Ellipsocephalus hoffi? Trilobite Fossil

 

I was at a geology meeting yesterday there was this identified trilobite fossil there. The specimen is from the estate of Dr. James Conkin (1924-2017). No label was provided so identification is an educated guess.

My guess it is an Ellipsocephalus hoffi? (Schlotheim, 1823) trilobite fossil found in the Jince Formation of the Czech Republic. The fossil dates to the Cambrian Period (Drumian Age, Miaolingian Epoch). 

 

When I looked at Sunday's Courier Journal (October 16,2022) there was a huge two page advertisement for an upcoming art exhibit at the Speed Art Museum here in Louisville. It is entitled Alphose Mucha: Art Nouveau Visionary on exhibit October 21, 2022 thru January 21, 2023.

Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) was born in the town of Ivančice in southern Moravia, Czech Republic. He grew up to become a graphic artist, painter and illustrator. So this artist is from the same country as this trilobite. He was famous for his Art Nouveau theater poster for the French actress Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923).

 

Credit: Sarah Bernhardt in the role of La Tosca. Colour lithograph by A. Mucha, 1899. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark

 

As it turns out Sarah Bernhardt visited Louisville five times to perform. Her first visit was February 21-22 in 1811. She performed Frou Frou on Monday night and Fedora on Tuesday night at Macauley's Theatre (1873-1925) and ticket prices ranged from $1-3. Sarah Bernhardt's next visit was about 10 years later when she acted in La Tosca on October 19, 1891 at the sold out 450 seat Louisville Auditorium and the next night at 8:30PM performed Fedora at the same theater. Interesting theater tickets were priced the same as before. 

 

1906 Postcard of Sarah Bernhardt in Fedora Source World Digital Library and Wikipedia

The Courier-Journal sent a reporter to Crawfordsville, Indiana to meet her private Monon train consisting of the engine, two baggage cars, a special coach and the actress's car. Another train was sent from Chicago to Cincinnati with the set for Cleopatra bypassing Louisville. She had closed a two week performance at McVicker's Theater in Chicago where the performed 10 shows a week. The reporter was invited to interview her about an hour outside of Louisville. The full interview is published on page 2 of the Monday October 18, 1891 edition. One part of the article stood out to me "When nearing Louisville she was asked if she remembered anything of her previous visit here. 'It is eleven years,' she said, 'and I have a very indistinct recollection. I can scarcely fix places or directions.' But as the train drew on the Bridge and some one said they were crossing the Ohio, she cried out: 'Oh the Ohio! Louisville is at the rapids. Yes, I remember all about it now. The rapids of the Ohio.'"

 

1894 Poster for the première production of Victorien Sardou's Gismonda starring Sarah Bernhardt at the Théâtre de la Renaissance in Paris.Plate 27 from "Les Maîtres de l'Affiche", Imprimerie Chaix (Encres Lorilleux & C^ie). From Wikipedia

According to her obituary notice in the Courier Journal in 1923 she returned to Louisville in 1898 to play in Gis Monda and Izael at the Auditorium. Bernhardt returned again in 1907.

 

Her last visit to Louisville, Kentucky USA was for a Saturday evening performance at Macauley's Theatre February 10, 1917. By then she was 70 years old and had part of one leg amputated so she acted several famous scenes (Cleopatra-Camille, Du Theatre Au Champ D'Honneur, Rosalie) from her past work while seated.  

One other tasty discovery I made at this geology meeting was tasting a Hoosier Cream pie. IT TASTES GREAT! Learn more about this type of pie at the IndyStar article.