Geppetto the Marionette

 

by Glen L. Bledsoe

There is a little known unfinished first draft manuscript of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi in which Geppetto is turned into a wooden puppet by a wicked witch. Pinocchio, his flesh and blood son, spends endless adventures trying to find and free him. The novel was never completed (or translated into English). Eventually Carlo decided to reverse roles. Probably a good idea. Disney would have had a tough time marketing an old man marionette as a lovable cartoon character. Guillermo del Toro would have made a masterpiece of it, though.

Rosemary & Julian

 

by Glen L. Bledsoe 

This image depicts the moment from William Hackshear’s famous play “Rosemary & Julian” in which Rosemary realizes what a cheapskate Julian is when he pinches off a flower from a flowerpot on the porch of her parent’s house and gives it to her for her 18th birthday. (Hint to Julian: She’s expecting an engagement ring.) We all relish the moment when she decides to elope with Phil (not pictured). 

The Repainter Strikes Again!

 

by Glen L. Bledsoe 

Recently released on parole Emil Bruzek has apparently broken into the Art Museum and Gift Shoppe of Paris (Illinois) to repaint “Smiling Blond” by famed photorealist painter Clark Near. The portrait of personality Denise Deny famed for her portrayal of Benita Poole in the screen adaptation of “Benjie the Acrobat” video game and its successive sequels is now undergoing restoration under the skillful eye of Jonathan James, the well-known art restorer who plays a detective in the TV series “Casey Benjamin, Supernatural Investigator.” 

The Master Milliner

 

by Glen L. Bledsoe 

"The Master Milliner" by William Thomas Pusekat circa 1720 depicts Catherine Bread (sometimes spelled Braid) winning the hat design competition in London for the 10th year in a row. It is unknown who the figure second from the right is. A judge perhaps who did not agree with the decision or perhaps a competitor.

Stanislock Chan New Book!

by Glen L. Bledsoe 

Book Review

Shane Michaels was known and loved throughout the world as the White Hat Cowboy of the silver screen. When his glorious career came to a cruel end one sunny afternoon in Los Angeles—poisoned with arsenic in his lemonade—the world cried for justice in the murder of their favorite star. 

“I bet my evil twin brother Vladimir Chan is behind this,” Stanislock Chan proclaims to the partiers present at the actor’s home at the time of his murder. “I mean to thwart him.”

But as the detective digs deeper into the case, he finds that this is only part of his evil twin’s master plan. Through the litter of lies, petty jealousies, and unsavory characters, Chan reveals a conspiracy which culminates in the January 6th coup in Washington DC 90 years later!