Mary Kay Bergman’s idols were Carol Burnett, Gilda Radner, Tracey Ullman and Lucille Ball. She wanted to be like those funny women. Mary Kay became a voice actress. At different times, she provided the voice for Daphne on “Scooby-Doo”, Timmy on “The Fairly Odd-Parents“, Ariel’s sister in “The Little Mermaid” cartoon series and the modern …
Chung Ling Soo was the stage name of American magician William Robinson. He changed his name to Chung Ling Soo to add an air of foreign mysticism to his act. The name was a variation of a real Chinese magician’s name – Ching Ling Foo – and he performed many of the tricks that Foo had …
Kirsty MacColl couldn’t get a break. She wrote great, heartfelt songs that were humorous, biting, and, at times, achingly sad. She had a lovely voice tinged with a slightly smoky British accent. But, major success somehow eluded her. After a brief stint as a singer in a punk band, Stiff Records signed Kirsty to a contract. …
The illustrationfriday.com challenge word this week is “similar”. I grew up in the greater northeast end of Philadelphia, PA. If you traveled a few short miles north, you’d be out of the city limits. That doesn’t mean that I was anywhere near the Liberty Bell or streets that Ben Franklin once strolled down. No, I …
Joe Meek was a pioneering record producer and songwriter acknowledged as one of the world’s first and most imaginative independent producers. His service in the Royal Air Force as a radar operator spurred a life-long interest in electronics and outer space. His most famous work was The Tornados’ 1962 hit “Telstar”, which became the first …
Spotted by a Warner Brothers talent scout while acting in a local Pasadena play, 27 year-old Byron Barr was off to Hollywood. After two years of bit parts, he starred opposite Barbara Stanwyck and Geraldine Fitzgerald in The Gay Sisters in 1942. He played a character named “Gig Young”. He and the studio liked the …
The word for inspiration on Inspire Me Thursday this week is “table”. As a kid, I was never a fan of The Beverly Hillbillies. I am a big fan of the Andy Griffith Show and I liked Green Acres. Petticoat Junction was okay, if not only for the Bradley girls. But, The Beverly Hillbillies never …
The illustrationfriday.com challenge word this week is “balloon”. This is the second of two illustrations I did for the topic. Here is the first. On Thanksgiving Day 1997, Kathleen Caronna was watching the annual Macy’s Parade at 72nd St. and Central Park West alongside her husband and her infant son. In 40 mile-per-hour winds, handlers marching in …
Just prior to turning nineteen, I went to Walt Disney World with three of my friends. This was my first vacation without my parents. I told about this trip in a previous blog post. My first day in Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom was great. After spending a fun but exhausting day, my friends and I headed back …
Last week, I resigned as a member of the weekly illustration blog, sugarfrostedgoodness.com. I had been a contributor and member since May 2007. The duration of my membership was not without its controversy (and I am all about the controversy!) In recent months, however, I have not been pleased with the direction in which the …
