DCS: diana sacayán

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pride

Diana Sacayán came out as transgender when she was a teen. She became very active in the pursuit of maintaining human rights for her contemporaries. She was arrested and jailed at different times because of her leanings towards Argentina’s Communist Party. Once released from jail, Diana created the Anti-Discrimination Movement of Liberation in Argentina. The non-partisan, non-governmental organization worked to empower LGBTQ people, specifically related to healthcare. She went on to serve on the board of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association and led the Anti-Discrimination Liberation Movement in Argentina.

In 2012, she ran for the position of Ombudsman, representing the La Matanza Party. Later in the year, she received her national identity card, identifying her as a woman — personally from the former president of Argentina.

In October 2015, Diana was found dead — bound and gagged — in her apartment. She had been stabbed thirteen times. She was 39.

In 2018, her murderer was sentenced to life in prison, marking the first time Argentina’s justice system invoked hate crime laws for transgender victims.

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inktober52: stranded

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Great Googa Mooga! Lemme outta here!

“Stranded in the Jungle” was a novelty pop song written by Ernestine Smith and The Jay Hawks tenor James Johnson. The song, a playful comparison between life in the jungle and life in the big city, was recorded and released by The Jay Hawks in 1956. Just a few weeks later, The Cadets, a former gospel group, sometimes known as The Jacks, recorded their own version of “Stranded in the Jungle.” Their cover climbed the Billboard charts, passing the original, and landing at Number 3 on the Rhythm & Blues chart. Just a week after that, a doo-wop group called The Gadabouts recorded a version of the song, scoring a Top 40 hit themselves.

None of these three bands ever again achieved the success that “Stranded in the Jungle” brought them. The Cadets disbanded, its members forming other groups, including Will “Dub” Jones becoming the bass singer for the more popular Coasters.

In 1974, punk rockers The New York Dolls released a cover of “Stranded in the Jungle” as the first single from their sophomore album. In 2003, flamboyant new wave vocalist Adam Ant recorded a version of the song as part of an EP to raise awareness of the plight of the endangered mountain gorilla in Central Africa, though the project was never released.

Here’s The Cadets’ version…. “Stranded in the Jungle”

(The line “Great Googa Mooga! Lemme outta here!” was supplied by Prentice Moreland who performed with The Cadets just this one time. Prentice Moreland claimed to be related to comedian Mantan Moreland, but other family members disputed his claim.)

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DCS: eric campbell

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the floorwalker

Eric Campbell was performing in local theater in Scotland when he was recruited by entertainment impresario Fred Karno. Karno was a slapstick comedian in his own right and is credited with popularizing the “pie-in-the-face” gag. Karno had assembled a roster of entertainers, including Charles Chaplin and Chaplin’s understudy Arthur Jefferson, later known by the stage name “Stan Laurel.”

Eric came to New York in 1914, immediately continuing his career on the stage. Two years later, he signed with Chaplin who was contracted to produce a dozen films for the Mutual Film Corporation. Eric went with Chaplin to Hollywood. In the spring of 1916, The Floorwalker was released to rave reviews. Eric played the overbearing foil to Chaplin’s endearing “Tramp” character. Eric would reprise this bullying persona in ten more films with Chaplin. He was even lent out to Mary Pickford to appear in Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley, but fate would interfere.

Eric’s wife Fanny died suddenly while walking home from a Santa Monica restaurant. On her way to purchase a dress to wear to the funeral, Eric’s teenage daughter was stuck by a car and seriously injured.

At a late September 1917 party, Eric met Pearl Gilman, a second-rate comic actress with a reputation for gold-digging. She had married and divorced two wealthy men and now had her sights set on Eric Campbell. They were married just days after they met, however, less than two months after the wedding, Pearl filed for divorce, claiming abuse and Eric’s alleged d heavy drinking. He moved out of their shared home and took up residence near his friend Charles Chaplin. At a party to celebrate the completion of the film The Adventurer, Eric had too much to drink. He crashed his car in the early morning hours and was killed instantly. Eric was 37 years old.

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inktober52: robot

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i, robot

The Three Laws of Robotics:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

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inktober52: bubbles

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an a one an a two

Norma Zimmer wanted to become a violinist, but her father, a violin teacher, told her that her hands were too small to properly handle the instrument. Disappointed, she perused a career as a vocalist instead.

While singing in her local Idaho church choir, Norma was approached by a visiting guest singer to travel to California to audition for bigger parts in bigger choirs. When she turned 18, Norma headed to Los Angeles, landing a spot on the Norman Luboff Choir, a nationally-known ensemble that performed spiritual songs. With professional singing experience under her belt, she was hired to be part of “The Talking People,” a singing quintet that appeared regularly on the popular Canada Dry Sparkle Time radio show. The host, band leader and composer Meredith Willson, offered Norma a solo spot in early 1947. She shined in her new position, however, Canada Dry dropped their sponsorship and the program was abruptly canceled.

Soon, Norma got work as a movie studio singer, providing the singing voice for “The White Rose” in the 1951 animated film Alice in Wonderland and supplemental (uncredited) vocals on the soundtrack to the film 3:10 to Yuma. In addition, she was part of the backing group on Bing Crosby’s iconic recording of “White Christmas.” She also performed background vocals on a Lawrence Welk holiday album. Welk liked the young singer and persuaded her to appear on his television show. Alice Lon, Welk’s “Champagne Lady,” had just announced she was departing the show. He asked Norma to take her place, or at least fill in while he sought a replacement. Norma agreed and made her debut on New Years Eve 1960. She made more appearances on the show and traveled with Welk’s band, while Welk looked for a permanent “Champagne Lady.” Several singers were brought on to fill the role, but Welk found himself returning to Norma and Norma was called back on a week-to-week basis.

This went on for 22 years.

Norma retired from show business in 1982. She passed away in 2011 at the age of 87.

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DCS: julie bennett

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the voice

A native of Hollywood, Julie Bennett found work as a character actress in radio and on television including bit parts on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Adventures of Superman, and Dragnet. She found her true calling, however, as a voice actress, a career she worked at for over fifty years.

Julie was an in-demand voice artist with United Productions, Warner Brothers, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Format Films (the producers of the popular The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show) and Hanna-Barbera Productions. Along with other roles, Julie became the long-time voice of “Cindy Bear,” girlfriend of Hanna-Barbera staple “Yogi Bear.” She provided the female bear’s voice in the feature-length Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear! as well as a half dozen animated spin-offs. She also took over the as the voice of “Aunt May” on Spider-Man after the untimely death of Linda Gary.

Julie supplemented her income as a realtor in Los Angeles, using a pseudonym to keep her two careers separate.

In 2020, she passed away at the age of 88 from complications related to COVID-19.

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DCS: little richard

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I am the innovator! I am the originator! I am the emancipator! I am the architect! I’m rock and roll!

In 1947, Sister Rosetta Tharpe heard 14 year-old Richard Penniman playing piano and singing her songs at the Macon Georgia City Auditorium. She asked the young man if he’d like to open the show for her.

And that’s how Little Richard’s career began… with a little help from an unsung hero.

He never won a competitive Grammy Award, but there is no denying Little Richard’s impact and influence on rock and roll. He was an acknowledged inspiration for James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Freddie Mercury, Prince, Jimi Hendrix (who played in an early Little Richard band), Patti Smith, Lou Reed, AC/DC, Deep Purple, Motorhead, Outkast, Bruno Mars, The Beatles and so many others.

Little Richard once told an interviewer, “If I had been white, there wouldn’t have been an Elvis Presley.”

He passed away on May 9, 2020 at the age of 87.

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