WindyCityOperaman
Dan Soda (Windy City Operaman) is a Chicago native whose first visit to opera was at age 17 and Massenet’s Werther with Troyanos and Kraus. Nothing was ever the same. Opera and concert performances, recordings and video are an obsession. He prepares Parterre Box’s daily birthday and anniversary tributes. He also enjoys concerts, live theater and movies.
Born on this day in 1912 actress Wendy Hiller.
Born on this day in 1923 actress and comedian Alice Ghostley.
Born on this day in 1899 producer and director Alfred Hitchcock.
Born on this day in 1883 actress Marion Lorne.
Happy 57th birthday to actress Viola Davis.
Born on this day in 1902 actress Norma Shearer.
On this day in 1975, Liza Minnelli jumped into the role of Roxie Hart in Chicago, the start of a five-week stint filling in for Gwen Verdon, who was recovering from throat surgery.
Born on this day in 1910 actress Sylvia Sidney.
Born on this day in 1886 actress and producer Billie Burke.
Born on this day in 1911 actress Lucille Ball.
Born on this day in 1911 actor Robert Taylor.
Born on this day in 1910 actress Anita Page.
Born on this day in 1904 actress Dolores del Rio.
Born on this day in 1905 actress Myrna Loy.
Born on this day in 1936 fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.
Happy 83rd birthday to actress France Nuyen.
Happy 66th birthday actress Delta Burke.
Born on this day in 1905 actress Clara Bow.
Born on this day in 1948 actress Georgia Engel.
Born on this day in 1909 actress and singer Vivian Vance.
Born on this day in 1935 actress Barbara Harris.
Happy 71st birthday to actress, singer and icon Lynda Carter.
Happy 62nd birthday mezzo-soprano Susan Graham.
Born on this day in 1908 etiquette maven Amy Vanderbilt.
Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
