Yesterday marked the one hundred twelfth anniversary of the
death of King Edward VII, the first-born son of Queen Victoria and Prince
Albert.“Bertie” as he was known was a
popular king, but a famously unfaithful husband.Queen Victoria always blamed her son for the
premature death of her beloved husband and often bemoaned the fact that the boy
was more interested in hunting deer and women than he was in learning the
skills needed to be king.
Take a look back at the many
articles on Stalking the Belle Époque
about this interesting historical figure.
Today, the world lost Elizabeth Taylor at the age of 79. She took with her, the last gasp of “Golden Age Hollywood.” Her life was a source of fascination for many. She’s made in indelible mark on world culture through her talent, her fashion sense, her tumultuous lifestyle and her vast humanitarian work.
I like to think that right now, she’s enjoying a rousing chat with Monty over gimlets. I’m sure they have much to discuss.
Victorian society had very strict guidelines concerning mourning. The length of the mourning period and the attire worn varied depending on an individual’s relationship to the deceased. One particular rule that was constant was that sparkling gemstone jewelry was forbidden for both women and men. Diamonds were out, and a person in mourning would wear more sedate gems of jet, onyx, black enamel or mother-of-pearl.
Mourning or memorial jewelry took many forms. Very often memorial pieces were created especially to remember the person who had passed away. Rings and brooches with insets of the deceased’s hair behind crystal were engraved with the name of the lost loved one as well as the birth and death dates. Some pieces of jewelry featured the letters “I.M.O.” to represent “In memory of” while others would feature the initials of or a portrait of the deceased.
This memorial stickpin from the mid-Victorian era features a gold hand from which a mother-of-pearl shield dangles. These would have been available for purchase at a jewelers shop wherein the initial of the deceased was affixed—upon order—in gold. In this case, the deceased’s name started with “F.” A gold letter was applied to the shield.
Though somewhat spooky and grim, this stickpin is a sweet reminder of someone’s grief. It’s in astoundingly good condition owing to the fact that the pin was only worn during the period of mourning, and, then, preserved.
She was the ideal mother; people think she was weakish, but I don't. She was the love in that family. She set a good example for what a wife could be. I had two boys at home when I did the show. I think the character became kind of like me and vice versa. I've never known where one started and where one stopped.
--Barbara Billingsley on “June Cleaver”
Everyone knows her as June Cleaver—devoted wife of Ward and mother to Wally and Theodore. However, Barbara Billingsley was a successful actress in other roles as well. Her early career on the stage led her to a brief stint on Broadway before she transitioned to modeling and, then, to Hollywood where she was featured in small parts in a variety of 1950’s films. This work led her to a prominent role in the film, The Careless Years, opposite Dean Stockwell. Her performance in the film brought Miss Billingsley to the attention of television casting directors who quickly employed the tall blonde in many programs.
She’s remembered as the "ideal mother"—always in high heels and pearls and offering gentle wisdom to her sons. Of course, the heels were necessary to keep Miss Billingsley taller than Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers who were growing quickly, as boys do, and the pearls were worn to hide a slight scar on her neck. Regardless of what she was wearing, June Cleaver was imbued with a sense of style and honesty that was a direct reflection of Barbara Billingsley’s own personality. Leave it to Beaver ran from 1957 to 1963. After the program ended, Miss Billingsley took some time off from acting to focus on her home and family. She reprised her role as June Cleaver in Still the Beaver for one season in 1989 and made a variety of comedic film and television appearances.
Barbara Billingsley will always be the epitome of class and elegance—not for her pearls, heels or perfectly coiffed hair, but for the sense of grace with which she carried herself, both on screen and in life. Thankfully, her spirit of gentleness and decency will live on through her many thoughtful performances.
