Archive for the Hillside Memorial Park Category

Tom Poston

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park with tags , on October 17, 2013 by Cade

poston1October 17, 1921 – April 30, 2007

Unless my research is somehow flawed, Tom Poston appeared in every television show that aired from 1950-2006.

Well, A LOT of them, anyway. Poston’s career began after he served in the Air Force during World War II (he flew planes over Normandy…and everywhere else in Europe) when he studied at the American Academy for Dramatic Arts in New York. His earliest appearances were those of the comedic “man on the street” characters on The Steve Allen Show. He also appeared on a number of panel game shows. But from there, he slowly worked his way into every living room in America. With appearances in everything from Mork & Mindy to Murphy Brown, Poston costarred or guest starred on upwards of 75 different TV shows, movies and mini-series. Continue reading

Milton Berle

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park on October 11, 2013 by Cade

berle1July 12, 1908 – March 27, 2002

Milton Berle. Uncle Miltie. Mr. Television.

Milton Berle was arguably TV’s first great star.  The actor/comedian who got his start as a kid in silent pictures and on vaudeville, rose through the ranks of stage and radio to become the host of NBC’s Texaco Star Theater where he translated the outrageous costumes and slapstick of his youth into a brand new, visual medium: television. America ate it up. Throughout the 1950’s, Berle hosted a variety of versions of the show. In 1951, NBC signed him to a 30-year contract. A little long-sighted, maybe. By the ’60’s his popularity had declined, but he was still able to perform in Las Vegas and in films with a good deal of success. What followed then was a career of guest appearances and upstaging others wherever and whenever possible. Continue reading

Shelley Winters

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park with tags on September 23, 2013 by Cade

winters1August 18, 1920 – January 14, 2006

Shelley Winters (née Schrift) was an Academy Award winning actress who shook off the shackles of the overused blonde bombshell Hollywood stereotype and crafted herself a fine career that lasted for more than 50 years. Winters, from St. Louis, was best known for her film and television roles, as well as her many theatrical performances. She was, however, also an author and wrote a couple of autobiographies in which she did not hold back about her personal life. Shelley was married four times and had romantic relationships with many of the biggest names in entertainment, including Burt Lancaster, William Holden, Errol Flynn and Marlon Brando. That’s quite a (partial) list. Continue reading

Jack Benny

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park with tags on September 14, 2013 by Cade

benny1February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974

Jack Benny was one of the leading comedic personalities in radio and early television in the first half of the 20th century. Born Benjamin Kubelsky, Benny got his start in comedy the way many performers of his era did, on the vaudeville stage where he often performed with acts like the young Marx Brothers. He burst onto the national stage with his own radio show which ran from 1932 to 1948. Benny was also a very talented violinist, though he would often play it poorly on purpose to get laughs.  The style of his shows really paved the way for more situation-based comedy and opened the door for future sit-coms to break through. Continue reading

Suzanne Pleshette

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park with tags , on June 11, 2013 by Cade

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January 31, 1937 – January 19, 2008

Prior to her star-making role as Emily Hartley opposite Bob Newhart in the classic television sitcom The Bob Newhart Show,  Suzanne Pleshette was an established stage and film actress.  She appeared on Broadway in Compulsion and The Miracle Worker and in such classic films as The Geisha Boy and Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds.  But, it was the Newhart Show that brought her biggest fame and critical acclaim (3 Emmy nominations).  Pleshette went on to a lengthy string of guest starring roles and voice over work.  She was married 3 times, including to the costar of a different Bob Newhart project, Newhart, Tom Poston. Continue reading

Lorne Greene

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park with tags , on May 24, 2013 by Cade

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February 12, 1915 – September 11, 1987

Lorne Greene was born Lyon Himan Green in Ottawa, Ontario.  He began acting in college and found himself on the radio as a newsreader.  His solemn and gruff voice led him to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation where he read news broadcasts of Canada’s involvement in World War II.  He quickly transitioned his talent to the stage and, eventually, the television screen.  His biggest role was that of patriarch Ben Cartwright on the long-running series Bonanza. Continue reading

Michael Landon

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park with tags , on May 12, 2013 by Cade

landon1October 31, 1936 – July 1, 1991

Depending on when you grew up, Michael Landon has a different pop culture identity to you. For many, he was Joe Cartwright on the long-running ’60’s and ’70’s television series, Bonanza. In the ’70’s and early ’80’s, he was Charles “Pa” Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie.  Still to later audiences, Landon is remembered for playing angel-to-be, Michael, on Highway to Heaven.

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Cyd Charisse and Tony Martin

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park with tags , , on March 19, 2013 by Cade

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March 8, 1922 – June 17, 2008

tmartin1

December 25, 1913 – July 27, 2012

Actress/dancer Cyd Charisse and crooner Tony Martin were married for 60 years, a rarity for a Hollywood couple.

Charisse (born Tula Ellice Finklea) had a storied career throughout the so-called Golden-Age of Hollywood.  Her stunning looks and remarkable dancing made her a popular star.  She is probably most known to audiences for her turn opposite Gene Kelly in the “Broadway Melody Ballet” in 1952’s Singin’ In The Rain.

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Dinah Shore

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park with tags , on March 15, 2013 by Cade

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February 29, 1916 – February 24, 1994

One of the most popular Big Band-era female vocalists, Frances Rose “Dinah” Shore was probably most known for her later work in television – specifically The Ed Wynn Show, Colgate Comedy Hour and a number of self-titled variety programs. She worked with everyone from Bob Hope to Nat “King” Cole, Bing CrosbyJack Lemmon and Ella Fitzgerald – racking up an impressive number of Emmys along the way.

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Al Jolson

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park with tags , on March 12, 2013 by Cade

jolson1

May 26, 1886 – October 23, 1950

Look, I’m not here to judge.

I wasn’t around in the first quarter of the 20th century to understand what was and wasn’t culturally acceptable.  I don’t know, first hand, what race relations were like.  I don’t know whether it’s okay or not that the primary image that comes to mind when one hears the name “Al Jolson” is this:

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That’s not my business. Continue reading