Born: May 26, 1907 Died: June 11, 1979 One of the phenomenal overnight rises to fame which is the dream of thousands of movie struck youth occurs in making the Fox picture, “The Big Trail,” in the case of John Wayne, the leading man. Cincinnati Enquirer, November 16, 1930 Let’s mosey on back a few … Continue reading John Wayne: “Who told you I wanted an actor?”
Category: actors
Barbra Streisand: “The kookie kid who wore purple lipstick”
Born: April 24, 1942 The greatest singing talent to come along in many a moon is kookie Barbra Streisand. Tampa Bay Times, Florida, April 14, 1963. Streisand was a bit kooky (or kookie), in a delightfully fun way as captured in some of the earliest newspaper stories about the talented newcomer from Turkey or maybe … Continue reading Barbra Streisand: “The kookie kid who wore purple lipstick”
Lucille Ball: “She was saved from possible injury when she was caught by several of the actors”
Born: August 6, 1911 Died: April 26, 1989 Before everyone loved Lucy, Lucille Ball struggled for more than a decade as a Broadway and Hollywood dancer/actor before finally finding fame on television. Here’s how it all began … Seven girls, whose faces are known the country over as models for posters and magazine advertisements, landed … Continue reading Lucille Ball: “She was saved from possible injury when she was caught by several of the actors”
John Wilkes Booth: “He was regarded as a trifle crazy”
Born: May 10, 1838 Died: April 26, 1865 I’m watching Manhunt (on AppleTV), the story of the assassination of President Lincoln and the manhunt for John Wilkes Booth … and decided to add Booth to my growing list of posts. Booth was the son of Junius Brutus Booth, a well-known British Shakespearean actor. Junius Brutus … Continue reading John Wilkes Booth: “He was regarded as a trifle crazy”
Charlie Chaplin: “His original ambition was to play tragedy”
Born: April 16, 1889 Died: December 25, 1977 Charlie Chaplin is known all over the world as the funniest man that ever appeared on a picture screen … You can never tell what new funny stunt he is going to do. Norwich Bulletin, Norwich, Connecticut, December 19, 1914 This wasn’t true at the start of … Continue reading Charlie Chaplin: “His original ambition was to play tragedy”
Ron Howard: “He does get 25 cents a week allowance”
Born: March 1, 1954 Five-year old Ronny Howard has been signed to play Barnaby in “Mr. O’Malley,” the comic strip-based fantasy which will be the “General Electric Theater” Christmas program, in color, on the CBS Television Network Sunday Dec. 20, 8-8:30 p.m. CST. Comedian Bert Lahr stars in the title role, as the bumbling fairy … Continue reading Ron Howard: “He does get 25 cents a week allowance”
Don Knotts: “The human vibrator”
Born: July 21, 1924 Died: February 24, 2006 Edmund Johnson, Van Williams, Jules Racine, Don Knotts and Arthur P. Keegan complete the “No Time For Sergeants” company. New York Daily News, September 24, 1955 This Broadway show was not only a big break for Knotts, but it’s how and when he met Andy Griffith, who … Continue reading Don Knotts: “The human vibrator”
Andy Griffith: : “He may well be the find of the year”
Born: June 1, 1926 Died: July 3, 2012 Andy Griffith quickly made a name for himself at the University of North Carolina, although perhaps not in the way the music major and budding performer had hoped … Fire! Fire! Water! Were the cries arising in the Battle Dorm as flames licked the ceiling. Andy Griffith’s … Continue reading Andy Griffith: : “He may well be the find of the year”
Humphrey Bogart: “Sure, Baby and I are engaged”
Born: December 25, 1899 Died: January 14, 1957 Before he was Bogie, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Humphrey Bogart was a New York stage actor struggling to make a name for himself and land bigger and better Broadway roles. His first big break, publicity-wise, came in 1922 when … A romance of the stage was … Continue reading Humphrey Bogart: “Sure, Baby and I are engaged”
Lauren Bacall: “Have you got a match?”
Born: September 16, 1924 Died: August 8, 2014 It’s hard to find stories about Lauren Bacall (her given name is Betty Jean Perske) before she was famous because she went from unknown to star overnight. It is no exaggeration to say that never in screen history has an unseen performer had such a vast ready-made … Continue reading Lauren Bacall: “Have you got a match?”
From Unknown To Famous 