Friday, October 11, 2019

A World Book cameo


[“As seen on TV.” Specifically, on MSNBC.]

I’m pretty certain the background is a picture. (Elaine says it is.) I’m absolutely certain that the green and white spines belong to volumes of that childhood standby, the World Book Encyclopedia.

Reader, I’d now like to refer you to Nicholson Baker’s essay “Books as Furniture,” but it’s behind the New Yorker paywall.

Other books in the background
T.S. Eliot’s Complete Poems and Plays: 1909–1950 on MSNBC : The World Book in Stranger Things

comments: 5

The Crow said...

The background is an image thrown against a green screen behind the announcer. I don't know how they do it, exactly, but I think it is displayed from behind the screen. (Hmmm...that doesn't sound right. Ben would know how it is done, I'm sure.)

Michael Leddy said...

They also do it with cityscapes, as if the commentator is in front if a window. Here’s a Wikipedia article about the screen effect.

Geo-B said...

I love identifying the scenery behind the heads on the Rachel Maddow show. The round Jefferson memorial in Washington is a favorite one, BUT I lived in Washington and I never went to see the Jefferson memorial (it's out of the way). In fact, I don't know anyone who's been to the Jefferson memorial.

Elaine said...

Our World Books were red! We had a used 1947 set growing up, but I bought a swt in '87 that served us well unil finally I. Donated the set to the library sale as we began downsizing. Still miss them....

Michael Leddy said...

George, as far as I’m concerned, you still don’t. But I’ve driven by it.

Elaine, I wish I had the ones from my childhood. Not only the encyclopedia volumes but the yearbooks. One — 1968? — had a big feature on rock music. Want!