On December 19, 1958, singer Bobby Darin made the unusual decision to record his version of the theme song for The Threepenny Opera, a German musical play that debuted in 1928, for his upcoming album, That’s All. Not everyone agreed with Darin’s move. According to legend, Dick Clark warned Bobby Darin not to include the…
Josephine Baker: The First Major African American Superstar
The extraordinary Josephine Baker was a groundbreaking actress, dancer, and singer. The Golden Era beauty was the first African American actress to star in a movie, but that was just one facet of her incredible life. Born in 1906, she grew up in poverty with parents who were only mildly successful as entertainers in segregated…
“Swinging on a Star”: The Origins of Bing Crosby’s Hit Song
Bing Crosby’s original version of “Swinging on a Star,” with its catchy tune and poetic lyrics about moonbeams in a jar, enjoyed an impressive 28-week-run on the Billboard charts in 1944, including nine weeks in the number one position. The song, composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke, earned the Academy Award…
Behind-the-Scenes Drama on the Set of “The Little Foxes”
The 1941 drama, The Little Foxes, about the turn-of-the-century Southern family and their in-fighting and back-stabbing may have foreshadowed the real-life behind-the-scenes drama that took place on the set of this film. Although The Little Foxes was a box office success and was nominated for an incredible nine Academy Awards, tensions on set ran high…
How Did “Citizen Kane” NOT Win the Best Picture Oscar?
Film critics and fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood consistently place the 1941 film Citizen Kane as one of the best movies ever made. So, it is surprising to learn that the classic film that was directed, produced, co-written, and starred Orson Welles did not take home the Oscar for Best Picture at the…