According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, Paul Perschmann, better known to wrestling fans as Playboy Buddy Rose was found dead today by his wife in their Portland home. There is no cause of death at this time. Rose has been battling blood sugar issues due to his diabetes, and had gained a lot of weight in recent years. He was 56.
Rose is considered one of the greatest stars of Don Owen's Portland Wrestling, and worked for the AWA as well as the WWF. Rose was credited for grooming many young wrestlers, including Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty in the AWA.Rose and Ed "Col. DeBeers" Wiskoski had opened up a wrestling school in recent years, to help train the stars of tomorrow.
More on the life and times of Playboy Buddy Rose is available at playboybuddyrose.com.
411 would like to send our condolences to the family, friends and fans of Playboy Buddy Rose.http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/103270/Playboy-Buddy-Rose-Passes-Away.htm
Comic book and animation artist Ric Estrada died this morning, the result of a long, losing battle with cancer.
Ric was born February 26, 1928 in Havana, Cuba and began selling his work at age 13 to a popular Cuban magazine called Bohemia. He attended University of Havana where, he always claimed, another student was Fidel Castro. Via a relative, he developed a friendship with Ernest Hemingway, who took an interest in the young artist's work and encouraged him to relocate to New York. Ric moved there at age 20 but never stayed in one place for very long, travelling the world and living briefly in dozens of other cities. Whenever he was back in Manhattan, he managed to work in comic books, including two of his proudest jobs...stories for the EC war comics edited and written by Harvey Kurtzman. Other companies that were glad to have his art included Hillman, Western Publishing, St. John and Ziff-Davis.
Ric occasionally dabbled in newspaper strips, including assisting on Flash Gordon and drawing some of the Flash Gordon comic books. Most of his comic book work was done in the sixties and seventies for DC, primarily on romance and war comics. But there was a period where (against his preference, he said), he was assigned to super-hero titles, primarily as a "rough penciller." Ric didn't like super-heroes and didn't feel he had the flair for them, and he also didn't like producing anything less than finished artwork. Still, that was where he was told his services were needed so he pencilled comics like All-Star Comics, Freedom Fighters and Karate Kid.
He did not feel capable of producing the kind of tight pencil art that most other artists did for such assignments so, on mutual agreement with his editors, he did something looser. He was paid less than if he'd done complete pencil art and his understanding was that the other artists who finished the work would be paid extra. Years later, Ric was extremely upset to learn that several of those artists weren't paid the higher rates, and that they resented Ric for not doing his portion of the work. A sensitive man, he apologized to at least one of the "finishers," who accepted Ric's explanation and declined an offer of money right out of Ric's own pocket.
Despite the grief it caused him and his own dissatisfaction with the work, it was often quite wonderful...though not as grand as when Ric was allowed to be Ric. Besides, Ric was never satisfied with his own work. In the seventies, he did several war stories for DC's combat titles that garnered great praise, particularly from his fellow artists. It was hard to tell Ric how good you thought they were without him blushing red and giving you an honest, humble argument.
Though Ric drew several of my scripts for DC in the seventies, we didn't really meet until the eighties when he moved to Los Angeles and worked for the Hanna-Barbera studio as a designer and layout artist. He was much-loved about the building...and repeatedly flattered as younger artists sought him out to praise his comic work. We did one non H-B project together (a super-hero story, despite his preferences) and talked often of doing others which, I'm sad to say, never reached fruition. After leaving H-B, he relocated to Utah but managed to make it several years to the Comic-Con International and to occasionally sit on panels I hosted there.
Ric was married three times and had eight children. One son, Seth, is currently producing a documentary on his father. You can find out more about it at the Ric Estrada website and view some of the raw footage on this page. I hope to add my voice to it because Ric was one of my favorite people and one of my favorite artists. It's amazing how often those two things go together. (News from Me)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Lesley Gilb Taplin Age 62, died April 13, 2009 in an automobile accident on highway 101 in Los Angeles. Lesley was born September 6, 1946 in Seattle, WA and was raised in Berkeley, CA. Lesley's rich and varied career included working as an actor, film producer, production assistant, production manager, story editor, researcher, writer, gallery manager, publisher, and teacher. For the last decade of Lesley's life she was passionately involved as a volunteer with many downtown Los Angeles organizations. This article appeared on page Z - 99 of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Author Tom Dietz (b.1952) died on April 27. Dietz was the 2007 Phoenix Award and wrote novels including the Soulsmith series, Windmaster’s Bane, and The Gryffon King. In the 1970s, Deitz contributed to the fanzine Aphelion and to APA MOTiVE in the 1990s.
Former boxing champ Greg Page diesBy Associated PressMonday, April 27, 2009 LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Greg Page, a former heavyweight boxing champion who suffered a severe brain injury in a 2001 fight, has died at his Louisville home. He was 50.
His wife, Patricia Page, said she found the one-time World Boxing Association champion in his bed Monday morning. Patricia Page said he died of complications related to injuries he suffered in the fight.
Page told The Associated Press her husband "is in a better place now."
The March 9, 2001, fight left Page in a coma for nearly a week. He then had a stroke during post-fight surgery. He was paralyzed on his left side and received intensive physical therapy.
Page won a $1.2 million settlement in 2007 with Kentucky boxing officials over the lack of medical personnel at the fight. Boxing officials also agreed to establish a medical review panel for the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority to check the health conditions of people involved in the sport who may be at risk for injury.
Page started fighting while growing up in Louisville and was sparring with Muhammad Ali by the time he was 15. He became the National Golden Gloves heavyweight champion in 1978 at age 20.
He turned to professional boxing and lost his first shot at the WBA heavyweight championship in 1984 to Tim Witherspoon. In December of that year, Page knocked out Gerrie Coetzee in the eighth round of their bout in South Africa to claim the title, but lost on points to Tony Tubbs five months later.
Page continued boxing through 1993, then took two years off after being knocked out by Bruce Seldon. He started again in 1996.Page was 42 and had a 58-16-1 career record going into the $1,500 fight against Dale Crowe at Peels Palace in Erlanger, Ky., near Cincinnati. Crowe was 24 and an up-and-coming boxer. Page went down after 10 rounds and didn’t get up.
Golden Girls TV star dies at 86
The death of popular actress Bea Arthur, who starred in the US television sitcom The Golden Girls, has been reported in Los Angeles. Arthur, who played Dorothy Zbornak to the late Estelle Getty's Sophia Petrillo, died at home of cancer at the age of 86, a family spokesman said. She was also famous for the sitcom Maude, first creating the character in the comedy series All In The Family. Arthur also won an Emmy Award for the musical Mame.
Author Tom Dietz (b.1952) died on April 27. Dietz was the 2007 Phoenix Award and wrote novels including the Soulsmith series, Windmaster’s Bane, and The Gryffon King. In the 1970s, Deitz contributed to the fanzine Aphelion and to APA MOTiVE in the 1990s.
Former boxing champ Greg Page diesBy Associated PressMonday, April 27, 2009 LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Greg Page, a former heavyweight boxing champion who suffered a severe brain injury in a 2001 fight, has died at his Louisville home. He was 50.
His wife, Patricia Page, said she found the one-time World Boxing Association champion in his bed Monday morning. Patricia Page said he died of complications related to injuries he suffered in the fight.
Page told The Associated Press her husband "is in a better place now."
The March 9, 2001, fight left Page in a coma for nearly a week. He then had a stroke during post-fight surgery. He was paralyzed on his left side and received intensive physical therapy.
Page won a $1.2 million settlement in 2007 with Kentucky boxing officials over the lack of medical personnel at the fight. Boxing officials also agreed to establish a medical review panel for the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority to check the health conditions of people involved in the sport who may be at risk for injury.
Page started fighting while growing up in Louisville and was sparring with Muhammad Ali by the time he was 15. He became the National Golden Gloves heavyweight champion in 1978 at age 20.
He turned to professional boxing and lost his first shot at the WBA heavyweight championship in 1984 to Tim Witherspoon. In December of that year, Page knocked out Gerrie Coetzee in the eighth round of their bout in South Africa to claim the title, but lost on points to Tony Tubbs five months later.
Page continued boxing through 1993, then took two years off after being knocked out by Bruce Seldon. He started again in 1996.Page was 42 and had a 58-16-1 career record going into the $1,500 fight against Dale Crowe at Peels Palace in Erlanger, Ky., near Cincinnati. Crowe was 24 and an up-and-coming boxer. Page went down after 10 rounds and didn’t get up.
Golden Girls TV star dies at 86
The death of popular actress Bea Arthur, who starred in the US television sitcom The Golden Girls, has been reported in Los Angeles. Arthur, who played Dorothy Zbornak to the late Estelle Getty's Sophia Petrillo, died at home of cancer at the age of 86, a family spokesman said. She was also famous for the sitcom Maude, first creating the character in the comedy series All In The Family. Arthur also won an Emmy Award for the musical Mame.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Charactor actor Dale Swann dies
EA-WR grad, 61, had been living in AltonApril 14, 2009 - 7:14 PM
By KATHIE BASSETT For The TelegraphALTON - William Dale Swann, a character actor who appeared in numerous movies, TV series and commercials, died Thursday at his residence in Alton. He was 61.Born in Harrisburg, Ill., on Jan. 21, 1948, Swann graduated from East Alton-Wood River High School and then earned a degree in fine arts from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
"Dale was always doing plays when he was in school," said his sister, Betty Swann. ‘He started dreaming of being an actor back then."
Billed as Dale Swann in his film and TV work, he moved to Los Angeles and lived there for more than 30 years, appearing in such films as "Tango and Cash," "Proud Men" and "Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
"Swann was particularly proud of working with Charlton Heston on "Proud Men." His sister recalls how touched Swann was to receive a letter from Heston, who produced, directed and wrote the film, thanking her brother for his contributions.
"He was a good actor," Betty Swann said about her late brother. "He loved acting; he really did. He was able to express a lot of his emotions while acting."
When not working on projects, Dale Swann took acting classes and worked in admitting and billing at the UCLA Medical Center.
Acting jobs took Swann around the world. He traveled to Yugoslavia to appear with Jon Stamos in "Born to Ride" in 1991, spending three weeks there while filming.
Swann also appeared in the mini-series "13 Days to Glory: The Alamo," and TV series such as "Quantum Leap," "Baywatch," "Beverly Hills 90210," "Melrose Place," "L.A. Law" and "Hunter."
Swann returned home to Alton in 2003, taking a job at Fabrication Specialist of Illinois.
"Dale was dedicated to whatever he did," his sister said. " Swann was an avid reader who enjoyed the daily challenges of doing The New York Times crossword puzzles.
Swann suffered a stroke in February and hadn't been well since, his sister said."Dale believed in joy - in enjoying life," Betty Swann said. "He told us to do whatever we would enjoy (to honor his memory)."
Director Lee Madden dies at 82
Known for cult film 'Hell's Angels'
By Mike BarnesApril 14, 2009, 04:57 PM ET -Lee Madden, who directed the cult film "Hell's Angels '69," died of complications from pneumonia on Thursday in Camarillo, Calif. He was 82.
Madden's first film was the 1969 release "Hell's Angels" for American International Pictures. The film starred the real Oakland Hell's Angels, including Sonny Barger, then the president of the Angels. It was the only fiction film in which the gang ever participated. The film has been recently redeveloped as a potential remake at Sony.
Among Madden's other feature directing credits were 1970's "Angel Unchained," a biker remake of "The Magnificent Seven" that starred Tyne Daly and Don Stroud that he also wrote and produced; "The Night God Screamed" (1971), starring 1940s icon Jeanne Crain and "Night Creature" (1978), starring Donald Pleasence.
The Brooklyn native also directed episodes of 1970s TV series including "Cade's County" starring Glenn Ford, "Bearcats!" starring Rod Taylor and "The Most Deadly Game" starring Ralph Bellamy. His company, Lee Madden Associates, was a major supplier of industrial films and TV commercials. His principal clients were automobile companies. Among Madden's survivors is a son, David Madden, executive vp programming at Fox Television Studios.
Filmmaker Cardiff dies aged 94
Actor Dustin Hoffman presented Cardiff with his Honorary Oscar Cinematographer and director Jack Cardiff, who actress Marilyn Monroe once described as "the best in the world", has died aged 94.
He was best known for his work on movies such as The African Queen and Sons and Lovers, and was awarded an Oscar for Black Narcissus in 1948. The filmmaker was also presented with an Honorary Oscar in 2001.
Born to two music hall artists, he grew up in the theatre, resulting in a showbusiness career spanning 90 years. He moved quickly onto the production side as a runner on the 1928 film The Informer, then as camera operator and eventually cinematographer. He was made an OBE in 2000. Inspiration In 2001, he took part in an interview with readers of the BBC news website, in which he revealed he would have been a painter if he had not worked in film. Cardiff directed the 1968 movie Girl On A Motorcycle In fact much of his work was inspired by impressionist painters - he said the lighting and colour palette of Black Narcissus "was inspired by Vermeer". Cardiff was admired by many in the film industry, including Martin Scorsese. The director once described the 18-minute dance sequence in 1948's The Red Shoes as a "a moving painting".
Scorsese also described the cinematographer as being able to "paint with the camera". When asked which films he was most proud of, Cardiff said the "successful" ones had really made their mark. "Naturally, I am proud of successful films that I have enjoyed working on like The Red Shoes and the Black Narcissus and I have had a certain satisfaction from that. "But the films that I am most proud of - the film for instance that I made under great difficulty, Sons and Lovers, I wanted to make it into a good film because the book is marvellous and I didn't want to let the author down."
EA-WR grad, 61, had been living in AltonApril 14, 2009 - 7:14 PM
By KATHIE BASSETT For The TelegraphALTON - William Dale Swann, a character actor who appeared in numerous movies, TV series and commercials, died Thursday at his residence in Alton. He was 61.Born in Harrisburg, Ill., on Jan. 21, 1948, Swann graduated from East Alton-Wood River High School and then earned a degree in fine arts from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
"Dale was always doing plays when he was in school," said his sister, Betty Swann. ‘He started dreaming of being an actor back then."
Billed as Dale Swann in his film and TV work, he moved to Los Angeles and lived there for more than 30 years, appearing in such films as "Tango and Cash," "Proud Men" and "Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
"Swann was particularly proud of working with Charlton Heston on "Proud Men." His sister recalls how touched Swann was to receive a letter from Heston, who produced, directed and wrote the film, thanking her brother for his contributions.
"He was a good actor," Betty Swann said about her late brother. "He loved acting; he really did. He was able to express a lot of his emotions while acting."
When not working on projects, Dale Swann took acting classes and worked in admitting and billing at the UCLA Medical Center.
Acting jobs took Swann around the world. He traveled to Yugoslavia to appear with Jon Stamos in "Born to Ride" in 1991, spending three weeks there while filming.
Swann also appeared in the mini-series "13 Days to Glory: The Alamo," and TV series such as "Quantum Leap," "Baywatch," "Beverly Hills 90210," "Melrose Place," "L.A. Law" and "Hunter."
Swann returned home to Alton in 2003, taking a job at Fabrication Specialist of Illinois.
"Dale was dedicated to whatever he did," his sister said. " Swann was an avid reader who enjoyed the daily challenges of doing The New York Times crossword puzzles.
Swann suffered a stroke in February and hadn't been well since, his sister said."Dale believed in joy - in enjoying life," Betty Swann said. "He told us to do whatever we would enjoy (to honor his memory)."
Director Lee Madden dies at 82
Known for cult film 'Hell's Angels'
By Mike BarnesApril 14, 2009, 04:57 PM ET -Lee Madden, who directed the cult film "Hell's Angels '69," died of complications from pneumonia on Thursday in Camarillo, Calif. He was 82.
Madden's first film was the 1969 release "Hell's Angels" for American International Pictures. The film starred the real Oakland Hell's Angels, including Sonny Barger, then the president of the Angels. It was the only fiction film in which the gang ever participated. The film has been recently redeveloped as a potential remake at Sony.
Among Madden's other feature directing credits were 1970's "Angel Unchained," a biker remake of "The Magnificent Seven" that starred Tyne Daly and Don Stroud that he also wrote and produced; "The Night God Screamed" (1971), starring 1940s icon Jeanne Crain and "Night Creature" (1978), starring Donald Pleasence.
The Brooklyn native also directed episodes of 1970s TV series including "Cade's County" starring Glenn Ford, "Bearcats!" starring Rod Taylor and "The Most Deadly Game" starring Ralph Bellamy. His company, Lee Madden Associates, was a major supplier of industrial films and TV commercials. His principal clients were automobile companies. Among Madden's survivors is a son, David Madden, executive vp programming at Fox Television Studios.
Filmmaker Cardiff dies aged 94
Actor Dustin Hoffman presented Cardiff with his Honorary Oscar Cinematographer and director Jack Cardiff, who actress Marilyn Monroe once described as "the best in the world", has died aged 94.
He was best known for his work on movies such as The African Queen and Sons and Lovers, and was awarded an Oscar for Black Narcissus in 1948. The filmmaker was also presented with an Honorary Oscar in 2001.
Born to two music hall artists, he grew up in the theatre, resulting in a showbusiness career spanning 90 years. He moved quickly onto the production side as a runner on the 1928 film The Informer, then as camera operator and eventually cinematographer. He was made an OBE in 2000. Inspiration In 2001, he took part in an interview with readers of the BBC news website, in which he revealed he would have been a painter if he had not worked in film. Cardiff directed the 1968 movie Girl On A Motorcycle In fact much of his work was inspired by impressionist painters - he said the lighting and colour palette of Black Narcissus "was inspired by Vermeer". Cardiff was admired by many in the film industry, including Martin Scorsese. The director once described the 18-minute dance sequence in 1948's The Red Shoes as a "a moving painting".
Scorsese also described the cinematographer as being able to "paint with the camera". When asked which films he was most proud of, Cardiff said the "successful" ones had really made their mark. "Naturally, I am proud of successful films that I have enjoyed working on like The Red Shoes and the Black Narcissus and I have had a certain satisfaction from that. "But the films that I am most proud of - the film for instance that I made under great difficulty, Sons and Lovers, I wanted to make it into a good film because the book is marvellous and I didn't want to let the author down."
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Chaplain remembered fondly
By Steve LathropAlbany
Democrat-Herald Richard Wade, the longtime chaplain at the Linn County Jail and creator of the “Free on the Inside” program, died Saturday.He is remembered fondly by those who had known him.“
Wade, 60, was a professional singer and keyboard player with the 1960s rock ’n’ roll group Paul Bearer and Hearsemen and other bands. His music ultimately took him all over the world.
Eventually Wade returned to Albany, where he worked at Albany First Assembly of God for 22 years. In the 1990s, he took over as chaplain at the Linn County Jail, starting a Sunday service that grew to include more than 100 inmates each week.
Born in in Albany in 1948, Wade graduated from Albany Union High School in 1966. He is survived by his wife, Donna, and daughters Julia and Karla, both of Albany.
Randy Cain (Herbert Randal Cain III), an original member of the Delfonics and founder of Blue Magic, was found dead inside his Philadelphia apartment Thursday (April 9) at the age of 63. The cause of death was not determined.
Formed in Philadelphia by Randy and his friends William and Wilbert Hart and Ritchie Daniels as the Four Gents and later the Orphonics, the group came to the attention of promoter/record shop owner Stan Watson, who hooked them up with producer Thom Bell and tiny Moon Shot Records. A name change to the Delfonics led to two regional hits on Moon Shot before Stan started his own Philly Groove label.
All told, the trio (Ritchie was drafted by this point) notched 16 pop and 20 R&B records, including "La - La Means I Love You" (#4 pop, #2 R&B-1968) and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" (#10 pop, #3 R&B, 1970).
Randy left the group in 1971 (he was replaced by Major Harris) and two years later started Blue Magic by combining singer/songwriter Ted Mills with the quartet Shades of Love. The result was three pop chart records, including the #8 hit, "Sideshow", in 1974. Randy returned to the group in the 1980s, (singing with Major Harris, who had left for a solo career in 1974 but returned as well), before leaving once again for good. (oldies music.Com)
Ex-Tiger Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych found dead
BY HOWARD ULMAN • ASSOCIATED PRESS • April 13, 2009 BOSTON —
Former All-Star pitcher Mark “The Bird” Fidrych has been found dead in an apparent accident at his farm in Northborough, Massachusetts. He was 54.Worcester County district attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. says a family friend found Fidrych about 2:30 p.m. Monday beneath a pickup truck. He appeared to be working on the truck, Early said.The colorful right-hander was the American League rookie of the year in 1976 when he went 19-9 with a 2.34 earned run average. He spent all five of his major league seasons with the Detroit Tigers, compiling a 29-19 record and a 3.10 ERA.His career was cut short by injuries.
The world-famous performer worked in both XXX and mainstream films
By Mark Kernes 04/13/2009 SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Marilyn Chambers, star of such golden age classics as Behind the Green Door and Insatiable, was found dead Sunday in the mobile home where she had been living for the past several months. She was 57.
Chambers was found by her daughter, McKenna. No cause of death is yet known, and an autopsy will be performed.
Chambers, who said she began performing under her real name because she was unashamed of what she did, was nonetheless born Marilyn Ann Briggs, and she made 16 movies during the period 1972 to 1986, mostly for the Mitchell Brothers and Caballero Home Video. It was at Caballero that she created the series Marilyn Chambers' Private Fantasies. During this period, she was married to her manager, Chuck Traynor, and though they were divorced in 1985, when Chambers made her comeback film for VCA Pictures, Still Insatiable, in 1998, she requested that Traynor be present for the filming to lend her moral support. The comeback, however, was short-lived, generating just nine movies, some of which were non-sex roles.
Chambers tried her hand at producing as well, creating what was hoped to be a continuing series, Nantucket Housewives, for her own company, Damaged Productions.
Chambers was also famous for having appeared as the "cover girl" on boxes of Ivory Snow detergent, and was the star of David Cronenberg's horror film Rabid in 1977.
By Steve LathropAlbany
Democrat-Herald Richard Wade, the longtime chaplain at the Linn County Jail and creator of the “Free on the Inside” program, died Saturday.He is remembered fondly by those who had known him.“
Wade, 60, was a professional singer and keyboard player with the 1960s rock ’n’ roll group Paul Bearer and Hearsemen and other bands. His music ultimately took him all over the world.
Eventually Wade returned to Albany, where he worked at Albany First Assembly of God for 22 years. In the 1990s, he took over as chaplain at the Linn County Jail, starting a Sunday service that grew to include more than 100 inmates each week.
Born in in Albany in 1948, Wade graduated from Albany Union High School in 1966. He is survived by his wife, Donna, and daughters Julia and Karla, both of Albany.
Randy Cain (Herbert Randal Cain III), an original member of the Delfonics and founder of Blue Magic, was found dead inside his Philadelphia apartment Thursday (April 9) at the age of 63. The cause of death was not determined.
Formed in Philadelphia by Randy and his friends William and Wilbert Hart and Ritchie Daniels as the Four Gents and later the Orphonics, the group came to the attention of promoter/record shop owner Stan Watson, who hooked them up with producer Thom Bell and tiny Moon Shot Records. A name change to the Delfonics led to two regional hits on Moon Shot before Stan started his own Philly Groove label.
All told, the trio (Ritchie was drafted by this point) notched 16 pop and 20 R&B records, including "La - La Means I Love You" (#4 pop, #2 R&B-1968) and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" (#10 pop, #3 R&B, 1970).
Randy left the group in 1971 (he was replaced by Major Harris) and two years later started Blue Magic by combining singer/songwriter Ted Mills with the quartet Shades of Love. The result was three pop chart records, including the #8 hit, "Sideshow", in 1974. Randy returned to the group in the 1980s, (singing with Major Harris, who had left for a solo career in 1974 but returned as well), before leaving once again for good. (oldies music.Com)
Ex-Tiger Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych found dead
BY HOWARD ULMAN • ASSOCIATED PRESS • April 13, 2009 BOSTON —
Former All-Star pitcher Mark “The Bird” Fidrych has been found dead in an apparent accident at his farm in Northborough, Massachusetts. He was 54.Worcester County district attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. says a family friend found Fidrych about 2:30 p.m. Monday beneath a pickup truck. He appeared to be working on the truck, Early said.The colorful right-hander was the American League rookie of the year in 1976 when he went 19-9 with a 2.34 earned run average. He spent all five of his major league seasons with the Detroit Tigers, compiling a 29-19 record and a 3.10 ERA.His career was cut short by injuries.
The world-famous performer worked in both XXX and mainstream films
By Mark Kernes 04/13/2009 SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Marilyn Chambers, star of such golden age classics as Behind the Green Door and Insatiable, was found dead Sunday in the mobile home where she had been living for the past several months. She was 57.
Chambers was found by her daughter, McKenna. No cause of death is yet known, and an autopsy will be performed.
Chambers, who said she began performing under her real name because she was unashamed of what she did, was nonetheless born Marilyn Ann Briggs, and she made 16 movies during the period 1972 to 1986, mostly for the Mitchell Brothers and Caballero Home Video. It was at Caballero that she created the series Marilyn Chambers' Private Fantasies. During this period, she was married to her manager, Chuck Traynor, and though they were divorced in 1985, when Chambers made her comeback film for VCA Pictures, Still Insatiable, in 1998, she requested that Traynor be present for the filming to lend her moral support. The comeback, however, was short-lived, generating just nine movies, some of which were non-sex roles.
Chambers tried her hand at producing as well, creating what was hoped to be a continuing series, Nantucket Housewives, for her own company, Damaged Productions.
Chambers was also famous for having appeared as the "cover girl" on boxes of Ivory Snow detergent, and was the star of David Cronenberg's horror film Rabid in 1977.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Tragic end in search for drummer
FORMER Genesis drummer John Mayhew has died just days after his brother mounted a search for him, the Evening Star can today reveal. Mr Mayhew died of a heart-related condition on March 26, just two days after his Ipswich-based brother Paul began a search for him to heal a decades-old family rift.
Paul, 71, of Roundwood Road, had not seen his brother for 18 years and had little to do with him since the early 1970s. He had wanted to patch things up with his sibling and had believed he was living in New Zealand.
Paul said: My brother passed away last week just a day before his birthday. I had found where he was - he was in Scotland working for a furniture company.
He was an alcoholic and had heart problems.
Paul, who is planning to visit Scotland to attend the funeral, said he was very upset that he was unable to put things right between he and his brother. Fighting back the tears he said: "Someone contacted me who had known John and where he was. They had seen I was looking for him on the Evening Star website. I don't have all the details yet. I'm very, very upset to get this news".
The brothers, who had a ten year age difference, grew up together at the family home in Macaulay Road.
Speaking to the Star previously, Paul said: I was in my 20s when we lost touch. Our parents split up and I went with our mother and John went with our dad.
TRIBUTES have been paid today by one of John Mayhew's closest friends. Theresa Howie said she knew Mr Mayhew for the last four years of his life. She said: John was friends with my younger brother since he moved to Glasgow and John lived round the corner from us. We knew he was a drummer with Genesis but he didn't like to boast about it, though he would talk about it if we asked him.
Theresa said she had asked John about his family but said he thought his brother had died.She added: When he died the state was going to pay for his funeral but I thought I better check if there was any family. There was no wife or children. I looked on the internet and found the story that his brother was looking for him just days before he died. It was very strange.
John had heart problems and he was being looked after in hospital when he died. It was very sad he didn't see his family, it was a tragic end".
Paying tribute to Mr Mayhew, Theresa said: "John was a legend and deserves recognition. He was a wonderful man, he was always smiling and would help out anybody. He was very good to my family. That's how I'll remember him."
Actor, Writer, Producer and former adult film star Jack Wrangler, died Tuesday at age 62. Wrangler had been struggling with complications from lung disease.
Wrangler, who got his start as a child television actor, went on to star in over 85 adult movies and became a porn legend. He married vocalist Margaret Whiting, and later found success in New York's legitimate theatre scene. An award-winning Cabaret director, Wrangler conceived and co-produced the 1997 Broadway Musical DREAM.
A documentary on Jack's life, "Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon" recently won the GayVN Award For Best Alternative Release. The film documents the life and career of one of the biggest porn icons of the 1970s.
And while Wrangler was extremely popular within the gay community, he eventually fell in love with Margaret Whiting, the famous vocalist who was 22 years his senior. Wrangler went on to cross over to straight adult films and still maintained his popularity.
TMZ has learned Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a felony hit-and-run car accident in Fullerton, California early this morning -- hours after he pitched in a game last night.
Cops say someone driving a minivan blew through a red light, causing the Mitsubishi that Adenhart was riding in to hit a light pole. Three people were killed in the crash, including Nick. Cops say the person driving the van fled the scene -- but was later caught and charged with felony hit-and-run. The suspect is currently being treated for injuries in a local hospital. We're told one of the other men killed in the crash was also affiliated with the Angels organization. Nick was 22-years-old.
Frank Springer, R.I.P.Veteran comic book and strip artist Frank Springer died last Thursday at the age of 79. The cause is being reported as prostate cancer.
Born December 6, 1929 in Queens, New York, Springer graduated Syracuse University with a degree in art in 1952 and promptly went into the army, where he did mostly illustration work at Fort Dix. Upon his discharge in '54, he began assisting George Wunder on the comic strip, Terry and the Pirates, a post he held until 1960 and returned to on occasion when Mr. Wunder was behind and needed help. In later years, Springer also occasionally worked on other strips including several years of Rex Morgan, M.D., plus ghosting on The Heart of Juliet Jones, On Stage, Friday Foster, The Phantom and many others. He also did strips he originated like The Virtue of Vera Valiant, written by Stan Lee.
His comic book career began in '60 and he later recalled Brain Boy, a Dell comic, as his first assignment. He drew many books for Dell including Charlie Chan, Ghost Stories and Toka, Jungle King. He also began drawing for DC and later, Marvel. Fans recall his byline on the DC series, The Secret Six, and for a time on Marvel's Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD and later on many Spider-Man titles and Dazzler. He also did a lot of uncredited work, including a few Batman tales under the "Bob Kane" signature.
In the late sixties, he teamed with writer Michael O'Donoghue and produced several adult comic features for Evergreen Review, the most notable being The Adventures of Phoebe Zeit-Geist, the episodes of which were collected into a best-selling book. When O'Donoghue became an editor for National Lampoon, he brought Frank in and soon Springer was drawing many of their comic book parodies to great acclaim.
Frank was admired and loved by his peers, and the National Cartoonists Society three times awarded him its trophy as Best Comic Book Artist of the year and once elected him its president. He was a guest of honor at the 2004 Comic-Con International in San Diego where I had the privilege of interviewing him twice before his many fans. On one of those panels, he said of his career, "There were some raggedy times, but I always had work, raised five kids, bought some houses, bought some cars...I've been lucky."
Personally, I think skill and dedication had a lot to do with that.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barbara, as well as four children and seven grandchildren.
Bud Shank, Alto Saxophonist, Dies at 82By Jeff TamarkinJazzTimes Magazine
Bud Shank, an alto saxophonist and flutist whose career spanned more than a half century, died April 2 at his home in Tucson, Ariz. The cause was not available but Shank was said to have had “some ongoing health issues.”
A day earlier Shank had been in San Diego recording a new album. Shank was 82.
Shank first recorded as a leader in the mid-’50s, for the Pacific Jazz label. He is considered part of the emerging West Coast cool school, but he continued to develop beyond that sound as the years went on. In those early years, he also played with Maynard Ferguson, Bob Brookmeyer, Bob Cooper and, in 1962, with Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar on the latter’s Improvisations album. In the ’60s, Shank also aligned with artists as diverse as Sergio Mendes, the Mamas and the Papas —that’s his flute on the classic hit “California Dreamin’”— and also Chet Baker, who appeared on Shank’s 1966 album Michelle, a collection of covers of then-contemporary pop hits. The latter became Shank’s only album to reach the Billboard charts.
Shank continued to evolve during the ’70s and ’80s, eventually giving up the flute to concentrate on his alto work. He put together a band called the L.A. Four with Almeida, bassist Ray Brown and a revolving cast of drummers, and recorded a number of albums for such labels as Concord, Contemporary and Candid. In 2004 Mosaic released Mosaic Select 10, a three-disc collection of Shank’s Pacific Jazz collaborations with Cooper.
In 2005 Shank formed the Bud Shank Big Band and in 2007 he released Beyond the Red Door, with pianist Bill Mays.
FORMER Genesis drummer John Mayhew has died just days after his brother mounted a search for him, the Evening Star can today reveal. Mr Mayhew died of a heart-related condition on March 26, just two days after his Ipswich-based brother Paul began a search for him to heal a decades-old family rift.
Paul, 71, of Roundwood Road, had not seen his brother for 18 years and had little to do with him since the early 1970s. He had wanted to patch things up with his sibling and had believed he was living in New Zealand.
Paul said: My brother passed away last week just a day before his birthday. I had found where he was - he was in Scotland working for a furniture company.
He was an alcoholic and had heart problems.
Paul, who is planning to visit Scotland to attend the funeral, said he was very upset that he was unable to put things right between he and his brother. Fighting back the tears he said: "Someone contacted me who had known John and where he was. They had seen I was looking for him on the Evening Star website. I don't have all the details yet. I'm very, very upset to get this news".
The brothers, who had a ten year age difference, grew up together at the family home in Macaulay Road.
Speaking to the Star previously, Paul said: I was in my 20s when we lost touch. Our parents split up and I went with our mother and John went with our dad.
TRIBUTES have been paid today by one of John Mayhew's closest friends. Theresa Howie said she knew Mr Mayhew for the last four years of his life. She said: John was friends with my younger brother since he moved to Glasgow and John lived round the corner from us. We knew he was a drummer with Genesis but he didn't like to boast about it, though he would talk about it if we asked him.
Theresa said she had asked John about his family but said he thought his brother had died.She added: When he died the state was going to pay for his funeral but I thought I better check if there was any family. There was no wife or children. I looked on the internet and found the story that his brother was looking for him just days before he died. It was very strange.
John had heart problems and he was being looked after in hospital when he died. It was very sad he didn't see his family, it was a tragic end".
Paying tribute to Mr Mayhew, Theresa said: "John was a legend and deserves recognition. He was a wonderful man, he was always smiling and would help out anybody. He was very good to my family. That's how I'll remember him."
Actor, Writer, Producer and former adult film star Jack Wrangler, died Tuesday at age 62. Wrangler had been struggling with complications from lung disease.
Wrangler, who got his start as a child television actor, went on to star in over 85 adult movies and became a porn legend. He married vocalist Margaret Whiting, and later found success in New York's legitimate theatre scene. An award-winning Cabaret director, Wrangler conceived and co-produced the 1997 Broadway Musical DREAM.
A documentary on Jack's life, "Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon" recently won the GayVN Award For Best Alternative Release. The film documents the life and career of one of the biggest porn icons of the 1970s.
And while Wrangler was extremely popular within the gay community, he eventually fell in love with Margaret Whiting, the famous vocalist who was 22 years his senior. Wrangler went on to cross over to straight adult films and still maintained his popularity.
TMZ has learned Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a felony hit-and-run car accident in Fullerton, California early this morning -- hours after he pitched in a game last night.
Cops say someone driving a minivan blew through a red light, causing the Mitsubishi that Adenhart was riding in to hit a light pole. Three people were killed in the crash, including Nick. Cops say the person driving the van fled the scene -- but was later caught and charged with felony hit-and-run. The suspect is currently being treated for injuries in a local hospital. We're told one of the other men killed in the crash was also affiliated with the Angels organization. Nick was 22-years-old.
Frank Springer, R.I.P.Veteran comic book and strip artist Frank Springer died last Thursday at the age of 79. The cause is being reported as prostate cancer.
Born December 6, 1929 in Queens, New York, Springer graduated Syracuse University with a degree in art in 1952 and promptly went into the army, where he did mostly illustration work at Fort Dix. Upon his discharge in '54, he began assisting George Wunder on the comic strip, Terry and the Pirates, a post he held until 1960 and returned to on occasion when Mr. Wunder was behind and needed help. In later years, Springer also occasionally worked on other strips including several years of Rex Morgan, M.D., plus ghosting on The Heart of Juliet Jones, On Stage, Friday Foster, The Phantom and many others. He also did strips he originated like The Virtue of Vera Valiant, written by Stan Lee.
His comic book career began in '60 and he later recalled Brain Boy, a Dell comic, as his first assignment. He drew many books for Dell including Charlie Chan, Ghost Stories and Toka, Jungle King. He also began drawing for DC and later, Marvel. Fans recall his byline on the DC series, The Secret Six, and for a time on Marvel's Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD and later on many Spider-Man titles and Dazzler. He also did a lot of uncredited work, including a few Batman tales under the "Bob Kane" signature.
In the late sixties, he teamed with writer Michael O'Donoghue and produced several adult comic features for Evergreen Review, the most notable being The Adventures of Phoebe Zeit-Geist, the episodes of which were collected into a best-selling book. When O'Donoghue became an editor for National Lampoon, he brought Frank in and soon Springer was drawing many of their comic book parodies to great acclaim.
Frank was admired and loved by his peers, and the National Cartoonists Society three times awarded him its trophy as Best Comic Book Artist of the year and once elected him its president. He was a guest of honor at the 2004 Comic-Con International in San Diego where I had the privilege of interviewing him twice before his many fans. On one of those panels, he said of his career, "There were some raggedy times, but I always had work, raised five kids, bought some houses, bought some cars...I've been lucky."
Personally, I think skill and dedication had a lot to do with that.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barbara, as well as four children and seven grandchildren.
Bud Shank, Alto Saxophonist, Dies at 82By Jeff TamarkinJazzTimes Magazine
Bud Shank, an alto saxophonist and flutist whose career spanned more than a half century, died April 2 at his home in Tucson, Ariz. The cause was not available but Shank was said to have had “some ongoing health issues.”
A day earlier Shank had been in San Diego recording a new album. Shank was 82.
Shank first recorded as a leader in the mid-’50s, for the Pacific Jazz label. He is considered part of the emerging West Coast cool school, but he continued to develop beyond that sound as the years went on. In those early years, he also played with Maynard Ferguson, Bob Brookmeyer, Bob Cooper and, in 1962, with Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar on the latter’s Improvisations album. In the ’60s, Shank also aligned with artists as diverse as Sergio Mendes, the Mamas and the Papas —that’s his flute on the classic hit “California Dreamin’”— and also Chet Baker, who appeared on Shank’s 1966 album Michelle, a collection of covers of then-contemporary pop hits. The latter became Shank’s only album to reach the Billboard charts.
Shank continued to evolve during the ’70s and ’80s, eventually giving up the flute to concentrate on his alto work. He put together a band called the L.A. Four with Almeida, bassist Ray Brown and a revolving cast of drummers, and recorded a number of albums for such labels as Concord, Contemporary and Candid. In 2004 Mosaic released Mosaic Select 10, a three-disc collection of Shank’s Pacific Jazz collaborations with Cooper.
In 2005 Shank formed the Bud Shank Big Band and in 2007 he released Beyond the Red Door, with pianist Bill Mays.
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