The Artist: the setting, dancers, costumes, extras

Last evening Frances Thompson, Marketing Director of Maryland Plaza, pulled out all the stops preceding the showing of "The Artist." The movie was rescheduled after the threat of rain cancelled the event last Wednesday. As it unfolded, there was no rain last week, and this week's showing happened to coincide with the first presidential debate. The "hotsy totsy affair" was a fabulous effort and I must say, much more entertaining than the first debate.

To set the scene a 1924 Dorris owned by George Dorris of the Dorris Motor Car Company family was parked next to Bissinger's. Dorris Motor Car's manufacturing facilities were located in what is now the Dorris Lofts on Laclede, and the Center for Emerging Technologies on Forest Park Boulevard.

The Dorris has wheels with walnut spokes, a nifty little expandable luggage rack on the side fender (not shown), and this one sports a "Ducks Unlimited" sticker on a side window (barely visible below left).

CWEnder Kelly Reding of Dauphine dressed mannequins at 10denza in 20s clothing from her collection.

Street poet Henry David Goldkamp of Fresh Poetry, Ink laid his Oriental rug on the sidewalk, set up his desk and typewriter, and cranked out poetry on demand (see earlier post here).

Two dance groups performed, a talented tap-dancing group called the Cotton Club, above, and

dancers from Motion Express who posed before their performance, above.

Some movie-goers were inspired to dress in costume, though the stylish gentleman above commented that he dresses this way as often as he can.

Lovely CWEA Board Member Amy Howell wore her grandmother's hat and a new dress that looks straight out of the 20s.

The spirited woman in the photo above has ridden her bike in from Clayton for many of the Movies on the Plaza this summer. She brings along her sidekick King Charles spaniel who travels in a carrier lashed to the back fender. I have been fascinated by her Holly Golightly-style independence pedaling down Lindell and back. Last night was no exception. She was dressed in 20s attire, arranged her wine glass and picnic dinner on a white napkin, just so, and her spaniel growled protectively when a larger Jack Russell terrier came to inspect.

Thanks to Frances, the Maryland Plaza organization and the many neighborhood sponsors for a wonderful season of Movies on the Plaza.