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August 3, 2006
August 3rd, 2006

QUIZ: What do actors Gene Kelly, Zero Mostel and Jimmy Stewart have in common? Hint: it involves animation. answer below

birthdays: British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, Elisha Otis inventor of the Elevator, John T. Scopes- the teacher accused in the Monkey Trial, Habib Bourghiba, Ernie Pyle, Gene Kelly, Lenny Bruce, Tony Bennett, John Landis, Jay North, Dolores Del Rio, Leon Uris, Ann Klein, Martin Sheen

1963 –Unemployed television producer Alan Sherman released an album of comedy songs at the request of his friends. Called “My Son the Folksinger” it contained the hit “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, Here I am at, Camp Granada” and became an overnight sensation.

1966- Comedian Lenny Bruce died of a morphine overdose at 39. The groundbreaking comedian who coined the term “T & A” was arrested in 1964 and charged with obscenity for using the "F" word in his act. President Johnson and his opponent Senator Barry Goldwater could swear enough to make a sailor blush, but comedians are only supposed to make mother-in-law jokes. Bruce served six months, was broken physically and financially and no club would hire him. Yet today he is the model for all modern stand-up comedy. Phil Spector said: Lenny died of an overdose of cops” Today no one is arrested for telling off-color jokes. Whether he leapt to his death from a window yelling “ I’m Super Jew! ” is a matter of legend.

1981- U.S. Air traffic controllers (PATCO) go on strike despite Pres. Reagan's warning they would be fired. Reagan was once president of the Screen Actor’s Guild. Ironically the only U.S. President who has ever been a labor leader was one of the most union-busting presidents of our time.

1996- TEN YEARS AGO -The dance the Macarena by Los Del Rio becomes the #1 hit worldwide. FEEL OLD?

QUIZ: What do actors Gene Kelly, Zero Mostel and James Stuart have in common? Hint: it involves animation.
Answer: Their last films were animated features: Gene Kelly was a dance advisor on Turners Cats Don't Dance, Zero Mostel voiced a seagull in Watership Down(1977) and Jimmy Stewart was in Goof Troop the movie 1992.


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