Tag: Desilu
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BRUCE GORDON
February 1, 1916 Bruce Gordon was born Boris Benjamin Grabowsky in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He is best known for playing gangster Frank Nitti in the Desilu television series The Untouchables (1959-63). His acting career ranged over a half century and included stage, movies, and the small screen. His first appearance on Broadway was in 1937 in the…
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ROY ROWAN
January 25, 1920 Roy Rowan was born in Paw-Paw, Michigan. He became an announcer for CBS Radio, eventually leaving to freelance for CBS TV starting with “I Love Lucy” (1951-57) and “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” (1957-60). After “I Love Lucy” ran its course of 179 shows, Rowan worked for Ball on 156 episodes of “The…
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LUCY & DESI COLORAMA
January 24, 1954 THE real secret of the phenomenal success of the “I Love Lucy” show seems to center around Lucille Ball’s unrestrained acting, with Desi Arnaz as the perfect foil for her zaniness. Now in its third year, at last count it still was the Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz television program with the…
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WHO DOESN’T LOVE LUCY?
January 19, 1953 Lucille Ball was on the cover of Newsweek on January 19, 1953 (volume XLI, #3). The inside article was titled “Lucille Ball: Who Doesn’t Love Lucy?” This was her only appearance on Newsweek’s cover. Newsweek was founded in 1933. As of this writing it is still published and maintains an online edition. A photo of…
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ETHEL MERMAN
January 16, 1908 Ethel Merman was born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann in Astoria, Queens. Known primarily for her distinctive, powerful voice and leading roles in musical theatre, she has been called “the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage”. Merman began by appearing in nightclubs, first hired by Jimmy Durante’s partner Lou Clayton. At this time, she…
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ROBERT STACK
January 13, 1919 Robert Stack was born Charles Langford Modini Stack in Los Angeles, California, but his first name, selected by his mother, was changed to Robert by his father. He spent his early childhood in Adria and Rome, becoming fluent in French and Italian at an early age, and did not learn English until…
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EXECUTIVE SESSION
January 12, 1957 Lucille Ball was on the cover of TV Guide (volume 5; number 2) on January 12, 1957. This is Ball’s 7th (of 39) covers of the National TV Guide. Before 1957 is done, she will grace her 8th cover. The close-up photo is by John Engstead (1909-83). Engstead had photographed Lucille Ball…
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SAM HARRIS
January 11, 1877 Sam Harris was born on January 11, 1877 in Sydney, Australia. From 1928 to 1966 he appeared in roughly 770 films and television episodes, nearly all in uncredited background appearances. If Bess Flowers is the Queen of the Extras, then Harris is the King! His film career started in 1928 with The…
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WILLIAM NEWELL
January 6, 1894 William M. Newell was born in Millville, New Jersey. He is the brother of actress Elsa Newell. During his screen career he amassed more than three hundred appearances on films and television shows. Newell was familiar to fans of the Our Gang short subjects as Alfalfa’s father. His first film was a Warner Brothers…
Papermoon Loves Lucy 