POP-A-LOOZA
Born on this day in 1908, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, actress and singer, Penny Singleton. In the 1930’s, Singleton often appeared uncredited, or as Dorothy McNulty. In 1938, she scored the role of her lifetime, portraying the real-life version of cartoon character Blondie Bumstead, in the successful Blondie series, which would comprise 28 films in all.
Ironically, her later success would come voicing the cartoon character, Jane Jetson for Hanna-Barbera, from 1962-1990.
Born on this day in 1912, in Barahona, Dominican Republic, actress Maria Montez. She starred in several Universal Pictures films, in-cluding The Invisible Woman. She also went on to star in many Tech-nicolor adventure epics like Arabian Nights and Tangier.
Born on this day in 1897, in Sicily, Italy, film director, Frank Capra. Capra had a string of successful pictures in the 1930’s and 40’s, including; It’s A Wonderful Life, It Happened One Night, You Can’t Take It With You and Shop Around The Corner.
Born on this day in 1922, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, singer and actress, Kathryn Grayson. Grayson’s big screen debut was opposite Mickey Rooney in 1941, in Andy Hardy’s Private Secretary. She also appeared in Anchors Aweigh, It Happened In Brooklyn, and Kiss Me Kate.
Born on this day in 1867, in Laupheim, Germany, film producer, Carl Laemmle. Laemmle founded Universal Pictures, and produced some of the Golden Era’s greatest monster movies, including Dracula, Frankenstein and Phantom Of The Opera.
Born on this day in 1889, in London, England, actor Claude Rains. Rains was one of Warner Brothers Studio’s most reliable actors, with a career that saw him fitting snugly somewhere between character actor and A-list star. He appeared in The Adventures of Robin Hood, Casablanca, The Invisible Man, and dozens of other feature films.
Born on this day in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1917, actress Ann Rutherford. Rutherford appeared in Gone With The Wind, as well as the popular Andy Hardy series, with Mickey Rooney.
Born on this day in 1915, in Stockholm, Sweden, actress, Ingrid Bergman. Bergman was one of the biggest stars during the Golden Age, appearing in Casablanca, Gaslight, Joan Of Arc, Notorious, and many more. Her co-stars included; Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Helen Hayes, and Bing Crosby.
Born on this day in 1919, in Los Angeles, California, comedic actress, Virginia O’Brien. Her deadpan, emotionless delivery lead to roles in The Big Store, Ship Ahoy, Two Girls and A Sailor, Ziegfeld Follies, and The Harvey Girls.