In June, Patrick Drahi, a French-Israeli telecommunications billionaire, took Sotheby’s private in a deal worth $3.7 billion. The purchase, by Mr. Drahi’s BidFair USA, returned the only publicly traded major auction house to private ownership after 31 years on the New York Stock Exchange. – The New York Times
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The Vermont House Where People Go To Be In Jane Austen’s World
People come for all sorts of reasons: “One woman clearly thought it was going to be like the movie Austenland and she’d meet her husband here.” – The Guardian
University of South Wales Closes Its Dance Program
A spokesman for the University of South Wales said “projected recruitment figures for the degree mean that we will not have enough students in future to be able to continue to provide a high quality education”. – The Stage
Abbie Hoffman’s Papers Go To College
Mr. Hoffman, whose infamously anarchic work, “Steal This Book,” included tips on how to shoplift, might be amused to have his papers end up in so solemn a setting as a university research library. He was arguably the most emblematic figure of the youthful protest movements of the 1960s and 1970s, a man who helped coin the term “Yippie” and co-founded the group that took that name. But he was always more of a comic provocateur than an ideologue, specializing in thumbing his nose at institutions and formalities in zany ways. – The New York Times
Streaming Has Changed The Ways We Listen To Music
At the moment, at least, people seem to prefer podcasts and music that make them feel as if they’re alone in the room with the performers. And that in turn has an appreciable effect on the kind of music and talk that’s produced. – Irish Times
Worse Than 2017: The Getty’s Emergency Response to the Fire on Its Property
Unlike the previous one, which was across the 405 freeway from the Getty, this one is “100% on our side of the 405, immediately north and west of us, and on our property,” according to Lisa Lapin, the Getty Trust’s vice president for communications. – Lee Rosenbaum
“Getty Fire” Update: “Improved but Still Active”
This just in from Lisa Lapin, the Getty Trust’s vice president for communications: “Situation improved, but still active. Fire Department estimates 48-72 hours to control and extinguish. We are going to stay closed tomorrow at both Getty Center and Getty Villa. While we are safe, we want to allow emergency responders space to operate.” – Lee Rosenbaum
Come to the cabaret aux Crazy Coqs
How often do we go to cabaret or a jazz club in London? In truth, not often. But I’ve been twice in the last year, to catch an autobiographical musical gig by the veteran movie, tv and stage star, Anita Gillette. – Paul Levy
Landmarks Theatre President Suddenly Quits. Is The Quality Movie Business In Jeopardy?
Ted Mundorff: “Since 1927, attendance has gone down, though box office remains the same. It usually sits around $10 and a half billion dollars. I’ve always been very bullish on movie theaters, and I don’t think they are going away, but I do think these past two years we have seen closures of theaters.” – Deadline
Oxford University Student Union Votes To Abolish Clapping In Favor Of “Jazz Hands”
“British Sign Language clapping is used by the National Union of Students since loud noises, including whooping and traditional applause, are argued to present an access issue for some disabled students who have anxiety disorders, sensory sensitivity, and/or those who use hearing impairment aids.” – Oxford Student Union