Playwright -- via Broadway World. A personal idol and one of the best American playwrights of his time. A founder of Off-Off Broadway. He was a key part of the scene in New York in the early 60's, with his "The Madness of Lady Bright" providing the first big success for Off-Off Broadway landmark Caffe Cino. Having done "Balm in Gilead" and "The Rimers of Eldritch," part of my oh-so-edgy theatrical training, I was confounded by his transition to naturalistic clarity in "Hot l Baltimore," "The Fifth of July," "Talley's Folly" and "Burn This." But it works and it is spell-binding stuff.
Interesting, overlooked, and significant obituaries from around the world, as they happen, emphasizing the positive achievements of those who have died. Member, Society of Professional Obituary Writers.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Richard Leacock
Documentary director, producer, editor; cinematographer; pioneer of Direct Cinema and cinema verite -- via indieWIRE. A seminal figure in film history -- here's a great quote from a Mubi profile of him: "I hope to be able to create sequences, that when run together will present aspects of my perception of what took place in the presence of my camera. To capture spontaneity it must exist and everything you do is liable to destroy it... beware!'"
Huffington Post: "Finding Glory in Life in the Obit Page"
Via the Huffington Post, a salute to obits -- thanks to Pamela Tom for writing this!
Tom "Mac" McAvoy
Member of Softball Hall of Fame -- via the Albany Times-Union. He pitched in one major league game for the Washington Senators.
Peter Lennon
Journalist and documentary filmmaker -- via the Guardian. His only film, "Rocky Road to Dublin," was a Cannes selection . . .
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Elizabeth Taylor
Actress -- via ABC News. One of the great actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age, she grew up on camera in such films as "Lassie Come Home" and "National Velvet"; she went on to stellar performances in such films as "A Place in the Sun," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Her great beauty and complicated personal life overshadowed but did not obscure her talent.
Here's the first of many coming updates -- the New York Times obit.
Roger Ebert remembers her here.
Here's the first of many coming updates -- the New York Times obit.
Roger Ebert remembers her here.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Dorothy Lockwood Ballast Jarrett
"Mrs. Cheeseburger" -- via the Denver Post. Her husband, Louis Ballast, invented the cheeseburger in 1935. They and their five children sold them and many other delights at their restaurant, the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In at 2776 Speer Blvd. in Denver for decades.
Ralph Mooney
Master of the steel guitar -- via the Los Angeles Times. An originator of the Bakersfield sound that invigorated country music in the 1960's; he co-wrote the classic "Crazy Arms."
Dorothy Young
The last living link to Houdini -- via the Telegraph. She was the great magician's last stage assistant; later, she was an actress, a dancer, and a writer.
Ruth Adams
Accordionist and member of the World's Most Dangerous Polka Band -- via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Obituary billboards discouraged: Ghana
Via the Ghanian News Agency, "The Banmuhen of Gomoa Akyempim, Okofo Meresi Okai Annan, has appealed to local government assemblies to ban the erection of billboards with the portraits of departed individuals along streets and roads." More details -- via ghanamma.com.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Stanley Herbert Ross aka Rosenthal
Sound engineer-producer -- via the Los Angeles Times. He co-founded Gold Star Recording Studio, which produced more than 100 Top 40 hits, including "La Bamba," "Tequila," "Good Vibrations," "Inna-Godda-Da-Vida," and "For What It's Worth."
Sherman Washington
Leader of the Zion Harmonizers and godfather of the Jazz Fest Gospel Tent -- via the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Jim Seaver
Western Civilization professor and opera radio host -- via LJ World. His "Opera is My Hobby" weekly program ran from Sept. 19, 1952 to the first week of March in 2011 -- one of the longest-running radio shows in American history.
Leonard "Bud" Lomell
Honored solider -- via the Independent. Pointed out to me by a very friendly and supportive gentleman over in Blighty. Thank you, sir!
Friday, March 18, 2011
'Win your own funeral' contest?
Oh, those wacky Germans. A Bavarian radio station's right to run a "win your own funeral" contest was held up a by a court this week. The contestant who submits the best "last words" will win funeral insurance worth 3,000 euros. Being in bad taste does not constitute sufficient legal grounds for banning the competition.
Jet Harris
Bassist -- via the Daily Echo. Best known for his work with the Shadows, he was probably the first to use the electric bass in Britain, and led the way in innovating with it and popularizing its use.
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