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Frank Fontaine
Frank Fontaine (April 19, 1920 – August 4, 1978) was an American stage, radio, film and television comedian, singer and actor. Early years and personal life Born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Fontaine came from a family of entertainers. His father, Ray Fontaine, of French-Canadian descent, was a popular vocalist whose career in Canada resulted in his being compared to Bing Crosby. His mother, Anna McCarthy, of Irish and Scottish descent, performed as a dancer, and he had a brother who also became a singer. Fontaine left school and married at age sixteen. Two days before his 17th birthday, he married his childhood sweetheart, Alma Clair Wakeham, and moved to Medford. He went right to work as an all‐purpose singer‐dancer‐comedian in Boston area supper clubs. After Pearl Harbor, he spent three years in the Army. He had a reputation as a family man, known for being devoted to his wife and children. He would rearrange his schedule so that he was never away from th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As part of the Boston metropolitan area, the cities population of the 2020 U.S. census was 118,403, making it the fourth most populous city in the state, behind Boston, Worcester, and Springfield. It is one of two de jure county seats of Middlesex County, although the county's executive government was abolished in 1997. Situated directly north of Boston, across the Charles River, it was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, once also an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Lesley University, and Hult International Business School are in Cambridge, as was Radcliffe College before it merged with Harvard. Kendall Square in Cambridge has been called "the most innovative square mile on the planet" owing to the high concentration of successful startups that have emerged in the vicinity ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stan Freberg
Stan Freberg (born Stanley Friberg; August 7, 1926 – April 7, 2015) was an American actor, author, comedian, musician, radio personality, puppeteer and advertising creative director. His best-known works include " St. George and the Dragonet", '' Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America'', his role on the television series ''Time for Beany'', multiple characters in the Looney Tunes such as Pete Puma and Bertie, and a number of classic television commercials. Early and personal life Freberg was born Stanley Friberg on August 7, 1926 in Pasadena, California, the son of Evelyn Dorothy (née Conner), a housewife, and Victor Richard Friberg (later Freberg), a Baptist minister. Freberg was of Swedish and Irish descent. He was drafted in the US Army from 1945 to 1947 where he served in Special Services attached to the Medical Corps aMcCornack General Hospitalin Pasadena, California. Freberg's work reflected both his gentle sensitivity (despite his liberal use of biting ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
The ''MDA Labor Day Telethon'' was an annual telethon held on (starting the night before and throughout) Labor Day in the United States to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The Muscular Dystrophy Association was founded in 1950 with hopes of gaining the American public's interest. The show was hosted by comedian, actor, singer and filmmaker Jerry Lewis from its 1966 inception until 2010. The history of MDA's telethon dates back to the 1950s, when the ''Jerry Lewis Thanksgiving Party for MDA'' raised funds for the organization's New York City area operations. The telethon was held annually on Labor Day weekend beginning in 1966,"MDA's 'Love Network' has a rich, vital history," from ''Quest'', 7/1/2005 and raised $2.45 billion for MDA from its in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
That Was The Year That Was
''That Was the Year That Was'' (1965) is a live album recorded at the hungry i in San Francisco, containing performances by Tom Lehrer of satiric topical songs he originally wrote for the NBC television series ''That Was The Week That Was'', known informally as ''TW3'' (1964–65). All of the songs related to items then in the news. The album peaked at #18 on ''Billboards Top 200 Albums on January 8, 1966 and was on the chart for 51weeks. In 2020, Lehrer donated all of his lyrics and music written by him to the public domain. He followed this on November 1, 2022 with all recording and performing rights of any kind, making all of his music that he has originally composed or performed free for anyone to use. Track listing Side one: # "National Brotherhood Week" – 2:35 # "MLF Lullaby" – 2:25 # "George Murphy" – 2:08 # "The Folk Song Army" – 2:12 # "Smut" – 3:15 # "Send the Marines" – 1:46 # "Pollution" – 2:17 Side two: # "So Long, Mom (A Song for World War III) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tom Lehrer
Thomas Andrew Lehrer (; born April 9, 1928) is an American former musician, singer-songwriter, satirist, and mathematician, having lectured on mathematics and musical theater. He is best known for the pithy and humorous songs that he recorded in the 1950s and 1960s. His songs often parodied popular musical forms, though he usually created original melodies when doing so. A notable exception is " The Elements", in which he set the names of the chemical elements to the tune of the "Major-General's Song" from Gilbert and Sullivan's ''Pirates of Penzance''. Lehrer's early musical work typically dealt with non-topical subject matter and was noted for its black humor in songs such as "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park". In the 1960s, he produced a number of songs that dealt with social and political issues of the day, particularly when he wrote for the U.S. version of the television show ''That Was the Week That Was''. The popularity of these songs has far outlasted their topical subjects ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jerry Nelson
Jerry L. Nelson (July 10, 1934 – August 23, 2012) was an American puppeteer, best known for his work with The Muppets. Renowned for his wide range of characters and singing abilities, he performed Muppet characters on ''Sesame Street'', ''The Muppet Show'', '' Fraggle Rock'', and various Muppet movies and specials. Career On ''Sesame Street'', Nelson's longest-running character was Count von Count, the counting vampire who takes delight in counting anything (and everything) he can. Nelson did the voice and puppetry for the Count from 1972 until 2004 and continued to provide the Count's voice until his death in 2012. His other Muppet roles on that program were Herbert Birdsfoot, The Amazing Mumford, Herry Monster, Biff, Mr. Johnson, Simon Soundman, Mr. Chatterly, Frazzle, Little Jerry, and Sherlock Hemlock. He has also made a total of nine onscreen appearances on the show. Nelson was the first puppeteer to perform Mr. Snuffleupagus, keeping the role from 1971 to 1978. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
TV Guide
TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ... TV listings, listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corporate history Prototype The prototype of what would become ''TV Guide Magazine'' was developed by Lee Wagner (1910–1993), who was the circulation director of Macfadden Communications Group#Macfadden Publications, MacFadden Publications in New York City in the 1930s – and later, by the time of the predecessor publication's creation, for Cowles Media Company – distributing magazines focusing on movie celebrities. In 1948, Wagner printed New York City area lis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The show is set in the fictional town of Springfield and parodies American culture and society, television, and the human condition. The family was conceived by Groening shortly before a solicitation for a series of animated shorts with producer James L. Brooks. He created a dysfunctional family and named the characters after his own family members, substituting Bart for his own name; he thought Simpson was a funny name in that it sounded similar to " simpleton". The shorts became a part of '' The Tracey Ullman Show'' on April 19, 1987. After three seasons, the sketch was developed into a half-hour prime time show and became Fox's first series to land in the Top 30 ratings in a season (1989–1990). Since its debut on Dece ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Barney Gumble
Barnard Arnold "Barney" Gumble is a recurring character in the American animated TV series ''The Simpsons''. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared in the series premiere episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". Barney is the town drunk of Springfield and one of Homer Simpson's friends. His loud belches and desperation for alcohol serve as frequent sources of humor on the show, though Barney sobered up in the Season 11 episode "Days of Wine and D'oh'ses". Barney was inspired by the cartoon character Barney Rubble from ''The Flintstones'' and by several barflies from other television programs. In 2004, Castellaneta won an Emmy Award for voicing various characters, including Barney. Barney can be seen in ''The Simpsons'' opening credits since 2009, passed out under a pile of leaves (but still holding his beloved bottle of Duff Beer) and being awoken by Bart Simpson skateboarding over his stomach, causing him to let out his trademark belch. Role in ''The Sim ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mouse And Garden
''Mouse and Garden'' is a 1960 Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' cartoon directed by Friz Freleng. The Academy Award-nominated cartoon was released on July 16, 1960, and stars Sylvester. The title is a play on '' House & Garden''. Sylvester is voiced by Mel Blanc, and Sam Cat by Daws Butler in the style of Frank Fontaine's "John" from ''The Jack Benny Program'' and "Crazy Guggenheim" from ''The Jackie Gleason Show''. Plot Sylvester and his friend, Sam Cat are rummaging through trash cans for food, until Sylvester spots a mouse sneaking past them. After a little scuffle, the two felines agree to share the mouse for breakfast in the morning, but each frequently tries to get the mouse for himself while the other is asleep. Eventually, in one last attempt with a motorboat, it takes off with both of them, and they end up getting stranded on a tiny island. The cats kick each other repeatedly as the mouse rows past them on a jug singing Moonlight Bay. See also * List of American films of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trick Or Tweet
''Trick or Tweet'' is a 1959 Warner Bros. ''Merrie Melodies'' animated cartoon directed by Friz Freleng. The short was released on March 21, 1959, and stars Tweety and Sylvester the Cat. Tweety and Sylvester are voiced by Mel Blanc, and Sam, the orange-red cat acting as Sylvester's rival, is performed by an uncredited Daws Butler, doing a voice reminiscent of Frank Fontaine's "John" from ''The Jack Benny Program'' and "Crazy Guggenheim" from ''The Jackie Gleason Show''. The title is a play on the phrase "Trick or treat". Plot As Tweety is sweeping the dust around his nest high atop a wooden pole, Sylvester and Sam both tiptoe up to the pole to sneak up on him. Neither cat sees the other as they both climb the pole to the nest. Sylvester peers over Tweety's nest as Tweety sweeps the dust in Sylvester's face, prompting Tweety to remark, "Ooooh! I tawt I taw a puddytat!" Ditto with Sam, and Tweety says, "I tawt I taw anudda puddytat!" Both cats grab the nest simultaneously and rush ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sylvester (Looney Tunes)
Sylvester Pussycat, Sr. is a fictional character, an anthropomorphic Bicolor cat, tuxedo cat in the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of cartoons. Most of his appearances have him often chasing Tweety, Speedy Gonzales, or Hippety Hopper. He appeared in 103 cartoons in the golden age of American animation, lagging only behind superstars Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, and Daffy Duck. Three of his cartoons won Academy Awards, the most for any starring a Looney Tunes character: they are ''Tweetie Pie'', ''Speedy Gonzales (film), Speedy Gonzales'', and ''Birds Anonymous''. Animation history Development Sylvester predecessors appeared from 1939 to 1945. ''Naughty but Mice'' was the first, with the prototype appearing as a normal black cat. ''Notes to You'' was remade in color in one of Sylvester's cartoons, ''Back Alley Oproar''. ''The Hep Cat'' features another version, as well as ''Birdy and the Beast'', which features Tweety. Before Sylvester's appearance in the cartoons, Bl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
