#115th anniversary

[rabbitcruiser]

The Manhattan Bridge opened to traffic on December 31, 1909.

[andredias95]

884. La Aurora 115th Aniversário Gran Toro

Bought from Club Mareva Beirut, Lebanon.Location: This review was made indoors in a cigar lounge.Information:Wrapper: Ecuador Binder: Brazil Filler: Brazil, Nicaragua & Dominican Republic Cibao Valley Origin: Dominican Republic Factory: La Aurora (Dominican Republic)Box: Sold in 20 count boxes. Release: 2019Availability: Regular Production Size: 6×60, Gordo.Wrapper: Chestnut brown, oily and…

[fdelopera]

115 years ago today, on 8 January 1910, Gaston Leroux published the final installment of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra in Le Gaulois newspaper. You can read the final installment on my blog here.

Leroux and his editor at Pierre Lafitte & Cie. then edited his serialized text, removing a chapter (”The Magic Envelope”) and several other large sections in the process, and republished his work as a novel three months later in April 1910.

I encourage everyone to do something to mark the occasion and celebrate the beginnings of The Phantom of the Opera!

Below the cut, I have linked all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper 115 yeas ago.

Newspaper Announcement, 22 September, 1909

On 22 September, 1909, the Parisian daily newspaper, Le Gaulois, ran the advertisement linked above, announcing the serialization of Gaston Leroux's new novel, Le Fantôme de l'Opéra.

Leroux's novel premiered on 23 September, 1909. It ran for 15 weeks, and it was segmented into 68 sections, each section covering roughly half a chapter's worth of content.

1) Avant-Propos, 23 September, 1909

This is how it all began! On Thursday, 23 September, 1909, the first section of Gaston Leroux’s Le Fantôme de l'Opéra was printed on page 3 in the feuilleton section of the Parisian daily newspaper, Le Gaulois.

This first section includes the text of the Avant-Propos (Foreword) from Leroux’s novel.

2) Chapter 1, Part 1. 24 September, 1909

Welcome to the 2nd day of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today's installment, we have Part I of Chapter 1: "Est-ce le fantôme?" ("Is It the Phantom?")

3) Chapter 1, Part 2. 25 September, 1909

Welcome to the 3rd installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 1: “Est-ce le fantôme?” (“Is It the Phantom?”)

4) Chapter 1, Part 3. Chapter 2, Part 1. 27 September, 1909

Welcome to the 4th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 1: “Est-ce le fantôme?” (“Is It the Phantom?”), as well as Part I of Chapter 2: "La Marguerite Nouvelle" ("The New Marguerite").

5) Chapter 2, Part 2. 28 September, 1909

Welcome to the 5th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 2: “La Marguerite Nouvelle” (“The New Marguerite”).

6) Chapter 2, Part 3. Chapter 3, Part 1. 30 September, 1909

Welcome to the 6th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 2: “La Marguerite Nouvelle” (“The New Marguerite”), as well as Part I of Chapter 3: “Où pour la première fois, MM. Debienne et Poligny donnent, en secret, aux nouveaux directeurs de l’Opéra, MM. Armand Monchardin et Firmin Richard, la véritable et mystérieuse raison de leur départ de l’Académie nationale de musique” (“Where for the First Time, MM. Debienne and Poligny Secretly Give the New Managers of the Opera, MM. Armand Moncharmin and Firmin Richard, the True and Mysterious Reason for Their Departure from the National Academy of Music”).

7) Chapter 3, part 2. 1 October, 1909

Welcome to the 7th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 3: “Où pour la première fois, MM. Debienne et Poligny donnent, en secret, aux nouveaux directeurs de l’Opéra, MM. Armand Monchardin et Firmin Richard, la véritable et mystérieuse raison de leur départ de l’Académie nationale de musique” (“Where for the First Time, MM. Debienne and Poligny Secretly Give the New Managers of the Opera, MM. Armand Moncharmin and Firmin Richard, the True and Mysterious Reason for Their Departure from the National Academy of Music”).

8) Chapter 3, Part 3. Chapter 4, Part 1. 2 October, 1909

Welcome to the 8th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 installments of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 3: “Où pour la première fois, MM. Debienne et Poligny donnent, en secret, aux nouveaux directeurs de l’Opéra, MM. Armand Monchardin et Firmin Richard, la véritable et mystérieuse raison de leur départ de l’Académie nationale de musique” (“Where for the First Time, MM. Debienne and Poligny Secretly Give the New Managers of the Opera, MM. Armand Moncharmin and Firmin Richard, the True and Mysterious Reason for Their Departure from the National Academy of Music”). We also have Part I of Chapter 4: "La Loge N° 5" ("Box 5").

9) Chapter 4, Part 2. 5 October, 1909

Welcome to the 9th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 4: “La Loge N° 5” (“Box 5”).

10) Chapter 4, Part 3. Chapter 5, Part 1. 6 October, 1909

Welcome to the 10th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 4: "La Loge N° 5” (“Box 5”), and Part I of Chapter 5: "Suite de « La Loge N° 5 »" ("Box 5 Continued").

11) Chapter 5, Part 2. 7 October, 1909

Welcome to the 11th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 5: “Suite de « La Loge N° 5 »” (“Box 5 Continued”).

12) Chapter 5, Part 3. Chapter 6, Part 1. 9 October, 1909

Welcome to the 12th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 5: “Suite de « La Loge N° 5 »” (“Box 5 Continued”), and Part I of Chapter 6, "Le Violon Enchanté" ("The Magic Violin").

13) Chapter 6, Part 2. 11 October, 1909

Welcome to the 13th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 6, “Le Violon Enchanté” (“The Magic Violin”).

14) Chapter 6, Part 3. 13 October, 1909

Welcome to the 14th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 6, “Le Violon Enchanté” (“The Magic Violin”).

15) Chapter 6, Part 4. 14 October, 1909

Welcome to the 15th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part IV of Chapter 6, “Le Violon Enchanté” (“The Magic Violin”).

16) Chapter 6, Part 5. Chapter 7, Part 1. 16 October, 1909

Welcome to the 16th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part V of Chapter 6, “Le Violon enchanté” (“The Magic Violin”), and Part I of Chapter 7, "Une Visite à la loge n° 5" ("A Visit to Box 5").

17) Chapter 7, Part 2. Chapter 8, Part 1. 19 October, 1909

Welcome to the 17th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 7, “Une Visite à la loge n° 5” (“A Visit to Box 5”), and Part I of Chapter 8, "Où MM. Firmin Richard et Armand Moncharmin ont l’audace de faire représenter « Faust » dans une salle « maudite » et de l’effroyable événement qui en résulta" ("Where MM. Firmin Richard and Armand Moncharmin Have the Audacity to Have 'Faust' Performed in a 'Cursed' House and the Horrifying Event Which Thereby Ensued").

18) Chapter 8, Part 2. 21 October, 1909

Welcome to the 18th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 8, “Où MM. Firmin Richard et Armand Moncharmin ont l’audace de faire représenter « Faust » dans une salle « maudite » et de l’effroyable événement qui en résulta” (“Where MM. Firmin Richard and Armand Moncharmin Have the Audacity to Have ‘Faust’ Performed in a ‘Cursed’ House and the Horrifying Event Which Thereby Ensued”).

19) Chapter 8, Part 3. 22 October, 1909

Welcome to the 19th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 8, “Où MM. Firmin Richard et Armand Moncharmin ont l’audace de faire représenter « Faust » dans une salle « maudite » et de l’effroyable événement qui en résulta” (“Where MM. Firmin Richard and Armand Moncharmin Have the Audacity to Have ‘Faust’ Performed in a ‘Cursed’ House and the Horrifying Event Which Thereby Ensued”).

20) Chapter 8, Part 4. 24 October, 1909

Welcome to the 20th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part IV of Chapter 8, “Où MM. Firmin Richard et Armand Moncharmin ont l’audace de faire représenter « Faust » dans une salle « maudite » et de l’effroyable événement qui en résulta” (“Where MM. Firmin Richard and Armand Moncharmin Have the Audacity to Have ‘Faust’ Performed in a ‘Cursed’ House and the Horrifying Event Which Thereby Ensued”).

21) Chapter 8, Part 5. 26 October, 1909

Welcome to the 21st installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part V of Chapter 8, “Où MM. Firmin Richard et Armand Moncharmin ont l’audace de faire représenter « Faust » dans une salle « maudite » et de l’effroyable événement qui en résulta” (“Where MM. Firmin Richard and Armand Moncharmin Have the Audacity to Have ‘Faust’ Performed in a ‘Cursed’ House and the Horrifying Event Which Thereby Ensued”).

22) Chapter 9, Part 1. 27 October, 1909

Welcome to the 22nd installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part I of Chapter 9, “Le mystérieux coupé” (“The Mysterious Carriage”).

23) Chapter 9, Part 2. Chapter 10, Part 1. 28 October, 1909

Welcome to the 23rd installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 9, “Le mystérieux coupé” (“The Mysterious Carriage”), and Part I of Chapter 10, "Au bal masqué" ("At the Masked Ball").

24) Chapter 10, Part 2. 30 October, 1909

Welcome to the 24th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 10, “Au bal masqué” (“At the Masked Ball”).

25) Chapter 10, Part 3. 1 November, 1909

Welcome to the 25th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 10, “Au bal masqué” (“At the Masked Ball”).

26) Chapter 10, Part 4. 2 November, 1909

Welcome to the 26th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part IV of Chapter 10, “Au bal masqué” (“At the Masked Ball”).

27) Chapter 11, Part 1. 3 November, 1909

Welcome to the 27th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part I of Chapter 11, “L'enveloppe magique” (“The Magic Envelope”).

28) Chapter 11, Part 2. 4 November, 1909

Welcome to the 28th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 11, “L’enveloppe magique” (“The Magic Envelope”).

29) Chapter 11, Part 3. Chapter 12, Part 1. 5 November, 1909

Welcome to the 29th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 11, “L’enveloppe magique” (“The Magic Envelope”), and Part I of Chapter 12, “Il faut oublier le nom de « la voix d'homme »” (“You Must Forget the Name of ‘the Man’s Voice’”).

30) Chapter 12, Part 2. 7 November, 1909

Welcome to the 30th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 12, “Il faut oublier le nom de « la voix d’homme »” (“You Must Forget the Name of ‘the Man’s Voice’”).

31) Chapter 12, Part 3. Chapter 13, Part 1. 9 November, 1909

Welcome to the 31st installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 12, “Il faut oublier le nom de « la voix d’homme »” (“You Must Forget the Name of ‘the Man’s Voice’”), and Part I of Chapter 13, “Au-dessus des trappes” (“Above the Trapdoors”).

32) Chapter 13, Part 2. 11 November, 1909

Welcome to the 32nd installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 13, “Au-dessus des trappes” (“Above the Trapdoors”).

33) Chapter 13, Part 3. Chapter 14, Part 1. 13 November, 1909

Welcome to the 33rd installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 13, “Au-dessus des trappes” (“Above the Trapdoors”), and Part I of Chapter 14, “La lyre d'Apollon” (“Apollo’s Lyre”).

34) Chapter 14, Part 2. 15 November, 1909

Welcome to the 34th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

We are now at the halfway point of the Gaulois publication!

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 14, “La lyre d’Apollon” (“Apollo’s Lyre”).

35) Chapter 14, Part 3. 16 November, 1909

Welcome to the 35th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 14, “La lyre d’Apollon” (“Apollo’s Lyre”).

36) Chapter 14, Part 4. 18 November, 1909

Welcome to the 36th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part IV of Chapter 14, “La lyre d’Apollon” (“Apollo’s Lyre”).

37) Chapter 14, Part 5. 20 November, 1909

Welcome to the 37th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part V of Chapter 14, “La lyre d’Apollon” (“Apollo’s Lyre”).

38) Chapter 14, Part 6. 22 November, 1909

Welcome to the 38th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part VI of Chapter 14, “La lyre d’Apollon” (“Apollo’s Lyre”).

39) Chapter 14, Part 7. Chapter 15, Part 1. 23 November, 1909

Welcome to the 39th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part VII of Chapter 14, “La Lyre d’Apollon” (“Apollo’s Lyre”), and Part I of Chapter 15, “Un Coup de maître de l’amateur de trappes” (“A Masterstroke of the Trapdoor Lover”).

40) Chapter 15, Part 2. 25 November, 1909

Welcome to the 40th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 15, “Un Coup de maître de l’amateur de trappes” (“A Masterstroke of the Trapdoor Lover”).

41) Chapter 15, Part 3. Chapter 16, Part 1. 27 November, 1909

Welcome to the 41st installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 15, “Un Coup de maître de l’amateur de trappes” (“A Masterstroke of the Trapdoor Lover”), and Part I of Chapter 16, “Singulière attitude d’une épingle de nourrice” (“Strange Behavior Regarding a Safety Pin”).

42) Chapter 16, Part 2. 29 November, 1909

Welcome to the 42nd installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 16, “Singulière attitude d’une épingle de nourrice” (“Strange Behavior Regarding a Safety Pin”).

43) Chapter 17 (full chapter). Chapter 18, Part 1. 30 November, 1909

Welcome to the 43rd installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Chapter 17, “Christine ! Christine !” (“Christine! Christine!”), as well as Part I of Chapter 18, “Révélations étonnantes de Mme Giry, relatives à ses relations personnelles avec le fantôme de l’Opéra” (“Mme Giry’s Astonishing Revelations, Regarding Her Personal Relations with the Phantom of the Opera”).

44) Chapter 18, Part 2. 3 December, 1909

Welcome to the 44th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 18, “Révélations étonnantes de Mme Giry, relatives à ses relations personnelles avec le fantôme de l’Opéra” (“Mme Giry’s Astonishing Revelations, Regarding Her Personal Relations with the Phantom of the Opera”).

45) Chapter 18, Part 3. Chapter 19, Part 1. 4 December, 1909

Welcome to the 45th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 18, “Révélations étonnantes de Mme Giry, relatives à ses relations personnelles avec le fantôme de l’Opéra” (“Mme Giry’s Astonishing Revelations, Regarding Her Personal Relations with the Phantom of the Opera”), and Part I of Chapter 19, “Suite de la curieuse attitude d’une épingle de nourrice” (“Continuation of the Odd Behavior Regarding a Safety Pin”).

46) Chapter 19, Part 2. Chapter 20, Part 1. 5 December, 1909

Welcome to the 46th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 19, “Suite de la curieuse attitude d’une épingle de nourrice” (“Continuation of the Odd Behavior Regarding a Safety Pin”), and Part I of Chapter 20, “Le Commissaire de police, le vicomte et le Persan” (The Commissary of Police, the Vicomte, and the Persian).

47) Chapter 20, Part 2. 7 December, 1909

Welcome to the 47th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 20, “Le Commissaire de police, le vicomte et le Persan” (The Commissary of Police, the Vicomte, and the Persian).

48) Chapter 20, Part 3. Chapter 21, Part 1. 9 December, 1909

Welcome to the 48th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 20, “Le Commissaire de police, le vicomte et le Persan” (The Commissary of Police, the Vicomte, and the Persian), and Part I of Chapter 21, “Le Vicomte et le Persan” (The Vicomte and the Persian).

49) Chapter 21, Part 2. Chapter 22, Part 1. 10 December, 1909

Welcome to the 49th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 21, “Le Vicomte et le Persan” (The Vicomte and the Persian), and Part I of Chapter 22, “Dans les dessous de l’Opéra” (In the Underside of the Opera).

50) Chapter 22, Part 2. 13 December, 1909

Welcome to the 50th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 22, “Dans les dessous de l’Opéra” (In the Underside of the Opera).

51) Chapter 22, Part 3. 14 December, 1909

Welcome to the 51st installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 22, “Dans les dessous de l’Opéra” (In the Underside of the Opera).

52) Chapter 22, Part 4. 16 December, 1909

Welcome to the 52nd installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part IV of Chapter 22, “Dans les dessous de l’Opéra” (In the Underside of the Opera).

53) Chapter 22, Part 5. Chapter 23, Part 1. 19 December, 1909

Welcome to the 53rd installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part V of Chapter 22, “Dans les dessous de l’Opéra” (In the Underside of the Opera), and Part I of Chapter 23, “Intéressantes et instructives tribulations d’un Persan dans les dessous de l’Opéra: Recit du Persan” (Interesting and Informative Tribulations of a Persian in the Underside of the Opera: The Persian’s Narrative).

54) Chapter 23, Part 2. 20 December, 1909

Welcome to the 54th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 23, “Intéressantes et instructives tribulations d’un Persan dans les dessous de l’Opéra: Recit du Persan” (Interesting and Informative Tribulations of a Persian in the Underside of the Opera: The Persian’s Narrative).

55) Chapter 23, Part 3. 21 December, 1909

Welcome to the 55th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 23, “Intéressantes et instructives tribulations d’un Persan dans les dessous de l’Opéra: Recit du Persan” (Interesting and Informative Tribulations of a Persian in the Underside of the Opera: The Persian’s Narrative).

56) Chapter 23, Part 4. 24 December, 1909

Welcome to the 56th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part IV of Chapter 23, “Intéressantes et instructives tribulations d’un Persan dans les dessous de l’Opéra: Recit du Persan” (Interesting and Informative Tribulations of a Persian in the Underside of the Opera: The Persian’s Narrative).

57) Chapter 23, Part 5. Chapter 24, Part 1. 25 December, 1909

Welcome to the 57th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part V of Chapter 23, “Intéressantes et instructives tribulations d’un Persan dans les dessous de l’Opéra: Recit du Persan” (Interesting and Informative Tribulations of a Persian in the Underside of the Opera: The Persian’s Narrative), as well as Part I of Chapter 24, “Dans la chambre des supplices” (Inside the Torture Chamber).

58) Chapter 24, Part 2. Chapter 25, Part 1. 26 December, 1909

Welcome to the 58th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 24, “Dans la chambre des supplices” (Inside the Torture Chamber), and Part I of Chapter 25, “Les Supplices commencent” (The Torture Begins).

59) Chapter 25, Part 2. 27 December, 1909

Welcome to the 59th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 25, “Les Supplices commencent” (The Torture Begins).

60) Chapter 25, Part 3. Chapter 26, Part 1. 28 December, 1909

Welcome to the 60th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 25, “Les Supplices commencent” (The Torture Begins), and Part I of Chapter 26, “Tonneaux !… Tonneaux !… Avez-vous des tonneaux à vendre ?” (Barrels! Barrels! Have You Any Barrels to Sell?).

61) Chapter 26, Part 2. 31 December, 1909

Welcome to the 61st installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 26, “Tonneaux ! tonneaux ! avez-vous des tonneaux à vendre ?” (Barrels! Barrels! Have You Any Barrels to Sell?).

62) Chapter 26, Part 3. Chapter 27, Part 1. 1 January, 1910

Happy New Year! Welcome to the 62nd installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 26, “Tonneaux ! tonneaux ! avez-vous des tonneaux à vendre ?” (Barrels! Barrels! Have You Any Barrels to Sell?), as well as Part I of Chapter 27, “Faut-il tourner le scorpion ? Faut-il tourner la sauterelle ?” (Shall You Turn the Scorpion? Or Shall You Turn the Grasshopper?).

63) Chapter 27, Part 2. 2 January, 1910

Welcome to the 63rd installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 27, “Faut-il tourner le scorpion ? Faut-il tourner la sauterelle ?” (Shall You Turn the Scorpion? Or Shall You Turn the Grasshopper?).

64) Chapter 27, Part 3. 3 January, 1910

Welcome to the 64th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 27, “Faut-il tourner le scorpion ? Faut-il tourner la sauterelle ?” (Shall You Turn the Scorpion? Or Shall You Turn the Grasshopper?).

65) Chapter 28, Part 1. 5 January, 1910

Welcome to the 65th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part I of Chapter 28, “La Fin des amours du fantôme" (The End of the Phantom’s Love Story).

66) Chapter 28, Part 2. 6 January, 1910

Welcome to the 66th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of Chapter 28, “La Fin des amours du fantôme" (The End of the Phantom’s Love Story).

67) Epilogue, Part 1. 7 January, 1910

Welcome to the 67th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

In today’s installment, we have Part I of the Epilogue.

68) Epilogue, Part 2. 8 January, 1910

Welcome to the 68th and final installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom! Over the last 15 weeks, I have posted all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper.

A HUGE thank you to all of you who have followed me on this literary journey through Phantom. I hope it has been as fascinating for you as it has been for me to see how Leroux and his editors at Pierre Lafitte et Cie. developed and changed his novel from the Gaulois newspaper serialization to the First Edition.

In today’s installment, we have Part II of the Epilogue, and the end of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra.

[loving-n0t-heyting]

> During the bourgeois revolutions, bloodshed, terror, and political murder were an indispensable weapon in the hand of the rising classes.

> The proletarian revolution requires no terror for its aims; it hates and despises killing. It does not need these weapons because it does not combat individuals but institutions, because it does not enter the arena with naïve illusions whose disappointment it would seek to revenge. It is not the desperate attempt of a minority to mold the world forcibly according to its ideal, but the action of the great massive millions of the people, destined to fulfill a historic mission and to transform historical necessity into reality.

[behindthemirrorofmusic]

A message to the Phans from: Jonathan Roxmouth, Ethan Freeman, Brad Little, Jeff Keller, Ron Bohmer, Mike Sterling, Ciaran Sheehan, Roy Locke (Weissensteiner)

AND Véronique Leroux, great granddaughter of Gaston Leroux, to celebrate the 115th anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera!!

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Boy Scouts of America has announced it will change its name to “Scouting America” to reflect a more gender-inclusive tone in its programs, which allow girls to enroll.

In an announcement on Tuesday, the BSA said the change to Scouting America will take effect on Feb. 8, 2025, the 115th anniversary of the organization's founding.

Roger A. Krone, president and chief executive officer of the BSA, was quoted in the announcement as saying that the change “will be a simple but very important evolution as we seek to ensure that everyone feels welcome in...

[dutifulsilence]

« Happy 115th anniversary to the time Greis, Mellia, and I egged the entire village. No one from then is around to punish us. »

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

TODAY'S FROZEN MOMENT - 115th Anniversary July 19th, 1909 - This gorgeous silhouette photo was made of British aviator Hubert Latham in his aircraft he called “Antoinette”…. As he made his valiant attempt at crossing the English Channel for the prize money promised to the first person to do so by the London newspaper The Daily Mail. This 20th century Icarus was sadly not successful in his attempt… But… he did manage to score some aviation “firsts” with this effort… Latham was the first person to attempt crossing the Channel in an aircraft… And he was the first person to make a successful landing of an aircraft onto water… And he was the first person to smoke a cigarette in a plane… But I think the greatest thing to come out of his attempt was this photograph which is truly beautiful… the photographer’s identity is lost to history, but thankfully we were left the shot…

[Mary Elaine LeBey]

* * * *

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” ― Leonardo da Vinci

[sincerejester]

Introducing 'The Phantom's Folio', a novel

{based on Gaston Leroux's classic story, Le Fantome de l'Opera.}

To commemorate the 115th anniversary of the serial publication of Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera [23 September, 1909 - 8 January, 1910], we are pleased to debut 'The Phantom's Folio' [available in hardcover, paperback and Kindle.]

Note: contains depictions of violence, abuse and sexual situations. It is NOT erotica. (TW: abuse, violence, reference to addiction, mental illness.)

[domonicriley]

It was the 115th anniversary of The Wind in the Willows on the 8th of October.

I reread it earlier this year, possibly for the first time since I was a child, and it certainly struck me in a different way. There were large parts of the story, such as the chapter The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, that I didn't remember.

Another thing that struck me was how different England must have been 115 years ago. If there's a villain in the story then it must be the motor car, tearing through the countryside, upsetting the older, slower way of life like it upset the canary yellow caravan, and straining the friendship between Toad and the others.

Perhaps the thing that would destroy Grahame's England the most was waiting just over the horizon in 1908. A little over a decade later, the world would emerge from the worst conflict in history. I doubt if the River Bank and 'messing about in boats' could have survived this, or its equally destructive successor two decades later.

Sometimes I feel like the world described by Kenneth Grahame is more of a fantasy than Middle Earth.

[rabbitcruiser]

Selma Lagerlöf becomes the first female writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature on December 10, 1909.

[marcosvitor1996]

Happy Late 115th Anniversary to late Mae Questel, the voice of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl from Popeye

[fdelopera]

On 22 September, 1909, the Parisian daily newspaper, Le Gaulois, ran the advertisement pictured above, announcing the serialization of Gaston Leroux's new novel, Le Fantôme de l'Opéra.

Leroux's novel premiered on 23 September, 1909 — 115 years ago today. It ran for 15 weeks, and it was segmented into 68 sections, each section covering roughly half a chapter's worth of content.

To celebrate 115 years of Le Fantôme de l'Opéra in print, over the next 15 weeks I will be posting all 68 sections of the Gaulois publication of Phantom to my blog. These posts will correspond with the original dates of publication.

Here is a link to Le Gaulois for 22 September, 1909. The advert for Phantom is in the middle of the page.

And in case you are wondering what the text of the advertisement above says, here is my translation:

Weary of purely psychological novels, the public awoke one day with a great desire to hear stories. Straightaway, these stories were served up — tales of bandits and policemen — assuredly quite amusing, but which soon grew tedious in their turn, yet without appeasing the public's thirst for mystery and magic. This is why the Gaulois has requested from one of the public's most rightly beloved authors, M. Gaston Leroux, a novel which, while departing from the genre dear to the Conan Doyles of the Old and New World, is still replete with the delectable inquietude that will give a thrill to the beguiled reader. More than once, this irresistible anguish will conjure in the minds of some of our female readers the dreadful, terrifying, ghostly, and sorrowfully human image, despite all of the illusion that surrounds it, of The Phantom of the Opera. We need not introduce our readers to M. Gaston Leroux, whom it is generally agreed is in possession of the most astonishing suppleness of imagination of which one can conceive, but we would indeed like to say that The Phantom of the Opera is worthy of achieving even greater success in the Gaulois than that which was attained in the Illustration by The Mystery of the Yellow Room and The Perfume of the Lady in Black, by the same author. Tomorrow, this Thursday, in the "Gaulois," read: The Phantom of the Opera by M. Gaston Leroux

[naturecoaster]

Have you ever wished you could meet a real author? Do you like to read fantasy? Self-help? Poetry? Learn new things? Want to choose the way the book ends as you read it? Do you have a favorite book? Do you love to read to your children? Do you remember a special book that helped you during a difficult time? If you answered one or more of the above questions enthusiastically, then join fellow book-lovers at the 1st annual Booksville Festival in historic downtown Brooksville, Florida, on January 25, 2025, from 10 am to 3 pm. Meet local authors, visit with and come as cosplay characters, watch students show off their skills at spelling for prizes, listen as authors bring their stories and poetry alive, and much more at this unique festival celebrating all the ways literature touches our lives! 1st Annual Booksville Festival Celebrates All Things Literary in Brooksville Jan. 25, 2025 With activities and adventures geared for the entire family, you'll experience many ways to celebrate the joy of storytelling. It's free and Booksville is going to be extraordinarily fun. From author readings, poetry recitals, book sales, games, and activities based on beloved books, to character and spelling bee contests (all grades) - there is something for everyone. Authors will be selling their books on-site, and some will be sharing their stories and reading from their tomes at this family-friendly literary festival! Can you win the Spelling Bee? There is still time to register. Sign Up for the Booksville Spelling Contest As of the publishing of this story, there is still time to sign up for the Booksville Spelling Bee! Challenge yourself with words from timeless classics like Anne of Green Gables and honor Anne’s love for grand vocabulary while vying for prizes, including $100 for first place in each age category and a T-shirt for each participant. But you must register to participate here. A big shoutout to Luigis Pizza for sponsoring the Spelling Bee at Booksville. The GFWC Historic Brooksville Woman’s Club Presents Booksville The Booksville Festival will celebrate all things literary, featuring nearly 50 local published authors, with poetry and author readings sponsored by Brijbag Law Firm, and many free activities for children based on classic literature. “We came up with the idea for Booksville in honor of Bertha Hancock Ashbrook, the first librarian in Hernando County,” explains Natalie Kahler, President of the GFWC Historic Brooksville Woman’s Club, "Actually, Brian Brijbag had approached the City of Brooksville several years ago with the concept, but the time wasn't right. We saw this as an opportunity to celebrate the first Woman's Club initiative on our 115th Anniversary." When the GFWC Historic Brooksville Woman’s Club was established in 1910, its members immediately began efforts to start the first library in Hernando County. Starting as a traveling library, with Bertha Hancock Ashbook as librarian. That traveling library later moved to the First National Bank and then to Bertha’s home before settling in its current location on Howell Avenue. The Woman’s Club ran library operations for several decades before handing it over to the county, which still runs it today. In 2025, the GFWC Historic Brooksville Woman’s Club is celebrating its 115th anniversary. In honor of one of their first club initiatives, they will host the Booksville Festival on January 25, 2025. Visit Book Host Locations Before the Festival You can visit any or all of the Booksville Book Host businesses and purchase books. Image courtesy of Booksville. Local businesses have become book hosts, using their space to help promote the authors involved and the Booksville Festival! Stop by the businesses below from now until the event day to view and purchase a book. Each book comes with a sticker and bookmark upon purchase! Book Hosts include Brijbag Law, Brooksville Unique Boutique, Congressman Bilirakis, Dade Battlefield Society, Diamonds and Rust Vintage, Easy Street Home Décor, Ice Cream Barr, May-Stringer Museum, WellCome OM, Westover’s Flowers & Gifts, and XLNT Smoke Shop. You will find a map here. Coloring Books, Poetry, Folktales will be Created by Booksville Books for sale will be in abundance. Over the past six months, Booksville.org has been collecting poetry and folktales from online entries to create the Poetry & Folktales book and each entrant will receive a copy of the completed volume. A kids’ contest, challenging youth to draw a picture based on their favorite book was initiated, and the Booksville festival will make a coloring book from these submissions, thanks to the sponsorship of Florida Cracker. Cosplay fans can join the literature costume contest. Dress up as your favorite book character and have a blast! Cosplay fans can join the literature costume contest. Dress up as your favorite book character and have a blast! Image courtesy of DepositPhotos.com The Booksville Team Welcomes You It takes a whole team to put on a festival of this magnitude, and Booksville has a fine team, including - Lisa Callea, who thinks that Tigger from AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh most reflects her personality - Lara Dedmon, whose favorite book is “The Hobbit” - Bob Steffensrud, whose favorite book is “A short history of nearly Everything” - Camille Padula, whose favorite book is “Murder on the Orient Express” - Betsy Ahrens, whose favorite book is “The Diary of Anne Frank” - Barry Meindl, whose favorite book is “Frankenstein” - Esprit Herbert, whose favorite books are the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy - Dr. Margy Wollerton, whose favorite books are “Pride & Prejudice” and “A Town Like Alice” - Kyle Marra, whose favorite book is “The Prestige” by Christopher Priest. - Natalie Kahler, whose favorite book is “Light Princess” by George MacDonald. - Kevin Herbert, whose favorite book is “The Colour Out of Space” by H.P. Lovecraft - Joe Pecora, who is represented by “Waldo” of “Where’s Waldo” - Brian Brijbag, who has three favorite books, “Heart of Darkness,” “Lord of the Rings,” and the Bible. - Allisa Babor, whose current favorite book is “Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe” The GFWC Historic Brooksville Woman's Club welcomes you to Booksville! Located at 131 S Main St in Brooksville. Image by Diane Bedard. Planned activities include author & poetry readings, a book binding station where children can bind their own book, a loom operating that will allow participants to help create the Booksville blanket, a child/youth reading nook with celebrity readers, musical instrument makers, a Little House on the Prairie school, a photo booth w/typewriters, desk, and other literary props, and a spelling bee. The festival is a short drive from the enchanting Weeki Wachee Springs, home to the world-famous mermaids, and is up the road from the historic Chinsegut Hill, where the legacy of playwright Elizabeth Robins and other literary treasures come to life. The GFWC Historic Brooksville Woman’s Club members can’t wait to welcome you to 131 S. Main Street on Saturday, January 25 from 10 am-3 pm to help celebrate 115 years of reading in Hernando County at the first annual Booksville Festival. List of Booksville Authors * Annette L. Becklund, Ancestry Discoveries: What Happens Under the Sheets Doesn't Stay There, a story of how I, at age fifty-seven, discovered a family secret by taking an Ancestry.com DNA test. Charleen Berg, #somethinggoodeveryday, A journaling of grief and hope during a family tragedy. * Angela Bledsoe, Legend of Geriana: Part One, a coming-of-age story written at a middle-grade level exploring themes of rejection and self-acceptance while introducing a unique and wonderful world of new and familiar races. Paula Braley, The Fire Slayers, Finding Persephone, and Persephone's Children, Science Fiction - Romance Rachel Brijbag, The Girl with the Sparkle Soul, an enchanting, rhyming story inviting readers to see the magic through Rachel’s eyes, celebrating the beauty of being different and the power of a colorful imagination. * Nancy Clarke, The STORMY HILL series, seven books in a coming-of-age series about a young girl who saves an orphan colt to prove his value as a racehorse and thus save their family farm. Nicole Feller, Feels Like Fire, Paper Walls, Still the Song, closed-door, contemporary romances. * Chelsea Giovinco, After You’re Gone, a light mystery/suspense novel where Rachel Stephens uncovers family secrets she wishes she hadn’t. Darren aka D Michael Hardy, The Ghosts of Us, Pain & Longing, poetry collections One of the Booksville authors is Rachel Brijbag, a Spring Hill, Florida resident. Image courtesy of Booksville. * Rebecca Harmon, Escape Into Adventure: My Unexpected Secret Agent Audition; Escape into Adventure: Trouble in the Amazon, interactive children's chapter books for ages 6-14 in a family-friendly Pick Your Path Adventure or Choose Your Own Adventure style format. Aleta Harris, Walks with Ollie: Lessons on the Leash, Looking Up with Ollie: Laughing While We Learn, The Power of Simple Gestures: Saying YES to Opportunities that Transform Lives and People Who Have Changed Mine, Making Change: Sift Out Wasted Spending and Share the $$$ You Save, non-fiction with a focus on life and faith, giving, and practical ways to make positive change. * Gay Inskeep, Raisina Grape: Peril in the Pyramids, Join 12 year-old Raisina as she uses her intuition and ingenuity to solve mysteries while experiencing new cultures and making new friends! * Don Kafrissen, Brothers Beyond Blood, Long Lost Brother, Not My Blood, Missing Pieces, White Emeralds, Gunfight on Clearwater Beach, Black Madonna, The Coroners Report, The Steal Back, Historical Fiction, Action Adventure, Short Stories, Mystery, Private Eye * Nadia King, Shattered Glass with Glitter, a collection of poems written through pain and love while on a healing journey. Kathleen Small, author of A Dress to Remember: A Fairy Tale; The Magic Carousel; The Christmas Carousel will be displaying and speaking at Bookville. Image courtesy of Bookville. * TK Lawyer, Orion, Crossroads, Picture Imperfect, Angels and Diamonds, Nightfall, steamy angel paranormal romance. Jean Lindsay, What Ails You? Nature's Way May Help, Edible Landscape Plants of Florida, all about herbs and how to use them and landscaping plants that are also edible. Marie Milges, BEHIND THE TAPE: Memoir of a CSI, inspiring memoir offering a comprehensive insight into crime scene investigation, resilience and personal growth. Camille Padula, Murder in the Marshes, a murder mystery Christy Perdue, Love is the Answer, Different Just Like You, Growing up with Grandparents, Fletcher the Farting Ferret, Ohhh Valentino, If Tomorrow Starts without Me, childrens’ books with lesson themes and a guided memoir for anyone to fill out. * Sean Sanborn, The Naga Trilogy: #1 Rescue #2 Journey #3 Dragon, fantasy series where a high stakes battleground between the Thai and Burmese armies will determine the fate of many lives. Nancy Clarke brings her Stormy Hill series for horse lovers. Image courtesy of Bookville. Stefanie Schatzman, The Shadowlink Mages of Sterling Ridge; The Shadowlink Two Sides of Hexel, a series of Youth Action fiction fantasy. Mary Lu Scholl, Camper Catastrophe, Mobile Mayhem, Birds Bees and RVs, Trailer Trauma, Modular Murder, Corpse in the Clubhouse, Restless Retirement, Motorhome Motives, Fatal Philandering, Dirt drugs and Disaster, Lecanto Leprechaun, Big Foot and the Bentley, InverNessie, Pu'ka and the Pirates, A Junction of Murder and Mayhem, Hazardous Duty, cozy mystery sets, a coming-of-age serial killer book, and a drama. * Seth Sjostrom, Beach House Mysteries Series, mysteries and thrillers, Hurricane Channing and the Lost Flamingo, Hurricane Channing and the Mommy Manatee, children’s books * Kathleen Small, A Dress to Remember: A Fairy Tale; The Magic Carousel; The Christmas Carousel, middle-grade fantasy books * Debbie Stenstrom, A Chance at Forever, A Chance to Bloom, A Chance at the Sweet Life, sweet, contemporary romances set in the small town of Marysville, California for ages 18+ * Lynn Van Meter, Boo Boo Queen, children’s picture book. * Omayra Velez, The First Two Companions, Throngs of Misfits, Clashes of Wills, Promises of War, Calixta; the Vanquishers of Alhambra, Ultima Skylar, For Warriors!, The General's Gift, an epic fantasy series. * denotes Author has requested stage time and will be speaking. Please note that this list is accurate as of publication and is subject to change. Read the full article

[behindthemirrorofmusic]

Starting next week Behind the Mirror of Music will be all about Phantom of the Opera to celebrate the 115th anniversary of the novel by Gaston Leroux.

Celebratory episodes include:

An interview with original Broadway cast member Jeff Keller who was part of the production for 17 years as Phantom, Andre, Firmin among other roles.

An interview with Heather Jackson, who starred as Madame Giry on West End for nine years.

And Phantoms on Leroux: Phantoms including Ethan Freeman, Jonathan Roxmouth and Mike Sterling discuss the original Leroux novel as well as the character of Erik.

This plus more coming up soon here

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Boy Scouts of America will change its name to “Scouting America” next February to be more inclusive, the 114-year-old organization announced yesterday. The rebrand will occur on the 115th anniversary of the Boy Scouts’ establishment and seven years after it began admitting women in 2018.

This latest move toward “inclusion” is likely motivated by the Boy Scouts’ desire to increase its memberships and rehab its image — both of which have suffered under widespread accusations of sexual assault and misconduct by past troop leaders.

The group filed for bankruptcy in 2020 after paying more than $150 million to settle lawsuits related to past assaults and allegations of misconduct. It still owes $2.4 billion to more than 80,000 other victims.

In this social climate, its rarely a bad idea for an organization to demonstrate its...