Moulin Huet Bay, Guernsey, the Channel Islands (see picture). Auguste Renoir was here in the 1880's. He painted several canvases on the beach at Moulin Huet Bay, some with families frolicking in the foreground, most with these rocks in the background. Victor Hugo spent 15 years on Guernsey just before Renoir. He wrote "Les Miserables" at his home, Hauteville House. Hugo is famously quoted as saying that the Channel Islands were "fragments of France, dropped into the sea and picked up by England."
We've just checked in to our motel in South San Francisco. We have done the first two shows with Ken and Bettine and their Golden Gate Geographical Society. This is the last of their series. It seems a shame to end it because it still attracts an audience - albeit a predominately aged audience - but who else makes entertainment for this age group? Most of them will be disappointed to have no place to go for their travel films next season.
Ken and Bettine Armstrong have been presenting their series for 34 years and this will be the end of an era. Our show today was at Belmont; yesterday was up by Santa Rosa; tomorrow's will be at Mountain View. Thursday there will be two shows at Moraga, and the finale will take place at Oakland's amazingly ornate picture palace, The Paramount, next Saturday at 2:00 PM. These venues are among the best in the country, known for quality films, excellent sound, professionalism in production and attention to detail; the audiences are well educated and interested in geography and history. In other words, the audience one dreams of when one makes these films: they understand the references and the humor, and they exit saying things like they actually learned something from the presentation. They are open minded and willing to learn. One can only hope that the younger generations will learn enough to be so humble in 50 years time. Dream on; but hope. I think today's young folk may be literate in technology, but ignorant in everything else.
During each of the Golden Gate programs Marsha makes a presentation of appreciation and good wishes to Ken and Bettine on behalf of their peers at TRACS, the Travel Adventure Cinema Society.
Our show is "La Manche/the English Channel." It's literate, colorful, informational, geographical, historical, theatrical and just plain good stuff. We dedicate it to Veterans of WWII.
Check it out: go to You Tube and "lacahoots" ("Monet in Normandie" is from "La Manche") or go to montyandmarsha.com our website for an overview of our work.
Fruits de Mer, St. Peter Port, Guernsey.
