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.
On this day in 1964 Walt Disney‘s musical film Mary Poppins premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
On this day in 1951 the musical film An American in Paris premiered in London.
On this day in 1950 the film Rashomon, directed by Akira Kurosawa, was released.
Born on this day in 1958 actor Steve Guttenberg.
Happy 69 to that infeffable composite of homme de lettres, grande dame, diseuse and monstre sacré we mortals call Charles Busch.
On this day in 2021 the French government announced that dancer, singer, spy and civil rights activist Josephine Baker will be the first black woman to be interred in the Panthéon in Paris.
Happy 90th birthday mezzo-soprano Dame Janet Baker.
On this day in 1961 at the 22nd Venice Film Festival L’Année dernière à Marienbad directed by Alain Resnais won the Leone d’oro award.
Born on this day in 1883 designer Coco Chanel.
Happy 87th birthday to actor and filmmaker Robert Redford.
Born on this day in 1893 actress and playwright Mae West, seen here trying her delicate pink hand at R&B at the tender age of 77.
Born on this day in 1928 songstress Eydie Gormé.
On this day in 1939 the musical film The Wizard of Oz premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
Born on this day in 1910 actress Sylvia Sidney.
Born on this day in 1911 actress and comedienne Lucille Ball.
Born on this day in 1906 actor, director and screenwriter John Huston.
Born on this day in 1910 actress Anita Page.
On this day in 1829 Gioachino Rossini‘s Guillaume Tell premiered at Salle Le Peletier in Paris.
On this day in 1947 soprano Maria Callas made her Italian opera debut in La Gioconda at the Arena di Verona.
Born on this day in 1936 designer Yves Saint-Laurent.
Born on this day in 1939 actress France Nuyen.
Happy 67th birthday to actress Delta Burke.
On this day in 1920 the musical comedy Poor Little Ritz Girl opened on Broadway with a score shared between Sigmund Romberg and Richard Rodgers.