Byte Sized Biographies…

In 1925, a diphtheria epidemic threatened to wipe out the town of Nome, Alaska. Hear the incredible story of the men and dogs who saved the day. Balto in news footage during re-enactment. Within days Kaasen got an offer from a Hollywood film producer to appear in a movie with his dog team.  Kaasen and Balto were soon standing on the steps of Los angeles’ city Hall with the mayor and Mary Pickford....

Risking his own freedom, Canadian ambassador Kenneth Taylor upheld diplomatic decorum and the international rule of law in the face of a tyrannical and dangerous regime. Mohammed Mossadeq, right, meeting with American Secretay of State Dean Acheson The Shah of Iran appointed a popular veteran politician, Mohammed Mossadeq, in April of 1951.  Mossadeq quickly announced his intention to nationalize...

Risking his own freedom, Canadian ambassador Kenneth Taylor upheld diplomatic decorum and the international rule of law in the face of a tyrannical and dangerous regime. The Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran in triumph. Less than three weeks later, the Ayatollah landed at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, the city greeting him with a crowd of over three million people.  Khomeini’s political attitudes we...

According to the Library of Congress, The Wizard of Oz is the most viewed film in the history of motion pictures. Still photo with the Wizard of Oz' major characters Most of the other roles were plugged in with various MGM contract players or veteran character actors who got salaries lasting only a few weeks.  Ray Bolger was initially asked to play the Tin Man although he had his heart set on the...

According to the Library of Congress, The Wizard of Oz is the most viewed film in the history of motion pictures. One of the original pairs of the Ruby Slippers. Even the magical slippers, a major plot device in both the novel and film are changed from silver to ruby, to take advantage of the Technicolor film process used for the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy, over the rainbow Judy Garland faced challenge...

Soviet spies who betrayed the secret of the A-Bomb or innocent victims framed by Cold War hysteria, legal corruption and anti-Semitism? Over seventy years later the debate rages on. Julius Rosenberg, mug shot Julius and Ethel Rosenberg began their lives as two of the most unlikely individuals to ever acquire their eventual high profile notoriety.  Julius’ immigrant father, Harry, worked in the Gar...

Soviet spies who betrayed the secret of the A-Bomb or innocent victims framed by Cold War hysteria, legal corruption and anti-Semitism? Over seventy years later the debate rages on. Morton Sobell, while traveling to East Germany in the seventies Sobell was a co-defendant of the Rosenbergs and claimed to be an innocent victim of a government frame-up.  He eventually admitted that he had passed secr...

A uniquely American institution. The Stooges, Mid-Thirties Columbia quickly designated “Women Haters” as the Stooges first project.  They play travelling salesmen who vow never to get married or even romantically involved.  This predictably does not last very long with each Stooge eventually charmed by actress Marjorie White and Larry married to Marjorie.  The studio was encouraged enough by this...

A uniquely American institution. Stooges, with Shemp after Curly's stroke Conversely, Columbia was rather cold hearted, quickly billing Moe, Larry and Shemp as the Original Three Stooges, a designation that was actually historically accurate.  From a production perspective, although unable to duplicate the unique persona of Curly, Shemp was an experienced and disciplined actor who was always prepa...

After searching the Valley of the Kings for decades, for a tomb that every other expert in Egyptology declared nonexistent, Howard Carter eventually discovered the most important archeological find of the 20th century. Howard Carter From the age of 17, Englishman Howard Carter worked in Egypt in the field of archeology.  In the late nineteenth century with color photography as yet unavailable Cart...

After searching the Valley of the Kings for decades, for a tomb that every other expert in Egyptology declared nonexistent, Howard Carter eventually discovered the most important archeological find of the 20th century. Anubis, God of the Dead Alabaster ceremonial cup from the tomb of Tutankhamen The Lotus Bust of Tutankhamen, which raised suspicion about Carter's methodology Detail from the second...

Fletcher Christian and William Bligh are permanently linked to the Mutiny on the Bounty. Listen to the true story of this infamous incident. Fletcher Christian Initially, Fletcher Christian was not destined for a naval career.  He was Born on the 25th of September, 1764 in the Cumbrian village of Eaglesfield. His father, Charles, was a wealthy attorney originally from the Isle of Man.  Descended f...

Fletcher Christian And William Bligh are permanently linked to the Mutiny on the Bounty. Here is the true story of this infamous incident. Wreck of the HMS Pandora The Pandora, towing a launch constructed by the mutineers during their stint on Tahiti, reached the vicinity of the Great Barrier Reef in late August. Whether he was careless or stupidly sailing in the dark, Edwards struck a reef on the...

In his sixty year career, Alfred Hitchcock established himself as one of the most important cultural figures of the 20th century Publicity photo for The Birds, early sixties. A photo of Hitchcock, early in his career Hitchcock broke into show business by getting a job with the newly arrived motion picture studio Famous Players-Lasky British Producers, a venture associated with Paramount Pictures. ...

In his sixty year career, Alfred Hitchcock established himself as one of the most important cultural figures of the 20th century. Robert Walker and Farley Granger in Strangers on a Train   Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly in Rear Window   Grace Kelly, publicity photo for Rear Window Vertigo movie poster   With Kim Novak on the set of Vertigo   Cary Grant, North by Northwest   Eva Marie Saint, North b...

Although he never robbed a bank or a train, never fought a traditional duel and didn't drink, Billy the Kid remains one of America's most notorious outlaws. The only authenticated photo of Billy the Kid, taken in 1880 Over one hundred films have portrayed him in various scenarios ranging from predictable western themes to plots even involving Count Dracula.  He is the subject of music composed by...

He never robbed a bank or a train and never fought a traditional duel but Billy the Kid remains one of America's most notorious outlaws. Sheriff Pat Garrett Garrett was an acquaintance of Billy the Kid, he had even tended bar in Fort Sumner’s most popular saloon.  6’ 6”, and powerfully built, Garrett ran as an alternative to the current lawlessness in Northern New Mexico.  Federal authorities were...

After her rejection by the State Department, Virginia Hall became the most decorated American female civilian during World War II. Virginia Hall Virginia Hall, was savvy enough to anticipate the occupation of Vichy France and only days before the Germans stormed into the region, she made a daring escape by foot over fifty miles of the snowy, rugged Pyrenees Mountains.  In Virginia’s case it actual...

After her rejection by the State Department, Virginia Hall became the most decorated American female civilian of World War II Fake identity card for Virginia Hall Still, two weeks after Virginia’s return, it was her mother who accompanied her to a private ceremony in Washington, where Wild Bill Donovan formally presented her with the Distinguished Service Cross.  Donovan already knew that the OSS...

On July 19, 1989, United Air Lines pilot Captain Al Haynes was confronted with a mechanical failure that threatened all 296 passengers aboard his flight, United 232. The response of Haynes and his crew and the ensuing landing provided one of the most remarkable stories in the history of commercial aviation. Captain Al Haynes, at a news conference the day after landing United Flight 232 On Wednesda...

On July 19, 1989, United Air Lines pilot Captain Al Haynes was confronted with a mechanical failure that threatened all 296 passengers aboard his flight, United Flight 232. The response of Haynes and his crew and the ensuing landing provided one of the most remarkable stories in the history of commercial aviation. The ruptured fan disc of Flight 232, found in an Alta, Iowa cornfield The NTSB and t...

Part Hank Williams and part Spinal Tap, Gram Parsons' influence on popular music can be heard every day. Gram Parsons Fifty years after his death, Gram Parsons has achieved respect as an influence on many prominent musicians and is perceived as musically way ahead of his time.  The Byrds, Chris Hillman, left, Roger McGuinn, center For three years, beginning with their 1965 hits, one band, the Byrd...

Part Hank Williams and part Spinal Tap, fifty years after his death, Gram Parsons' influence on popular music can be heard every day. Gram Parsons' Nudie suit Country Music Hall of Fame Whatever discipline that drove Parsons and Hillman to compose the music that appeared  on their first album completely disappeared once they had to perform live.  Most observers of their early LA club dates describ...

The creator of 1984 and Animal Farm lived a life that was as original and strange as the books themselves. George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair was born in Motihari, Bihar, India on June 25, 1903.  He would not assume the pen name of George Orwell until the age of 30.  Blair was the son of an English civil servant father and a mother who was the daughter of a French colonial entrepreneur operating in B...

The creator of Animal Farm and 1984 lived a life as original and strange as the books themselves. Barnhill, Orwell's hideaway in Scotland Wanting to escape the distractions of London, in September of 1945, Orwell first travelled to Jura, a remote island in the Southwest corner of Scotland.  Once there he stumbled upon Barnhill, a remote and unoccupied farmhouse that he immediately leased from its...