Former radio disc jockeys include Tennessee Ernie Ford, John Larroquette, Rush Limbaugh, Rod McKuen, Leslie Nielsen, and George Peppard.
Frank Sinatra was first choice for the role of Jerry/Daphne in the film comedy classic Some Like It Hot (1959). At the time, it was a risky role for any actor, as so much of it was played in drag. After much thought, Sinatra turned it down; Jack Lemmon happily accepted it, and film history was made. Lemmon received a Best Actor Golden Globe Award and an Oscar nomination for his delightful performance.
Frank Sinatra was offered the male lead in the film Funny Girl (1968), but Barbra Streisand, who had performed the role successfully on Broadway, refused to take second billing, as did Sinatra. Even though this was her film debut, Streisand would not back down, and Sinatra, in a frustrated huff, dropped out. A film deal with David Janssen to take the role fell apart. The part was ultimately given to the exotic Omar Shariff, on the heels of his success in Doctor Zhivago.
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were not permitted to dance together in public, according to their movie contracts.
Fred Astaire's favorite dance partner was Gene Kelly.
Fred Rogers, the creator and star of the long-running, award-winning children’s program Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, is an ordained Presbyterian minister. He is also a composer and songwriter.
From Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me — In the U.S., "shag" is far less offensive than in other English-speaking countries. Singapore briefly forced a title change to "The Spy Who Shioked Me." ("Shioked" means "treated nicely.")
Some viewers of Gilligan’s Island apparently took the television show seriously in the 1960s. The U.S. Coast Guard received several telegrams from concerned citizens asking why they didn’t rescue the Minnow’s crew.
Some years after his arrest for drugs, Culture Club's Boy George said wistfully in an interview, "I thought there was no one else like me in the world."
Songs with sexual or violent lyrics are not new. Cole Porter's sensual "Love for Sale" was a hit in 1930, but the tune was banned from radio for decades. Blues singers of the 1920s and R&B bands of the 1950s performed songs that were thick with the blatant double-entendre. Additionally, traditional ballads of Scotland, Ireland, and the American Appalachians are filled with stories of murder.
Stanley Andrews and Ronald Reagan both served as hosts of television's "Death Valley Days."
From 1944 to 1947, James Mason was the top box-office draw in Britain.
Starring Bob Keeshan, Captain Kangaroo was the first TV network kids show in the United States. CBS launched it in 1954.
From 1944 to 1947, James Mason was the top box-office draw in Britain.
Starting in 1951, the first 50 TV shows George Burns and Gracie Allen did of their sitcom were live. It wasn't until the third season of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show that the program was saved on film, so reruns watched today actually begin in 1953, not 1951.
Gene Barry was originally offered the role of accused murderer Dr. Richard Kimble in the 1960s TV drama The Fugitive, but turned it down for fear of being negatively influenced by the character every week: "He was played very furtively. I thought I had to be more outward." Barry later chose to do Burke's Law, which ran from 1963-1966 and was revived in 1993. David Janssen was selected to play Dr. Kimble, and The Fugitive ran (literally) for four strong seasons.
Steven Spielberg originally approached Roman Polanski about directing Schindler's List, but Polanski said he found the material too personal and painful.
Gene Wilder made his film debut in a small, but memorable, role as a hostage in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde
Still known worldwide for his role as Spock in the 1960s Star Trek series, Leonard Nimoy directed the hit film Three Men and a Baby (1987), which starred Tom Selleck, Ted Danson, and Steve Guttenberg.
George C. Scott was a Marine and an aspiring writer and teacher before he became an actor.
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