Character actor Louis Calhern started off as a bit player and prop boy in touring burlesque companies. After a stint in the service in World War I, Louis returned to the stage, using his experience as a springboard to film. He worked in silent pictures for innovative and controversial director Lois Weber, one of Hollywood’s …
Hollywood sure loves dumb blondes. But, no matter how hard it tried, Hollywood just couldn’t find one in Joi Lansing. Joi was born Joyce Brown and, after her divorced mother remarried, she took her stepfather’s last name – Loveland. At the young age of 14, Joi was signed to a contract with MGM and altered …
The family of the late Sam Born, the recognized inventor of sprinkles, gather together to give him a very fitting tribute.
In its 130 year history, The Philadelphia Phillies have had their share of high points and low points. They have made it to the World Series several times, including two wins. Their line-ups have featured such celebrated players as Chuck Klein, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt and the always controversial Pete Rose. Their …
Early on Friday morning, September 20, 1991, my family gathered together to bury my mother. We all met at the facility — a large building surrounded by a huge blacktop parking lot. It was constructed just outside the city as an auxiliary to the funeral directors’ main location on a busy thoroughfare in Philadelphia. The main office, which houses …
I don’t believe there is such a thing as a “guilty pleasure.” I think if you like something, you like it and you should enjoy it and not be embarrassed by the fact that you enjoy it. I am proud to say that I am the owner of the Frankie and Annette “Beach Party” DVD …
Fred MacMurray was one of the biggest stars in the heyday of Hollywood. He worked with top directors, like Billy Wilder and Preston Sturges. He starred alongside the top stars of the day, like Barbara Stanwyck, Humphrey Bogart and seven films opposite Claudette Colbert. In the late 1950s, Fred’s career was given a shot in …
Stanley Myron Handelman was born in Brooklyn in 1929. He worked as a stand-up comic and gag writer as a young man. But for nearly ten years, he was a fixture on variety showcases and late-night talk shows. He made numerous appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Flip Wilson Show, The Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show. …
Before Gidget… Before Frankie and Annette… There was Esther. A competitive swimmer in her teens, Esther Williams set numerous records as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club’s swim team. Due to the outbreak of World War II, Esther was unable to participate in the 1940 Summer Olympics. Instead, the anxious 19 year-old joined Billy …
Back in 1870 just beneath the Great White Way/Alfred Beach worked secretly Risking all to ride a dream/His wind-machine “Sub-Rosa Subway” by Klaatu (1976) Alfred Beach and his partner bought the rights to Scientific American magazine, and began its publication in 1845. Alfred, a patent attorney and inventor, was interested in scientific advancements. He …
