The Joy of Life

French Countryside by Funky Tee is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

The spark that gives us vigor to live in the present moment with a sense of joy is known by the French as Joie de Vivre.

 

Magazine About the Joy of Living

 

Melancholy music suspends us in time, illuminating the hidden cobwebs in our spirit.

One such touching melancholy piece is titled,  Joie de Vivre

The composer is George Davidson, a brilliant musician who grew up off the coast of France on the island of Guernsey. 

He specializes in romantic favorites, French love songs, show tunes, and original compositions.  Please listen and enjoy:

 

 

 

 

 

A Mother’s Heart

 Shirley Jones by Film Star Vintage is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 

A Mother’s Heart:

Shirley Mae Jones

 

She turned down the role of Carol Brady, longing instead to portray a mother like herself:  a working mom with healthy, active children to raise.

She got her wish as Shirley Partridge.

 

Little did she know how the mothering skills she used at home with her own children would expand exponentially: exercised both on and off the film set.

She became not only the coolest Mom in American television history, but also an unforgettable one.

 

She helped guide step-son David Cassidy in handling sudden stardom, gave safe haven to child star Danny Bonaduce, and affectionately claimed child star Suzanne Crough as her own baby girl.

 

She and step-son David Cassidy were unaware of the other auditioning for The Partridge Family until they met on the set. Neither were the directors and casting agents aware of the two being related.

All were happy about it AND the show was a hit.

 

Shaun, Ryan, and Patrick Cassidy, her sons with

Jack Cassidy, have all become successful in the entertainment industry.

She continues to nurture a closely knit bond with each one, and with her thirteen grandchildren.

 

 And, did you know?

 

She sang in her family’s Methodist Church choir from a young age, and also took singing lessons.

 

She won first place as Miss Pittsburgh at age 18, then first runner-up in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant.

 

She was the first and only individual to ever enter into a personal contract with Rodgers and Hammerstein, performing in four of their musicals.

 

Her co-star and early crush, Gordon MacRae, was named as godfather to her firstborn son.

 

She performed an evening of musical works by Gilbert & Sullivan and Rodgers & Hammerstein at The White House in 1957 with husband Jack Cassidy.

 

She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1960 after starring in Elmer Gantry.

 

Original 1960s glossy publicity photograph from

Grapefruit Moon Gallery, published by WorthPoint.com

 

She enjoyed professional and personal relationships with too many greats to mention them all. A few are: Joanne Woodward, Doris Day, Debbie Reynolds, Mary Tyler Moore, Jimmy Stewart, Burt Lancaster, Robert Preston, and Michael Landon.

To conclude this blogpost, honoring living legend Shirley Jones, I share a piece of her lovely music.

She apparently persuaded Gordon MacRae to take the role of Billy Bigelow in the musical, Carousel.

Their ensuing duet from the film is a tender and touching reflection of mutual adoration and respect.

 

 

 

 

Reelin’ in the Years

Sawyer model g view-master viewer.jpg by Junkyardsparkle is marked with CC 1.0

 

Reelin’ in the Years:

How View-Master Set the World at Our Fingertips

A partnership began in 1938. Soon after, the first View-Master model of stereographic images using Kodachrome transparency film was showcased at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City.

 

The creators wanted their device to be a postcard alternative.

This is why many of the earliest reels were scenes from tourist sites such as Carlsbad Caverns and The Grand Canyon.

 

View-Master fulfilled a huge contract with the United States Government for military personnel training reels and viewers.

Then the company bought out its biggest competitor, also gaining  licensing rights to Walt Disney Studios. 

 

These two actions bankrolled View-Master into becoming a worldwide phenomenon – and household favorite of all ages.