Walking on the moon, dancing with the stars

In honor of 80-years-young Buzz Aldrin's appearance on the new season of Dancing with the Stars (debut tonight), here's a piece I posted back in July of last year. It's an announcement card for his appearance at a Houston store to sign his latest book, Magnificent Desolation.




The card, front and back:

The card is from the Louis Vuitton Core Values Ad Campaign, photography by Annie Leibovitz. The announcement is printed with the Leibovitz photo of Sally Ride (first American woman in space), Buzz Aldrin, and Jim Lovell (ill-fated Apollo 13). The photo is on thick cardboard stock, measuring 14.7 by 23.5 cm (5.75 by 9.25 inches) and contains the printed announcement on the back.

And here's the book, which Aldrin signed for me:



As Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon on that historic first trip in 1969 (Apollo 11), here's an historic film (apparently the first science-fiction film) about a trip to the moon: Le Voyage dans la Lune. It was directed by George Melies in 1902 (yes, 1902!). It's in two parts, but Part 2 appears first below. This part begins with the actual landing on the moon and the adventure that ensues.


Click HERE if video above not playing

The silent movie (narration added in 2006) explores the fantasy of a trip to the moon. You can see Part 1 (prep for the trip) here. The visual effects are quite remarkable and innovative for the times.

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