Entering show business as a child using a doctored birth certificate, Mary Miles Minter fit the mold of perceived innocence. With blonde curls and soulful eyes, she was groomed by studio heads to rival — and hopefully replace — Mary Pickford. In spite of her youth, Mary had nearly 30 films to her credit when …
As a teen singing in a central New Jersey church choir, Roy Hamilton had aspirations of becoming a professional singer. In 1947, the seventeen-year-old won a talent contest held at the legendary Apollo Theater. However, as Roy lamented, he couldn’t get a break. “There were plenty of opportunities for blues singers,” he recalled, “but I …
Two things I learned about Bettie Page. In her later years, she refused to be photographed, hoping to preserve the magical appeal of her youthful good looks in the minds of her scores of fans. Bettie Page is hard to draw. Sure, she’s been artistically portrayed by countless artists all over the world, paying homage …
Juan Kachmanian was born in Argentina in 1930. His father was a boxing promoter and the family moved all over the world. Juan, a stocky, muscular fellow, entered the world of professional wrestling under the tutelage of trainer Rudy Dusek. Wresting under various ring names — Ervan the Armenian, Ivan the Terrible, The Missing Link …
While still a student at the University of Pennsylvania, Bobby Troup wrote “Daddy” for a production staged by the school’s Mask & Wig Club, a campus theatre group. It was recorded by Sammy Kaye and his Orchestra. The recording was a hit and it stayed at Number One on the Billboard charts for eight weeks …
22 year-old Vesna Vulović, a flight attendant for Yugoslavia’s JAT Airlines, reported for work on January 25, 1972. When she arrived, she was told that she wasn’t even on the schedule and that she was confused with another flight attendant named Vesna. Nevertheless, Vesna was anxious to travel to Denmark and she took the shift …
In the 1930s, Freddie Oversteegen and her older sister Truus watched their parents hide political refugees from the Nazis, eventually leading them to safety. The sisters were inspired to continue the work of their parents, especially as the Nazi stronghold became tighter and more oppressive. As teenagers, the Oversteegen sisters joined up with the Dutch …
Laura Nyro had the career that she wanted. On her terms. She regularly turned down invitations to perform live. She passed on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. She passed on Saturday Night Live. She briefly considered becoming the lead singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears after the departure of original singer Al Kooper — …
Richard Simmons was most definitely “in on it.” The so-called “fitness guru” was an outspoken, flamboyant celebrity who gained legions of loyal fans from his “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” weight-loss videos. His fame made him a staple on television for decades. He had a recurring role on the popular soap opera General Hospital, as well …
