Author Archives: The Old Wolf

Stuttgart, 1970

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In 1970 I took a little junket to Stuttgart to see a young lady with whom I was terminally smitten; I was living in Naples at the time, and she was on a study-abroad program with Gettysburg College where I had met her in 1968. Alas, my heart was broken, but it was an awesome trip nonetheless.

Stuttgarter side street, 1971.

Downtown Stuttgart.

I had lunch in the little Zum Zum on the right – Grillhaxen and Dunkelbier, if I remember aright.

Leonhardskirche Stuttgart

Agricultural protest against the policies of Willy Brandt.

Unusual, since a number of his social reforms were targeted at benefiting farmers.

The Old Wolf hat gesprochen.

Egypt, 1976

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In December of 1976 I had the chance to visit Egypt. This is a small sample of some of my favorite images from the trip.

Aswan – Aga Khan Mausoleum

Cairo – Muhammad Ali Mosque

Abu Simbel temple exterior

Abu Simbel Temple – Interior

The Step Pyramid of Saqqara

The Father of Terror

Cairo – Ramadan booth

Colossus at Memnon.  This always calls to mind the famous poem:

Ozymandias

By Percy Bysshe Shelley

I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

Aswan – Christmas Day, 1976

Aswan – Overlooking the Nile

Luxor

Memphis – Reclining Ramses II

This was a phenomenal trip – 2 weeks in an amazing country. Al Qahira munwwara bi Ahlaha!

All images ©1976-2012 Old Wolf Enterprises

♬He’s a born undertaker’s mute…

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… I can see him in his small black suit,
Following behind the funeral procession
With his features fixed in a suitable expression. ♬

–That’s Your Funeral, Oliver, London and original Broadway productions

From about 1600 to 1914, there were two professions in Europe now almost totally forgotten. The mute is depicted in art quite frequently but in literature is probably best known from Dickens’ “Oliver Twist.” Oliver is working for Sowerberry’s when this conversation takes place: “There’s an expression of melancholy in his face, my dear … which is very interesting. He would make a delightful mute, my love”. The main purpose of a funeral mute was to stand around at funerals with a sad, pathetic face. A symbolic protector of the deceased, the mute would usually stand near the door of the home or church. In Victorian times, mutes would wear somber clothing including black cloaks, top hats with trailing hatbands, and gloves. (Wikipedia)

Vincent Black Lightning, 1952

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A great live performance of “Vincent Black Lightning” by Del McCoury and his band. I’ve always loved this song.

The 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

“Now Nortons, and Indians, and Greeveses won’t do…  they don’t have the soul of a Vincent ’52.”

Norton Big Four, 1952

Indian 1952 Chief 2 cyl 1200 cc sv. This brand was popularized in the delightful film, “The World’s Fastest Indian.”

1952 Greeves

 

 

 

Harley Davidson Scooter, 1959

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This is either incredibly cool, or wrong on every possible level, depending on what you think of Harley-Davidson and scooters in general. More on the Topper from Wikipedia.

Since we’re on the subject of scooters:

Actor Joe DeSantis on a Vespa in Calabria, 1953. The Italians have a saying: “o la moglie o la moto,” meaning that you can have a wife or a motorcycle, but not both.

The Old Wolf has spoken.

Colored Entrance, 1956

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Within my lifetime. That little girl looks like she’d be about my age; incredible that such things were possible.

Edit: When I first saw this picture, I was not aware of its origin. This beautiful picture by Gordon Parks is one of a series of 40 that will be on display at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, beginning 15 November, 2014.

Read more about the exhibit at the Daily Mail.