Sunday, April 30, 2017

6word Portraits: Alice B. Toklas

Loved Gertrude; embraced Hemingway, Picasso, Matisse.


Born 140 years ago today (d. 1967)


Saturday, April 29, 2017

6word Portrait: Daniel Day-Lewis

The best actor, albeit rather sporadically. 


Born 60 years ago today.

Wikipedia

6word Portrait: Michelle Pfeiffer

Pretty, classy actress; one fine career.


Born this day in 1958

Wikipedia

Friday, April 28, 2017

6word Portrait: Oskar Schindler

Enlisting his courage, saved 1,200 Jews.


Born this day in 1908 (d. 1974)

Wikipedia

Thursday, April 27, 2017

6word Portrait: George Gervin

Iceman was coolest; Spurred hoops fandom.



Born 65 years ago today.

Wikipedia 

Video

In my pre- and early teens, the poster shown hung on my bedroom wall (in the suburbs of Chicago).

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

6word Portrait: I.M. Pei

Designed beautiful museums, brilliant pyramid schemes.


Born 100 years ago today.




6word Portrait: Ella Fitzgerald

Forever the "First Lady of Song."


Born 100 years ago today (d. 1996)

Wikipedia

Video

Monday, April 24, 2017

6word Portrait: Barbra Streisand

Funny Girl; voice of her generation.


Born 75 years ago today.



Sunday, April 23, 2017

6word Portrait: Roy Orbison

"Roy Orbison singing for the lonely"

(lyric from "Thunder Road" by Bruce Springsteen)

Born this day in 1936 (d. 1988)


Saturday, April 22, 2017

6word Portrait: Jack Nicholson

Forever flying over the cuckoo's nest.


Born 80 years ago today.

Wikipedia

Friday, April 21, 2017

6word Portrait: Iggy Pop

Stooge. Idiot. Wild Child. Life Luster.


Born 70 years ago today.

Wikipedia

Video

Thursday, April 20, 2017

6word Portrait: Harold Lloyd

Eternally clinging to hands of time.


Born this day in 1893 (d. 1971)



Wednesday, April 19, 2017

6word Portrait: Candace Parker

Illinois prep hoops queen ignites Sparks.


Born this day in 1986.

Wikipedia

Video

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

6word Portrait: James Woods

True believer, once upon a time. 


Born 70 years ago today.

Wikipedia

Monday, April 17, 2017

6word Portrait: Liz Phair

Whipsmart songstress quite frankly transformed music.


Born 50 years ago today.



Sunday, April 16, 2017

6word Portrait: Charlie Chaplin

Modern times implore Tramp's impish empathy.


Born this day in 1889 (d. 1977)



6word Portrait: Wilbur Wright

With brother as wingman, took flight.


Born 150 years ago today. (d. 1912)


Saturday, April 15, 2017

6word Portrait: Jackie Robinson

Broke barriers; added color, excitement, dignity.


Became first African-American to play Major League Baseball 70 years ago today.

Wikipedia

Friday, April 14, 2017

6word Portrait: Loretta Lynn

Country's most iconic Coal Miner's Daughter


Born 85 years ago today.

Wikipedia


Video

Thursday, April 13, 2017

6word Portrait: Stanley Donen

Movie musical director's reign merits Singin'


Born this day in 1924.

Wikipedia

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

6word Portrait: David Letterman

Acerbically rewrote boundaries of late-night TV. 


Born 70 years ago today.

Wikipedia

Condolences on yesterday's passing of his mom, Dorothy Mengering




Tuesday, April 11, 2017

6word Portrait: Joel Grey

Life is a Cabaret, old chum.


Born 85 years ago today. 

Wikipedia

Video clip

Monday, April 10, 2017

6word Portrait: Chuck Connors

One-time Cub, NBA pro, The Rifleman


Born this day in 1921 (d. 1992)

Wikipedia

Sunday, April 9, 2017

6word Portrait: Peter Gammons

Baseball analysis: Best in the field. 


Born this day in 1945.

Wikipedia

Saturday, April 8, 2017

6word Portrait: Michael Bennett

Chorus Line, choreography were singularly sensational. 


Born this day 1943 (d. 1987)

Wikipedia

Video


Friday, April 7, 2017

6word Portrait: Francis Ford Coppola

Godfather of '70s cinema; winemaker now.


Born this day in 1939

Wikipedia




Thursday, April 6, 2017

6word Portrait: Merle Haggard

Subvert Okie from Muskogee? Mama tried.


Born this day 1937 (died this day 2016)

Wikipedia

Video

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

6word Portrait: Bette Davis

Legendarily, she had Bette Davis eyes.


Born this day 1908 (d. 1989)

Wikipedia

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

6word Portrait: Muddy Waters

Hoochie Coochie bluesman; original Rolling Stone


Born this day 1913 (d. 1983)

Wikipedia

Video clip

Monday, April 3, 2017

6word Portrait: Marlon Brando

Greatest actor contender always quite "Stella!"


Born this day in 1924 (d. 2004)


6word Portrait: Jane Goodall

Her study of primates illuminated humans. 


Born this day in 1934.

Wikipedia

Sunday, April 2, 2017

6word Portaits: Marvin Gaye

What's going on? Grapevine revealed all.


Born this day in 1939 (d. 1984)

Wikipedia

Video

6word Portrait: Alec Guinness

With bridge-building master, the force was. 


Born this day in 1914 (d. 2000)

Wikipedia

Saturday, April 1, 2017

6word Portrait: Toshiro Mifune

Quintessential Kurosawa warrior a magnificent one.


Born this day in 1920 (d. 1997)

Wikipedia