Mondo Lizzie Borden

The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies is announcing a call for submissions of works of fiction, poetry, art and short stories for a special edition of the magazine to be published in April 2007.

Visit The Hatchet to read about our compensation rates, how to subscribe or order back copies of the journal.

From October 26, 2006 The Daily Free Press, The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University:

Baby Doll Burlesque
by Rob Ferrer
Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: Muse

The holiday famous for free candy and girls dressing promiscuously is on its way. Though it’s no longer age-appropriate for college students to go trick-or-treating, if they still want to revel in Halloween fun, they can take part in what Halloween offers to adults — debauchery. The burlesque troop Boston Baby Dolls will hold a Halloween show Oct. 29 at the Paradise Lounge to fulfill that very need.

The Baby Dolls put on an energetic and funny show that appeals to both men and women. And don’t be confused — this is no strip club. Show host Scratch and headlining Baby Doll Ms. Mina told the Muse last week the Baby Dolls show is less about stripping (though there’s some) and more about having a raunchy good time. The people involved in the show have a true love for old-fashioned burlesque theatre and believe in the “timelessness of burlesque,” they said.

The Baby Dolls draw inspiration from what Mina admits is the somewhat idealized “golden era of burlesque” of the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s. The show, which contains a unique mixture of pomp and camp, begins when Scratch comes out in a blood-red suit and speaks in his booming baritone voice.

Performances can get quite comical –one involves an archaeologist disrobing a mummy, while another involves a rejoicing Lizzie Borden. There is also a resident contortionist who cracks wise while twisting himself in manners unnatural to the average human. And a big part of the Baby Dolls show involves crowd participation — it’s completely acceptable to be raucous, rowdy and rude. So, to celebrate Halloween this year, grab a bunch of friends, put on a lascivious attitude and head to Paradise.

Link.

Here is a link to the Boston Babydolls website.

And here is the link to the Lizzie Borden performance!

Thanks to Harry Widdows for the image!

It seems whenever there is a case of a child killing their parent(s), the writer mentions Lizzie Borden. Such infamy is strange considering she was acquitted, but history and reporters will not allow the verdict to stem their interest in her as a cold-blooded killer. Take this recent article for instance. It is about a third parricide in Contra Costa County in six months. The ‘rash’ of killings is odd, the article relates, because it is such a rarity for such crimes to be committed.

The article is well worth reading. Click on the link at the end of the excerpt for the rest.

Again, a son arrested in parent’s killing
By John Simerman and Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
RICHMOND – Police say a mentally unstable man killed his father Tuesday night in the family home — the third suspected son-on-parent murder in Contra Costa County since early November, and the second in less than a week.

The bizarre spate of “parricides” confounds police, who see no evidence of any link. Nationwide, fewer than 300 child-on-parent killings occur each year, according to researchers. In California, 30 biological parents — 17 mothers and 13 fathers– were killed by their children in all of 2005.

The latest came after Angelito Ares, 20, called 911 at 6:21 p.m. Tuesday from his home in the suburban May Valley neighborhood of Richmond to report a violent altercation with his father in the house they shared. Police arrived with lights and sirens, stopping the son as he was leaving the house on the 4500 block of Santa Rita Road.

“There was some evidence of a struggle. He had blood on him,” said Richmond police Detective Dan Sanchez.

Officers found 59-year-old Rolando Ares dead of knife wounds in the living room, Sanchez said. Angelito Ares, who has a history of mental illness, made statements implicating himself, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into County Jail in Martinez.

Read the rest here.

Hot off the presses is this new and improved Lizzie Borden Doorhanger.

4-color double sided Lizzie Borden door hanger, perfect for any room in your house. There is a different message on each side. Side A reads: “Lizzie Borden’s Room Enter at your own risk!”; Side B reads: “Lizzie Borden: Please knock and axe me if you can enter!”

Die-cut opening for doorknob not shown but is on the final product.

Original artwork decorates this distinctive and unique item. Aqueous Semi-Gloss Coating on both sides .

You can order yours for only $3.95 each here.

Well worth the watching! Kudos.

We are ADDING a section to The Hatchet next issue tentatively titled “Word 4word” that will offer 200-300 word reviews of all media related to Lizzie, Victorian America, Fall River, and True Crime (yes, I am branching out). I will pay $5 per review but cannot send you the book or video to work with. I can, however, provide a list of books, magazine articles, and films that I would like to see reviewed soon. But I am totally open to items you might find along the way as well—-so just shoot the title by me for approval so we don’t have any duplication. The deadline for reviews will be the same as the deadlines above. Email me at hatchetonline (at) cfl.rr.com to submit reviews or request a list of things to write about.

The first issue of year FOUR of The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies, is now online for your reading pleasure.

We have some excellent pieces in this issue: a wonderful work of research by William Schley-Ulrich, another great journey by Neilson Caplain, an informative and enjoyable piece about postcard collecting by Michael Brimbau, a fascinating look at the “Witch of Wall Street” Hetty Green by Richard Behrens, an essay about another famous hatchet wielding woman by Mary Elizabeth Naugle, and two pieces of original poetry–one by Meilissa Allen and the other by Sherry Chapman.

Plus, our 2nd Street regulars make appearances: Eugene Hosey, Douglas Walters, Denise Noe and Sherry Chapman.

I am sure all our authors and artists would appreciate any feedback you can offer them for their work.

Subscribers can access the online version and order the print edition (with a choice of B&W or color!) here.

Non subscribers can join for a mere $20 per year for all four issues at the same address above.

If you are a non-subscriber, and would like to buy either a hard copy or buy a download of the current issue, please visit my store at LuLu.com.

Enjoy!

The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies is pleased to announce that in addition to the regular 4 issues per year run we will publish a special edition of The Hatchet mid April.

This will be a literary volume, containing only poetry, short stories, fiction, original art and illustration, and humor (all related to the Borden murders of 1892, Fall River, and Victorian America).

Submission deadline is March 1st. Please submit your work in Word format to peartreepress@cfl.rr.com.

Compensation rates can be seen here.

Subscribers to The Hatchet will be able to purchase the special issue at a substantial discount.

Cheers,
Stefani Koorey, Ph.D.
Editor/Publisher
The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies