Arts Bites: Nov. 18, 2009

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Elvis gains posthumous income via hair sales

Keeping the cult of dead celebrities alive, an anonymous buyer purchased a single strand of Elvis Presleyโ€™s hair for over $2,000 this week.

Even more disturbingly, a chunk of the Kingโ€™s apparently precious locks went for $15,000 last month.

Should you wish to obtain your own piece of Elvisโ€™ mane, his former barber has been selling off strands in a Memphis souvenir shop since 1977. Because thatโ€™s not creepy at all.

-Sarah Murphy

Pooh troubles

Looks like thereโ€™s a little trouble in the land of milk and honey. After almost 20 years, the estate of Stephen Slesinger โ€“ the man who acquired rights to the lovable Winnie-the-Pooh characteries and stories by A.A. Milne over 80 years ago โ€“ is still suing Disney for infringing on his rights.

The estateโ€™s lawyers suggest Slesinger is rightfully owed millions in royalties. The case suggests Disney coupled Mickey Mouse franchise profits with that of Winnie-the-Pooh projects to hide its true revenues.

While a Los Angeles judge dismissed the case in 2004, lawyers raised it again last week. Talk about retroactive, considering Disney hasnโ€™t made a decent Winnie-the-Pooh release for 20 years.

-Rebecca Vasluianu

Bob Dylanโ€™s Yuletide release

Of the most unexpected things the king of grungy folk and rock-and-roll, Bob Dylan, could have done at this point in his life, releasing a Christmas album is probably among the strangest.

Garnering a variety of somewhat positive reviews from sources like pitchfork.com and the Rolling Stone, Christmas in the Heart is a 15-track full-length mix of traditional songs like โ€œOโ€™ Come All Ye Faithfulโ€ and new arrangements like โ€œChristmas Islandโ€, fearing a variety of artists like American songwriter Ray Evans.

Whatโ€™s more, all of the profit from U.S. sales will go to the charity Feeding America.
Needless to say, hearing Dylanโ€™s raspy vocals mixed with Nat King Cole staple โ€œThe Christmas Songโ€ should be an interesting treat.

-Rebecca Vasluianu

Super Bowl goes geriatric for sixth year in a row

Itโ€™s been revealed that The Who will be playing at this yearโ€™s Super Bowl Halftime Show, following on the heels of performers like Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Tom Petty.

Perhaps itโ€™s time the organizers find a headliner who doesnโ€™t run the risk of keeling over and dying from old age in the middle of a sporting event.

And letโ€™s try to ignore the irony that will ensue when Roger Daltrey proclaims โ€œI hope I die before I get oldโ€ in the first verse of โ€œMy Generationโ€.

-Sarah Murphy


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