Friday, October 22, 2010

Sally Holloway

First woman journalist at the BBC -- via the Guardian.

A Ayyappan

"Poet of the orphans" -- via Mathrubhumi.

Robert Paynter

Cinematographer -- via the Telegraph. His biggest claim to fame will undoubtedly be serving as d.p. for the Michael Jackson "Thriller" video; however, he worked extensively on the films of Michael Winner, Richard Lester and John Landis.

Eva Ibbotson aka Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner

Writer for children and young people -- via the Guardian.

Peter M. Jamison

Art director and production designer -- via Screen Daily. He worked on some of my favorite films -- "At Close Range," "Used Cars," "Point Break," "The Big Red One," and "Mulholland Drive." A couple of his films are visually wonderful, but were doomed by bad editing and studio/star interference -- "Mike's Murder" and "Swing Shift" are two prime examples.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Ari Up aka Ariane Forster

Slits founder, lead singer, and further explorer of punk and dub -- via the L.A. Weekly. She was GREAT -- I really dug her.


Graham Crowden


Actor -- via Wikipedia. Best known for his work on BBC television ("Waiting for God," "A Very Peculiar Practice.") See him below in the final scene of Lindsay Anderson's "Britannia Hospital":

Constance Reid

A writer on mathematics -- via the Mathematical Association of America.

Alfred "Tall Ted" Hallaman aka Eleftherios Hallaman

Beloved Cleveland-area disc jockey -- via the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Joseph Motto aka Boom Boom Branniagan

Early rock 'n' roll era disc jockey -- via the Albany Times-Union

Stephen "Darby" Allan

Bomb disposal expert -- via the Belfast Telegraph

Frances R. Wallas

Environmental attorney who loved and celebrated the outdoor life -- via the Tennessean.

Ken Rucker aka "The Orange Hat Guy"

Red Wings superfan -- via the Detroit News

Charles Ying

Inventor and entrepreneur -- via the Vail Daily. Most importantly, he helped to craft the technology that replaced the linotype process in printing, speeding the turnaround time between reporting the news and getting it out on the street.

Glenn Eugene Smith

Dedicated middle-school teacher inspired many students -- via the Daily News of Longview, WA.

Eric Joisel

Origamist -- via the New York Times.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Francesco Scardamaglia

Screen and television writer -- via Televisionado.

Tom Bosley

Actor -- via TMZ. He will be best remembered as sitcom dad Howard Cunningham on "Happy Days." He got his start in theater, however, winning a Tony Award for his portrayal of Fiorello La Guardia in the now-obscure Bock/Harnick musical "Fiorello!" He did lots of TV, and after "Happy Days" ended, he portrayed continuing characters in "Murder, She Wrote" and "Father Dowling Mysteries." He narrated "That's Hollywood," a syndicated series on American film. He was a pitchman for many products on TV commercials as well.
Here's the beginning of a long interview with him:

Joe Lis

First baseman/left fielder for the Phillies, Twins, Indians and Mariners -- via Legacy.com.

Gail Dolgin

Documentary filmmaker -- via the L.A. Times. Her feature "Daughter from Danang" won many awards.

Saul Toledo

Baseball player, writer and historian -- via the L.A. Times

Monday, October 18, 2010

Johnny Sheffield

Actor -- via the Bellingham Herald, which picked it up from the L.A. Times, although the Times hasn't posted it yet. He got his break as "Boy" in the original Tarzan series, appearing in eight of the films:
And later moved to Monogram for a one-dozen series of Bomba the Jungle Boy movies.

He later went into real estate.

Bridget O'Connor

Author and playwright -- via the Guardian.

Alfredo Bini

Film producer -- via Corriere della Sera. He worked on many of Pasolini's films.

Jake Swamp Tekaronianeken

Mohawk diplomat and chief -- via Bohio Atabei.

Bassam Naoun

Convenience-store owner -- via the Chicago Sun-Times

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Michael Larsen aka Eyedea

Rapper -- via Consequence of Sound. He was a battle emcee, a freestyler, and a fine lyricist.

Dennis Taylor

Nashville session and stage saxophonist, and author of instructional texts -- via the Tennessean.

Fred Schuman aka Freddy 'Sez'

Legendary Yankees fan -- via the New York Daily News. Ate with him before the 2001 Division Series Game 5 against the A's, when Giambi forgot to slide. A crazy, cantankerous coot, and a great great fan. Here's a New York Times tribute to him.

Friedrich Katz

Eminent historian of Mexico -- via the University of Chicago.

Gregory Hart

Homeless man who got his wish, to live in a home of his own, for the last three years of his life -- via the Washington Post

Elizabeth "Missy" Barlow

Botanist and artist was granddaughter of pioneers, and lived in much the same primitive way -- via the Seattle Times

Eugene C. "Chip" West, Jr.

Businessman who specialized in tales and history of Wheeling, West Virginia -- via the Wheeling News-Register

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Janet MacLachlan

Actress in film and television -- via the Los Angeles Times. Here is a wonderful and well-deserved tribute to her from the folks at Bright Lights Film Journal:

Louis Henkin

Created the field of human rights law -- via the New York Times.

Anne Schaddele Norris and Birger Juell

Couple who died together had memorable life together -- via Colleen Mastony at the Chicago Tribune.

John T. Williams

Carver whose death at hands of Seattle police sprks controversy -- via the Seattle Times.

Wilbur S. Pillman Jr.

Artist, actor, dancer was pillar of Mobile Mardi Gras scene -- via al.com.

Melvin Burnside

Restaurateur -- via the Chicago Tribune.

Elizabeth North

Novelist -- via the Guardian.

Richard C. Miller

Los Angeles photographer who was great at portraiture and more -- via the Los Angeles Times.