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Xavier Cugat
Xavier Cugat (; ; 1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was an American musician and bandleader who was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. Originally from Girona, Spain, he spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba, before arriving in New York City in 1915. A trained violinist and arranger, he was the leader of the resident orchestra at the Waldorf–Astoria before and after World War II. Also a restaurateur in West Hollywood, he and his band appeared in numerous motion pictures in the 1930s and 1940s. He was also a cartoonist. The personal papers of Xavier Cugat are preserved in the Library of Catalonia. Life and career Cugat was born Francisco de Asís Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y DeulofeuXavier Cugat official webpage xaviercugat.com; accessed 8 November 2015. in |
Girona
Girona (; ) is the capital city of the Province of Girona in the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain, at the confluence of the Ter, Onyar, Galligants, and Güell rivers. The city had an official population of 106,476 in 2024, but the population of the Girona–Salt urban area is estimated to be about 156,400 (2020). Girona is also capital of the ''comarca'' of the Gironès and the vegueria of Girona. Since much of the old quarter of this ancient city has been preserved, Girona is a popular tourist destination. The city is located northeast of Barcelona. History The first historical inhabitants in the region were Iberians; Girona is the ancient Gerunda, a city of the Ausetani. Later, the Romans built a citadel there, which was given the name of ''Gerunda''. The Visigoths ruled in Girona until it was conquered by the Moors in 715. Charlemagne reconquered it in 785 and made it one of the fourteen original counties of Catalonia. It was sacked by the Moors in 827, 842 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Enrico Caruso
Enrico Caruso (, , ; 25 February 1873 – 2 August 1921) was an Italian operatic first lyric tenor then dramatic tenor. He sang to great acclaim at the major opera houses of Europe and the Americas, appearing in a wide variety of roles that ranged from the lyric to the dramatic. Generally recognized as the first international recording star, Caruso made around 250 commercially released recordings from 1902 to 1920. Biography Early life Enrico Caruso came from a poor but not destitute background. Born in Naples in the via Santi Giovanni e Paolo n° 7 on 25 February 1873, he was baptised the next day in the adjacent Church of San Giovanni e Paolo. His parents originally came from Piedimonte d'Alife (now called Piedimonte Matese), in the Province of Caserta in Campania, Southern Italy. Caruso was the third of seven children and one of only three to survive infancy. For decades, there was a story of Caruso's parents having had 21 children, 18 of whom died in infancy. However, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A Date With Judy (film)
''A Date with Judy'' is a 1948 American Technicolor musical romantic comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Wallace Beery, Jane Powell and Elizabeth Taylor. The film is based on the radio series of the same name. The film features Powell's soprano singing voice and also features musical performances by Brazilian singer Carmen Miranda and Spanish bandleader Xavier Cugat. The songs "Judaline" and " It's a Most Unusual Day" also debuted in the film. Plot In Santa Barbara, California, snobbish teenager Carol Pringle tells her best friend Judy Foster that famous bandleader Xavier Cugat will be the guest of honor at their high school dance that night. Carol convinces her younger brother Ogden "Oogie" Pringle to cancel his dance date with Judy, claiming that women are more drawn to men who ignore them. When Judy learns that Oogie has decided not to take her to the dance, she becomes infuriated and vows to end their friendship. Dejected, Judy visits "Pop" Sam Scully's drug ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Week-End At The Waldorf
''Week-End at the Waldorf'', an American comedy drama film starring Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, and Van Johnson. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard, its screenplay is based on Vicki Baum's novel '' Grand Hotel'' and Baum's subsequent stage adaptation of her novel; both of which also served as the source material for the 1932 film '' Grand Hotel''. Guy Bolton is credited with adapting Baum's play for the film with Samuel and Bella Spewack as screenwriters. Plot Hollywood superstar Irene Malvern is in New York City for a friend's wedding and the premiere of her latest blockbuster. She’s staying at the Waldorf-Astoria. So is weary war correspondent Chip Collyer, catching a quick rest before shipping back out overseas; also there is Air Force Capt. James Hollis, wounded in World War II, facing perilous surgery in three days; so is notorious shyster Martin Edley, trying to hoodwink the Bey of Aribajan into a shady oil deal; both have suites on the same floor as Chip an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bathing Beauty
''Bathing Beauty'' is a 1944 American Musical film, musical romantic comedy film directed by George Sidney, and starring Red Skelton and Esther Williams. Although this was not Williams' screen debut, it was her first Technicolor musical. The film's working title was ''Mr. Co-Ed'', with Skelton having top billing. However, once MGM executives watched the first cut of the film, they realized that Williams' role should be showcased more, and changed the title to ''Bathing Beauty'', giving her prominent billing and featuring her bathing suit-clad figure on the posters. The film is also Janis Paige's film debut. Afterwards Paige would go to Warner Brothers to make such films as ''Of Human Bondage (1946 film), Of Human Bondage'', ''Hollywood Canteen (film), Hollywood Canteen'', and ''Romance on the High Seas''. In the late 1950s, Paige would return to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for a few films. Plot In Los Angeles, songwriter Steve Elliot prepares to marry Caroline Brooks, who has pledged ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
You Were Never Lovelier
''You Were Never Lovelier'' is a 1942 American musical romantic comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. The supporting cast also features Adolphe Menjou, Xavier Cugat and Adele Mara. The music was composed by Jerome Kern and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The picture was released by Columbia Pictures and includes the elaborate "Shorty George" and romantic "I'm Old Fashioned" song and dance sequences. The film, a Hollywood remake of the 1941 Argentine romantic comedy '' Los martes, orquídeas'' (''On Tuesdays, Orchids''), is set in Buenos Aires. Plot Robert "Bob" Davis is a well-known American dancer with a weakness for betting on the horses. After he loses his money gambling in Buenos Aires, he goes looking for a job with Eduardo Acuña, the wealthy owner of a nightclub. Acuña, however, does not wish to see him. Bob's friend, bandleader Xavier Cugat, invites him to perform at the wedding of Acuña's eldest daughter, Julia. Ac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
In Gay Madrid
''In Gay Madrid'' (1930) is an American pre-Code musical comedy, directed by Robert Z. Leonard, starring Ramón Novarro and Dorothy Jordan, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot Cast * Ramón Novarro as Ricardo * Dorothy Jordan as Carmina Rivas * Lottice Howell as Goytia *Claude King as Marques de Castelar *Eugenie Besserer as Dona Generosa * William V. Mong as Rivas *Beryl Mercer as Dona Concha *Nanci Price as Jacinta *Herbert Clark as Octavio *David Scott as Ernesto *George Chandler as Enrique *Bruce Coleman as Corpulento *Nicholas Caruso as Carlos Production Under the working title ''The House of Troy'', filming of ''In Gay Madrid'' began on November 14, 1929 and concluded on December 21. Some retakes were directed by Robert Ober in January 1930. Release ''In Gay Madrid'' was released on May 17, 1930, and was moderately successful at the box office. though it was critically panned. The film's financial under-performance could, in part, be attributed to American audien ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chihuahua (dog Breed)
The Chihuahua (or ) is a Mexican list of dog breeds, breed of toy dog. It is named for the Mexican state of Chihuahua (state), Chihuahua and is one of the smallest dog breeds in the world. It is usually kept as a companion animal. History DNA studies suggest that native American dogs entered North America from Siberia roughly 10,000 years ago, and were then isolated for some 9,000 years until the arrival of the first Europeans; these pre-contact dogs exhibited a unique genetic signature that is now almost gone. A study based on sequencing of ancient dog genomes, published in 2020, suggests that this pre-colonial ancestry survives in two Mexican breeds, to the extent of about 4% in the Chihuahua (and some 3% in the Xoloitzcuintle, Xoloitzcuintli). Other studies have suggested that the pre-colonial ancestry of the Chihuahua may be as high as 70%. Colonial records refer to small, nearly hairless dogs at the beginning of the nineteenth century; one claims that sixteenth-century ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra
The Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra was an orchestra that played primarily at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, both the Waldorf-Astoria (New York, 1893), old and Waldorf Astoria New York, new locations. In addition to providing dinner music at the famous hotel, the orchestra made over 300 recordings and many radio broadcasts. It was established in the 1890s, and was directed by Carlo Curti in early 1900s, Joseph Knecht at least from 1908 to 1925, later by Jack Denny and others, and then Xavier Cugat from approximately 1933 to 1949. Denny and the Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra appeared in the movie ''Moonlight and Pretzels'' in 1933. Both Denny and Cugat had their own orchestras when they began playing at the Waldorf-Astoria, so the term "Waldorf-Astoria orchestras" might be an appropriate description. History The Waldorf-Astoria (1893–1929), Waldorf-Astoria hotel was originally built as two separate adjacent hotels, the Waldorf in 1893 and the Astoria in 1897. Both were on the land that is n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jack Denny
Jack Denny (September 25, 1895 – September 15, 1950) was an American dance band leader during the pre-World War II years. He was born in the United States and started his musical career in Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ..., Quebec in 1920. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Denny led dance bands with a conventionally styled orchestra during the 1920s, playing at various venues, including the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Canada. In 1931, he relocated to New York City, where he played at the newly opened Waldorf-Astoria Hotel the following year. Denny's band quickly gained popularity among the high society clientele of the Waldorf-Astoria, prompting him to develop a sweet and marvelous sound that had no brass section. His arrangements were often complex ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Great Gatsby
''The Great Gatsby'' () is a 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, near New York City, the novel depicts first-person narrator Nick Carraway's interactions with Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire obsessed with reuniting with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. The novel was inspired by a youthful romance Fitzgerald had with socialite Ginevra King and the riotous parties he attended on Long Island's North Shore in 1922. Following a move to the French Riviera, Fitzgerald completed a rough draft of the novel in 1924. He submitted it to editor Maxwell Perkins, who persuaded Fitzgerald to revise the work over the following winter. After making revisions, Fitzgerald was satisfied with the text but remained ambivalent about the book's title and considered several alternatives. Painter Francis Cugat's dust jacket art, named '' Celestial Eyes'', greatly impressed Fitzgerald, and he incorporated its imagery into the novel. Afte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
