LIVING DOLLS

The mannequins of Paris exhibit less-than-model behavior.

The French word “mannequins” usually means models, so Mannequins de Paris is not about lifeless mannequins, but actual living models. In particular, it’s about the models at a haute couture fashion house in Paris who decide to break up by any means necessary the affair between the house’s head designer and a beautiful singer from Cannes. Their goal is to save the designer’s marriage, because he co-owns the house with his high powered wife, and a split could bring disaster for the models. We didn’t actually read the book, though. We know what happens because it’s a novelization of the screenplay from the 1956 film of the same name, also written by François Campaux. We may check that out later. It sounds positively Bardotesque, though it stars Madeleine Robinson, Ivan Desny, and Mischa Auer. Mainly, though, we wanted to highlight this cool cover art by André Bertrand. He’s a new name for us, but one we’ll keep watch for in the future.

France, Paris, Mannequins de Paris, François Campaux, André Betrand, Madeleine Robinson, Ivan Desny, and Mischa Auer, cover art, literature

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HISTORY REWIND

The headlines that mattered yesteryear.

October 5

1945—Hollywood Black Friday

A six month strike by Hollywood set decorators becomes a riot at the gates of Warner Brothers Studios when strikers and replacement workers clash. The event helps bring about the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act, which, among other things, prohibits unions from contributing to political campaigns and requires union leaders to affirm they are not supporters of the Communist Party.

October 4

1957—Sputnik Circles Earth

The Soviet Union launches the satellite Sputnik I, which becomes the first artificial object to orbit the Earth. It orbits for two months and provides valuable information about the density of the upper atmosphere. It also panics the United States into a space race that eventually culminates in the U.S. moon landing.

October 4

1970—Janis Joplin Overdoses

American blues singer Janis Joplin is found dead on the floor of her motel room in Los Angeles. The cause of death is determined to be an overdose of heroin, possibly combined with the effects of alcohol.

October 3

1908—Pravda Founded

The newspaper Pravda is founded by Leon Trotsky, Adolph Joffe, Matvey Skobelev and other Russian exiles living in Vienna. The name means “truth” and the paper serves as an official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party between 1912 and 1991.

October 3

1957—Ferlinghetti Wins Obscenity Case

An obscenity trial brought against Lawrence Ferlinghetti, owner of the counterculture City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, reaches its conclusion when Judge Clayton Horn rules that Allen Ginsberg’s poetry collection Howl is not obscene.

October 3

1995—Simpson Acquitted

After a long trial watched by millions of people worldwide, former football star O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. Simpson subsequently loses a civil suit and is ordered to pay millions in damages.

October 2

1919—Wilson Suffers Stroke

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson suffers a massive stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed. He is confined to bed for weeks, but eventually resumes his duties, though his participation is little more than perfunctory. Wilson remains disabled throughout the remainder of his term in office, and the rest of his life.