This Day in History: ‘Xanadu’ Turns 35

On Aug. 8, 1980, the film Xanadu was released in movie theaters nationwide. The romantic, musical, fantasy film starred singer and actress Olivia Newton-John, legendary dancer Gene Kelly and actor Michael Beck. The film’s soundtrack featured music by Newton-John, the British rock band E.L.O., Cliff Richard and the San Francisco-based rock band The Tubes.

Despite the film not being a huge success, the film’s soundtrack was a commercial success worldwide. The song “Magic” was a hit on the U.S. and UK music charts for Newton-John. 🎶 👩 🏼

Born on This Day: Lucille Ball

Born on Aug. 6, 1911, Lucille Désirée Ball was born in Jamestown, New York, and made her mark in films in the 1930’s and 1940’s. A decade later, she became a television star. In 1951, she and her then-husband, Desi Arnaz, created the comedy series I Love Lucy, which became one of the most popular and much loved programs in TV history.

Ball was nominated numerous times for an Emmy Award and won four times. In May 1960, she and Arnaz divorced. In 1962, she became the first woman to run a major television studio, aptly called Desilu.

Sadly, Ball died on Apr. 26, 1989 at age 77 of an abdominal aortic dissection.

Born on this Day: Natalie Wood

Born in San Francisco on July 20, 1938, Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko Gurdin became Natalie Wood and began her career as a child actress. She made her film debut in the 1943 film Happy Land, which was filmed in Sonoma County, Calif., where Natalie and her parents lived immediately after her birth.

Wood appeared in 56 films and television roles from her childhood to adult years, including Miracle on 34th Street, The Star, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Rebel Without A Cause, Marjorie Morningstar, Splendor In The Grass, Gypsy, Daisy Clover, Love With The Proper Stranger, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, and Brainstorm–which was her last film role.

Sadly, on the morning of Nov. 29, 1981, while on a weekend boat trip with her husband, actor Robert Wagner and her Brainstorm co-star Christopher Walken, Wood’s body was discovered one mile away from her and husband’s boat on Santa Catalina Island. Her death was ruled an accident by drowning and hypothermia. On Jan. 14, 2013, the L.A. County coroner’s office re-opened Wood’s case and stated that some of the bruises found on Wood’s body may have been sustained before she went into the water, but it could not be determined.

This Day in History: ‘Clueless’ Turns 20

On July 19, 1995, the film Clueless was released in theaters nationwide. The film, which is loosely based on Jane Austen’s 1815 novel ‘Emma,’ focuses on teen Cher Horowitz and her rich, and not-so-rich friends maneuvering their way through their social lives in exclusive Beverly Hills. The film also introduced audiences to such vernacular as “as if,” “she’s a Betty,” “he’s a Baldwin” and “totally buggin.’ ”

The cast of Clueless includes Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz–the sophisticated teen and leader of her social inner circle, Stacey Dash as Cher’s best friend Dionne, Paul Rudd as Cher’s former stepbrother Josh, Brittany Murphy as Tai–the new girl who Cher transforms from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan, Donald Faison as Dionne’s boyfriend Murray, Elisa Donavan as Cher’s friend and arch-nemesis Amber, Breckin Meyer as Travis, Justin Walker as Cher’s love interest Christian and Jeremy Sisto as Elton. 🎦

Song Sunday: “Serious” by Duran Duran

When Duran Duran released the song “Serious” on Oct. 1, 1990, it was during this time when the band consisted of only 3 original members: Simon Le Bon, John Taylor and Nick Rhodes. During this phase, the band was joined by guitarist Warren Cuccurullo (formerly of the band Missing Persons, which he also co-founded) and drummer Sterling Campbell.

Twenty-five-years later, I hope they’ll perform this song on October 2, when my friends and I see them in concert.  ☺

‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ actress Amanda Peterson has died

 

Former child star, actress Amanda Peterson has died. Peterson was best known for her role in the film Can’t Buy Me Love, which co-starred Patrick Dempsey from Grey’s Anatomy fame. Peterson was 43.

According to her father, she had been suffering from some recent illnesses. She was found dead on July 5 after her family had grown concern that they had not heard from her. An official cause of death has not yet been determined.

Peterson began her career in the early 1980’s and appeared in countless TV roles, including Doogie Howser, M.D,. Silver Spoons, Boone, A Year in the Life and in the movie musical Annie and Explorers (with Ethan Hawke). She continued acting into the early 1990’s. According to her IMDB page, her last film role was in 1994, in the film Windrunner.

Peterson would have celebrated her 44th birthday on July 8. She is survived by her husband David Hartley and their daughter.

Story courtesy of US Magazine.

*As reported by CNN.com today, Peterson’s mother said her daughter died on July 3 due to medical problems with her heart; however, autopsy results are still pending at this time.

This Day in History: ‘Back to the Future’ Turns 30

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On July 3, 1985, the film Back to the Future was released in theaters nationwide. The film centers around teen Marty McFly, who travels back to the 1950’s thanks to his friend, scientist Doc Brown, whose experiment goes a little wrong. When Marty gets transported back in time, he befriends younger versions of his parents and he must make sure they fall in love or else Marty and his two older siblings will cease to exist in the future.

Marty was portrayed by Family Ties actor Michael J. Fox, Doc Brown was portrayed by Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson played Marty’s mother Lorraine and Crispin Glover played Marty’s father George. Robert Zemeckis directed the film.

Back to the Future received critical acclaim and eventually became the most successful film of that year. The film also became a franchise and produced two more sequels…Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III.