The first "television psychologist" -- via the New York Times. She came to fame as one of the few contestants to legitimately win "The $64,000 Question," as an expert on boxing; she later became the first female boxing commentator. Her camera-friendly manner made her an informed, kindly, unintimidating symbol for psychologists everywhere.
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.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Alice E. Korber: A Slight Corrected
From Margalit Fox at the New York Times, an obituary that took 6 years to update! regarding classics scholar Alice Korber, instrumental in deciphering Linear B script.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Al Fritz
Inventor of the Schwinn Sting-Ray bicycle -- via Bicycle Retailer. And hey, the Varsity and Continental models as well -- the latter two were among the first lightweight derailleur types to be mass-produced for American riders.
Until today, I didn't realize that Al Fritz was one of my major influences. Why? He made MY BIKE!
Until today, I didn't realize that Al Fritz was one of my major influences. Why? He made MY BIKE!
The 1979 Sting-Ray, yellow and lime. Mine was an earlier model, but looked substantially like this. |
Christmas of 1967, I got this bike in a box. After many days of my dad tinkering, filling the ashtrays with cigarettes, swearing, and opening another beer, it all came together.
This magnificent object was my best friend (hey, we didn't have a dog). I had freedom, mobility, autonomy, and stylish grace all in one. I was rocking a sweet ride that had ape hanger handlebars, bright yellow banana seat, 20-inch tires (no shifter -- one speed only, backpedal to brake!) -- an indestructible and faithful companion. It was my horse, my World War I biplane, my racecar. We did stunts in the vacant lots nearby, building ramps and obstacle courses, or trekked west to the Table Mesas. It ignited my love affair with bicycling (though, not cycling -- I don't own any aerodynamic underpants, air-cooled helmets, or those funny shoes that snap into place). I am on bike #3 now, but bike #1, above, never nicknamed, was my favorite. When I was not asleep or in school, I was on it.
In this world where toys break easily and promises go unfilled, a well-made and reliable thing such as this really made a difference for me, and I'm sure for millions of other kids. Thanks, Mr. Fritz!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Taylor Mead
Writer, actor, and performer; as early Warhol associate, became "the first underground film star" -- via The Gothamist.
Jeanne Cooper
Actress -- via the New York Times. A fixture as protagonist Katherine Chancellor on the long-running American TV soap opera series "The Young and the Restless."
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Bryan Forbes aka John Theobald Clarke
Film director, screenwriter, actor, and author -- via the New York Times. He may be forever typed as the director of the first "Stepford Wives," but his achievements in all the categories he essayed reveal a very talented and innovative person.
As an actor, he was memorable in "The Guns of Navarone," "Qatermass 2," "The Colditz Story," and "The Small Back Room." He wrote the screenplays such as "Seance on a Wet Afternoon," "Hopscotch," and "Chaplin"; he directed innovative films like "Stepford" -- the hilarious "The Wrong Box" and the intriguing "Seance" among them.
As an actor, he was memorable in "The Guns of Navarone," "Qatermass 2," "The Colditz Story," and "The Small Back Room." He wrote the screenplays such as "Seance on a Wet Afternoon," "Hopscotch," and "Chaplin"; he directed innovative films like "Stepford" -- the hilarious "The Wrong Box" and the intriguing "Seance" among them.
Braxton Schuffert
Musician; one of the original members of the Drifting Cowboys, Hank Williams' band -- via the Montgomery Advertiser.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Ray Harryhausen
Special effects artist; visual effects pioneer; master of stop-motion animation -- via comingsoon.net. Another great shaper of my imagination, along with Ray Bradbury, who was Harryhausen's boyhood pal!
Passed the torch by his mentor and inspiration, Willis O'Brien ("King Kong"), Harryhausen pushed the art form to its limit over the course of 30-plus years in the movie business. It may seem quaint now, but his monsters, gods, and mythical creatures enthralled us when we were kids. Whether the film itself was good or no was usually about a 50/50 proposition, but we would go specifically to see Harryhausen's creations.
He was our master of a fantasy and sci-fi bestiary -- from "Mighty Joe Young" in 1949 to "Clash of the Titans" in 1981, and between -- "It Came from Beneath the Sea," "20 Million Miles to Earth," three Sinbad films, "Jason and the Argonauts," "One Million Years B.C.," "The Valley of Gwangi" . . . and more. Thanks Ray!
Passed the torch by his mentor and inspiration, Willis O'Brien ("King Kong"), Harryhausen pushed the art form to its limit over the course of 30-plus years in the movie business. It may seem quaint now, but his monsters, gods, and mythical creatures enthralled us when we were kids. Whether the film itself was good or no was usually about a 50/50 proposition, but we would go specifically to see Harryhausen's creations.
He was our master of a fantasy and sci-fi bestiary -- from "Mighty Joe Young" in 1949 to "Clash of the Titans" in 1981, and between -- "It Came from Beneath the Sea," "20 Million Miles to Earth," three Sinbad films, "Jason and the Argonauts," "One Million Years B.C.," "The Valley of Gwangi" . . . and more. Thanks Ray!
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