In January 2025, when the announcement of Anita Bryant’s death was made public (nearly a month after the actual occurrence), most people thought that she had already been dead for a long time. That’s because her career died in the late 1970s. Anita Bryant enjoyed a lot of success in the late 50s and early …
I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I love watching television. I grew up in a time before cable, before video-on-demand, before streaming services. When I was a kid there were three networks and you watched programs even though you didn’t like them. If you didn’t watch shows you didn’t like, you’d have to …
Clarence Henry began playing piano at the age of five. He was heavily influenced by New Orleans legend Professor Longhair and often imitated the piano wizard when he performed in local talent shows. In 1955, a scout from Chess Records heard Clarence sing “Ain’t Got No Home,” changing the sound of his voice with each …
Upon the death of label founder Bert Berns, Bang Records was taken over by Ilene Berns, Bert’s widow. One of her first signings for the successful label was a singer named Paul Davis. Paul released a cover of The Jarmels’ 1961 hit A Little Bit of Soap. Paul’s version hit Number 52 on the Billboard …
Mary and Madeleine Collinson were born in 1952 in Malta, moving to England in 1969 as teenagers. The following year they appeared as the joint “Miss October” in Playboy magazine, becoming the publication’s first identical twin centerfold models. The sisters used their Playboy pictorial as a springboard for a film career. They took roles in …
Geremi González led the Chicago Cubs with 11 wins in his rookie season with the team. However, he struggled in subsequent season and spent some time in the minor leagues with hopes of improvement. He bounced around the majors with the Rays, the Red Sox and the Mets until he landed in Milwaukee, pitching for …
Hadji Ali performed for Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Judy Garland proclaimed him her favorite vaudeville performed. More recently, magician David Blaine cited him as his favorite magician and a personal inspiration. Hadji Ali’s “talent” was impressive and decidedly unusual. Born in Egypt somewhere between 1888 and 1892, young Hadji developed an affinity for swimming in the …
Chicago transplant Mary Webster — in all honesty — had a pretty unremarkable career. As a twenty-year old aspiring actress, she took roles portraying teenage characters in episodic television. She made her big screen debut in 1957 opposite Jerry Lewis in The Delicate Delinquent, his first full-length motion picture after his split with partner Dean …
Considering the nature of his chosen profession and the fun-filled products with which he was associated, Leo Hirschfield led a complicated life. The son of an Austrian candy maker, young Leo came to the United States and began working for Manhattan confectioners Stern & Saalberg. While in the employ of Stern & Saalberg, Leo was …
