Madness, dreams, lies...

Great voices: Perry Como

United States singer Perry Como visiting Southport for a concert in 1975. According to the biography by Malcolm Macfarlane and Ken Crossland, all 53,000 seats Como’s British tour sold out within hours.

Eduardo Orozco

Rituales del placer: Chocolate

Dark chocolat is not only very high in antioxidants, but it can also lower blood pressure and help with insulin sensitivity. (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2005)

These photos in a wine tasting made by me. You can see the chocolat desserts made by one of my students  Remember the resveratrol content in red wine.

Stars of ilussion: Robert De Niro. “Eggs are good for your health”

“Los huevos bendecidos por sacerdotes saben igual que cualquier otro huevo”…

“Eggs blessed by priests taste the same as any other egg”

Photograms: Angel Heart, directed by Alan Parker. De Niro as Devil

Stars of illusion: Robert De Niro.

United States (born 1943) actor and producer who has starred in over 90 films. Praised for his commitment to roles, stemming from his background in method acting, De Niro gained 27 kg and learned how to box for his role as Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull, ground his teeth for Cape Fear, lived in Sicily for The Godfather Part II, worked as a cab driver for a few weeks for Taxi Driver, and learned to play the saxophone for New York, New York. He again put on weight for his performance as Al Capone in The Untouchables directed by Brian De Palma(1987). A true professional in the film industry. Between my five favorites actors!

This photogram as Al Capone in The Untouchables

Eduardo Orozco

Ethnicity and cinema: American Me?

The film opens depicting events from the Zoot Suit Riots, where thousands of white American sailors and servicemen based in California attacked Latinos and others who took part in so-called "pachuco" culture, mostly targeting those who wore "zoot suits" (seen as symbols of Latino pride and considered by the rioters to be unpatriotic and extravagant in a time of war). This grew into heightened tension between European-Americans and Mexican-Americans in Southern California, setting the stage for the later gang conflicts depicted in the film.

Eduardo Orozco

Fashion and identity: Zoot Suit y Los Pachucos

On November 12 the Daily Times ran a story from Milwaukee about the theft of a pair of zoot suit trousers. The police lieutenant did not know what those were, so the complainant drew him a picture. The lieutenant told his men to be on the lookout for a pair of pants “baggy from the ankles up.” A zoot suit had high-waisted, wide-legged, but tight-cuffed trousers, and a long coat with wide lapels and wide padded shoulders. It was usually worn with an exaggeratedly long watch chain. Zoot suits were often pinstriped and made in bright colors like yellow, green, bright blue, and purple. Zooters often wore fedoras or pork pie hats color-coordinated with their suits. This style of clothing became especially popular among the African American, Latino, and Italian American communities during the 1940s.

In photogram Edward James Olmos as “El Pachuco”

Eduardo Orozco

Fashion and identity: Spiffy gents in 1920’s Harlem

When black men dress well, stand out immediately.

Eduardo Orozco

Fashion, identity and arts: Cab Calloway

Cab Calloway in 1943 wearing the rebellious man’s favored suit for going out on the town. The zoot suit. They are characterized by over sized jacket and trousers that became tapered at the ankle.

Eduardo Orozco

Stars of ilussion: Jorge Negrete. Mexican actor and singer

Mexican born singer an actor (1911-1953), Negrete is considered one of the most popular Mexican singers and actors of all time. After working in Havana and Hollywood he was called to act in ¡Ay Jalisco, No Te Rajes! ("Hey Jalisco, Don’t Back Down!") which made him an international Latin star and helped formulate the charro film genre. Filming this film he met Gloria Marín, starting their romance and the string of films they filmed together. He complemented his film career by singing rancheras with the trio Los Tres Calaveras and touring Latin America, singing concerts and making personal appearances.

This video is a remastered version of El Peñón de las Ánimas in 1942 (73 yewars ago!)

Eduardo Orozco