Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp - Anne Anderson

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp - Anne Anderson

Read more about Anne Anderson, the Scottish illustrator, here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Anderson_(illustrator)

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves - Felicitas Kuhn

“Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves” - The Golden Book of Fairytales- Collins Publishing, 1966, United Kingdom. Illustration by Felicitas Kuhn (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felicitas_Kuhn).

"The Prince and the Tortoise" - Fairy Tale Comics

A rarely found Nights story, “The Prince and the Tortoise,” appears in graphic form in the newly recently published book Fairy Tale Comics. The book is edited by Chris Duffy who has been the editorial brains behind significant reboots of series like Nickelodeon Magazine and several key DC Comics titles. The story is illustrated by well-known comic artist Ramona Fradon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramona_Fradon) and written by Chris Duffy.

“The Prince and the Tortoise” first appears in the Nights in the Mardrus translation. According to The Arabian Nights Encyclopedia “This tale does not feature in the standard Arabic manuscripts of the Arabian Nights. According to Chauvin, Mardrus appropriated the tale from Yacoub Artin Pacha’s Contes populaires de la vallee du Nil” (Vol 1: 330).

The story concerns a prince who must choose a bride by shooting an arrow into the city and marrying an eligible daughter living in the house the arrow hits. Of course there are issues. The arrow strikes the same house multiple times but it’s not a daughter who lives there but a tortoise.

The prince decides to go ahead with the marriage. His two brothers marry human women. The three couples must then compete for their father the King’s favor and all sorts of hijinks follow involving the tortoise. I won’t spoil the story or the end but it’s happily ever after.

The book Fairy Tale Comics also contains many standard fairy tales rendered by contemporary graphic and comic book artists. These include two of my favorites, Jaime Hernandez (here doing “Snow White”) and Gilbert Hernandez (“Hansel and Gretel”), who pen the fantastic adult graphic series Love and Rockets. The book overall is a great addition to the continuation of fairy tales and is perfect for kids. My daughter reads it constantly and it’s the first exposure she’s had to many canonical fairy tales.

If you are interested you can buy it (with no financial reward to myself by the way) on Amazon here -

 http://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Tale-Comics-Extraordinary-Cartoonists/dp/1596438231/ref=sr_1_1

Aladdin read aloud

Here is the Aladdin story read by actor John Krasinski (who also plays Jim Halpert on the US version of the show The Office) for the children's site Speakaboos. The titles say "written by Antoine Galland."

Link - 

http://www.speakaboos.com/story/aladdin

Hercules & The Arabian Night

Hercules was an animated television show from Disney that aired in 1998-1999. Here is a "crossover" episode called Hercules and The Arabian Night, featuring Disney's Aladdin. More info at wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_and_the_Arabian_Night

Stories of 1001 Nights

This is a Dutch book I saw recently on ebay Australia. Looks like a great looking cover. From the description of the sale it was listed as a larger size book, published in Amsterdam by Mulder and Zoon, the seller said there was no date but he thinks it was from the 1930s (why, I'm not sure), he says there are illustrations inside and eight stories.

From 1001 Nights

Mr Magoo in 1001 Arabian Nights

Here are a couple of pictures relating to the film 1001 Arabian Nights starring Mr. Magoo, including the cover of the film's soundtrack, recently spotted for sale on ebay.

From 1001 Nights

From 1001 Nights

Anushka Ravishankar - The Storyteller: Tales from the Arabian Nights

Another new Nights translation has been published, this time from Indian children's literature author Anushka Ravishankar.

The Hindu newspaper writes a review (excerpt below):  http://www.thehindu.com/arts/books/article1164716.ece

Through the sands of time

CHITHIRA VIJAYKUMAR

"As it turns out, Cinderella was Persian. So if you would permit us to change one of the most enduring images of your childhood, she wasn't blue-eyed, and she wasn't blonde. 

Anushka Ravishankar should know. At the launch of her latest book The Storyteller: Tales from the Arabian Nights, she tells us how she almost spent a thousand and one sleepless nights wondering how to reinvent the stories, while staying true to the original. “Because they've been told, retold, televised, and made into films,” she said. “But like they say, if you can't make it your own, then don't attempt it.” And it was while reading through many versions of “The Nights” that she came across a Yasmene, her two step-sisters, and a prince determined to marry a woman who can wear a particularly petite silver anklet.

The framing story of “The Nights” is the one of the clever Scherazade, who offers to marry King Schariar, a man who, once hurt in love, has decided that all women are the same, and now has his brides executed each morning. On the night of their marriage, Scherazade begins a story, and stops at a crucial moment. The king, eager to know the ending, postpones her execution by a day. And so it goes, for 1,001 nights.

“Those were sexist, racist times; and these are violent stories. There is plenty of derogatory language, and appalling references to slaves. There are people being sizzled in boiling oil, stabbed and beheaded — not the kind of thing you would want in a children's book,” she smiles, explaining that she had to be very careful with what she included. “We like to think that those were more regressive times than now, but that need not be necessarily true. For instance, I found many educated, independent women in these stories, which surprised me.”

When she began writing, she tried to use unusual stories from “The Night” — we've all heard of Aladdin, Ali Baba, and Sinbad. “But as I read, I realised that these were indeed the best stories, which is why they've been retold so many times.”"

Ali Baba - Arabic Cartoon - علي بابا والاربعون حرامي

Here is an Arabic version of Ali Baba & the 40 Thieves.

From: Heykayat 3almyih حكايات عالمية ~ علي بابا والاربعون حرامي

The Arabian Nights by Wafa Tarnowska

picture from Barefoot Books website linked below

Barefoot Books has recently (Oct) released yet another new version of the Nights.  This one comes to us from author Wafa Tarnowska and is geared toward children.  I read a review on Amazon that the author translated from an "original" 14th century manuscript.  Unless the author has a secret manuscript though I doubt this is the case as the oldest manuscript has been dated to the 1500s.  In addition she puts "Aladdin" in her version and as you know the story's first appearance was in French in the early 1700s.

It would be interesting to see how this book revisions the Nights for children.

There is a pdf interview on the publisher's website but it's really vague and general along the lines of "the stories in the Nights have adventures" and "my grandmother used to tell me stories from the Nights" and "the Nights are related to today because of the Middle East."

Here's the website:  http://store.barefootbooks.com/the-arabian-nights.html

Merry Xmas!

McLoughlin's Aladdin

1001 Thanks to JC for passing on some great scans from McLoughlin's Aladdin book series that I mentioned in this post:  http://journalofthenights.blogspot.com/2010/10/aladdins-lamp.html

From 1001 Nights

From 1001 Nights

From 1001 Nights

From 1001 Nights

From 1001 Nights

Kamel Kilani

Here's a great post from blogger Baheyya on the Egyptian author Kamel Kilani, an author who popularized children's versions of the Nights in Egypt in the early 20th century.  Her post is primarily biographical and it's the best thing I've read on Kilani online in English and a great intro to the development of children's literature in Egypt.

Here's the post:  http://baheyya.blogspot.com/2010/07/wonderful-world-of-kamel-kilani.html

And from the post:  "Kamel Kilani Ibrahim Kilani didn’t set out to be the modern Egyptian pioneer of children’s literature. He just adored stories and had fond memories of a Greek nanny who raised him on a steady diet of fantastic myths and legends. He also recalled being captivated by tales of Abu Zayd al-Hilali and al-Zanati Khalifa recounted by an itinerant Azharite poet and storyteller in Midan al-Qala’a. Kilani was born on 20 October 1897 in the citadel neighborhood in Cairo, to a father who was a prominent engineer. He studied English literature in high school and enrolled at the Egyptian University (now Cairo University) from 1917 to 1930, reading French and English, and also attending Arabic grammar, logic, and morphology classes at al-Azhar. He spent a few brief years as a high school English teacher and was then appointed as an editor and reviser at the Awqaf Ministry in 1922 (where Naguib Mahfouz also worked), where he spent the rest of his career until retirement in 1954."

More on Kilani:

Brief history of Children's Literature in the Arabic speaking world:  http://www.alsalwabooks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=68&Itemid=89

Mr Magoo in "1001 Arabian Nights"

Filmthreat.com has a new great review of the Mr. Magoo animated film 1001 Arabian Nights.  It's a relatively difficult film to track down though I did manage to buy a VHS copy on ebay for not too much money.  I'll just have to venture into the depths of the garage one day to look for the VCR and make a digital copy.

The film is Mr. Magoo-ish take on Aladdin.  For those who don't know Mr. Magoo was a popular cartoon in the 1950s-70s.  His whole character and his adventures are based on his lack of eyesight, he often confuses the world as other things and finds himself in irreverent adventures because of it.

Here's a link to the entire article, I've excerpted the plot review (and posted a youtube trailer for the film) below:  http://www.filmthreat.com/features/23731/comment-page-1/

from the review: “1001 Arabian Nights” is a fun, entertaining riff that deftly integrates the Mr. Magoo character into the wild fantasies of magic lamps and flying carpets. Set in the mystical Arabian kingdom of Egomania (!), the film presents “Abdul Aziz Magoo” as the myopic lamp retailer who mistakes barnyard animals for truant schoolchildren and the contents of a broom closet as front door visitors. Magoo is the uncle of the handsome young Aladdin, who doesn’t appear to do anything but lie around all day.

Within the kingdom, there is tumult at the palace – the sultan realizes he is near bankrupt, and he reluctantly agrees to replenish his treasury by giving the hand of his daughter, the beautiful Princess Yasminda, to the Wicked Wazir. UPA struck gold with the character of the Wicked Wazir: a pointy-nose, razor-toothed baddie who dwells in a deep cellar with a collection of icky creatures (spiders, rats, bats, snakes, and an alligator) that he treats like his children. There is one scene that offers a devastating parody of “Cinderella,” with the Wazir’s monstrous animals lovingly preparing his clothing and accessories for the wedding day.

The Wazir is voiced by Hans Conried, who is part of a stellar cast of voice actors that include Alan Reed as the sultan, Daws Butler as the harried weaver who creates a flying carpet, Herschel Bernardi as the sly genie of the lamp, and Kathryn Grant and Dwayne Hickman as Yasminda and Aladdin. And, of course, Jim Backus’ boisterous Magoo leads the pack with his unique brand of chaos.

For its time, “1001 Arabian Nights” offered a jolting alternative to the standard Disney fare. The film is fast, jazzy (both in its visual style and musical score), unapologetically slapstick, and rude without being unpleasant (Magoo’s crotchety personality is ratcheted down a few points, making him more eccentric than cantankerous). Even the Yasminda-Aladdin love story manages to avoid being syrupy – Aladdin’s initial bout of passionate love finds him walking absentmindedly over the turbaned heads of pedestrians, while the couple’s initial romantic tryst is depicted in an unexpected burst of proto-psychedelic abstract colors."

trailer:

Big Bad Boo Studios' 1001 Nights

Many thanks to Martyn for passing this on.  This summer (2010) marks the debut of a new animated series from Canada based on the 1001 Nights.  The animation looks really great and contemporary.  I look forward to seeing what they do with the stories of the Nights as they promise a variety of not-only-Ali Baba-and-Sinbad-Aladdin tales.

The series is aimed at children aged 6-9.

1001 Nights Main Title Song:



From their website (http://www.bigbadboo.ca/index.php/home?page=propertiesdetail&pid=9&st=1):

"A new animated comedy series, 1001 Nights is an original show that brings the delightful tales of the famed 1001 Arabian Nights to the screen with hilarity, excitement, and non-stop fast paced action. Filled with exciting stories, vivid animation, wonderful music, and unforgettable characters, 1001 Nights is eye-popping entertainment for both kids and adults. You’ve heard of Sinbad, Aladdin, and Ali Baba? You’ve got 998 more stories to go! 1001 Nights brings them to you in a way that will keep you coming back for more. Join the heroine Shahrzad as she weaves tales of adventure, intrigue, and excitement!"

The Dancing Gauchos - 1987

Irfan passes on another video he discovered. This is a 1987 performance by the then threesome "Dancing Gauchos" (http://www.circopedia.org/index.php/The_Dancing_Gauchos) performing at the Big Apple Circus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Apple_Circus) in a performance called (according to this recording) "1007 Arabian Nights."

sesame street

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the US children's show Sesame Street, whose name's origins are definitively situated in the Nights lore.

From their website: http://www.sesameworkshop.org/inside/pressroom/season40/40things

"Why the name Sesame Street? After a long search for a catchy name, one of the show’s writers suggested “Sesame Street.” The word “sesame,” an allusion to the fabled command from The Arabian Nights, “Open, Sesame!,” suggested excitement and adventure. Since the show was set in an urban street scene, “Sesame Street” seemed an ideal combination. "

additional children's books on wax

JC passes on a couple of books on record (that come with books to read along with) from his collection:

Little Golden books. They produced a series of books that included a 45 rpm record. Ali Baba was part of the series. Narrated by Dave Teig.

A 1970 record of Sinbad the Sailor. Story by Jimmy Johnson.

Taha Hussein - An Egyptian Childhood

Here is an excerpt from Taha Hussein's An Egyptian Childhood with reference to the Nights (one of many references by the author throughout his works, most notably with the 1943 Dreams of Scheherezade).

"So it was in the heart of our friend. He would be a Sufi and practise magic, all the while believing that he was pleasing God and getting our of life the best of its pleasures.

Among the stories brought by the book-pedlars, which were often in the hands of the lads, was one which was an excerpt from The Arabian Nights, and known as the story of Hassan of Basra. This story contained an account of the adventures of a Magician who turned brass into gold, and also an account of that castle which stood behind the mountain on lofty pillars in the air, where-in resided the seven daughters of the Jinn, and whither Hassan of Basra repaired. Then again came the adventures of this man Hassan, telling how he made a long and difficult journey to the abodes of the Jinn. Now among these adventures there was something that filled the lad with admiration, and that was the account of the rod given to this Hassan on one of his journeys, one of the special properties of which was that, if you struck the ground with it, the earth split open and there came forth nine persons to carry out the behests of the possessor of the rod. They were of course Jinn, all-powerful and ethereal, who flew, ran, carried heavy burdens, removed mountains and worked wonders without limit.

The lad was fascinated by this wand, and so greatly desired to get possession of it that he was sleepless at night and perturbed by day. So he began to read books on magic and Sufism and sought among magicians and Sufis for a means of getting hold of it."

(p 51)

children's records

I found this website that contains several Nights related children's records from the States in the 1950s and 1960s, they are great recordings and you can visit the site and download them yourself. If I ever figure out how to host them in an embedded player here I'll post them. There's all the usual stories plus one has the Physician Douban!

here's the website: http://www.artsreformation.com/records/

And some pictures of covers (these would make great t-shirts):

Vintage Barbie Arabian Nights

These were some dolls made by Barbie in the mid-1960s as part of their Little Theater Series.

Vintage Barbie Arabian Nights #874 (1964-1965) Pink Satin Top
Long Skirt
Pink Chiffon Sari
Gold Slippers
Turquoise Bracelets (2)
Gold Bracelet
Gold & Turquoise Bead Necklace
Gold Filigree Drop Earrings
Gold Plastic Lamp
Theatre Program

Vintage Ken Arabian Knights #774 (1964-1965)

* Red velour coat with gold braided trim and tie belt
* Gold lame pants
* Matching turban with "emerald" surrounded by pearls
* Red velour slippers with gold braid trim
* Theater program

Here, also is the updated version of the Nights theme ala Ken and Barbie:

From the product description: "Barbie and Ken re-create the legend of how Scheherazade saved her own life by captivating the sultan with a story for 1,001 successive nights. Barbie, as Scheherazade, is absolutely ravishing in a spectacularly patterned skirt, with a matching top embellished with golden highlights. She wears pink and blue veils in her hair that spiral gracefully around her, adding an air of mystery. Ken, as the sultan, is Barbie's dashing companion. He wears a pink tunic with golden trim over billowy golden pants. A blue-and-purple sash ties at his waist and serves as a place to rest his trusty sword. His colorful turban shines with a faux ruby and is topped with a golden plume."






Here is an article on the dolls from the now defunct magazine Barbie Bazaar - click fullscreen to see it clearer:

Barbie 1001 Nights