Gin Cromie and her crew of filmmakers won a major award at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival this year. The film is titled The Square and it won the Audience Award in the World Cinema Documentary category. The film covers the momentous February 2011 Tahrir (Liberation) Square revolution in Cairo, Egypt. The Egyptian-American director, Jehane Noujaim, is quick to compliment her associates: “It was a true collaboration. My incredible amazing team who I love so much.”
Cast and Credits
Director: Jehane Noujaim
Executive Producers: Mike Lerner, Geralyn Dreyfous, Maxyne Franklin
Producer: Karim Amer
Associate Producer: Virginia Cromie, Yasmin Kamal
Cinematographer: Muhammad Hamdy
Editors: Stefan Ronowicz, Mohammed El Manisterly, Christopher de la Torre, Pierre Haberer
Camera: Ahmed Hassan, Cressida Trew
Not only great technical skill but dedication and courage were necessary to achieve this success. We are very proud to be connected, Gin! Congratulations and keep up the great work.
Two family avocational musical offerings bookend a professional DJ concert given on the spur of the moment by Claiborne Pentland last December to celebrate Bill and Heather Pentland’s visit for the holidays. More precisely it was the visit by Ian and Charlie Pentland that catalyzed the eruption evident in the middle video that follows. The “bookends” are brief seasonal musicales randomly acquired and presented for your listening pleasure…
Hats off to Richard and Jennie Quick for the last minute hosting of the # 1 DJ Claiborne. If any parties are planned, you know whom to call!
Two terrific gatherings capped 2012 in St Louis, the first a spontaneous eruption celebrating Bill and Heather Pentland’s arrival for Christmas, the other a celebration of the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Sarah and Ed Fehlig. With due deference to seniority today’s posting will cover the latter.
One sunny Sunday morning in 1961, outside the St Thomas More Catholic Church in New Haven, a gleeful Calvin Gatch happily announced the news flash that his sister Sarah was engaged to be married. The lucky gentleman? Edward Fehlig. Fast forward some fifty years and it is ‘Nice to Remember’. On Dec 29th, at their home at #16 Washington Terrace, a large gathering of Sarah and Ed’s numerous friends gave tribute to this wonderful couple. Reflecting their special interests, there was much music and a good deal of Spanish and French to be heard. BTW, did you know the family has a jazz cellist? Adrianna Tatum starred at the party as she accompanied her Uncle Eddy, Lory Ellebracht, and Great Uncle Bob in rendering some traditional favorites. The musical genotype carries on.
“After the ball was over…”
Congratulations to you Sarah and Ed!
A ‘thank you’ also to Qun, Dellie, and Eddie for sending in the photos and memorabilia.
This special posting is dedicated to Jack Cromie (5 July 1972 – 2 October 2009). Since we are reviewing important 2012 family events, it is fitting to reference a recorded concert* that was given in his memory on September 28 in Schenectady NY. The event was titled Songs for Jack. Jack’s poetry was put to music (Thomas Savoy) and was sung by baritone Jonathon Estabrooks. The Musicians of Ma’alwyck provided accompaniment. The particular poem we feature is titled “The Farm”, referring of course to Moone Athy. It is self-evident how important the farm was for Jack – as indeed it is for all of us. Here is Jack’s poem:
The Farm
I can’t speak for all Cromies – but this Cromie wants Grizelda Skinner’s farm
packs of half-feral dogs roaming the landscape, tennis into the evenings -
outrageous cheating required. Eeyore rides until horse graduation – every child
must be thrown from a horse at least once, hocus-pocus at noon every day, rides to
the pond on the back of the Dunn’s VW Bus, tough lessons about barb wire
patched up by Liza Halcomb, hotly contested capture the flag, even more hotly
contested bragging rights for fossil hunters in the creek bed
even a slight deviation will cause a tear in the time space continuum – or a tear in
my heart
which amounts to the same thing
A powerful tribute to Jack by Savoy and Estabrooks, and by Jack to the farm and the family that made it possible.
A major ‘Thank You’ is owed to Bill Cromie Sr who informed us about the concert and who took time to forward to us the wonderful concert DVD.
* Video and recordings by .mov videos, and MOUNTAINTOP STUDIOS, Petersburgh N.Y. 12138, [518] 658-9549
We interrupt our 2012 catch-up with this Thespian Alert*!
For those who missed his sold-out performance in 2011, you have a reprieve. Ralph Kalish has a second command performance of The Branch Rickey Story, Winning History. Ralph (Branch Rickey) re-appears at the Gaslight Theater 360 North Boyle Ave, St Louis, 63108 on Feb 15-17, 22-24. Call 314-725-4200 to get details about show times and tickets. If history is a guide, you’d better do so soon – the last time those who procrastinated couldn’t get seats!
*Alright already, it’s not Thesbian – those are people from Thesbia….no more comments please…..
Now back to our (ir)regular programming:
At least three noteworthy happenings in the past few months have not as yet been memorialized in these pages – Thanksgiving 2012, the Fehlig 50th Anniversary Celebration, and the Number One DJ Spontaneous Christmas Combustion at the Quicks. Attempts to remedy follow, beginning with a few random pics from what was a gorgeous Thanksgiving day. It was a special treat for yours truly to have an opportunity to share a leisurely walk with Uncle Ed Fehlig. His knowledge of history, art and the flora of the farm is extensive. Together he and Aunt Sarah, who were responsible for hosting this Thanksgiving’s gathering, have been an invaluable resource for the family.
Claiborne Skinner Seminar Chair
Eddie and Lory
Dellie Sha
Sammy Sha
Adrianna, Lacrosser-Jazz Cellist
Mme Eleanor and Mlle Lucy
Dunn Platoon
Uncle Richard with Aunt Katherine
Sarah Fehlig Turkey Day Chair
Uncle Ed at Jack’s Spot
Tatums and Shas
Gin Cromie’s Radio Flyer in Use
Check the Specs-Karen and Helene Mouseover image!
Little Red Isabel
Pentlands, Kim and Davey
Peter S.
Uncle Bob, Capt Charlie
The 2012 Review will continue, weather permitting…
The MSE (Most Stylish Eyewear) competition at Moone Athy has been intense for years, with either Karen Kalish or Will Tatum generally taking the gold. This Thanksgiving however was another matter. A new competitor has joined the fray. We managed to capture her preparatory preening which we share here. Mouse over the following images to get a glimpse. Image loading may take a moment, so be patient…
Attentive readers may recognize the winner as the victim of a waterboarding scandal covered in a posting last August. Sadly, despite the hiring of Frank Gehry by Sarah Fehlig, the judges still failed to place her spectacles in the top rankings. More photos of the Thanksgiving gala to follow…
No. 203
The event was titled Songs for Jack. Jack’s poetry was put to music (Thomas Savoy) and was sung by baritone Jonathon Estabrooks. The Musicians of Ma’alwyck provided accompaniment. The particular poem we feature is titled “The Farm”, referring of course to Moone Athy. It is self-evident how important the farm was for Jack – as indeed it is for all of us. Here is Jack’s poem:
