On This Day

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On this day October 17th

123 years ago the actor Roy Stewart was born. He appeared in 138 films from 1915 including Men Without Women ad Rough Romance.
From IMDB

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Tall in the saddle, and dark and handsome to boot, he may be little remembered today when compared to a William S. Hart, Tom Mix or Hoot Gibson, but cowboy hero Roy Stewart was arguably one of the best known of the silent screen back then. While touring with the famous Floradora Girls, Stewart entered films in the early 1910s in support roles until signing with Triangle in 1916 and emerging as a star. Known for his engaging, dimpled grin, he proved a solid and rugged hero and churned out during the course of his career hundreds of two-fisted two-reelers such as The Learnin' of Jim Benton (1917), Cactus Crandall (1918), which he co-wrote, and The Sagebrusher (1920), not to mention reenacting a number of tales from the Old West and portraying such legendary figures as Buffalo Bill and Daniel Boone. Out of the saddle Stewart was quite at home in plush drama and served as a perfect leading man for the likes of Lillian Gish in __House Built Upon Sand, The (1916), Bessie Love in A Daughter of the Poor (1917) and Mary Pickford in her classic silent Sparrows (1926). Come the advent of sound, Stewart lost his footing and was relegated to support roles as a character actor. He continued working until his sudden death in 1933 of a heart attack in his Los Angeles home at the age of 49.

103 years ago Russell Birdwell was born, a public relations man he was responsible for advertising the Alamo and along with Chill Wills virtually guaranteed that the Alamo wouldn't win the oscars it should have.

89 years ago the actress Marsha Hunt was born she didn't make as many pictures as she should have because of the blacklist but she was in Hell Town and Legend of the Lost.

65 years ago Gordon Gebhert was born he was in The Flying Leathernecks.

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Arthur

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On this day 18th October

38 years ago the actor Lee Tracy died aged 70.

He began his film career in 1929 making his debut in the John Ford film Salute playing a Radio Announcer his one and only connecton with Duke.

Over the next 34 years he appeared in 55 screen and television credits making his final appearance in an episode of the television soap Ben Casey in 1965.

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Arthur

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On this day 19th October

124 years ago the actor Sam Flint was born In te business between 1933 - 1968 he notched up 304 film and television credits including Reap the Wild Wind, The lawless Nineties New Frontier and Lawless Range.

90 years ago Walter McGrail was born 154 credits including Men Without Women, Brown of Harvard and Stagecoach.

72 years ago the singer David guard was born. A founder member of the Kingstone Trio he sang the folk sons in How The West Was Won.

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Arthur

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On this day 20th October 98 years ago the minor actor stuart Hamblin was born. He only appeared in ten pictures one of whic was Flame of the Barbary Coast.

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Arthur

Hi

On this day October 21st

122 years ago the actress Jant Beecher was born she was in Reap The Wild Wind

119 years ago the choreographer Larry Ceballos was born he was the dance director on Dakota and Flame of the Barbary Coast

116 years ago Alex Melesh was born he was in a LadyTakes A Chance.

109 years ago the actor Lloyd Hughes was born he appeared in The Deicever.

91 years ago the actor Carleton Young was born.
From IMDBAmerican character actor noted for his deep, rich voice. Young made his Broadway debut in the early 1930s, appearing in such plays as "Page Pygmalion", "The Man Who Reclaimed His Head", "Late Wisdom" and "Yesterday's Orchids". Moving to Hollywood in 1936, he began getting small film roles and soon graduated to frequent appearances in B-Westerns and serials, occasionally as a supporting lead, but most often as a heavy. He was "Dick Tracy"'s brother in Dick Tracy (1937/II) and was a familiar face in many oaters and serials at Republic, where he was a contract player (occasionally working under the stage name "Gordon Roberts"). In 1941, Young returned to Broadway to star in "Cuckoos On the Hearth" by Parker Fennelly. Back in Hollywood, he made Westerns throughout the Forties, then began appearing in better roles in better films, becoming a late favorite of John Ford. His line in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), "This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend", has become synonymous with Ford. Young retired in 1970 and died in 1994, at the age of 89. He is often confused with Carleton G. Young, a radio performer who made a few films and who was the father of actor Tony Young.
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Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 22nd October

In Portsmouth today 21,000 people are running in the Great South Run a half Marthaton taking place along Southsea Sea Front and encompasing the Historic Dockyard and Gunwharf Keys. it is tipping down with rain and blowing very hard. the professionals are running for the prize money, the majority are running to earn money for their particular carities I take my hat off to them.

But back to on this day

121 years ago the actor John Sheehan was born. he began in films in 1914 and went on to apear in 234 films including The life of Jimmy Dolan Three Faces West Seven Sinners and Pitsburgh.

106 years ago actor James Hall was born, he was in Four Sons.

92 years ago Leo C Richmond was born. He only appeared in seven pictures six as an actor and including playing a native priest in Wake of the Red Witch in 1948 and fifteen years later as a stuntman in Donovans Reef.

90 years ago The actor writer dirctor and producer Sidney Miller was born he appeared in 119 pictures including Lady and Gent.

Her I break my own rule of not interferering in anoth topic but the last actor to feature in this on this day, if he is not already included, deserves his place in Pals Of The Saddle almost as much as many others.

37 years ago Same Harris died aged 92. Born in Sydney Australia he was known as Major Sam Harris and appeared in 335 films from 1931 including I Cover The War, Pitsburgh, The Quiet Man, Big Jim McLaine, The Wings of Eagles, The Horse Soldiers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Donovan's Reef and Hatari
He was alo a military advisor on three films about the british Victorian Army including Gungha Din and The harge of the Light Brigade, although I hasten to point out, he advised on military skills in the latter not historical content.

From Yahoo

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In his autobiography The Moon's a Balloon, David Niven recalled the kindnesses extended to him by Hollywood's dress extras during Niven's formative acting years. Singled out for special praise was a dignified, frequently bearded gentleman, deferentially referred to as "The Major" by his fellow extras. This worthy could be nobody other than the prolific Major Sam Harris, who worked in films from the dawn of the talkie era until 1964. Almost never afforded billing or even dialogue (a rare exception was his third-billed role in the 1937 John Wayne adventure I Cover the War), Harris was nonetheless instantly recognizable whenever he appeared. His output included several of John Ford's efforts of the 1940s and 1950s. Drawing upon his extensive military experience, Major Sam Harris showed up in most of the "British India" pictures of the 1930s, and served as technical advisor for Warners' Charge of the Light Brigade (1935).

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 23rd October

114 years ago the actress Mira McKinney was born she had 100 screen and television credits to her name and appeared in Pitsburgh.

107 years ago Vinton Vernon was born, not an actor he was yet another 'back room boy' working on the sound recording the music for Red River and The Alamo.

84 years ago the actress Colleen Gray was born memorable as Fen in Red River.
From IMDB

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Coleen Gray was born in Staplehurst, Nebraska in 1922. After graduating from high school, Coleen studied dramatics at Hamline University graduating with a bachelor of arts degree. Coleen then decided to see America and traveled to California, stopping at La Jolla, where she worked as a waitress. After several weeks there, she moved to L.A. and enrolled in a drama school. Her performances attracted a talent scout from 20 Century-Fox studios where she signed a contract after a screen test. A beautiful actress, her roles unfortunately have not been as rewarding as they should have been for someone of her talent. She has many credits though with movies, television, stage and radio

76 years ago the Frech actor Gerard Blain was born. compared at one time to James Dean he was in Hatari.

40 years ago the actress Claire McDowell died she was in Central Airport.

31 years ago Charles Brocaw died aged 77 he was in Idol of the Crowds and played the arab chief in I Cover the War.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 24th October

115 years ago the cinemtographer Arthur Edeson was born he shot 137 pictures including The Big rail.

108 years ago the author Willis Goldbeck was born he wrote The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

90 years ago the author Jane Allen was born , she wrote Without Reservations.

72 years ago Denny Arnold was born, a stuntman, he worked on Big Jake, The Undefeated McQ and The Comancheros.

61 years ago the actor Don Costello diedaged 44. he played a drunk in A Lady Takes A Chance.

25 years ago the costume designer Edith Head died aged 83 she designed costumes on numerous pictures including Katherine epburn's costume on Rooster Cogburn, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and many more.
From IMDB

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Her 35 Oscar nominations and 8 awards make her both the most honored costume designer and woman in Academy Award history to date.

Interred at Forest Lawn, Glendale, California, USA, in the Cathedral Slope section, plot #1675.

Rarely did her own sketching because of her time schedule. Almost all sketches of "hers" one sees today were actually done by a devoted staff of sketch artists.

During the 1920s, she taught French and art at the Hollywood School for Girls.

On They Might Be Giants' 2001 album, "Mink Car", there is a song called "She Thinks She's Edith Head".

Was a close friend of actress Anne Baxter. She was godmother to one of Baxter's children.

A photograph of Miss Head working on a dress design appears on one stamp of a sheet of 10 USA 37¢ commemorative postage stamps, issued 25 February 2003, celebrating American Filmmaking: Behind the Scenes. The stamp honors costume design.

Received a master's degree in French from Stanford University in 1920

The Costume Department building on the Paramount lot is named after her.

The character "Edna Mode" in Disney/Pixar's The Incredibles (2004) was modeled on her.

Extremely diplomatic, she went out of her way to get along with co-workers and rarely gossiped. In later interviews, however, she mentioned that she did not enjoy working with Mary Martin, Claudettle Colbert or Hedy Lamarr. In Paulette Goddard's case, she thought it was insensitive for the glamorous star to bring her bulging jewelry boxes to the studio workroom and tell her seamstresses (who were working for minimum wage) that they could "look, but not touch."

Is portrayed by Edith Fellows in Grace Kelly (1983) (TV) and by Tamar Cooper in Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story (1982) (TV)

Her trademark "sunglasses" were not "sunglasses" but rather blue lensed glasses. Looking through a blue glass was a common trick of costumers in the days of Black and White film to get a sense of how a color would photograph. Edith had a pair of glasses made out of the proper shade of blue glass to save herself from looking through a single lens. Her friends commonly would see her in regular "clear" glasses.

She is tied with composer Alan Menken for third most Academy Awards won. Each of them have eight.

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Arthur

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On this day 25th October

114 years ago the actor Frank Cordell was born he was a stunt man in How the west was Won.

38 years ago the editor Otho Lovering died aged 75 he edited many of John Wayne's pictures including Donovan's Reef, McLintock and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

29 years ago the cinematographer Nicholas Musurca died he worked on Stagecoach and Back to Bataan.

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Arthur

Hi

On this day 26th October

140 years ago the actor Frank McGlynn snr was born he was in In Old California

40 years ago the actor Charles Morton died aged 59. He appeared in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
From IMDB

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Handsome, athletic actor whose career started in the late silent era as a leading man and continued into sound features and finally television. Born in Illinois, Morton spent his adolescence in Madison, Wisconsin; receiving his education at Madison High School and the University of Wisconsin. He made his first stage appearance at the age of seven and later appeared in vaudeville, stock and the legitimate stage. Both his exceptional appearance, charm and buoyant personality were noted by the studios and at the age of 20 signed his first contract with Fox in 1927. Sadly, after 1933 his career began to lose momentum and by 1936 his roles were significantly reduced until playing small supports and bits which continued until his death from heart disease in 1966

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Arthur

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A day late but on this day 27th October

86 years ago the actor and stunt man Charles Horvath was born he appeared in an un-credited role in The Conqueror and did stunts in How the West was Won.

83 years ago Glen Vernon was born, he played a marine in Sands of Iwo Jima and on this day 76 years later he died.

42 years ago the cinematographer Rudolph Mate died aged 66. he shot among other things Seven Sinners
From IMDB

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One of the most respected cinematographers in the industry, Polish-born Rudolph Mate entered the film business after his graduation from the University of Budapest. He worked in Hungary as an assistant cameraman for Alexander Korda and later worked throughout Europe with noted cameraman Karl Freund. Mate was hired to shoot some second-unit footage for Carl Theodor Dreyer and Erich Pommer, and they were so impressed with his work that they hired him as cinematographer on Dreyer's Passion de Jeanne d'Arc, La (1928) (US title: "The Passion of Joan of Arc"). Mate was soon working on some of Europe's most prestigious films, cementing his reputation as one of the continent's premier cinematographers. Hollywood came calling in 1935, and Mate shot films there for the next 12 years before turning to directing in 1947. Unfortunately, while many of his directorial efforts were visually impressive (especially his sci-fi epic When Worlds Collide (1951)), the films themselves were for the most part undistinguished, with his best work probably being the film-noir classic D.O.A. (1950).

21 years ago the German actor Paiul Edwin Rotha was born he was in The Longest Day.

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Arthur

Hi

On this day 28th October

109 years ago the designer Edith Head was born.

107 yearts ago the actor Crane Whitley was born he appeared in 118 pictures among which were Angel and the Badman, Re-union in France and The Fighting Seabees .

100 years ago the actor Jack Soo was born he was in The Green Berets
From IMDB

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A genial, laidback, slumber-eyed character player especially adept at the relaxed wisecrack or dry comment, Japanese-American actor Jack Soo was born in Oakland, California in 1916, his real name being Goro Suzuki. In the post-WWII years he entertained as a stand-up performer in nightclubs and had made a reasonable dent on the Midwest circuit by the time he earned his big break playing Sammy Fong in the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit Broadway musical "Flower Drum Song" in 1958. Three years later, Soo won the honor of transferring his role to film and decided to settle in Hollywood. Over the next decade, despite a typical lack of roles for Asian-Americans, he managed to find a niche for his hip, deadpan demeanor on TV and a few other films including Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1963), the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), and John Wayne's controversial pro-Vietnam War The Green Berets (1968). Soo is probably best remembered for his smart-aleck Detective Sgt. Nick Yemana on "Barney Miller," one of the more popular sitcoms of the 1970s, alongside Hal Linden and Abe Vigoda. Sadly, he died of cancer during the show's fifth season in 1979 at the height of his popularity.

20 years ago the producer Robert Arthur died he produced Hellfighters.

Regards

Arthur

Hi Jay

Never a truer word said.

On this day 29th October

40 years ago the writer Harlan Thompson d aged 76. He wrote the film Girls Demand Excitement. Directed by Seymour Felix John Wayne later said that it was the most stupid film he ever appeared in.
From IMDB

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Production supervisor for 1,200 Army training films at the Signal Corps Photographic Center in Astoria, Queens, NY.

If he made that many I should think that Chester, Stumpy and William might have seen one or two of these?

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 30th October

117 years ago the actress Dorothy Phillips was born, she appeared in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
From IMDB

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A former stage actress, Dorothy was married to actor/director/producer Allen Holubar. They were known as two of the screen's most prominent players, her the star, he the director/producer. Dorothy was well known in Hollywood as one of the most warm-hearted, approachable stars in the business. After the advent of sound, Dorothy's career gradually faded and she could be seen in a handful of films as an extra. Although a major star in her time and one of the best loved of that era, her passing was barely mentioned, other than in local papers.

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21 years ago the western actor Kirby Grant died aged 73, he was in Red River Range.
From IMDB

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As a child, Kirby received a scholarship to the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Kirby won the scholarship as a violinist and singer, but he also dabbled in sculptor. He would play a violinist in the film 'I Dream Too Much (1935)' which starred Henry Fonda. While his movie career was less than spectacular, he did have the lead in a number of low budget westerns and also played a Canadian Mountie in low budget adventures. But it would be Television where Kirby would gain the kind of fame that would follow him for the rest of his life. "Out of the blue of the western sky comes Sky King". "Sky King (1953)" was a Television series where Kirby played a wealthy gentleman rancher who used his twin engine Cessna to capture the evil ones. As everyone knows, the plane was called the "Song Bird", his ranch was "the Flying Crown Ranch" located near "Grover, Arizona", and he had a niece named Penny and a nephew named Clipper. Kirby was a lifelong flying enthusiast taught to fly by barnstormers in the 1920's. "Sky King" was a huge success and Kirby made approximately 130 episodes which guaranteed syndication. After the show ended, Kirby traveled with the Carson and Barnes Circus and retired in 1970. He later bought the title and rights to the show "Sky King (1953)", and became a public relations director for Sea World in Florida.

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Arthur

Hi

On this day 31st October

110 years ago the composer Ralph Irwin was born he wrote themusic for Baby face.

94 years ago the actor Richard H Cutting was born. He played the general in the Horse Soldiers.

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Arthur

Hi

On this day November 1st

116 years ago the actor James Barton was born he was in The Shepherd of the ills.

102 years ago Lewis Martin was born he was in Operation Pacific

102 years ago the Belgian actor and stuntman George Bruggeman was born he appeared in around 40 pictures included among which were Reap The Wild Wind The Fighting Seabees, They Were Expendable and Rio Bravo.

On the same day Laura La Plant was born she starred in Arizona

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From IMDB

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Laura La Plante was 15 years old when she entered films as a Christie ComedyBathing Beauty. By 1921 she had played a number of roles including a Tom Mix western called The Big Town Round-Up (1921) for Fox and The Old Swimmin' Hole (1921) for First National. Laura, now 17, next signed with Universal, where she appeared in shorts, serials and many supporting roles. Over the next few years she would become one of the leading stars at Universal and acted in in dramas, mysteries and comedies. Some of her more important films were the adventure Crooked Alley (1923), the comedy 'Sporting Youth (1924), the drama Smouldering Fires (1925) and the mystery The Cat and the Canary (1927). One of her successful comedies, Skinner's Dress Suit (1926), was directed by her husband, William A. Seiter. When sound came to Universal, she was one of the silent film stars who made the transition. She played a leading role in the sound film Show Boat (1929) and made her first all-talking picture with Hold Your Man (1929). By 1930 she decided that she had enough and left Universal, which terminated her contract. She went to England, where she would appear in a few more films over the years. Laura returned to Hollywood in 1935, where she again retired from the screen.

97 years ago the producer Robert Arthur was born he produced Hellfighters

24 years ago the director King Vidor died aged 88 he directed Bardelys the Magnificent

2 years ago the actress mae Madison died aged 90 She was in Words and Music.

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Arthur

Hi

On this day 2nd November

120 years ago the actor Philip Merrivale was born, he appeared in Lady For A Night.

119 years ago the actress Claire McDowell was born she was in Central Airport

103 years ago Ben Hendricks jnr was born he made two pictures with John Wayne The Oregon Trail and Men Without Woman.

86 years ago Ann Rutherford was born. When you consider that the most films any one women appeared with John Wayne then Ann was almost a regular appearing in Annie Laurie, The oregon trail The lonely Trail and The Lawless Nineties.
From IMDB

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Ann Rutherford was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on November 2, 1920. The daughter of a former Metropolitan Opera singer, John Rutherford and her actress mother, Lillian Mansfield, was destined for show business. Not long after her birth, her family moved to California where she made her stage debut in 1925. Ann appeared in many plays and on radio for the next nine years before making her first screen appearance in Carnival in Paris (1937) in 1934. Ann's talent, which was readily apparent, was signed to three films in 1935--Waterfront Lady (1935), Melody Trail (1935) and The Fighting Marines (1935). By now, she was a leading lady in the fabled Westerns with two legends--John Wayne and Gene Autry. By the time Ann was seventeen, she inked a deal with MGM, where she would gain the status of superstar for her portrayal of "Polly Benedict" in the popular "Andy Hardy" series with Mickey Rooney. Ann's first role as "Polly" was in 1938, in You're Only Young Once (1937). Three more Hardy films were produced that same year such as Out West with the Hardys (1938), Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)_ and Judge Hardy's Children (1938). Ann did find time to play in other productions too. One which is still loved today was the Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol (1938), where she played the sweet role of the Spirit of Christmas Past. In 1939, Ann played the role of "Annie Hawks" in Of Human Hearts (1938) in addition to three more Andy Hardy films. But that year also saw Ann land a role in the most popular film in film history. She played "Careen O'Hara", Scarlet's little sister, in Gone with the Wind (1939). Plenty of fans of the Andy Hardy series went to see it for Ann herself. Obviously the film was, unquestionably, a super hit. She, then, resumed making other movies. While working for MGM, Ann, along with the other stars, were under the watchful eye of movie mogul, 'Louis B. Mayer' )qv_. Mayer was no different than any other film tycoon. The bottom line was profit and one couldn't really maximize profits unless they kept performers salaries minimized as much as possible. Most tried to get raises and failed. Even Mickey Rooney was turned down. But not Ann Rutherford. When she asked for a raise, she took out her bankbook and, showing the amount it contained, told Mayer she had promised her mother a new house. Ann got her raise. In 1942, at the age of 22, Ann appeared in her last Andy Hardy film which was Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942). She then left MGM and free-lanced her talent. Still Ann was in demand. In 1943, she appeared in Happy Land (1943), but it was a little later in her career when she appeared in two big hits. In 1947, she played "Gertrude Griswold" in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and as "Donna Elena" in Adventures of Don Juan (1948) in 1948. After that film, Ann appeared in several TV programs and didn't return to the silver screen until 1972 in They Only Kill Their Masters (1972). Her last came in 1976 in Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), whereupon she retired. Ann was approached to play the older Rose in 1998's mega-hit Titanic (1997), but turned it down. Today she, happily, enjoy's her retirement and still is deluged with fan mail.

64 years ago the actress Stefanie Powers was born she played Beckie McLintock in McLintock.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 3rd November

120 years ago Andrew Bennison was born he wrote Words And Music and was the stage director for Men Without Women

31 years ago the actor Harry Worth died born in England he made his name in the united States appearing in 72 pictures between 1919-59 he was with Wayne in The Sea Spoilers.

55 years ago the director Richard Wallace died aged 57 he directed Tycoon

57 years ago the actor William Desmond died aged 71 he was in the 3 Musketeers and Tall in the Saddle

59 yeras ago the actor Nelson McDowell died aged 77 he was in Dark Command

8 years ago Martha Driscoll died aged 76 she appeared in Reap The Wild Wind.

Regards

Arthur