Born: September 5, 1925 It’s not much of an exaggeration to say Bob Newhart was an overnight success. He was a complete unknown at the start of 1960, a star a few months later and the host of a TV show the following year, all due to the incredible success of his debut comedy album, … Continue reading Bob Newhart: “I don’t know how I survived”
Month: January 2024
Don Rickles: “He’s known as the man with the glass head”
Born: May 8, 1926 Died: April 6, 2017 The idea for writing about Don Rickles (and Bob Newhart) came from watching the Judd Apatow documentary, Bob and Don: A Love Story. It chronicled their long friendship and how they bonded despite their seemingly opposite personalities and styles of comedy. Their careers were also complete opposites. … Continue reading Don Rickles: “He’s known as the man with the glass head”
Bayard Rustin: “His version of non-violence is similar to the practice of Ghandi”
Born: March 17, 1912 Died: August 24, 1987 “Why haven’t I heard of this guy?” I asked myself after watching the Rustin movie. And so, I added Bayard Rustin to the list of people to write about in my From Unknown to Famous blog, hoping there would be enough newspaper stories from his early years … Continue reading Bayard Rustin: “His version of non-violence is similar to the practice of Ghandi”
Mary Tyler Moore: “Has two of the prettiest legs in Hollywood”
Born: December 29, 1936 Died: January 25, 2017 Before she turned the world on with her smile, it was Mary Tyler Moore’s legs and her sultry voice that first attracted the attention of television viewers. But before we get to that, here’s some background from a 1961 article … Mary took a last fond look … Continue reading Mary Tyler Moore: “Has two of the prettiest legs in Hollywood”
Clint Eastwood: “A younger Gary Cooper type”
Born: May 31, 1930 It’s still happening in Hollywood. A little over a month ago Clint Eastwood was a soldier at Fort Ord, Calif. A movie director met the 24-year-old San Francisco boy and told him that if he were ever in Hollywood he’d give him a screen test. Well, Clint Eastwood stepped out of … Continue reading Clint Eastwood: “A younger Gary Cooper type”
Quentin Tarantino: “I made the movie for me and everyone else is invited”
Born: March 27, 1963 Quentin Tarantino was unknown on January 1, 1992. His biggest previous credit had been as one of the Elvis impersonators on the wedding episode of The Golden Girls (click to watch – QT is in the middle of the back row). By the end of the year, Tarantino was the hottest … Continue reading Quentin Tarantino: “I made the movie for me and everyone else is invited”
Carol Burnett: “I wouldn’t ever want to offend anyone”
Born: April 26, 1933 NEW YORK (AP) – Carol Burnett, a girl suddenly hit by TV’s lightning fame, keeps murmuring to herself, “It can’t be me, it can’t be me.” Miss Burnett (24 years, 5 feet 6 ¾, 120 pounds) has been in a whirlwind of appointments, phone calls, swarming agents and personal appearance bids … Continue reading Carol Burnett: “I wouldn’t ever want to offend anyone”
Meryl Streep: “The fastest rising star in the Broadway firmament”
Born: June 22, 1949 That's Streep on the left, in 1964 Less than 12 months ago Streep, an alumnus of the Yale School of Drama, hadn’t ever stepped on a New York stage, now she has six leading roles to her credit, a fact that would even make Katharine Hepburn blanche. Daily News (New York), … Continue reading Meryl Streep: “The fastest rising star in the Broadway firmament”
Mel Brooks: “Only his eyes betray a certain panic”
Born: June 28, 1926 Corp. Melvin Kaminsky of 111 Lee Ave., who entertained more than 30,000 soldiers in Germany as a master of ceremonies and comedian in various GI shows, has been discharged at Fort Dix, N.J. He went overseas as a combat engineer and saw action in the Central German campaign, winning the ETO … Continue reading Mel Brooks: “Only his eyes betray a certain panic”
Carl Reiner: “A tall young man with dark curly hair, who seems a born clown”
Born: March 20, 1922 Died: June 29, 2020 Pfc. Carl Reiner essays the role of radio man Dinsmore who is snowbound in his shack. Loneliness is his obsession and when Nany Blackburn who plays the part of Ethel, a slim brunette, appears, the hero thinks he’s dreaming. The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii, October 20, 1945 Let’s … Continue reading Carl Reiner: “A tall young man with dark curly hair, who seems a born clown”
From Unknown To Famous 