In Memoriam

533

2012-02-03T06:39:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!
Joey Bishop (1918)
John Fiedler (1925)
Victor Buono (1938)

At Rest:
Nancy Kulp (1991)
Audrey Meadows (1996)
Al Lewis (2006)
Jean Byron (2006)
France Reid (2010)

532

2012-01-31T10:01:00.000-05:00

January 31, 1902 - December 12, 1968

Happy 110th Birthday!

In Memoriam Remembers:
Tallulah Bankhead

531

2012-01-30T19:56:00.000-05:00

January 30, 1914 - February 9, 1995

January 30, 1922 - May 24, 2008

Happy Birthday!

In Memoriam Remembers:
David Wayne & Dick Martin

530

2012-01-27T06:31:00.000-05:00

January 27, 1921 - January 14, 1986

As I have many times since I began this blog I am once again remembered this legend on her birthday. This blog was created specifically for that reason...remembering legends.

In Memoriam Remembers:
Donna Reed

529

2012-01-26T14:05:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday!

Zara Cully (1892)
Charles Lane (1905)
William Prince (1913)
Vito Scotti (1918)
Paul Newman (1925)

Two Very Different Legends (528)

2012-01-23T15:55:00.000-05:00

September 13, 1948 - January 23, 2003

October 23, 1925 - January 23, 2005

In Memoriam Remembers:
Nell Carter & Johnny Carson

527

2012-01-20T06:39:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday!
George Burns (1896)
DeForest Kelley (1920)
Patricia Neal (1926)

At Rest:
Barbara Stanwyck (1990)
Audrey Hepburn (1993)
Nedra Volz (2003)

526

2012-01-18T14:35:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!
Oliver Hardy (1892)
Cary Grant (1904)
Danny Kaye (1913)

At Rest:
Curly Howard (1952)
Carl Betz (1978)
Rusty Hamer (1990)
Jester Hairston (2000)

525

2012-01-17T09:31:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!
Eartha Kitt (1927)
Sheree North (1933)

At Rest:
Barbara Britton (1980)
Richard Crenna (2003)
Allan Melvin (2008)

Remembering a Legend...(524)

2012-01-16T09:25:00.001-05:00

523

2012-01-15T18:58:00.000-05:00

June 29, 1916 - January 15, 2005

7 years after her passing...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Ruth Warrick

522

2012-01-14T17:41:00.000-05:00

January 27, 1921 - January 14, 1986

She left us 26 years ago...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Donna Reed

521

2012-01-07T06:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!

1903

1920

In Memoriam Remembers:
Alan Napier & Vincent Gardenia

520

2012-01-06T06:43:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday!
Loretta Young (1913)
Danny Thomas (1914)
Henry Corden (1920)

519

2012-01-05T17:27:00.001-05:00

January 5, 1914 - June 16, 1959

January 5, 1917 - September 10, 2007

On their birthdays....

In Memoriam Remembers:
George Reeves & Jane Wyman

518

2012-01-04T09:38:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday!
Sterling Holloway (1905)
Jesse White (1917)

At Rest:
Mae Questel (1998)

517 (Happy New Year!!!!)

2012-01-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

February 15, 1907 - January 1, 1994

18 years after his passing...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Cesar Romero

From everyone here at In Memoriam - Best Wishes for a Happy New Year to you all!

516

2011-12-28T10:03:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!
Lew Ayres (1908)
Lou Jacobi (1913)

At Rest:
William Demarest (1983)
Clayton Moore (1999)
Jerry Orbach (2004)

515

2011-12-26T11:02:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday!

Elisha Cook, Jr. (1903)
Richard Widmark (1914)
Steve Allen (1921)

At Rest:

Jack Benny (1974)
Elsa Lanchester (1986)

514

2011-12-22T15:51:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!

Barbara Billingsley (1915)
Ruth Roman (1922)

513

2011-12-12T18:34:00.000-05:00

At Rest:

Johnny Lee (1967)
Tallulah Bankhead (1968)
Anne Baxter (1985)
Peter Boyle (2006)
Van Johnson (2008)

512

2011-12-09T06:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!
Tim Moore (1887)
Margaret Hamilton (1902)
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (1909)
Broderick Crawford (1911)
Frances Reid (1914)
Redd Foxx (1922)

At Rest:
Louella Parsons (1972)
Vincent Gardenia (1992)
Gene Barry (2009)

511

2011-12-05T06:41:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!
Walt Disney (1901)
Otto Preminger (1905)
Alvy Moore (1921)

At Rest:
Beverly Garland (2008)

510

2011-12-03T06:50:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday!
Len Lesser (1922)

At Rest:
Roxie Roker (1995)
Madeline Kahn (1999)
Richard Todd (2009)

509

2011-12-02T06:23:00.000-05:00

March 2, 1917 - December 2, 1986

25 years after his passing...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Desi Arnaz

508

2011-11-30T20:52:00.000-05:00

November 30, 1926 - January 17, 2003

Happy 85th Birthday!

In Memoriam Remembers:
Richard Crenna

507

2011-11-24T09:13:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to two fine performers both born on this day in 1913. He left us on July 8, 1990 and she on July 17, 2005...

Happy Birthday (& Happy Thanksgiving)

In Memoriam Remembers:
Geraldine Fitzgerald and Howard Duff

506

2011-11-23T08:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!
Boris Karloff (1887)
Harpo Marx (1888)
Michael Gough (1916)
George O'Hanlon (1917)
Steve Landesberg (1945)

At Rest:
Shemp Howard (1955)
Marie Wilson (1972)

505

2011-11-22T21:04:00.000-05:00

November 22, 1875 - January 31, 1966

Happy Birthday to "I Love Lucy's" Mrs. Mathilda Trumbull

In Memoriam Remembers:
Elizabeth Patterson

504

2011-11-22T08:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!
Rodney Dangerfield (1921)

At Rest:
Mae West (1980)
Michael Conrad (1983)
Scatman Crothers (1986)
Sterling Holloway (1992)
Parley Baer (2002)

503

2011-11-20T19:40:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday!!!

Evelyn Keyes (1916)
Danny Dayton (1923)
Franklin Cover (1928)

502

2011-11-16T21:01:00.000-05:00

November 16, 1907 - September 9, 1997

On what would've been his 104th Birthday....

In Memoriam Remembers:
Burgess Meredith

501

2011-11-16T20:59:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday!
Jim Jordan (1896)
Daws Butler (1916)

At Rest:
Clark Gable (1960)
William Holden (1981)
Ralph Edwards (2005)

THE BIG 500!

2011-11-12T18:15:00.000-05:00

I am so proud to say that this is In Memoriam's 500th post....I started this blog in June 2008 and now three years later...!

First things first...we lost Penny Singleton on this day in 2003.

In honor of this special occasion I decided to remember ten extra special people that have shared their gifts with us.

1). Lucille Ball (1911-1989)
2). Jackie Gleason (1916-1987)
3). Gracie Allen (1895-1964)
4). Eve Arden (1908-1990) **left us on this day in 1990**
5). Henry Fonda (1905-1982)
6). George Reeves (1914-1959)
7). Ida Lupino (1918-1995)
8). Jane Wyman (1917-2007)
9). Carroll O'Connor (1924-2001)
10). Bob Hope (1903-2003)

In Memoriam Remembers:
All of them

*here's to the next 500*

Remembering Leading Men....

2011-11-10T11:15:00.000-05:00

April 10, 1921 - November 10, 1992

February 18, 1919 - November 10, 2006

They both left us on November 10th. All these years later...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Chuck Connors

&
Jack Palance

8 Years Later...

2011-11-09T08:30:00.002-05:00

November 4, 1918 - November 9, 2003

8 years after his passing...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Art Carney

7 years later...

2011-11-07T06:17:00.000-05:00

April 13, 1919 - November 7, 2004

7 years after his passing...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Howard Keel

The Loss of a Great Man!

2011-11-06T06:18:00.001-05:00

January 14, 1919 - November 4, 2011

A great talent who educated and entertained us for over 60 years...1,097 essays for "60 Minutes" just to name one of the great contributions he made. He will be missed!

In Memoriam Remembers:
Andy Rooney

November Rememberence Continues...

2011-11-05T05:34:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Natalie Schafer (1900)
Herb Edelman (1933)

At Rest:
Ward Bond (1960)
Stafford Repp (1974)
Fred MacMurray (1991)
Jill Clayburgh (2010)

November Birthdays Begin!!!

2011-11-04T05:55:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday!

Walter Cronkite (1916)
Art Carney (1918)
Martin Balsam (1919)

At Rest:
Sheree North (2005)

Happy Birthday Mama!!!

2011-10-31T00:02:00.001-04:00

October 31, 1922 - August 8, 2005

In Memoriam Remembers:

Barbara Bel Geddes

Remembering a Fine Actor

2011-10-29T06:03:00.000-04:00

July 29, 1924 - October 29, 2005

6 years later...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Lloyd Bochner

October B-days Continue

2011-10-23T05:27:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Gummo Marx (1893)
Hayden Rorke (1910)
Frank Sutton (1923)
Johnny Carson (1925)

At Rest:
Lou Jacobi (2009)

Greats Remembered

2011-10-17T18:55:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday!

Irene Ryan (1902)
Rita Hayworth (1918)
Montgomery Clift (1920)
Tom Poston (1921)
Beverly Garland (1926)

At Rest:
Tennessee Ernie Ford (1991)
Joan Hickson (1998)
Joey Bishop (2007)

Born And Passed

2011-10-15T20:17:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Jane Darwell (1879)
Robert Rockwell (1920)

At Rest:
John Hamilton (1958)
Cole Porter (1964)
Edie Adams (2008)

A Legend....

2011-10-06T08:16:00.001-04:00

Born: April 5, 1908

A legendary actress left us on this day in 1989 at the age of 81. She suffered with poor health during most of the 1980's but always remained up beat and even managed to appear in a few more projects.

Just to name a few she appeared in such films as Jezebel, Dark Victory, The Corn is Green, All About Eve and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?.

She left us 22 years ago today...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Bette Davis

Here's October!

2011-10-05T19:10:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday!

Larry Fine (1902)
-One of "The Three Stooges"

Harriet E. MacGibbon (1905)
-Played Mrs. Margaret Drysdale on "The Beverly Hillbillies"

Allen Ludden (1917)
-Game show host, most notabaly "Password" & was also Betty White's third and final husband for 18 years.

Happy Birthday & Good Bye

2011-09-28T20:27:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Ed Sullivan (1901)
Arnold Stang (1918)

At Rest:
Harpo Marx (1964)
Mabel Albertson (1982)
Whitney Blake (2002)

Birthdays and Sign Offs

2011-09-27T08:05:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday!
William Conrad (1920)
Roger C. Carmel (1932)
Greg Morris (1933)

At Rest:
Robert Montgomery (1981)
Lloyd Nolan (1985)
Donald O'Connor (2003)

Fall Folks Remembered

2011-09-24T17:57:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Don Porter (1912)
-Character actor best known for his work on "Gidget", "Private Secretary" and "The Ann Sothern Show." He appeared in the film Mame in 1974 and also guest starred on "Dallas" in 1980.

Audra Lindley (1918)
-Character actress best known as Mrs. Helen Roper on "Three's Company" and "The Ropers"

Louis Edmonds (1923)
-Character actor best known as Langley Wallingford on the daytime soap "All My Children." His character started as somewhat of a "villain" who was out to con Phoebe Tyler (the late Ruth Warrick) out of her fortune but instead fell in love with her and remained married to her for several years.

At Rest:
Neil Hamilton (1984)
-Long time character actor best remembered as Police Commissioner Gordon on the 1960's version of "Batman."

Dr. Seuss (1991)
-Who doesn't know Dr. Seuss?

Tommy Bond (2005)
-Child actor who played Butch in the Our Gang comdies of the 1930's and also played Jimmy Olsen in the movie serial Superman in 1948 and its sequel Atom Man vs. Superman in 1950.

SPEED IT UP A LITTLE!!!!!!!!!

2011-09-19T09:26:00.001-04:00

Born: September 19, 1904

-This actress made television history with the iconic words you see above.

As a character actress she began on radio's "The Pepsodent Show" starring Bob Hope on September 27, 1938. She worked on many radio programs including "The Abbott and Costello Show", "The Burns and Allen Show", "My Favorite Husband" and many others...

On television she appeared in many guest roles on such shows as "I Married Joan", "The Abbott and Costello Show", "Our Miss Brooks", "Duffy's Tavern", "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show", "I Love Lucy", "The Gale Storm Show", "December Bride", "The Bob Cummings Show", "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour", "The Andy Griffith Show", "Petticoat Junction", "The Beverly Hillbillies", "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "The Lucy Show", "Quincy M.E.", "Sanford" and "Murder, She Wrote." *** this is a very brief list, several shows are not listed here.

She also lent her voice to characters in several Merrie Melodies cartoons and could also be heard as Clarabelle the Cow in several Disney shorts. She passed away on March 6, 1992.

Happy Birthday!!!

In Memoriam Remembers:
Elvia Allman

Come Back Shame! It's the Way You Play the Game!

2011-09-12T09:13:00.004-04:00

Born: September 9, 1923

He did sometime on television as well as the big screen. Some of his films include We've Never Been Licked, Gidget, The Big Show, Underworld USA, My Six Loves, Love Has Many Faces, 633 Squadron, The Best Man, J.W. Coop, Midway, Star 80 and Renaissance Man.

In 1963, he was personally selected by then-President John F. Kennedy to portray the Commander in Chief in the film PT 109. The story featured the experience that JFK had in the service during WWII.

On television his appeared on such programs as "Playhouse 90", "The Linkletter Show", "I've Got a Secret", "The Match Game", "The Hollywood Squares", "The Mike Douglas Show", "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "The David Frost Show", "Dinah!", "The Merv Griffin Show", "Hallmark Hall of Fame", "Robert Montgomery Presents", "Wagon Train", "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse", "The Untouchables", "G.E. True Theater", "The Dick Powell Theater", "The United States Steel Hour", "Ben Casey", "The Red Skelton Hour" and "Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre."

From 1953 to 1954 he appeared on the series "Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers." During the 1983-1984 television season he played the role of Dr. Michael Ranson on the popular CBS prime time soap opera "Falcon Crest." The season ended with the entire cast aboard an airplane about to crash after being sabatoged. In the season opener in September 1984 the audience learns that his character did not survive.

In 1962, he appeared in one very memorable episodes of "The Twilight Zone" entitled "The Dummy." It featured him as a frustrated ventriloquist unsure of who was the host and who was the dummy.

He made five appearances on "Batman" in the 1960's (four regular roles, one cameo) as the desperado Shame. With his passing only nine of the thirty-seven performers who appeared as Batman villains are still with us. Joan Collins (The Siren), Zsa Zsa Gabor (Minerva), Julie Newmar (Catwoman), Lee Meriwether (Catwoman), Dina Merrill (his ex-wife) [Calamity Jan], Barbara Rush (Nora Clavicle), Eli Wallach (Mr. Freeze), Malachi Throne (False Face) and Glynis Johns (Lady Peasoup) are all that remain.

Along with Leonard Nimoy, Barbara Rush, David McCallum and Peter Breck he is one of only five performers that appeared on both the 1960's and 1990's version of "The Outer Limits."

He appeared in a few TV movies in the 1970's and 80's. His final television appearance was on "The Lyon's Den" in 2003 and his final film appearance was in Spider-Man 3 in 2007.

He passed away on September 10, 2011 just one day after his 88th birthday. A wonderful actor, this is truly a great loss for audiences everywhere....

In Memoriam Remembers:
Cliff Robertson

Mary Fickett

2011-09-12T09:11:00.001-04:00

Born: May 23, 1928

She appeared on such programs as "Hallmark Hall of Fame", "G.E. True Theater", "Robert Montgomery Presents", "Sunday Showcase", "The United States Steel Hour", "The Edge of Night", "The Untouchables", "The DuPont Show of the Week", "The Defenders", "Bonanza" and "The F.B.I."

In 1970 she began playing the role of Ruth Martin on the daytime soap opera "All My Children." She remained with the program until she semi-retired in 1996. The role was filled by Lee Meriwether. The actress returned to the role briefly in 2000 before retiring completely. Meriwether retrurned to the role until the show's end in September 2011.

She died on September 8, 2011

In Memoriam Remembers:
Mary Fickett

4 years already?

2011-09-10T10:32:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe that it has been four years since this wonderful lady left us. Born on January 5, 1917 she appeared in more than 80 films and made her mark on television as Angela Channing on "Falcon Crest" from 1981 to 1990. She was one of the greatest actresses to ever grace the silver screen! 4 years later...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Jane Wyman

Hello & Good Bye

2011-09-09T22:34:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Neil Hamilton (1899)
Jane Greer (1924)

At Rest:
Burgess Meredith (1997)
Ruth Roman (1999)
Larry Hovis (2003)

This Looks Like a Job For...

2011-09-08T05:58:00.000-04:00

The first person to give the Man of Steel a voice passed away on this day in 1969.

Born: June 18, 1908

He provided the voice of Superman/Clark Kent on the radio program from 1940 to 1950. Between 1941 and 1943 he also voiced the character in 16 animated shorts produced by the Fleischer studios.

On television his main claim to fame was as the host of the game shows:
"Break the $250,000 Bank (1948-1953)
"Beat the Clock" (1950-1961)
"To Tell the Truth" (1956-1968)

He also made guest appearances on "I've Got a Secret" and "What's My Line?" In 1954, he appeared as himself on "The Jackie Gleason Show" in an episode that featured Ralph (Jackie Gleason) and Alice (Audrey Meadows) and later Ed Norton (Art Carney) appearing on "Beat the Clock."

In 1966, he returned to voice Superman/Clark Kent in a new animated series. He continued to voice the character on various versions of the show until 1968. He passed away much to young at the age of only 61.

In Memoriam Remembers:
Clayton "Bud" Collyer

September Birthdays Begin!

2011-09-03T06:40:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday!

Kitty Carlisle (1910)
Alan Ladd (1913)
Helen Wagner (1918)

Birthdays on the Final Day of August

2011-08-31T09:36:00.001-04:00

Fredric March (1897)
Arthur Godfrey (1903)
G.D. Spradlin (1920)
Buddy Hackett (1924)
James Coburn (1928)
Noble Willingham (1931)

475

2011-08-30T08:41:00.000-04:00

This is post number 475......there will be an extra special post when we hit 500!

Happy Birthday:
Raymond Massey (1896)
Shirley Booth (1898)
Joan Blondell (1906)
Fred MacMurray (1908)

At Rest:
William Talman (1968)
Glenn Ford (2006)

Happy Birthday, "Daddy"

2011-08-26T06:12:00.000-04:00

Born: August 26, 1909

He was best known for his roles in several westerns over the course of his career. It was only fitting that his final part on television would be as the patriarch of a Texas oil family...

From 1958 to 1960 he starred in the program "Resuce 8" and in 1974 he was the star of "The Cowboys." His guest appearance credits include "Lassie", "The Donna Reed Show", "Wagon Train", "Perry Mason", "Bonanza", "The Lucy Show", "The Bold Ones: The New Doctors", "The F.B.I." and "Gunsmoke" (11 times) and "Cannon."

In 1978 he took on the role of John Ross "Jock" Ewing, Sr. on the prime time soap opera "Dallas." As the head of rough tough Ewing clan he had his beloved wife Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) by his side as he dealt with the antics of his eldest son J.R. (Larry Hagman) and his two younger sons Gary (David Ackroyd then Ted Shackelford) and Bobby (Patrick Duffy). At the same time he found opposition from his life long enemy "Digger" Barnes (David Wayne then Keenan Wynn) and his son Cliff (Ken Kercheval).

During season four the actor was diagnosed with brain cancer but continued to work. On April 26, 1981 he lost his battle with the deadly disease. He was 71 years old. Even though he only appeared in the first 75 episodes it felt as if he was with the show during its entire run....that was thanks to the incredible portrait the was mounted in his honor. First it hung on the mantle at Southfork and was then moved to the Ewing Oil offices when Miss Ellie (then played briefly by Donna Reed) remarried in 1984.

On what would've been his 102nd birthday...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Jim Davis

Summer Birthdays Continue...

2011-08-23T09:54:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Gene Kelly (1912)

At Rest:
Francis X. Bushman (1966)
Hank Patterson (1975)
Sebastian Cabot (1977)
Kathleen Freeman (2001)
Brock Peters (2005)

Richard Long

2011-08-22T09:49:00.000-04:00

Born: December 17, 1927

This wonderful gentleman was a fine actor who left us much too soon. His career spanned four decades and he appeared on some of the most popular programs of the day.

His first film appearance was in 1946's Tomorrow is Forever with Claudette Colbert. He also played Tom Kettle, a son of Ma and Pa Kettle in four of the nine films made featuring those characters. The Egg and I was the first film in which he portrayed Tom...his time with the series went from 1947 to 1951.

Other famous co-stars were Marjorie Main, Orson Welles, Loretta Young and Barbara Stanwyck. He appeared with Stanwyck in 1953's All I Desire. Twelve years later he would play her character's eldest son on the television series "The Big Valley."

On television he appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show", "Stump the Stars", "The Merv Griffin Show", "The Hollywood Squares", "Password All-Stars", "Lux Video Theatre", "Climax!", "The United States Steel Hour", "Wagon Train", "Tales of Wells Fargo", "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "The Twilight Zone", "Love, American Style" and "Bonanza."

His television roles:
-Gentleman Jack Darby on "Maverick" (1958-1959)
-Rex Randolph on "Bourbon Street Beat (1959-1960) & "77 Sunset Strip" (1959-1962)
-Jarrod Barkley on "The Big Valley" (1965-1969) with Barbara Stanwyck, Peter Breck and Lee Majors
-Professor Harold Everett on "Nanny and the Professor" (1970-1971) with Juliet Mills
-Ernie Paine on "Thicker than Water" (1973) with Julie Harris

His final film role was in Make Like a Thief in 1964 and his final television role was in the television movie "Death Cruise" which aired on October 30, 1974.

He suffered from heart trouble his whole life and he finally lost that battle on December 21, 1974 at the young age of 47. On an interesting note his first wife Suzan Ball (1934-1955), was the second cousin of Lucille Ball.

In Memoriam Remembers:
Richard Long

WILMA!

2011-08-20T05:52:00.000-04:00

Mr. Fred Flintstone himself, Alan Reed was born on this day in 1907.

Yaba Daba Do....!

August 17, 1979 - Good Bye to A Best Friend

2011-08-17T16:51:00.000-04:00

Born July 26, 1909, the great Vivian Vance left us on this day in 1979. Let's take a moment to remember "Viv"

At Rest: 8/16

2011-08-16T06:34:00.003-04:00

At Rest:
Amanda Blake (1989)
Phil Leeds (1998)
Jeff Corey (2002)

A few August Birthdays!

2011-08-15T06:32:00.000-04:00

August 13th
-Alfred Hitchcock (1899)

August 15th
Ethel Barrymore (1879)
Julia Child (1912)

A Variety!

2011-08-12T06:41:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Marion Lorne (1883)
Joe Besser (1907)
Jane Wyatt (1910)
Marjorie Reynolds (1916)

At Rest:
Henry Fonda (1982)
Loretta Young (2000)
Merv Griffin (2007)

3 Gentlemen Birthdays!

2011-08-10T05:56:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Jack Haley (1898)
Noah Beery, Jr. (1913)
***Jeff Corey (1914)

***=Just a note about how good an actor Jeff Corey was. He played the lead villain in the 1951 motion picture Superman and the Mole Men and it was because of that role that I actually hated him whenever I would see him in any other performance. Now there's a damn fine actor when the performance is so good that you actually believe the character is real!

We Lost So Many on August 8th

2011-08-08T10:05:00.000-04:00

Happy 90th Birthday!
Rosetta LeNoire (1911)

At Rest:
Richard Deacon (1984)
Louise Brooks (1985)
Alan Napier (1988)
Edna Skinner (2003)
Fay Wray (2004)
Barbara Bel Geddes (2005)
Patricia Neal (2010)

Happy 100th Birthday, Lucy!

2011-08-06T00:00:00.005-04:00

Born:

August 6, 1911

Died:

April 26, 1989

Very few words are needed...

100 years ago a genius was born...

Peter Brocco

2011-08-03T10:10:00.000-04:00

One of the old school's most dedicated...

Born: January 16, 1903

He began in films in 1932 appearing in such productions as Roar of the Dragon, Alias Mr. Twilight, The Return of Monte Cristo, Miss Grant Takes Richmond and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

On television made his face known on just about every show spanning five decades. On the "Adventures of Superman" he appeared three times, each time playing a disturbed villain. In the episode "The Secret of Superman" he uses mind control drugs on Perry White (John Hamilton), Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson), Lois Lane (Phyllis Coates) and Clark Kent (George Reeves) in order to discover Superman's secret identity. Shortly before his demise he does succeed in figuring out the Man of Steel's secret. He later appeared as an ex-con, ex-circus performer in the episode "The Clown that Cried" in 1954 and as the Spectre in "The Phantom Ring" in 1955.

He appeared in two episodes of "I Love Lucy" during the show's final season. His other television credits include:

"Boston Blackie"
"Fireside Theatre"
"The Loretta Young Show"
"Captain Midnight"
"The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show"
"You Are There"
"Lux Video Theatre"
"Zorro"
"Perry Mason"
"Richard Diamond, Private Detective"
"Peter Gunn"
"Pete and Gladys"
"The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis"
"The Untouchables"
"The Twilight Zone"
"Route 66"
"The Alfred Hitchcock Hour"
"The Virginian"
"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"
"The Outer Limits"
"Dr. Kildare"
"Hazel"
"The Dick Van Dyke Show"
"I Dream of Jeannie"
"My Favorite Martian"
"Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre"
"The Fugitive"
"Lost in Space"
"The Man from U.N.C.L.E."
"Star Trek"
"The F.B.I."
"The Big Valley"
"Bewitched"
"The Doris Day Show"
"Get Smart"
"To Rome, With Love"
"The Bold Ones: The Protectors"
"The Mod Squad"
"Mission: Impossible"
"The Odd Couple"
"The Bold Ones: The Senator"
"That Girl"
"Mannix"
"Banacek"
"The Bold Ones: The New Doctors"
"Love, American Style"
"A Touch of Grace"
"Adam-12"
"Ironside"
"Happy Days"
"McMillan & Wife"
"Harry O"
"Emergency!"
"Lou Grant"
"The Rockford Files"
"Quincy, M.E."
"Hart to Hart"
"Fantasy Island"
"The A-Team"
"Trapper John, M.D."
"Remington Steele"
"Cagney & Lacey"

His final television role was a guest appearance on "St. Elsewhere" in 1987 and his final film role was in Other People's Money in 1991. He passed away on December 20, 1992. His body of work is amazing, a true legend in his own right...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Peter Brocco

One Birthday, One Passing

2011-07-27T08:33:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Keenan Wynn (1916)

At Rest:
Bob Hope (2003)

Happy Birthday to Two Fabulous Funny Women!

2011-07-26T07:40:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday!!! On this day in history two of the incredibly funny women were born.

As one half of the team "Burns and Allen" she always made us laugh with her light-hearted and airheaded jokes. She was the star of the team for more than thirty years and her partner was always the first to agree.

Miss Grace Allen (1895-1964)

Television's first second banana was always there to make us laugh....in addition to her marvelous career on the Broadway stage she also brought a new light to television when it was still an infant. She appeared with Lucille Ball in more than 300 television shows...

Miss Vivian Vance (1909-1979)

We remember them on their birthdays----!

Late July Birthdays!

2011-07-25T06:22:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday!

Walter Brennan (1894)
Jack Gilford (1908)
Harold Peary (1908)
Estelle Getty (1923)
Jerry Paris (1925)

Remembering a Fiesty "Old Lady"

2011-07-22T06:16:00.001-04:00

Born: July 25, 1923

It is hard to believe that three years ago today she lost her decade long battle with Lewy-Body Dementia. This wonder lady entertained the world as the fiesty Sophia Petrillo for ten years spanning five television shows: "The Golden Girls", "Empty Nest", "Nurses", "The Golden Palace" and "Blossom."

July 22, 2008 - three years later...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Estelle Getty

July Birthdays Continue...

2011-07-21T06:40:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Don Knotts (1924)
Paul Burke (1926)

At Rest:
Basil Rathbone (1967)
Herb Edelman (1996)
Robert Young (1998)

Happy Birthday - Again!

2011-07-19T08:17:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Max Fleischer (1883)
-Pioneer in Animation
-Creator of Koko the Clown, Betty Boop and Popeye

Pat Hingle (1924)

At Rest:
Jack Warden (2006)

Summer Birthdays Continue...

2011-07-18T19:51:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday!

Harriet Hilliard (1909)
Hume Cronyn (1911)
Red Skelton (1913)

More Summer Birthdays & Tributes!

2011-07-17T06:35:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Erle Stanley Gardner (1889)
James Cagney (1899)
Art Linkletter (1912)

At Rest:
Geraldine Fitzgerald (2005)
Walter Cronkite (2009)

Happy Birthday!

2011-07-16T20:39:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday!

Barbara Stanwyck (1907)
Ginger Rogers (1911)
Barnard Hughes (1915)

Three of the finest performers ever!

Mrs. Betty Ford

2011-07-09T06:08:00.000-04:00

Born on April 8, 1918, she certainly left a legacy with the American people that will never be forgotten. She was First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977 with her husband Gerald R. Ford (1913-2006) serving as President. She was one of the most out spoken and free thinking first ladies of the 20th century...

She died on July 8, 2011...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Mrs. Betty Ford

Flashy Birthdays and Classic TV Stars Remembered

2011-07-06T10:26:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Merv Griffin (1925)
Janet Leigh (1927)

At Rest:
Buddy Ebsen (2003) "The Beverly Hillbillies", "Barnaby Jones"
Kasey Rogers (2006) "Bewitched"

July 4th - Independence Day Birthdays and Passings

2011-07-04T06:27:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday:
Johnny Lee (1898)
Gloria Stuart (1910)

At Rest:
Eva Gabor (1995)
June Haver (2005)
Evelyn Keyes (2008)

Happy Independence Day to you all!

"Oh, And Just One More Thing"

2011-07-02T06:35:00.000-04:00

Born: September 16, 1927

This passing truly marks a sad day for anyone who is a lover of classic television and the good old fashioned television "whodunnit."

In addition to playing the down and out looking but brilliant Lt. Columbo he also appeared on some of the greatest television shows of the 20th century.

"Stump the Stars"
"The Jerry Lewis Show"
"I've Got a Secret"
"The Hollywood Squares"
"Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In"
"The Joey Bishop Show"
"The Dick Cavett Show"
"The Dean Martin Comedy Hour"
"Dinah's Place"
"The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"
"The Larry Sanders Show"
"Robert Montgomery Presents"
"The Alfred Hitchcock Hour"
"The Barbara Stanwyck Show"
"The Untouchables"
"The Twilight Zone"
"Alfred Hitchcock Presents"
"The Dick Powell Theatre"
"Dr. Kildare"
"Wagon Train"
"Jackie Gleason and his American Scene Magazine"
"Ben Casey"
"Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre"
"The Red Skelton Hour"

From 1965 to 1966 he appeared in the first television series he would headline, "The Trials of O'Brien." In 1968 he appeared as Columbo for the first time in a TV movie called "Prescription Murder." By 1971 "Columbo" could be seen as a regular television series appearing on the NBC Murder Mystery of the Week, this continued until 1978. Following that a series of "Columbo" two hour television movies were a regular event between 1989 and 2003. The moment the lieutenant uttered his famous phrase "Oh, and just one more thing" you knew that he had nailed the culprit.

Within recent years Lt. Columbo was ranked in the top 5 by Bravo as one of the greatest television characters of all time. Earning his place with Lucy Ricardo, Archie Bunker, Fonzie and others he certainly left a legacy that will never be forgotten.

In Memoriam Remembers:
Peter Falk

June 29th

2011-06-29T08:35:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday:
Ruth Warrick (1916)

At Rest:
Bob Crane (1978)
Lana Turner (1995)
William Hickey (1997)
Rosemary Clooney (2002)
Katharine Hepburn (2003)

June 21, 2001 - June 21, 2011: Ten Years Later

2011-06-21T09:04:00.001-04:00

Born: August 2, 1924

It has been 10 years since a marvelous actor was taken from us. During the earliest days of television he appeared on such shows as "The United States Steel Hour", "The Dick Powell Theatre", "The Fugitive", "The Defenders", "Ben Casey", "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", "I Spy", "That Girl", "The Wild Wild West" and "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre."

In 1968 he was handed the role that make him a household name...the groundbreaking series "All in the Family", created by producer Norman Lear began on January 12, 1971 and would help to define television for the next decade. As Archie Bunker, he brought words to television that had never been there before. Along side veteran character actress Jean Stapleton as his ditzy wife Edith, he helped television move in a new direction. Because of the acceptance their performances received, television changed completely and became a valuable tool in educating the public on serious issues. Topics went from racism to rape from homelessness to homosexuality...

"All in the Family" ended its incredible run in April 1979 after 9 seasons and more than 200 episodes. The actor would then go onto appear in "Archie Bunker's Place" which ran until 1983. When all was said and done he had played Archie Bunker in more than 300 television shows. In 1988, he returned to television as an entirely different character - playing Police Chief Bill Gillespie on "In the Heat of the Night." The show ran until 1995.

That same year tragedy struck when his 28 year old son Hugh, a long time drug addict, ended his own life. After that the grief stricken father went on an anti-drug crusade. In the late 1990's he could be seen on shows like "Party of Five" and "Mad About You." On the latter he played Helen Hunt's father, his on screen wife was a fellow Carol, longtime funny gal Carol Burnett.

Speaking of on screen wives, during his appearance on "The Defenders" in 1962 he played a character who ended up being the killer, the actress who played the eyewitness who identified him - yes indeed the one and only Jean Stapleton....who knew that nearly ten years later they would be one of the most remembered married couples in prime time television history.

The actor was also no stranger to the silver screen or the Broadway stage...his final film appearance was in Return to Me in 2000. He passed away on June 21, 2001 - leaving behind an incredible body of work...he will never be forgotten. A decade later...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Carroll O'Connor

June 18th - Happy Birthday & We Remember

2011-06-18T06:16:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Jeanette MacDonald - 1903
Keye Luke - 1904
Kay Kyser - 1905
Bud Collyer - 1908
Nedra Volz - 1908
E.G. Marshall - 1914

At Rest:
Ethel Barrymore - 1959
Nancy Marchand - 2000

52 Years Later...

2011-06-16T09:57:00.003-04:00

On June 16, 1959 the world learned that television's first Man of Steel was dead...

Over the course of the past 52 years many people have gone back and forth with the truth - did he end his own life or was he murdered? Whatever the truth is, one thing is fact, he was dead and the spirit of many children across America took an incredible blow.

Born January 5, 1914, in appeared in several Hollywood films including Gone With The Wind, From Here to Eternity, So Proudly We Hail, and The Blue Gardenia before stepping into the red and blue costume that would make him a legend. Every chance they got, his "Superman" co-stars Jack Larson (Jimmy Olsen), Phyllis Coates (Lois Lane #1), Noel Neill (Lois Lane #2) and Robert Shayne (Inspector Henderson) always talked about what a good friend he was and how seriously he took role as Superman/Clark Kent. Shayne passed away in 1992 but Larson, Coates and Neill continue to this day to remind us of how special the man was. Jack Larson always shares a story saying that the actor had a sign over his dressing room door in which he called himself "Honest George, The People's Friend."

And so on this day, 52 years after his passing---

In Memoriam Remembers:
George Reeves

Happy 90th Birthday!

2011-06-08T09:40:00.000-04:00

Born: June 8, 1921

A wonderful actress would've celebrated a milestone today. With her genuine good looks and and deep sultry voice she captured the movie screen in the 1940's. Some of her film credits include The Adventures of Mark Twain, The Horn Blows at Midnight, The Woman in White, Whiplash and The Sleeping Tiger.

As television entered the picture she appeared on some its earliest productions including "The Star of the Story", "Stage 7", "Robert Montgomery Presents", "Lux Video Theatre" and "The United States Steel Hour." Her other television credits include "The Defenders", "Marcus Welby, M.D.", The Love Boat", "Hothouse" and "Cheers." In 1984 she appeared on the red hot night time soap opera "Dallas" as the sister of oil baron Clayton Farlow (Howard Keel). Her character, Lady Jessica, was a serial killer who caused havoc at Southfork for seven episodes at one point plotting with the devious J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) to stop his mother Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) from marrying her brother. The devious character returned in 1990 for four more episodes featuring yet another killing spree.

Her final television appearance was the TV movie "Lola" in 1990 and her final film appearance was in The Age of Innocence. Even though the film was completed in 1992, it wasn't released until October 1993 after the actress had passed away. She left us on June 9, 1993, just one day after her 72nd birthday...

In Memoriam Remembers:
Alexis Smith

The Most Important Birthday!

2011-06-06T06:15:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to "In Memoriam" - the work on this blog began on this day in 2008. With 442 posts there have been tributes posted to almost 1,000 people if not more. It has been my absolute delight and pleasure to work on this blog, I put my very best into every post. I do hope you'll continue to come back.

In Memoriam will continue to always remember them all!

James Arness

2011-06-05T06:28:00.000-04:00

Born: May 26, 1923

A true television legend, he played Matt Dillion on "Gunsmoke" for 20 seasons which came to more than 600 episodes. Before his television career he appeared in several films in the 1940's and 50's one of them being 1951's The Thing from Another World in which he played "The Thing." He made his first television appearance in 1950 on "The Lone Ranger." After "Gunsmoke" ended in 1975 he went on to work on such projects as "How the West Was Won" and "McClain's Law." Between 1987 and 1994 he appeared in five "Gunsmoke" reunion movies.

He left us on June 3, 2011 - leaving behind an incredible legacy.

In Memoriam Remembers:
James Arness

A Few Birthdays!

2011-06-04T06:53:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Clara Blandick - 1880
Rosalind Russell - 1907
Dennis Weaver - 1924

At Rest:
Jack Gilford - 1990

One Year Later - Remembering Rue McClanahan

2011-06-03T06:25:00.002-04:00

Born on February 21, 1934 she passed away one year ago but thanks to her marvelous talent her spirit will always be with us. The contributions she made to film and television as well as the Broadway stage will never be forgotten. Whether she was Vivian on "Maude", Aunt Fran on "Mama's Family", Blanche Devereaux on "The Golden Girls" or Peggy Ingram on "Sordid Lives: The Series" - Rue was always there. You may have seen her in the feature film Out to Sea in 1997 or in one of her many television guest appearances which include "Fantasy Island", "The Love Boat", "Burke's Law" (both versions), "Murphy Brown", "Newhart", "Lou Grant" and "Law & Order." Her final acting role was on the television series "Meet the Browns" in 2009.

One year after her passing:

In Memoriam Remembers:
Rue McClanahan

June 2nd

2011-06-02T09:11:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Walter Tetley - 1915

At Rest:
Jim Hutton - 1979
Imogene Coca - 2001
Mel Ferrer - 2008

End of May Birthdays

2011-05-29T10:26:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday!
Bob Hope - 1903
President John F. Kennedy - 1917

At Rest:
Harvey Korman - 2008

Happy Birthday - May 23rd!

2011-05-23T06:54:00.001-04:00

Scatman Crothers - 1910
Artie Shaw - 1910
Betty Garrett - 1919
Edna Skinner - 1921
Rosemary Clooney - 1928

Freeman F. Gosden

2011-05-05T09:47:00.000-04:00

Born today in 1899 he was a pioneer during the earliest days of the radio sitcom.

Along with his partner Charles J. Correll they created the popular sitcom "Amos N' Andy" in the late 1920's. At first it was a daily fifteen minute radio drama though, until 1944 when it became a weekly thirty minute comedy. The actor provided the voice of Amos Jones and also George "Kingfish" Stevens. On occasion he could also be heard as Lightnin' the slow moving janitor, lodge member "Brother" John Crawford, another lodge brother named Flukey and newspaper columnist Fred Gwendel. Correll could be heard as Andy Brown and society snob Henry Van Porter. Before actresses Ernestine Wade, Amanda Randolph and Lillian Randolph were brought on board, he also provided the voice of all female characters on the program.

His radio career spanned from 1926 to 1960. In 1961 he began working on the cartoon "Calvin and the Colonel" as the voice of Colonel Montgomery J. Klaxon. This project also included his partner Charles J. Correll as well as seasoned voice actors Paul Frees and Virginia Gregg. The show from 1961 to 1962 and produced 26 episodes.

He was a wonderful talent and truly a master of his craft. He passed away on December 10, 1982 and was inducted in the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.

In Memoriam Remembers:
Freeman F. Gosden

Jackie Cooper

2011-05-04T22:13:00.000-04:00

Born: September 15, 1922

He was on screen by the age of 7. As a member of the "Our Gang" he was known as Jackie...and as he grew up he appeared in many films during the 1930's and 1940's.

Television was quickly right behind, in 1959 he headed up the cast of the sitcom "Hennesey" in which he played a Navy doctor. The show went off the air in 1962. As a character actor he appeared on such programs as "Your Show of Shows", "The Buick-Berle Show", "The Colgate Comedy Hour", "What's My Line?", "I've Got a Secret", "The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show", "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", "The Dick Powell Theatre", "The Danny Kaye Show", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "Suspense", "Lux Video Theatre", "The United States Steel Hour", "The Twilight Zone", "Hawaii Five-O", "McCloud", "Ironside", "The F.B.I.", "Columbo", "Kojak", "Mobile One", "Police Story", "The Rockford Files", "St. Elsewhere" and "Murder, She Wrote."

In 1978 he appeared as Daily Planet Editor-in-Chief Perry White in the Superman motion picture. He was one of many mega stars to appear in the film, the list includes Marlon Brando, Christopher Reeve, Ned Beatty, Terence Stamp, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Glenn Ford, Phyllis Thaxter, Susannah York and Valerie Perrine. Actor Keenan Wynn was the original choice to play the gruff but lovable editor but he had to bow out due to heart trouble. The actor reprised the role of Perry White in Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987). His final acting role was in two episodes of "Capital News" in 1990...

He passed away on May 3, 2011 at the age of 88.

A wonderful actor...a fine gentleman...we've lost another of Hollywood's finest, one of the last connections to the Golden Era.

In Memoriam Remembers:
Jackie Cooper

May 3rd - Birthdays & Rememberance

2011-05-03T22:11:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday:

Beulah Bondi (1889)
Walter Slezak (1902)
Bing Crosby (1903)
Mary Astor (1906)

At Rest:

Robert Alda (1986)

Happy Birthday - May 2nd!

2011-05-02T06:32:00.002-04:00

Hedda Hopper (1885)
Roscoe Lee Browne (1925)
Lorenzo Music (1937)