Lizzie Borden: Warps and Wefts

With Halloween soon upon us, haunted houses, haunted hayrides and other ghoulish attractions are busily preparing costumes and features.  In recent years Lizzie Borden has become a fixture at many of these horror attractions.  She is usually portrayed in black and red clothing with a large bloody axe swinging wildly, and covered in gore.  Poor Lizzie. You can imagine what she would think of this portrayal. The Taunton Gazette, the publication from the city of her 10 month incarceration has published an article on Lakeville’s entry for Halloween 2010. http://www.tauntongazette.com/lifestyle/lifestyle_calendar/x861574152/Lakeville-Haunted-House-preparations-underway

Here are a few options available this year, this one titled a Lizzie Borden Wedding Dress from Amazon.com-and with a KNIFE.

Here’s a better -looking version available at http://www.retroscopefashions.com/lolita1.html

And here are a couple of Halloween Lizzies from 2009 (sorry the credits are unavailable)

To see this live-action Halloween prop, visit Dave and Tracy’s photobucket video of this tombstone’s “special feature”. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v630/DaveNTracy/Lizzie%20Borden%20Tombstone/?action=view&current=012-1.flv

There will be more.

Richard Behrens, author of the new adventure stories of Lizzie Borden: Girl Detective will be signing copies of his book in the giftshop at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast on August 4th from 10:30- 4 p.m..  Copies of the book will be on sale.

Today’s Fall River Herald News has a wonderful article about New Jersey author Richard Behren’s book, Lizzie Borden:  Girl Detective and the upcoming Saturday reading and booksigning http://www.heraldnews.com/newsnow/x1834540560/Historical-fantasy-novel-features-Lizzie-Borden-as-a-detective

photo credit: LeeAnn Wilber

Popular indy actress and fashion trend-setter, Chloe Sevigny strikes a familiar pose on the black sofa.  Ms. Sevigny has family ties to Fall River and a great interest in the Borden case.  Tuesday marked her second overnight visit to the house on Second Street.

Painting on #92 has come to a halt due to the weather.  More scraping and primer touch -ups are in the future before color can be applied, hopefully next week.  Costuming and casting have begun for the upcoming August 4th re-enactments.  Busy days on Second Street.

This coming Saturday, June 5, from noon to 2:30 p.m., come and meet the author of Lizzie Borden:  Girl Detective, Richard Behrens.  The reading selection will take place from 1- 1:30.  Come and enjoy an afternoon of fiction and light refreshments! 

“It’s Nancy Drew meets Victorian Fall River!”  Copies available at the historical society giftshop.

For those who thought Elizabeth Engstrom’s Lizzie novel was an eyeopener, 2010 may bring an even juicier Lizzie title from publisher Ravenous Romance.  http://www.ravenousromance.com/

Award winning author Lisa Mannetti of Port Chester, New York has confessed she is “on tap” for a new approach on the Lizzie Borden story. Fresh from winning the Bram Stoker Horror award for her novel The Gentling Box,  Bad Moon Books will be bringing out her dark gag book, 51 Fiendish Ways to Leave Your Lover (illustrated by Glenn Chadbourne) in February 2010 and Cargo Cult Press is publishing her novella, Deathwatch, in spring/summer 2010. A second novel The Everest Hauntings, is in the works. She has not given the date for her Lizzie novel.  It should be something to look forward to in the near future, and quite likely another pageturner!  Visit Lisa’s website at http://www.lisamannetti.com/ Read about her visits to the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast there at the link below. http://thechanceryhouse.com/res_ghosts_liz_2006/res_ghosts_liz_2006.htm

Night time tour guide, Eleanor Thibault has been the host at #92 Second St. for the visits of NECON, the Northeastern Writers Conference, an organization to which Ms. Mannetti belongs.

Visit http://www.myspace.com/lbaxes for more about the band.

Never Found Guilty – Lizzie Borden & The Axes

With the proliferation of Lizzies popping up at haunted hayrides, ghost tours and Halloween venues all over the country,  Lizzie duds are in demand for the season.  The same fashion ensemble used for the Living Dead Dolls series is now available up to a woman’s size 12 in a “dead ringer” three piece in black and scarlet, selling for $44.95.(hatchet not included).

Those leg o’ mutton sleeves are de rigeur of course, but the rest of the costume is easy to manage from your closet and tool bench, being a long skirt, boots and weapon-in-hand.  Lizzie’s frizzie bangs and tight little bun complete the look, and perhaps a slightly crazed glint in the eye.  Internet tips on Lizzie costuming urge red hair, but of course Lizzie was not a redhead- light brown hair is listed on her passport from 1890. 

Don’t forget the costume contest Saturday night at the Eagle on North Main Street, a special feature of Lizzie Borden Live ! , the award-winning play starring Jill Dalton.  First prize will be a night’s stay at the famous house on Second Street.  Strap on your corset and come on down!

Something to watch for- The Lizzie Borden Collection-coming soon. The site page is worth a visit to hear the great sound file and graphics. Visit the site at http://www.thelizziebordencollection.com/ Bloody Rare is a site specializing in fine rare books and original movie posters in horror, science fiction, fantasy, mystery and crime.

Got plenty of time to kill? Google Lizzie Borden and find 494,000 results on the web and 80,000 image files -some of which go out there pretty far to be related.

But maybe the newest thrill on the internet might be Bing.com where Lizzie Borden can net you 1,300,000 results and 11,500 image-related files. The images are worth the search and can turn up some pretty interesting stuff ranging from the Partners in Crime Kennels which has bred this beautiful red Irish setter bitch named – Lizzie Borden

to the very unique and mysterious Lizzie artwork of Lu LoBue (lulobue.com)

Happy Googling- and uh, Binging?

Gallery X will be holding an open exhibit “Lizzie Borden, A Tale of Two Cities”. On August 4, 1892, a terrible crime was committed in the city of Fall River. After all suspects were interviewed, all were cleared except for the youngest daughter of the victims, Miss Lizzie Andrew Borden. The vicious murders and it’s following trial caused the largest media blitz America had ever seen. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jackson Borden were brutally slain in their home in broad daylight. The trial of Lizzie Borden has lived in the hearts, imaginations, and minds of a larger group of people than one would expect. The crime was committed in the City of Fall River, On June 5, 1893, Ten months later, Lizzie was brought to trial at the Bristol County Superior Court house in New Bedford. After a trial of thirteen days, Lizzie was acquitted for lack of evidence.

The show’s title, “Lizzie Borden, A Tale of Two Cities” is a reference to the connection of these two cities and the national interest the murders in Fall River, and the following trial in New Bedford caused. Nearly every newspaper in the country held front page accounts of the tragedy and it’s proceedings. It seems everyone had their opinion on these bizarre proceedings and the press couldn’t get enough! The exhibit is open to all artists, local and otherwise. All submissions must pertain to Lizzie and/or the Borden tragedy. The limit is three pieces per artist, at $10.00 each. Gallery X will receive A35% commission on any sales. The show opens on October 14, 2009,the opening reception will be on October 17, 2009. The deadline for entries is Sunday October 11,2009 between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Gallery X hours are Wednesday through Friday 11:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. , Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m.

Today’s ProJo (Providence Journal) carried a story about the recent Lizzie Borden merchandise patent granted to the owners of the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast Museum in Fall River.  There’s bound to be more about  it in the future!

http://www.projo.com/news/bobkerr/kerr_column_26_08-26-09_BVFGNSH_v14.38acb8c.html

There’s no end to Lizzie merchandising ideas.  Here’s something new- a Lizzie with hellfire flames card case,  by Sweetheartsinner, which can be used for anything you need to carry around.  The novelty design, plus other similar merchandise may be found here http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10792219