New on 500px : Charlie Chaplin is a beloved figure in Cuba. by tmrother by tmrother

This was just a Charlie Chaplin themed coffee shop on Holguín main square. He is beloved figure in Cuba. His leftist thinking and work was ideologically fine with Castro. His works was shown extensively there. Ch.Ch. has even cinema named after him in Havana. In the USA, Chaplin was shown the boot in 1952 and American kids were fed syrupy Disney movies. In Toronto Ch.Ch movies are also shown rarely. I grew up with Charlie Chaplin and I believe it made me a better adult. Image of Charles Chaplin and Jackie Coogan in “El Chico” (The Kid-1921), is from Suzanne Thierry archives.

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New on 500px : Rialto Theatre 1924, Mile End, Montreal by tmrother by tmrother

Rialto Theater not far from St. Viateur Bagel shop is another iconic Montreal institution featured in Mordechai Richler books. Build in 1923-1924 (architect Raoul Gariépy/ Emmanuel Briffa) as a neighbourhood cinema. This Park Avenue (now Avenue du Parc) landmark was resurrected in 2010, after struggling to survive for last 30 years. It became again center of Montreal culture with award shows, theatre, dance, musicals, film festival and music concerts shown on the screen and stage.

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New on 500px : Montreal Metro digger, there maybe skeletons. by tmrother by tmrother

Tales from the underground.
Two Sculptures (one shown here) in the Monk station (Montreal Metro) looming over the commuters. Called simply “Pic et Pelle” (Pick and Shovel) the work of Germain Bergeron from 1976 is over 6 meters tall. Originally planned third sculpture of a foreman was cancelled, as it would be to painful for the citizens of Montreal to be reminded, that they had to pay a supervisor wages for just two workers, when this underground was constructed. Most of the Green Line was completed in time for the 1976 Olympic games, but at high price. The Olympic debt was finally paid 30 years later in 2006.
There may be some skeletons there, as the Montreal construction industry is notoriously corrupt.

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New on 500px : An indoor/outdoor mall, a Middle-Age invention by tmrother by tmrother

The buildings on this corner of the plaza are real. They do look a lot like Hollywood fake village, but they are on the Přemysl Otakar II Square from the 16th century on, more or less unchanged.
The Archway or Arcade architecture of Southern Bohemia is here well represented. This created the first quasi indoor mall originated in Middle Ages and not in United States in the 1950’s. Designed for the shopkeepers to display their wares and for customers to shop undisturbed by the inclement weather.
The House of Tereza Förster on the left (1565) was Förster toy store, next is #19 ‘By St. George’ (1602), which used to be Karel Paral Super Drugstore, #20 ‘By Red Deer’ (later Kadlec Bakery) , #21 ‘At Golden Cellar’ (today appropriately Money Exchange) and #22 ‘At Golden Star’, now the 3 stars Pension Hradský.
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I have recently seen a documentary about Southdale Center designed (1954) by Victor Grünbaum, and immigrant from Vienna. They did not mention this fact, but MeThink, this is where he got the first idea.
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New on 500px : Budweis City Hall, Baroque style, 1730 by tmrother by tmrother

Budweis City Hall stood on this spot since 1555. The building burned in fire and was rebuild in 1730 by Anton Erhardt Martinelli and Italian architect living in Vienna. The fresh look was achieved by last major renovation in 1999. Its richly decorated façade, makes it on of the most attractive building in the city and shows it’s citizen pride.On the roof are the statues of four supposedly bourgeois virtues: Wisdom, Caution, Courage and Justice. Caution and Courage have to probably fight it out all the time. I would choose probably Awareness, Engagement, Decency (Fairness), and Courteousness. A politician today would prefer Obedience and Ignorance. They are blessed, as many burghers in my city display these traits, when it comes to select a leader. (Current Mayor is actually pretty good choice.)
The Baroque ‘Samson fountain’ in front, is one of the largest of its kind in the country. The base is 17 m in diameter. Build by František Baugaut in 1727. It features sculpture of Samson on the lion.

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New on 500px : Light and the Monastery, Budějovice (Budweis) by tmrother by tmrother

The Dominican monastery church of the Virgin Mary
I was attracted by the back light illuminating the globes on Přemysl Otakar II Square. The white clock tower with the Baroque dome (1772) visible on this photo is part of large complex of Monastery of Virgin Mary. The construction began in 1265!!
The monastery church of Virgin Mary is the most valuable artistic and historical monument in České Budějovice. There are well preserved paintings, frescoes and murals from 14th and 15th century. It was added to throughout the centuries and different religious groups shaped the architecture. Even during the communist time the church remained in the administration of the parish.
I only had few hours in Budejovice, so no time to visit interior, but I had a dinner in one of the outlying buildings (could have been stable at one time) and enjoyed the evening with Szeged gulash, czech dumplings and of course Budvar (the original Budweiser) beer.

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New on 500px : Black Tower (Černá věž) 1549- 1577, Budějovice by tmrother by tmrother

Black Tower (Černá věž) 1549- 1577, is the name of this ancient tower in České Budějovice, The 72 m tall, 9 stories tower is quite visible in this town. Adjacent to the enormous ‘Přemysl Otakar II’ Square (formerly Žižkovo) and the St. Nicholas Cathedral. Builders were Italians Hans Spatz, and in later years Vincent Vogarelli.
There are 5 bells in this tower and even an apartment for the bell ringer . The last one’s who lived there (till 1947), was 3 generations of family Schestauber. They were the town criers, rung the bells and were also announcing (in singing voice) the time.
No earplugs were manufactured in the middle ages, as far as I know, so deafness was probably a job curse or non taxable benefit, if you had a nagging wife. The other benefit was of course, that going up and down the 225 steps, 8 x daily, as they saved the membership of Health Club.

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