Out Spotlight CVXXIV

Today's Out Spotlight is Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.

Gertrude Stein was born February 3, 1874 in Allegheny, PA was an American writer who became a catalyst in the development of modern art and literature. Throughout her lifetime, Stein also cultivated significant relationships with well-known members of the avant garde artistic and literary world.

Gertrude Stein, the youngest of a family of five children, was born to well-educated German-Jewish immigrant parents. Her father, Daniel Stein, was an executive with a railroad, whose prudent investm family wealthy. When she was three , the Steins moved from the Pittsburgh are first to Vienna and then to Paris because of her father's business. Her family returned to America in 1878, settling in Oakland, California, where she attended First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland's Sabbath school

Alice Babette Toklas was born in San Francisco into a middle-class Jewish family. She was educated at public schools and at the University of Seattle and the University of Washington. After the death of her mother, she returned to San Francisco to take care of her father and brother.

She was an idiosyncratic writer and collector of artists from Allegheny, Penn. She was a 29-year-old "spinster" from San Francisco. But when, Gertrude Stein met Alice B. Toklas in Paris, it was love at first sight.

Matisse had brought them together. In 1906, Alice had been taking care of her father and his house since her mother died, when they were visited by Gertrude's brother, Michael, and his wife. The San Francisco earthquake had caused extensive damage to the city, and the couple were visiting their properties. They brought along with them three of Matisse's paintings, including one of his wife that had a green stripe running down her face.

Alice was intrigued by the painting, as well as the stories theents in streetcar lines and real estate had made the Steins told of Paris. When a friend suggested that they return the visit next year, Alice agreed. The next year, they crossed North America by train and the Atlantic by boat, and there, in the Stein's residence in Paris, Alice was introduced to "a golden brown presence, burned by the Tuscan sun and with a golden glint in her warm brown hair." It was Gertrude, back from Italy.

Alice was entranced, with Gertrude's tan, but also with her voice, deep and full, "like a great contralto's, like two voices." Before she left, Gertrude asked, "You doing anything tomorrow?"

But the next day, Alice was late. She sent a note, but Gertrude was upset and made sure she knew it. "She was now a vengeful goddess and I was afraid. I did not know what had happened or what was going to happen. Nor, is it possible for me to tell about it now."

Once said spoke her piece, Gertrude's anger faded. "She stood in front of me and said, Now you understand. It is over. It is not too late to go for a walk. You can look at the pictures while I change my clothes."

Stein's life was marked by two primary relationships, the first with her brother Leo Stein, from 1874-1914, and the second with her partner Alice B. Toklas, from 1907 until her death in 1946.

Alice began to spend more time with Gertrude. She learned to type and to read her handwriting. She moved into Stein's apartment, she previous shared with her brother Leo, on the rue de Fleurus. Stein was working on the manuscript for "The Makings of Americans," her first major work. She cooked her meals on Sundays, the cook's day off. She would make American meals, such as chicken fricassee, corn bread, apple and lemon pies, turkey for Thanksgiving.

One day, Gertrude asked Alice to stop cooking and listen to something she had written. Alice did. It was a description of several people, and one of them she recognized was herself. It was an accurate portrait, but sometimes the truth hurts, and Alice felt hurt.

At the end, the Alice character met a genderless story teller and writer, who fell in love with her, and who loved listened to the Alice character:

"That one who was loving was almost always listening. That one who was loving was telling about being one then listening. That one being loving was then telling stories having a beginning and a middle and an ending."

Toklas was called "Pussy" by Gertrude and Gertrude was "Lovey" to Alice. Stein, was the soothing and listening partner; Alice called her a "strong-strong husband".

However, in A Movable Feast (1964), Hemingways's memoir of his years in Paris after World War I, he gives the impression that Toklas commanded Stein outside the saloon.

Stein wrote an erotic poem 'Lifting Belly,' to Toklas between 1915 and 1917 but it was not published in Stein's lifetime. At that time it was accepted that women shared homes, but physical relationship was something else. Another poem to Toklas, inspired by Cubism, was built around four sentences:

"Do you really think I would yes I would and"
"Do you really think I could, yes I could",
"Do you really think I should yes I should",
and
"Do you really think I do love all you with all".
Other sides of the crystallike poem are left "unvisible" – perhaps including the verbs "must" and "ought".

During the their time together, they frequently exchanged love letters. Alice was an early riser, and Gertrude, who wrote late into the night, left her tender, passionate notes to cheer up her mornings.

"Baby precious Hubby worked and / loved his wifey, sweet sleepy wifey, / dear dainty wifey, baby precious sleep," Stein once rhymed.

Much of Gertrude Stein's fame was derived from a private modern art gallery she assembled, from 1904 to 1913, with her brother Leo. The collection quickly commanded a worldwide reputation; creating a salon, and a social circle of thinkers, writers and artists that developed around it, providing the inspiration for The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas
The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas (1933), is actually Gertrude Stein's memoirs. It records Toklas's first-person observations of Stein's life and her friends, among them Ernest Hemingway, Sherwood Anderson, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Georges Braque. The book appeared first in an abridged form in The Atlantic Monthly magazine. Stein's writing style is conversational and clear. Toklas notes how many wives of geniuses she had to sit with while Stein has been with their husbands. The book also tells of the trip Toklas and Stein made to philosopher Alfred North Whitehead's home in England and of their wartime involvement as ambulance drivers with the American Fund for the French Wounded. They also visited hospitals and were later decorated by the French government.

According to Estelle C. Jelinek, Toklas's presence as the narrator legitimized Stein's role as memoirist. Placing Toklas, the most important person in her intimate life, in the center of the autobiography, she could pay homage to their story. Toklas is the observing partner, not the directly observed, but at the same time Stein controls the picture she gives of herself: "There I went to see Mrs. Stein who had in the meantime returned to Paris, and there at her house I met Gertrude Stein. I was impressed by the coral brooch she wore.

The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook came out when Toklas was 77. It contained 300 recipes of such dishes Artichokes Stravinsky, Gigot de la Clinique and Breen Peas à la Goodwife. Many of the receipts are practical, if rather advanced. The book became famous because one recipe, Toklas's Haschich Fudge, originally given by a friend. It was not printed in the first American edition, but was included in the British edition. Toklas's close friends assured, that the writer herself had not tested the recipe, and she did not realize what the ingredients were.

Stein and Tolkas' last conversation in a Paris hospital has been much quoted:

"... What is the answer? I was silent. In that case, she said, what is the question"

After Stein died during surgery in 1946, Alice cherished Stein's reputation. In the end she found Catholicism, stating that she wanted a ticket into the afterlife, since she considered Gertude immortal – she would be reunited with her in Heaven. Toklas died in 1967. She was buried beside Stein in Le Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris.

Alice B. Toklas moved into Gertrude Stein's apartment on the rue de Fleurus, and for more than 30 years, they would live their beginning, middle and ending.

Starting to PoP

Jake and PoP'in crew lead the way in next month's
The first kernel has popped now get ready cause after the first few you know it just keeps coming and coming.

But this is a great look at PoP and we are finding out and clearing up a lot of speculations associated with it.

It wasn't Bruck who picked Jake for Dastan, but director Mike Newell who approached Bruckheimer with Jake in mind. And Bruck didn't blink.

With Newell having known Jake since he was little you can see how having someone who has known you most of your life directing you could be benefit when taking a leap into the biggest chance and biggest production of your career.

"But there no getting around it, dropping a $200 m franchise on the shoulders of a sleepy-eyed 27-year old who's barely thrown a punch in his career was another massive gamble. "Yeah it is," says Newell. "But I 've known Jake since he was little and I'd seen this quality on screen. He's not like John Wayne, who's this massive block of wood. Jake - you can always see into him. He has a very soft and gentle side to him. He's an action hero made in heaven."

Jake wants to be an action hero. "That what I would love to do. I have always wanted to do this - it's like a childhood dream. ...."

So is an action hero with a gentle side the action hero of the new millennium?

There's a lot more in the article, and just like there will be much much more PoPing up too.

Next week is the Toy Convention in New York, where toy manufacturers will be unveiling the toys for stores to buy for next Christmas. Betcha there's going to be a lot of PoP, and not just the kind you drink. But it does make you wonder if there is going to be a PoP pop. Hmmm Coke or Pepsi?


Your Hollywood Business Moment:
From Deadline Hollywood:

"I can't readily recall a direct link between a seasoned producer and a top-tier management firm like this, but Management 360 and The Mark Gordon Company have formed MG/360. It also cuts down on the likelihood of management company conflicts of interest and self-dealing. The venture is designed to develop projects using 360’s talent roster and Gordon’s producing expertise. The non-exclusive arrangement will initially focus on films — they’ve got a dozen projects in mind already — but will eventually encompass TV as well. Both sides will bring projects to the partnership, but neither will dismantle existing production operations."

"Gordon and 360 partner Guymon Casady told me the arrangement is an outgrowth of good experiences that Gordon Company’s Gordon and Bryan Zuriff had with 360 managers and clients on Source Code, The Details, and 2012."

Read the rest here.

Never realized that Kiki was in a part of 360 Management's client list.


A little early Valentine. (courtesy of Engreet)


It works. A future Jake movie, and things popping up. ; )

Hello Pinkie

It's not only Jake who puts a ring on it. Check out these pictures Austin did last year.
You know how he showed off big blue, it looks like he's doing the same with this one.

Here you can see a tiny peek too.
Hmmm looks familiar.
If you want to compare the two, check it out. (Hey have to make you work a little)

It seems that jewelry is something that has significant meaning for them. From big blue and Jake's black diamond, what they wear around their necks, golden rings and now these. Makes you wonder if these could be about an anniversary, or for something for the little finger for a little.

And for the "he wears it on his right hand" and "he wears it on his left hand" argument that is going to pop up.



If you have noticed over the years how they walk side by side, each have a natural side to walk on. Jake to Austin's right, his left hand nearest to Austin's right hand. Maybe the rings are little something special for a digital dance.




How's that for an Austin Friday?

Voices Carry

Many have heard of the expression six ways to Sunday

Six ways to Sunday 1. (colloquial) thoroughly, completely, in every way imaginable

But what the hell is Seven Dreams 'til Tuesday?

It might be Julian and Alex's indie film but what does it really mean?

The Top Seven Things Seven Dreams 'Til Tuesday could mean.

7. Misprint actually is Seven Screams 'til Tuesday which is what Brooke Davis(TM) does every Monday night.

6.It's the seven dreams Mark Schwahn had while listening to 'Til Tuesday.

5. That Season 7 is thoroughly, completely, in every way imaginable more delusional than the previous six seasons.

4. It's the number of times proposed storylines for OTH have been rejected by Tuesday for being too realistic.

3. The number of theories on OTH boards about how Austin and Sophia started dating like for real.

2.The number of times the fans have come up with something better for Julian than life with Brooke Davis(TM).

and the number one meaning of Seven Dreams 'til Tuesday could mean:

1. What the main cast does instead of watching the show


Does this looks like a man who's tasted some toasted homemade chocolate bread with a little mascarpone cheese for breakfast?

Signs of the End?

Some would debate which is the signs its the end.

First there was Snowmageddon.

Sorry m'am I'm not Dennis Quaid.

For some it's Jake in Austin.


Others its him at the Lakers with Chris and friends and he's smiling. And it that a b -e - ...beer, its a beer. So much better than Lakers with a bea...



Or it could be he was seen out at the Troubadour enjoying Mumford & Sons. How dare he!

(Why do people fear the banjo so much? Ohhhh)

To some it's the small earthquake in Chicago early this morning.
Or maybe Snowpocalypse 2: The Weathermen Cometh.But of course this would nothing to do with tiny dancer and squinty doing a photo shoot together as part of Oscar winners.

But then....when beards collide.




Now for those stuck in the house, and even if you're not. Here's your chance.

Have a question for Jake? You have till 5 p.m. EST tonight to send in a question for him to answer at the Prince of Persia Facebook page.



Just one more thing:

A great reason for Jake to go back to Austin, but really does he need one?

Six Stages over Texas Benefiting Yele Haiti -

The Crystal Method, Admiral Radley (Jason Lytle & members of Earlimart), The Hounds Below (Von Bondies new project), The Lions, Buick Mackane, Findlay Brown, The World's Greatest Ghosts, Holiday Shores, That Ghost, The Points North, Candy Claws, King of Conspiracy, The Glorious Veins, Dinosaur Bones, Jeremy Messersmith, Mata Leon, Mon Khmer, Miss Dust, Nazcar Nation, DJ Jason Soundstorm, Kids At The Bar, Boy Eats Drum Machine Boy, DJ Czech One, DJ Laissez Faire Club, Halves, TIGER! SHIT! TIGER! SHIT!, Killola, Red Leaves, The Vitamins
Block Party On San Antonio St behind Cream Vintage, Hole in the Wall, Hot Slices, etc..

Sat, March 20, 2010
2:00 pm (event ends at 10:00 PM
$20.00
Note: Lineup/schedule subject to change

And Jake knows where is it, it's right on San Antonio St behind Cream Vintage, Hole in the Wall, Hot Slice

Hello Stranger.....

Good to see you. It's been a long time.

Still trying to figure out if Austin had boots on in OTH, but know Jake had the Spurs last night.



Jake was back courtside and hanging long time friend Chris to catch the Lakers take on the San Antonio Spurs at the Staples Center. Jake also gave a shout out to Mellow Johnny's in Austin, TX, Lance Armstrong's cycle shop.



Great to see friends hanging out and having fun again.





You know its like those couple of years with that blonde just didn't happen. Kind of like what happen that TV show about that other city in Texas....

There's Austin and then there's Austin.

Was saving this (Austin) Texas tidbit for ideas for the next trip to the Lone Star State but since we know who was there or still is, hey here's a place to go and nobody can't take pictures of you on cell phones from outside. (Although that might not be as fun for us) LOL



Vivo is a restaurant who's tag is Better than sex ....Tex Mex. And at their new North Austin location strictly enforcer 18 and over establishment, and it's not because of the bar.

The darkly lit new location boasts lots of booths, and dark corners that should make things a little harder. (ahem) They have 8 different varieties of margaritas, and food (and yes even healthy tofu and brown rice) that they claim to be "better than sex", which is debatable from reviews, but bet its better than sex after 8 different varieties of margaritas. Oh yeah, and then there's the tastefully erotic paintings on the walls.

Just throwing it out there now that your cover at Home Slice is blown.

Vivo's East Austin original location

Jake caught the Super Bowl deep in the heart of Texas, but in case you just caught Jake in Texas but didn't get a chance to catch him during the Suoer Bowl here's your chance.



Tonight on the Crazy Tree: "My Attendance is Bad But My Intentions Are Good"




Brooke Davis (TM)and Julian try to find a balance between their personal lives and work as the movie shoot begins. Julian actually in charge of something must throwing Brooke Davis(TM)into a spin, since in their relationship Julian barely able to talk to anyone who's not on her preapproved list. Nathan and the Real Housewives of Tree Hill Haley receive a surprise visit and it's not Prince wanting Haley's raspberry beret back but her mom, and Feats of Clay supports Quinn (yawn) as she faces some unexpected news. Alex sets her sights on Alexander. Schwann you're no Blake Edwards and this isn't even close to Victor Victoria. Now that might be more interesting. Milli finds herself struggling with temptation. Think Brooke Davis(TM) will help her friend out? Who has the time with being jealous, crying,saving Julian's film through her fashion, and reclaiming the cajoles he's grown back and crushing his will while doing something he loves, directing.