THE PASSING SCENE OF 2025

 Two things that are always guranteed in life are taxes and death. This year is no different as we remember some of the great icons, entertainers, and personalities who are no longer with us...

Robert Redford

Actor, ROBERT REDFORD, died on September 16th at the age of 89. Redford started his career in television, acting in Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone before making his Broadway debut playing a newlywed husband in Neil Simon's comedic play Barefoot in the Park (1963). Redford made his film debut in War Hunt (1962) before finding leading man stardom acting in Barefoot in the Park (1967), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Candidate (1972), and The Sting (1973), the last of which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Redford's stardom continued in films such as The Way We Were (1973), The Great Gatsby (1974), Three Days of the Condor (1975), All the President's Men (1976), The Electric Horseman (1979), Brubaker (1980), The Natural (1984), and Out of Africa (1985). He later acted in Sneakers (1992), All Is Lost (2013), Truth (2015), Our Souls at Night (2017), and The Old Man & the Gun (2018). Redford portrayed Alexander Pierce in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and Avengers: Endgame (2019); the latter was his last on-screen film appearance.

 

Actress LONI ANDERSON, died on August 3rd at the age of 79. She is best known for playing receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982), which earned her nominations for three Golden Globe Awards and two Emmy Awards.She was married to Burt Reynolds for awhile and last appeared on screen in 2023.

Entertainer, DAVID JOHANSEN, died on February 28th at the age of 75. Also known as Buster Pointdexter, he was the leader of the punk band, the New York Dolls. He also did some acting, most notably in the Billy Murray comedy Scrooged in 1988. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2020 which forced him to retire.

Singer, ROBERTA FLACK, died at the age of 88 on February 24th. Her commercial success included the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song", and "Feel Like Makin' Love". She became the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in consecutive years. Ill health forced her to semi retire in 2018, and she completely retired in 2020.

Actor RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN, died on March 29th at the age of 90. He became a teen idol in the title role of the television show Dr. Kildare (1961–1966). He subsequently earned the title "King of the Mini-Series" for his work in several TV miniseries such as Centennial (1978), Shōgun (1980), and The Thorn Birds (1983). Chamberlain also performed classical stage roles and worked in musical theater. He continued to perform until his retirement in 2019.

Gene Hackman

Actor, GENE HACKMAN, died at the age of 95 on February 17th. Hackman's two Academy Award wins were for Best Actor for his role as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in William Friedkin's action thriller The French Connection (1971) and for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a villainous sheriff in Clint Eastwood's Western film Unforgiven (1992). He was also Oscar-nominated for three other roles: that of Buck Barrow in the crime drama Bonnie and Clyde (1967), a college professor in the drama I Never Sang for My Father (1970), and an FBI agent in the historical drama Mississippi Burning (1988). One of my favorte roles was a comedic role as the Senator in 1996's The Birdcage. He retired from acting in 2004.

Actor VAL KILMER, died at the age of 65 of pneumonia on April 1st. Initially a stage actor, he found fame after appearances in comedy films Top Secret! (1984) and Real Genius (1985), and later in the military action film Top Gun (1986) and the fantasy film Willow (1988). Kilmer gained acclaim for his portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's The Doors (1991). He played Batman in 1995's Batman Forever. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, but he kept working. Kilmer reprised his role as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky for the Top Gun sequel Top Gun: Maverick (2022) whoich would be his last movie.

Actor MALCOLM JAMAL-WARNER, died from drowning on July 20th at the age of 54. He rose to prominence for his role as Theodore Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), which earned him a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards. He was also known for his roles as Malcolm McGee on the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000). In 2024, Warner created a podcast dedicated to the lives of African-Americans. 

Professional wrestler HULK HOGAN, died of heart failure at the age of 71 on July 24th. His real name was Terry Gene Bollea, and he started in wrestling in 1977 and became one of the most widely celebrated wrestlers in all history. He appeared in a few films but stuck mostly to wrestling. He retired from the ring in 2012, but he kept on making appearances until the end.

Singer JANE MORGAN, died on August 5th at the age of 101. Morgan initially found success in France and the UK before achieving recognition in the US, receiving six gold records. Her big hit was the song Fascination, which she recorded in 1957. She was a frequent nightclub and Broadway performer, and also appeared numerous times on American television, both as a singer and as a dramatic performer.Jane made her last album in 1971 but continued performing until 2009. She made an appearance at her 100th birthday last year.

Diane Keaton

Actress DIANE KEATON, died at the age of 79 on October 11th. She was a popular actress for five decades and rose prominence with her first major film role as Kay Adams in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972), a role she reprised in its sequels Part II (1974) and Part III (1990). She frequently collaborated with Allen beginning with the film adaptation of Play It Again, Sam (1972). Her next two films with him, Sleeper (1973) and Love and Death (1975), established her as a comic actress, while her fourth, Annie Hall (1977), won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. She remained a force in movies with a starring role in Father Of The Bride (1991) and The First Wive's Club (1996), and she continued in movies until 2024.

Actress POLLY HOLLIDAY, died at the age of 88 on September 9th. She was best known for her portrayal of sassy waitress Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry on the 1970s sitcom Alice, a role for which she earned two Golden Globe Awards, and would also later reprise for its short-lived spin-off, Flo. Her character's catchphrase of "Kiss my grits!" remains the most memorable line associated with the series Alice. In 1984, Holliday won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mrs. Ruby Deagle in Gremlins. She retired from acting in 2010.

Comedian RUTH BUZZI, died on May 1st at the age of 88. Ruth was was best known for her performances on the comedy-variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973, for which she won a Golden Globe Award and received five Emmy nominations. Buzzi was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2012.In July 2022, it was reported that Buzzi had suffered a series of strokes and was improving. Ruth had pretty much retired from acting in the late 2000s.

Actress SALLY KIRLAND, died of dementia on November 11th at the age of 84. A onetime member of Andy Warhol's The Factory and an active member in 1960s New York avant-garde theater, Kirkland garnered widespread critical acclaim for her eponymous performance as a former popular actress in the independent comedy-drama Anna (1987), which earned her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She also won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film. She continued to make appearences through this year.

Actor GEORGE WENDT, died at the age May 20th at the age of 76.. He is best known for playing Norm Peterson on the NBC sitcom Cheers (1982–1993), which earned him six consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. After Cheers ended in 1993, he also appeared in the films Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), No Small Affair (1984), Fletch (1985), The Little Rascals (1994), Spice World (1997), Outside Providence (1999), Santa Buddies (2009), and Sandy Wexler (2017). 

June Lockhart

Actress JUNE LOCKHART, died on October 23rd at the age of 100. She began her a film career in the 1930s and 1940s in films such as A Christmas Carol and Meet Me in St. Louis. She appeared primarily in 1950s and 1960s television and with performances on stage and in film. She became most widely known for her work on two television series, Lassie and Lost in Space, in which she played mother roles. Lockhart also portrayed Dr. Janet Craig on the CBS television sitcom Petticoat Junction (1968–70). She was a two-time Emmy Award nominee and a Tony Award winner. She retired from performing in 2021.

Singer CONNIE FRANCIS, died at the age of 87 on July 16th. She was an American pop singer, actress, and one of the top-charting female vocalists of the late 1950s and early 1960s. She was estimated to have sold more than 100 million records worldwide.In 1960, Francis was recognized as the most successful female recording artist in Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, and the United States. She retired in 2018 and had been in failing health since earlier this year after having hip surgery.

Singer CLEO LAINE, died on July 24th at the age of 98. Known for her scat singing in her native Britain, Laine's international activities began in 1972, with a successful first tour of Australia, where she released six top-100 albums throughout the 1970s.Shortly afterwards, her career in the United States was launched with a concert at New York's Lincoln Center, followed in 1973 by the first of her many Carnegie Hall appearances.  She kept touring into the 21st century, including in Australia in 2005. She performed live in the UK as late as 2018. She retired in 2019.

Actress LORETTA SWIT, died at the age of 87 on May 30th. She is best known for her role on the television series Mash from 1972 to 1985. Her role as Hot Lips Houlihan won her two emmys. Swit also guest-starred in television shows such as Bonanza; The Love Boat; Win, Lose or Draw; Password; Gunsmoke; Match Game; Pyramid; The Muppet Show; and Hollywood Squares. Loretta's last acting role was in 2019.

Heavy metal singer OZZY OSBOURNE, died on July 22nd at the age of 76. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adopted the nickname "Prince of Darkness". Osbourne became a founding member of Black Sabbath in 1968, providing lead vocals from their eponymous debut studio album in 1970 to Never Say Die! in 1978. Stricken with Parkinson's disease, he made his last public performance on July 5, 2025.

Diane Ladd

Actress DIANE LADD, died at the age of 89 on November 3rd. With a career spanning over 70 years, she appeared in over 200 films and television shows, receiving three Academy Award nominations for her roles in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), Wild at Heart (1990) and Rambling Rose (1991), the first of which won her a BAFTA Award. She was also nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards, winning one for her role in the sitcom Alice (1980–1981). Ladd's other film appearances included Chinatown (1974), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), Primary Colors (1998), 28 Days (2000) and Joy (2015). She retired from acting in 2022.

Actor/director ROB REINER was murdered by his son on December 14th. He was 78. As an actor he played Mike "Meathead" Stivic on All In The Family from 1971 to 1979, and he moved on to directing in the 1980s. Reiner made his directorial film debut with the heavy metal mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984). He earned acclaim directing the romantic comedy The Sure Thing (1985), the coming-of-age drama Stand by Me (1986), the fantasy adventure The Princess Bride (1987), the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989), the psychological horror-thriller Misery (1990), the military courtroom drama A Few Good Men (1992). He was the son of famed comedy legend Carl Reiner.

Actress MAY BRITT died at the age of 91 on December 11th. She was a Swedish actress who had a brief career in the 1950s in Italy and later in the United States. She was married to American entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. from 1960 to 1968. She quit Hollywood when she married Davis, but returned to acting, and her final role was in 1988 before she retired to a quiet life with her 3rd husband.

Actress BRIDGETTE BARDOT died on December 28th at the age of 91. She was a French actress, singer, model, and animal rights activist. Famous for portraying characters with hedonistic lives, she was one of the best-known symbols of the sexual revolution. Although she withdrew from the entertainment industry in 1973, she remained a major pop culture icon.

Another year of remembering those we have sadly lost...

BORN ON THIS DAY: RICHARD WIDMARK

Born on this day in 1914 was the great character actor Richard Widmark. Widmark was born , in Sunrise Township, Minnesota, the son of Ethel Mae (née Barr) and Carl Henry Widmark. His father was of Swedish descent, and his mother was of English and Scottish ancestry. Widmark grew up in Princeton, Illinois, and lived in Henry, Illinois for a short time, moving frequently because of his father's work as a traveling salesman. He attended Lake Forest College, where he studied acting and taught acting after he was graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech in 1936. The Army turned him down during World War II because of a perforated ear drum.

Widmark made his debut as a radio actor in 1938 on Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories. In 1941 and 1942, he was heard daily on the Mutual Broadcasting System in the title role of the daytime serial Front Page Farrell, introduced each afternoon as "the exciting, unforgettable radio drama... the story of a crack newspaperman and his wife, the story of David and Sally Farrell." Farrell was a top reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle. When the series moved to NBC, Widmark turned the role to Carleton G. Young and Staats Cotsworth.

Widmark's first movie appearance was in the 1947 film noir Kiss of Death, as the giggling, sociopathic villain Tommy Udo. In his most notorious scene, Udo pushed a woman in a wheelchair (played by Mildred Dunnock) down a flight of stairs to her death.Widmark was almost not cast. He said, "The director, Henry Hathaway, didn't want me. I have a high forehead; he thought I looked too intellectual." Hathaway was overruled by studio boss Darryl F. Zanuck. "Hathaway gave me kind of a bad time," recalled Widmark. Kiss of Death was a commercial and critical success: Widmark won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - Actor, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. 

Over forty years of movie appearances followed through 1992. He retired from acting and lived a happy life until his death in 2088 at the age of 93. Richard Widmark might not have been the most recognizable actor, but every movie he was in highlighted his talen to the fullest...

BING CROSBY: THE HOLLYWOOD YEARS - PART 10

THE WORST CHRISTMAS SONG EVER

Not all Chrsitmas songs are as great as anything sung by Bing Crosby or Mariah Carey, and in my humble opinion "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" is the worst! It is a Christmas novelty song written by John Rox (1902–1957) and performed by 10-year-old Gayla Peevey in 1953. The song peaked at number 24 on Billboard magazine's pop chart in December 1953.

Peevey was a child star who was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her family moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma, when she was five.When released nationally by Columbia Records the song shot to the top of the charts, and the Oklahoma City Zoo acquired a baby hippo named Matilda.

In October 1953, Peevey performed the song on The Ed Sullivan Show in an episode that would air on November 15, 1953.

A popular legend holds that this 1953 hit had been recorded as a fundraiser to bring the city zoo a hippo, but in a 2007 radio interview with Detroit-based WNIC radio station, Peevey clarified that the song was not originally recorded as a fundraiser. Instead, the Oklahoma City Zoo and a local newspaper, picking up on the popularity of the song and Peevey's local roots, launched the Gayla Peevey hippo fund so Peevey could be presented with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas.

The campaign succeeded, and she was presented with an actual hippopotamus, which – as had been planned all along – she donated to the city zoo. The hippopotamus lived for nearly 50 years. In 2017, Peevey, then 73 years old, was again present when the Oklahoma City Zoo acquired a rare pygmy hippopotamus from the San Diego Zoo.

In a 2010 interview, Peevey said that she had never received any royalties from the song. By 2016, however, she had discovered that there was an account under her name with Sony Music from which she could claim royalties and she was also getting revenue for the song through iTunes...

SANTA AND THE MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET

According to Natalie Wood's biographer, during the shoot for "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947), she was convinced that Edmund Gwenn was actually Santa Claus (by all accounts, he was a very good natured man on the set). It wasn't until she saw him out of costume at the wrap party that she realized he wasn't Santa.

The cast and crew were unanimous in their opinion of Gwenn: they loved him. Alvin Greenman who played Alfred called him "a dear, dear man," and Robert Hyatt, who played Tommy Mara, Jr., said in a 2001 interview, "He was a really nice guy, always happy, always smiling. He had this little twinkle in his eye." Added Maureen O'Hara, "By the time we were halfway through the shoot, we all believed Edmund really was Santa Claus. I've never seen an actor more naturally suited for a role."

Unbeknownst to most parade watchers, Gwenn played Santa Claus in the actual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade held on November 28, 1946. He fulfilled the duties of most parade Santas, including addressing the crowd from Macy's marquee after it was over. He was introduced to the crowd by Philip Tonge, who played Mr. Shellhammer, and later unveiled the mechanical Christmas display windows to the accompaniment of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite." This gesture symbolized the opening of the Christmas season there.

Both Macy's and Gimbel's were approached by the producers for permission to have them depicted in the film. Both wanted to see the finished film first before they gave approval. If either had refused, the film would have had to been extensively edited and re-shot to eliminate the references. Fortunately at the test viewing, both were pleased with the film and gave their permission.

When Gwenn accepted his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the role, he said, "Now I know there's a Santa Claus."

FLASHBACK: BORIS KARLOFF - 1966

59 years ago today, December 18, 1966, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! premiered!

  
The 26-minute short was originally telecast in the United States on CBS on December 18, 1966. CBS repeated it annually during the Christmas season until their last airing in 1986. Beginning in 1987, TNT began exclusively running the special. Unlike the years it aired on CBS, The Grinch now ran several times during the Christmas season. In 1990, TBS also began running the special. From 1996 until 2005, The WB Television Network also began airing the special at least once per season. Then in 2006, The Grinch returned to one of the big three networks, this being ABC, which began broadcasting it several times annually during the Christmas season until 2014. On August 13, 2015, it was announced that the special will move to NBC, which will air it twice during the Christmas season under a three-year licensing deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. It is currently aired during the Christmas season additionally on various cable channels owned by Turner Broadcasting System. including TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, and Boomerang but with some scenes trimmed to fit more commercial time.

Boris Karloff, in one of his final roles, narrates the film and also provides the speaking voice of The Grinch. (The opening credits state, "The sounds of the Grinch are by Boris Karloff...And read by Boris Karloff too!") The special was originally produced by The Cat in the Hat Productions in association with the television and animation divisions of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.

REFLECTIONS: PETER DINKLAGE ON ELF

Peter Dinklage on "Elf" (2003): "Everybody asks me about Will Ferrell, because I knew him for about three days. But he's extraordinarily funny, and he's quiet between takes. I thought that was interesting. I think a lot of great male comic actors are introspective, quiet personalities, which I really admire. But they are really able to turn it up when the camera's on. I really enjoyed that movie, and the final result that Jon Favreau made was really entertaining. I had a good time. And it's shot in Vancouver, which is a very pretty city."

Dinklage has achondroplasia, a genetic disorder which affects bone growth. As a result, he is 4 feet 5 inches tall, with an average-sized head and torso but shorter than average limbs. He has come to accept his condition, but sometimes found it challenging when growing up. In 2003, he said that when he was younger he was often angry and bitter, but that as he got older, he realized he "just [has] to have a sense of humor" to know "that it's not your problem. It's theirs."

When asked in 2012 whether he saw himself as 'a spokesman for the rights of little people', Dinklage said: "I don't know what I would say. Everyone's different. Every person my size has a different life, a different history. Different ways of dealing with it. Just because I'm seemingly okay with it, I can't preach how to be okay with it." He has nonetheless been viewed as a role-model for people sharing his condition. 

"I feel really lucky; Although I hate that word-'lucky.' It cheapens a lot of hard work. Living in Brooklyn in an apartment without any heat and paying for dinner at the bodega with dimes-I don't think I felt myself lucky back then. Doing plays for 50 bucks and trying to be true to myself as an artist and turning down commercials where they wanted a leprechaun. Saying I was lucky negates the hard work I put in and spits on that guy who's freezing his ass off back in Brooklyn. So I won't say I'm lucky. I'm fortunate enough to find or attract very talented people. For some reason I found them, and they found me."

CELEBRITY ADS: EVE ARDEN

 Here is the great actress Eve Arden and an adverstisement for Christmas for a personalized door mat. This is from around 1955...

THE TRAGIC LIFE OF NICK REINER

Nick Reiner’s story begins in the glow of Hollywood privilege. Born in 1993 to acclaimed director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, his childhood was surrounded by cinematic legends and red-carpet glamour. But behind the scenes, Nick’s life was unraveling. By the age of fifteen, he had entered his first rehab program, marking the start of a long and painful battle with addiction.

What followed were years of chaos. Nick cycled through more than a dozen treatment centers, often rejecting his parents’ pleas for help. His addiction drove him to the streets, where he spent nights homeless in places like Maine, New Jersey, and Texas. He later admitted that during those dark years, survival was pure luck. “I could’ve died,” he said, reflecting on the razor-thin line between life and death that defined his existence.

In 2015, Nick tried to transform his suffering into art. He co-wrote Being Charlie, a semi-autobiographical film directed by his father. The story mirrored his own struggles—a young man spiraling through addiction and failed rehabs. For a brief moment, the project brought father and son closer, bridging years of emotional distance. Yet even as the film offered hope, the underlying pain remained unresolved. Rob and Michele spoke candidly about their frustration with rehab programs, admitting they clung to professionals’ advice even when Nick insisted it wasn’t working.

Then came the unimaginable. On December 14, 2025, Rob and Michele were found brutally murdered in their Brentwood home. Their throats had been slashed in what police described as a horrific scene. Hours later, Nick was arrested and booked on a felony charge, with bail set at four million dollars. The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division launched an investigation that stunned Hollywood and left friends and family reeling. Reports suggest their daughter, Romy, discovered the bodies—a detail that adds another layer of heartbreak to an already devastating tragedy.

Nick Reiner’s life reads like a modern Greek tragedy: a privileged beginning overshadowed by addiction, years of homelessness and despair, a fleeting redemption through art, and finally, a catastrophic collapse that shattered his family. It is a story of wealth and fame, but also of vulnerability, broken systems, and unanswered cries for help. In the end, Nick’s torment consumed not only himself but the very people who loved him most...

RIP: ROB REINER

Rob Reiner was born on March 6, 1947, in the Bronx, New York, into a family that lived and breathed entertainment. His father, Carl Reiner, was a comedy legend, and his mother, Estelle, was an actress and singer. In 1959, the family moved to Los Angeles, where Rob attended Beverly Hills High School alongside future stars like Albert Brooks and Richard Dreyfuss. Later, he studied film at UCLA, setting the stage for a career that would redefine Hollywood storytelling.

Reiner first captured America’s attention as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on All in the Family, a role that earned him two Emmy Awards and cemented his place in television history. But acting was only the beginning. In 1984, he stepped behind the camera to direct This Is Spinal Tap, a satirical masterpiece that became a cult classic. What followed was an extraordinary run: Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally…, Misery, and A Few Good Men. These films didn’t just entertain—they became cultural touchstones. In 1987, Reiner co-founded Castle Rock Entertainment, the studio behind hits like Seinfeld and The Shawshank Redemption, further shaping the landscape of modern cinema.

His talents weren’t confined to directing. Reiner appeared in films such as Sleepless in Seattle, Bullets Over Broadway, and The Wolf of Wall Street, proving his versatility as an actor. He continued directing well into the 2000s, with projects like Being Charlie, a deeply personal film inspired by his son’s struggles with addiction.

Reiner’s personal life was as rich as his professional one. He married actress Penny Marshall in 1971 and adopted her daughter, Tracy, before divorcing in 1981. In 1989, he married photographer Michele Singer, and together they raised three children—Jake, Nick, and Romy—while building a life grounded in creativity and advocacy.

Beyond Hollywood, Reiner was a passionate activist. He championed marriage equality, fought for early childhood education, and co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights. His voice carried weight not just in film but in the fight for social justice.

On December 14, 2025, tragedy struck when Rob Reiner and Michele Singer were found dead in their Brentwood home, victims of an apparent double homicide. The investigation continues, but the loss is immeasurable. Rob Reiner’s legacy is one of laughter, love, and fearless storytelling—a life that bridged art and activism, leaving behind films that will endure for generations...

SEVENTY YEARS AGO: A STAR IS BORN

On this date in 1955, at the 27th Academy Awards, Grace Kelly won Best Actress for "The Country Girl" (1954) over Judy Garland, who was heavily favored to win for "A Star Is Born" (1954). Garland could not attend the ceremony, having recently given birth to her third child, son Joey Luft.

Reluctant to miss the chance to capture Garland’s postnatal victory, NBC promptly invaded her maternity ward. “They built a tower for the TV cameras outside my hospital window,” Garland told the United Press two weeks later. “There were cameras, people, microphones all over the place.”

More details spilled out as the legendary entertainer retold the story over the years: the furry bed jacket she used to cover up her mic wires, the makeshift Venetian blind entrusted to the terrified nurse, the friend who happened to be visiting and was promptly ordered to get on the floor.

But much to Hollywood’s surprise, William Holden announced that the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role was Kelly. In a haze of manically applied powder and hairspray, Garland watched as the NBC crew packed their equipment and left the building.

Groucho Marx later sent her a telegram expressing that her loss was "the biggest robbery since Brink's."
Ever the professional, however, Garland took it in stride, turning the whole incident into a funny anecdote to open her songs. When she recapped the story on her variety show eight years later, she pulled the same furry bed jacket out of a trunk, draped it over her shoulders and sighed, “This reminds me of the Academy Award that I lost.”

Ironically, in "A Star is Born," Garland's character wins the Oscar, and, in the middle of her acceptance speech, her character's husband (played by James Mason) interrupts her speech, rambling and pacing back and forth in front of her. While begging for work from the assembled and embarrassed Hollywood community, he accidentally strikes Garland in the face...

STAR FRIENDS: FRANK SINATRA AND NAT KING COLE

Nat King Cole was an enormously popular crooner, earning $4,500 a week in Las Vegas in 1956. He headlined at the whites-only Thunderbird Hotel, where he wasn't allowed to venture beyond the showroom and the cook's resting area behind the kitchen. Cole's road manager was given a room in the hotel because he was white, but the high-paid feature attraction had to find other accommodations. He regularly stayed in a rooming house on the West Side.

 
Frank Sinatra was a great fan of Cole's. While performing at the Sands, Sinatra noticed that Cole almost always ate his dinner alone in his dressing room. Sinatra asked his valet, a black man named George, to find out why. George explained the facts to Frank. "Coloreds aren't allowed in the dining room at the Sands."

 
Sinatra was enraged. He told the maitre d' and the waitresses that if it ever happened again, he'd see that everyone was fired. The next night, Sinatra invited Cole to dinner, making his guest the first black man to sit down and eat in the the Garden Room at the Sands....

THE EARLY YEARS OF FATS WALLER

Before the world knew him as “Fats,” the jovial jazz virtuoso with a grin as wide as his stride piano style, Thomas Wright Waller was just a boy growing up in the vibrant, music-soaked streets of Harlem, New York. Born on May 21, 1904, to Adeline, a church organist, and Edward Waller, a Baptist lay preacher, young Thomas was surrounded by both discipline and melody—a combination that would shape his life in unexpected ways.

From the age of six, Thomas was drawn to the piano like a moth to flame. He played the reed organ at his father’s open-air sermons, absorbing the rhythms of gospel and the structure of classical music. His mother, a talented musician herself, introduced him to the works of J.S. Bach, while his grandfather, Adolph Waller, a respected violinist from Virginia, added another layer of musical heritage to the boy’s upbringing. 

But Harlem in the early 1900s was more than just church music—it was becoming the beating heart of Black artistic expression. As the Harlem Renaissance began to bloom, so did the young Waller’s curiosity. He was captivated by the sounds spilling out of clubs and rent parties, where jazz was being born in real time. Despite his father’s disapproval—he called jazz “music from the Devil’s workshop”—Thomas couldn’t resist the pull. 

By his early teens, he was working in a grocery store to pay for music lessons, and soon dropped out of DeWitt Clinton High School to pursue music full-time. His first steady gig was as an organist at Harlem’s Lincoln Theatre, and it wasn’t long before he caught the attention of James P. Johnson, the legendary stride pianist who became his mentor. Johnson introduced him to the world of rent parties, where Waller’s infectious energy and dazzling technique quickly made him a favorite. 

The nickname “Fats” came early—an affectionate nod to his size, but also to his larger-than-life personality. He was already composing, performing, and charming audiences with a mix of virtuosity and humor that would become his trademark. By the time he was 20, he had written his first hit, “Squeeze Me”, and was well on his way to becoming one of the most beloved figures in American music. 

In those early years, Waller wasn’t just learning music—he was living it, absorbing the pulse of Harlem, the discipline of classical training, and the improvisational spirit of jazz. His story is one of joy, rebellion, and genius, all wrapped in the rhythm of a piano that never stopped swinging....

VERA-ELLEN AND HER DANCING INSTRUCTOR

 Famed MGM dancing instructor Joan Bayley died in 2022 - just shy of her 102nd birthday. Before she died, she gave an interview, which detailed her relationship with the beautiful and talented Vera-Ellen. When asked about Vera-Ellen,  Joan Bayley who worked with the Hollywood dancer on White Christmas if she was a nice girl. “Yes, she was,” replied Joan. “She was not an exciting personality, but she was friendly and sweet.”

I expressed my opinion that Vera-Ellen’s dancing is not my favorite, as something feels missing in her dancing. With exceptions, she never seems to fully put it together. To this, Joan replied,

“Her body was part of it. She was just so thin, it was distasteful to look at. Because, the femurs that go like this, she didn’t have enough muscles or flesh to fill in this part, so there was always this big space, you notice? her legs went like that. There was always that a big space (between her legs), she had these little fat cheeks, she hated it, she would even would suck in … Sometimes you see it on the screen that she would suck in.

“I would do always do a ballet barre with her in the morning, and I’d say to her, “Did you have breakfast?” She would say, “I had coffee.” Lunch would come; she wouldn’t eat lunch. She had a Frenchman who would come and give her French lessons. While we were all eating lunch she was in her trailer, having French lessons. And I’d say, what are you having for dinner? Steak and salad … And the steak was probably as big as my thumb. That woman could dance though...

DICK HAYMES: THE TROUBLED CROONER

In the golden age of crooners, Dick Haymes’s voice was velvet. Born in Buenos Aires in 1918 to a rancher father and a musically inclined Irish mother, Haymes seemed destined for the stage. By the 1940s, he was one of America’s most beloved vocalists, rivaling Frank Sinatra and Perry Como. His duets with Helen Forrest and Judy Garland lit up wartime radios, and his performances in musicals like State Fair made him a Hollywood darling.

But behind the spotlight, Haymes’s life was a symphony of heartbreak.

He never served in World War II — not out of defiance, but because he was technically an Argentine citizen. This led to public backlash and even a deportation scare. The press painted him as unpatriotic, and the stain lingered.

His personal life was a carousel of marriages and divorces. He wed six times, including to screen legends Rita Hayworth and Joanne Dru. Each union brought glamour, but also turbulence. Haymes battled alcoholism, and as the 1950s ushered in television and rock ’n’ roll, his style fell out of favor. The man who once filled concert halls now struggled to fill a lounge

Financial woes mounted. He declared bankruptcy, and at one point, was arrested for unpaid child support. The crooner who sang of dreams and devotion was drowning in legal battles and loneliness.

Yet, in the twilight of his life, Haymes found a flicker of redemption. He toured Europe, where audiences still revered his voice. Though he never reclaimed his American stardom, he sang until the end — a voice weathered by time, but still rich with emotion.

Dick Haymes died in 1980, aged 61. His legacy, like his life, is bittersweet: a reminder that fame is fleeting, but artistry endures...

HOLLYWOOD URBAN LEGEND: JERRY SEINELD

URBAN LEGEND: Was Jerry Seinfeld offered over $100 million to do a 10th season of Seinfeld?

ANSWER: Yes he was!

Jerry Seinfeld turned down an offer from NBC that would have made him $110 million for a tenth season of the show.

Jerry said that this was because any kind of comedy is funny only upto a certain level. A one hour standup comedy might be the best thing you've ever thing, but extend it just by 5 minutes and it could be the worst experience of your life.

 
Jerry and Larry wanted to end the show at the point where it was still being loved and was making people laugh all over the globe, and they thought that Season 9 was the perfect time to do that.

FORGOTTEN ONES: CAROLINE MCWILLIAMS

Does anyone remember Caroline McWilliams?  Born on April 4, 1945, shee was an actress best known for her portrayal of Marcy Hill in the television series Benson from 1979 to 1981. McWilliams had also appeared in nine episodes of its parent-series Soap, as Sally. She was a regular on the CBS soap Guiding Light (as Janet Norris) for several years and appeared in a short-term role (as Tracy DeWitt) on the NBC soap Another World. She also had a recurring role on Beverly Hills, 90210 playing the mother of Jamie Walters' character, Ray Pruit. McWilliams' television appearances spanned every decade from the 1960s through the 2000s. She was also on such shows as Kojak, Quincy, M.E., The Incredible Hulk, Project U.F.O., Hill Street Blues, Night Court, St. Elsewhere, Cagney & Lacey, Sisters (two episodes), Home Improvement, Murphy Brown and Judging Amy, among others.

She was married in 1982 to Michael Keaton, with whom she had a son, Sean, born in 1983. She and Keaton divorced in 1990, but in addtion to the son, they also have two grandchildren. She largely retired from acting by 2003, but she remained involved in various charities.  Caroline McWilliams died from multiple myeloma at her home in Los Angeles, California on February 11, 2010, at the age of 64. She is buried at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills.

Caroline only appeared in two Hollywood films - White Water Summer (1987) and Mermaids (1990), but her countless television appearances showed her charm and talent, and she should be remembered...

WHAT A CHARACTER: SHELDON LEONARD

Sheldon Leonard said in an interview that he only agreed to play Nick the bartender in "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) so he would have money to buy baseball tickets.

Leonard was born in New York City's lower Manhattan, studied acting at Syracuse University and, after graduating, landed a job on Wall Street. Following the Wall Street crash of 1929, he found himself unemployed and resolved to become a professional actor on the stage. The road was hard, since it took him five years to first appear on Broadway in "Hotel Alimony" (1934). While this production was universally slammed by the critics, the next plays he appeared in, "Having Wonderful Time" (1937) and "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" (1938), were unqualified successes, the former running for 372 performances.

Movie offers followed, and from 1939 he became one of Hollywood's most recognizable screen tough guys, the names of his characters evocative of the roles he played: Pretty Willie in "Tall, Dark and Handsome" (1941), Slip Moran in "Lucky Jordan" (1942), Lippy Harris in "Jinx Money" (1948), Jumbo Schneider in "Money from Home" (1953) and, famously, Harry the Horse in "Guys and Dolls"(1955).

Having had his fill of acting in those kinds of parts, Leonard began a new career as a television producer in the 1950s and went on to become one of the most successful TV producer/directors of the 1950s and 1960s. Four of his productions (all on CBS)--"Make Room for Daddy," "Gomer Pyle: USMC," "The Dick Van Dyke Show") (which won 21 Emmy Awards during its run) and "The Andy Griffith Show"--were rated in the Top Ten. He had a further success with "I Spy," championing the cause of racial equality over the (initial) objections of the network by being the first series to have an African-American (Bill Cosby) in an equal co-starring dramatic role with a white actor.

 
In 1992 he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, after receiving five Emmy awards for his producing/directing efforts. In 1995 he received a lifetime membership into the Director's Guild of America. Accepting the honor, he quipped, "Giving a lifetime membership to a guy 88 years old--big f***ing deal!"

Leonard also has the distinction (along with author Mickey Spillane) of being one of the first two Miller Lite spokesmen. Using his trademark accent, he told the audience, "I was at first reluctant to try Miller Lite, but then I was persuaded to do so by my friend, Large Louis." One of his last acting roles was a guest appearance on the TV series Cheers, in which he played Sid Nelson, the proprietor of "The Hungry Heifer", Norm Peterson's favorite eating establishment.

Leonard died at his home in Beverly Hills, California, on January 11, 1997, at age 89...

RECENTLY VIEWED: WICKED FOR GOOD

No spoilers here! I had the oprttunity to see an early showing of part 2 of the Wicked saga last night, and it was truly an experience! Wicked: For Good (also known as Wicked: Part Two) is a 2025 American musical fantasy film directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. The sequel to Wicked (2024), it adapts the second act of the 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, which was loosely based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, a reimagining of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film adaptation. Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum return from the first film, with Colman Domingo joining the cast. Set in the Land of Oz before and during the events of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the film explores the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda as they embrace their new identities as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Universal Pictures and Marc Platt, who both produced the stage musical, announced the film adaptation in 2012. After a long development and multiple delays, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chu was hired to direct, with Erivo and Grande cast in 2021. The adaptation was split into two parts to avoid omitting plot points and further develop the characters. Principal photography on both films began in December 2022 in England, was interrupted in July 2023 by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and resumed and concluded in January 2024.

Wicked: For Good premiered at the Suhai Music Hall in São Paulo, Brazil on November 4, 2025, and is scheduled for release in the United States on November 21. The film received mixed reviews from critics. I feel the critics are too hard on the film. The first film had the better songs, but the story on part two was darker and a lot better I feel. There are a couple of plot holes and questions I had, but they were minor and did not take away from my viewing of the moving. Ariana and Cynthia were outstanding, and Jeff Goldblum was a scene stealer. So it was another great trip down the yellow brick road...

MY RATING: 9 out of 10

THE STYLE OF VERONICA LAKE

1940s Hollywood was a time of dynamic change and artistic innovation, and few stars embodied this era like Veronica Lake. Known for her striking beauty and signature peekaboo hairstyle, Lake became an iconic figure of film noir during the 1940s. With her captivating screen presence, she starred alongside some of Hollywood's most celebrated actors, including Alan Ladd in This Gun for Hire (1942), a film that helped establish both of their careers. Her sultry look and enigmatic allure quickly made her one of the era's most beloved actresses, with her films drawing large audiences who adored her blend of glamour and grit. She became a major star at Paramount Pictures, where she was cast in a series of successful noir thrillers, establishing herself as a defining figure in the genre.

However, despite her early success, Veronica Lake's career faced difficulties as the 1940s progressed. Her troubled personal life, including a series of difficult marriages and struggles with alcoholism, often overshadowed her professional achievements. Nevertheless, she continued to make a significant impact in the industry. In the mid-1940s, Lake's popularity began to wane, but she remained a powerful symbol of the 1940s femme fatale. She had a complex legacy as an actress who helped shape the golden age of film noir and set the standard for many of the actresses who followed. While other stars of the time, like Rita Hayworth and Ava Gardner, carried on with more sustained careers, Lake's life and career are often seen as a cautionary tale of fame's fleeting nature.

Despite the ups and downs of her career, Veronica Lake's contribution to Hollywood is undeniable. Her image, forever captured in iconic films like The Blue Dahlia (1946), remains a staple of the classic Hollywood aesthetic. Her sultry screen persona influenced a generation of actresses, and her distinctive look – from her platinum blonde hair to her mischievous smile – is still celebrated in pop culture today. Lake's legacy endures not just in her films but also in the fashion and beauty trends she set. The peekaboo hairstyle, a defining feature of her image, remains one of the most recognizable styles of the 1940s, symbolizing the blend of glamour and mystery that defined her career and the era she represented...

MOVIE SPOTLIGHT: THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES

"The Abominable Dr. Phibes" is a 1971 British comedy horror film directed by Robert Fuest, written by James Whiton and William Goldstein, and starring Vincent Price and Joseph Cotten (had worked together in the 1930s with Orson Welles' Mercury Theater). Its art deco sets, dark humor, and performance by Price have made the film and its 1972 sequel "Dr. Phibes Rises Again" cult classics.

Peter Cushing was originally cast in Cotten's role of Dr. Vesalius, but he declined because his wife was in poor health at the time. Price said Cotten was very uncomfortable doing his scenes, so he intentionally made a lot of funny faces to make him laugh. He would often crack up during filming, wrecking his makeup in the process.

Joseph Cotten would grumble on the film's set that he had to remember and deliver lines, while Price's were all to be post-dubbed. Price responded, "Yes, but I still know them, Joe." In fact, Price was well-known in Hollywood for his ability to memorize all of the characters' lines in a given production, not just his own.

The film was originally advertised in the U.S. with the tagline "Love means never having to say you're ugly," a parody of a famous line from the film "Love Story" (1970), which had been released the previous year. However, that tagline was replaced after the first week due to disappointing opening box office numbers as it turned out audiences had no idea what sort of film this was supposed to be. A new advertising campaign made it clear it was a horror film, and afterwards it became a box office hit...

THE HISTORY OF GODZILLA

Godzilla first emerged from the depths of cinematic imagination in 1954 with the Japanese film Gojira, directed by Ishirō Honda and produced by Toho Studios. The monster was conceived as a metaphor for nuclear devastation, reflecting Japan’s trauma from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Lucky Dragon No. 5 incident. In this original portrayal, Godzilla was a terrifying force of nature—an amphibious, prehistoric creature awakened and mutated by nuclear radiation

Godzilla’s cinematic journey spans over 70 years and is divided into distinct eras, each reflecting shifts in tone, technology, and cultural context:

Shōwa Era (1954–1975): Initially a destructive villain, Godzilla gradually became a heroic figure, defending humanity against other kaiju like Mothra, King Ghidorah, and Mechagodzilla. These films often had campy tones and emphasized monster battles.

Heisei Era (1984–1995): Marked a return to darker themes and more serious storytelling. Godzilla was again portrayed as a threat, with improved special effects and deeper narratives.

Millennium Era (1999–2004): Featured standalone films with alternate continuities, allowing for creative reinterpretations of Godzilla’s legacy.

Reiwa Era (2016–Present): Includes Shin Godzilla (2016), a political and disaster-themed reboot, and the Hollywood-backed MonsterVerse films like Godzilla vs. Kong (2021). Most recently, Godzilla Minus One (2023) won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, marking a historic achievement for the franchise.

Godzilla’s influence extends far beyond Japan. The character has appeared in over 30 Japanese films and several American adaptations, becoming a symbol of resilience, destruction, and even environmental commentary. Its iconic roar, towering stature, and radioactive breath have inspired comics, video games, TV shows, and theme park attractions3.

While Godzilla began as a metaphor for nuclear horror, its symbolism has evolved. Some interpretations view Godzilla as a representation of nature’s wrath, Japan’s imperial past, or even the United States itself—a sleeping giant awakened to wreak havoc. The franchise has tackled themes ranging from natural disasters to political apathy, making Godzilla a mirror for societal anxieties across generations...