Animation Fun Facts for Dec 9, 2017

Birthdays: Sappho, John Milton, Jean De Brunhoff, Emile Waldteufel the composer of the Skaters Waltz, Admiral Grace Hopper 1906 who wrote the earliest computer language, Elzie Segar the creator of Popeye, Hermoinie Gingold, Dalton Trumbo, John Cassavettes, Broderick Crawford, Dick Butkus, Red Foxx, Cesar Franck, John Malkovich is 64, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Buck Henry is 87, Felicity Huffman, Mario Cantone, Judy Dench is 83, Kirk Douglas-born Issur Danielevitch is 101!

1889- The Chicago Auditorium dedicated. The landmark building’s architect Louis

Sullivan had hired a new assistant to help with the drawings-Frank Lloyd Wright.

1905- Richard Strauss’s opera Salome premiered in Dresden. The lead role demands

a soprano with big Wagnerian lungs but also a flat stomach to do the strip tease

the Dance of the Seven Veils. When the opera debuted in New York old millionaires

like J.P. Morgan were shocked at its’ blatant sexuality. They threatened to cut

off funding until Sal and her skimpy veils was banished from the schedule.

1936- The first cookery show appeared on British television.

1946- Damon Runyon died, the writer whose characters the musical "Guys and

Dolls' are based. His philosophy:  "All life is six to five against."

1948-Actor Ossie Davis married actress Ruby Dee.

1960-  Coronation Street premiered on British ITV.

1964-John Coltrane recorded his landmark jazz album “A Love Supreme”. 

1965- Bill Melendez's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" the first half hour animated t.v. special featuring the music of Vince Guaraldi.  Producer Lee Mendelson had heard Guaraldi's jazz combo perform in San Francisco. He never scored a film before:" How many yards of music do you want?" A Charlie Brown Christmas has run every year for 52 years.

1967- At a Doors concert lead singer Jim Morrison was sprayed with mace and arrested

by Miami police for “lewd behavior” on stage, but probably more for referring to

the cops as pigs.

1994- Disney Animators in California move into their new Animation building designed

by Robert Stern.

2340- Mr Worf, the Klingon officer of Star Trek Next Generation was born.