Archive for November, 2008
Poe Money, Poe Problems — The Edgar Allen Poe House in Baltimore
Many moons ago (mid-September to be exact), Lain and I traveled to Baltimore to be overzealous about The Wire, visit the Edgar Allen Poe House, and see friends, in that order.
Due to, ahem, technical difficulties, we didn’t have the pictures from our visit until now.
So first, let’s talk about The Wire, shall we? Because everyone loves it, I won’t take up space here telling you that it was quite possibly the best show on television and that your career as a television viewer is incomplete without it. That would be silly.
I will tell you this–The Wire focuses on the drug trade in Baltimore, and the set is Baltimore itself. The projects, to be exact.
Which is exactly where the Poe House is!
This leads to the Poe House’s voicemail being both helpful and unintentionally hilarious. Like, amazing. Here, I’ll sum it up for you:
Do not, by absolutely any means, walk to the Poe House! No, seriously, don’t. We know you think you can, but you cannot. Stop it.
It’s important to note the message is about 4 (wonderful) minutes long.
The Poe House is the very small home where Edgar Allen Poe lived the last years of his life, when he was ill, broke, and generally considered a wack-job. Very few original artifacts remain in the home.
The Director of the Poe House has a fierce loyalty to “Eddie,” but a possibly broken spirit as a result. The phone message isn’t the only evidence. Here, look at the Caution sign.
We too wish we could tell some people to control their durn kids, but to print and frame it? Incredible.
This sheet is your guide as you tour the house. I suspect it exists because the Director would have punched the next person who asked a dumb question.
There’s plenty of evidence of how he got to be this way, conveniently put into a video montage for visitors!
I’ve truly never seen someone taunted on television so many times, over so many years. If ever there was a good sport, it’s this Director.
This relief of Edgar Allen Poe is a good visual for the museum, I think.
Like the Wren’s Nest, the Poe House has seen good times and some really not so good times. This bad boy was originally put outside, after a couple other reliefs were stolen. Then it was damaged by environmental factors like acid rain.
Here are some framed copies of Gustave Doré’s famous illustrations of Poe’s The Raven. The Wren’s Nest also has a copy, since Joel Chandler Harris himself owned the very same version!
My favorite part of the house was the stairway to the third floor. It is so narrow, steep, and angled that it was truly difficult to turn around.
Here’s what it looks like upstairs.
Though it’s hard to tell in this picture, the ceiling is about 4 feet tall and the room is about 7 feet wide. If I could have stooped in there for a visual, I would have, but you weren’t allowed in the room.
So! There ends our tour of the Poe House, which was really a discussion of its war-weary Director and where The Wire was possibly filmed. Journalism at its finest.
Next time you’re in Baltimore, visit the Poe House. But listen to the voicemail first. It’s worth it.
Categories: Birds of a feather, Failed Attempts at Looking Reputable, House Museums, Nonprofit Management, Really?, This is awkward |
Wren’s Nest Housekeeping
- Today I obtained a building permit from the good people down at Atlanta City Hall. I only had to see nine different people to get it! Work on the Wren’s Nest will begin Monday.
- Our house museum road trip from Atlanta to Salt Lake City begins Sunday. Updates will be posted here starting Monday. If you don’t hear from me, that just means that the part of America I’m in doesn’t have internet.
- Next week the Wren’s Nest will be closed on Thanksgiving, but open during all other regular hours. Miss Woodie will be telling stories on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
- We just sent out our “This Close to Winter” Quarterly e-Newsletter. If you didn’t get it, just shoot me an email. I’ll put you on the list.
Categories: Atlanta, Road Trips, Storytelling |
The Pace Publishing Company and the Wren’s Nest Publishing Company
This morning I gave a talk at my high school about the Wren’s Nest Publishing Company.
I was a little nervous. I’ve never spoken in front of that big an audience before. Plus, they were way outside my usual target demographic (namely: Stately Dames, ages 72 – 86).
To make the Wren’s Nest a little more relevant to the students of Pace Academy, I brought out the big guns. My published works from the Pace Publishing Company, circa 1989, were included in the presentation.
I’ve included one of the better works below. Enjoy.
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(The End)
If this does not inspire students to contribute to the Wren’s Nest Publishing Company, I do not know what will.
Categories: Baby Pictures, Birds of a feather, Historic Preservation, Marketing Tricks, Shameless Promotion, Storytelling, Wren's Nest Publishing Co. |
Quasi Famous Visitors and Wacky Phone Calls
Three items of note from today at the Wren’s Nest–
Dino Brugioni, former senior CIA official and History Channel regular, visited the Wren’s Nest today.
Not only did he have a lot of interesting stuff to say, but he also boasts a more extensive Wikipedia article than Joel Chandler Harris.
…..
Then, I got a weird phone call:
LAIN: Good afternoon, the Wren’s Nest!
GRANDMOTHER: Hi, I’m a grandmother.
LAIN: Okay.
GRANDMOTHER: And I would like you to pay my electric bill.
LAIN: (scrambling for an answer) That’s …not really what we do here.
GRANDMOTHER: (sounding dignified) Yes, but I’m a grandmother. I’m raising my grandchildren. I just need some help with my electrical bill.
LAIN: I’m sorry, but we’re a house museum. A non-profit house museum, and we’re hurting as well.
GRANDMOTHER: You don’t understand. I’m a grandmother.
LAIN: Ma’am?
GRANDMOTHER: (hangs up)
…..
Then, I dialed a wrong number and got this message:
ANSWERING MACHINE: This is about pimpin’! And that means money! And if you ain’t got no money, you ain’t got no businesses with this pimp. So, check your pockets. Got money? Get pimpin’.
BEEP.
Categories: Big Money No Whammies |
Song of the South 62nd Anniversary — Your Questions Answered
Out of the many things we do not have in this museum, Song of the South is the one we field the most questions about.
In honor of both Song of the South’s birthday (release date: November 12th, 1946) and my mom’s birthday (release date: undisclosed) here are some frequently asked questions and our typical answers.
Do you sell Song of the South?
Why no, no we do not. In fact, no one has been selling Song of the South since it’s never been released for home consumption in the United States.
Song of the South is really racist, right? Is that why it’s banned?
Well, first of all, it’s not banned. It’s just not distributed in the US. It was a different story over in Great Britain and Asia until 2001. And to answer your other question, well… how about you read this enlightened opinion and let me know what you think.
But Disney doesn’t have anything to do with the movie now, right?
Aside for their most popular amusement park attraction, Splash Mountain, nope!
Was Joel Chandler Harris pleased with what they did with his stories?
Tough to say, since JCH passed away in 1908, 38 years before the movie’s release.
Well, what about his family?
They sold a handful of stories to Disney in 1939 for $10,000. On the one hand, yay! $10,000! Renewed interest! On the other, there was probably some self-kicking later.
Do y’all have a relationship with Disney now?
See: self-kicking later. Not even a few royalties, guys? Please?
No, but really: you guys can sell it to me, right?
Not even a little. Try eBay! Or piece together a few YouTube clips–
Anything we missed? Use the comments!
Related–
- GPB’s radio show, Georgia Gazette. Tonight Lain will be on it, discussing Song of the South! It airs at 6 pm, but don’t fret–you can download it on iTunes, too.
- “In Search of Uncle Remus.” The AJC covered the 60th anniversary of Song of the South. We’re featured prominently.
Categories: Brer Rabbit, Good Questions, Joel Chandler Harris, Song of the South, Uncle Remus |
Victorian Christmas at the Wren’s Nest – Come On Over!
Because we here at the Wren’s Nest know holiday schedules fill up fast, let us formally invite you to the most Victorian Christmas in town!
Need convincing? Here’s what lies in store for you on Sunday, December 7th between 12 and 4pm:
- Storytelling!
- Treats!
- Activities for children!
- Mrs. Shakespeare’s famous hot chocolate!
- Tours of the home!
- (163rd) Birthday Cake!
And best of all, it’s free! Even the treats.
Here are some pictures from last year to prove I’m not lying about the treats.
Categories: Atlanta, Birthdays, Events, Joel Chandler Harris, Storytelling, Victorian Christmas, West End |
Brer Rabbit in New York Times Sunday Crossword — November 9, 2008
45 Across, 11 Letters:
Warning sign outside of Br’er Rabbit’s home?
If you’ve got a guess at the answer, leave it in the comments. I’ll give you a few days before I post the answer.
Thanks to Wren’s Nest Theme Song singer-songwriter Jamie for the tip. You can thank him too by picking up a new Cold Weather Pocket Field Guide from the Duck and Herring Company. Our very own Program Director Amelia is published in this one, so you know it’s funny.
Categories: Brer Rabbit, Challenges!, Good Questions, Not As Cruel Games |
Old Timey Ads and Joel Chandler Harris’ Fear of Electricity
Today Boing Boing led me to this delightful Edison Electric ad.
Man, I love old-timey things. If only I could find a job that supported my interests! Oh well.
What I especially love about this are the reassurances in the ad. Electricity was a very new and very foreign thing in the 19th century, after all, and not everyone was ready to drink the Kool-Aid. Or, since Kool-Aid didn’t exist, toddies.
Believe it or not, Mr. Joel Chandler Harris himself was one of the wary.
Above is the gasolier in the West Parlor. Our gasoliers – aka gas chandeliers – have gas lamps on top and electric fixtures on the bottom, making them a unique artifact and representing a very specific slice of history.
Now, to be fair, Harris didn’t purchase these (for every room of the house) simply because he thought this electricity business was a fad. When electricity was first offered, it only came in during certain hours of the day, and no one wanted to be left in the dark after the electric company called it a day.
Logic-based, that’s our guy.
Or… not. You see, Harris was also “cautious” about riding a streetcar while wearing a wristwatch, convinced as he was that these two would combine to make him explode. Or stop time. Or create a black hole. We’re not really sure.
So what does a well-respected man do to hide his crazy? Why, he buys identical wrist watches and builds a secret drawer in his desk, of course.
That way Harris could slip off his watch before boarding the dreaded streetcar, and surreptitiously replace it once he got to work.
Don’t worry, Mr. Harris. Your secret is safe with me.
Categories: Cruel Games, Failed Attempts at Looking Reputable, Future: fact or fiction, Joel Chandler Harris, Technological Advances, Trickery, What Would JCH Do? |
New and Improved Wren’s Nest Visitor Survey
Things are about to get seriously exciting here, folks. Why? We have a new Visitor’s Survey!
Behold–
The reasons we wanted a new survey are long and varied (untrue), but here’s what our logic boiled down to:
- We wanted something that looked a tad more professional than our previous photocopied sheet. Thanks Lampe-Farley! Serious format and card stock = serious comments, we hope.
- I like small things, and this is 5″ x 8″! 9″ x 11″ was just ungainly.
- Nobody, and I mean nobody, used our online survey.
We’re also lucky enough to have a friend of Lain’s making a sweet replica of the Wren’s Nest mailbox for the surveys.
Here is Lain’s totally awesome sketch. He claims to have made it without a ruler, but I’m skeptical.
(The little ledge/pocket/survey holder on the side was my idea.)
We felt guests shouldn’t have to hand their surveys back to the very people they were evaluating, and have been on the hunt for a suitable receptacle for a while. This idea was just gimmicky enough to do the trick.
So, what do you think?
Brer Buick — The Newest Addition to the Wren’s Nest Team
On Sunday I drove down to Redbone, GA. Why, you ask?
Why, to pick up Brer Buick, a gift from a donor and the latest member of the Wren’s Nest Team.
Brer Buick is a gold 2000 Regal LS with 131,000 miles and a little dent near the rear wheel on the passenger side. It looks a little something like this–
Now, I did not ask for a car. In fact, I didn’t really do anything other than wear a “Protect the Nest” shirt, which is certainly open to interpretation. And I guess someone thought that they could help by giving us a car. Sure, why not!
But what do we do with it?
- Keep the car for the Wren’s Nest staff and (maybe) storytellers.
- Sell the car and pocket the cash for the Wren’s Nest.
- Auction the car to the highest bidder (and somehow inspire the competition to overpay instead of hunt for a bargain, as Seth Godin suggests).
- Decorate the car like one of those crazy art cars.
- Put a “Brer Rabbit for Atlanta’s Mascot” bumper sticker on it and let it rot in the driveway.
#5 would be the easiest, but probably the least helpful. Any other bright ideas?
Further, how do I enter this into my donor database? Using the Blue Book Value?
Categories: Good Questions, Road Trips, What Would JCH Do? |