A summary of the origins of Suridealism. A movement you’ve likely not heard of.
Suridealism is a term used to describe fine art and literary art movements from the early 20th century.
Emile Malespine (1892 – 1952) coined the term in 1925 in the magazine publication, Manometre. In his Manifesto Du Suridealisme, Malespine in part states, “Idea, ideal: Suridealism is both of these things at the same time; the idea is mixed with the word and becomes an image.” And “conscious and unconscious: these two terms must be identified in a higher idealized term. Suridealism will therefore be, in its most general expression, a consciousness awakened by unconsciousness, and this consciousness, in turn, modifies the subconsciousness.”[i]
Malespine lists the following artists as Suridealists:
Hans Arp; Andre Desson; Marcel Arland; Maples Arce; Victor Brauner ; Giuseppe Leonardi ; Celine Arnauld ; Sofronio Pocarini ; F. L. Bernardez ; Nore Brunel; J. L. Borges; Bourgeois; Tilly Brugman; Rogelio Buendia; Giorgio Carmelich; Julio Casal; Alvaro Cebreiro; Serge Charchoune; Paul Dermee; Maurice Casteels; Arthur Petronio; Emile Didier; Robert Delaunay; Joseph Delteil; Karl Teige; Van Doesburg ; Edwards; Marcel Raval; Hans Richter; Ivan Goll; Gino Gori; Fernant Berckelaers; Jozef Peeters; Vincent Huidobro; Louis Kassak; Jacques Laplace ; Pierre Laurent; Emile Malespine; Marius Riollet; Lissitzki; Georges Linze; Marinetti; Kurt Schwitters ; Hannes Meyer; Moholy-Nagy; Enrico Prampolini; Jean Hytier; Vinicio Paladini; Thadee Peiper; Paul Nouge; Benjamin Peret ; Jules Roblin; Correa-Calderon ; Ramon Gomez De La Serna; Louis Thomas ; Tristan Tzara; Isaac Del Vando Villar; Vasari; Alberto Vianello; Victor Servrankx; Ilia Zdanevitch.
Suridealism was also used to describe a literary movement in 1927 by the novelist Maryse Choisy.[ii] The movement had a feminist objective and countered the male-dominated Surrealist movement and wanted to expand upon the novel genre of fiction writing.
Choisy initially claimed to have coined the term; however, that is countered by Malespine in his July 1928 Der Sturm article entitled “Proteste.” Malespine writes contesting Choisy being the founder of Suridealism and rightfully defends his claim that he was the first to use and define the term.[iii] The tone in his article is stern, and he speaks harshly against the Parisian artists who he says think they are better than all others, even to the point they can stake a claim on a term that was already invented. Malespine claims Choisy invited him to join her movement, which he publicly refuses, having already created the movement.
In Choisy’s description of the Suridealist movement, she says, “Women are often criticized for being conservative, for being incapable of creating or even following the avant-garde movements. It is up to a few creative women painters and talented musicians to prove otherwise. A Suridealist group of under 30s has just been founded, which has gathered the most important names among the rising generation.”
Choisy continues, “Our century is the century of youth. But it is also the century of women. The purely masculine civilization is a failure. It is up to the woman to set the tone, which does not mean that we exclude the man from our songs or from our meetings. We are more generous, more inclusive. There are men in our group and even in our committee. But the crusade of Suridealism is led by women.
Pure intelligence has gone bankrupt. Help will come from the heart. Not from a heavy heart or a heart lush from the senses, but from a heart bursting from emptiness. A Suridealist heart. In the heart vs. intelligence match. Suridealism cheers for the heart.”
In Graphic Arts, the term is used in the French publication, Tambour (1929 – 1930). Author Richard Thoma in his article “Alastair,” describes schools of art in the statement -“It is an error to believe that the Surrealists, the Cubists, the Impressionists, the Futurists, the Symbolists, the Expressionists, the Vorticists, the Pandemoniumists, the Suridealists possess imagination and superhuman powers of interpretation to the exclusion of all other schools of art.”[iv]
In an American publication, the term was first used on April 25th, 1937, in the New York Times. The article labels artist Frank Marvin Blasingame the “suridealist.”[v] Blasingame is the only American painter with this moniker and possibly given without knowing its French origins.
The term was used again on July 17th, 1938, describing Blasingame’s work. Author Edythe Siegal of the Asbury Park Press describes the work as “ultra-modern” and refers to the former April 25th article.[vi] In the same article, Donald Bear, then Director of the Denver Art Museum, says, “The paintings have a great power of spirit. They have a very interesting effect upon me. They are not pictures in the ordinary sense. Rather they appear to be provocative symbols that call up states of imaginative tension.”
Suridealism is again used in 2018 by Antonello Morsillo in his exhibition Il Suridealismo nell’arte (Suridealism in Art). Celeste Network described Morsillo’s exhibition book as “a small treatise on philosophical aesthetics, is completely pervaded by the perception of considering art as an ethical urgency.”[vii]
[i] “Suridéaliste manifesto” Manometer no. 7, February 1925.
[ii] “Manifeste Suridealiste” Les Nouvelles littéraires 22nd October, 1927
[iii] “Proteste” Der Strum, July 1928 page 241 – https://magazines.iaddb.org/issue/DSTURM/1928-07-01/edition/19-4/page/1
[iv] “Alstair” Tambour No. 7. 1930. Salemson, Harold J.. Tambour. United Kingdom, University of Wisconsin Press, 2002.
[v] “FIVE NEW GROUP SHOWS” New York Times, 25th April, 1937 page 172.
[vii] “Suridealism in art and Suridealist art as an ethical urgency” Celeste Network 14, November 2018 – https://www.celesteprize.com/eng_artista_news/idu:62838/idn:42227/
In late July 1979, those fighting to preserve the Art Deco landmark known as the Waikiki Theatre lost their final battle to save its soul. The developers wasted no time in starting the first phase of the theater’s destruction. This terrible act merited just one sentence in the August 2, 1979, issue of the Honolulu Advertiser, saying the old Waikiki Theatre had undergone “partial dematerialization.”
The lobby walls lay in ruins. Lying in pieces amongst the rubble was, for many in Hawaii, a work of art as significant as Diego Rivera’s Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Central Park. The art was Hawaii’s first frescoes, and they were painted by Marguerite Blasingame, a friend of Diego Rivera. Discussed later is the herculean effort used to preserve Rivera’s work. Blasingame’s wasn’t even honored with a photograph, and the reason for the destruction would make any that appreciate art disgusted.
The Start Of It All; More Restrictions Please
Let’s step back to the beginning. The initial brainstorming for the Waikiki Theatre began as early as 1930. It would take five years until they broke ground. In between lay many battles with Honolulu planners and regulators. That the theater was built at all is mainly due to one man in particular.
In June 1933, Consolidated Amusement Co., Ltd. representative Esmond I. Parker was about to earn himself a big promotion. He was in front of the Honolulu Public Works Board of Supervisors, making an impassioned case about building code restrictions for new buildings in downtown Honolulu. He wasn’t fighting against the restrictions. Quite the opposite, he wanted them retained. He argued that any relaxation of the rules would create unfair competition for those who had already constructed expensive Class A buildings in the area.
Consolidated Amusement owned twelve of the largest and most expensive theaters on the islands, more than any other company.[i] In his argument, Parker mentioned that Consolidated was contemplating a 1,000-seat, fireproof theater in Waikiki.[ii] This was the first mention on record of what would become Honolulu’s most well-loved landmark.
The following year, Parker became president and managing director, and the zoning battle began.
Land and Parking Battles
Construction of the Waikiki Theatre remained uncertain well into the spring of 1934. Consolidated sought to increase zoning on Kalakaua Avenue to accommodate the large theater. The company pitched grand and lavish ideas to the city planning committee, including a garden and architectural design that would harmonize with the natural surroundings of the Waikiki district. Not surprisingly, there was pushback from the local community.
Nearby landowners and tenants of residential complexes on Seaside Avenue filed protests against the planned theater anticipating the noise and activity it would bring. In May 1934, there were news articles almost daily discussing the concerns of those living in the area. But for the majority of Waikiki residents, there was a growing sense of excitement. The fact that Consolidated Amusement was considering such a large and costly undertaking was a positive sign. Moreover, it indicated the Great Depression was ending and a positive economic future for Hawaii.
Meanwhile, Parker and Consolidated were also lobbying against an amendment that would classify “amusement houses” with under 300 seats as theaters. Those in favor of the amendment accused the company of trying to retain its monopoly on the moving picture market. Consolidated claimed their concerns were about public safety. These smaller theaters, dubbed “midget theaters” by the press, would not be required to be fireproof. However, this argument didn’t hold much weight since many theaters in the United States had less than 300 seats.
In June 1934, the theater classification fight was still ongoing, but Consolidated received some good news. City planners advised they would approve the company’s increased zoning request if they agreed to provide at least 200 parking spaces.
The parking lot would be located behind the theater on land leased from Union Oil Company, which agreed to offer approximately 200 parking spaces at a rate of 10 to 15 cents per car. Owners of nearby property were unhappy about this, pointing out that moviegoers would simply fill up the no-cost street parking around the theater before heading into the paid lot. So, the city planners offered a final compromise solution: Consolidated must provide at least 200 free parking spaces for theater patrons.
Consolidated Lobbying Pays Off
By September 1934, things heated up when an investigation of alleged “monopolistic agreements” between film distributors and Consolidated Amusement was filed with the Federal Trade Commission in Washington. One of many things mentioned in the complaint was Consolidated’s attempts to block “midget” theaters from receiving remodeling permits. For example, on September 4, 1934, Judge A. M. Cristy issued a restraint preventing the city inspector from issuing a building permit to J. J. Franklin, a “midget movies” promoter, that would allow them to renovate the Von Holt building for theater purposes.[iii]Despite Consolidated representatives publicly denying any knowledge of wrongdoing, it was clear the company was using its strength to bully and prevent increased competition.
Consolidated was pushing full steam ahead, especially with their lobbying efforts. On September 10, 1934, the company filed another petition for increased zoning at Kalakaua and Seaside Ave. Then, on September 25, they made their final and most powerful pitch to the public works committee. First, they presented evidence that 90 percent of property owners within 750 feet of the proposed theater approved of its size and construction. Then, as a final nail in the coffin, they brought in a big gun. Former governor of Hawaii Lawrence M. Judd told the committee that the new theater would be a “show place of which the city would be proud.”[iv]
On Tuesday, October 10, Consolidated Amusement got the big win it had been fighting for. Both the Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported that plans for the theater had been drawn up, and work would commence soon.
The front page of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin on October 13, 1934 showcased architect Charles William (C.W.) Dickey’s proposed design for the Waikiki Theatre. Two months later, on December 22, the Honolulu Advertiser published the first aerial drawing of the theater and grounds. It was spectacular, and you can imagine this must have been a proud moment for many in Waikiki.
In July 1935, after a number of modifications, C.W. Dickey announced his plans were finished and ready to be submitted to the president and general manager of the theater, Esmond I. Parker. The estimated cost of the theater was $150,000 (which is approximately $3M today). The only significant change from the initial master plan was the elimination of a radio broadcast station. Interestingly, in August 1935, Consolidated purchased an 85 percent share in the Honolulu Broadcasting Company, owners of the KGMB station. They were wisely speculating that television had a glittering future ahead.
Consolidated Breaks Ground
In November 1935, Honolulu contractor E. E. Black was awarded the construction contract for the theater. Black’s bid was $115,000 ($2.1M) and did not include air conditioning. The climate control system would be handled by W. A. Ramsay, Ltd., who would install a Carrier system.
In December 1935, Consolidated Amusement finally broke ground on the Waikiki Theatre. It would become Honolulu’s most recognizable landmark and one of the most iconic motion picture theaters in history.
And within its distinctive walls, hiding just inside the entrance doors, was something truly unique.
Waikiki Beach Building Boom
By late February 1936, the outer walls of the theater were well underway and its iconic shape started to appear for all to see.[v]
Later that month, Union Oil Company requested an additional 30 square feet in the business district adjacent to the theater. The request was approved without contest the following month. Consolidated began construction of the parking lot immediately. It was the Start of a Waikiki Beach building boom.
Within a short time, many new residences and apartment buildings were under construction. The May 18, 1936 edition of the Honolulu Advertiser ran an article entitled Waikiki Beach Area Notes Building Boom. In addition to the theater, it mentioned 15 different structures under construction or nearing completion in the area. These included two-story stucco apartments at Royal Hawaiian and Kuhio Streets and two apartment complexes on Aloha Drive. But as with almost every construction project, there were a few unanticipated challenges. One would have been especially costly.
The Electric Organ Misses its Projection
The full-time organist for the Waikiki Theatre was Ed Sawtelle. He was very popular, one of the foremost organists in the country, and a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music. Sawtelle returned to Hawaii in 1936 to take up his new position at the theater, bringing with him a new organ. Although he had a long relationship with the Robert-Morton Organ Company, Sawtelle had selected something different: the Hammond Electric Model A. Heralded as the latest in organ technology, Sawtelle had provided design input and oversaw the production of this new Organ at the Hammond factory in Chicago.
The August 20 edition of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin featured a lengthy article on the new Organ. In a piece titled Organ Praised by Sawtelle, the organist goes into detail about the Hammond Model A and its many benefits, asserting “it is a far superior instrument of its kind… and the volume can be increased from a barely audible murmur to a might roar….”[vi]
Part of the Hammond’s appeal was probably the price. A Hammond Model A cost under $3,000, whereas a pipe organ could cost anywhere from $10,000 to $75,000 at the time. But, unfortunately, the Hammond did not last long in the theater.
Sawtelle and the theater audience soon realized although the new Model A was the latest in electronic organ technology, it could not project sound far enough for such a large theater.
Although Hammond claimed their new “Model A” electric Organ could produce the same timbre as a pipe organ, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and customers begged to differ. In 1936, these claims would ultimately result in a cease-and-desist order from the FTC. The FTC admitted the Organ was a fine and beautiful instrument. However, it was unable to live up to its claims of performing as well as a pipe organ.[vii]
A Robert-Morton pipe organ was removed from the Hawaii Theatre and retrofitted into the Waikiki Theatre to resolve the problem. Its chambers were hidden behind the large plaster palm trees. Nothing was reported on what must have been a significant unplanned expense for the theater.
If there was any embarrassment, it quickly faded as Sawtelle and the Robert-Morton pipe-organ became a feature, with daily performances and weekly radio broadcasts. You can still find recordings of them today.
Fountain of Stars
On June 19, 1936, another attraction for the theater was announced. The “Fountain of the Stars” in the forecourt would display, cast in brass, the signatures of more than 200 stars from Hollywood. The signatures were sent to Hawaii and then cast in brass there. It was destined to be a big attraction as many were from stars who typically did not show their signatures publicly.
Emergence and Frescoes
“Like a beautiful butterfly emerging from the chrysalis…” declared the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in July 1936 as the new theater’s final pieces were put into place. Described as being designed in Tropical Moderne style, nothing like it had been seen before.[viii]
Some aspects were provoking complaints from local citizens. For example, in Letters from Readers in the July 25edition of the Star-Bulletin, Mrs. Archibald Baird writes: “Sir: Can nothing be done to prevent the glaring signs being placed on our lovely new Waikiki theater? …Neon lights…in such a manner…is tragic…” 7
For the most part, the theater thrilled those who put their eyes upon it. A giant gold mirror was placed in the foyer. It reflected murals by Emerson Andelin. These murals depicted the advancement of Hawaiian life from ancient transportation in canoes to the luxurious clipper planes used by affluent tourists from the mainland. There is a line drawing of this image on page 96 of Lowell Angell’s book Theatres of Hawaii.
Emerson Andelin was born in Utah, one of seven children who all became artists. His daughter Pamela carried on the artistic gene, becoming a painter as well. Andelin studied art in California and went to Honolulu in the late 1920s. Consolidated Amusement used him to decorate many of their theaters. He also served on the board of the Honolulu Art Academy. He later moved to Hollywood and was an artist on films such as Tora Tora Tora and Devil at 4 O’Clock. After he retired, he returned to the islands where he died in an automobile accident on Haleakala Highway in March 1979, at the age of 76. Although not a first and remaining in place for another 30 years, Andelin’s murals were also not preserved.
Marguerite Louis Blasingame, one of Hawaii’s leading artists at the time, was commissioned by C. W. Dickey to paint two large frescoes in the theater lobby. Blasingame was born in Hawaii to Portuguese emigrant parents. In 1928 she graduated from the University of Hawaii, having studied language arts and theater. Blasingame then went on to the California School of Fine Arts (San Francisco Art Institute) and ultimately received her master’s in graphic arts from Stanford University in 1932. She married fellow artist Frank Blasingame in 1929.
C. W. Dickey possibly became aware of Marguerite and her work during a series of lectures on architecture at the Honolulu Academy of Arts in 1935. By this time, Marguerite and her husband Frank Blasingame had created several carvings on the island, including the four blue-stone panels on the Kawananakoa School fountain, a teakwood screen in the C. Brewer building, and the incredible carvings still gracing the Church of the Crossroads. The frescoes were to be interpretive expressions of ancient Hawaiian life.
The press described them as, “Daring in theme, these murals are unlike any ever painted with a Hawaiian motif.”[ix] They were considered the first “true” frescoes ever painted in Hawaii. They are frescoes instead of murals because they were painted directly onto the wall while the plaster was still wet, rather than a dry or easily movable object or surface. These frescoes would have more eyes on them in 43 years than most museum pieces have in a lifetime.
They depicted scenes of hula dancers, perhaps at a luau or other celebration. Using rhythm and repetition, Blasingame created a balanced and lively composition that was sure to engage theatergoers as they entered the lobby. The figures were clearly defined with simple lines and flat colors. While the murals depicted a festive occasion, the figures’ expressions conveyed seriousness and intense focus. The dancers formed precise, diagonal lines as they performed their synchronized movements, while musicians playing the ukulele and other revelers rounded out the foreground and background. Filled with harmonious and energetic movement, the frescoes helped set the mood for the evening as the audience entered the theater.
One of Marguerite Blasingame’s frescoes in the Waikiki Theater lobby. The photo was taken shortly before demolition. Credit: Hawaii State Archives, Photographer David Franzen
A Glistening Jewel
The 1,300-seat theatre had a single screen flanked by coconut palm trees with an artificial rainbow curving over the top. The auditorium had a curved midnight blue plaster “sky” on which moving stars were projected.
“Waikiki Theatre Interior,” UHM Library Digital Image Collections, accessed December 21, 2020, https://digital.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/items/show/30035.
The grand opening took place on August 20, 1936. The program was Edwin Sawtelle presenting Hawaiian melodies, a Mickey Mouse cartoon (Mickey’s Grand Opera), Paramount News, and then the main feature, a romantic adventure film, Under Two Flags.
“Waikiki Theater” The Honolulu Advertiser August 20, 1936, Page 11
The local press seemed to like it. “The new theater is like a glistening jewel set in soft green velvet,” begins an article in the Honolulu Advertiser. The foyer has “… murals depicting the growth of Hawaii as the islands kept pace with the progress of the world, from ancient times to the present….”
It describes the auditorium as “a revelation in theatrical architecture” and continues in a similar vein: “The ceiling done in soft blue becomes a replica of the heavens through special lighting effects… through this lighting the great rainbow that spans the proscenium becomes a soft, misty, fairy arch rivalling in great loveliness the great rainbows that arch (sic) Hawaii’s skies.”[x]
“The usherettes were beautiful island girls in white slacks and blouses with blazing red sashes over their left shoulders and around their slender waists,” recalled Star-Bulletin columnist Ben Wood. “Flowers over their right ears and leis rounded out the outfits,” he wrote.[xi]
The Hedlund Fresco Restoration
Marguerite Blasingame died at the tragically young age of 41 in 1947. Still, her frescoes continued to be appreciated in Hawaii, at least for a while.
In 1959, artist Roy James Hedlund, an art major at the University of Hawaii, was commissioned to restore her frescoes. As a young teenager, Hedlund had sell-out exhibitions of his work at Tokeo Gima’s gallery. He had grown up around some of Hawaii’s greatest artists, including Jean Charlot, Juliette May Fraser, and Madge Tennant. Hedlund had admired the Blasingame frescoes for many years and was ecstatic about the opportunity to restore them.
Hedlund spent two weeks on the restoration while Juliette May Fraser oversaw the work. He was allowed to work for two hours each day, starting at 5:00 am. He began by using several applications of soap and water to remove years of dirt and grime from the paint, then let it dry overnight.
Fraser gave him tips, recalling how Marguerite had originally painted the frescoes. She advised him to use long-haired sable brushes and watered-down oil paints. He first tested paint colors on stiff white paper. Once dry, he held the paper up to the relevant area of the fresco to make sure the colors matched. Only then would he apply the paint directly to the fresco itself.
Hedlund recalled being paid very little for the restoration, somewhere around $20 for the entire project. However, he didn’t complain because he considered it a labor of love.
Unfortunately, his own work was to suffer the same fate as the frescoes he so lovingly restored. An ugly divorce led to the destruction of photos of his paintings and many of the original artworks themselves. As a result, very few Hedlund originals, if any, survive today.
Frescoes Come Tumbling Down
Thousands of tourists and Hawaiian locals enjoyed the Waikiki Theatre. On a Hawaiian blog about the old theaters, one said, “I distinctly remember seeing Close Encounters Of The Third Kind there and during one of the scenes the palm trees on the upper left side of the theater started to shake. There was a lot of commotion when the ushers discovered someone was hiding up there adding his own special effects. Remember the stars on the ceiling? Or the organist that used to play before the show? They just don’t make theaters like that anymore!”[xii]
Forty-three years after it opened to such great excitement and acclaim, the Waikiki Theatre’s days were numbered. On February 17, 1979, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin ran the following story:
“The Waikiki Theater now known less grandly as the Waikiki Theater III will be demolished and replaced by four smaller theatres and a shopping complex if its owner, Consolidated Amusement Company has its way. The city Department of Land Utilisation has confirmed that Consolidated plans a development that would add four more movie theatres – a total of six – not far from the corner of Kalakaua and Seaside Avenues.
But the plan is certain to be protested although the structure, which was designed by the world-famous Hawaii and California architect CW Dickey, is not yet on any register of historic buildings.”
The Historic Hawaii Foundation tried to save the theatre and prevent the impending renovation. Although just seven years short of qualifying for the national historic register, the foundation argued the theatre should be made an exception. However, in a 6-2 decision, the state Historic Places Review Board voted with extreme improvidence not to place the building on the register.
Charles R. Sutton, architect and one of the minority board members in the vote, commented, “It has been a significant landmark, a recognizable one, and should have been on the register,” continuing “…I think Waikiki is made more interesting by retaining landmarks.”[xiii]
Board chairman Peter Nelligan commented, “I think while most or all of the board members appreciate Waikiki Theatre for its architectural qualities, there is some doubt over whether they could be called exceptionally significant.”[xiv]
No mention was made of the exceptionally significant frescoes, painted by Marguerite Blasingame, which were now just hours from destruction. They were not thought important enough to try and save; they felt a larger concession area was more important.
Michael Horikawa, currently one of the most prominent collectors of Hawaiiana, was among those that attempted to save Hawaii’s first frescoes. Horikawa was a commercial photographer at the time, and one of his clients was Consolidate Amusement.
As soon as Horikawa heard the frescoes were destined for demolition, he phoned Consolidated’s President, informing him he was willing to foot the bill and save the murals. However, he was told there wasn’t enough time before the demolition was due to start. More importantly, liability insurance would not allow for it.
If only they had been treated with as much respect as the mural by Mexican artist Diego Rivera, Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Central Park. It was created for the Hotel del Prado in 1947. When the hotel was severely damaged in Mexico’s 1985 earthquake, it was scheduled for demolition. But the authorities recognized the importance of what was painted on its walls. Rivera’s fresco was, miraculously, undamaged by the earthquake.
In a Herculean effort and at great expense, they moved the 77,000-pound work to a safer location. Not only that, but the Mexican government also built a museum around it to preserve it. That’s what happens when you respect your artists and history.
What was left of the once magnificent art deco Waikiki Theatre underwent total destruction in April 2005. There was little reason to fight for its survival again; the theater had already lost its soul. Today, an outdoor strip mall is in its place, along with photographs of the Waikiki Theatre in a stairwell. The photos fail to show the once great art and Hawaii’s first frescoes inside.
[i] “New Theater is Planned at Waikiki Beach,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 3, 1933, 1.
[ii] Lowell Angell, Theaters of Hawaii (Mount Pleasant, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2011), 89.
[iii] “Movie Houses Carry War to U.S. Officials,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, September 3, 1934, 3.
[v] “Theater Nears Completion,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 22, 1936, 10.
[vi] “Edwin Sawtelle Music Director At the Waikiki,” The Honolulu Advertiser, August 20 1936, 12.
[vii] “Hammond is Ordered to ‘Cease and Desist’,” The Diapason, August 20 1936, 12.
[viii] “Hawaii’s Waikiki Theatre Demolished,” CinemaTreasures.com, April 27, 2005.
[ix] “Spirit of Islands Captured in New Theater’s Design,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 20 1936, 29.
[x] “Waikiki Theater An Affectionate Memory of a Very Special Theater,” http://waikikitheatre.bobalder.com/.
[xi] “Original Waikiki Theatre to Come Tumbling Down,” Star-Bulletin, November 18, 2003, http://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/11/18/business/story3.html.
[xii] “Do You Remember… Theaters,” https://www.midlifecrisishawaii.com/2010/08/23/do-you-remember-theaters/, August 23, 2010.
[xiii] “Waikiki Theater’s Final Curtain Is Drawing Near,” Star-Bulletin, July 20, 1979, 2.
[xiv] “Waikiki Theater’s Final Curtain Is Drawing Near,” Star-Bulletin, July 20 1979, 2.
I’m at the point in my research and confident enough to say I am the unofficial knowledge expert on the artists known as Marguerite Louis Blasingame and Frank Marvin Blasingame.
These two were nearly forgotten, and although my research has stirred up renewed interest, there is still a large amount of misinformation surrounding these two. Having compiled more than a thousand pages of notes and documents, I will help set the record straight in a book I am writing.
Marguerite and Frank came from notable bourgeois families in Hawaii and California. They fell in love while working in theater in the 1920s. They married under what appears to be discrete circumstances and together chose to say goodbye to their love of theater in pursuit of becoming visual artists. It is a love story.
I will provide many details on intriguing events including, and far from limited to, why Hawaii’s first frescoes were destroyed and the struggle to save them. Marguerite was lauded as a great sculptress, but what did her heart desire most in the visual arts spectrum, and what nickname did she loath? What happened to Frank after leaving the islands, and what influenced his highly unique suridealist paintings. What prompted his final move to an unfamiliar state on the other side of the country only to die shortly after arrival?
I will shed light on the elite artists and circles that influenced Marguerite and Frank Blasingame. Provide details on the art they collaborated on, and artworks they fought attribution over. I will also reveal long-lost Blasingame pieces never published. Finally, I will help provide a more apparent distinction between who executed which “Blasingame” works.
Ultimately I hope the book shines new light and interest on these two fascinating artists who are both due proper recognition.
Enhance your knowledge of artists and art history with these art documentaries and movies you can stream today. I have compiled a list of art documentaries and films I enjoyed, and that you can stream on Amazon.com. Some of these do not show up in a typical keyword search on Amazon.com, so I thought it would be helpful to compile a list. It is not all encompassing as there are still many I have yet to discover. Therefore, I am adding a “part 1” suffix to the title. I have provided the title, date it was released, quoted the summary description from Amazon.com, and added brief comments on some of them. I have also stated whether it is free to stream with Amazon’s Prime Video, or for purchase.
Dan Cytron: One Artist’s POV – Amazon Purchase 2011 – An intimate and genuine art documentary all collectors and artists should watch. From Amazon – “Why do some paintings sell for millions of dollars? Following a lifetime dedicated to art, DAN CYTRON, a talented Los Angeles artist (abstract painter) and Sam Francis’ assistant and paint maker, candidly gives his point of view on the art business, critics, gallery owners, and collectors. This documentary questions commercialization and celebrity and examines value, creativity, and survival.”
Brice Marden – Circ. 1970’s – Amazon Purchase– An honest and personal art documentary of an artist in his prime – From Amazon – “After a few seconds of footage from 1968 of the artist working, this film moves into 1976, providing an intimate look at the enigmatic abstract painter, Brice Marden. Shot in 16mm shortly after Marden’s 1975 exhibition at the Guggenheim, it reveals, through interviews with Marden and numerous shots of his preparations and working process, the depth of intellectual creativity behind his works.”
Robert Williams Mr Bitchin’ – Free with Amazon Prime – 2013 – An art documentary on an incredibly talented artist who broke the fine-art mold. From Amazon – “Robert Williams Mr Bitchin’ Explores the remarkable art and life of painter extraordinaire Robert Williams an American underground legend, examining the territory between pop culture and fine art, and measuring the multiple meanings of “success” – financial, artistic, popular and critical.”
Raven Awakens – Free With Amazon Prime – 2017 – An art documentary of a passionate man and his difficult medium. From Amazon – “Raven Awakens follows Sonoma bronze sculptor, Jim Callahan, through the whole process of creating a large bronze sculpture from inspiration to final result. Along the way we get an expanded look at what makes up an artistic life.”
Fritz – 2015 – Free With Prime – Art documentary of a somewhat eccentric man and his art. From Amazon – “Two young filmmakers discover a 70-year-old, hard-of-hearing artist named Fritz and they turn his world upside down. Fritz faces his past and rediscovers happiness as the group stumbles upon just how to “make it,” in the art world.”
Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict – 2015 – Purchase on Prime – From Amazon – “A collector or art and artists, Peggy Guggenheim fought through personal tragedy to build one of the world’s most important collections of modern art, now enshrined in her famous Venetian palazzo. The film is a compendium of famous 20th-century painting and sculpture mixed with the wild and iconoclastic life of one of the most powerful women in the history of the art world.”
The American Artist – The Life & Times of George Caleb Bingham – Free With Amazon Prime – 2016 – From Amazon – “The American Artist” is a biographical docu-drama about George Caleb Bingham. He was a successful artist, politician, and family man… but it all fell apart. His home, family, career, and life’s work were all but lost as the American Civil War split his world in two. A century after his death, George Caleb Bingham’s work was not only rediscovered, it is celebrated as a National Treasure.”
The painting life of Rembrandt van Rijn – Free With Amazon Prime – 2008 – “A unique documentary of the life and the works of Rembrandt van Rijn. We are traveling with Van Rijn in a geographical reconstruction of his life. It shows beautiful pictures of which Van Rijn has drawn his inspiration for his works. A lof the buildings still exist. Through modern digital techniques, the current image changes into the painting that was made by Van Rijn for over 400 years ago.”
Renaissance Unchained – Free With Amazon Prime – 2015 Some hate him; I love watching his art documentaries. This series by Waldemar Januszczak makes learning about art fun. From Amazon – “Famed British art critic and TV presenter Waldemar Januszczak challenges the traditional notion that the Renaissance had fixed origins in Italy. He explores the ingenuity in both technique and ideas throughout Europe in great artists such as Van Eyck, Memling, Van der Weyden, Cranach, Riemenschneider and Durer. This series shines as it delves into the intersection of art and history and politics.”
The Impressionists – Free With Amazon Prime – 2015– Another excellent art documentary by Waldemar Januszczak – It’s more entertaining but equally educational to Tim Marlows 1999 with a similar title. From Amazon – “Famed British art critic Waldemar Januszczak explores the revolutionary achievements of The Impressionists. Journey from the West Indies, to Paris, to the suburbs of South London, where artists of the 19th century drew their inspiration. Waldemar describes, as only he can, the technical influences of the age that helped spark the artistic innovations and points of view of Impressionist painting.”
Exhibition on Screen: History’s Greatest Artists – Free With Amazon Prime – 2013-16 A more recent production covering some of the most famous artists. From Amazon – “Every year more people visit art galleries than football stadiums. Rare collections result in queues longer than working days and museums keep their doors open into the wee, small hours to accommodate throngs of visitors. This monumental series takes you into the world’s biggest art exhibitions and on location to enjoy, marvel and delight at the stories and works of history’s greatest artists.”
Understanding Art: Hidden Lives of Works of Art – Amazon Purchase – 2011 From Amazon – “This exceptional series documents the Louvre’s study days, in which works by five major artists–Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Watteau, and Poussin–were collected together, removed from their frames, and set on easels, replicating the feel of an artist’s studio. Curators, historians, restorers, and scientists from around the world came to examine and discuss them in total freedom.”
Brushstrokes: Every Picture Tells a Story – Free With Amazon Prime – 2013 – From Amazon – “Acclaimed British art critic and television presenter Waldemar Januszczak investigates the stories behind four internationally famous works of art from Gaugin, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Dobson. Each episode focuses on one painting. Waldemar takes us deep into the world of the artist who created it, including popular influences, events in the artist’s life, and any hidden meanings within the works.”
William Dobson: The Lost Genius of Baroque – Free With Amazon Prime – 2012 – From Amazon – “Hosted by Waldemar Januszczak this film investigates the few known facts about William Dobson and seeks out the personal stories he left behind as it follows him through his tragically short career. Among the Dobson fans interviewed in the film is Earl Spencer, brother of Princess Diana, who agrees wholeheartedly that William Dobson was the first great British painter.”
Colored Frames – 2007 – Free with Amazon Prime – I’m a huge fan of finding undiscovered 20th-century artists. This film brings many to light. From Amazon.com “A look back at the last fifty years in African American art, Colored Frames is an unflinching exploration of influences, inspirations and experiences of black artists. Beginning at the height of the Civil Rights Era and leading up to the present, it is a naked and truthful look at often ignored artists and their progenies.”
The Rape of Europa – 2007 – Free with Amazon Prime – From Amazon.com “The Rape of Europa tells the epic story of the systematic theft, deliberate destruction and miraculous survival of Europe’s art treasures during the Third Reich and WW II.”
Understanding Art: Baroque & Rococo – Acorn TV Subscription – 2014– From Amazon – “In Baroque! From St. Peter’s to St. Paul’s, Januszczak follows the trajectory of baroque from its beginnings as a Vatican-sanctioned religious art style to its ascendance as the first global art movement. In Rococo before Bedtime, he pulls back the gilded façade of rococo to reveal the deep imprint it left on politics, culture, religion, and even America’s Declaration of Independence.”
How to Look at a Painting – Acorn TV Subscription – 2011 – Twelve, 24-minute, episodes with the casual Justin Paton. From Amazon – “Justin Paton is on a mission: to show the rest of us why looking at a painting is worthwhile and to help us figure out how to do it. In this thought-provoking series, Paton demystifies art and answers the questions we might be too embarrassed to ask. Along the way, the New Zealand author, curator, and art reviewer takes us on a dazzling journey across the painted world.”
Manet and the Birth of Impressionism – Free With Amazon Prime – 2009 – From Amazon – “Manet is often cited as the father of Impressionism, and yet he stubbornly refused to show with them and was careful to maintain an aesthetic distance from Monet, Renoir and others. He looked down on them, preferring his own departure from the traditional art forms. British host Waldemar Januszczak tells the story of a complex and difficult man who started a revolution that continues to today.”
The Hudson River School: Artistic Pioneers – 2016 – Free with Amazon Prime – From Amazon – “In the vicinity of New York’s Hudson River Valley, the Adirondack Mountains, Catskill Mountains, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire, a group of American painters led by British born artist Thomas Cole forged an artistic vision of the American wilderness.”
Understanding Art: Impressionism – Amazon Purchase – 2012 – Once again Waldemar takes you on a fun educational journey. From Amazon – “In this four-part documentary, art critic Waldemar Januszczak reveals that in their time, the impressionists were artistic rebels. As Januszczak visits the locations that inspired them, he sheds light on a group that forever expanded the boundaries of art”
Masterworks – 1988-89 – Free With Amazon Prime – Twenty Two seasons of bite-sized sized art documentaries. I love downloading these and watching them during a flight. From Amazon – “Masterworks from the Great Museums of the World is one of the most successful series about art. The original, with improved image quality, takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of art. Comprehensively illustrated and compellingly presented, the 10min short art surveys provide a deeper insight into the masterpieces of painting.”
From Amazon – “Art21 produces features focusing exclusively on contemporary visual art and artists throughout the world, including the Peabody Award-winning biennial series “Art in the Twenty-First Century.” Intimate footage allows the viewer to observe the artists at work and watch their process as they transform inspiration into art.”
Art of the Western World Season 1 – Amazon Purchase – 1989 – Although it’s dated, your mind quickly adjusts to the pan and scan format and 80’s sound quality, as you get drawn into excellent summaries of many great works and movements. From Amazon – “Beginning in ancient Greece and Rome, historian Michael Wood leads this eye-opening tour through 2,500 years of Western art. Four years in the making and filmed at over 140 locations in 10 countries, this nine-part documentary travels the globe.”
Masters of Modern Sculpture Part I, II and III – Amazon Purchase – You can stream parts I and III on Amazon video (via purchase) and part II on Vimeo. These documentaries feature minimal narration but a plethora of important sculptures.
Part I features; Rodin, Degas, Rosso, Bourdelle, Maillol, Lehmbruck, Matisse, Picasso, Lipchitz, Laurens, Epstein, Boccioni, Duchamp-Villon, Gonzales, Brancusi.
Part II features; David Smith, Nevelson, David Hare, Lassaw, Roszak, Ferber, Bourgeois, Chamberlain, Di Suvero, Noguchi, Rickey, Barnett Newman, Tony Smith, Segal, Judd, Oldenburg, Morris, Serra, Andre, Kienholz, Christo, Heizer, Robert Smithson
Great Artists with Tim Marlow – Free With Amazon Prime – 2001 From Amazon – “Tim Marlow takes a fresh look at the most important artworks of some of the greatest artists in history. Shot on location in over 50 galleries, museums, churches and palaces throughout Europe and the United States, this series is a comprehensive survey of the history of Western art.”
The Impressionists with Tim Marlow – Free With Amazon Prime – 1999 – From Amazon – “The Impressionists and their circle have become the international superstars of Western painting. But whilst their popularity is greater than ever, it is easy to forget the revolutionary nature of the Impressionists’ art. In this series, Tim Marlow takes us on a journey through the great art movement of the late nineteenth-century and explores some of the most beautiful paintings ever created.”
Dali’s Greatest Secret – Free With Amazon Prime – 2017 – From Amazon – “As the great artist Salvador Dali aged, he found himself trapped between the atheistic beliefs of his father and the Catholic faith of his late mother. All changed when he got hired to paint The Vision of Hell, as seen by one child seer in Portugal. NYT Bestseller Paul Perry investigates what lies behind Dali’s greatest secret that was hidden for over 30 years.”
William Dobson: The Lost Genius of Baroque – 2012 – Free with Amazon Prime – From Amazon.com “Hosted by Waldemar Januszczak this film investigates the few known facts about William Dobson and seeks out the personal stories he left behind as it follows him through his tragically short career. Among the Dobson fans interviewed in the film is Earl Spencer, brother of Princess Diana, who agrees wholeheartedly that William Dobson was the first great British painter.”
How the Devil Got His Horns – 2012 – Free with Amazon Prime – A fun story that reveals art portraying the devil as we know it today. From Amazon.com “Where did we get the popular image of Satan, with his goat horns and fiery red skin? In this captivating historical documentary, art historian Alastair Sooke investigates the Devil’s remarkable transformation – from fallen angel to terrifying demon – in medieval art”
Gauguin: The Full Story – Free With Amazon Prime – 2003 – From Amazon – “Gauguin is best known for his gorgeous paintings of Tahiti in which beautiful native girls disport themselves enticingly on perfect South Pacific beaches. But have these celebrated portrayals of an earthly paradise been misunderstood? And has the fame of Gauguin’s Tahiti pictures blinded us to the bigger truth about his achievements?”
The Caravaggio Affair – Free With Amazon Prime – 2015 – An entertaining and unique art documentary on a very talented, yet lesser known artist from history. From Amazon – “By the time Caravaggio died he had changed the face of the art world forever. But the paintings that now fetch millions and adorn the walls of the most prestigious galleries were painted by a murderer with a bounty on his head. In this captivating doc, archaeologists work tirelessly to track down Caravaggio’s long-lost remains, and finally establish the cause of the troubled young genius’ demise.”
Rubens: An Extra Large Story – Free With Amazon Prime – 2015 – From Amazon – “These days, nobody takes Rubens seriously. His vast and grandiose canvases, stuffed with wobbly mounds of female flesh, have little appeal for the modern gym-subscriber. Everything is too big: the epic dramas, the fantastical celestial scenery, the immense canvases. In the eyes of British host Waldemar Januszczak, Rubens has been tragically reduced by modern tastes and completely misunderstood.”
Frida – Amazon Purchase – 2005 – Salma Hayek, who from my understanding is a huge fan of Frida and art history, puts on a great performance. From Amazon – “Nominated for 6 Academy Awards including Salma Hayek for Best Actress, Frida is a triumphant motion picture about an exceptional woman who lived an unforgettable life. A product of humble beginnings, Frida Kahlo(Hayek) earns fame as a talented artist with a unique vision. And from her enduring relationship with her mentor and husband, Diego Rivera(Alfred Molina).”
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Silent) – Amazon Purchase – 1920 Shockingly creative set design for all-time. From Amazon – “One brilliant movie jolted the postwar masses and catapulted the movement known as German Expressionism into film history. That movie was The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, a plunge into the mind of insanity that severs all ties with the rational world.”
James McNeill Whistler and the Case for Beauty – Amazon Purchase – 2014 – From PBS – Best known for the groundbreaking portrait of his mother, James McNeill Whistler was the original art star. But beneath the high gloss, the struggle of this genius to find his own voice resulted in a breakaway style that moved painting towards abstraction and would revolutionize the art world in his time-and beyond.
Gerhard Richter Painting (English Subtitled) – Amazon Purchase or Rental – 2012– From Amazon – Legendary German painter Gerhard Richter granted filmmaker Corinna Belz access to his studio in the spring and summer of 2009, where he was working on a series of large abstract paintings. In quiet, highly concentrated images, this documentary provides a fly-on-the-wall perspective of Richter’s extremely personal, tension-filled process of artistic creation.
I recently discovered an artist who signed his work “R Mann”. Richard Mann 1940(?) to 1990(?) a “Playwright, Poet and Visual artist” according to a biography written about him on AskArt.com. I don’t want to confuse this “R Mann” with “Richard, Rich and/or R Mann” hailing from Southern California. I have questioned his birth and death dates as I’m yet to find an obituary, however, this is what is stated on AskArt.com.
Be unique
This is a good lesson for any artist; ensure your name is unique. To be fair, these two “Richard Mann” were born around the same time and likely never knew the other existed until the invention of the internet, of which our Richard Mann likely never experienced at all. But if I were a Richard Mann today, I would use and sign my name with my middle initial and/or in a highly unique manner to help prevent confusion.
Influenced by surrealism, abstract expressionism and calligraphy
Richard Mann at some point became a Reverend, worked out of, and lived, in Harlem, New York. An unusual choice given it seems he lived there through the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. He is said to have been born and raised in Australia and again, according to AskArt.com, “At the height of America’s counter-culture revolution, Mann moved to New York City where he lived and worked in Harlem.” It’s said he was influenced by surrealism, abstract expressionism and calligraphy and was inspired by the social and economic environment of Harlem.
Very little published information on mann
I’ve found zero published articles about his art, and I’m usually quite good at quickly finding something. Granted I haven’t put a lot of time into researching him, at all. I bet, however, this Richard Mann would have a fascinating story to tell.
There are a few mentions of him involved with plays, “The Warwick Play of Everyman”, Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, New York) · Sun, Jun 25, 1972 · Page 15C, and curating an exhibit for Anna Walinska at the Museum of Religious Art of the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New Jersey. See: The Journal News (White Plains, New York) · Sun, Oct 28, 1979 · Page 97
Black Panther Supporter
Mann is also quoted in the Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York) · Wed, Apr 29, 1970 · Page 2 as a supporter of the Black Panthers. Intriguing, right?
The marchers came from an orderly outdoor rally on Newitt Quadrangle that had an almost picnic atmosphere. Public-address speakers were mounted on a large pop-art sculpture resembling an over-sized lipstick as they exhorted students to protest the Black Panther murder trial. Richard Mann, “People have seen that it is happening here- the Panthers cannot be convicted. We’re going to be out there and organized.”
Interesting, powerful, limited, art
I recommend buying his work as a possible investment. His work is a powerful expression of emotion, talented in its unique execution, and there’s likely a very limited amount of works available. I have provided a detailed example below, as well as additional Pinterest links.
FYI, I have no affiliation with this artist or anyone selling his work. I’ll let the graphics speak to the depth of his talent.
Example painting in detail
Here’s a few images and close ups from a Richard Mann painting entitled “Faces of Christ” from 1987. Not a subject matter I’d usually buy, and, given the title says “faces”, I’m assuming there was a series of these. I’ve only seen this one, and I think it is quite a powerful and symbolic work of art.
The right eye is perhaps the tunnel of light people speak of witnessing during a near death experience. Where-as the left eye is dark, sad, and crying with an obvious, yet abstract, depiction of Christs’ crucifixion, perhaps crying for non-believers.
Mann’s strokes are loaded with texture and deep, rich, mixtures of color. This piece is extremely vibrant and powerful, regardless of your beliefs. Looking at it carefully you begin to see much more than initially meets the eye. From what I have seen available, most of his pieces were quite large, this is on the small size at about 28 x 30 inches.
Addtitionally here’s a few i borrowed from the internet
Had a conversation with Joe Doyle today, always a pleasure talking with and hearing about what inspired some of his work. I’ve been fortune enough to acquire a few of his Abstract Illusionism pieces with plans to continue.
During the conversation we spoke about some of his earliest work, one being “Star Chart” featured in galleries and a number of publications in the late 70’s. Though never specifically written about in any publication I can find, the real inspiration for the piece came from Polynesian navigation charts sometimes referred to as “stick charts”.
“These are deceptively simple grids made from small sticks and coconut fronds, which represent the major ocean swells in the South Pacific, with small shells showing the location of islands. The charts showed how the swells interacted with the island shores, the undersea slopes, and currents coming from different directions. While the stick maps were easy to construct, it took many years of study to be able to accurately interpret the real ocean dynamics which they represented.”
