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Happiness is excitement that has found a settling down place, but there is always a little corner that keeps flapping around.
—
- From the Mixed-up Files of Basil E. Frankweiler.
In memory of the great E. L. Konigsburg, an author who taught us to laugh and dream with her thoughtful children’s books - Happiness will always abound as long as her books are flapping around (and they are… at the Library).
The balcony has closed. It is with great sadness that the NYPL learned of the passing of the legendary film critic Roger Ebert today. We were enormous fans of both Ebert’s film reviews - in print and on television - as well as the many different books that he penned. You can find all of his great books such as I HATED, HATED, HATED THIS MOVIE, and his fantastic memoir LIFE ITSELF at branches throughout the entire New York Public Library system. We give the great Roger Ebert two very big enthusiastic thumbs up, WAY UP. You will be missed.
Today, we honor the work of award-winning actor Jack Klugman, who passed away on Monday. The Emmy Award winner was best known for his work in Gypsy (photo with Ethel Merman courtesy of NYPL’s Digital Gallery/Billy Rose Theater Division), Quincy, M.E., Ben Casey, and The Odd Couple with Tony Randall.
He will be missed.
The music world has lost a legend as it was announced this morning that the iconic Jazz great Dave Brubeck passed away at the age of 91. Of course known for many hits - especially TAKE FIVE - many of Mr. Brubeck’s albums can be found in the collections of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The photograph above is a portrait of Mr. Brubeck taken in 2006 by photographer Hank O’Neal. RIP Mr. Brubeck, a true giant in the performing arts.
In memory of the inimitable Phyllis Diller, we share this notable quote of hers: “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”
Thank you Phyllis for decades of curves that set us straight.
(Photo courtesy of NYPL’s Digital Gallery)
“Gore Vidal is an author who will give vital books and strike at the core of a power lacking in fiction today….” - Anais Nin, praise for Vidal’s Williwaw (Dutton, 1946)
In memory of the irreplaceable Gore Vidal.
“The Encyclopedia Brown concept — in which the solutions to the mysteries are shown after the story — came to Sobol while he was researching an article at the New York Public Library, and a clerk mistakenly handed him a game book, with puzzles on one side and the solutions on the other…
His family has asked that donations in his memory be made to The New York Public Library.”
He will live in our childhood memories forever.
For your contributions to literature, we thank you.
For your contributions to art, we thank you.
For your contributions to our childhood, we thank you.
RIP Mr. Sendak - The Library was honored to present you with the 2000 Library Lion award and you will forever be remembered as creator, world observer, poignant pontificator, and memory maker.
We couldn’t pick our favorite quote from Mr. Sendak, So, for this special post, in honor of his passing, we turn it over to you - our followers. Please share your special thoughts about Maurice Sendak, his work, his life.
“I’ve got to tell about three bad brothers, you know so well.
It started way back in history, with Adrock, MCA, and me, Mike D.”
- Beastie Boys, from Paul Revere off their debut album Licensed to Ill (available at the Library)
This quote was recited in memory of the already-missed Adam “MCA” Yauch
We were born in the same year, spent much of our youthful spare time in branches of the New York Public Library, and were prompted to enter medical research by reading Paul de Kruif’s Microbe Hunters.
— Nobel Prize winner Baruch Blumberg, who discovered Hepatitis B and led NASA’s efforts to find life on other planets, discussing he and fellow scientific leader Joshua Lederberg in a 2008 “Nature” article. Blumberg died yesterday at age 85. RIP to a truly great and important man.
