View allAll Photos Tagged phantomoftheopera
Description in English and Dutch:
English
Acting is a great profession where you don't have to be yourself for a while and play someone who often doesn't match your character at all and makes decisions that don't fit your own personality. You put on a mask, as it were, and after the performance when you go home, you take the mask off and you are yourself again. Actually, everyone is a bit of an actor, although most are not professional. Just think how most of us in every situation act differently at work compared to home. You also know the situation during a job interview where you become some kind of actor. What is also recognizable is that if you wear a real mask during a masked party or during carnival, it becomes much easier to become a different person for a while. In one of the best musicals in the world, The Phantom of The Opera, being masked and unmasked is an important theme and the phantom also has a mask on of course. The Dutch musical legend Henk Poort was already known in musical land, but became a real musical star in the Netherlands due to his role in the Dutch version. In the movie Nachtrit(Night Ride), the sympathetic Poort also steals the show as a shady criminal taxi company boss. As a kind of Amsterdam Don Corleone, he plays his role brilliantly, but this aside. The popular musical was produced years ago by media mogul Joop van den Ende, who was once a business partner of his former biggest competitor John de Mol. De Mol, the tutti capi of the Dutch media world has now been discredited by the mega scandal of his tv-show The Voice of Holland about alleged misconduct towards female candidates by two well-known coaches and other employees of the Voice of Holland, such as the band leader of the program who is also the partner of his famous sister Linda. There now have even been official reports of serious offenses made to the police. With one of the coaches and one of the most famous singers in the Netherlands this would even take place with young teenagers around The Voice Kids version of the popular program. According to the former young candidates, the television stars presented themselves very differently on tv as the predators as they are described behind the scenes. An important disclaimer to report is that the famous coaches and other employees of The Voice already have been convicted by the media, but that the criminal law could turn out differently. However the fascinating thing about unmasking, has been the inspiration by the internationally renowned sculptor and multiple art prize winner Pépé Grégoire to design this impressive stone mask sculpture. The sculpture was first placed in another great city in the Netherlands, namely Utrecht, but has been moved to the circus square near the circus theater in the very interesting district of Scheveningen in The Hague.
Nederlands
Acteren is een geweldig vak waarbij je even niet jezelf hoeft te zijn en iemand speelt die vaak helemaal niet bij je karakter past. Je zet als het ware een masker op en na de voorstelling of filmopname als je naar huis gaat, zet je het masker af en ben je weer jezelf. Eigenlijk is iedereen een beetje een acteur, hoewel de meesten niet professioneel zijn. Bedenk eens hoe de meesten van ons zich in elke situatie anders gedragen. Op het werk zijn de meesten heel anders dan thuis. Je kent ook de situatie tijdens een sollicitatiegesprek waarin je een soort acteur wordt. Wat ook herkenbaar is, is dat als je een echt masker draagt tijdens een gemaskerd feest of tijdens carnaval, het veel makkelijker wordt om even een ander mens te worden. In een van de beste musicals ter wereld, The Phantom of The Opera, is het gemaskeerd en ontmaskerd worden een belangrijk thema en het fantoom heeft natuurlijk ook een masker op. De Nederlandse operazanger Henk Poort was al bekend in opera kringen, maar werd door zijn rol in de Nederlandse versie een echte musicalster in Nederland. Ook in de film Nachtrit steelt de sympathieke Poort de show als louche criminele taxibedrijfbaas. Als een soort Amsterdamse Don Corleone speelt hij zijn rol in de losjes op de waargebeurde Nederlandse taxioorlog gebaseerde film echt briljant. De Phantom musical werd jaren geleden geproduceerd door mediamagnaat Joop van den Ende die ooit zakenpartner was John de Mol was. De Mol, de tutti capi van de Nederlandse mediawereld, is inmiddels ernstig in opspraak geraakt door het megaschandaal van zijn tv-programma The Voice of Holland over vermeend wangedrag jegens vrouwelijke kandidaten door twee bekende coaches en andere medewerkers van de Voice of Holland. Het gaat daarbij ook om ernstige beschuldigen tegenover de bandleider van het programma die tevens de levenspartner is van De Mol zijn in zowel Nederland als Duitsland beroemde zus Linda. Er zijn inmiddels zelfs aangiftes van zeer ernstige zedenmisdrijven bij de politie binnengekomen. Bij een van de coaches, een absolute topartiest in Nederland zou dit zelfs met jonge minderjarige tieners plaatsvinden rondom The Voice Kids-versie van het populaire programma. Volgens de voormalige jonge kandidaten presenteerden de televisiesterren zich op tv heel anders dan als de vermeende roofdieren achter de schermen. Een belangrijke disclaimer om te melden is dat de bekende coaches en andere medewerkers van The Voice al door de media zijn veroordeeld, maar dat er een kans bestaat dat ze vrijgesproken worden door een rechter of dat de zaken daarvoor al geseponeerd worden, omdat het helaas allemaal erg moeilijk te bewijzen is. Het fascinerende van ontmaskeren is de inspiratie geweest van de internationaal bekende beeldhouwer en meervoudig kunstprijswinnaar Pépé Grégoire om dit indrukwekkende stenen masker te ontwerpen. Het beeld werd eerst geplaatst in een andere grote stad in Nederland, namelijk Utrecht, maar is sindsdien verplaatst naar het circusplein bij het circustheater in de zeer interessante uitgaanswijk Scheveningen in Den Haag. Een saillant detail is overigens dat de de steden Den Haag en Utrecht echt rivalen zijn op voetbalgebied, maar dit terzijde.
Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (1883-1930) was an American actor and makeup artist. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted, characters and for his groundbreaking artistry with makeup. Wikipedia
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Sí, la foto tiene firma, marca de agua y sello de registro. Lo sé, lo he puesto de forma intencionada.
All rights reserved © Alberto J. Espiñeira Francés. Registered work. Do not use this image on any media without my explicit permission.
Yes, my photo has signature, watermark and registration stamp. I know, I have set intentionally.
The Royal Alexandra Theatre now 100 years old (1907-2007)
Frequently visited by royal and celebrity guests, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were the most recent stars to grace Toronto's historic landmark theatre during this summer's 'Toronto International Film Festival'.
The Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto was built by Cawthra Mulock.
A sophisticated young man, Cawthra Mulock wanted to put Toronto Ontario Canada on the world’s cultural map.
The son of a politician, Mulock was a stockbroker, a foundry-owner and a very rich man – he inherited nearly $3 million from a wealthy great aunt when he was a teenager.
In 1905 at age 23, Mulock formed a union with several other prominent men to build “a modern centre for the performing arts”.
The mission given assigned to the architect was to “build the finest theatre on the continent.”
The Royal Alexandra Theatre was saved from demolition in 1962 by Ed Mirvish (known as 'Honest Ed').
Honest Ed's entrepreneurial vision restored and returned golden grandeur to the historic venue.
As a result, The Royal Alexandra Theatre still stands here today 100 years after its creation.
'Honest Ed' Ed Mirvish died this year in July at age 93 just a few days before his 93rd birthday (July 24, 1914 - July 11, 2007).
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Tomitheos 24 hour b&w series 10 of 12
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Our creation for the upcoming Fantasy Collective with the theme "Macabre": The Gothic Pipe Organ. The Pipe Organ is playing J.S. Bach Toccata and Fugue in D Minor on touch and has LI 17/7 Prims. The dimensions are: 3.6 x 1.4 x 5.6 meters. The Pipe Organ Stool holds 3 organ playing animations and has LI2/2 Prims.
The Fantasy Collective openes 22nd September 2015. Here is the SURL to the event: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Fantasy%20Collective...
Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (1883-1930) was an American actor and makeup artist. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted, characters and for his groundbreaking artistry with makeup. Wikipedia
323/365 - 14/52
Night-time sharpens,
heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defences ...
Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendour
Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender
Turn your face away
from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away
from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to the music of the night ...
Close your eyes and surrender to your
darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts of the life
you knew before!
Close your eyes,
let your spirit start to soar!
And you'll live
as you've never lived before ...
Softly, deftly,
music shall surround you ...
Feel it, hear it,
closing in around you ...
Open up your mind,
let your fantasies unwind,
in this darkness which
you know you cannot fight -
the darkness of the music of the night ...
So i finally caught up with my night shot for the Teleidoscope, now i just have to do this weeks as well!
I really wanted to do this properly and shoot this outside with the moonlight but it's been too dim these last few days and i didn't want to sit on the park gate on my own, my imagination runs wild on my own!
This took a lot of layer work and in the end i actually cut back as i thought the simpler the better as i didn't want to distract from what to me is the definition of the night. Although you may think of the darkness and lonesome feeling you might associate with it i actually see it as a release and eye opener. If it didn't get dark we would not see the splendor of the stars or the universe, a light show no one should take for granted. It really puts you in your place when you look up and see just how small you are in what is out there...
Now i have more work to do, time to crack on, catch up with you all soon guys! :)
The Teleidoscope - (14/52) Night
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The Teleidoscope is a project that inspires 10 photographers to make 52 photos, one every week.
10 people, 10 different ideas for 52 themes, 52 weeks long.
Every week we will post our images on our site and our Flickr group.
You can join us!
Every saturday we will pick a winner whose photo will get a special extra place at our site!
A frame from the Palais Garnier, the building that inspired the Phantom of the Opera. Many more shots on the blog --> ajranieriphoto.com/paris-part-1/
His Majesty's Theatre, London. Grade 2* listed theatre, designed by C J Phipps and Romaine Walker on the site of an older theatre and opened 1897. Now part of the Really Useful Group and long-time home to Phantom of the Opera. It is one of the theatres which regularly changes the pronoun according to the reigning UK monarch - unlike the Aberdeen venue which is always "His" or the Melbourne one which changes the name somewhat haphazardly! The theatre in London became His Majesty's again in April 2023.
City of Westminster, West End, London, England - His Majestys Theatre Haymarket
May 2025
This is one of four postcards that were sent by Captain Company as a premium in 1963 when you got a subscription to Famous Monsters Of Filmland magazine.
Ilsenburg, Kloster Ilsenburg
Song Title Inspiration: Angel of Music v. Anfrew Lloyd Webber - Phantom of the Opera
"If this idea of putting a Novi Star head on a Monser High Body inspires you to make your own please credit me ;)"
The Show Must Go On... But It Ends In February After Completing 35 Years On Broadway - IMRAN™
"The Phantom of the Opera” the longest-running show in Broadway history, is set to close in February, 2023. It will complete 35 YEARS in January before it ends.
Interestingly, it came out literally the week after my departure from New York after my first ever visit to the USA in late 1987. It was on my list of things to do since I returned a year later and started my American life, in my new hometown of New York City.
Honestly, I am NOT a fan of musicals in general. But Phantom was THE only one I wanted to watch and LOVED seeing in my "forever hometown" Manhattan. The incredible music, lyrics, and the voice of Sarah Brightman in the title song on the original set of CDs still take my breath away.
Do you like musicals? Have you seen this great show?
© 2022 IMRAN™
#PhantomOfTheOpera #news #musicals #Broadway #history #recordbreaking #music #entertainment #song #opera #thingstodo #thevoice #phantom #SarahBrightman #AndrewLloydWebber
The revenge upon her would be sweet, even though it was purely theoretical.
She was the very epitome of every stuck up girl who ever passed judgment on those she refused to view as an equal. And I? I possessed the subtle skill to knock her smirking ego down a few pegs.
**********************************************************************
In late spring of the year 1952, a, bank rented safety deposit lockbox, dusty from many years gone by, was opened. The box had laid unclaimed, the banks records having been destroyed during the Nazi blitzes of World War Two. When its existence became known, an attempt was made to contact the owner, whose family surname was well known in the county. The name turned out to be an alias, no such person ever existed.
Please read the account below to learn more about the person who was believed to have rented the strongbox, as well as what he had placed inside……….
**********
Case Study 84 :
Warning, these are the raw, bare unusual facts as originally recorded. Some names, times, places and some facts have been altered for obvious reasons.
Exerted from the private letters of Mr. Harley Q. circa early 1900’s.
Name: Harly Q. circa 19 …
Subject: Seemingly a rather dexterous scoundrel
Place: A large coastal metropolis
Time: A period of time in late autumn
**************
Harly’s story as related:
The following affair occurred during my younger days when my youth and its’ raw passions were still a strong pull on my reactions! Now, how do I start?
The Blonde dancing in front of me was dressed up like a movie star on a red carpet. Only about nineteen, her slinky gown created the impression of having been poured along her curvy, voluptuous figure, like shimmering liquid satin, fluidly swishing as she swirled about the massive chamber! It all made her appear far older and mature than she obviously thought she was. For some, her looks and personality may have been seen as charming and fun. “But for me personally, the only thing charming about her was the way her abundant sparkling jewellery played with the lights from the large chandeliers which held my upmost command!
But wait, I may be placing the carriage before the steed…….
Allow me to restart:
I had taken a long train into town with the intention of spending a few days relaxing from my previous month of hectic “professional” affairs. Rewarding myself, I located my lodging in a fancy upscale hotel situated across the street from a cavernous Ballroom, checking in for a fortnight. Since my social calendar was unusually light, with only the one high society event, a wedding that I was planning to attend the following Sabbath, at a “chapel” located in one of the cities sprawling suburbs. I spent the first day perusing the cultural calendar of the local papers, and ended up circling one or two events of interest that would be taking place later that month. I than took care of my remaining personal business, locating a reputable bank and renting out one of their lockboxes, before allowing myself some time off from my endeavors.
I than spent the first portion of my week taking in moving picture shows, visiting stores and hanging out at the local museums and antique shoppes. It felt great not worrying about work, although I will did admit that my mind scoped out a few prospects as I was out and about, walking amongst the great masses..
It was mid-week during my stay, while making my way back to the hotel suite, that I decided on a whim to pop into the Ballroom to see what it was all about. I walked into the massive lobby full of activity and wandered about, looking into the massive main ballroom, meeting rooms and various party rooms. As I was leaving I discovered a wall containing posters for all the upcoming events. One poster caught my eye. It advertised the occurrence of a Halloween Ball to take place that very weekend, Tickets still available. The Ball seemed to be the very type of party I was partial to, combining all of my favorite types of affairs, a large gathering frequented by the rich, and everyone attending would be in costume.
Purchasing a pair of tickets (less questions asked) I went out the very next morning scouting various shops in search of my own costume. I finally settled on a highwayman’s attire. It seemed appropriate, and the ribbon style “ masque” over my eyes set off the vacation beard that had been growing quite nicely since my last outing. On my way out to pay for the costume I spied a half off bin. On top of the pile was a phantom of the opera mask. On impulse I added it to my bundle and went to the checkout.
Although I really didn’t have the feeling that this concern would lead to anything, I mean, who wears good jewellery with a costume ? But a little bored by the inactivity, I was none the less growing excited about the venture. I still decided to play it cautious by setting up my usual safe guards, just in case.
A few blocks away from the Ballroom and my hotel suite I found a small chain style motel. Going to the desk I purchased rent for a room for the night, paying in advance. Going into the small room I laid down my purchases and headed back out to the street via a back stairwell, bypassing the registrars chambers. I headed back to my hotel suite to prepare for the evening.
After showering, I changed into a suit, shirt and tie. I then headed out onto the street a couple of hours before the ball was set to begin. Regaining my small quarters in the chain motel I changed into my new persona for the evening’s festivities and left via the same back door I had used earlier. I walked back to the Ballroom, getting my share of looks until I reached my destination, where I blended right in with the other arriving costumed guests.
I followed the stream to the ballroom proper. The main doors leading inside were large, made of a fancy scrolled oak, held open, and guarded by a pair of burly security types.
Apparently which, I soon gathered, was appearing to be the only security present for the evening’s festivities. Capital, I thought, smirking to myself as I joined my fellow guests.
I walk onto a landing, immediately in front of a long bannister guarding a set of wide stairs ascended downwards. I went off to one side, and paused at the railing, starting to survey with eager anticipation, the crowded room below.
All was quite glittering, as large chandeliers set off a spectrum of colors with any crystal or glass it touched. It especially created shimmers as it played off the colorful jewelry the lavishly costumed ladies present were wearing. Several dozen couples were dancing in front of a 17 piece orchestra, a slow dance, and many were dancing almost too close. Many more people were mingling around tables of appetizers. A large, chattering crowd was also gathered at the long oak bar that took up one whole side of the huge room. It was to the bar that I headed, to observe the merry proceedings.
But the Ball, as it turned out, was a bust, so to speak. Although several attempts were made to ask a number of charming (to me) ladies to add me to their dance cards, they all were, unfortunately, full. I should have suspected it would turn out this way, but I still harbored an all too familiar nagging feeling in the back of my head that something was still going to happen, call it intuition if you need to label it. So I nursed my drink, reminiscing about how I had reached this point in my then still young life…..
Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of my favorite poets, once said” Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Long before the the time I discovered this quote I found that my life’s path had already been heading that way.
Without boring anyone with far too many details of my rather complicated youth, I discovered while quite young that I had a certain knack for adeptness at being able to nimbly pick pockets. When I was eighteen ( having graduated high school at seventeen) and out on my own in the world, I found this skill quite useful. But it was at a wedding reception in my early twenties where I became of age, so to speak.
She was older than me, resplendent in a sleek black satin gown with bright white frills, long white satin gloves upon which graced a pair of diamond bracelets. She was very tipsy and would not take no for an answer when asking for a dance partner. She cornered me and before I could catch my wits, we were in a close embrace on the dance floor. I was totally mesmerized by the feel of her warm figure emitting through the sensuous satin gown. My eyes feasted upon the dazzling show put on by her flashy twin bracelets. When the exquisitely long dance ended and she moved on: I was left with a lot of pleasantly mixed feelings, I was also left with my first trophy, the Lady’s appealing necklace of pearl that I had ever so delicately sipped off her throat, using the sleekness of her satin gown to its fullest advantage.
I found myself enthralled with my new “hobby”, and over the course of the next couple of years sought out fancy dress affairs to better learn how to master the art of attracting and dancing with any lady I chose. Along the way I managed to accumulate quite a few trophies for my efforts. I stayed under everyone’s radar by picking out only those females who had been enthusiastically imbibing and by allowing myself to acquire only one trophy per gathering, two if the function was large enough.
During this period I made two discoveries: One was that most women would rather assume their jewel had been merely lost long before ever considering that they had been robbed of it. The second was that most of my collection of pretty trophies carried an equally pretty price, and could quite acceptably be turned into ready cash.
So, by the tender age of twenty two, my life started to lead where there had ever been but few tracks. And thus we finally come to this particular branch of my rather unique, lengthily crooked trail….
So, there I was, on a bar stool, alone and growing more bored by the minute, wishing something interesting would happen. I can remember thinking, as I looked over my fellow partiers about a saying that I had always found to be amusingly true. “If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.” I don’t know who first said it, but brother, the person was right on the money. As I had witnessed for myself time and time again. So I just settled in and watched the amusing antics of the wealthy among the crowd, especially those of …“the girl!’
The girl was a stunning young blonde who was probably just fresh out of high school, with the maturity level of a grade schooler!
I kept catching my eye on her all evening, and once or twice, was sure she caught mine looking. But I was not watching her for the reasons she would think were mine. To her I was just some male face in the crowd, exhibiting his lust. But, the reason my eyes kept traveling upon her was for an entirely different one. I just found nothing to be more annoying than a sulky, immature young whelp who believes she is the apple of everyone’s eye, making an absolute nuisance of herself. She was running around, making silly remarks about people, sometimes to their face. Hanging out with her group of friends whom seemed to be of the same mold as my blonde, one girlfriend was even dressed appropriately enough, as a willowy witch.
The Blonde was dressed up like a movie star on a red carpet. Only about nineteen, her slinky gown created the impression of having been poured along her curvy voluptuous figure, like shimmering liquid satin, fluidly swishing as she bounced about the massive chamber, slipping in and out amongst the guests! It all made her appear far older and mature than she obviously thought she was. For some, her looks and personality may have been seen as charming and fun. “But for me personally, the only thing charming about her was the way her abundant sparkling jewellery played with the lights from the large chandeliers which held my command! But I had decided, as far as I could tell, that she was wearing nothing but cheap rhinestones, which like her, appeared totally fake. But, as they say, appearances can sometimes be deceiving!
This girl was the epitome of every condescending stuck up high society girl that probably everyone has had the misfortune to be the victim of. The girl, who mainly because of her looks, was popular with everyone like her, and had no use for those who, forever what reason they deemed, was ostracized by those of her type. In high school I knew girls like this one, and was a witness, sometime victim, to many a scene of arrogance displayed by girls like her. This one was young, too young to be acting the way she was. Her mannerisms were just a beacon, reaching out out to be taught a lesson.
Wallowing in my boredom, a spark began to kindle into flame deep within my brain. Determined not to let the evening be a total loss, I decided act upon it. My plan being to theoretically get revenge on all those smirking girls who tormented me during high school, by knocking this cocky little scamp down a few pegs, using the best of my abilities..
Now, I’m not one normally to act as judge, jury, and executioner in most situations, in my selected line of work it would be hypocritical. But obviously old wounds’ had been opened, this long haired girl scampering about reminded me of ones whom had ridiculed me, another lifetime, one that I had left behind A long time ago. The opportunity for bittersweet revenge had presented itself for the taking, and the pull to obtain a little solace by using my unique talents was far too great to resist. Talk about mixing pleasure with business I though wickedly to myself, smiling with the inviting thought.
Believe me, this girl would be no innocent victim, and nothing I was about to attempt would leave her with any type of lasting impression, or harm. But if I could cause her at least some considerable discomfort to ruin the rest of her evening out, it would be reward in and of itself! I again eyed her sparkling jewels with all the seriousness I would have given any I was really interested in acquiring. Although she didn’t fit my favorite pre-requisite, she certainly was not drunk on alcohol, she was merely just intoxicated in her own questionable self-esteem, which can work just as well.
I waited until her friends had all apparently deserted her for the evening and leaving her, quite vulnerably, alone. I walked up behind her and tapped her shoulder. She whirled facing me, her eyes going from happy expectations to a glare! “What do you want!? she snipped disdainfully”. Calmly I held her gaze, “I was hoping you would help me win a bet” I asked in what I hoped was my most wily voice. She was curious, but wary of me, “as you should be my pretty miss”, I remember thinking to myself. Her eyes sized me up and down, and I seized the moment to take in her jewels, not at all disappointed in them, but my curiosity was aroused about her necklace, I definitely needed to get a closer look to appraise them! “Why should I help you,” she practically spitted out he words like daggers.
“It’s this way miss, a couple of boys over at the bar bet me 50 quid that I could not get a dance with the prettiest girl here.” “Me?” she asked primping, no I confessed, I picked you, they had wanted me to dance with someone far less pretty, in my opinion.
I don’t think so; she said with a slight hint of hesitation, my card is full. Just for fifteen minutes I implored. That’s all I need (which was the truth), and Ill split my winnings with you on top of it. She finally bought it, hook line, sinker and pound signs in her adorable violet coloured eyes. Fifteen minutes she specified, before, be-grudgingly, allowing me to lead her to the dance floor.
Now, as I took her stiff body in my arms, I was able to satisfy my curiosity about the girl’s necklace, and it caused a dilemma to rear its thought provoking head. While she was busy looking around to make sure none of her friends saw her dancing with me, I allowed myself a couple of precious minutes to think. Her long rhinestone earrings were clip held, and an easy pick. I wanted to try for them both,( I knew how I would do it), and losing a pair of earrings would send a message that they had not just fallen away. Also, I would be suspected by her, which suited me just fine. However, my dilemma was caused by the vixen’s pretty necklace. While the rest of her plentiful jewels were cheap rhinestones as I had suspected the row of diamonds that rippled blazingly around her throat were in fact, the real McCoy. So, which should I go for? The necklace would be profitable and easy but she may just suspect its clasp had broken. The earrings would be just for a sporty trophy, not worth anything but for the knowledge that she would know she had been a victim. Ah, life’s precious little quandaries!
So, I continued with the dance, my partner still rigid, so very true to her character. Then, with five minutes left, I made up my mind on what she would not be leaving the ball still wearing. She was a charmer, this disdainful one. Her stiff figure was warm to the touch, underneath the scintillating slippery gown. The show her sparkling jewels produced was most pleasing to the eye. All in all quite a pretty portrait, a shame it was that I was not allowed to appreciate it. Which was fine by me! I was able to concentrate freely on the task at hand. I looked around, the coast was still clear. Then eyeing for one last time her mesmerizingly swaying long earrings and the flickering diamonds that graced her pretty little throat, I executed my move..
By the time the final five minutes were up I had the selected jewelry in my pocket without even the slightest notice from my unwilling dance partner. Then, fifteen minutes to the second (good thing I had been keeping track of the time) she broke it off. “Thank you”, I said, to which she mumbled, “my money, sir!” I told her I had to collect it, and would meet her by the ladies powder room. I left her waiting, smiling inwardly to myself at the empty space from which the missing jewelry was glaringly gone from her.
She had no doubt that I would be back with her money, was I not merely like one of her household servants, who routinely, without question or error, existed to do her bidding. It would be a major jolt to her system when she realized I was not coming obediently back to her. I had no doubt she would spend some time searching me out for her money once she realized I was not coming back forthwith, with the intention of lecturing me on how I should act around my betters. So I knew that her immediate attention would be elsewhere upon realizing I was tardy, and that it would take quite a bit of time before she recieved a second shock of an altogether different sort.
I left with my prize, walking past the two guards with such a carefree air that even they would never have suspected that I could possibly have been up to any mischief. I made good time getting back to the dingy motel room. Changed out of my costume and back into the shirt and tie I had worn. The highwayman costume, which had served me well, I rolled in a bundle under my arm, I again left by the back stairwell and retraced my earlier steps, whistling, back to the suite in the hotel. Along the way the costume was stuffed unceremoniously into a handy trash bin. My little operation had been a complete success. The evening was after all, not going to be a total loss.
Back in my suite I stowed the newly acquired jewels the girl had worn into one of my many secret hiding spots. There they would be safe until I could convey it to my banks lockbox on Monday. As I finished I, spied the phantom of the opera mask lying discarded on top of a table. A shame it would not be used….
A thought washed over me that would not be denied! Risky, but it would make my evening complete. I quickly shaved off the thin beard, and restyled my hair. I changed from my suit into my tux and tails. Scooping up the phantom mask I headed back to the costume ball. Placing the mask on before entering, I presented my second ticket( not very often did the opportunity arise to use both of the pair of tickets I customarily purchased!) I walked past the two security types without a second glance from them, they absolutely did not recognize me, which meant I had passed that test. My objective now was to try and catch the second half of the show; namely the shimmering liquid satin gowned brats squawking reaction when she first discovered her jewels were gone.
I regained a bar seat just in time.
She did not disappoint!
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Epilogue
When, in the presence of both bank and county officials, the strong box was opened, it was found to contain a fairly large collection of the Kings currency, equaling roughly £500 , and a selection unmatched jewelry, rings, single earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, worth a almost £3.000. Also inside was small a bundle of papers. The papers, old and yellowed, appeared to contain the partial handwritten journals of a certain Mr. Harly Q___ , esq. The papers were examined, but gave no clues to who Harley was, or to his current whereabouts. But the journals presented clues as to Harly’s nature, and as a consequence the money and jewels were considered stolen goods and handed over to the authorities. No one knows what became of them, as for the papers, they were handed over to a relative of one of the government officials, and also, for a period of time, lost.
The journal was rediscovered amongst the personal files of the late Professor Sedwig Dermitt phd, llc.a dex,
Recovered, restored, and now kept in the human behavioral archives of the criminology dept, Chatwick U.
Courtesy of Chatwick University Archives
Eerie surroundings in the Paris Opera House help set the Gothic mood for such works as the "Phantom of the Opera"
"Oh Well, wherever, wherever you are,
Iron Maiden's gonna get you, no matter how far.
See the blood flow watching it shed up above my head.
Iron Maiden wants you for dead."
("Iron Maiden", Iron Maiden, 1980)
('Eddie' by NECA)
Diorama by RK
"Look at your face in the mirror - I am there inside!"
An experiment in practical lighting and some photo editing effects. The Angel of Music (Reprise) scene from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera in LEGO.
RML 2726 (SMK 726F) is photographed at Hyde Park corner with a 19 service for Finsbury Park.
7th November 2002
I didn't plan this to be in black & white or to turn it into a vintage Hollywood Noir type of image.
I hope the star-shaped bokeh doesn't look too modern.
(Texture found here.)
Recall those days,
look back on all those times,
think of the things we'll never do,
there will never be a day when
I won't think of you...
-Phantom of the Opera
This is my favorite song from the soundtrack of Phantom of the Opera. What's yours?
HPPT!
Los Ángeles, California
24-04-1989
Please, do not use this photo without permission
Por Favor no usar esta fotografía sin permiso
"If this idea of putting a Novi Star head on a Monster High Body inspires you to make your own please credit me ;)"
Such an amazing production no matter how many times I’ve seen it in different places, but seeing it on Broadway is the icing on the cake. As a young girl, from the foothills of NC, I never imagined seeing and doing the things I’ve done in my life. That realization hit me last night and I got very emotional. You never know how life will present itself.
Anatomy of a Jewel Thief
Retour à la maison
Chatwick’s Chronicles :
A Persistent Saga
Intro
Anatomy
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The study below was derived from facts uncovered while doing research for the following Doctoral dissertation:
Light to the shadows of their mind:
Criminal tactics and strategies
Criminology Department .
Chatwick University
Case Study 48
Anatomy of a Jewel Thief
Retour à la maison
Chatwick’s Chronicles: A Retelling
I have not always been this way; at one time as a young adult I had morals, principles, no idea that I was going to eventually follow a life’s path that was anything but on the straight and narrow.
Butt, I cannot now make any apologies for what I have become.
To be quite blunt, I cannot do so( apologize that is), because I believe the desire to steal a Lady’s jewels is now as much a part of my make as any of me senses. I quite simply cannot, and choose not, to resist the urge to acquire gems in the methods I have chosen! Any more than one feels, after giving into the urge to smell a pretty rose, the desire to pluck it for themselves , and sees no logical reason to resist!
And, truth be told, it is not so much the actual stealing( I didn’t need the money) that’s me lure, but more the sport it offers. The challenge, much like a chess player, trying to outguess an unwary opponent’s moves. Better yet An unseen Harlequin from an old medieval play, watching from the wings. Observing the game being played with living pieces, sometimes even secretly guiding the pieces with his own hand, waiting to make his own bold move that will hold a queen( or princess) in a certain position on the board, captured long enough to acquire that of hers which has sparkled ever so brightly upon her. That is what I find to be the adventure in it.
It is the obsessive, yes almost erotic , savoring of her jewels, much like one would simply fawn over the paintings of old masters in an art gallery, that is my passion! But, instead of ( some) art galleries, I get me fix by attending the lavish receptions, ballroom dances, and other posh avenues where the frills of the filthy rich can be both admired, appreciated and appraised.
There is just something all so very inviting as one watches the ladies whom haunt these venues dressed up to their silky nines and sporting their flashy lures … A certain panache that makes their mistresses beautiful and desirable beyond all reason, and I think most chaps would agree with me on this in principle, but quite understandably, not necessarily for the same motives that are mine.
And then, once one has had their fill drinking in all that beauty, the glass is put down, for the game is finally afoot;
Contemplating over the situation, the problematic puzzle of challenges that need to be plotted; selection, planning, execution, and undetected escape.
All are phases of my game , all are just as stimulating, just as alluring and invigorating. So much so, that once it has all been carried out, and the prize is in hand and secreted away, the actual aftermath is actually quite anticlimactic. And so, like some pleasant craving, the urge washes over one again with the quite overwhelming feeling to start all anew. Something like a painter with a fresh white canvas, standing back as he imagines what he can make of it, his raw talents on edge, awaiting inspiration, just eager to start with the first brush strokes that which will become his next masterpiece.
So that is what I have become, why I am, my destiny, my desire, my devilishly roguish lot in life.
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Coming next:
How it all began for me :
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Who was that shape in the shadows? Whose is the face in the mask? ~The Phantom of the Opera
Thanks to our friend Michelle for letting us use her 41st story apartment overlooking downtown Austin. The face behind the mask is Leo, back for round 2 of my projects. A beautiful Sunday afternoon, an amazing view and here's what we got.
Strobists:
AB800 camera left 5ft Leo in beauty dish with sock @1/4
1/160 @F/1.4
ISO 100
Nikon 85mm 1.4D (ND8 filter)
Triggered with Cybersync
See Setup
See Black
She had never had interviewed anyone quite like this one, even Angelica!
She was in the twilight of a doctoral thesis that had been in the works for almost three years now. The research she was doing centered on career criminals, trying to pinpoint in her studies of how they operated, trying to establish motives that may have been compelling enough for them to have lived the lives they did. Her conjectures were that by understanding their thought processes, a series of tests could be developed that could be used on younger subjects to determine their rehabilitation attainment perspective.
She had interviewed dozens of career criminals from assorted paths in life. Most of whom had been hardened ,elderly, and had paid their dues, or were in the process of doing so( Prison). It had not been an easy time of it, a rough road of hurt, treachery and deceit, running the gauntlet from muggers, to pickpockets, to burglars, to various other thieves. Gathering information from them, weeding fact from fiction through checking histories, deciding whether or not to use what she had gathered it in her research , testing the results and writing them up! The last 3 years had certainly been a rollercoaster ride, a whirlwind of activity, number crunching, and pages upon pages of notes.
Then, amongst all this controlled chaos of her work He had come into her life.
This One had been different. He had contacted her, never revealing exactly why, or how He had heard of her and her project. She had gone into it blind, not knowing anything about the man, what he did, or really even if it was at all relevant to her research. She had only the subjects assurance, through an intermediary( A Priest), that it would be to her benefit to interview him.
She remembered clearly the evening of their first encounter; it had almost seemed ominous when she and her companion had pulled up to the address given to her. It was an old lime stoned church, with gothic overlays, the stone darkened black with age. All it needed was a group of villagers with torches and pitchforks to make the picture complete, her friend had joked, but she had not found it funny.
She had gone inside with some reservation, it all seemed too much like something out of a film noir bit of theatre. She remembered thinking that thought just before opening one of the old oak doors to the church, one of her earrings had been pulling a wisp of her hair, and she had stopped to fix it. At First they did not see anyone in the candlelit nave of the church. Than from the shadows at the back, a figure detached, approaching them.
Now, since she had already made plans to go out that evening when abruptly informed of the time of meeting she had been trying to coordinate with him, she decided to kill 2 birds with a single stone. She convinced her date to act as chaperone, and then they would leave after the interview for their night out clubbing. She had thought nothing of wearing her favorite party dress to the interview. It was a pretty thing, a russet velvet top and bronze taffeta skirt. She had even worn her good jewelry, gold with inset pearls, wearing her long hair down, but tied back so the long earrings of the set could dangle freely.
Later that evening, as she had gotten ready for bed, she had looked herself over in the long mirror, It was a very pretty dress, she had to admit, and it looked good on her. She started to fix her hair for the night, looking at her naked earlobes, she could still fell her pretty earrings that had been dangling there as she had entered the church. If only she had been more aware of the most peculiar nature of the Man waiting inside the church to be interviewed by her, she thought ruefully , as she had played over in her mind, the events of the evening……!
Begun in Second Empire Paris and finished in the Belle Epoque, this building by Charles Garnier is one of the icons of Paris and probably the world's most famous opera house. The theatricality of the architecture and design of the public spaces made the show outside the audience hall as important as anything going on on stage.