Born the daughter of an engineer and executive with the Royal Dutch Shell Company, Blanca Rosa Henrietta Stella Welter Vorhauer became fluent in eight languages, a result of her family’s frequent relocations around the world. With original aspirations to enter the field of medicine, a chance meeting with screen idol Errol Flynn changed her mind. …
As a teenager, Ray Nelson was an avid science fiction fan and budding writer in the genre. After graduation from high school, Ray attended the University of Chicago, where he majored in theology. Post college, he spent four years in Paris, where he rubbed elbows with such iconic and influential writers as William S. Burroughs, …
Baroness Daisy von Freyberg zu Eisenberg was born to an impoverished, yet aristocratic German family in the early 1900s. Using the stage name “Daisy D’Ora,” she pursued an acting career. She changed her name to avoid embarrassment to her family. Although they lacked wealth, they still had their pride. At the time, a career in …
From his humble beginnings as an in-hose songwriter getting paid fifty dollars a week, Bern Berns elevated himself to one of the most prolific songwriters and producers you never heard of. In 1960, Bert Berns took a job with a music publishing company. In 1961, the Jarmels recorded “A Little Bit of Soap,” one of …
Born in Cambodia in 1977, Bun Hay Mean and his family fled the communist Khmer Rouge regime and settled in France. As a teenager, he wrote sketches and performed stand-up comedy in small cafés in Bordeaux. He also enrolled in improvisation classes to further enhance his skills. Bun Hay Mean moved to Paris and, while …
Rebecca: Oh look, there he is. Enid: As always. Rebecca: Waiting for the bus that never comes. Enid: I wonder if he’s just totally insane, or he really thinks the bus is coming? Rebecca: Why don’t you just ask him? Enid: Hi. What’s your name? Norman: Norman. Enid: Are you waiting for a bus? Norman: …
While working as a model, Imogene Robertson was discovered by Broadway impresario Florenz Ziegfeld and immediately he put her into his famous follies, performing under the name “Imogen ‘Bubbles’ Wilson.” Entertainment columnist Mark Hellinger noted that only two people in the country could draw out every reporter in New York — The President of the …
Really, Avril? Really? Really? I think Joe Strummer, Iggy Pop and Joey Ramone would like to have a word with you.
