Bill “Bojangles” Robinson

Posted in The Evergreens with tags , , on December 12, 2016 by Cade

bojangles1May 25, 1878 – November 25, 1949

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson began his life as Luther Robinson in Richmond, VA where he learned to dance for pennies on the street. Busking led to bit parts and “picknaninny” roles in local minstrel shows. This led to predominantly-white vaudeville shows…and then he went to work.

Widely regarded for his tap dancing prowess and innovation, he busted through the racial barriers of his day at every level, eventually becoming one of the first Black solo performers in vaudeville and, ultimately, making a name for himself on Broadway. Continue reading →

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Leonard Bernstein

Posted in Green-Wood Cemetery with tags , on December 5, 2016 by Cade

bernstein1August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990

“The other night I bippy nigh, blabba habba dooby die, mowt say hiddy lie, LEO-NARD BERN-STEIN!” – It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) – R.E.M. (paraphrased)

Louis “Leonard” Bernstein was and is an American musical treasure. Reaching international acclaim, Bernstein is most widely known as the long-time musical director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and for his many stage and screen compositions. Bernstein grew up in Massachusetts, graduated from Harvard and, by way of grad school in Philadelphia, made his way to New York. It was in New York where he joined The Revuers and began his composing and conducting career. In 1943, he filled in as the main conductor for the NYPO and became an instant success. Continue reading →

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Fred Ebb

Posted in Green-Wood Cemetery with tags , , on November 28, 2016 by Cade

ebb1April 8, 1928 – September 11, 2004

Lyricist Fred Ebb worked with a number of composers throughout his career, but it was his partnership with John Kander that garnered him his biggest successes. Kander and Ebb wrote some of Broadway’s biggest all-time hits: Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, among others. In addition to the stage, they wrote for films as well. Most notably contributing the theme song to Martin Scorsese’s 1971 film New York, New York which was launched into the stratosphere by Frank Sinatra. Continue reading →

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Mae West

Posted in Cypress Hills Cemetery with tags on November 22, 2016 by Cade

west1August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980

“Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie.” – Night After Night (1932)

In her first scene in her first movie, Mae West made clear her contribution to Hollywood. This response to “Goodness, what beautiful diamonds.” said it all. Critics and censors be damned, Mae was going to say what she wanted, how she wanted.

Born in Brooklyn, Mary Jane West took the same, circuitous route through talent shows and vaudeville as many of her contemporaries. But she differed in that she made bawdy and sexy work for her advantage. And Broadway loved her for it. Continue reading →

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Jackie Robinson

Posted in Cypress Hills Cemetery with tags , , , on November 18, 2016 by Cade

robinson5January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972

It would be incredibly easy to just speak of Jackie Robinson in the terms of his single most famous accomplishment: becoming the first Black player in modern Major League Baseball. But, it would miss out on so much. For instance, Jack was a tremendously gifted ALL-AROUND athlete. He excelled in multiple sports through high school and eventually lettered in FOUR different sports while attending UCLA. He played semi-professional football until the U.S. was dragged into World War II in 1941. Because of the latter, he was drafted into the Army, but never saw combat due to a trumped-up court martial (he was ultimately acquitted). After the war, Robinson signed to play with the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues. He was immediately identified by a number of major league teams – some serious, some not so much – as a legitimate candidate to become the first Black player in the majors. Continue reading →

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Frank Morgan

Posted in Green-Wood Cemetery with tags , on November 13, 2016 by Cade

morgan1June 1, 1890 – September 18, 1949

Francis Wuppermann was an Oscar-nominated character actor who enjoyed immense success over the course of his 35 year career. Working under the stage name Frank Morgan, he was signed to a lifetime contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios and worked prolifically for them for more than 2 decades. He appeared in several movies each year for MGM, but is most widely recognized for his multiple roles – including the titular character – in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz. Continue reading →

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Arthur Miller

Posted in Central Cemetery (CT) with tags , , on May 31, 2016 by Cade

miller4

October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005

Perhaps one of the most influential and prolific playwrights in American history, Arthur Miller explored themes such as family relationships, personal legacy and social responsibility in his plays – all set against the backdrop of the individual vs. society at-large. The masterpieces within his body of work look like a one-man anthology of the greatest American Dramas ever written:

Death of a Salesman
All My Sons
A View from the Bridge
The Crucible

Continue reading →

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Calvin Coolidge

Posted in Plymouth Notch Cemetery with tags , on November 9, 2015 by Cade

coolidge1

July 4, 1872 – January 5, 1933

“The words of a President have an enormous weight, and ought not to be used indiscriminately.” – Calvin Coolidge

John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States. Known far and wide as “Silent Cal,” the conservative Republican worked his way up, as a lawyer, through state politics in Massachusetts, eventually becoming the governor of the commonwealth in 1918. Coolidge’s handling of the 1919 Boston Police Strike earned him a reputation as a politician who acted quickly and wisely. As his actions in the Massachusetts state house became more and more known, many in the Republican party started to urge him to seek the Presidency. Continue reading →

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Tony Randall

Posted in Westchester Hills Cemetery with tags , , on October 21, 2015 by Cade

randall2February 26, 1920 – May 17, 2004

When an actor has the fortune of landing a successful and iconic role, it’s never entirely fair when the public places said actor into the pigeonhole of that role for the rest of his/her career. Despite any other accomplishments, the actor is constantly equated to that one role and is often forced to accept the public’s unwillingness to move on in order to continue to make a livelihood. Tony Randall is one of the prime examples of spending an entire career in the shadow of an iconic role.  And that role, of course, was….the voice of the brain gremlin in Gremlins 2: The New Batch.

Kidding, of course. Continue reading →

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Ron Silver

Posted in Westchester Hills Cemetery with tags , on October 19, 2015 by Cade

silver2July 2, 1946 – March 15, 2009

Ron Silver was an actor, director and political activist who was known for his television roles that included appearances on Rhoda, Wiseguy and The West Wing. He also served as the president of the Actor’s Equity Association – the live theatre labor union – for nearly a decade. In addition to his many professional credits, he was very outspoken in the political arena, particularly in regard to issues surrounding Israel. Continue reading →

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