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.
Happy 71st birthday to Broadway goddess Lillias White.
Born on this day in 1924 chanteuse Lola Albright.
On this day in 1951, Dolores Gray, Bert Lahr and a flock of other talent invaded the Mark Hellinger Theatre for the revue Two on the Aisle.
Born on this day in 1908 actress, dancer and singer Lupe Vélez.
Born on this day in 1917 actress, comedian and voice artist Phyllis Diller.
Born on this day in 1911 triple threat (at least) Ginger Rogers.
Happy 76th birthday to singer and songwriter Linda Ronstadt.
Born on this day in 1930 actress and singer Polly Bergen.
On this day in 2010 Rialto divas Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch went into a revival of A Little Night Music at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
Born on this day in 1895 soprano Kirsten Flagstad.
Born on this day in 1931 actor Tab Hunter.
Happy 53rd birthday tenor Jonas Kaufmann.
Born on this day in 1901 authoress Barbara Cartland.
Happy 71st birthday actress, director and producer Anjelica Huston.
Born on this day in 1899 film director George Cukor.
Born on this day in 1931 chanteuse and actress Della Reese.
Born on this day in 1936 actress Shirley Knight.
Born on this day in 1898, vastly talented actress and singer Gertrude Lawrence.
On this day in 1964, the legendary Bert Lahr opened in a new musical, Foxy, which sadly ran only 72 performances.
Born on this day in 1917 actress Susan Hayward.
On this day in 1956 actress Marilyn Monroe married playwright Arthur Miller.
Happy 74th birthday to actress and occasional songstress Kathy Bates.
Born on this day in 1932 soprano Anna Moffo.
Born on this day in 1922 actress Eleanor Parker.
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.
