Fireworks: An Open Letter from Ms. Suzanne Muldowney

To whom it may concern: 

despite the joy and patriotic pride at the Fourth of July generates annually, the holiday also generates danger, injury risks, noise pollution and fire hazards.

 Since this coming July 4th marks 150 years of it being a national holiday, both the government and the citizenry should take advantage of the occasion to ban permanently the sources of the aforementioned side/ after effects FIRECRACKERS and FIREWORKS.

 Over time these explosives have done more harm than good. With the current COVID-19 rules to stay home numberless households may be tempted to shoot off firecrackers in their individual backyards. The abrupt loud noises create noise pollution, fire hazards since individual homes are so close and frighten people of all ages since hearing cannot be adjusted to split-second noises the way it can be for steady continuous sounds. 

Fireworks are also an abrupt-noise source, although they are continuously launched over a several-hour time period. They are also fire hazards because they explode high in the air; there have been instances over time of falling debris causing injuries and deaths. Fireworks unnecessarily cause disruption and/ or lack of sleep for those in most need of it: babies, very young children, sick hospital patients, assisted-living patients and next day workers; a typical exhibition never starts until at least 9PM and never finishes until 10:30PM to midnight, when sleep is needed.

 Birds and animals whether domestic, captive or wild know nothing about the holiday and can be traumatized by the loud noises. Also consider veterans who may be unnerved by abrupt, loud noises that may be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

It is up to all in the United States, especially to its highest leaders, to put an end to firecrackers and fireworks that result in more harm than good!!!

Sincerely,

Ms. Suzanne Muldowney

Suzanne as Olympic Figure Jogger (1985)

Underdogs 55th Anniversary

There’s no need to fear: Underdog is here! This TV - cartoon canine is the cartoon equivalent of Superman is ceaselessly involved in rescue missions, crime fighting and acts of goodwill . Currently he is donating blood in conjunction with his 55th (emerald) Anniversary this October 3. The distinguished persona, Suzanne Muldowney of Delran, NJ, will [process in the following midstate and oceanfront Halloween Parades Williamstown/ Monroe Township on Sat 19th, Cape May on Sunday the 20th, Ocean City Thursday the 24th and Cape May Courthouse Weds the 30th. Please be respectful when approaching Underdog.

Suzanne has depicted Underdog through dance stage, television and parades since 1966, in 14 states. She has been on television many times including a performance on worldwide TV (Jimmy Kimmel Live In May 2006.)

Here is the full celebration video.



You can also read her Underdog fanfic:
UNDERDOG: INTERPLANETARY OLYMPIC HORROR
by clicking on the link.

Suzanne Muldowney's Christmas Carols in Latin (Volume 2 )

Suzanne Muldowney contacted me because she wanted to do another episode of Checkerboard Kids that would be a sequel to her "Latin Christmas Carol" episode so who was I to say no? I now proudly present to you the 2018 second installment. Please enjoy! Merry Christmas or should I say "felicem natalem Christi!"






also here is a separate clip of her doing "Go Tell It On The Mountain"





and just in case you missed the first installment of Christmas Carols in Latin from 2016:

The Ghost of Christmas Past

"I AM THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST." This immortal character bids us to recall a specific Christmas past - 1843, The Year that Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol was published. This year is the books 175th anniversary! The ghost , aka Suzanne Muldowney of Delran, New Jersey will appear at Wildwood Dec 7th and Lower Township December 8th, 2018. She also performed at Cape May and in Baltimore she appeared at the Mayor's Christmas Parade which she has been in every year since 1989! (Photos by David Check)

Dracula Giving Blood?

Dracula giving blood!? This isn't the vampire; it's the true-life Dracula, aka Vlad the Impaler! At this lifepoint, he's in his early 20's and a VIP's guest. He is not yet into mass impalements or bloodshed.

The donor, Suzanne Muldowney, of Delran, New Jersey, has portrayed Dracula through interpretive dance, in historically authenticated costumes, since 1973.

It was the time of rediscovering Dracula's true story and times by historians Radu Florescu and Raymond McNally. Suzanne read their books and created four solo dances portraying both the real and imaginary Draculas, with more attention to the former. She learned about the period clothes, resulting, in four re-creations. Her first public Dracula performance was in Philadelphia in 1976 - the 500th anniversary of his death.

Following this debut, Suzanne continued to dance Dracula single-handed on stage and television in 19 states plus Montreal, Canada. In 1982 she created the Dracula Fashion Show, for modeling the costumes. Her greatest performance was in Los Angeles, in 1997- the 100th anniversary of the vampire novel. She did "The Dracula Archives" and the Dracula Fashion Show before the aforementioned historians-world authorities!

But ever since, especially with the historians deaths, Suzanne's appearances were rare. She never received a prestigious award, commendation, or citation for her work. She feared fading into oblivion and dying forgotten unlike other celebrated and perpetuated "Draculas." She always danced other themes, but they, too, have faded. Having seen a 1978 news photo of another "vampire" at a blood bank, Suzanne was inspired to make this first Dracula appearance since 2007!


Suzanne Muldowney as Vlad The Impaler
Pictures from the Dracula fashion show
http://muldowneyville.tripod.com/vlad_dfashion.htm

Dance Dracula Dance... 
An article written by Suzanne Muldowney
http://muldowneyville.tripod.com/ddancd.htm


Suzanne Performs Vlad the Impaler and Dracula the Vampire

Spectrum the Ghost King

Spectrum the Ghost King

Photo by Christine Back

If you look over an empty beach on Halloween night, and see a white shape floating around or twirling, so that sparkles of light sometimes appear, you see a ghost! But it's no ordinary ghost; it's a King! He's Spectrum the Ghost King, identifiable not by a crown but by a large, high-necked collar lavished with diamonds that twinkle in the colors of the spectrum!

Interpretive dancer Suzanne Muldowney, of Delran, NJ, created this character in 1968.

She was inspired by classical musics, notably Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens, depicting supernatural beings making merry at Halloween. There were also examples of dance corps in white costumes, resembling clouds or a fog bank, en masse. The name Spectrum derived from the traditional spectre. Ms. Muldowney's first ballet tutu, with several panels of multi-color sequins, was named Spectrum in the catalog. The faceted diamonds, sparkling in the light, gave off different colors of the spectrum.

In the summer of 1968, the Muldowney family stayed in a hotel on the margin of the beach. Each night Suzanne went onto the empty beach, and one night she realized it was a perfect place for myriads of ghosts to dance on Halloween night! She memorized Danse Macabre so that she could hear it in her mind when she went onto the beach to dance secretly.

Suzanne created a scenario in which spectrum flew, on Halloween night, above many adjoining beaches, looking down at party after party.

Appearances by this ghost are most atmospheric at night. Aforementioned musical and dancing examples all are set at night, as are many real-life Halloween parades.

Because the costume is white, it is safest for night. The long-sleeved robe conceals thermal undergarments worn in case of cold. The headdress leaves the face exposed for unlimited visibility. The collar, a belt, the hemline, and the outer sheer cape all bear sparkles.

Since Spectrum was "born" in 1968, this year marks his 50th (Golden) Anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, creator Suzanne Muldowney appears as him in four Halloween parades she is booked for.

Photos by Checkerphil of Spectrum the Ghost King at the Beyond Vaudeville Live @ Carolines Oct 28th 1993

http://muldowneyville.tripod.com/spectrum.htm