didn’t suddenly spring to colorful life in the past half-century, so predominant was the grey palette of black and white photography and cinematography in the first half of the 21 century.
But of course, the world never existed in black and white — it was just depicted that way.
One aspect of Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator that I especially admired was the way the look of the picture slowly morphed, depending on the period being depicted. In scenes that took place in the late twenties and early thirties, the heavily green and orange look of the two-strip Technicolor of the era was very effectively replicated. I’ll admit to a fondness for that look, and when I do imagine life in the 1930s in color, that’s the palette my mind’s eye adopts.
Ms. Cladrite and I spent our honeymoon in the great city of London a little more than a year back. It was her second trip there, and my first, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We often reminisce fondly about those eight delightful days. So it was with some excitement that I learned of this color footage of London in the 1920s, and it’s with great pleasure that I share it with you, the Cladrite Radio listener.
'Tis Autumn
Old Father Time checked, so there'd be no doubt.
Called on the North wind to come on out,
Then cupped his hands so proudly to shout,
"La-di-dah di-dah-di-dum, 'tis autumn!"
Trees say they're tired, they've born too much fruit.
Charmed on the wayside, there's no dispute.
Now shedding leaves, they don't give a hoot.
La-di-dah di-dah-di-dum, 'tis autumn!
Then the birds got together
To chirp about the weather.
La-dah-di la-dah-di la-dah-dum
After makin' their decision,
In birdie-like precision,
Turned about, and
Made a beeline to the south.
My holding you close really is no crime.
Ask the birds and the trees and old Father Time.
It's just to help the mercury climb.
La-di-dah di-dah-di-dum, 'tis autumn.
---Henry Nemo, words and music




