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Jewish American Heritage Month

by Shazy | 12:52 AM in , , , , , , , , , , , |

Jewish American Heritage Month
  Jewish-Americans are influential in a wide range of sectors -- from entertainment to the sciences. In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, here are a few notables singled out by the Jewish-American Hall of Fame.
William Safire
  The author  Pulitzer Prize-winning conservative columnist and presidential speechwriter influenced public opinion for decades until his death in 2009. He was a leading critic of this presidential administration.


Gloria Steinem

The face of the feminist movement, Gloria Steinem been a force in shaping gender politics since the 1970s. 
Barbara Walters

The legendary broadcast journalist is known for conducting interviews with A-list celebrities, including a pop queen, a presidential couple and a screen icon. Whom did she choose for her annual "Most Fascinating People" list for 2010?
Albert Einstein

The German-born physicist who gave the world a groundbreaking theory is widely thought to be the greatest scientist of all time. He became an American citizen in 1940 and spent many years at a prestigious Ivy League university.
Alan Greenspan

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan  has taken heat for factors leading to the current economic downturn since retiring in 2008. Get his memoir.
Sandy Koufax


One of the greatest left-handed pitchers of all time played for the same team his entire 12-year career. The baseball icon was the youngest former player to receive a top baseball honor.
Woody Allen

Best known as a filmmaker who dwells on the drama of relationships within a comedic framework, Woody Allen has a large body of work that includes plays, music and stand-up comedy.
Al Franken

Al Franken's career has evolved from a long-running sketch comedy showto being elected a senator and authoring books.
Elizabeth Taylor

A film star in the truest sense of the word, the late screen star dazzled on and off camera for decades and became renowned for her many marriages, her extensive jewelry collection and for bringing AIDS research into the spotlight.
Henry Kissinger

The former national security adviser and secretary of state under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973.
Mark Zuckerberg

The founder of social networking innovator Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg was named Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2010 at the age of 26. His massive net worth? A movie came out last year based on the creation of Facebook.
Philip Roth

Roth's book "Goodbye, Columbus," published in 1959, won the National Book Award and was made into a movie, and his works depicting Jewish-American life have gone on to earn many other honors, including the Pulitzer Prize for literature.
Annie Leibovitz

The legendary photographer has trained her camera lens on celebrities ranging from a music legend  to royalty  creating iconic images.
Natalie Portman

Portman's Oscar-winning performance in "Black Swan" is the latest honor for the young actress, who retains dual American and Israeli  citizenship. She's recently engaged and expecting.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The second woman to sit as a Supreme Court justice was appointed during former President Bill Clinton's term in office. She has been an advocate for this constitutional principle.
Ben Bernanke

An American economist and former professor  Ben Bernanke became chairman of the Federal Reserve Board in 2006. He was criticized for his work behind the bailout of an insurance giant.
Artie Shaw

One of the primary architects of the Swing Era, big band leader and clarinetist Artie Shaw  is known for reworking standards like Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine"  into jazzy, memorable arrangements.
Ralph Lauren

Fashion designer Ralph Lauren is known for his classic American style and has put his brand on everything from bedding to fragrances and home décor.
Albert Abraham Michelson
A Nobel prize-winning physicist known for his work on a physical constant, Albert Michelson was born in Strzelno but immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1800s as a child. He was the first to receive the Nobel Prize in this category.
Source:Specials

Stylish brides through history

by Shazy | 9:39 AM in , , , , , , , , , , , |

Stylish brides through history
From Elizabeth Taylor, to Mia Farrow, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly - we've rounded up the most stylish brides of all time. Find out who made the biggest fashion statement as they walked down the aisle...

Elizabeth Taylor's first marriage to Richard Burton in 1964.

Elizabeth wore a chiffon gown in daffodil yellow, finishing the look with an emerald and diamond brooch presented to her by her husband. In her hair, she wore lilies of the valley and white hyacinths.

Marilyn Monroe marries Joe DiMaggio, 1954

For her wedding to baseball player Joe DiMaggio, Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe chose an unconventional brown suit with a white mink-collar. The suit sold for $33,350 at a Sotheby's auction in New York in 1998.

Grace Kelly marries Prince Rainier of Monaco, 1956

Grace Kelly also chose gown by Helen Rose who had dressed her in 'High Society' and 'The Swan'. The gown was the most expensive dress that Rose had ever made and consisted of a rounded collar, full skirt of ivory peau de soie, and a fitted bodice made from Brussels lace embroidered with seed pearls. The lace was over a century old and had flower designs in it. 25 yards of silk taffeta and 100 yards of silk net were used in the construction of the dress. Under her wedding gown, Grace's petticoats had tiny blue satin bows.
Priscilla Beaulieu marries Elvis Presley, 1967.

Priscilla wore a floor-length wedding gown of her own design: white silk chiffon, with beaded yoke, trimmed in seed pearls and topped with a three-foot tulle veil secured by a rhinestone crown.

Lady Diana Spencer marries Prince Charles, 1981

Diana chose David and Elizabeth Emanuel to create her enormous wedding dress, with big puffed sleeves and a frilly neckline. The dress was made of silk taffeta, decorated with lace, hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls, and had a 25-foot train.

Princess Margaret marries Earl of Snowdon Anthony Armstrong-Jones, 1961

Princess Margaret's wedding dress, designed by Norman Hartnell, was made from silk organza with 30 metres of fabric in the skirt alone. The embellishment was minimal to suit Margaret's delicate frame.

Cilla Black marries Bobby Willis, 1968

Popular Sixties designer John Bates created the red velvet wedding dress that Cilla Black wore to marry Bobby Willis.

Sara Buys marries Tom Parker-Bowles, 2005

Fashion writer Buys chose a strapless ivory Alexander McQueen fishtail dress.

Pattie Boyd marries George Harrison in 1966

"I bought a Mary Quant pinky-red shot-silk dress, which came to just above the knee, and I wore it with creamy stockings and pointy red shoes. On top, because it was January and cold, I wore a red fox-fur coat, also by Mary Quant, that George gave me." Pattie made George a black Mongolian lamb coat.

Jacqueline Bouvier marries John F Kennedy, 1953

Jacqueline Bouvier's wedding dress was designed by African-American fashion designer Ann Lowe. It was a ball gown of ivory silk taffeta with a huge round skirt which required 50 yards of ivory silk taffeta.

The wedding gown took 2 months to complete. The full bouffant skirt had interwoven tucking bands and tiny wax flowers. Her grandmother's heirloom rose point lace veil was attached to her hair with orange blossoms amid a tiara of lace. The evening before the wedding she was given a diamond bracelet by John Kennedy and a diamond pin by the Kennedy parents.

Bianca Pérez-Mora Macias marries Mick Jagger, 1971

Possibly the most iconic wedding outfit ever, Bianca decided against a traditional wedding dress for her marriage to Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, opting instead for a white Le Smoking jacket by Yves Saint Laurent with nothing underneath, and a long white skirt. She topped the look off with a large white floppy '70s hat, with a plain white veil over, and a floral corsage on her left wrist. .

Joan Crawford in film 'The Bride Wore Red', 1937

Hollywood actress Joan Crawford wore a sparkling scarlett beaded gown with coordinating diamante clasp cape by Adrian.

Katy England marries Bobby Gillespie, 2006

Fashion stylist Katy England married Primal Scream singer Bobby Gillespie in a bespoke gown by Alexander McQueen with diagonal pink candy stripes.

Princess Elizabeth marries Prince Philip, 1947

Norman Hartnell was chosen to design Princess Elizabeth's ivory satin wedding dress which was covered with pearl embroidery in a floral design.He cited as his inspiration Botticelli's painting of Primavera. The rich dress of duchesse satin contrasts with the white seed pearls, imported from America, silver thread, sparkling crystal and transparent appliqué tulle embroidery. Attached at the shoulders was a magnificent 13-foot silk tulle full court train, embroidered in pearl, crystal and appliqué duchesse satin. The ensemble was completed by a silk tulle veil and ivory duchesse satin high-heeled sandals, trimmed with silver and seed pearl buckles, made by Edward Rayne.

Sharon Tate marries Roman Polanski, 1968

Sharon Tate chose a very '60s pearl trimmed satin minidress with puff-sleeves and a turtle neck for her marriage to film director Roman Polanski. She accessoriesed with flowers in her hair.

Wallis Simpson marries Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor,1937

Wallis Simpson wore a simple and beautifully chic Mainboucher dress in pale blue silk. The colour was custom made and named 'Wallis blue'.

Kristen McMenamy marries Miles Aldridge, 1999

Top model Kristen McMenamy walked up the aisle with German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld in a one-shoulder draped chiffon dress Lagerfeld had designed for her (in a fabric dyed to match her pale skin) and a feather headdress by Philip Treacy.
Rita Hayworth marries Fred Astaire in film 'You'll Never Get Rich', 1941

Hollywood beauty Hayworth looked ravishing in her wedding dress with beaded fishnet sleeves in the 1941 film 'You'll Never Get Rich' in which she married Fred Astaire....

Audrey Hepburn marries fred Astaire in 'Funny Face', 1957

Astaire was the luckiest man in Hollywood, also getting to marry Audrey Hepburn in the film 'Funny Face'. Audrey wore Givenchy couture.

Mia Farrow marries Frank Sinatra, 1966

Sixties style icon, actress Mia Farrow, chose a chic and moddish mini skirt suit to complement her elfin crop for her 'quickie' marriage to Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas.

Yoko Ono marries John Lennon, 1969

Yoko Ono married Beatles musician John Lennon in a short shift dress with knee-high boots.

Emily Mortimer marries Alessandro Nivola, 2003

Actress Emily Mortimer married 'Coco Before Chanel' star Alessandro Nivola in a vintage cream wedding gown.

Stella Tennant marries David Lasnet, 1999

Top model and society girl Stella Tennant married photographer David Lasnet in a short dress with sheer layers by Helmut Lang.

Elizabeth Taylor marries Nicky Hilton, 1950.

Elizabeth wore a creation by MGM studio designer Helen Rose - a white satin confection embellished with seed pearls and beading which had taken a number of workers two months to complete. A three-quarter length veil was attached to a cap trimmed with pearls combined with a pearl tiara. To complete the all-white motif, the bride carried a bouquet of white orchids.

March 2011 Celebrity Deaths

by Shazy | 2:34 PM in , , , , , , , , , , |

March 2011 Celebrity Deaths

March in memoriam

In March we said farewell to many beloved figures, including a famous composer, a grunge legend and a princess.
Scrod down to read about the notable lives of:
Knut the polar bear
Nate Dogg
Mike DeStefano

Geraldine Ferraro

1935-2011
Three-term congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro passed away at a Massachusetts hospital, where she was being treated for this disease.  In 1984 Ferraro became the first woman vice presidential candidate on a major U.S. party ticket.  Ferraro was 75.   

Elizabeth Taylor

1932-2011
Elizabeth Taylor was a Hollywood legend known for her many films, two Academy Award wins (for a 1966 classic and an emotional drama), her many marriages, AIDS activism and an unlikely friendship with a fallen pop star. She died of congestive heart failure at age 79.

Loleatta Holloway

1946-2011
She was a Chicago-born disco and soul singer, best known for her 1980 hit about love, who influenced a number of performers, including a singer-turned-actor who sampled the soul icon for his one-time hit. She died from heart failure at age 64.

Pinetop Perkins

1913-2011
He was a famed blues piano player who still played regularly at clubs before his death at age 97. Throughout his career, he collaborated wither several legendary musicians, which as this blues icon and this guitar god.

Ferlin Husky

1925-2011
He was a pioneering country singer in the 1950s and 1960s who had more than 50 hits. Husky was instrumental in introducing a new style of country music. He died at age 85.

Oliver Humperdink

1949-2011
Oliver Humperdink was a well-established pro wrestling manager from the 1970s through the early 1990s  whose health deteriorated after a nearly fatal accident. He died at age 62.

Knut the polar bear

2006-2011
Knut was a major attraction at the Berlin Zoo but shocked visitors watched him die in his pen. The pearly-white bear was only 4 years old.

Michael Gough

1913-2011
He was a longtime British actor best known for his fatherly figure in a superhero film franchise about a caped crusader. Gough appeared in more than 100 films. He died at the age of 94.

Nate Dogg

1969-2011
He was a West Coast hip-hop crooner who created and popularized a style of singing rap. He rose to fame collaborating with some of the biggest names in the business and was known as hip-hop's hook man. He died at age 41 of complications from multiple strokes.

Smiley Culture

1963-2011
Smiley Culture was a British reggae star who rose to fame in the 1980s. Watch some of his music videos. He died at the age of 48 from a reported self-inflicted stab wound. 

Princess Antoinette

1920-2011
Antoinette was the princess of a European microstate and the daughter of royalty. Her younger brother married a movie star. She died at the age of 90.

Marty Marion

1916-2011
Marty Marion was a renowned shortstop who later went on to manage the team he played for and another MLB team. He earned nicknames for his shape and style. He died at the age of 93.

Richard Wirthlin

1931-2011
Richard Wirthlin, a chief strategist and pollster, helped steer the political career of one of the most revered Republican presidents and was known as the prince of polling. He died at the age of 80.

Todd Cerney

1953-2011
This Nashville musician wrote the 1980s love ballad "I'll Still Be Loving You" and had a five-week No. 1 country hit in 2001. He died at the age of 57.

Mike Starr

1966-2011
Mike Starr was the former bassist for an iconic grunge-rock group who in his last several years battled serious drug and alcohol addiction. The troubled musician even sought help on a reality TV series. He died at the age of 44.

Hugh Martin

1914-2011
Hugh Martin composed one of the best-known Christmas tunes of all time and has song credits on a classic film. He died at the age of 96.

Hazel Rowley

1951-2011
Hazel Rowley was an acclaimed biographer who wrote about several famous figures, including the love life of a renowned philosopher. Get her books. She died at the age of 59.

Blair River

1981-2011
Blair River was the 575-pound spokesman for an Arizona hamburger joint that touted its high-calorie menu. He died from complications of pneumonia at the age of 29.

Mike Lounge

1946-2011
Mike Lounge was a veteran shuttle astronaut who flew into orbit on three different missions, including the first after a major space disaster. He went on to represent astronauts' interests for the space agency before retiring in 1991. Lounge died at the age of 64.

Leonard Lomell

1920-2011
Leonard Lomell, considered a World War II hero, found "by pure luck" and disabled guns hidden by the Germans on D-Day. Some believe his actions ensured the success of the liberation invasion to end the war. He died at the age of 91.

Ryan Hawks

1985-2011
Ryan Hawks was a professional big-mountain skier who was part of a group of hard-core freestyle skiers. He died from injuries sustained in a fall during a national competition. Hawks died at the age of 25.

Johnny Preston

1939-2011
Johnny Preston was a pop singer who had a No. 1 hit in 1960 with a teenage tragedy song followed by another adolescent hit. He died at the age of 71.

Mike DeStefano

1967-2011
Mike DeStefano was a stand-up comic who gained fame after appearing on a televised comedy show and a reality show. He battled drug addiction and carried a life-threatening virus. He was scheduled to star in a one-man show before his death at the age of 43.

Jean Bartel

1923-2011
Jean Bartel was the 1943 winner of a long-standing beauty competition despite refusing to participate in a tradition. She apparently wowed judges with a Cole Porter hit.
 She died at the age of 87.

Joe Morello

1928-2011
Joe Morello was a legendary jazz drummer best known for his time with a famous jazz quartet, with which he played on some of the best-selling jazz records of all time. He died at the age of 82.

Richard Martin

1951-2011
Former NHL star Richard Martin scored a rookie record in his second professional season. His career was cut short after a severe injury. Martin died at the age of 59.

Mitchell Page

1951-2011
Mitchell Page was an MLB outfielder who came up with an impressive record and later became a hitting coach for another professional team. He died at the age of 59.

Jack Hardy

1947-2011
 
Jack Hardy was a folk singer, playwright and promoter credited with influencing several famous 1970s and 1980s artists, such as this prominent folksinger. He toured for almost 40 years. Hardy died at the age of 63.
 
Source:Specials

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