This Day in Hollywood History – May 1st

This Day in Hollywood History

5/1

Births

1916 – Glenn Ford – American actor.  He starred in such notable films as Gilda and Blackboard Jungle

1916 – Jack Parr –American radio and television talk show host.  He was the original host of The Tonight Show before Johnny Carson.

1927 – Harry Belafonte – Jamaican-American singer, actor and political activist.  He is known for the popular calypso songs he sang in the 1950s, most notably “The Banana Boat Song”.  He starred in such notable films as Carmen Jones with Dorothy Dandridge and Island in the Sun with Joan Fontaine.  He was a very active supporter of Civil Rights in the 1960s and has continued his activism into the 2000s.

1939 – Judy Collins – American singer and songwriter.  She gained popularity during the 1960s with her folk music and political activism.

1944 – Rita Coolidge– American Grammy-Award winning singer who enjoyed popularity in the 1970s and early 1980s.  She was once married to fellow singer Kris Kristofferson.

Deaths

1952 – William Fox – Founder of the William Fox Studios which eventually became 20^th Century-Fox.  His company was one of the early film production studios that was based out of California.  He died at the age of 73.

1971 – Glenda Farrell – American actress of the 1930s.  She starred in such popular films as Little Caesar, I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang and Gold Diggers of 1937

Events

1967 – Elvis Presley & Pricilla Beaulieu marry in Las Vegas.

This Day in Hollywood History – April 25th

 This Day in Hollywood History

4/25 

Births

1912 – Gladys Presley- Mother of the King of Rock n’ Roll, Elvis

1940 – Al Pacino –  An American actor and director best known for playing Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy.  After being nominated 7 previous times for an Academy Award for his performances is the first two Godfather installments, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, …And Justice For All, Dick Tracy  and Glengarry Glen Ross, he won for his portrayal of a blind Army officer in Scent of A Woman.  Pacino was among the last generation of Hollywood stars that began their career studying under Lee Strasberg at the famed Actors’ Studio.  In his personal life, Pacino has been linked to his Godfather co-star Diane Keaton and Beverly D’Angelo.

1946 – Talia Shire – She is the twice Oscar-nominated co-star of the Godfather trilogy.  She is the sister of director Francis for Coppola and aunt of actor Nicholas Cage and director Sofia Coppola.  She is, perhaps, best known for her portrayal if Adrian in the Rocky movies.

Deaths

1972 – George Sanders – He was an Academy Award winning British actor and brother of fellow actor Tom Conway.  He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Addison DeWitt, the mentor of Marilyn Monroe’s character, Miss Casswell, in All About Eve.  Later in his career, he played Mr. Freeze in the Batman 1960s TV series.  Sanders also has the destinction of having been married to two of the Gabor sisters.  He was first married to Zsa Zsa from 1949-1954 and later to Magda for 6 weeks in 1970.  His death was a suicide.  In his suicide note he worote, “Dear World, I am leaving because I am bored. I feel I have lived long enough. I am leaving you with your worries in this sweet cesspool. Good luck” He was cremated and his ashes were scattered over the English Channel.

1995 – Ginger Rogers – She appeared in 73 films during her long Hollywood career.  Most notable were her films with Fred Astaire during the 1930s.  In a departure from the usually light fare and musicals she was known for, she starred in a dramatic role in 1940s Kitty Folye, which earned her a Best Actress Oscar.

 

Hearbreak Hotel Hits #1

While many discount Elvis Presley as a true Hollywood star, because they believe he made some of the worst, formulaic movies ever, I have to admit that I enjoy the musical romps that Colonel Parker had him make.  They were fun and light and always full of happy, catchy tunes.  In my book, Elvis could really do no wrong and he deserves a place among the stars of vintage Hollywood.  It was on this day in 1956 that the King of Rock n’ Roll scored his first number one Billboard hit with “Heartbreak Hotel”.  It remained at the top of the pop charts for 8 weeks and was the top selling record of the year.  This song is Elvis at one of his finest moments.  He was young, edgy and raw.  The song is inspired by a man who committed suicide and left a note saying “I walk a lonely street.”  It’s a dark and moody song, but one where Elvis’ talent clearly shines through.  It was just the beginning of Elvis’ domination of the Billboard Charts in the 1950s.

Cover photo from the "Heartbreak Hotel" single