QUESTION: Have all the companies featured on neon billboards in the original Blade Runner film ceased to exist?
Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, released in 1982 and set in a dystopian 2019, features various neon billboards showcasing prominent companies of the time.
A number of the companies were chosen in the belief that they were so powerful they would be enduring corporate entities.
This proved not to be the case, notably for the major airlines Pan Am and TWA (Trans World Airlines), leading to a reputed 'Curse of the Blade Runner'.
Harrison Ford as his character Rick Deckard in the 1982 dystopian film Blade Runner
Companies featured include:
1. Atari: Still exists. Although it has undergone several changes in ownership and business focus, the Atari brand continues to operate primarily in the gaming industry.
2. Bell System (AT&T): Ceased to exist in its original form. The Bell System was dismantled, leading to the creation of several regional 'Baby Bells'. The core company, AT&T, still operates as a major telecommunications company.
3. Coca-Cola: Still exists.
4. Pan Am: Ceased to exist. Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, declared bankruptcy in 1991.
5. Cuisinart: Still exists. It is a brand for kitchen appliances.
6. TWA (Trans World Airlines): Ceased to exist. TWA was acquired by American Airlines in 2001.
7. Budweiser: Still exists. Budweiser is a major beer brand owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev.
8. RCA: Ceased to exist in its original form. The electrics company was acquired by General Electric in 1986, and the brand has since been sold and used by various companies.
9. Bulova: Still exists. Bulova continues to operate as a manufacturer of watches and clocks.
Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, released in 1982 and set in a dystopian 2019, features various neon billboards showcasing prominent companies of the time
So, while some of the companies featured in the film have ceased to exist or undergone significant changes, others continue to operate, some even thriving.
In a nice touch, film director Denis Villeneuve used some of the same companies from the original in his sequel, Blade Runner 2049, which was released in 2017 and also starred Harrison Ford, this time alongside Ryan Gosling as a co-lead.
Keith Gordon, Leeds.
QUESTION: Is the word embarrass related to the French word for the act of kissing?
Despite their superficial similarity, they are not related. The French verb for 'to kiss' is 'embrasser'. To complicate matters, the noun for a kiss is 'un baiser'. However, you should NOT use 'baiser' as a verb; this is a very rude word (for copulating).
'Embarrass' came to us from a different French word, 'embarrasser', which, in the 16th century, meant to block or obstruct. This came from the old Italian word 'imbarrazzo', meaning an obstacle or obstruction, which had developed from the Latin word 'barra', meaning bar.
Over time, the meaning evolved to include the sense of mental obstruction, being self-conscious, awkward or ashamed in a social situation.
P. J. Reynard, London SE4.
QUESTION: What's the story of the 19th-century burglar nicknamed 'In-i-go Jones'?
Edward Jones, commonly known as The Boy Jones, gained notoriety in the 19th century for his audacious and persistent attempts to infiltrate Buckingham Palace, the official residence of Queen Victoria and the Royal Family. He became known to some as 'In-i-go Jones', a soubriquet that derived from the name of the Renaissance architect Inigo Jones.
Edward Jones was born into poverty in 1824 in London. At the age of 14, in 1838, the youngster, disguised as a chimney sweep, made his first attempt to enter Buckingham Palace. Over the next few years, he continued to attempt to breach the security of the palace. Jones's escapades attracted significant attention from the public.
Edward Jones, commonly known as The Boy Jones, gained notoriety in the 19th century for his audacious and persistent attempts to infiltrate Buckingham Palace
His actions were seen as both daring and reckless, and he was the subject of speculation in the newspapers. Jones's explanation as to his actions was that he'd 'always wished to see the palace'. He appeared to have a fascination with the building rather than the Queen herself (although he is said to have once stolen some of her undergarments).
After he was apprehended in Queen Victoria's dressing room, Jones was sent to sea in the Navy on HMS Warspite but did not prove a good sailor, managing to abscond.
Jones was finally dispatched to Australia, where he sold pies. He became the town crier of Perth for a while and died on Boxing Day, 1893, in Bairnsdale, Victoria, after falling drunk from a bridge over the Mitchell River and landing on his head.
L. P. Scott, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire.
