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 61st birthday soprano Karita Mattila.
Born on this day in 1910 singer, actress and arts advocate Kitty Carlisle Hart.
Happy 93rd birthday actor and dreamboat George Maharis.
On this day in 1056 Byzantine Empress Theodora died childless, thus ending the Macedonian dynasty.
Born on this day in 1906 actress Joan Blondell.
Born on this day in 1930 Ben Gazzara.
Born on this day in 1916 actress, comedian and singer Martha Raye.
Born on this day in 1909 actress, dancer and singer Ruby Keeler.
Happy 63rd birthday actor Steve Guttenberg.
Happy 67th birthday to the ineffable actor, screenwriter, playwright, female impersonator and memoirist Charles Busch.
Born on this day in 1933 actress Sylva Koscina.
Born on this day in 1956 actress Kim Cattrall.
Born on this day in 1843 soprano Christine Nilsson.
Born on this day in 1918 author Jacqueline Susann.
Born on this day in 1920 actress Shelley Winters.
Born on this day in 1893 stage and film actress, playwright, screenwriter, singer and sex symbol Mae West.
Happy 88th birthday to actress, dancer and singer Julie Newmar.
Born on this day in 1879 First Lady of the American Theatre Ethel Barrymore.
Born on this day in 1895 comic and actor Bert Lahr.
Born on this day in 1915 dancer and choreographer Michael Kidd.
Happy 96th birthday actress Arlene Dahl.
Born on this day in 1902 actress Norma Shearer.
Happy 64th birthday actress Melanie Griffith.
Born on this day in 1910 actress Sylvia Sidney.
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.
