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1-11 of 11
- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
She was dubbed "The Songbird of the South" and would be forever etched in the hearts and minds of millions of Americans as a true American symbol of World War II, especially after giving voice to Irving Berlin's classic song "God Bless America." Her inspiring rendition went on to sell millions of war bonds and even helped a hockey team in the 1970s win the Stanley Cup.
Singing patriot Kate Smith was born Kathryn Elizabeth Smith on May 1, 1907. As a child she showed a devoted interest toward singing and dancing, initially appearing in jazz nightclubs before opting for a standard music career. Discovered by the famed singer/dancer Eddie Dowling, Kate made her Broadway debut in his musical comedy "Honeymoon Lane" in 1926. Double-chinned and exceedingly heavyset, she served as the plump, singing slapstick foil to the star, and continued in that same predictable vein with the subsequent tour of "Hit the Deck" and in "Flying High" the 1930 Broadway show headlining Bert Lahr.
Unhappy at being made fun of in burlesque comedy and preferring to focus on her natural singing ability, Kate quickly joined forces with Columbia Records vice president Ted Collins who subsequently became her partner, protector and manager. Pointing her in the direction of radio, Kate made her debut in 1931 and her stardom was secured by year's end. She went on to break the record for longevity at the renown Palace Theatre. Her radio celebrity prompted a guest cameo role in the Paramount musical film The Big Broadcast (1932) singing what would become her signature piece "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain" (she had co-written the lyrics).
This, in turn, led to her first and only film vehicle. In Hello, Everybody! (1933), Kate Smith literally played Kate Smith, a meek, plus-sized radio singer who unabashedly tends to her farm in between jobs while losing the man of her dreams (Randolph Scott) to her svelte-looking sister, played by Sally Blane. As expected, Kate's character finds true happiness not in the arms of a man but in the helping and caring of others. True to form, Kate never married. Realizing she was not at all film material, Kate wisely stuck with radio and recordings, appearing in a film only one other time--as a guest singing "God Bless America" in the Warner Bros. star-studded variety show This Is the Army (1943).
She began making records in 1926 and over the years her best-selling hits would include "River, Stay 'Way From My Door" (1931), "The Woodpecker Song" (1940), "The White Cliffs of Dover" (1941), "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" (1942), "There Goes That Song Again" (1944), "Seems Like Old Times" (1946), "Now Is the Hour" (1947) and "How Great Thou Art (1965).
Kate had one of the most popular radio variety shows with "The Kate Smith Hour", which aired weekly from 1937-1945. At the same time she fronted the top daytime radio show with the midday "Kate Smith Speaks," a news and commentary program. She made a grand and memorable entrance at Carnegie Hall in 1963 and performed for Arthur Fiedler and his Boston Pops in 1967.
Television was also a successful medium for the singing star with a Monday-Friday afternoon variety show The Kate Smith Hour (1950) which ran four years. The show proved so popular that NBC handed her the prime time The Kate Smith Evening Hour (1951) to host as well. A variety show favorite, she appeared for Ed Sullivan, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Jack Paar, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Tony Orlando, and Carol Burnett.
During her last productive decade, she gave live concerts and performed in clubs all over the country. Illness would intervene in the 1970s and diabetes forced her to retire, eventually crippling her and confining her to a wheelchair. 79-year-old Kate died of major complications in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 17, 1986.- He is a film, theater and television actor. In 1945 after the beginning of the Civil War in Greece, he came to Yugoslavia. In 1962 he graduated from the Acting Department of the Theater Academy in Belgrade. Until 1964 he was a member of the Yugoslav Theater of Drama and then he came to Skopje and acted for the Macedonian National Theater. In film he debued in an episodic role in "Till Victory and Beyond" (1966). Soon after he became one of the most requested Macedonian actors for roles with strong emotional and moral contradictions. Apart from theater he had numerous film roles in Macedonian movies showing his gift for combining theatrical expressiveness and restrained sensitivity.
- Writer
- Director
- Soundtrack
William A. Attaway was born on 19 November 1911 in Greenville, Mississippi, USA. William A. was a writer and director, known for The Great Gatsby (2013), Kids (1995) and Beetlejuice (1988). William A. was married to Fran Scott Attaway. William A. died on 17 June 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- María Luisa Smith was born on 10 June 1891 in Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico. She was an actress, known for La vida en broma (1950), Perdición de mujeres (1951) and Casa de vecindad (1951). She died on 17 June 1986 in Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Erna Nitter was born on 28 August 1888 in Berlin, Germany. She was an actress, known for Intercontinental Express (1964), Schwarzes Blut (1912) and Kehre zurück! Alles vergeben! (1915). She was married to Curt Goetz. She died on 17 June 1986 in Hamburg, West Germany.- Editor
- Editorial Department
Ted J. Kent was born on 6 October 1901 in Illinois, USA. He was an editor, known for My Man Godfrey (1936), Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). He died on 17 June 1986 in Orange County, California, USA.- Production Designer
- Costume Designer
- Actor
Bernard Daydé was born on 3 February 1921 in Paris, France. He was a production designer and costume designer, known for Ciné ballets de Paris (1959), La croix et la bannière (1962) and Marie Soleil (1964). He died on 17 June 1986 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.- Production Manager
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Zbigniew Ronert was born on 11 May 1927 in Lodz, Poland. He was a production manager and producer, known for Zolnierz królowej Madagaskaru (1958), Trudna milosc (1954) and Sprawa do zalatwienia (1953). He died on 17 June 1986.- Aino Mattila was born on 26 March 1902 in Hattula, Finland. She was an actress, known for Suursalon häät (1924), Nuoria ihmisiä (1943) and Laulupapukaijapariskunta (1971). She died on 17 June 1986 in Ylöjärvi, Finland.
- Art Department
Frank W. Jamison was born on 27 November 1898. Frank W. is known for The Girl from Nowhere (1919), The Palace of Darkened Windows (1920) and The Invisible Divorce (1920). Frank W. died on 17 June 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Erik Bertner was born on 1 August 1902 in Frederiksberg, Denmark. He was an actor, known for Klovnen (1926), Det store hjerte (1925) and Husband by Proxy (1927). He died on 17 June 1986.