Alan Ladd Steals THIS GUN FOR HIRE
Ad-line: “Lover without a heart…killer without a conscience!” Another: “He’s dynamite with a gun or a girl.” Or, there are the spoken lines excerpted for the theatrical trailer: “That’s sucker…
The words of Mark Twain
Always a source of wisdom, the words of Mark Twain: "Those who won't read are just as illiterate as those who can't read."
Mario Lanza: The American Caruso
The tenor and actor Mario Lanza was the subject of a 90-minute PBS documentary made in 1983 called MARIO LANZA: THE AMERICAN CARUSO. It was hosted by Placido Domingo and…
Timothy Leary’s personal archives
The famous 1960's counterculture figure Timothy Leary was an author and clinical psychologist who experienced a controversial tenure at Harvard University. He was often in the news for advocating psychedelic…
David Niven & the British Army
David Niven took part in the Allied invasion at Normandy during World War II, though several days after D-Day. He served in a secret reconnaissance and signals unit. Through the years he was often asked for…
Tinker to Evers to Chance
This is a remarkable baseball story few know. It was written by one of the game’s serious historians, Gary Livacari, and excerpted here in part: “We’re all familiar with the…
The Leading Violinist of the Twentieth Century
A virtuoso from childhood, Jascha Heifetz was probably the leading violinist of the twentieth century. A contemporary, Fritz Kreisler, had this to say when he saw and heard Heifetz's debut,…
“Win one for the Gipper”
"Win one for the Gipper" was a phrase Ronald Reagan used as a political slogan when he successfully ran for President of the United States in 1980. Why? And what…
Buddy Rich: A World Class Drummer
As a world class drummer, Buddy Rich enjoyed great commercial success. It is surprising that he never learned how to read sheet music! So how did he play? He would…
One of the Greatest Catchers in the History of the Game
Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane is regarded as one of the greatest catchers in the history of the game. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Detroit Tigers…