She Said ~ Today, I drove down a street, the name I do not know. On the corner stood an empty house in need of talking; I volunteered to tell its story.
There is no denying, the things we carry and the things we leave behind live on, take new form, and find new purpose. They shrink and expand to accommodate newcomers but never forget what was once.
The ghosts of the past roam through and divulge hidden secrets. The nooks and the crannies hold tight to the treasures buried amongst the forgotten.
The flowers have all withered, the birds in the garden have come, and they have gone. The tree in the backyard has lost its leaves and the vegetable garden is bare. The grass is overgrown and the weeds have taken over the lawn.
The sun no longer casts shadows on the worn wooden floors. The windows do not oblige the breeze with an open invitation. The chipped bannister and the creaky stairs no longer cry out for repair.
The cracks on the wall have widened, and the paint on the wall faded. The gaslight on the burners does not come on, and a flick of the light switch does not make the room brighter.
The mail is no longer diligently collected, and the garage door is left agape no more.
The best furry companion will not scurry across the room for the ball, or nuzzle under your arm to escape the bolt of the lightning, or the roar of the thunder.
The halls echo silence now. Surely, they must know, they must have been told; certainly the mirrors reflecting nobody can see.
This house, no longer a home, is abandoned.
He Said ~ “Jaws,” the movie that made Steven Spielberg a household name and redefined box-office success, turned 50 this month.
“Jaws” was released on June 20, 1975, has grossed $477.92 million in the box office after four re-releases and is considered the first blockbuster movie, creating a new genre of high-performing major-studio films.
Here’s a mouthful of “Jaws” facts:
The mechanical shark Bruce was named after Steven Spielberg’s lawyer, Bruce Raimer.
“Jaws” was nominated for four Oscars and won three: best sound, best score, and best editing.
Susan Backlinie, who played the shark’s first victim, was harnessed to two ropes that dragged her back and forth in the water to simulate the attack.
There are six shark victims in the movie, (including − implied − a dog).
Spielberg was only 28 when “Jaws” was released.
Writer Peter Benchley plays a TV reporter in one movie scene.
“Jaws” was filmed mostly on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
In the original novel, the Mafia puts pressure on the mayor to keep the beaches open.
“Jaws” opened simultaneously on more than 450 screens in North America.
Murray Hamilton, who played the sleazy mayor of Amity, was chosen partly for his resemblance to Richard Nixon.
Quint’s monologue about the U.S.S. Indianapolis − supposedly an uncredited contribution by screenwriter John Milius − was based on a real incident.
The film was originally scheduled for a 55-day shoot. It took 159 days.
“Jaws” was based on an actual 1916 incident at the Jersey Shore: A rogue shark killed four bathers, two of them in an estuary, (there is a similar scene in the movie).
“You’re gonna need a bigger boat,” the film’s most famous catchphrase, was an improvised line.
Reduced beachgoing and increased shark-sightings in 1975 were both attributed to the movie.
“Jaws” lost the best picture Oscar to “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”
Shaw based his Quint characterization on Craig Kingsbury, a Martha’s Vineyard fisherman, who played Ben Gardner in the film.
The striking shot of Brody’s (Scheider) reaction to the beach attack was achieved by simultaneously zooming in and trucking out, a technique Spielberg borrowed from Hitchcock’s “Vertigo.”
Spielberg skipped the final day of shooting and was afraid disgruntled crewmen would throw him in the water. He later made it a tradition to be absent from his sets on the last day of the shoot.
“Jaws” has been rightly accused of creating shark phobia. It has also been rightly credited with creating more awareness of and concern for sharks.
Dreyfuss is the only one of the three principal actors still alive.
Jeff Bridges, Jon Voight, and Timothy Bottoms were all considered for the role of Hooper.
Benchley thought the film’s ending, where the shark was blown up by firing shots into a scuba tank, would strike audiences as ridiculous. Spielberg argued that the audience has suspended so much disbelief by that point that they would accept that as well.
He was right.
Did You Know? Created by Gilbert Baker in 1978, the Pride Flag colors hold powerful meanings: Red for life and love, orange for healing and vitality, yellow for joy and positivity, green for nature and harmony, blue for peace and serenity, and violet for diversity and individuality. Together, they create a vibrant symbol of unity and celebration. The 55th annual New York City Pride Parade march will be held on June 29, 2025.