Although classically trained, Amy Farris had a gift for improvisation of the violin. She confessed, “I just play what comes into my head.” Her improvisations caught the attention of guitarist-singer Alejandro Escovedo, who asked Amy to join his bare-bones tour. Amy, who was working in a law office at the time, told her co-workers that …
Six films and and six years into her career, young Peggy Ann Garner hit the height of her success. She starred in 1945’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Peggy Ann was honored with a Academy Juvenile Award (a category that was discontinued in 1961, with 14-year-old Haley Mills as its final recipient). She achieved additional …
Teresa Brewer was one of the most popular and prolific singers of the 1950s. The pixie-cute redhead released over 600 songs in her career — spanning rock, pop, jazz and country music genres. She was an inspiration for a young Elvis Presley, who sang her song “Till I Waltz Again with You” at one of …
Louise Brooks, starred in 25 films before retiring in 1938 at the age of 32. Years later, Louise chronicled her tumultuous life in her memoirs, Lulu in Hollywood. In the book, she related her various sexual conquests — both male and female — and her dislike of Hollywood and the film business. She summed her …
Stan Lee passed away on November 12, 2018 at the age of 95. Excelsior!
William Castle was Hollywood’s undisputed “King of Gimmicks,” who gave us “Emergo,” “Percepto,” “Illusion-o,” “The Coward’s Corner” and “The Fright Break.” Early in his career, he worked as an associate producer for legendary filmmaker Orson Welles. Castle gained a reputation for his unorthodox promotional techniques and his ability to bring film production in under budget. …
Look, I know Whitey Bulger was a despicable, violent killer. I know he was responsible for at least the 19 murders for which he was convicted, in addition to racketeering, drug dealing and money laundering. But it takes a special kind of evil to beat an 89-year old feeble, wheelchair-bound man to death with a …
At fifteen years of age, Gail Gilmore joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in her native Canada. Later, she taught ballet for a time in upstate New York. For a whirlwind three years, Gail enjoyed a successful acting career. In a short time, she made appearances on the popular television series Mr. Novak, My Three Sons, Perry Mason and Wagon Train. …
Ruth Gordon holds the distinction of being the only person to win an Oscar for playing a witch. When she accepted the award, at the age of 73, for her role as “Minnie Castevet” in Rosemary’s Baby, she said: “And thank all of you who voted for me, and to everyone who didn’t — please, …
As a young man, Boston Corbett began working in a hat factory in Troy, New York. He had regular exposure to mercury nitrate used in the production of felt. Boston showed signs of hallucinations, psychosis and twitching. After the death of his wife and child, he began drinking heavily. He was unable to hold a job until an …
