Articles written by Kathleen Airdrie
Showing 1-100 of 181 Articles
|
Hamlet Through the Ages
Voted the master work of the millennium in a 1999 poll, Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark has been subjected to many interpretations and adaptations.
|
|
Killdeer Calls Its Name
A member of the plover family, classified as a shore bird, the Killdeer is most often seen far from water, in close proximity to human habitation.
|
|
Common Redpoll of the Northern Hemisphere
An unforgettable experience occurs during a "Redpoll winter" when a very large twittering flock of these delightful birds suddenly appears.
|
|
Evening Grosbeak Profile
The vociferous Evening Grosbeak will breed in coniferous or mixed forest areas and in large flocks will consume vast amounts of sunflower seeds during winter.
|
|
Chester Mystery Plays in Toronto, Canada
Medieval and renaissance players will present The Chester Cycle at the University of Toronto, May 21 to 24, 2010.
|
|
Margaret Laurence and The Diviners
Margaret Laurence, one of Canada's most honored and respected writers faced controversies related to censorship of The Diviners.
|
|
Margaret Laurence Biography
Jean Margaret Laurence nee Wemyss, one of Canada's most revered writers, presented a wonderful depth of feelings in her characters such as Morag in The Diviners.
|
|
Croton Indoor Plants of Brilliant Colors
The exotic-looking Crotons with their variably-shaped leaves will, with proper care, provide an explosion of wonderful colors.
|
|
Molière of Paris, France
Using the theatrical pseudonym Molière, playwright John Baptiste Poquelin (1622-1673) of France affirmed the power of comedy as a serious art form.
|
|
Common Loon Calls on Freshwater Lakes
The Common Loon's eerie calls from a quiet freshwater lake, a symbol of wilderness, haunt listeners long after the area has become quiet.
|
|
Barbara Ann Scott Carries Olympic Torch
1948 Canadian Olympic figure skating champion Barbara Ann Scott entered the House of Commons carrying the Olympic Torch.
|
|
Sociable Cedar Waxwings
The softly-colored, sociable Cedar Waxwing is the masked bird that devours a large amount of berries from shrubs and trees.
|
|
Downy Woodpeckers of North America
The black and white Downy Woodpecker, North America's smallest, lives year round across most of the continent.
|
|
Chicago, Illinois Sarah Siddons Awards
A fictional theatre award created for the classic Hollywood movie All About Eve
became the real Sarah Siddons Awards in Chicago.
|
|
Pictish Stones in St. Vigeans, Angus, Scotland
Ancient Pictish carved stones and remnants have been laser cleaned and are now on display in the renovated museum at St. Vigeans in Angus, Scotland.
|
|
Abbey of Arbroath and Scottish Identity
A most remarkable document signed at the Abbey of Arbroath, Scotland in 1320 may have influenced writers of the Declaration of Independence in the United States.
|
|
Claudette Colbert Broadway to Hollywood
Broadway actress Claudette Colbert, the movies' unflappable heroine of romantic comedies, also performed in classic dramatic roles.
|
|
Vesey Market Garden Seeds Started a Business
With a small kitchen scale, an old cracked dish, and a spoon, a young Prince Edward Island man started the mail order business known as Vesey's Seeds.
|
|
Flower of Scotland and Its Legend
The prolific, thorny thistle is credited in legend as the plant that saved Scotland during the Middle Ages.
|
|
Belleek Pottery in Ireland's County Fermanagh
The name Belleek refers to a village in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland on the banks of the River Erne, and to the lustrous porcelain made there.
|
|
Shamrock, Celtic Cross, Claddagh Ring, and Harp
The sacred shamrock, Celtic cross, Claddagh ring from Galway, and ancient harp are all symbolic of Ireland.
|
|
Inuit Peoples' Recruitment from Labrador, Canada
In 1880, eight recruited Inuit people of Labrador, Canada became zoo specimens, and died of smallpox within five months.
|
|
Indigenous Theatre Arts in Canada
Long before European contact, Canada's indigenous peoples' rituals and dramatic storytelling were as theatrical as those of minstrels and churchmen.
|
|
Personal Financial Planning For the Holidays
By personal financial planning, people with limited incomes who live through 'tough economic times' every day can have enjoyable holidays.
|
|
Emigration to Canada by British Children
Maria Rye's work toward relief of British children's workhouse suffering resulted in emigration of thousands and wide criticism.
|
|
Single British Women Immigration
An estimated 305,000 single British women labeled 'redundant' were the focus of emigration advocates during the late 19th century.
|
|
Estate Fraud and Baker Family Ancestors
Lured by a fraudulent will, thousands of Baker family ancestors spent their life savings chasing a dream.
|
|
Acting Career of Sarah Siddons
British actress Sarah (Kemble) Siddons did more than any other individual to establish the profession as a "dignified calling for women".
|
|
Flowering Maple Indoor Plant
The Flowering Maple, though not related, bears leaves similar to those of the maple tree and flowers resembling those of hibiscus, hollyhock, and mallow.
|
|
Peace Lily Plant
Peace lilies from the damp soil of humid, tropical rainforests, praised for their beauty and durability, are praised also for their power as indoor air purifiers.
|
|
Collecting Vintage Fiesta Dinnerware
Colorful Fiesta tableware from Newell, West Virginia creates a wonderful mix and match setting for casual meals.
|
|
Helen Hayes in Broadway Plays
Helen Hayes' extraordinary professional career that included stage, radio, movie, and television work spanned eighty years.
|
|
Theatre Acting of English Women
The often-repeated statement that women were banned from the stages of English theatres until King Charles II changed the rules is not entirely accurate.
|
|
Broadway Plays of Thomas Mitchell
Thomas Mitchell was one of those amazing actors during Hollywood's Golden Age who could take on any role and make audiences believe in his character.
|
|
Puritans, Politicians and Renaissance Theatre
Thriving theatres and performers treated with suspicion survived during the lifetime of Queen Elizabeth I, but later went into decline under pressure.
|
|
Character Actress Thelma Ritter
Thelma Ritter was the wonderful character actress who held her own in scenes with lead actresses such as Bette Davis.
|
|
Jack Lemmon, Actor in Television and Movies
Jack Lemmon was a versatile actor who made audiences laugh heartily, and feel his characters' anguish and anger.
|
|
Trading Partners and Aboriginal Country Wives
The fates of women referred to as 'country wives' were determined by men who could abandon them, stay with them, take them to home countries or arrange a turning off.
|
|
Canadian Fur Trade Relationships
Women's participation in Canada's fur trade was varied and extensive, and generally overlooked in official records.
|
|
Mary Ann Shadd Activism in Canada
Daughter of freeborn abolitionists, Mary Ann Shadd was the first woman to edit a newspaper, and an outspoken integration and equality advocate.
|
|
Settlement by Halladay Family in Leeds County
In 1801, Noah and Mehitable (Cross) Halladay, members of a large New England family, journeyed to Upper Canada.
|
|
Gold Rush in the Cariboo
Catherine O'Hare from County Down, Ireland was the only woman on an historic overland trek during the Cariboo gold rush.
|
|
David Douglas Botanical Expeditions
The Scot David Douglas had little formal education, yet became a famous botanical explorer through his work in western North America.
|
|
Superstitions in the Theatre
Notoriously superstitious, theatrical people adhere to many beliefs, the origins of which are often unknown.
|
|
Actress Susan Hayward
Susan Hayward was a remarkably talented actress who specialized in portrayals of strong women who fought to overcome adversity.
|
|
Rome's Great Theatre of Pompey
Theatre Pompey, Rome's first permanent theatre, was probably the largest ever built, and became the place where Julius Caesar was assassinated.
|
|
Boycott and Land Leagues in County Mayo, Ireland
The origin of the word 'boycott' is attributed to actions taken during a land dispute in Ireland in 1880.
|
|
Charitable Organization Donations During Famine
Charities attempted to alleviate starving Irish tenants' and laborers' suffering during famine, but donations were insufficient.
|
|
Elder Neglect
Has modern society reached the point where there is little or no room for older people?
|
|
Entertainment for Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria held great appreciation for the performance arts, and did not hesitate to comment on the presentations.
|
|
Reviews in Edinburgh and London
The humanitarian movement that brought about the French Revolution is often cited as the catalyst for calls for reform.
|
|
Poets and Criticisms in 18th Century England
At the beginning of the 18th century, writers of prose and poetry were adhering to rigid rules and forms later described as feeble correctness.
|
|
Wheeler Surname History
Amateur genealogists, especially those who are new to the endeavor, will discover amazing variations in the spelling of their family names.
|
|
Roman Coliseum Spectacles Banned by Church
Roman coliseum events, which had become brutal spectacles of human suffering, were banned by the Christian church that eventually initiated revival of performance drama.
|
|
Canadian Business Produces Cheezies
A corn and cheese product, Cheezies was perfected through trial and error in the 1940s, and is an iconic snack food in Canada.
|
|
Insurance Companies, Banks, Investment Brokers
A powerful group of Toronto investment brokers sought control and personal financial gain at the beginning of the 20th century, regardless of the effect upon others.
|
|
Canadian Stock Broker Sir Henry Pellatt
Toronto stock broker Sir Henry Pellatt's grand dream resulted in construction of Casa Loma at great cost to many.
|
|
Athens, Greece Dionysian Festivals
Dionysian festivals evolved into formalized theatre that was a source of pride during the Golden Age of Athens.
|
|
Community Revitalization at Cobalt, Ontario
When the rush for silver began in 1903, the town now known as Cobalt in Ontario changed forever, and is now a designated National Historic Site of Canada.
|
|
Cobalt, Ontario and Silver
Cobalt, Ontario was the site of a massive silver discovery in 1903 and a great exodus when the resource was depleted.
|
|
Silver Mines in Cobalt, Ontario
The 1903 discovery of large quantities of native silver in Cobalt, Ontario resulted in riches for some, devastation for others, and severe damage to the environment.
|
|
Oldsmobile Cars Inventor Ransom E. Olds
Automotive pioneer Ransom Eli Olds deserves credit for patenting the first assembly line process, and for starting the automotive industry in the Detroit area.
|
|
Joyful Colors and Sights of Autumn
The colors of autumn can bring joy to the lives of people, especially when they don't think about the season to come in the Northern Hemisphere.
|
|
Roman Theatre and Early Comedies
Poets and playwrights of the early Roman theatre who translated and adapted Greek comedies are credited with their preservation.
|
|
Etruscan and Oscan Influence on Roman Culture
Before the importation of Greek drama, the cultures of other civilizations were apparent in the Romans' entertainments.
|
|
Part-Time Workers' Vulnerability
Workers in part-time positions are often vulnerable to employers' financial circumstances and unscrupulous practices.
|
|
Edible Flowers and Leaves of Garlic Chives
Garlic chives are herbaceous perennials grown for their excellent flavor and attractiveness as garden specimens.
|
|
Comedie Francaise, Moliere, and King Louis XIV
Comedie Francaise, started by Moliere, was officially founded in 1680 by royal decree of King Louis XIV, and performs to this day.
|
|
16th Century London Theatrical Venues
Queen Elizabeth fully supported the theatre but the London politicians did not, so traditional venues were utilized by acting companies.
|
|
Sisters Fanny and Carlotta Addison
English sisters followed in their father Edward's footsteps onto the theatrical stages of England.
|
|
Great Playwrights of Comic Drama in Athens
Greek comedy evolved from riotous wine festival celebrations, through wartimes and periods when strict censorship laws were enforced.
|
|
Performer Catherine Clive of Drury Lane
Catherine "Kitty" Clive was a prime audience favorite during her forty years on the British stage.
|
|
Restoration of Restoration Theatre in Dublin
Excavation revealed artifacts and old structural sections during preliminary stage of theatre restoration that is supported by actor Liam Neeson.
|
|
Dublin Theatre Royal of Smock Alley
Smock Alley Theatre was the first playhouse built in Dublin (1662) after the Restoration.
|
|
Theatre and the Church of Scotland
Theatrical endeavours were soon reactivated in England and Ireland, but not in Scotland following the restoration of Charles II in1660.
|
|
Adelaide Neilson of Yorkshire, England
Adelaide Neilson rose from a life of poverty to become one of the most successful stage actresses in the Victorian era.
|
|
Restoration Theatre Companies in England
The return of England's Charles II from exile in Europe, and his Coronation in 1661, meant that theatrical performances could resume.
|
|
Blackfriars Theatre in Renaissance London
A monastery built in 1278 by Dominican monks was closed in 1538 by Henry VIII, used as site of two theatres, and permanently closed in 1642 by Puritans.
|
|
Greek Theatre Development in Ancient Times
In ancient Greece, drama developed out of the dithyramb which was an impassioned choral hymn and story originally performed to honor the wine and fertility god Dionysus.
|
|
New Era in Toronto Began With Massey Hall
Toronto's Massey Hall, built expressly for orchestral and choral performances, opened June 14, 1894 and earned a unique place in history.
|
|
Fragrant Lavender Has Calming Effect
Lavender, one of the most wonderful plants in a garden, emits its fragrance at the slightest touch, and can be enjoyed indoors throughout the year.
|
|
Soil Erosion Control with Eastern White Cedar
The evergreen coniferous eastern white cedar tree is an invaluable asset in the prevention and control of soil erosion.
|
|
Life Energy Influenced by Rowan Tree
In many different cultures, over thousands of years, the Rowan tree has been revered for its special properties and powers.
|
|
Fast-Growing Rowan Tree Tolerates Air Pollution
The Rowan tree, frequently referred to as the European Mountain Ash, is directly related to the pear and crabapple, but has leaves similar to those of the ash tree.
|
|
Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada
The Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada was founded more than one hundred years ago in response to a desperate need for medical care.
|
|
Victorian Order of Nurses during Yukon Gold Rush
Shortly after its inauguration in 1897, the Victorian Order of Nurses received a request that led to an unforgettable journey.
|
|
Novelist Frances Brooke of Lincolnshire, England
Frances Brooke, a successful author in England, wrote a novel about life in Quebec that is credited as the first to be written in colonial Canada.
|
|
Nutritious Wild Rice for Healthy Eating
The food known commonly as wild rice is actually the seed of a tall aquatic grass that grows in clear lakes and quiet rivers.
|
|
Gathering Wild Rice on the River
Gathering wild rice in canoes by traditional method is wonderfully rewarding work for Native people during late August and early September.
|
|
Rose Fortune Was an Independent Woman
Rose Fortune was a determined and independent woman entrepreneur in a period of history when neither women nor black people were encouraged to be either.
|
|
Winnipeg Journalist Ella Cora Hind
Ella Cora Hind is remembered for her journalism, her uncanny knowledge of agriculture in western Canada, and for her work in support of women's rights.
|
|
Nutritious and Colorful Vegetable Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard is not native to Switzerland, but was given that name to honor the homeland of Swiss botanist Koch, who classified its scientific name.
|
|
Tignish, Prince Edward Island Artist
Alma Buote, an Acadian of Prince Edward Island, Canada, was one of the few women of her time to become a self-supporting artist.
|
|
Sweet William Old-Fashioned Favorite in Gardens
Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is a very popular garden ornamental in colors ranging from burgundy, purple, red, pink, white or variegated.
|
|
Low Cost Rustic Garden Features
In a new yard where there is nothing but a lawn or bare soil, or in a well-established garden, an easy, inexpensive way to enhance the property is to use natural pieces.
|
|
Luther Burbank the Wizard of Horticulture
Luther Burbank's love of nature, and his belief that development of plants could help end world hunger, led him to become a world-renowned horticulturist.
|
|
Feverfew Herbaceous Perennial in the Garden
Some gardeners love Feverfew, some dislike it intensely, and herbalists believe in its medicinal properties, but few people are ambivalent towards it.
|
|
Flowers of Shasta Daisy Brighten the Garden
The bright flowers of the Shasta Daisy contrast well with its glossy, dark green foliage, and seem to glow at night.
|
|
Aromatic North American Herb Sweetfern
Sweetfern, also known as Fern Gale, is an aromatic herb native to eastern North America, but is not actually a fern.
|
|
Garden Landscape Enhanced With White Flowers
Goatsbeard is a fantastic native perennial that creates a bold display in a woodland garden or shade border.
|
Page:
1 | 2
