Saturday, February 11, 2017

TOLKIEN: Feb. 11–Heirs Sue for $150 mil. in 2008

J. R. R. Tolkien
Feb. 11, 2017–This day in 2008, a law suit was initiated relating to the trilogy The Lord of the Rings, written by South African-born J. R. R. Tolkien.

Tolkien was thoroughly Oxonian–attending Exeter College as an undergraduate and returning first to Pembroke College and, after World War 2, to Merton College as a fellow.

Tolkien’s heirs (he had three children–Christopher and Priscilla are mentioned in the source above as participating in the lawsuit) joined a group of publishers in filing a $150 million lawsuit against New Line Cinema in Los Angeles, Calif. Superior Court.

New Line, a movie studio owned by Time Warner since 1996, earned critical acclaim with three Lord of the Rings films directed by Peter Jackson: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003).

The lawsuit claimed the three films together grossed more than $6 billion internationally. They were also nominated for a total of 30 Academy Awards and at the 2004 Oscars, The Return of the King won in all 11 categories it was nominated in, tied for the most Academy Awards ever for a film.

Film rights to Tolkien’s books were acquired in 1969 by United Artists, who in turn sold them to the Saul Zaentz Company in 1976. Miramar licensed the rights in 1997 and sold them to New Line the following year.

In the Tolkien lawsuit, the holders of a trust for J.R.R. Tolkien, who died in 1973, stated that they had failed to receive any money from the films, where a 1969 agreement entitled them to 7.5 percent of the gross. Jackson himself settled a bitter and lengthy lawsuit against New Line in December 2007.

The lawsuit by Tolkien's heirs was settled in September 2009 for an undisclosed amount.

Friday, February 3, 2017

BOAT RACES 2017: Oxford Win Men's, Cambridge Women's Race (Updated Apr 9, 2017)

Boat Races 2017: Oxford Won Men's,
Cambridge Won Women's Race.
Next up: Summer Eights, Oxford.
Ox-Cam Boat Races: Sunday, Apr 2, 2017. Reversal for Blue Boats: Oxford won the men's race, Cam-bridge won the women's race, reversing 2016 results.

Watch the 2017 men's blue boat race.

Reserve boat Isis won over Goldie by two and a half lengths — Oxford's 7th consecutive win and its 9th out of the last 10 races. (Also: Osiris-Blondie Race.)

Best source for USA and Canada events is the O.U. North American Office Events Calendar. (University link for USA Events, less complete.)

Here are links from 2016, updated where known to 2017:

Boston | Sun, Apr 2
, 11 a.m.  (updated Mar 7, 2017) Race Viewing (no charge, but please reserve here — http://bit.ly/2myrhMS) Tavern in the Square, 730 Mass. Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. Races at 11:10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. You will be able to order your own food from the Tavern's menu. Event details at http://www.oxcamne.org/events/boat-race-brunch-2017

Chicago | Apr 7. Annual BRD. (Updated April 2, 2017)

Denver | Apr ?. The Denver dinner is probably the least expensive BRD in North America because it is subsidized by loyal alumni. Contact: Chris.Hansen@ihs.com.

NY City | 6th BR Brunch | Apr 2. The Churchill.  NY City | 84th BRD | Apr 20. HervĂ© Gouraige, Esq. will preside. To register, go here. Speeches from the Dinner. 

Ottawa | BRD | (?)

Philadelphia | Alumni Boat Race | Apr. 2. 9 a.m. Register.  Race Viewing Party. 10:30 am-1:30 pm. Register. Report on the Alumni Boat Race by John V. Quinn.

San Francisco | BR Breakfast | Apr. 2 |  Live Viewing of Boat Races.  8:50 a.m., OUS Northern California. Cezar Pub (?).  San Francisco | 82nd BRD | ?

Seattle | Sunday, Apr. 2 (8 am-10 am) Hosted by The Oxford and Cambridge Society of Seattle at The Market Arms(?). Live viewing of the 2017 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race.

Toronto | (?)

Vancouver | 5th BR Breakfast | Apr. 2. Vancouver | 86th BRD | (?)

Victoria | BRD | (?)

Washington, D.C.  | Apr 2. Boat Race Telecast: Oxford vs. Cambridge at James Hoban's Pub Races starting at 11:30 AM (EDT) Sunday, April 2, 2017 One DuPont Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20036 The Cambridge Society of Washington will be hosting the DC Telecast of the Oxford v. Cambridge Boat Race on Sunday, April 2 at James Hoban Pub 11:30-2:00. Please come to cheer on the Dark Blues and join in banter with the "Other Place". For more information please see the Cambridge Society of Washington, DC website http://www.cantabdc.org/.

Washington, D.C. | 70th BRD |  May 5. National Press Club.

Link to Oxford Alumni Boat Race Events World-Wide (Europe and Asia included)

Next up: College Summer EightsOxford, May 19-27

Events by Date
Send updates here. |  History, photos etc. of Prior US-Canadian Boat Race alumni events.

Apr 2, 2017 (Sunday) | New York City, Boat Races Brunch. Viewing of the BBC record of the races, organized in recent years by the Oxford Business Alumni. Viewing Party & Brunch – Manhattan. Location will be emailed to ticket holders. Note: The women's boats compete on the same day and course as the men's boats. The men's blue boats compete at 4:50 pm GMT and the women's ("Newton") boats one hour later. In New York City the BBC should start showing the race at 11:50 am. For later information, check the official site for the BNY Mellon Boat Races.

Apr 2 | San Francisco, Live Viewing of Boat Races.  8:50 a.m., OUS Northern California.  Cezar Pub (?).

Apr 2 | Vancouver, 5th Annual Boat Races Breakfast. Contact: StuartCBowyer@gmail.com. The men's race starts at 4:50 pm GMT - or 8:50 a.m. in Vancouver. 10 am: Vancouver Oxford & Cambridge Society Annual Boat Race Breakfast Venue: Manchester Public House, 1941 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6J 1Z3, Canada.

Apr 2 | Portland, Ore., 9 am-12 noon local time - Oxbridge Cascades Alumni Society Viewing of the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race.  Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub, 112 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, Oregon 97204, USA (?). According to Vancouver branch, Portland invented the Boat Race Breakfast, in which alumni gather at a local pub, many with old college or university gear, to watch the race live on TV. Always early morning in Oregon. Contact: Christopher Gondek, cgondek@ heronandcrane.com.

April ? | Kingston, Ont., Boat Race Dinner, venue to be determined. Contact: Robert Darymple kingston@ousoc.oxon.org.

April ? | Victoria - Annual VIOCS Boat Race Party Saturday, 6:30-9:30 pm, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (exhibits will be open) 1040 Moss Street, Victoria $36.00 p.p. Send your cheque to: Dr. Brian Scarfe (personally) Suite 416, 21 Dallas Road, Victoria, BC, V8V 4Z9 VIOCS. Silent auction to help offset the cost of our splendid venue. Bring cheque book. For further information contact admin@VIOCS.ca or call Dr. Dorothy Kennedy at 250-384-4544. 

April 2 | Los Angeles, Brunch. Held every year at noon since at least 2005 (University Club, Pasadena). California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey–enjoy dazzling conversation, a luxurious champagne brunch, and a gorgeous view of the yachts while rooting on the dark and light blues while watching from a week-old DVD. Oxonians, Cantabrigians, friends and supporters are all welcome. In the anxious words of a late 1800s Oxford poet: “The Cambridge eight / have muscle and weight, / but the dark blue blades / fall sharp and straight.” The group assembles at 11:30 am, has brunch and then watches the Boat Races at 1:30 pm (since they are viewing from a DVD, the group is not bound to the Tidewater schedule). Contact: Ray Dean Mize raydean.mize@gmail.com.

April 2 | Philadelphia, Pa., 2017 Alumni Boat Race. Starts at 9 a.m. Sign up here.

April ? | San Francisco, 81st BRD. Presidio Golf Club (?), 8 Presidio Terrace. Contact: Leena.Bengani@oxfordalumni.org or Matthew Kaser, m.kaser@comcast.net.

April 2 | Washington, D.C. Boat Race Telecast: Oxford vs. Cambridge at James Hoban's Pub Races starting at 11:30 AM (EDT) Sunday, April 2, 2017 One DuPont Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20036 The Cambridge Society of Washington will be hosting the DC Telecast of the Oxford v. Cambridge Boat Race on Sunday, April 2nd at James Hoban Pub 11:30-2:00. Please come to cheer on the Dark Blues and join in banter with the "Other Place". For more information please see the Cambridge Society of Washington, DC website http://www.cantabdc.org/.

April 7 | Chicago. Annual BRD.

April 20 | New York City, 84th BRD, since 1933. The toasts are to the President and Queen and the Universities, with a Response from the Universities. Contact: HervĂ© Gouraige (Merton), dinner chairman; hgouraige [at] comcast.net.

April ? | Ottawa BRD.  The Cambridge Society of Ottawa hosts an annual BRD that some Oxonians attend, recently at the Britannia Yacht Club. Contact: Neil Bliss, nwbliss@magma.ca or (613) 745-5179; or Oxford Secretary Harry Corrin, ous.ottawa@gmail.com.

April ? | Vancouver BRD. Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. Contact: Dr. Dorothy Kennedy, admin@viocs.ca. Website: www.vocs.ca.

April ? | Boston (New England Society) BRD. Contact: Dona Cady is President of OCSNE, president@oxcamne.org; David Manns is Secretary, secretary@oxcamne.org; Belinda Wilkes is Treasurer, treasurer@oxcamne.org. For dinner details, sign up here (you will need to input your university/college of matriculation).

May 5  | Washington, D.C. BRD.  Top Floor, National Press Club, 14th and F Streets, NW. The Annual Oxford and Cambridge Dinner. Cocktails at 7 p.m., Dinner at 8 p.m. All members of Oxford or Cambridge and their guests are cordially invited to attend this renowned event, the largest such gathering to take place on a continuing basis anywhere in the world. Originally linked to The Boat Race, it promises an evening of fine wine and cuisine and exceptional speakers from both Universities.  Dress is black tie (preferred), college blazer, evening kilt, or equivalent. Please send your acceptance and check without delay, using the acceptance form which follows. Checks should be made out to the Oxford and Cambridge Committee and mailed to David B. Law, Hon. Treas., c/o Curtin Law Roberson Dunigan & Salans, 1900 M Street, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036. No tickets will be issued; you will be recognized at the door.

May 19-27 | College Summer EightsOxford.

Other Cities that May Have Events:


Calgary, Alberta. Contact: Geoffrey Cowling, gcowling@iridiumrisk.com; jonathan.d.connell@ gmail.com. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Contact: EnriqueBargioni@msn.com Houston, Tex. Contact: Kevin Bradford, houston@ousoc.oxon.org Indianapolis, Ind.  Contact Stephen Smith,  SKSmith1@msn.com Kansas City, Mo. Contact: BartholomewDean at gmail.com. Little Rock, Ark. Contact: frank.thurmond@gmail.com. Montreal, Que.  Contact: Catherine.Gillbert@videotron.ca New Orleans, La.  Contact: David Campbell, davidc1010@ att.net. Phoenix, Ariz. Contact: jonathan.rose@asu.edu. Portland, Maine Contact: TracieJeanReed @gmail.com. Raleigh, N.C. Contact: Steven Wilson, scrwilson@gmail.com Richmond, Va. Contact: Matthias Hild, n@hild.org Salt Lake City, Utah.  Contact: Russell Fisher, utah.oxford@ gmail.com. San Diego, Calif. Contact: caio@handsupincentives.com.
Contact: Ean.Hernandez@ eanh.net St. Louis, Mo.  Contact: David Pollack, missouri@ousoc.oxon.org Toronto, Ont.  Contact: oxfordsocietytoronto@gmail.com. Vero Beach, Fla. Contact: john@cityeconomist.com. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Contact: Robert Dawson, dawson at dawsonlaw.com.

Read about the long History of the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race and earlier Boat Race Dinners. Don't forget the Head of the Charles in the fall. Also: Topolski Fund at $15 Million

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