Lectures & Exhibits
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Happy Birthday “Mr. Lizzie”
Chances are, if you watch television programmes about Lizzie Borden, the face above will be very familiar. Ed Thibault, of Somerset, Mass. has been a leading figure in the Lizzie Borden community for over 40 years. Ed recently retired from his part time job as day tour guide at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast after many years of sharing the Borden Case with probably thousands of visitors. For many years Ed visited local schools and civic groups, giving lectures on his favorite topic, as well as maintaining an archive of clippings and books about the Borden case in his “Lizzie Room” at his home. Most recently Ed gave a lecture at the Lizzie Gallery X art exhibition in New Bedford in October.
Ed is one of the original Second Street Irregulars, an amateur sleuth group dedicated to the case, and meetings were often held at Ed’s house in the 1990’s. But mostly, Ed is the face of Andrew Borden, and for many years Ed donned the black frock coat of the unfortunate father of Lizzie, and took part in the annual recreations of the crime on August 4th. Two prized possessions are Ed’s mock-up sculptures of the Borden skulls which for years Ed has carried around in a specially-made case-always a big hit with students! Lizzie has a champion in Ed, who believes her to be innocent of the crimes.
Ed celebrates his 75th birthday this week. Happy Birthday, Mr. Lizzie, – and thanks for many years of sharing Lizzie with so many!
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Lizzie Borden Director Dies
Paul Wendkos-Director of the Legend of Lizzie Borden
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0920862/ (complete filmography)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paul Wendkos, who directed over 100 films and television shows during a 50-year career, including the 1959 surf movie “Gidget,” has died in Malibu at 84 of a lung infection following a stroke.
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His other films include the 1957 drama “The Burglar,” starring Jayne Mansfield, and 1969’s “Guns of the Magnificent Seven.”
For television, he directed series such as “The Rifleman” and “Hawaii Five-O.” His made-for-TV movies include “The Legend of Lizzie Borden” and “The Ordeal of Patty Hearst.”
Wendkos is survived by his wife Lin Bolen, a former NBC television producer, his son Jordan Wendkos, a granddaughter, niece and nephews.
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Just in Time for Halloween
Opening tomorrow:
October 28 Artists and Fall River Natives Jim Charette and Mark Delisle present Boneyard, a series of paintings, prints, photography, music, video and more inspired by Oak Grove Cemetery. The gallery opening will be from 6-9PM on Wednesday, 10/28 at the Cherry & Webb Gallery, 139 South Main Street. Jim and Mark grew up on opposite ends of Oak Grove and attribute the formation of their life-long friendship to their old “stomping grounds”. As such, this cemetery holds a special meaning to both Jim and Mark. Both artists have generously agreed to donate a portion of the profits from the sale of their artwork to the Friends of Oak Grove. Please mark your calendar and consider attending this event and support these two local artists.
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Lizzie Acquitted one more time
Lizzie was acquitted in her own home town tonight at Superior Court in a repeat of the mock trial redux which was so well attended last month in New Bedford. Will she make it three in a row next month in Taunton when the excellent cast takes the stand again? Read all about tonight’s trial in the Herald News article by Debbie Allard with some superb photos by Jack Foley.http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x637610488/NOT-GUILTY-Lizzie-retrial-falls-in-line-with-history -
Lizzie Overdose?
Got Ghost in the parlor?
There were some interesting online comments today as a result of an article posted in the Fall River Herald News- article and comments at this link http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x536357278/Medium-Lizzie-did-it
The popular Lizzie series at BCC featured a Canadian psychic last night, Kim Dennis, who claims to have channeled Lizzie in her livingroom. Nothing is hotter than the paranormal at the moment-both at the Borden Bed and Breakfast and as a popular culture phenomenon. TV is full of it, magazines and best-sellers are doing a brisk trade, and mediums, ghostbusters and psychics are riding the wave.
Ms. Dennis reveals nothing which others have not thought of before. Nearly every possible scenario has been well-imagined over the years since the famous murders: motive, method, weapon, accomplices, etc. There is an abundance of information online and in print about every detail of the crime scene and the principal players as well as a goodly number of who-dunnit theory books. Messages from the Great Beyond have been leaking through the ether since 1893 when a Ouija board was employed to seek out the answers to the Borden mystery.
What is interesting to read are the comments following the article. Is the public saturated with Lizzie Borden- or is it just Fall Riverites? It has surely been a Lizzie summer and autumn, with no end in sight. Whether a believer in the paranormal, or an avid scholar of the case, there’s no getting away from the fact that Lizzie will not be going away anytime soon-a haunting of sorts.
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Tale of Two Cities Gallery
Some footage from this past weekend’s event-with some really great entries.
Lizzie Borden Tale Of Two Cities
Youtube entry by Rick Rebelo. -
Interview with Sharon Pollack
Blood Relations seems to be opening everywhere these days. Lizzie B is a hot topic. To read more about this newest production and to read the interview with Sharon Pollack follow this link below.
On the issue of who Ms. Pollack thinks did the deed- http://communities.canada.com/calgaryherald/blogs/bladerunner/archive/2009/09/25/lizzie-borden-is-hot-stuff.aspx
“I think that Lizzie did it and Bridget (Bridget Sullivan, Lizzie’s Irish servant, who was the only other person in the Borden house when the murders took place) knew that Lizzie did it,” Pollock says, pointing out that both maid and mistress were likely in collusion when it came to their testimony at the trial.
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October 4th at Oak Grove
Don’t forget this Sunday’s tour which includes Borden-related grave stones!
History Underfoot III Tour – The Fall River Garden Club, Fall River Historical Society and The Little Theatre of Fall River, Inc. will be hosting their 3rd tour of this historic cemetery, sponsored in part by Citizens-Union Savings Bank. The group has graciously agreed to donate a portion of their profits toward the purchase of a Memorial Tree. F.O.G .has been invited to provide an informational table on our group and the work we are doing to restore Oak Grove. Past tours have been a tremendous success and we hope that you will plan to attend. Tour will be conducted from 11 – 3:30 and tickets for the fundraiser are $15. Rain date is October 11.
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Lizzie back in the newspapers!
Today’s South Coast Today puts Lizzie in the Press again with coverage of last night’s “Mock Trial”. Read the story at http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090925/NEWS/909250337
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Lizzie’s Companion
The Herald coverage in today’s edition of last night’s Lizzie lecture at BCC revealed a particularly interesting tidbit- Lizzie had a lady companion named Trudy. http://www.heraldnews.com/town_info/history/x1789521502/New-Lizzie-Borden-book-teased-at-lecture
It was a common custom of the time for wealthy ladies to have a younger companion to accompany them on trips out of town, shopping excursions and the like. Miss Trudy apparently lived at Maplecroft and enjoyed the elegant library and hearthside of Miss Borden before going off to give matrimony a whirl. How nice to know Lizzie did not lead quite such a reclusive and lonely life as many have thought.
Other snippets read at the lecture included diary entries by a schoolchum named “Lulie” which added a bit more color as to the many moods of Lizzie as a school girl.
The popular lecture series continues through November and is stirring up great interest in the launch of the historical society publication Parallel Lives which will go on sale before Christmas and is probably on every Lizziephile’s Wishlist.
- Sept 28, Annette Holba, Ph.D., author, “Lizzie Borden as Conscious Pariah: A Discussion About Private Life.”
- Oct. 5, Cara Robertson, legal scholar, “What the Jury Heard: Evidence in the Trial of Lizzie Borden.”
- Oct. 19, Kim Dennis, psychic medium, “Lizzie Borden: Her Side of the Story.”
- Oct. 26, Jill Dalton, award-winning actress, “Lizzie Borden Live: From Page to Stage.”
- Nov. 2, Ricardo Rebelo, filmmaker, “The Myth and Media of Lizzie Borden.”
- For information about the lectures or “Parallel Lives,” or to reserve a copy of the book, call 508-679-1071 or visit www.lizzieborden.org.
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Autumn Events Around Fall River
This week’s Fall River Spirit contains a front page article by Bill Moniz covering a recent walk through Oak Grove conducted by arborist Dennis Brodeur. Dennis’ walk was quite insightful for the 20 or so individuals who attended. Our thanks to Dennis for his efforts to enlighten us on the importance of Oak Grove’s ecosystem as well as to Bill for his coverage of the event. For our members who are outside the area, below is a link to the article:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090917/PUB03/909170374
October 4
History Underfoot III Tour – The Fall River Garden Club, Fall River Historical Society and The Little Theatre of Fall River, Inc. will be hosting their 3rd tour of this historic cemetery, sponsored in part by Citizens-Union Savings Bank. The group has graciously agreed to donate a portion of their profits toward the purchase of a Memorial Tree. F.O.G .has been invited to provide an informational table on our group and the work we are doing to restore Oak Grove. Past tours have been a tremendous success and we hope that you will plan to attend. Tour will be conducted from 11 – 3:30 and tickets for the fundraiser are $15. Rain date is October 11.
October 8
The Friends of the Fall River Library, in conjunction with the Fall River Street Tree Planting Program, will be screening the film The American Elm: Majestic, Imperiled, Renewed from 7:00 – 8:30PM at the Main Library. FOG Board Member Mary Ann Wordell will provide a brief introduction. Light refreshments will be served.
October 28
Artists and Fall River Natives Jim Charette and Mark Delisle present Boneyard, a series of paintings, prints, photography, music, video and more inspired by Oak Grove Cemetery. The gallery opening will be from 6-9PM at the Cherry & Webb Gallery, 139 South Main Street. Jim and Mark grew up on opposite ends of Oak Grove and attribute the formation of their life-long friendship to their old “stomping grounds”. As such, this cemetery holds a special meaning to both Jim and Mark. Jim and I have been discussing this event for well over a year now and both artists have generously agreed to donate a portion of the profits from the sale of their artwork to the Friends of Oak Grove. Please mark your calendar and consider attending this event and support these two local artists.