BS: Non-Music: Edward Gorey

Subject: Non-Music: Edward Gorey
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 26 May 00 - 01:19 PM

I just found out that one of my absolute favorite (artists? Authors? Illustrators? Spooky guys?) died last month - Edward Gorey, may his bones never grow black. I was looking up the name of the alphabet from which I had quoted a verse on the Wantonness thread, and found his obituary. (It was The Listing Attic.) I am very saddened by this loss and even sadder, somehow, that I missed the news when it happened. He died April 15, 2000. He was 75. I wish him all the haunts we would have enjoyed.
Meanwhile, what did y'all think of him - too weird, weird enough, shoulda been weirder? Faintly macabre (extra points for recognizing that reference, which isn't Gorey!) or very much so?

Subject: RE: BS: Non-Music: Edward Gorey
From: Peg
Date: 26 May 00 - 01:26 PM

loved him, absolutely. Sunday Morning repeated a segment they'd done on him several years ago; also NPR replayed a recent interview...he seemed a delightful if odd fellow...great house! great taste in clothes and furnishings!

I love his poetry and his drawings immensely and always have since my first Gashlycrumb Tinies poster in college... Salon has some great articles and an obituary at www.salon.com

Subject: RE: BS: Non-Music: Edward Gorey
From: Metchosin
Date: 26 May 00 - 01:34 PM

Loved Edward Gorey, so sad to hear. I have two books of his illustrations, my favorite, I think, was the Gashly Crumb Tinies? A is for Alice done in by an awl... but best of all, N is for Neville who died of ennui. My brother still has that illustration matted and framed and hung in his bathroom.

Subject: RE: BS: Non-Music: Edward Gorey
From: Metchosin
Date: 26 May 00 - 01:41 PM

Gosh age is doing in me brain...Just checked, O was for Olive run through with an awl, A was for Amy who fell down the stairs.

Subject: RE: BS: Non-Music: Edward Gorey
From: Vixen
Date: 26 May 00 - 01:41 PM

I've been a fan since I first read Amphigorey in 1975. I have 5 or 6 of his books. I did know he had died, because I heard it on NPR, and I am still saddened by the loss. I have a copy of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, Illustrated by Edward Gorey--which I cherish--one of my favorite poets, illustrated by one of my favorite artists!

His pen was phenomenal, and he was also a wonderful, wicked wit.

May he rest as he would wish!

V

Subject: RE: BS: Non-Music: Edward Gorey
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 May 00 - 01:47 PM

I'll have to tell my kids, they loved his stuff and my youngest daughter still has her alphabet poster which her brother gave her whne she was about 10 yrs. old. I have the Old Possum's book, too! What an incredibly, wickedly great mind and talent!

Sorry to hear of his passing....I also love to watch the opening credits for "Mystery" on PBS, with the animations of his drawings. I can just see him, bony old skeleton, climbing up out of a creaky coffin and loping after some *scaredy cat*.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Non-Music: Edward Gorey
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 May 00 - 01:50 PM

Not quite "Non-Music", either; Michael Mantler recorded a series of Gorey's poems set to music on The Hapless Child and Other Inscrutable Stories (Virgin/Watt Records WATT4, 1976) featuring, among others, Carla Bley and Terje Rypdal, with Robert Wyatt doing the singing.  Quite extraordinary!

Malcolm

Subject: RE: BS: Non-Music: Edward Gorey
From: Metchosin
Date: 26 May 00 - 01:51 PM

Well kat, I'm glad to know that I wasn't the only perverse mother who taught her children the alphabet with the Gashlycrumb Tinies.

Subject: RE: BS: Non-Music: Edward Gorey
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 26 May 00 - 01:57 PM

The Gashlycrumb Tinies RULE, is all I can say. Also, I will HAVE to check out the musical contribution to this thread, thanks Malcolm! Nice to know I wasn't as offbase as at some times...

Subject: RE: BS: Non-Music: Edward Gorey
From: Wavestar
Date: 26 May 00 - 03:06 PM

I love Edward Gorey, and am very sad to hear not only that he passed away, but that I missed his passing... I was first shown the Gashlycrumb Tinies by my parents when quite young, so don't worry Metchosin... I memorised them when I was a freshman in high school, have several of his books, and often spout out that and others, to the disturbance of mundanes, and even my friends at times.

I remember seeing a wonderful picture of him once, a very friendly, and harmless looking nice old man on the porch of his house in Maine... the picture was all in black and white, except for the blossom of the red rose he held in one hand.

He will be sadly missed.

-J