Patty Duke, RIP -- March 31, 2016

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I was surprised to learn of the death of actress Patty Duke.  I remember hearing about her all my life.  I never saw her television show, but I would turn on the television for some show and see the end of reruns.  Later I saw The Miracle Worker.  She married John Astin, who was one of my favorites.  She did good work for many causes. 

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Easter Rising 100 Years -- March 28, 2016

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100 years ago, on Easter Monday, 1916, the Irish Volunteers and members of the Irish Citizen Army and the Cumann na mBan rose up against the British occupation in Dublin and declared the Irish Republic.  The British stopped them and executed their leaders.  This heavy-handed response led to increased support for Irish independence.

Seán O'Casey wrote a play, The Plough and the Stars, which premiered in 1926.  The last two acts take place during the rising.  In 1936, director John Ford adapted it into a movie starring Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck. 

Happy Easter, 2016 -- March 27, 2016

Film Daily, 07-March-1928

Happy Easter, everyone. Here is a bunny for Easter. Disney lost control of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1928 and didn't get him back until 2006.

Sterling Hayden 100 -- March 26, 2016

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Actor Sterling Hayden was born 100 years ago today, on 26-March-1916.  He preferred sailing to acting, but he was in some good movies, like Johnny Guitar, Asphalt Jungle, Doctor Strangelove and The Godfather.  He enlisted in the Marine Corps during World War Two, went to officer candidate school, then got assigned to the OSS, where he worked with Yugoslav partisans and got a commendation from Marshal Josip Broz Tito. I remember how San Francisco columnist Herb Caen would write about Sterling Hayden when he lived in Sausalito. For a time he lived in one of the pilot houses of the ferryboat Berkeley, which was moored in Sausalito.

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Ferryboat Berkeley moored in Sausalito in the 1960s.  It housed a warren of shops known as the Trade Fair.  It is now preserved at the San Diego Maritime Museum. 

News of the Week March 25, 1916 -- March 25, 2016

The 25-March-1916 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"California High School girls dancing in the snow of Central Park, New York, in Grecian costumes.  Mutual Weekly, No. 63."  Isadora Duncan had a strong influence on modern dance, especially in her native California.  These poor girls must have been awfully cold. 

"Old Alsatian women, who recalls previous ward, greeting friend soldier after a recent victory.  Pathe News."  In 1871, Germany annexed the Alsace-Lorraine from France.  In World War One, it went back and forth a few times.  At the end of the war, France kept it.

"Frank Moran, heavyweight boxer, out with his ice-auto for a little wintry ozone.  Pathe News"  Frank Moran, the Fighting Dentist, fought heavyweight champion Jess Willard, the Pottawatomie Giant at Madison Square Garden on 25-March-1916.  Willard won in 10 lifeless rounds. 

"Boys join in scientific baking at Lane Technical High School, Chicago.  Hearst-Vitagraph."  Lane Technical High School, founded in 1908, now serves as a magnet school.  Girls began attending in 1971.

"Steam fishing smack arrives in Boston covered with ice.  Hearst-Vitagraph."  Smacks were common fishing boats on the east coast. 

"A speeder in the winder motor boat regatta at Miami, Florida.  Mutual Weekly, No. 63."  I can't find reports about the 1916 regatta.  It may have been organized by Carl G Fisher. 

News of the Week March 18, 1916 -- March 18, 2016

The 18-March-1916 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"Double wreck on New Haven railroad at Milford, Conn.  Mutual Weekly." Ten people were killed by a rear-end collision and boiler explosion on the New Haven Railroad on 22-February-1916.

"Frank Chance, manager of Los Angeles ball team, photographed on his farm. Hearst-Vitagraph."  Frank Chance, the Peerless Leader, a native of California, had been the first baseman in the Chicago Cubs' famous double play combination of Tinker to Evers to Chance.  In 1916, he was manager of the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League.

"Canadian troops in maneuvers near Winnipeg before leaving for front.  Hearst-Vitagraph."  I have mentioned before that Canadian soldiers played a critical role on the Western Front.

"Subway halted for hours while rain is pumped from tracks, New York.  Universal."  Heavy rain on 04-March-1916 flooded the subway tracks. 

"American and Mexican health officers disinfect Mexican emigrants.  Selig-Tribune."  On 02-March-1916, the US Public Health Service reported cases of typhus in El Paso, Texas.  Mexican emigrants from Chihuahua were turned back at the international bridge because they had smallpox.

"Waiting in the trenches at Souchez, France, for call to battle.  Pathe."  Souchez is in northern France.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, 2016 -- March 17, 2016

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Happy Saint Patrick's Day, everyone.

Actress Martha Vickers made a great impression as Carmen Sternwood in The Big Sleep.