For our first post of 2019, we thought we’d do a classic vintage post about this most bizarre and unusual moment in time: The Miss American Vampire competition of 1970!
Move over Miss Universe (as amazing as that Lava walk was, Ms Catriona Gray), these ladies came to slay in their most imaginative Vampire-esque looks, coupled with their charm, poise, and stage presence, as well as their videogenic quality; contestants were all hoping to take the grand prize of a role in House of Dark Shadows!
There aren’t many photos of the competition, or archival imagery available but these are some photos from the New Jersey regional competition in which Ms. Christine Domaniecki was crowned by Barnabas Collins himself (played by actor Jonathan Frid; who is also definitely deserved of a {STYLE IDOL} moment)!
The competition was held in several cities including Miami, Dallas, Philadelphia, with the finalists competing for the title in Los Angeles on September 10, 1970.
According to one of the judges:
“It was fun for the first five minutes. After that it got terribly depressing. Some of the girls came in bikinis. Some of them came dressed as witches or vampires or dead bodies. One girl stood in front of me and just stared.”
In a strange turn of events, the eventual winner of the National Competition actually never followed through with any of the rewards of her title choosing instead to stay in Los Angeles (House of Dark Shadows was shot in New York).
The full reasons are unclear, however, you may recognize the original Miss American Vampire, actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather {AKA Marie Louise Cruz), from her perhaps her most famous role: accepting Marlon Brando’s Academy Award for “The Godfather” in 1973!
Brando was boycotting the Academy Awards in reaction to Hollywood’s portrayal of Indigenous Americans in the movies, as well as the recent incidents at Wounded Knee, and so Ms. Littlefeather took the stage to speak on behalf of the legendary actor.
Whilst her message was powerful, it was not so well received, garnering boos and jeers from the audience. Also, two days after the ceremony, while visiting Mr. Brando at his house bullets were fired into his front door. Scrupulous media slander also followed, and she claims that this also led to her being blacklisted in Hollywood.
So, in the end, the title of Miss American Vampire and the prize of appearing on House of Dark Shadows eventually went to New Jersey Regional Winner, Christine Domaniecki, who appeared on the show in the highly coveted role of . . . Bar Maid.
I guess, any opportunity is an opportunity!
Funny enough, even with all the dramas and confusion, the Dark Shadows crew was ready to do it again with new pageant: Miss Ghost America in promotion of their new show Night of Dark Shadows!
Granted, the prize was not as exciting as a cameo appearance (Dark Shadows was technically off the air), however, the winner did receive an appearance on The Dating Game , as well as a $250 savings bond. The winner was 18 year old Kate Sarchet.
I’d kill to find some video footage of either pageant, so if you know a source, please let us know!!!
So what do you think? Should we be bringing back these ghouly pageants??? Tell us in the comments sections below!
*one nomination for David Lynch in the category of Best Director (should have been many more).
Presenting the award is none other than style divinity Lauren Bacall in all her sultry, sophisticated glory….MAN! THEY DON’T MAKE THEM LIKE THEY USED TO!
What began as the most innocent unassuming presentation turned into full-on 80s fashion MADNESS!!!
Basically, the jist was that the costumes of films have always and will always directly influence fashion so with the help of legendary costume designer Theoni V. Aldredge ( 1974’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ ) who used the year’s nominees (“The Mission”, “Otello”, “Peggy Sue Got Married”, “Pirates”, and that year’s winner “A Room With a View”) as inspiration for contemporary fashions a la 1987 through the eyes of one magnificently creative and visionary mind.
They just couldn’t help themselves, and be prepared to be dazzled by some super enthusiastic dancers and some really exciting fashion that probably never actually made it to the streets, but at least opens the eye to the possibilities of inspiration.
In a not very surprising instance of history repeating itself, Jenny Beaven, the winner of the Oscar that year for James Ivory’s stunning, classic film “A Room With a View” (starring young and fresh faces Helena Bonham Carter and Denholm Elliot), is nominated again this year for George Miller’s visionary epic “Mad Max: Fury Road” and is primed to taking home the Golden Boy once again!
What is so fantastic about Jenny Beaven’s contribution to “Mad Max: Fury Road”, personally, is that it is such a different kind of project than her past films which have garnered nominations such as “Gosford Park“, “The King’s Speech“, and “Howards End“, which makes it so cool to see her creating such raw and original and truly contemporary visions for this latest masterwork, and getting much deserved recognition for it.
If you haven’t seen “Mad Max: Fury Road” do so. It is a magnificently conjured film by true veterans of the craft. To be honest, I had my doubts about it, as I am getting so tired of these Hollywood remakes, but with the original director at the helm it truly is a treat to see what could be done with a story like Mad Max if given the treatment it deserves.
And if you wonder how possibly could we see the tattered and extreme costumes of “Fury Road” translate to today’s fashion scene. Look no further than say Kanye West’s label “Yeezy” and his latest collection SEASON 3 . . .apparently dystopia is tres chic these days, and that’s just a single example. Go figure!
We hope to delve a bit more into the Costume Design category in the coming week, so stay tuned!
And don’t forget to watch on the big night (Feb. 28) to see history in the making!
How rich it is to find the threads of our {past}, {present}, and {future}
Poor little hysterical witch! In the middle ages you were in conflict with the church. Now it is with the law.
Title Card: “Häxan (1922)”
We really ought to be saving this one for our own private inspiration board, but a higher wisdom has urged us to share. We swear!
This sinisterly beautiful Style {WISE} is from the archives of cinema history. Back to the days of the silent film, where the power of imagery ruled supreme.
The film is the 1922 Pseudo Documentary Art-House Horror Silent Classic, Häxan (pronounced “hek-sen”). Imaginations soared through creative interpretations of alleged real-life events right up through to the early twentieth century. The Swedish Film was directed, written, and starring Benjamin Christensen as the Devil himself.
Ultimately comparing the hysteria of contemporary (1921) women with the behaviour of the witches in the Middle Ages; the film concludes that they are very similar. Hey, we never said a peep! {click here for more}
Title Card: Centuries have passed and the Almighty of medieval times no longer sits in his tenth sphere.
Title Card: We no longer sit in church staring terrified at the frescoes of the devils.
Title Card: The witch no longer flies away on her broom over the rooftops.
Title Card: But isn’t superstition still rampant among us?
Title Card: Is there an obvious difference between the sorceress and her customer then and now?
Title Card: We no longer burn our old and poor. But do they not often suffer bitterly?
Title Card: And the little woman, whom we call hysterical, alone and unhappy, isn’t she still a riddle for us?
Title Card: Nowadays we detain the unhappy in a mental institution or – if she is wealthy – in a modern clinic.
Title Card: And then we will console ourselves with the notion that the mildly temperate shower of the clinic has replaced the barbaric methods of medieval times.
What’s most fascinating is the way they amp up the already iconic images we have in our mind when we turn our thoughts to the idea of witchcraft, the frenzy of the medieval times, and the rugged decay of the Medieval Times. All these elements are intensified and, almost glamourized, for the silver screen in a way only the 1920s could make happen.
Wouldn’t it be great to see more powerful imagery like this come to the forefront today, while still staying beautiful ? Perhaps some of you beauties will find some inspiration to take with you after your visit here with The Eye of Faith.
Häxan: Witchcraft through the ages, is a true experience for the eyes and ears, with music beautifully composed by Emil Reesen.
Seemingly a silent horror sensation, but truly a documentation of modern man.
So much faith is thrown into the blind eyes of God, as fellow man takes judgement and punishment upon himself.
Just a little something-something to get those juices flowing!
It’s hard to really pinpoint when men decided to take up boxing bears, but according to a recent article on VICE Fightland Blog the tradition began sometime in the mid-nineteenth century, and made its grand debut in New York in 1877 ( ‘Pyrenean Bear, who wrestles all comers under the rules’).
Check out these INSANE pictures from the post by Sarah Kurchak, and click here to read more about this fascinating, brutal, and peculiar time in history where boxing a bear was and in some cases, still is, all the rage . . .
Allyson Adams could hardly believe her eyes when she stumbled upon her father’s typewritten manuscript “Elvis Presley, Singer, Actor, Man” inside a white cardboard box she liked to call her “Daddy’s Box”, and had remained untouched for some 40 years.
“Daddy”, as she knew him is to us the American actor Nick Adams who starred in the TV series “The Rebel” as Johnny Yuma, and was well-known in Hollywood circles for hanging out with the likes of James Dean and even dated Dean’s “Rebel Without a Cause” co-star Natalie Wood for a time. However, famous of all his buddies was his best buddy, the one and only King himself – Elvis Presley.
Presley found Adams while trying to integrate himself with the cool kids in Hollywood, and soon found an everlasting friendship, or bromance, if you will with Nick, who would go on to be nominated for an Academy Award for his work in ‘Twilight of Honor’ in 1963.
Nick Adams and daughter, Allyson
Nick Adams would meet his demise much the same way Elvis did (a drug overdose in 1968) leaving his daughter Allyson at the tender age of 7 to live with the mysterious legacy of her famous father.
With her help, Nick Adams’ first-hand account of his friendship with the King survives and is being shared with the world in a fantastic publication entitled “The Rebel and the King” with a special forward by Allyson Adams.
With the help of our trusty correspondent John Wisniewski, we were able to learn a bit more about The Rebel, The King, and this fantastic publication from Allyson Adams, herself.
JOHN: First, how did Nick Adams meet Elvis Presley and what was their first meeting like?
ALLYSON: It was Elvis that first reached out to my father at 20th Century Fox when Elvis was filming Love Me Tender. My Dad was leaving the studio after an audition when Elvis called his name and walked toward him. My father said that when Elvis first made eye contact with him there was an instant recognition, an immediate connection.
Elvis knew that my father was in Rebel Without A Cause and friends with James Dean and Natalie Wood. Elvis wanted to be part of the young Hollywood crowd even though Dean had already died. My Dad was a go-getter and at that time was someone to “know” because he knew lots of show business people. Elvis was serious about his acting career and he didn’t know a single soul in Hollywood so he asked my Dad to show him the town. And he did. They were young actors who wanted to be great
JOHN: Why did they become such good friends?
ALLYSON: Elvis and Nick were both from poor families and understood life’s struggles. For both of them there was only one way and that was UP. They were determined not to go back to their old lives and shared a hunger for fame and food. They loved to eat and I am not kidding. My father goes into great detail about Gladys’ home cooking. Their mothers were very similar and my Grandmother visited Graceland several times and became friends with Gladys (Elvis’ mother).
I think it was a bromance but not in sexual terms. They just had a lot of fun together and struggled with some of the same demons and insecurities.
They remained friends until my father’s death in 1968. That was the time Elvis was reinventing himself about to make his comeback and they used to jog at 5 in the morning to avoid gawkers.
They both got a lot of flack and bad publicity for their friendship and so had to hide it from the public. It makes me sad that my father felt like he had to defend himself for his famous friendships.
“I don’t care if my Dad was bi-sexual, I just don’t think he was. If he experimented or had a man crush on the hottest sensation of his time, I say more power to him! “
JOHN: What were your impressions of Elvis Presley when you first met him?
ALLYSON: As the story goes, I had breakfast on Elvis’ lap when I was a baby but I don’t remember and there were no cameras that day. Darn it. Honestly, I was not an Elvis fan before I found this manuscript in my Daddy Box. It was only after reading the manuscript and learning about Elvis’ life and watching his early performances that I became an enamored devotee. I absolutely fell in love with him. He’s so cute and nobody has touched him as far as raw, magnetic performances go. I confess to being frozen in time, because I love the early Elvis. Although later when you see him perform, knowing what he had gone through, his gospel and ballads will break your heart or lift you up.
“They just had a lot of fun together and struggled with some of the same demons and insecurities.”
JOHN: Nick Adams was told by many in Hollywood to stay away from Elvis- why was this?
ALLYSON: I don’t know if he was told to stay away. He was criticized for being friends with Elvis and accused of being an opportunist, even though it was Elvis who approached my father. They were genuine friends and some people just couldn’t wrap their heads around the fact my father was friends with both James Dean and Elvis Presley. It was jealousy, or to quote my Dad, “the green eyed monster.”
They (the critics) were already giving Elvis a pretty hard time for his pelvis moves and now this just compounded the insults. The criticism hurt them both and my father wrote several articles defending his friendships with both men.
Have you seen the latest Globe tabloid about Elvis’ stepmother Dee Presley who claims E.P. had a gay affair with Nick? For the record I don’t think my Dad or Elvis were gay, but they were persecuted during the 50’s as if they were. There is all this speculation but no proof and both of them are dead so they are easy targets. I don’t care if my Dad was bi-sexual, I just don’t think he was. If he experimented or had a man crush on the hottest sensation of his time, I say more power to him!
All human beings are entitled to free expression and consensual private sexuality. What goes on behind closed doors is nobody’s business unless you want to write a play or poem about it. It’s 2014, people should get over it.
JOHN: Yes Allyson, I did see in the tabloids about Elvis and Nick supposedly being gay. I did not really believe the tabloids. I agree with you that even if this rumour were true, it was none of anyone’s business.
ALLYSON: Thank you John, I appreciate hearing you say that. I don’t need to defend my father. He was who he was. He was a rebel, an ambitious actor, great comedian, ahead of his time and flawed. Now he’s dead and 45 years later we are still talking about him.
He achieved his Godzilla dream for fame more than he realized. I want to highlight the cool things he did and unravel what I think happened the night he died, even though I will probably never know the answer. The mystery of his death is loosening its hold on my obsessive curiosity and that’s a good thing.
JOHN: Could you tell us what it was like growing up with Nick Adams-did he always wish to be an actor as a child or teenager?
ALLYSON: My memoir “The Daddy Box” goes into my childhood and growing up with and without Nick Adams. I think Nick Adams greatest wish when he was a child was to get the hell out of Jersey City and stop being dirt poor. His first dream was to be a professional baseball player and acting came after that. Jack Palance gave him his first break in a play. They were both Ukrainians from the hood.
Believe it or not, people in show business used to help each other out and my father returned the favor by paying it forward to many young hopefuls. You never read about that part of his character.
When it comes to fashion, men often find it rather challenging to create their own style.
The reason for this, arguably, may be that men’s fashion is more streamlined with often fewer options to create an individual look and style. This is especially true in business fashion, where the dress-codes for men tend to be exactly defined.
While clearly defined dress-codes make the selection for the right business attire easier, they also hold one decisive disadvantage for the stylish and style-conscious man: this uniformity makes it a lot harder to create an individual style.
Matching tie and shirt
This is where stylish men’s accessories come into play. They provide a subtle way of underlining one’s own style and sense of fashion in the often rigid business world. This is why, when it comes to stylish business accessories, the devil is in the detail.
Hereby, the tie that one wears in combination with the suit can be a statement in itself.
The tie is the part of the business attire that shows the largest variation in colors, patterns and styles. When picking a tie, it should provide a contrast to the shirt, which can be created by observing some color matching patterns. The style-conscious man will seek to stand out in the streamlined business fashion by either wearing a stylish shirt or a unique tie.
Elegant watches – The perfect accessory
When it comes to accessories, there is arguably nothing more stylish than wearing a unique and timeless watch.
While today there are many precise timekeeping devices available, trademark watches have lost none of their appeal in modern times. On the contrary, brands like Cartier are more popular than ever before, since they provide an essentially manly accessory that combines technology, fine craftsmanship and art.
These features make premium watches the confident and style-conscious man’s best friend.
All that’s left is to pick out the one that best suits you!
Let yourself be the best reflection of the truest true that is you.
Until next time,
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What is it about Francoise Hardy that captivates the world so? It is a question as mysterious and enigmatic as the living icon, herself.
More than just a 1960s French Pop sensation, she is also an immortal idol of beauty, individual style, and tameless adventure. Apart from her legendary music career, the timeless beauty is iconized to this day in film, music, and of course, fashion.
Whether playing the girl next door, boho hippie chick, tomboy, or the sexy biker, Francoise was able to captivate all of those who laid eyes on her with her striking beauty and fearlessness. Like a siren, her spell is not easily shaken from the captivator.
A shy girl, Francoise grew up in Paris with her mother and younger sister, while her father lived apart from them with little time spent with his two young girls. However, her father would play a huge part in her life by buying her her first guitar for a birthday, which would nurture her love and talent for music and song.
As fate would have it, after a year studying at the Sorbonne, Francoise spotted an ad in the paper looking for young singers, and in 1961, at the age of 17, she signed her first record contract with VOGUE, and by the next year her first record, “Oh Cheri Cheri” was released, co-writted by Johnny Hallyday – the French Elvis, as he was known.
It would be her classic song, “Tous les garçons et les filles” (“All the Boys and Girls”) that would become a huge hit, and put the enchanting songstress on the map. With a growing wave of popularity towards French Pop Music, or yé-yé, it wasn’t long before her song was a hit in Quebec, the UK, and soon the world!!!
Most recently her charming croon has been hitting the screens around the world in Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom”(click her to see the iconic dance and kiss from the movie), introducing her to a whole new generation of listeners looking for a break from the monotony of today’s music scene.
Indeed, she provides something classic in her music, which has a modern yet timeless quality to it. And whether you speak French, or not, it seems her music touches a supernatural sensibility in all of us, allowing us to enjoy the pure essence of what she sings without even knowing a word of it.
Perhaps this can be attributed to her background as an astrologer (told you she wasn’t just your average singing belle!), and her interest in the mystical and esoteric. In fact, she has published an entire series of books under her name that deal with the subject matter, making her an expert in the field. And having trained with legend in the field, Jean-Pierre Nicola, you can trust her ability to finely tune into life’s sensitivities.
Francoise is a Capricorn, which explains her cool demeanour, unending ambition, and scholarly approach to life, but what still remains a mystery is that certain je na sais quois, and what it is exactly that has beguiled the world so.
After all, she was the quoted muse of Nicholas Ghesquiere, designer of Balenciaga, and you can almost always count on any credible fashion blogger to have a piece on the belle.
But, as any wise man or woman knows, that is an element that is best left alone, for it is that untouchable, unknowable, strange, and desirable quality that does hold us so, and in so, one has the chance to truly be immortal.
Sometimes, I think her life can be best described using the lyrics to Nat King Cole’s all-time classic – “Nature Boy”. But of course, for the sake of gender, it should be aptly called “Nature Girl” when dealing with the one and only Francoise Hardy.
Perhaps, you can see it too:
There was a girl A very strange enchanted girl They say he wandered very far, very far Over land and sea A little shy And sad of eye But very wise Was she
And then one day A magic day she came my way And while we spoke of many things, fools and kings This she said to me “The greatest thing You’ll ever learn Is just to love And be loved In return”
In 1981, Francoise Hardy married her long time companion, Jacques Dutronc, who she remains married to this day.
Perhaps that’s her secret; just to love. Start with yourself, of course. But if we could all do the same, perhaps we can all be remembered someday as seductive, enchanting, and down-right stylish as she.
Is there more perfect a Monday morning than this for a wicked musical pick me up?
You’ve grabbed your coffee by now, I hope, so now it’s time to get to the shimmying and shaking before your boss catches on that you look a little tired.
Here’s a sure-fire sold gold {Music Minute} to get you in the mood!
This one comes to you straight from the big T.O.
A very talented band, whose leading lady we are honoured to call our friend,
I’ve been saving this photo for some time now…waiting for the perfect moment to share. Now that it’s so close to Halloween, what better time to display this very curious creature…
As you might know, we have a huge collection of vintage photographs that we have archived here at The Eye of Faith – each one possessing a mysteriously lingering quality that we just can’t put our finger on.
This one here is no exception. Everything about it is pure Eye of Faith! Look at this classic family portrait set up in their very own living room. A puzzle has been laid out on the coffee table and the entire family has gathered. The photographer is unknown, but lucky for them they have laid witness to the father’s strange transformation….
And while everybody in the photograph is ready with their best All-American smile, the eldest son can’t hide his fear knowing –
“I THINK MY DAD IS POSSESSED!!!”
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We don’t know what kind of gore or paranormal experiences may have ensued after the camera clicked, but like many of these old photographs they leave silent clues and messages from beyond as to the lives of the people in them…
This one, only had their names:
Whether or not these individuals are out there still is beyond me…but we can at least appreciate this photograph for what it may or may not be, and with Halloween on our hands we can’t help but haunt our own imagination!
{My Father, My Devil, My Demon, My Life, My Dreams, My Steadfast Nightmares…}
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That wasn’t the only snapshot we had in our possession portraying haunted men possessed by demonic forces.
The father is the leader of the home, but in these cases, the Devil surely seems to have crept his way through the cracks and into the man you thought you trusted most.
So if you see a shadow come across his face, look into his eyes and hope to God you can save his fragile mortal life. Make sure you announce it to the house, so everyone can take cover. Don’t be afraid to scream it:
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“I THINK DAD IS POSSESSED!”
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Don’t be too afraid if this happens….after all, they’re just earth bound spirits trying to attach themselves to something tangible, and in this case it’s unfortunately your Dad. According to therapist, Dr. Edith Fiore, author of The Unquiet Dead, the simplest thing to do is tell the unfriendly spirit to leave immediately!
“Tell him he is harming himself and the person he is possessing.
To encourage the spirit to leave Earth you must tell him his loved ones are waiting for him. Reassure him that when he’s in the hereafter he will be in a perfect body, not a crippled or aged one.
Tell him there’s no such thing as hell – that he will have a wonderful, peaceful existence in the afterlife with everything he wants. Then tell him to go in peace with your blessing.”
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She also states 9 ways to tell if you, yourself, are possessed. They are:
1. Low energy levels
2. Character shifts or mood swings
3. Inner voice or voices speaking to you
4. Impulsive behavior
5. Memory problems
6. Poor concentration
7. Sudden onset of physical problems
8. A sudden onset of anxiety or bouts of depression (especially after hospitalization or any other trauma)
9. Weight gain with no obvious cause
So be on the look out fine fellows and felines of The Faith! There are other world beings out there just waiting for a nice body to become one with….and don’t think Daddy will come running to help you, especially if he’s the one possessed!
Exsúrgat Deus et dissipéntur inimíci ejus: et fúgiant qui odérunt eum a fácie ejus.
Sicut déficit fumus defíciant; sicut fluit cera a fácie ígnis, sic péreant peccatóres a fácie Dei.
{Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered: and let them that hate Him flee from before His Face!
As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
PSALM 67 – Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
So muster up some courage and take on those Demons yourself! Kick some ass, even if it is your own father! Your Momma will be quick to Thank You!
Until next time,
{theEye}
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{All Photos Taken From The Eye of Faith {Archives}
