What We Learned at the Movies

Dear George,

Even though they were vicarious experiences, movies provided the most thrilling moments of my childhood.  I started going with friends about second grade.  We lived a couple of blocks from the Menominee Theater in the old Opera House, and I'd go there each Saturday for the matinee.  Then, on Thursdays after school, the D.A.R. Boys' Club had a movie time for kids.  It usually featured a full-length western (e.g., Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy), but the most exciting part was the 15-minute serial which preceded the main feature.  The serial was always about a lone hero (or superhero) battling hordes of vicious bad guys, and nearly every episode ended in a calamity in which the hero was apparently destroyed or was facing imminent death.  Miraculously, by the next week’s show the hero had dodged his demise and was off on a new spine-tingling adventure.  Hollywood produced about 95 such serials during the 1940’s: war, crime and detective stories, jungle adventures, aviation, the Old West, sci fi, etc.  Here’s a quick peek at some of the most popular offerings.

The Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941, 12 episodes)

Captain Marvel was my favorite for a long time, and this was the very first superhero serial.  Based on the comic books, an ancient wizard gave teenager Billy Batson the capacity to turn into Captain Marvel by uttering the magic word “Shazam”.  Captain Marvel battled against the Scorpion, an evil hooded figure who, with his army of blood-crazed demons, strove to destroy the world with the most powerful weapon ever known. 

The Green Hornet (1940, 13 episodes)

When the city is beset with a menacing crime wave, crusading newspaper publisher Britt Reid dons a disguise and, with the aid of his brilliant Korean valet Kato, fights back against the Leader, the criminal mastermind who is behind the Syndicate.  The Hornet and Kato take on an auto-theft ring, a crooked insurance racket, and a dishonest flying school among others.

Jack Armstrong (1947, 15 episodes)

Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy, and his friends try to rescue a famous scientist and inventor of a revolutionary atomic engine from the clutches of Jason Grood, an arch-villain who is bent on dominating the world with the death ray on his spaceship.  The quest takes Jack and friends to a remote island where they must deal with a fierce tribe led by Princess Alura as well as with Grood's evil henchmen.  We kids poked fun at Jack because he was so All-American.   

Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc. (Republic Pictures, 1941, 15 episodes)

Originally a comic strip by Chester Gould, Dick Tracy featured a hard-hitting police detective who used forensic science to track down the bad guys.  Critics regard “Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc.” as "one of the best serials ever made."   Tracy battled the Ghost, an evil master criminal who possessed the ability to make himself invisible.  One of the Ghost's plans was to destroy New York City by dropping bombs along a fault line to create a huge tidal wave engulfing the city.  Viewers held their breaths. 

The Phantom (1943, 15 episodes)

In a serial based on the comic strip, Professor Davidson and his daughter Diana are trying to find the Lost City of Zoloz in Africa to establish an archaeological site.  However, a local crook is also searching for hidden treasure there, and a Nazi agent plans to destroy the peace of the native tribes and build a secret German air base.  Diana's fiancé, Godfrey Prescott, who is also the Phantom, sets out with Ace the Wonder Dog to restore peace to the jungle and put a stop to the treasure hunters' and the Nazis' wicked plans.

The Shadow (1940, 15 episodes)

The movie serial was based on the 1930's radio series and on pulp magazine stories.   Having the "power to cloud men's minds so they cannot see him," the Shadow posed as Lamont Cranston, a wealthy young man about town.  Margo Lane was his love interest and crime-solving partner.   In the 1940 serial the Shadow battled The Black Tiger who had the power to make himself invisible and was trying to take over Earth with his death ray. 

Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940,12 episodes)

Based on the 1930's sci-fi comic strip, “Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe” was the last of three Flash Gordon serials made between 1936 and 1940.  Buster Crabbe starred in the title role.  The evil villain Ming the Merciless created a deadly plague by dropping "Death Dust" in the atmosphere.  Flash and his companions travel by spaceship to the planet Mongo, eventually finding an antidote which they bring back to Earth.  Ming sends an army of robot bombs after Flash, and the respective groups battle until Ming is killed.  His last words were, "I am the universe," but one of the good guys observes that Flash Gordon has conquered the universe.

Son of Zorro (1947, 13 episodes)

Jeff Stewart returns home  from the Civil War to find that corrupt politicians have taken over the county and are terrorizing the citizenry.  Donning the costume of his ancestor, the famous Zorro, Stewart sets out to bring the criminals to justice.   

Batman (1943, 15 episodes)

In his first screen appearance, the Caped Crusader (a.k.a. Bruce Wayne) and his junior partner, the Boy Wonder Robin, battle Prince Daka, the Japanese mastermind of a wartime spy-sabotage group which is located in Gotham City's now-deserted Little Tokyo.  Daka has a death ray that turns American scientists into electronic zombies who do his bidding.

Superman (1948, 15 episodes)

Superman, of course, is the superhero of all superheroes.  This first live-action film portrayal of Superman tells his story from the beginning when he is rocketed from Krypton to Earth as a newborn infant.  When mild-mannered Clark Kent takes a reporter job on the Daily Planet, his alter-ego Superman soon tangles with The Spider Lady who considers herself the Queen of the Underworld and who obtains possession of a meteor fragment from Krypton, the only substance that can render Superman helpless.

Movies are entertaining in their own right, but they also provide moral instruction about the nature of the human condition, the world we live in, and our roles in society.  More than anything else, I’d say that these 1940’s serials have to do with gender roles and socially sanctioned violence.  We learn that the world is a dangerous place where powerful enemies – Nazis, criminals, murders and kidnappers, saboteurs, rustlers, inner city thugs, evil geniuses bent on world domination – constitute a threat to  communities and law-abiding citizens.  Basically, the world is split into the in-group and various dangerous, malevolent out-groups.  Moreover, conventional institutions like the police are powerless in the face of overwhelming threats to the social order.  It’s only the extraordinary individual who possess the ability and fortitude to battle the dangerous evil-doers.  And, despite harrowing calamities and constant near-disasters, good always triumphs over evil.

For the most part, these are stories for and about males.  Most of the heroes are men, as are most of the villains.  We learn that ideal adult males are powerful, independent, courageous in the face of extreme danger, highly skilled and capable of physical force and violence, and willing to put their lives on the line for God and country.  Perpetrating violence against the enemy is not only justified but glamorized and idealized.  Most of the serials also include a secondary woman character who is the friend, companion, and/or love interest of the hero.  She’s typically beautiful, good, charming, and loyal.  Often in peril, she’s dependent on protection and rescue by the male hero.    

The cultural messages we receive as kids, whether from the media or other sources, center on preparation for adult roles.  A lot of content of these old-time movie serials consists of subtle and not-so-subtle messages about the role of the sexes in a patriarchal society.  These, of course, reflect traditional stereotypes and gender norms.  We could argue that we've come a long way as a society since the 1940's.  However, when I think about the content of many action thrillers we’ve seen in the 2010's -- also predominantly male-centered and pro-violence -- I'm more struck by the stability of certain basic themes over the decades.  I do like to go to the movies a lot, but these serials from years ago remind us that we need to reflect upon and be cognizant of what we're being told.

Love,

Dave

SOURCES: www.allmovie.com; www.classicflix.com; www.fandango.com; www.serialexperience.com; www.wikipedia.org; Google Images 

G-mail Comments

-JML (4-5): Roger Ebert would have enjoyed that!  :(

-Gayle C-L (4-5): Very cool !  ;)) 

Wednesday Afternoon at the Enchanted Forest

Dear George,

We went the other day to Eden Park to the Krohn Conservatory’s early spring floral show.  It’s called “An Enchanted Forest,” and it actually was quite enchanting, featuring hyacinths, tulips, violas, and daffodils, along with 22 tons of sandstone boulders and several elf and fairy houses sprinkled among the flowers.  Here are some photos which capture a bit of the pleasing scene.

Love,

Dave

G-mail Comments

-Phyllis S-S (3-31): Dave, Gorgeous photos - I think I'll try to get there soon. Best, Phyllis

-Gayle C-L (3-31): David,  Have a great holiday!  Love.   G

Did You Ever Wish You Were a Duck?

A Pair of Mallards at Burnet Woods Lake

Dear George,

I started walking to work through Burnet Woods shortly after we moved to Clifton in the 70’s.  There’s a flock of mallards who’ve always lived at the lake, and I’d check them out as I went by.  Years ago I started wondering whether it’s more satisfying to be a human being or a duck.  That sounds weird at first, but the question came up one day when I was dreading an afternoon of noxious appointments and boring faculty committee meetings.  Not surprisingly, the ducks’ lives looked idyllic by comparison.  Simpler, more peaceful, less stress.  Just paddling around, dipping into the water now and then for a tasty nibble, enjoying the warm sunshine and the company of one’s fellows.  After watching for a while, I’d head off to my workplace, vaguely wishing I could spend my day relaxing on the lake instead.

Now that I think of it, our family has always had an affinity for ducks.  Growing up on the Menominee River, they were a regular feature of our environment.  Then when my parents moved to their Birch Creek Farm, my dad would go out every afternoon to spread bird seed on the pond for the group of ducks could be counted on to arrive between 5 and 6 p.m.  My mother, an ardent bird watcher, would keep an eye out from the living room window, and the ducks’ daily visits were a source of joy for all concerned. 

Thinking seriously about ducks’ lives poses deep philosophical questions.  You might scoff at this because it’s obvious that humans can do lots of things that ducks can’t, e.g., watch “Downton Abbey”, order takeout pizza from Dewey’s, play Sudoku, collect South American postage stamps.  From a duck’s perspective, though, these things have no interest.  What’s Sudoku to a duck anyway?  And ducks can do a lot of things that humans can’t.  Like laying eggs.  Or floating effortlessly for hours on end.  Or flying.  (Definitely flying.)  As far as I can tell, most ducks like being ducks and would find human existence a serious comedown.  Perhaps the more telling question is whether a mongoose or a lizard would like to be a human or a duck.  There’s no way of knowing for sure, but my guess is that most would probably opt for duckhood. 

Lately I’ve been asking Google some pithy questions about the lives and emotional well-being of ducks.  Here are some of the things I’ve discovered so far:

• The word “duck” comes from the Old English “duce” which means “to duck, bend low, or dive.” (11)
• Duck flocks are called “sords”. (2)
• Mallards are the most common ducks in the U.S. (about 10 million).  They are the ancestor of nearly all domestic breeds. (9)
• Ducks look awkward on land, but that’s because Mother Nature set their legs far back on their bodies to give them power and efficiency when swimming. (2)
• Ducks’ feather coats are so well-constructed that their bodies don’t get wet when they swim underwater, and they don’t feel cold even in freezing water. (2)
• Whether on water or land, mallards can take off nearly straight up into the air for 30 feet or more. (2) 
• Ducks can reach speeds of up to 70 feet per second (9), and they can fly up to 332 miles a day. (6)
• Ducks sleep with half their brains awake, and those at the edge of sleeping groups keep one eye open, enabling them to detect predators. (7)
• About 20% of duck mating is by male-male pairs. (3)
• Most northern ducks go south for the winter.  Ducks from North Central states (e.g., Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin) head for the Grand Prairie of Arkansas. (1)
• According to pet authorities, ducks are highly intelligent.  One website notes that "they can understand commands, play with toys, play games, give kisses, and beg for snuggles like other birds if you take the time to work with them." (8)

It’s easy to see why many people wish they were ducks instead.  The only way to really resolve the duck vs. human question is through Science.  What’s needed is an objective test that can determine, once and for all, whether ducks or humans are best off.  I’ve been working on just such a test for some time, and I think I’ve finally completed an authoritative version.  Here are the critical five most critical items:

1. Who is more handsome?  (a) Joe Biden; (b) A mallard drake.
2. Which is a more fun way to travel?  (a) Jogging; (b) flying.
3. Where would you like to live?  (a) In the polluted city; (b) On a beautiful lake.  
4. What do moms prefer?  (a) Pushing your babies in a carriage; (b) Having your babies swim behind you, all in a row. 
5. What’s better?  (a) Staying home in the snow and sludge; (b) Flying South for the winter.

I hate to say it, but, if you’re like me, you probably picked (b) on every question.  If so, the score is 5 points for ducks and 0 for humans.  That seems pretty decisive.  I have to admit, though, that I ran across some additional information about ducks that complicates the matter and prevents too hasty a conclusion: 

• Ducks get plenty to eat, but their foodstuffs aren’t always tempting.  Along with tasty entrees like berries and nuts, duck menus include beetles, flies, worms, snails, slugs, live minnows, small frogs, and dragonflies. Hmm…not so good.  (11) 
• Male ducks are chauvinists.  Though monogamous during the breeding season, males abandon their partner as soon she lays her eggs, i.e., the minute the hard work begins.  They never bother to come back. (10)   
• Quacking looks like fun, but only females get to do it.  Male ducks whistle, yodel, squeak, or grunt. (11)
• Despite my impression that the ducks on Burnet Woods Lake live in harmony and brotherly love, experts observe that ducks are among the most aggressive bird species.  Males battle over territory, food, and prospective mates.  (3)
• Mallards can hypothetically live for 7 to 9 years, but over 50% are killed or die by age two.  Nasty duck predators include large fish (e.g., muskies), large birds (e.g., hawks, eagles), snapping turtles, and various mammals (e.g., foxes, raccoons). Humans are the most frequent and dangerous predators -- hunters shot about 15.8 million ducks last year in the U.S. alone.  Ducks also die from accidents and various diseases (e.g., botulism, cholera, viruses). The duck’s world is a lot more perilous than I realized.  Yikes!  (5, 10) 
• Finally, it can be embarrassing to be a duck.  A British researcher recently concluded that, of all the birds and animals, ducks are most frequently the target of humor and silliness (e.g., Donald Duck, Daffy Duck, Howard the Duck).  (11)

Now I find I have to rethink the whole thing.  It’s hard to accept, but a duck’s life isn’t all fun and games.  Being eaten alive by snapping turtles or hawks is totally unpleasant.  Some days I skip the lake altogether and just walk through the forest.  Recently I’ve found myself wondering: What’s better -- being a human being or a squirrel?

Love,

Dave

SOURCES: (1) www.arkansasduckguiding,com, “Duck Migratory Patterns”; (2) www.birding.about.com, "What is a Duck?"; (3) www.desertusa.com, “Mallard Duck”; (4) www.encyclopedia.com, “Duck”; (5) www.flyways.us, “Harvest Diary Surveys”; (6) www.infobarrel.com, “Interesting Facts about Ducks”; (7) www.lifestyle.iloveindian.com, “Facts About Ducks”; (8) www.thepetcard.net, "Keeping and caring for pet ducks"; (9) www.racingducks.com, “Duck Factoids”; (10) www.squidoo.com/mallard, "The Mallard Duck"; (11) www.wikipedia.org, “Duck”, “Mallard”. 

G-mail Comments

-Terry O-S (3-28): Dear David:  By an odd coincidence, my companion Joe and I were recently talking about ducks.  I was telling him about the "game dinners" that our parents and their friends staged every year and how awful the wild ducks smelled when they were cooking, because they ate fish.  Joe insisted that ducks do not eat fish because ducks don't have teeth.  We were not sufficiently invested in our respective positions for either one of us to pursue the matter - and now comes your blog post!  It is silent on the question of whether or not ducks have teeth, but does include minnows in the duck diet.  So: can you resolve this minor dispute?  Do or do not ducks have teeth?  And do you agree that the wild ducks smelled awful when they were cooking?  Best, Terry

Silly Dog Pics: Arco and Friends

Arco at Burnet Woods Lake

Dear George,

There’s a new dog in our household.  I named him Arco (after the German Shepherd war dog that my Uncle Kent brought back from the battlefields of France in World War II).  I found Arco at the Dayton flea market.  While I hadn’t been looking for a pet, he was on sale for a great price and I couldn’t pass him by.  I worried about our sheepdogs’ reactions, but they don’t seem upset at all.  Arco is easy to adjust to.  He never barks or chews things, doesn’t need monthly grooming, and doesn’t seem to want to get in the bed at night.  I think he might have belonged to a photographer because he’s so photogenic and such a good model.  He poses in a stately manner, gives a happy smile, and sits in place as long as I need him to.  He’s so perfectly behaved Katja doesn’t even think he’s for real.  Here are some photos I took recently of Arco and a couple of his other friends from our pack.  Looks pretty real to me.

Love,

Dave  

G-mail Comments

-Ami G (3-22): These are a hoot!

-JML (3-22):  Nice photo project Dad. 

-Linda C (3-22):  I love your dogs so much. I can only have a cat in my apartment, but a quiet dog would be ok.  Where do I go to buy one? Flea markets or pounds?  These pictures are fabulous, so hope you will photograph mine, once I find him.  Do you have any ideas of how I would be able to tell the dogs nature before I buy him,  I have decided on a male dog.  Thanks, can I call you if I have other questions?

-Jennifer M (3-22): I love these photos. Great use of perspective. If I hadn't seen Arco in real life, I wouldn't know how small he is. :-)