SEPIA SATURDAY (108)

While Alan [tried to] confuse[d] you, 

I'll keep it very simple: 

1961. 

And you'll soon see why...

1961. 

Algerians still fighting the French for their independance, 

amidst protest and bloodshed. 

Mandella set bombs in his fight against apartheid, 

since everything else failed to get the message across. 

JFK ascended to the presidency 

and Fidel became his personal pain-in-the-butt. 

While some tried to united Americans by banning segregation, 

the Berlin Wall was erected and divided Berliners for a few decades. 

The Viet Nam War caused malaise in the American society as many opposed it. 

Meanwhile, 

up in space, 

while Americans were still throwing monkeys up in the sky, 

Gagarin became the first man in space, 

the pride of the Soviets. 

The future captured people's imagination 

and design tried to fathom what it would be like. 

Meanwhile, 

Barbie got a boyfriend, 

Ken, 

a beachbum with no career and only a bathing suit and a towel to his name. 

I would have dumped the guy!!

In the Art and Entertainment business, 

the Beatles had yet to truly create the British Invasion. 

Elvis was already enjoying a wave of popularity. 

Judy made a triumphal comeback at the Carnegie Hall, 

a show I've seen on TV and it was remarkable. 

Doris Day was everywhere, 

singing and acting. 

Frank crooned and Ella made us swoon. 

Dalida was at her peak!! 

While Nureyev opted to leave USSR behind, 

Marilyn left this world behind... 

West Side Story won the Oscar that year, 

but 1961 promised a great crop of movies, 

with Breakfast at Tiffany, 101 Dalmatians and The Hustler.

Montreal. 

The Place Ville-Marie was almost completed, 

downtown was thriving and people tried selling its cosmopolitan charms. 

Zubin Mehta was musical conductor at the OSM. 

Monsignor Leger was Cardinal in a society entering a "revolution tranquille", 

where religion and politicians would be told to get the heck out of our personal business, 

and where the nationalist identity would find fertile soil and grew in people's subconscious. 

Mayor Jean Drapeau was back in power, 

and while a tad megalomaniac, 

he is still the man who made Expo '67 and the '76 Summer Olympics happened in Montreal. 

He was a visionary, 

but also a radical who didn't compromise 

nor even discussed matters with others, 

having to have HIS own way... 

Two private TV stations came about, 

one french and one english, 

Tele-Metropole (CFTM 10) and CFCF 12, 

now TVA and CTV, 

now owned by conglomerates Videotron and Bell. 

In 1961, 

there was also a census, 

my first one, 

as this is the year I came into this world. 

And Voila!!

People had a funny reaction to this census, 

what with the questions asked. 

They would be appalled at us now, 

for all of the information we willingly give out 

for anyone to see, 

on blogs and social networks.

I must say the crop in 1961 isn't bad at all, 

as my contemporaries are 

Chris Meloni (actor), 

whom I have a crush on. 

Ah, those Italians!! 

Not to discount George Clooney here though...

Nastassia Kinski caused many a wet dream, 

and Director Peter Jackson's career has nicely flourished.

Diana Spencer, 

tragic figure of the 20th century. 

Marvelous musicians I admire still to this day include: 

Enya, Melissa Etheridge, Mylene Farmer, K.D. Lang and Lisa Gerrard (deadcandance), 

and Boy George, 

of course!! 

Wayne Gretzky and Nadia Comaneci struck the imagination with their prowess 

and became the idols of many of my generation. 

You've understood by now my birthday is just around the corner. 

Come on, let's hear it!!... 

;)~

As a treat, 

for you and me both, 

I've found a couple of pictures showing Montreal in 1961, 

and tried recreating them now. 

The one above shows what used to be the Jewish district, 

before they all moved away to Outremont, Hampstead and Cote St Luc.

This is now Chinatown 

and the buildings block the view afar... 

but I swear to you this is the same corner, 

and not just one chosen randomly.

I was more successful with this one. 

This one amuses me, 

and I find it still pertinent. 

The location is familiar 

as it is obviously the Place du Canada, 

with the Marie Reine du Monde Cathedral and the CN building looming in the background.

I took a few snaps, 

one had a person in the background, 

the other one a passing vehicle.

I brought the two into the same frame 

and the lady is now protesting in 2012, 

since I have somewhat updated her message.

There were no protest going on there the day I took these pics, 

but it was another story only a few days before, 

what with the students protest... 

where over 100,000 gathered. 

An impressive display of democracy!! 

It was peaceful, 

thankfully!!

Never a dull moment in the city!! 

FYI, 

I was standing on the base of the monument you see in the previous pictures.

I now leave you to venture into 

SEPIA SATURDAY, 

to face Alan's confusion... 

Can't wait to see what people made of this.

;)~ 

HUGZ