Donna Pescow, Easter Weekend, Ub Iwerks...and MORE!

Happy Birthday, Donna Pescow

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Henry Ward Beecher

Happy Thursday, March 24th, 2016!
March 24 is the 84th day of the year. There are 282 days remaining until the end of the year.
March 24th is the 365th and last day of the year in many European implementations of the Julian calendar.
As I sit down to begin my blog today, Robert Goulet is singing If I Ever Leave You from Camelot on the radio.
Tomorrow is considered the holiest day in the Christian calendar as we embark on Easter weekend. When I was a kid, it was always about getting new clothes and then going to my paternal grandparents for Easter and a big Easter Egg hunt.
I come from a big family and ALL of the holidays were celebrated by my Grandmother Skipper. I have written before that my dad was one of 10 children. I have no idea how many cousins I have! Those Easter egg hunts in South Carolina are a swirl of colors in my head. Trees and flowers were blooming.

 

We were all in our new brightly colored Easter clothes and the multi colored eggs that our aunts all made.
As I've gotten older, Easter is about renewal. It is about rebirth, which is the entire message of Easter. I consider myself lucky that I came along at the time that I did. I don't remember the discourse that we are experiencing in the world on a daily basis. If there was, our parents shielded us from it. We had THREE networks, ABC, CBS, NBC. We didn't even get PBS where we were. Those three networks tried to grab ALL demographics. Therefore, we saw not only artists from OUR generation, but those from our parents' and grandparents' generation. I believe that is why I have such an appreciation for all that has gone before us.
We grew up with variety shows and specials and TV spectaculars, where, as a family, we all watched together. We didn't grow up with reality shows and the violence that permeates the minds of an entire generation of people. Again, I desire to celebrate the good. I watched the President and CEO of Gawker on The View this AM

justifying showing Hulk Hogan's sex tape. On the same program was Dr. Ben Carson justifying AND accepting the roguish behavior of Donald Trump. WHY have we gone down this path? In a column for WorldNetDaily, Michelle Bachman wrote that "our president’s humiliation" may have led to God "reminding this world of the inferiority of foolishness."Why doesn't she spend her energy for good instead of negativity. Why is ISIS so hell bent in destroying the lives of an entire world? Let's look for peace and happiness in the world. It truly begins with each of us.
Let's focus on people who have made POSITIVE changes in the world!
Today is the birthday of two men who made great changes in the landscape of animation. Remembering animation pioneer and co-designer of Mickey Mouse, Ub Iwerks, born 115 years ago today. The works Iwerks produced alongside Disney went on to win numerous awards, including multiple Academy Awards.
Today is Joseph Barbera's Birthday. Joseph Roland "Joe" Barbera was an American animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist. Barbera is best known for his partnership with William Hanna, of Hanna-Barbera fame, the most successful television animation studio in the business. They produced such classics as The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo, Top Cat, The Smurfs, Huckleberry Hound and The Jetsons. Enjoy some cartoon watching today!
Two actors from Sinatra's Ocean's 11 were born on this day: Richard Conte and Norman Fell.

Gene Nelson

Gene Nelson was born on this day in Astoria, Oregon, he moved to Seattle when he was one year old. He was inspired to become a dancer by watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films when he was a child. After serving in the Army during World War II during which he also performed in the musical This Is the Army, Nelson landed his first Broadway role in Lend an Ear (which also starred Carol Channing).  Gower Champion became involved and went from advisor to choreographer to being credited as "Dances and Musical Numbers Staged by..." Lend an Ear premiered at the Las Palmas Theatre, Los Angeles, on June 14, 1948. When it moved to Broadway, Nelson received the Theatre World Award. He also appeared onstage in Follies, which garnered him a Tony Award nomination, and Good News. Nelson's longtime professional dance partner during the 1950s was actress JoAnn Dean.
Onna White (March 24, 1922 – April 8, 2005) was a Canadian choreographer and dancer, nominated

Broadway choreographer Onna White, born  on this date 1922. Pic via @nypl_lpa

for eight Tony Awards.

The Graduate actor Murray Hamilton is born in 1923.

Is there something I've said that's caused this contempt or is it just things I stand for that you despise? -Murray Hamilton in The Graduate

Steve McQueen (March 24, 1930 – November 7, 1980) was an American actor. Called "The King of Cool", his "anti-hero" persona, developed at the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw of the 1960s and 1970s. McQueen received an Academy Award nomination for his role in The

Sand Pebbles. His other popular films include The Cincinnati Kid, The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt, The Getaway, and Papillon, as well as the all-star ensemble films The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, and The Towering Inferno. In 1974, he became the highest-paid movie star in the world, although he did not act in films again for four years. McQueen was combative with directors and producers, but his popularity placed him in high demand and enabled him to command large salaries.
Bob Mackie is best known for his dressing of entertainment icons such as Carol Channing, Joan Rivers, Cher, RuPaul, Barbara Eden, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Tina Turner, Carol Burnett and Mitzi Gaynor. He was the costume designer for Carol Burnett on The Carol Burnett Show during its entire 11-year run and designed the costumes for its spinoff, Mama's Family, and for the 1993 television adaptation of Gypsy.
Tommy Hilfiger, American fashion designer, founded the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation.
Louie Anderson, American comedian, actor, and game show host.

Robert Carradine

Robert Carradine  is the youngest of the Carradine family of actors, he made his first appearances on television western series such as Bonanza and his older brother David's TV series, Kung Fu. Carradine's first film role was in the 1972 film The Cowboys, which starred John Wayne and Roscoe Lee Browne. Carradine is probably best known for portraying fraternity president "Lewis Skolnick" in the Revenge of the Nerds series of comedy films and father Sam McGuire on the Disney Channel sitcom Lizzie McGuire.
Happy Birthday to Donna Pescow, who starred in the ABC sitcom Angie.
Star Jones, American lawyer, journalist, and talk show host



Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opened on this date in  1955.

You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.
- Zig Ziglar




In other Entertainment News
Sad to report that  Comedian, actor, writer and producer Garry Shandling, known for “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” and “The Larry Sanders Show,” has died, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed. He was 66.

Signature Theatre Announces its 2016-2017 Season-3 World Premiere Musicals and 2 World Premiere plays.
CONGRATULATIONS to Dee Wallace, on her ‪Daytime Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Guest Performer In A Drama Series" as Patricia Spencer on General Hospital

Thank to ALL of the artists mentioned in this blog for the gifts they have given to the world and continue to give!

With grateful XOXOXs ,

 

 

Check out my site celebrating the legacy of Dolly Gallagher Levi

Barbra Streisand as Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly ! (1969)

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Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!    

             Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!

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Keeping Entertainment LIVE!   TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAY

Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com
PLEASE CELEBRATE WITH US April 7th in NYC


Don't Tell Mama Presents...

Wendy Scherl returns in What Do You Do All Day?  Directed by the incredible Helen Baldasarre with great musical direction by Matthew Martin Ward. Wendy is an amazing vocalist with a rangy and rich sound. “This is someone to watch!” Go see her, you can thank me later.
- Sue Matsuki   In “What Do You Do All Day”, Wendy Scherl shares anecdotes and song about the numerous hats she wears every single day as a wife, a mother of two boys and two dogs, a short order cook, a daughter, a house manager, a chauffeur and Cabaret Singer! Her show is both touching and real, theatrical and funny!
This show WILL sell out! So reserve today and be a part of his star studded audience!
You will truly be amazed by what this full-time executive director of a family of four accomplishes every day!  Wendy will wow you with both her choice of material and her talent!
After graduating from Northwestern University with a BA in Theatre, Wendy performed in numerous
regional theatre productions around the country, including some of her favorite productions: Hair (The official 20th Anniversary Production in Chicago), Grease (numerous roles), Annie (Grace), The Pajama Game (Babe), and Godspell.
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212-757-0788 (after 4PM or through me)