Comedy pioneer on radio and TV; creator and star of the highly regarded "Ethel and Albert"/"The Couple Next Door" program -- via Facebook. An unsung comedy genius who created the 15-minute, five-days-a-week domestic comedy that lasted nationally from 1944 to 1960. One of the first women to write and star in her own series, eventually churning out around 11,000 scripts. Intelligent and low-key humor akin to Paul Rhymer's well-loved "Vic and Sade."
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.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Mildred Joanne Smith
Actress -- via the Hollywood Reporter. Known for her single film credit as Cora, wife of Sidney Poitiier's wife in his film debut, "No Way Out" in 1950.
Carmino Ravosa
Composer, lyricist, singer, pianist, producer, director, and musical historian -- via the White Plains Daily Voice. A beloved writer of songs for kids, his particular style sticks in my head for the years he spent on "Captain Kangaroo."
Friday, July 24, 2015
Rinaldo "Rugger" Ardzoia
Former MLB player -- via the Chronicle. On April 30, 1947, he pitched 2 innings for the Yankees in a loss to the Browns.
Van Alexander
Bandleader, arranger, and composer --via Variety. AKA Alexander Van Vliet Feldman. His arrangement of "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" was a big hit for Chick Webb, and the first for Ella Fitzgerald.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Nova Pilbeam
Actress -- via the Hollywood Reporter. Best remembered as the kidnapped daughter in Hitchcook's original version of "The Man Who Knew Too much" (1934).
Ray Jessel
Comedy writer and cabaret performer -- via Variety. Had a late hit with "What She's Got (The Penis Song)". An old-time belter, not politically correct; a filthy Irving Berlin. Some have objected to his transgender topic (the song's narrator has a girlfriend with one), but the music video seems to make clear that's it's all in good fun, and that, hey, maybe it's not such a bad thing after all!)
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
E.L. Doctorow
Novelist, short story writer, essayist, and playwright -- via the New York Times. Best known for "Ragtime," he artfully combined historical fact and fiction.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Theodore Bikel
Oscar- and Tony-nominated actor, as well as singer, composer, musician, and memoirist -- via Variety. A co-founder of the Newport Folk Festival as well. Memorable as the first stage Captain von Trapp (Tony nom), Tevye, and in films such as "The Defiant Ones" (Oscar nom), "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming," and much TV.
George Coe
Actor and Oscar-nominated director -- via Variety. An instantly recognizable actor fro stage ,film, and TV, Coe is best remembered for work in films such as "Kramer vs. Kramer" and the original "Stepford Wives." He co-directed and performed in "De Duve," the hilarious 1968 short parody of Ingmar Bergman films.
Wayne Carson
Musician, songwriter, and music producer -- via Yahoo Music. AKA Wayne Caarson Head, Wayne Carson Thompson. Wrote some classics, including "Somebody Like Me," "The Letter," and "You Were Always on My Mind."
Alan Curtis
Harpsichordist, musicologist, and Baroque opera conductor -- via Gramophone. He was absolutely dedicated to his craft, illuminating the stage work of Handel, Gluck and many others. He also commissioned the building of the first modern copy of a chittarone and the first chromatic harpsichord built in the 20th century. Hardcore.
Sheila Ramani
Actress -- via the Indian Express. AK Sheila Ramani Cowasji, Sheila Kewalramani. Best known for her role as Sylvie in the 1954 Indian film "Taxi Driver."
Wolf Gremm
Director and writer -- via Thuringer Allegemeine. Best known for directing Fassbinder in his last screen rle, in "Kamikaze 1989."
Monday, July 20, 2015
Eileen Essel
Actress -- via createarts.org. Best remembered as Grandma Josephine in Tim Burton's film version of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Buddy Buie
Songwriter, music producer, and publisher -- via the Dothan Eagle. Wrote or co-wrote more than 300 songs. With James Cobb, wrote the hits "Spooky," "Traces," and "Stormy" for the Classics IV; wrote "So Into You" and "Imaginary Lover" for Atlanta Rhythm Section.
Claudia Alexander
Research scientist and NASA project manager -- via the L.A. Times. She oversaw the Galileo and Rosetta missions.
Alex Rocco
Actor -- via Examiner. AKA Alexander Federico Petricone, "Bobo." A severely underrated performer who was so damn good. Best known for his portrayal of Moe Greene in "The Godfather," he was a former hood, associated with the Winter Hill Gang in Boston. According to Wikipedia, "(a)n unwanted advance toward Petricone's then girlfriend on Labor Day, 1961 touched off the Boston Irish Gang War of the 1960s."
Accordingly, he played a lot of wise guys, and was great at it. But he could do a lot more. See the interesting 1988 horror film "Lady in White." Rocco plays a heroic, regular-guy father with appeal and complexity. A real eye-opener as to what he could do on screen.
Accordingly, he played a lot of wise guys, and was great at it. But he could do a lot more. See the interesting 1988 horror film "Lady in White." Rocco plays a heroic, regular-guy father with appeal and complexity. A real eye-opener as to what he could do on screen.
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