Remembering Grace Kelly

 

It was 33 years ago today, on Sept. 14, 1982, that Princess Grace of Monaco–better known as Grace Kelly–died.

Just 52-years-old at the time, Kelly had suffered a stroke when she crashed her vehicle and drove off a steep, winding road and down a mountainside. The cause of her death was due to complications resulting from the stroke and numerous other injuries. Her youngest daughter, Princess Stephanie, survived the crash.

Kelly was best known as an actress from the 1950’s and 1960’s and starred in such classics as High Noon, Rear Window, To Catch A Thief, High Society and The Country Girl–in which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress.  🎦  👑

This Day in History: ‘The Monkees’ Television Series Debuted

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The Monkees_directors chairs The Monkees-proper seating

Forty-nine years ago today, on Sept. 12, 1966, The Monkees comedy series debuted on NBC-TV. The series starred actors Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz, and musicians Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork. The show was the creation of film director and producer Bob Rafelson, and film and TV producer Bert Schneider, whose production company Raybert Productions also produced the films Easy Rider and The Last Picture Show. The Monkees television show incorporated an element that (I believe) is lacking in today’s situation comedies, which is music (sorry, but Glee doesn’t count).

The Monkees lasted only two seasons and the band has toured subsequently since 1966. The Monkees became a band despite critics (I’m looking at you Jann Wenner, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, who Monkees fans believe is ‘holding the key’ so they aren’t inducted into the RRHOF) stating they weren’t a band. I’m pretty that if they’ve sold more than 75 million records worldwide and out-sold The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined during their peak (not to mention that the show won two Emmy Awards), then they ARE a real band!

🎤 🎸 🎶 🎵 📺

Man Crush Monday: Jon Hamm

Today’s Man Crush Monday honor is awarded to actor Jon Hamm, best known for his roles in film and television, including Mad Men and Bridesmaids.

For anyone who hasn’t read today’s Entertainment news headlines, Hamm and his longtime girlfriend, Jennifer Westfeldt, recently split after 18 years together.

Oh, and Jon, if you’re reading this: Call me! ☺️ 😉

Princess Diana’s Death: 18 Years Later


On Aug. 31, 1997, millions of people all over the world woke up to the news that Princess Diana–alongside her companion Dodi Fayed and their driver Henri Paul–had died as a result of a fatal car crash in Paris, France. An inquest attributed the crash to the grossly negligent driving by Paul, as well as paparazzi chasing their vehicle… just to get a mere photo of the princess and Fayed.

It has been 18 years since that tragic day and many revel on the fact that she would be so proud of her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as her two grandchildren, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

“I like to be a free spirit. Some don’t like that, but that’s the way I am.” ~Princess Diana (July 1, 1961 – Aug. 31, 1997).

 

Born On This Day: Rick Springfield

Meeting Rick Springfield on July 26, 2014.

Meeting Rick Springfield on July 26, 2014.

Born Aug. 23, 1949 near Sydney, Australia, Richard Springthorpe–who later took on the stage name of Rick Springfield–started in the music business as a vocalist and lead guitarist in the band Zoot from 1969 to 1971. He began a solo career soon after and moved to the U.S. in mid-1972.

From Sept. 1972 to Sept. 1973, Springfield appeared as himself in the Saturday morning cartoon series Mission: Magic! on ABC-TV. He went on to appear in countless other films and television shows, including Wonder Woman and High Tide. From 1981 to 1983, he portrayed Dr. Noah Drake in the ABC-TV soap opera General Hospital; he has made numerous appearances on General Hospital since he first left the show. In 1984, he played a Pop idol in the film Hard to Hold and recently had a recurring role in the HBO series True Detective.

Springfield rocketed to success in 1981 with the song “Jessie’s Girl,” which was a worldwide hit and reached number 1 for two weeks on the U.S. Hot 100 chart, as well as on the Australian Kent Music report singles chart. In the same year, he won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

In 2010, Springfield became an author when he wrote his autobiography Late, Late At Night: a Memoir. In 2014, he published the book Magnificent Vibration: A Novel, and on May 9, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2015, he portrayed Greg, lead guitarist and Meryl Streep’s love interest in the Jonathan Demme film Ricki and The Flash.