Location: The Bridge at 211, 211 Bridge St, Salem, MA
Hours: Hours may vary
Cost: Free
Parking: There is limited parking available at the location. There is also metered street parking throughout Salem.
Highlights: art created by local artists
Tips:
Exhibit is up until October 29
Art and Halloween are the perfect combination for Salem. With a thriving art community and its dark history, the Salem Arts Association, “Faint Of Art” exhibit makes for a great display for this time of the year!
The exhibit, being displayed at the Bridge at 211, consists of art created mostly by people from Salem and the neighboring towns and cities such as Lynn and Peabody.
While there is more than just the Faint Of Art display at the Bridge, the Faint Of Art display is located in the foyer or hallway of the building.
The art mostly consists of mostly paintings, photographs and sketches. Some of the works had a glare reflecting off the glass they were framed in which I couldn’t avoid capturing unfortunately. Consequently, had to take some of these photos from unusual angles to cut down on the shadows and glare.
The first work I noticed was very scary and set the tone for the rest of the exhibit.
Nightmare is by Anne Benecke.. It is an oil on canvas painting.
Frighteningly Friendly by Cindy Allen. Acrylic. (Honorable Mention)
She Laughed by Maura McGonagle. Ink on paper.
Ghost Ship 2 by Rod Parker. Photograph.
I make that face a lot, too. Man In The Mirror by Leo Vincent. Reverse oil painting on paper.
Jenny by Joey Phoenix. Acrylic on canvas.
The Gargoyle by Nancy Barnes. Pastel.
Another one of my favorites. Monsanto by Heather Stewart. Acrylic on canvas.
Gargoyle Palace by Roberta Will. Sumi stick wash, pen, ink.
Raymond Gilbert. Oil on canvas.
Godzilla by Peter Grimshaw. Mixed-media.
The Creature From The Black Lagoon by Peter Grimshaw. Mixed-media.
Anything You Want But Nothing You Need by Raymond Gilbert. Oil on canvas.
Til Death Do Us Part by Carli Kusiolek. Watercolor, pen and ink.
Untitled by Heather Meri Stewart. Pen and ink.
While this concludes the photos from the “Faint Of Art” collection, there were many more works of art displayed in the other rooms at the Bridge at 211 which I will include in my next blog post.
Which one did you like best? Let me know in the comments below!
Parking: there is some metered street parking available (good luck this time of the year) and two main parking garages on Congress St. and Church St. Parking this time of the year is $20 for the day, regardless of how long you stay there if you park in most of the garages and lots in Salem during the month of October. After Halloween it is much more affordable.
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Dog Friendly: Yes
Highlights: historical wharf, pretty views, great place for dogs and children to play
Tips:
great place to catch sunrises and sunsets if you can plan it
don’t forget to look along the side of the trail to the lighthouse for signs with historical info about the wharf
don’t forget to visit the cute shops and dining establishments at nearby Pickering Wharf
Once the site of an active trade port and a thriving market area that included warehouses with goods from around the world, Derby Wharf is just as busy and thriving but not because of its imports and trade.
Built during the 1760’s by Richard Derby, Derby Wharf, the wharf attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year (if not more), each year to learn about its rich history, get some exercise and, mostly, enjoy the views from the wharf.
The first thing you’ll notice at Derby Wharf, after the marker signalling the Salem Maritime National Historic site, is the Pedrick Store House. The Pedrick Store House is a three-story building, constructed around 1770, is a historic rigging and sail loft, which was relocated to the Salem Maritime National Historic Site from Marblehead, MA in 2007. They don’t allow visitors inside. At least they didn’t during my visits to the area.
The ship The Frienship is usually docked next to Pedrick House. But, now, for some reason, it was anchored a little farther away from the wharf.
Perhaps the highlight (no pun intended) of the wharf is Derby Wharf Light.
Built in 1871, Derby Wharf Light was meant to “mark the main channel leading into this anchorage, with the view to its becoming a harbor of refuge which may be safely entered at any time,” The lighthouse is about twelve feet square and about 20 feet high to the top of the cupola.
Derby Light originally used an oil lamp shining through a Fresnel lens (a lens with a large aperture and short focal length). The lighthouse is now solar powered and the light flashes red every six seconds.
During my second visit to the lighthouse this month (I always make a trip there whenever I visit Salem), some of the workers were painting the door of the lighthouse and they were kind enough to let me shoot a photo of the inside from the outside of the lighthouse (visitors are not allowed inside).
Recent archaeological research has shed some light on how the wharf was built. in 1992, the archaeological dig revealed that Derby Wharf was built by laying timbers on the mud flats at low tide, and then filling between the timber walls with dirt and stones. Later in the 19th century, the wharf was encased with large granite blocks.
The main goods which were imported to Salem, often arriving at Derby Wharf, are indigo, textiles (mainly silk), spices (particularly cinnamon), ceramics and decorative arts and artificial flowers.
The pier at Derby Wharf includes a roughly half mile walk to the lighthouse along a flat, wide dirt trail.
Along the path to the lighthouse, there are signs and displays with various fun facts about the history of the wharf and Salem.
Because of its storied past, all of the people who died at sea or on the wharf and the role it played in the slave trade, the Wharf is said to be haunted.
However, Derby Wharf mainly serves as a peaceful place to go for walks, run or ride your bike. It is also a nice place to sit and look out at the views.
Derby Wharf is a great place to take the dog and let him and her play. We have been fortunate to have some really nice weather fecently. So, there have been dogs everywhere these past few weekends in Salem!
Tiro is a 5 year old mixed breed dog. I had a lot of fun photographing him. He was very playful!
Cody is a 9 year old Tri-Color Collie. Look at those colors!
I also saw several dogs while I was walking to and from the wharf.
Bradley is a 4 and a half year old mixed breed. I was so very impressed with how Bradley and all of the other dogs posed for me. There are a lot of distractions in Salem, especially this time of the year. Yet, they all posed wonderfully.
Luna (on the left) is a 6 year old Sato from Puerto Rico. I am very glad Sato is here and not caught up in the aftermath of the hurricane. Grimm (on the right) is a 2 year old American Bulldog.
Date Of Event: October 8, 2017 (usually the second Sunday in October each year)
Location: Derby Square, Salem, MA
Highlights: dogs and other pets dressed in costumes
Salem went to the dogs earlier this month with the 2017 Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade.
In the midst of costumed humans, out-of-towners and frazzled merchants, it’s refreshing to see dogs get into the spirit of the season!
The annual Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade was held earlier this month to let pets and their parents showcase their costumes. In the past, there used to be winners selected. I stayed until the end and I did not see a vote or any awards presented(hence the name “pet parade” and not “contest”). I think it is good, though, since they are all winners to me.
So, without further delay, the dogs of Salem…
Maverick, a 5 month old Black Shepherd, was dressed as a cute little pumpkin.
This cute little bumble bee is Louie, a 6 year old Gordon Setter.
Calling Dr. Wolf…Zirka (Ukranian for “Star”) is a Sheltie with German Shepherd and other breeds. He told me to take two bones and call him in the morning.
Cheers to Raglan, a 7 year old Berne Doodle (Burmese Doodle mix). Bottom’s Up, Raglan!
Oliver (“Oliversauarus”) is a bit of a celebrity. You can find his Instagram page here. He is part Great Dane, part Great Pyrenees, part Labrador, American Staffordshire Terrier. Or, as his mom calls him, a “super mutt.”
Nora, the mummy is a 7 year old chihuahua.
Bismarck, a 10 month old Shepherd, arrested me with his beauty.
Clara The Witch is a 1 year old Morkie.
Freyja the Rabbit is a 7 month old Australian Shepherd.
Shiver my timbers! Tink The Pirate (a rescue dog) is a 2 year old Pointer/Lab mix. Kudos to Tink’s mom who made the costume just before the pet parade!
Seamus The Shark is an 11 year old Black Lab.
Diesel The Lion is a 2 and a half year old French Bulldog.
Lulu, dressed as a caterpillar, is a 1 and a half year old French Bulldog.
Belle is a 10 and a half year old Boxer/Greyhound/Butterfly mix.
Finn (from the show (Adventure Time) is a 1 year old Beagle.
Princess Evy is a 6 month old Newfie.
Keeping with the royalty theme, Prince Cain is a 1 year old Pitt bull.
Sparky, a 2 year old Pomeranian mix made a special delivery at the parade.
Ben the Pumpkin is a 14 year old Yorkie.
Jett (get it…Bennie and the Jetts) is a 4 year old Yorkie.
Murphy the Dinosaur is a 3 year old Beagle.
Blue and Lucy are 9 year old Pomeranians.
Herbert, 6, (in the front of the truck) and Ruby, 14 (In the back of the truck) are Japanese Chins.
Opie is a one and a half year old Mini Daschund.
Lana is a 1 year old Beagle mix.
Thor (on the left is an 11 year old York Terrier. Oreo, (On the right) is a 13 year old Pekingnese.
Riley (on the left), a 15 year old Poodle, was dressed as Bert.
Simon (on the right) , a 7 year old Poodle mix, was dressed as Ernie.
You can see the heads and shirts of them in the first photo.
Dogs weren’t the only pets who came to the pet parade.
Scout is a 5 month old domesticated bat. I mean cat.
Bagheera The Bengal looked cool and chill, even if there were dogs all over. You can find Bagheera’s website here.
The zombies have invaded Salem, MA. And I don’t just mean the ones engrossed with their phone screens wandering through the streets.
No, these zombies are participants in the annual Salem Zombie Walk.
There were zombies of all ages, attire and degrees of scariness. It’s never too early to get into the Halloween spirit and these people were definitely in the spirit of the season!
But, my favorite zombies have to be the families and children who have dressed up for the walk. After all, the families that stalk together stay together.
There’s nothing cuter than “zombie kids!”
The zombies arrived in a variety of different vehicles. “Witch Taxi.” How appropriate. Was her broom broken?
After a quick game of zombie kickball, they all got lined up and began the walk.
Although there weren’t any dogs in the zombie walk (although they are welcome), I did see these cute dogs on the way to the park.
Gatsby is a 1 year and 3 month old Golden Retriever.
Baloo (named after the character in The Jungle Book) is a 5 year old Pomeranian.
These two friends watched the parade from the window of their home. Perhaps I’ll see you next year…if the zombies don’t get you first!
Below are some videos from the festivities at the zombie walk.
Adults $20, seniors (65 and over) $18, students (with ID) $12, Youth (16 and under) and Salem, Mass. residents (with ID) admitted free*. (*Does not apply to youth in student/tour groups.) For late nights, $12 after 5 pm.
*events and some exhibits may be have a separate fee*
Parking: there are several parking garages in Salem ($20 to park the entire day this time of the year), The best one to park at for this exhibit is the Museum Place Mall parking garage on Church St as it is directly across from the Essex St entrance of the mall. You may also find limited street parking if you’re lucky for .75 an hour, 4 hour max.
Highlights: collection of movie posters and memorabilia from vintage sci-fi and horror films, videos and music of Kirk Hammett and Metallica
Tips:
The entrance is on Essex St (not Charter St)
You can view the impressive Yin Yu display at the museum for an extra $6 a person charge. It is worth the extra fee (and you will see why soon)
This exhibit is running until Nov. 26, 2017
Welcome to the third, and final, installment of my photos and observations from the It’s Alive! horror and sc-fi movie collection exhibit.
In case you missed it, you can find part I here and part II here.
Welcome back to my photo blog of the It’s Alive! monster movie memorabilia collection.
AS I mentioned in the previous posts, there is so much more than just posters at this exhibit.
One of the more nostalgic parts of the exhibit are the toys, figures and books. While I never had any of these specific toys or memorabilia growing up, I had similar toys and memorabilia. I had to stop myself from playing with them.
This toy figure is a must for any fish tank.
A replica of what many of the television rooms of that day where millions of families congregated to watch the movie of the week, the late late show or the aforementioned “Creature Double Feature” is set up at the exhibit.
There are also masks from classic movie monsters.
This mask is the mask Lon Chaney wore in the film Bud Abbott & Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). The mask was made by Bud Westmore. It is made out of plaster with hair, glass, paint, sheltac and clay.
This mask is a gill-man prop head from Revenge Of The Creature (1955). It was also created by Bud Westmore. It is made from latex, rubber, paint, metal and glass. A hose was connected to the mask which supplied air to the actor’s mouth and another hose was connected to the gills to make them look as though they were opening and closing. Westmore was also credited with creating the design of the monster in The Creature From The Black Lagoon.
One of the coolest parts of the exhibit is the do-it-yourself monster movie poster machine
Last but certainly not least, there is a collection of Kirk Hammett’s guitars and guitar cases, particularly the cases that are designed in the horror motif.
Videos of Kirk being interviewed and playing the guitar are shown on a loop by his display of guitars. There are also quotes of his that are posted throughout the exhibit.
At the end of the exhibit, near the exit, there is a book visitors can sign, leave feedback and add their own art work!
Dogs aren’t the only four legged cuties in Salem during my visit. Wiggy (The Piggy) is a 1.5 year old Juliana pig. He was very friendly and he even gave his guardian kisses.
I hope you have enjoyed this tour of the It’s Alive! exhibit! Below are some videos of the video clips they show on the walls of the exhibit and one of the figurines on display.
Adults $20, seniors (65 and over) $18, students (with ID) $12, Youth (16 and under) and Salem, Mass. residents (with ID) admitted free*. (*Does not apply to youth in student/tour groups.) For late nights, $12 after 5 pm.
*events and some exhibits may be have a separate fee*
Parking: there are several parking garages in Salem ($20 to park the entire day this time of the year), The best one to park at for this exhibit is the Museum Place Mall parking garage on Church St as it is directly across from the Essex St entrance of the mall. You may also find limited street parking if you’re lucky for .75 an hour, 4 hour max.
Highlights: collection of movie posters and memorabilia from vintage sci-fi and horror films, videos and music of Kirk Hammett and Metallica
Tips:
The entrance is on Essex St (not Charter St)
You can view the impressive Yin Yu display at the museum for an extra $6 a person charge. It is worth the extra fee (and you will see why soon)
This exhibit is running until Nov. 26, 2017
Welcome to the second installment of the It’s Alive! exhibit…if you dare.
There’s no better way to get yourself in the Halloween spirit than being in Salem, MA and viewing horror/sci-fi movie memorabilia. It doesn’t hurt when you have the melodic sounds of Metallica playing in the background.
Now that we’ve covered most of the notorious movie villians (Dracula, Frankenstein, et al), let’s get to view some heroes of these film genres. Just kidding, here’s more villians! Below are some famous stories with a different twist.
In this unusual take on a Shakespeare story, Hamlet (1921) has a more violent twist.
Belle at la Bete (Beauty And The Beast) (1946).
Cats, especially black cats, play a significant role in horror movies, and not usually in a good way.
From left to right: Tomb Of Ligeia (1965) and Mysteriet Svarta Katten (“The Black Cat) (1941)
These movie posters all have a unhealthy relationship (for instance, Norman certainly loved his mom).
Clockwise from the top left: I Married A Monster From Outer Space(1958), Psycho (1960),The Horror Of Party Beach: The Curse Of The Living Corpse (1964), Island Of Lost Souls (1932), The She-Creature (1956) and The Disembodied (1957)
The following movie posters all seem to deal with the demonic or demented
From left to right: Repulsione(1966), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), The Exorcist (1973), Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962)
The following movie posters have to deal with sci-fi and alien monsters
Clockwise from left to right: Barbarella (1968), It Conquered The World (1956), the original art work for The Day Of The Triiffids (1963) The Day Of The Triffids (1962), Doctor X (1932)
These movie posters are for Creatures (people from New England, especially Massachusetts and New Hampshire, may remember from the Creature Double Feature movie shows on channel 56 on television) .
From left to right: King Kong (1933), Mothra (1962), Tarantula! (1955) and (of course) Godzilla, King Of The Monsters! (1956)
These zombie movies came out before the current Walking Dead craze began.
Clockwise from the top left: The Walking Dead (two movie posters from 1936), White Zombie (1932), Zombies: Dawn Of The Dead (1980), Night Of The Living Dead (1968) and I Walked With A Zombie (1943)
The remainder of the movie posters fell into a “miscellaneous” category.
Clockwise from the top left: The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari (1920), The Beast With 1,000,000 Eyes (1955), The Crawling Eye (1958), Metropolis (1927), The Old Dark House (1932), The Whispering Shadow (1933), The Invisible Ray (1948), King Kong Vs. Godzilla (1977), Murders In The Rue Morgue (1932), Mystery Of The Wax Museum (1933), Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman (1958), I Was A Teenage Werewolf (1957), Barnum (Freaks) (1932), The The Return Of Chandu (1934) and Notre Dame de Paris (circa 1924)
Now, lest how you think that is all that is on display at the It’s Alive! exhibit, think again.
There are also a number of statues, figures and oh, well, I don’t want to give it all away straight away.
Similar to the movie posters, the prints and artwork of the movies are displayed in a separate section. Now, these, to me, are the real art of the exhibit. While the movie posters are impressive and cool, the prints have so much detail and you can see the craftsmanship involved. I loved them.
Clockwise from the top left: The Mummy by Basil Gogos, 1969, Lon Chaney as Phantom Of The Opera also by Basil Gogos, 1958, Dracula by Basil Gogos, circa 1970, Vampyr by Erik Aaes, 1932, Dead Of Night by Frank Frazetta, 1964, The Berserker by Frank Frazetta, 1967 and Dracula Meets The Wolfman by Frank Frazetta, 1966
There are also suits and clothing from these vintage movies as well as life-like, real sized statues of movie stars and characters.
The mannequin above is a statue of Bela Lugosi. The mannequin is wwearing the jacket and vest Bela wore in The White Zombie (1932). The figure of Bela Lugosi was made of silicone by Mike Hill in 2010.
What a scary suit! This prop suit was from the movie Invaders From Mars (1953). It was made by Norman Koch, Olive Koenitz and Gene Martin of the Western Costum Company. It is made of plush cotton, zippers, metal, painted papier mache and wool. It is 7 feet in length.
This “saucer-man” figure from Invasion Of The Saucer-Men (1957) was made by Monster Effects in 2011. It is made of paint, metal and fiberglass. Paul Blaisdell created this pop collar on the suit.
Mike Hill created this Boris Karloff figure in 2010 out of silicone. The suit is the same suit Karloff wore in The Black Cat (1934).
Quite a collection, huh? Well, believe it or not, there’s more! Please join for the third and final installment of this series coming soon!
Salem was teeming with dogs during my visit (you’ll soon see why). I saw Bella (on the left), a 1 and a half year old Akita, dressed as Batman and Seger (on the right), a 2 and a half year old Cattle dog mix, dressed as a prisoner after I left the museum.
Below is a video of the It’s Alive! exhibit courtesy of Derek Millen. He’s a pretty funny guy! The video portion of the It’s Alive! exhibit begins at around the 3:13 mark of the video (I have set up the video to start at the It’s Alive section of the video).
Adults $20, seniors (65 and over) $18, students (with ID) $12, Youth (16 and under) and Salem, Mass. residents (with ID) admitted free*. (*Does not apply to youth in student/tour groups.) For late nights, $12 after 5 pm.
*events and some exhibits may be have a separate fee*
Parking: there are several parking garages in Salem ($20 to park the entire day this time of the year), The best one to park at for this exhibit is the Museum Place Mall parking garage on Church St as it is directly across from the Essex St entrance of the mall. You may also find limited street parking if you’re lucky for .75 an hour, 4 hour max.
Highlights: collection of movie posters and memorabilia from vintage sci-fi and horror films, videos and music of Kirk Hammett and Metallica
Tips:
The entrance is on Essex St (not Charter St)
You can view the impressive Yin Yu display at the museum for an extra $6 a person charge. It is worth the extra fee (and you will see why soon)
This exhibit is running until Nov. 26, 2017
Metallica in a museum. Something doesn’t sound right. But, don’t be so quick to judge. They actually go together like big hair and a hot guitar solo. But, don’t wait too long to see it. This exhibit is only being shown until Nov. 26.
Kirk Hammett and the Peabody Essex Museum, located in the heart of Salem, have teamed up to showcase his movie poster collection. Now, before you scoff at this exhibition, you must realize just how vast his collection (there are hundreds and I photographed them all). But his collection goes far beyond just movie posters. His collection includes movie props, life size figures and oh well I don’t want to give it all away just now. Suffice it to say, I want a room like this in my next home!
One of the truly interesting aspects of the exhibit is the stories behind the memorabilia. There are movie posters which were either thrown out, papered over or left behind by theater owners or production companies with little or no concept they may be sought after items so many years later. There are cheaply made movie props which are very valuable now. And there are the games and action figures most of our moms threw out when we outgrew them but are very valuable either sentimentally or monetarily. If only I held on to those Luke Skywalker figures. I even cut the hand off one so it would be more “life like” (spoiler alert).
For better or worse, depending on your point of view, you’ll be hard pressed to find a movie poster from anytime after two very successful movies from the late 1970’s. I thought it was great being a fan of older horror movies. Plus, I also found out about some movies I wasn’t aware of that I can check out now. I think this will be the case for most visitors at this exhibit which is a great thing when you think about it.
There’s also the music and some of his guitar collection. A video of Kirk explaining hs collection and samples of his music playing on a loop while you admire his sci-fi and horror movie memorabilia give the exhibit just the right feel. The music complements the memorabilia perfectly. Hearing Kirk’s riffs on For Whom The Bell Tolls…as you view the assortment of zombies, vampires and other other worldly beings is the pure bliss. One thing I noticed was how they seemed to re-use the same actors for horror films, even if it was for different movie monsters. Talk about being typecast. Poor Boris Karloff!
Metallica and movie posters equal a very happy Nomad indeed.
A couple of things. Firstly, I wanted to post this on Friday the 13th for obvious reasons. But, as I am typing this, it does not look like I will make that deadline. And, secondly, due to the vast amount of posters and memorabilia, I am going to have to break this post into two or possibly three parts.
The movie posters are hung with care by category. such as “the undead”
and darker fiction (this move scared the hell out of me!)
You would have to try very hard to not notice the advertisements for the exhibit. Of course, I couldn’t resist asking one of the staff there, “So, do you have an ‘It’s Alive!’ exhibit?” The sarcasm was not lost on her.
Upon entering the exhibit, you are greeted with a short clip of Nosferatu
You are then directed to the rest of the exhibit, where another sign states my three favorite words, yes, “photography is encouraged.” Were you expecting something else? OK, “dinner is served” is a close second.
The exhibit begins with a movie prop called a Zapatron made out of aluminum, iron, bakelite, paper, paint and casein-formaldehyde resin by Kenneth Strickfaden.
The movie poster collection begins appropriately enough with one of the most recognizable and perhaps even beloved characters, Frankenstein and the various offshoots from that movie franchise.
Frankenstein, 1931. This three sheet poster was discovered in the boarded over projection booth of a remodeled theater. It eventually found its way into Kirk’s hands.
This is another poster for the 1931 Frankenstein.
Yet another movie poster for the 1931 Frankenstein film.
Although the exhibit was set up well, it’s impossible to not have some reflections and lighting that may hit the posters in an unflattering way and , of course, using a flash under these circumstances would actually make it worse. I also had to take some photos from a certain angle that minimized glare and reflections from showing. So, it did make some of the photography challenging and time consuming as I had to check each image on my screen before I moved on to the next poster. But, I still loved doing this shoot!
In the interest of saving space and time, I am going to try to combine the photos from each genre into groups of photos. The remaining photos from the Frankenstein group are popular offshoots of the Frankenstein movie franchise like The Bride Of Frankenstein.
Clockwise from the top left: The Bride Of Frankenstein (three posters from 1935), Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman (1942), Abbot And Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Son Of Frankenstein (two posters from 1939) and Frankenstein (1931)
The next group of movie posters were related to the Mummy movies. Much like the Frankenstein franchise, mummy movies have been a staple of any horror fan’s collection.
Going clockwise from the top left: The Mummy (two posters from 1932), the Swedish release of The Mummy titled Mumien Vaknar (1933), The Ghoul (1933) and The Mummy’s Tomb (1942).
Of course, what would a movie monster memorabilia collection be without Dracula and his various copycats or copy bats? Sorry. I couldn’t resist.
Clockwise from top left: Nosferatu (circa 1931), Dracula (three posters from 1931), Blacula (1972), Mark Of The Vampire (1935) and Dracula’s Daughter (two movie posters from 1936).
Werewolves have always been a mainstay of the horror genre. This is no different when it comes to movie poster collections.
Werewolf Of London (both from 1935)
These films are not related but I grouped them together for the sake of saving space and because the posters looked similar. As a side note, I’ve been described as being like the poster on the right from time to time. OK, I’ve said too much.
London After Midnight (1927) and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1932)
These two movie posters are from movies that were based on two famous Edgar Allen Poe books.
From left to right: The Raven (1935) and The Black Cat (two movie posters from 1934)
Aliens and outer space are another common theme in this exhibit. Me thinks Kirk likes his sci-fi.
Clockwise from the top left: Invaders From Mars (1953), The Day The Earth Stood Still (1953), Invasion Of The Saucer Men (1957), Alien (1979), Star Wars (1977), The Angry Red Planet (1960), The War Of The Worlds (1953) and When Worlds Collide (1951)
Creatures, particularly creatures from under the sea, are also prominently displayed at this exhibit.
From left to right: Creature From The Black Lagoon” (1954), It Came From Beneath The Sea (1955) , Monster From The Ocean Floor (1954).
There are also some posters of explorers who experience some adversity in different ways.
From left to right: Fantastic Voyage (1966) and II 7 Viaggio di Sinbad (The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad) (1959)
Sometimes I wish I could be this guy.
From left to right: The Invisible Man (two movie posters from 1933) and The Invisible Ray (1936).
While dogs are not allowed in the museum (with the possible exception of service dogs), I did see Churchill, a 2 year old Great Pyreneese on the way to my car.
Well, I hope I have whet your appetite for more movie posters and maybe a few other types of memorabilia which I will include in part II of this movie poster series.
Thank you for reading and I’ll see you soon…hopefully!
Below is a video of the It’s Alive! movie poster kick off event with a discussion of the collection led by Kirk Hammett. (video courtesy of Radio Of Horror)
Location: 310 1/2 Essex Street, Salem, MA (about 10 minutes north of Boston, MA)
Hours: Open March 15-November 15, daily 10am-5pm
Call for Winter Hours / Extended Hours in October
Cost:
Guided House Tour
Adult $10.25 Senior $ 8.25 Child (7-14) $ 6.25 Self-guided House Tour
Adult $8.25 Senior$6.25 Child (6-14) $4.25 Children Under 6 are free
Parking: there is street parking (75 cents for a maximum of 4 hours) if you get there early. Otherwise, there are several parking lots and garages that charge $20 for the entire day of parking. Generally, I park at the Museum Place Mall at Church St since it is closest to all of the attractions in Salem and within walking distance to the Witch House
Handicapped Accessible: No
Dog Friendly: No, although service dogs may be allowed
Highlights: historical artifacts, knowledgeable staff, actual home of “with hunter” Judge Johnathan Corwin
Tips:
The entrance is in the rear of the building (off North St)
“It’s October”, a passerby yelped to a disgruntled driver as he barely squeezed his sedan into the last available street parking spot.
Yup, it’s that time of the year again in Salem, Mass.
Although Salem has proven itself to be so much more than just an autumn destination, fall is still Salem’s biggest time of the year.
It’s unfortunate much of the draw to Salem is related t the witch hunt of 1692. However, it does provide a learning opportunity and it also gives us a chance to remember the past in the hopes it won’t happen again.
One of the best places to get a no frills education about the Salem Witch Trials is the Witch House on Essex St., just one mile away from the actual hanging spot of these accused witches.
The last standing building directly related to the Salem Witch Trials, the Witch House has a dark, storied history.
As I walked around the house I couldn’t help but think of the innocent people who had been tortured into confessing and the backdoor deals that were made to avoid being accused or convicted of being a witch. In this very room, John and Elizabeth’s (his wife) parlor or best room, people’s fates were sealed. In total, 24 people would either be hung (19 in total), 1 person was pressed to death and 4 people died in prison.
The home was bought in 1675 by Corwin, a local magistrate, and his wife Elizabeth (Gibbs). Elizabeth was a wealthy widow having been previously married to Robert Gibbs. They would have 10 children together. Six of their children would die before the age of 25. Only 2 children lived long enough to have families of their own.
The other room on the first floor showcases many of the tools and herbs used during that time. As you can see in some of the photos, each historical artifact has a sign or placard next to it with an explanation or story behind the piece being displayed.
The Witch House has six rooms (if you count the foyer areas on two floors. While not all of the items in the house are directly from that time, many of the items in the building closely mimic the items of that era.
These chairs, for instance, are very similar to the chairs and tables used that time. In fact, the 5 chairs at this table are symbolic of the 5 judges (out of 9) needed to convict someone of being a witch at that time.
On the table are copies of the pages of journals, diaries and court records of the inquisitions and court proceedings.
Judge Johnathan Corwin, who resided here, was said to have questioned the accused at times using extreme measures such as tying people’s arms behind their backs to a chair similar to this one. It forced more than one innocent person to confess.
The windows and furniture featured in the house are very well crafted.
In the first room of the first floor there is a sealed off area that shows the inside of the walls. The architecture of that day may be outdated but it still holds up to this day.
Up a short, narrow, windy staircase, the second floor has two bedrooms.
In one of the rooms sits a machine for sewing or knitting.
This doll, also known as a poppet, which was found in the wall of Bridget Bishop’s home, was said to have been a voodoo doll. The catch is that most people at that time left these types of dolls in their walls as a sign of good luck. Instead, In Bridget’s case, it was said to have been used to curse others. Cute little fella, isn’t he?
Dogs are not allowed in the Witch House (exceptions may be made for service dogs). But, I met Abita, a 3 year old Lab mix, on my way to the house. Abita was adopted from the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA. What a cutie.
The video below comes courtesy of samuelaschak. It gives a more detailed historical background of the building and the historical highlights of the Corwin family and Salem.
Highlights: Verses from people’s favorites poems written in chalk on the grounds of Old Salem Town Hall
Chalk it up to Salem. Or, more accurately, chalk it up to poetry.
As part of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival, Salem gave its visitors the opportunity to write down some lines from their favorites poems. Or, to add some of their own. It’s just another example of the artistic flair of the people who flock to the artistic hub just north of Boston.
Perhaps you’re an Emily Dickinson fan, or maybe Adrienne Rich is more your speed. Or, maybe you prefer poems or words of your own. Whatever you’re tastes, last weekend (May 5-7), you had the opportunity to write your favorite lines of poetry on the paved path leading to the Old Salem Town Hall.
What was so nice about the poems written in chalk was some of the poems were not written by popular poets. So, some of the visitors may have been introduced to poets they were not aware of.
No part of the area was safe from the words of the poets, not even the walls of the old town hall.
While it is not clear if this is going to be an annual event, I am sure there will be more artistic events in Salem in the hear future.
Is there a line of poetry or work from a certain poet you would have written in chalk at Old Salem Town Hall?
Highlights: DrainSmart Mural Project, sights and sounds of Salem
Think twice before you drop that seemingly harmless piece of paper on the sidewalk. That is what the DrainSmart murals located throughout the city of Salem, MA, seem to be saying.
The DrainSmart Program was created to help create awareness of how littering causes so much pollution in our waters. As the murals state, everything that enters the sewers drains to the ocean.
There were 12 murals planned for the city. I photographed 5 of the best looking works. Unfortunately, I could not locate some of the others or the others I did find had been worn away by pedestrian foot traffic and the elements.
Click here to see what they were supposed to look like.
The DrainSmart murals weren’t the only works of art or signs in the area.
Halloween isn’t the only time people dress up in Salem. The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers held a Regency Dance Weekend in Salem, MA, while I was visiting. The participants all wore attire that represented the time they were recreating.
Whenever I am in Salem, I am always taken by the historical significance and the architecture of the area. This building, the Witch House, is the last standing structure with direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials. In this house suspected witches and other people who were considered witnesses were tortured and threatened to confess to participating in witchcraft or witnessing witches.
It’s also fun just walking around and checking out the sights and sounds of Salem, particularly on such a pleasant spring day. They are building a hotel on Essex St and I noticed on the side of this building an old sign for Pickman Place.
It’s always refreshing for me to see buildings that have stood the test of time and still stand today, even if they may have different tenants. I may have an unhealthy attachment to historical buildings and landmarks. They bind us together. In a world that is ever changing and making way for new and better, it’s important to keep our history close at hand as well. Imagine all of the different people who have walked those same streets, enjoyed the very same entertainers we have. These streets could tell stories.
This side street where the Salem Witch Trials Memorial stands will be packed shoulder to shoulder in a mere 200 days. On this day it was desolate.
As was the mall. There is something about the Museum Mall in Salem that seems creepy and kind of scary when there’s not a crowd there.
There were also musicians out in the warm weather. You might not recognize the second musician. He usually plays his instrument with a mask at the very same location during the Halloween season.
There were also some very cute dogs out in Salem during my visit.
Mojo is a 4 year old Airedale and Pointer rescue from Tennessee.
Duke is a 9 month old Hungarian Vizsla. I wonder if he’s related to Dennis?
New England Nomad 