That Green Dress

About that green wraparound dress Cece wears in Radio Girl, is wearing green really thought to be bad luck in show business?

20130826-171856.jpg

Dress patterns, June, 1938

It certainly is for some stage actors. The origins of this superstition are murky at best, with some saying it has to do with the death of actor/playwright Moliere; others, that it comes from outdoor stage productions where the backdrop of greenery would make an actor in a green costume blend in; and still others believe it’s because of the greenish “limelights” once used at the edge of the stage, which would wash out any actor’s green ensemble.

More theatrical superstitions.

====================
Photo of CarolCarol Brendler is the author of the young adult novel RADIO GIRL (Holiday House) September 5, 2013.
Coming 2014: A picture book, NOT VERY SCARY, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, from FSG.
Also by Carol Brendler: WINNIE FINN, WORM FARMER (FSG, 2009) a picture book illustrated by Ard Hoyt.

Here’s Me, Being Interviewed

1 Comment

In the video below, talented and successful author Trent Reedy interviews moi about RADIO GIRL. I would set this video up more for you, but I think a tour de force such as this will speak for itself:

Trent’s next book, a novel for young adults titled DIVIDED WE FALL, comes out in January, 2014. Write that down.

====================
Photo of CarolCarol Brendler is the author of the young adult novel RADIO GIRL (Holiday House) September 5, 2013.
Coming 2014: A picture book, NOT VERY SCARY, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, from FSG.
Also by Carol Brendler: WINNIE FINN, WORM FARMER (FSG, 2009) a picture book illustrated by Ard Hoyt.

Orson Welles, the Magician

2 Comments

quote leftEvery true artist must, in his own way, be a magician, a charlatan.quote right~~ Orson Welles

In Radio Girl, Orson Welles does a magic trick for Cecelia. While this scene is a bit of fiction, Mr. Welles actually did enjoy performing magic tricks in real life, and from what I’ve read he was very good at it.

tumblr_m7su0zuP6A1qzdvhio1_1280

Orson “levitates” actress and comedienne Lucille Ball

He even once began a film project about magic and magicians. Here’s more about that and Orson’s love of magic from an interview in the Film Journal archives.