1.
Hereford
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Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately 16 miles east of the border with Wales,24 miles southwest of Worcester, with a population of 58,896, it is the largest settlement in the county. The name Hereford is said to come from the Anglo-Saxon here, an army or formation of soldiers, and the ford, if this is the origin it suggests that Hereford was a place where a body of armed men forded or crossed the Wye. The Welsh name for Hereford is Henffordd, meaning old road, much of the county of Herefordshire was Welsh-speaking, as reflected in the Welsh names of many places in the county. An early town charter from 1189 granted by Richard I of England describes it as Hereford in Wales, Hereford has been recognised as a city since time immemorial, with the status being reconfirmed as recently as October 2000. It is now known chiefly as a centre for a wider agricultural and rural area. Products from Hereford include, cider, beer, leather goods, nickel alloys, poultry, chemicals, hostilities between the Anglo-Saxons and the Welsh came to a head with the Battle of Hereford in 760, in which the Britons freed themselves from the influence of the English. Hereford had the only mint west of the Severn in the reign of Athelstan, and it was to Hereford, then a border town, the present Hereford Cathedral dates from the early 12th century, as does the first bridge across the Wye. Former Bishops of Hereford include Saint Thomas de Cantilupe and Lord High Treasurer of England Thomas Charlton. The city gave its name to two suburbs of Paris, France, Maisons-Alfort and Alfortville, due to a manor built there by Peter of Aigueblanche, Bishop of Hereford, in the middle of the 13th century. Hereford, a base for successive holders of the title Earl of Hereford, was once the site of a castle, Hereford Castle, which rivalled that of Windsor in size and scale. This was a base for repelling Welsh attacks and a stronghold for English kings such as King Henry IV when on campaign in the Welsh Marches against Owain Glyndŵr. The castle was dismantled in the 18th century and landscaped into Castle Green, after the Battle of Mortimers Cross in 1461, during the Wars of the Roses, the defeated Lancastrian leader Owen Tudor was taken to Hereford by Sir Roger Vaughan and executed in High Town. A plaque now marks the spot of the execution, Vaughan was later himself executed, under a flag of truce, by Owens son Jasper. During the civil war the city changed several times. On 30 September 1642 Parliamentarians led by Sir Robert Harley and Henry Grey, in December they withdrew to Gloucester because of the presence in the area of a Royalist army under Lord Herbert. The city was occupied briefly from 23 April to 18 May 1643 by Parliamentarians commanded by Sir William Waller. On 31 July 1645 a Scottish army of 14,000 under Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven besieged the city but met resistance from its garrison
Hereford
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Hereford Cathedral and Wye Bridge
Hereford
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Hereford Cathedral, from Church Street
Hereford
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The Old House, High Town. This timber-framed Jacobean building, built in 1621, is now a
museum.
Hereford
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Hereford Town Hall (opened 1904)
2.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
United States
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Native Americans meeting with Europeans, 1764
United States
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Flag
United States
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The signing of the
Mayflower Compact, 1620.
United States
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The
Declaration of Independence: the
Committee of Five presenting their draft to the
Second Continental Congress in 1776
3.
Oakland Technical High School
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It is one of six comprehensive public high school campuses in Oakland. Oakland Techs attendance jurisdiction includes several neighborhoods, including Oakland Chinatown, Rockridge, North Oakland, Tech received the maximum 6-year accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in 2009. Oakland Techs main building was built in 1914 and resembles the main building of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During the 1970s, when many California schools were being demolished and rebuilt for earthquake safety, instead, it was gutted and rebuilt on the inside, while its historic exterior was preserved. The school was declared the 99th historic landmark by the city of Oakland on July 23,1985, while Tech was closed for earthquake retrofitting in the 1970s, the school was displaced to 5714 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. This location is sometimes referred to Old Tech but was actually the campus of the now defunct University High School. That campus had then served as Merritt College from 1954 to 1966 and is considered the birthplace of the Black Panthers. In 1977 a group of students from a U. S. Government class at Tech launched a drive to create a California state holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. The idea was not new - about a dozen states already had such holidays, the students formed themselves into a group called The Apollos and lobbied for the holiday for four years, it was finally passed by the legislature and signed by the governor in 1981. In 2008 two students at other Oakland high schools heard about the Apollos and made a short documentary film about their successful quest. Students at Oakland Technical High School have the option of enrolling in one of the schools academies, students take one class within their academies, and spend the rest of the day in normal classes. Paideia is an advanced History and English program, in the sophomore year, students have the option to take English 2 Paideia and World Cultures. In 11th grade, students, based on their grades, have the option to enroll in AP or HP English, in senior year, students, according to grades, are also able to take AP Government and AP English 4. The Engineering Academy focuses on mechanical engineering, starting in 10th grade, the students in this academy study engineering, physics, drafting, etc. Students can be enrolled in the Paideia and the Engineering programs. In 2008, over half of the senior block was accepted to the prestigious UC Berkeley. Students regularly score 4s or 5s for AP classes taken in the Paideia program, - rapper Huey P. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, St. In 1993, Tech, at its current location, was featured in the movie Made in America
Oakland Technical High School
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Front entrance to Oakland Technical High School
Oakland Technical High School
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University High School, where Tech moved temporarily during retrofitting in the 1970s
Oakland Technical High School
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This article needs additional citations for
verification. Please help improve this article by
adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2009)
4.
Laney College
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Laney College is a community college located in Oakland, California, near the Lake Merritt BART station and the Kaiser Convention Center. Laney is the largest of the four colleges of the Peralta Community College District which serves northern Alameda County, Laney College is named after Joseph Clarence Laney. Laney College originally opened in 1953 as Oakland City College, at the former University High School campus and it offers both certificates and credits for Associate of Arts degree, as well as prerequisites to transfer to four year universities. The college, in addition to the three campuses of the Peralta College District, is accredited by the Western Association of Schools. Laney College traces its history to the Central Trade School by the Oakland Board of the Education in 1927, the trade school was later renamed Joseph C. Oakland Junior College was founded in 1953 with Laney serving as the training center and Merritt hosting the liberal arts. In 1958 the college was renamed Oakland City College, the current campus was opened prior to 1970-71 academic year. Laney is divided into five divisions and sixty-one departments, the buildings are arranged on a rigid grid, with two levels of concrete pathways providing circulation. The square in the center of the complex has been reserved for the quad, surrounding the quad are the student center, theater, library, and gymnasium. On one corner is the triangular Laney Tower, the administration building, on the opposite is another triangular building housing a lecture hall. Academic buildings form the ring of the complex. However, none of the levels are on the same level with each other, they are connected by voluminous stairs. Most of the buildings occupy two or three squares on the grid. The entire complex shares a red brick and concrete theme, with corners, square and triangular shapes. The newest academic building is the art center, which is adjacent to the complex but has its own architectural style. The building opened in the 2006-2007 school year and it was designed by Beverly Prior Architects to be built from prefabricated materials, because of the short time frame between the start of construction and planned opening. The channel that connects Lake Merritt to the Oakland Estuary runs through the center of the campus, the southeastern half of the campus on the other side of the channel is mainly used for athletic and Peralta Community College District facilities. This section was also the site of the World War II Auditorium Housing Project which housed war industry workers from around the United States
Laney College
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Laney College
5.
Puppeteer
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The puppeteer may be visible to or hidden from the audience. Some puppet styles require two or more puppeteers to work together to create a puppet character. The puppeteer might speak in the role of the puppets character, however, there is much puppetry which does not use the moving mouth. Often, in theatre, a mouth is used only for gestural expression. In traditional glove puppetry often one puppeteer will operate two puppets at an out of a cast of several. Very often, though, the puppeteer assumes the joint roles of puppet-maker, director, moose and Mr. Bunny Rabbit Cary Antebi - Sherlock the Squirrel in The Magic Garden Pam Arciero - Grundgetta from Sesame Street. Bob Baker -400 movies, first puppeteer on TV – Los Angeles KHJ in 1939, greg Ballora - Emmett from The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth, Baloney from The Mr. Potato Head Show. Billy Barkhurst - Jennifer Barnhart - Cleo Lion from Between the Lions, Mama Bear from Sesame Street, phil Baron - Bill Barretta - Pepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear, and Johnny Fiama from Muppets Tonight. Rowlf the Dog and The Swedish Chef, marjorie Batchelder McPharlin - American puppeteer and authority on the puppet theater. Trace Beaulieu - Mystery Science Theater 3000s Crow T, fran Brill - Zoe, Prairie Dawn, Little Bird, Roxie Marie from Sesame Street. The Chiodo Brothers - Stephen Chiodo, Edward Chiodo, and Charles Chiodo have used their company Chiodo Bros, productions Inc. to create puppets for specific films which they also performed in. They are also known for performing the puppet for Dr. Colosso from The Thundermans, forman Brown - Puppeteer and gay novelist. He was a member of the Yale Puppeteers and the force behind Turnabout Theatre. Warrick Brownlow-Pike - Dodge T. Dog, Oucho T. Cactus Lisa Buckley - Ms. Fluffé from Dog City and she built Noodle McNoodle from Noodle and Doodle. Simon Buckley - British TV and film puppeteer Julianne Buescher - Potato Bug from The Mr. Potato Head Show, Potato Head from The Mr. Potato Head Show. Kevin Carlson helped Dina Fraboni James Murray to create The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth where he performed the title character, leslie Carrara-Rudolph - Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street. Dave Chapman - Dougie Colon from That Puppet Game Show, Otis the Aardvark, Scratch from Nuzzle, Kevin Clash - Elmo from Sesame Street, Clifford from The Jim Henson Hour and Muppets Tonight, Baby Sinclair from Dinosaurs. Lola Cueto - María Dolores Velázquez Rivas, better known as Lola Cueto Mexican painter, printmaker, mireya Cueto - Mexican puppeteer, writer and dramaturg
Puppeteer
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Puppeteer with hand puppets.
Puppeteer
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A puppeteer in old town Jakarta
6.
Filmmaking
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Filmmaking is the process of making a film. Filmmaking takes place in places around the world in a range of economic, social, and political contexts. Typically, it involves a number of people, and can take from a few months to several years to complete. Film production consists of five stages, Development, The first stage in which the ideas for the film are created, rights to books/plays are bought etc. Financing for the project has to be sought and greenlit, pre-production, Preparations are made for the shoot, in which cast and film crew are hired, locations are selected and sets are built. Production, The raw elements for the film are recorded during the film shoot, post-production, The images, sound, and visual effects of the recorded film are edited. Distribution, The finished film is distributed and screened in cinemas and released to home video. In this stage, the project producer selects a story, which may come from a book, play, another film, true story, video game, comic book, graphic novel, or an original idea, etc. After identifying a theme or underlying message, the works with writers to prepare a synopsis. Next they produce an outline, which breaks the story down into one-paragraph scenes that concentrate on dramatic structure. Then, they prepare a treatment, a 25-to-30-page description of the story, its mood and this usually has little dialogue and stage direction, but often contains drawings that help visualize key points. Another way is to produce a scriptment once a synopsis is produced, next, a screenwriter writes a screenplay over a period of several months. The screenwriter may rewrite it several times to improve dramatization, clarity, structure, characters, dialogue, however, producers often skip the previous steps and develop submitted screenplays which investors, studios, and other interested parties assess through a process called script coverage. A film distributor may be contacted at a stage to assess the likely market. All these factors imply a certain appeal of the film to a possible audience, not all films make a profit from the theatrical release alone, so film companies take DVD sales and worldwide distribution rights into account. The producer and screenwriter prepare a film pitch, or treatment and they will also pitch the film to actors and directors in order to attach them to the project. Many projects fail to move beyond this stage and enter so-called development hell, if a pitch succeeds, a film receives a green light, meaning someone offers financial backing, typically a major film studio, film council, or independent investor. The parties involved negotiate a deal and sign contracts, once all parties have met and the deal has been set, the film may proceed into the pre-production period
Filmmaking
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Steven Spielberg with Chandran Rutnam in Sri Lanka
Filmmaking
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Sound recordist Curtis Choy (left) on location for "Dim Sum: a Little Bit of Heart," an indie film by Wayne Wang on Clement Street, San Francisco, California 1983
7.
The Muppets
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The Muppets are an ensemble cast of puppet characters known for their self-aware, burlesque, and meta-referential style of variety-sketch comedy. The Muppets debuted on the television program Sam and Friends, which aired from 1955 to 1961, after appearing on skits in several late night talk shows and advertising commercials during the 1960s, the Muppets began appearing on Sesame Street in 1969. In the late 1970s and into the 1980s, the Muppets diversified into theatrical films, including The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper. The Walt Disney Company began involvement with the Muppets in the late 1980s, Disney acquired the rights to the Muppets in 2004, allowing the characters to gain broader public exposure than in previous years. Under Disneys control, the Muppets enjoyed revitalized success, starring in two films—The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted —as well as a primetime television series on ABC. The Muppets were created by puppeteer Jim Henson in the 1950s, beginning with Kermit the Frog, in 1955, the Muppets were introduced on Sam and Friends, a television program that aired on WRC-TV in Washington D. C. Instead, Henson utilized the natural four-sided frame of a set that viewers would already be watching through as the programs theatre. During the 1960s, the characters—notably Kermit and Rowlf the Dog—appeared on skits in several late-night talk shows and advertising commercials, Rowlf became the first Muppet with a regular spot on network television when he began appearing as Jimmy Deans sidekick on The Jimmy Dean Show. In 1966, Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett began developing a television program targeted towards children. Produced by the Childrens Television Workshop, the show debuted as Sesame Street in 1969, by the early 1970s, the Muppets continued their presence in television, namely appearing in The Land of Gorch segments during the first season of Saturday Night Live. As his involvement with Sesame Street continued, Henson mused about the possibility of creating a television series featuring the Muppets. Two pilot specials, The Muppets Valentine Show and The Muppet Show, Sex and Violence, aired on ABC in 1974 and 1975, respectively. Debuting in 1976, The Muppet Show introduced characters such as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and Animal, as well as showcasing regulars Kermit and Rowlf. Through its syndication, The Muppet Show became increasingly popular due to its sketch comedy variety format, unique brand of humor, the show went on to receive twenty-one Primetime Emmy Award nominations during its run, and winning four awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series in 1978. Altogether, the three films received four Academy Award nominations, by 1983, Henson had introduced another television series, Fraggle Rock, which ran on HBO in the United States until 1987. By the late 1980s, Henson entered discussions with Michael Eisner and The Walt Disney Company, in which the latter would acquire Jim Henson Productions and in turn, Disney was interested in purchasing the company for $150 million. In addition to the company and Muppet characters, Eisner expressed a desire to include the Sesame Street characters as part of the acquisition, Henson, declined the proposal, however, consistently referring to such a motive as a non-starter for the deal. As discussions between the two continued, Henson and Walt Disney Imagineering preemptively began developing Muppet-themed attractions for the Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World
The Muppets
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Under the guidance of creator and performer Jim Henson, the Muppets reached international recognition and celebrity status.
The Muppets
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Kermit the Frog, Henson's original and signature Muppet, is one of the most recognizable characters in
popular culture.
8.
Miss Piggy
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Miss Piggy is a Muppet character known for her breakout role in Jim Hensons The Muppet Show. Since her debut in 1976, Miss Piggy is notable for her volatile personality, tendency to use French phrases in her speech. She was also known for her romantic relationship with Kermit the Frog. Frank Oz performed the character from 1976 to 2000 and was succeeded by Eric Jacobson in 2001, in 1996, TV Guide ranked her number 23 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list. She had to enter beauty contests to survive, as single women do. She has a lot of vulnerability which she has to hide, during development of The Muppet Show, Oz assigned a hook for each Muppet he performed, Miss Piggys hook was a truck driver wanting to be a woman. Oz has also stated that while Fozzie Bear is a two-dimensional character, Piggy is convinced she is destined for stardom, and nothing will stand in her way. She has a nature, at times determined to convey an image of feminine charm. Kermit the Frog has learned this all too well, when she isnt smothering him in kisses, shes sending him flying through the air with a karate chop. Since the debut of The Muppet Show, the relationship between Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog has been subject to substantial coverage and commentary by the media, throughout The Muppet Shows run, Miss Piggys romantic pursuit for Kermit was consistently expressed. Kermit, however, constantly rebuffed Piggys feelings, eventually, in the films, Kermit began returning her affections and even marries her in The Muppets Take Manhattan. However, subsequent events suggest that the marriage was simply fictional and it is mentioned by Miss Piggy, however, in The Muppets, A Celebration of 30 years that Kermit was a happily-married frog. This marriage isnt referenced in Muppets Most Wanted and the two get married again in this film, Miss Piggy and Kermit formally ended their romantic relationship on May 10,1990. The decision was made by Jim Henson Productions and a publicity campaign titled The Pig of the Nineties was scheduled to follow, an autobiography of Piggy was expected to be published as part of the effort. However, shortly after the announcement on May 16, Jim Henson died, the two eventually resumed their relationship. In 2015, Miss Piggy and Kermit ended their relationship for a second time. Some commentators said the relationship should end permanently since she regularly abused him, in the end, its better for everyone that Kermit and Piggy have gone their separate ways. For the frog, it means the end of a long, abusive relationship, on at least three separate incidents, she attempts to coerce Kermit into a relationship, beating him when he refuses
Miss Piggy
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Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy
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Domestic
9.
Fozzie Bear
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Fozzie Bear is a Muppet character known for his lack of innate and effective comedy skills. Fozzie is a bear who often wears a brown pork pie hat. The character debuted on The Muppet Show, as the shows stand-up comic, shortly after telling the joke, he was usually the target of ridicule, particularly from balcony hecklers Statler and Waldorf. Fozzies characterization was developed by Frank Oz, who performed Fozzie until 2000, Eric Jacobson has since become the characters principal performer. Though it is thought that Fozzies name is a pun of Frank Oz, the character was actually named after Al Fuzzie. Hensons wife, Jane, was a member of the sorority, Fozzie Bear was originally Ozs main character. The popularity of Miss Piggy overtook Fozzies, but he remained popular, one of his largest roles ever was in A Muppet Family Christmas, where he took all of his friends to his mothers farm for Christmas. In 1988, a video titled Hey, Youre as Funny as Fozzie Bear. was released, during the 1990s, his roles became much smaller, due to the fact that Oz had turned his focus to directing non-Muppet films and reduced his time with the Muppets. Fozzie was only a character in the Muppet films of that decade. However, he returned to prominence when Eric Jacobson took over beginning with Its a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, the original puppet is kept in the teddy bear museum in Stratford-upon-Avon, founded by Gyles Brandreth. Frank Oz first performed Fozzie in 1976 on The Muppet Show and he remained Fozzies main performer until he retired from the role in 2000. In 2001, Eric Jacobson became Fozzies new main performer and has continued to perform the bear since then, kevin Clash puppeteered Fozzie for much of the production of Muppet Treasure Island. Victor Yerrid performed Fozzie for a 2006 Disney Cruise Line stage show, voice actor Greg Berg provided Fozzies voice for the Saturday morning cartoon Muppet Babies, as well as its short-lived spin-off, Little Muppet Monsters. The character regards Kermit the Frog as his best friend, Fozzie and Kermit have also frequently been paired together in many movies, books, and specials. In The Muppet Movie, Fozzie is the first Muppet that Kermit meets on his journey, after Fozzies unsuccessful comedy performance at the El Sleezo Cafe, Kermit invited Fozzie to come to Hollywood with him. The two friends sing the duet Movin Right Along in the film, several episodes show Fozzie as dedicated to Kermit, usually responding to his instructions with a chipper Yes sir. On those rare occasions when Kermit must be away from the theater, he invariably leaves Fozzie in charge of the show, in The Great Muppet Caper, Fozzie and Kermit are portrayed as twin brothers. Fozzies mother, Emily Bear, appeared in A Muppet Family Christmas special, to Fozzies surprise, she was friends with Statler and Waldorf, despite the heckling they inflict on him
Fozzie Bear
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Fozzie Bear
Fozzie Bear
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Fozzie Bear and
Rowlf the Dog perform "English Country Garden" on Episode 218 of
The Muppet Show
Fozzie Bear
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Bear manufacturers
10.
Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
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Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem is a Muppet rock house band that debuted on The Muppet Show. Following The Muppet Show, they appeared in various Muppet movies and television specials, Dr. Teeth and Animal were designed by Jim Henson, while the rest of the original band members were designed by Michael K. Frith. They made their debut in 1975s The Muppet Show, Sex and Violence, the band consists of Dr. Teeth on vocals and keyboards, Animal on drums, Floyd Pepper on bass guitar, Janice on guitar, and Zoot on saxophone. In season five of the show, Lips joined the band on trumpet, Animal, Floyd, and Zoot also played in the Muppet Show pit band, performing the opening and closing themes and underscoring most of the Muppet Show performances. Lips and occasionally Janice appeared in the orchestra in later episodes, though Lips made some appearances with the group after The Muppet Show ended production, the group later reverted to its original line-up. Also, the pilot episode featured Jim, a Muppet caricature of Jim Henson on banjo. The bands first film role was performing the song Can You Picture That. in The Muppet Movie and they also performed Saturday Night Life and participated in The Happiness Hotel in The Great Muppet Caper, and performed Jingle Bell Rock in A Muppet Family Christmas. They appeared in The Muppets Take Manhattan, where Dr. Teeth sang You Cant Take No For An Answer, following the deaths of two of the groups puppeteers, Jim Henson, and Richard Hunt, they were limited to brief instrumental background music for years. However, Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem backed Miss Piggy for a song in The Muppets Wizard of Oz and performed alongside Miley Cyrus in the Studio DC, Almost Live television special. They have been a mainstay in the Muppets viral video efforts of the 2010s, in 2015, they released two music videos, for Jungle Boogie and Kodachrome. The band performed a live set at the Outside Lands Festival on August 6,2016. Performed by Jim Henson, John Kennedy, Bill Barretta Dr. Teeth is the keyboard player and he is green-skinned and red-haired with a large grinning mouth of teeth, including a gold tooth supposedly fashioned by melting down his gold records. He sports a red beard with no mustache, a fur vest, a striped shirt. His self-introduction in The Muppet Movie was typically grandiose, Golden teeth and he often misuses long words and mangles verb conjugation. Jim Henson originally performed him, basing the character on New Orleans musician Dr. John and he was designed by Henson and Michael K. Frith and built by Don Sahlin. He debuted in The Muppet Show, Sex and Violence, Dr. Teeth only sings lead vocals on the second Muppet pilot and during the first season and these songs were only written before Rowlf had become firmly established as the regular Muppet pianist. Later performances mostly feature lead vocals by Floyd or Janice and only a few featured Dr. Teeth, Dr. Teeths first major speaking role since Hensons death was in Statler and Waldorfs very own show, Statler and Waldorf, From the Balcony, where Victor Yerrid performed him. Bill Barretta, however, has been performing Dr. Teeth consistently, although being the band leader, Dr. Teeth is never featured in the regular orchestra playing at The Muppet Show like the rest of the group
Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
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The five principal members of The Electric Mayhem (from left to right); Dr. Teeth, Janice,
Animal, Floyd Pepper, and Zoot.
11.
Sam Eagle
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Sam Eagle is a Muppet character originating from the television show The Muppet Show, where he was performed by Frank Oz. He also appears in the series, The Muppets. Also known as Sammy or Samuel, Sams patriotic spirit distinguishes him from the rest of the Muppet cast, as does his general stuffiness and pomposity. Because of this, it has been a gag in either The Muppet Show, or Muppet movies. In The Muppet Christmas Carol, the wall was broken when Sam informs the young Scrooge that he will enjoy business because Its the American way. The Great Gonzo, who plays Charles Dickens, as well as the narrator, corrects him and says that the line is, Its the British way, since the story is set in Great Britain. Sam often rallied against the low brow entertainment he claimed was on the show, in one episode the other Muppets claimed that Sam had gone on vacation to Moret-sur-Loing, France. However, due to time constraints these scenes found their way to the cutting-room floor, on the show, Sam acts as a censor and comments on his being under-appreciated. He often gives self-important lectures in which he espouses some conservative idea only to find himself forced to stop in embarrassment at risk of sounding like a hypocrite. Throughout the first season of The Muppet Show, Sam introduces his favorite singing duo, Wayne and Wanda, with gushing aplomb, though he claims to be a cultured bird, close observation reveals that Sam knows nothing about culture, especially the culture of his own country. He has mistaken Beethoven for a playwright and thinks The Sound of Music was written by William Shakespeare, when informed that ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev would be the guest star, Sam declared Nureyev as his favorite opera singer. Also when Nureyev arrived, Sam didnt recognize him and ejected him from the theater, Sam is often hostile toward others who do not possess similar views to his own. Sam does not interact with the guest stars of the show as often as the rest of the cast, in one he throws casually dressed guest star Rudolf Nureyev out of the building in a fit of temper, mistaking him for a bum. Although he is forgiven by Nureyev, he is still disheartened because Mr. Nureyev did not live up to his expectations, during the third seasons Halloween episode, Sam confronts Alice Cooper. Railing against the audience and indecency and low humor, Sam calls Cooper a demented, sick, degenerate, barbaric, naughty. Rather than being insulted by these comments as Sam was intending, Cooper takes it as a compliment and thanks Sam, to which Sam despairingly retorts, Freakos one, civilization zero. On Muppets Tonight, Sam periodically hosted a show a la The McLaughlin Group. Unfortunately, the only permanent debaters were Miss Piggys dimwit nephews Andy & Randy and his tagline for the show was Lets talk POLITICS
Sam Eagle
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Sam Eagle
12.
The Muppet Show
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The Muppet Show is a family-oriented comedy-variety television series that was produced by puppeteer Jim Henson and features The Muppets. The programmes were recorded at ATVs Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, England, the series shows a vaudeville or music hall-style song-and-dance variety show, as well as glimpses behind the scenes of such a show. Kermit the Frog stars as a showrunner who tries to control of the antics of the other Muppet characters. The show was known for physical slapstick, sometimes absurdist comedy. Each episode also featured a human guest star, as the shows popularity rose, many celebrities were eager to perform with the Muppets on television and in film. Many of the puppeteers also worked on Sesame Street, Jerry Juhl and Jack Burns were two of the show writers. The music was performed by Jack Parnell and his orchestra, since 1969, Sesame Street had given Jim Hensons Muppet creations exposure, however, Henson began to perceive that he was pigeonholed as a childrens entertainer. He sought to create a programme that could be enjoyed by young, Two specials were produced and aired on ABC that are considered pilots for The Muppet Show. Neither led to the sale of a network series. However, the prime-time access rule had just been enacted, which took the 7,30 to 8 pm ET slot from the networks and turned it over to their affiliates. CBS suggested it would be interested in Hensons proposal as a series it could purchase for its owned-and-operated stations. According to the pitch reel, Rowan & Martins Laugh-In co-creator George Schlatter was originally going to be involved. Henson put aside his misgivings about syndication and accepted, the Muppet Show Theme is the shows theme song. It is the opening and closing theme for episode of The Muppet Show and was performed by The Muppets in a scene of The Muppets. Each episode ended with an instrumental performance of The Muppet Show Theme by the Muppet orchestra before Statler. Some last laugh sequences featured other Muppets on the balcony, for example, in one episode, the Muppets of Sesame Street appeared behind the duo who told them, How should we know how to get to Sesame Street. We dont even know how to get out of this stupid theater box, every series, the TV version of the song was presented with re-worked lyrics. While the opening sequence evolved visually over the course of the five series
The Muppet Show
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The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
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John Cleese as a Mexican maraca soloist as part of his 1977 guest appearance on The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
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Statue of
Jim Henson and
Kermit the Frog at
College Park, Maryland
The Muppet Show
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Fozzie Bear (left) and
Rowlf the Dog (right) perform "English Country Garden" on episode 2.18 of The Muppet Show
13.
Cookie Monster
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Cookie Monster is a Muppet on the long-running childrens television show Sesame Street. He is best known for his voracious appetite and his famous eating phrases, Me eat cookie. and Om nom nom nom. He often eats just about anything, including ice cream, hot dogs, cake, pizza, doughnuts, lettuce, apples, bananas, watermelon, however, as his name suggests, his preferred food is cookies. Chocolate chip cookies are his favorite kind, oatmeal cookies are his second favorite, in a song in 2004, Cookie Monster revealed that, before he ate his first cookie, he believed his name was Sid. He is known to have a mother, a sister, and an identically-designed cousin. He also has a father, who appeared in a Monsterpiece Theater sketch promoting energy conservation, water conservation, both Cookie Monsters mother and father share his enormous appetite and craving for cookies. He and his Sesame Street friends are popular motifs on T-shirts, each snack was represented by a different monster. The Wheel-Stealer was a short, fuzzy monster with wonky eyes, the Flute-Snatcher was a speed demon with a long, sharp nose and windblown hair. The Crown-Grabber was a hulk of a monster with a Boris Karloff accent and these monsters had insatiable appetites for the snack foods they were named after. Each time the Muppet narrator, a fellow, fixes himself a tray of Wheels, Flutes and Crowns. One by one, the monsters sneak in and zoom away with the snacks, as it turns out, these commercials were never aired — but all three monsters had a future in the Muppet cast. The Crown-Grabber was used in a sketch on The Ed Sullivan Show, known from then on as the Beautiful Day Monster, he made a number of appearances on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. The Flute-Snatcher turned into Snake Frackle, a monster from The Great Santa Claus Switch. In 1967, Henson used the Wheel-Stealer puppet for an IBM training film called Coffee Break Machine, in the sketch, called The Computer Dinner, the monster devours a complex coffee making machine as it describes its different parts. When he is finished, the machine announces the monster has activated the machines anti-vandalism system and this sketch was also performed in October,1967 on The Ed Sullivan Show. It was also performed on the George Burns episode of The Muppet Show using the Luncheon Counter Monster. Two years later, Henson used a similarly-designed and equally ravenous monster for three commercials selling Munchos, a Frito-Lay potato chip and this time, the puppet was called Arnold, the Munching Monster. After the three ads were produced, Henson had the opportunity to renew the contract and he chose not to, because at that point he was working on Sesame Street — and that monster puppet was moving on to the next stage in his career
Cookie Monster
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Cookie Monster singing his signature song "
C Is For Cookie "
14.
Bert (Sesame Street)
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Bert is a yellow Muppet character on the long-running childrens television show, Sesame Street. Bert was originally performed by Frank Oz, since 2000, Muppeteer Eric Jacobson has been phased in as Berts primary performer, although Frank Oz still performs Bert occasionally. Bert has also made cameo appearances within The Muppets franchise, including The Muppet Show, The Muppet Movie and he and his roommate Ernie form a comic duo that is one of the programs centerpieces, with Bert acting as the world-weary foil to Ernies naive trouble-making. Bert, though kind and intelligent, is grumpy, boring. His catchphrase is Yes, I do mind and he enjoys activities such as paper clip and bottle cap collecting, cooking oatmeal and watching pigeons. Producer Arlene Sherman has called Bert everyones idea of a blind date, in one sketch, Bert reads a book called Boring Stories and chuckles, Wow. These boring stories are really exciting, in the book Sesame Street Unpaved, Frank Oz says, I was never really happy with Berts character until about a year in, when I realized. That he was a boring character, and Id use that weakness as a strength for him. Bert has very boring foods as his favorites and he loves oatmeal, unflavored fizzy water, and other bland related foods. In addition, Bert has visible eyebrows, while Ernie doesnt, Bert has a pet pigeon named Bernice, and he created a dance called Doin the Pigeon. In one sketch, Bert gets dressed and says he is going to a pigeon lovers party, Bert serves as President of the National Association of W Lovers, a club dedicated to the letter W. Two conventions held by the W Lovers have been shown on the show, Bert has pet goldfish, two of whom are named Lyle and Talbot. Berts favorite number is 6, and he has a song he wrote himself about the number 6 My Favorite Number Is 6 and his favorite instrument is the tuba. All of these interests are opposed to Ernies whose favorite number is 8,243,721, and Ernies favorite instrument is the Saxophone, which he is unable to play because he cant put down the Duckie. In Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, Bert decides to get Ernie a soap dish for Rubber Duckie not to fall in the tub anymore and sink and he offers Mr. Hooper his paper clip collection as a trade but sadly walks off afterward. Then Ernie decides to trade Rubber Duckie for a box for Berts paper clips. Mr. Hooper however can see by their sad expressions that they do not want to give up their possessions so he gives back to them as gifts and lets them keep the cigar box. Others involved Bert preparing a snack for himself and goes somewhere before coming back to find that Ernie has eaten it up, despite Ernies attempts to cover up the crime Bert knows Ernie is lying
Bert (Sesame Street)
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Ernie and his
rubber duckie with Bert in
Sesame Street.
15.
Grover
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Grover, also known as Grover Monster, is a Muppet character on the popular television show Sesame Street. Self-described as lovable, cute and furry, he is a monster who rarely uses contractions when he speaks or sings. Grover was originally performed by Frank Oz from his earliest appearances until 2001, eric Jacobson began performing Grover in 1998, he has performed the character regularly since 2001, although Oz still performs him occasionally but not usually. A prototype version of Grover appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in a Christmas Eve appearance in 1967 and this puppet had greenish-brown fur and a red nose. He also had a voice, and was played a bit more unkempt than Grover would later behave. The monster was referred to as Gleep, a monster in Santas workshop and he later made a cameo appearance in The Muppets On Puppets in 1968 with the Rock and Roll Monster. In 1969, clad in a necktie, he appeared in the Sesame Street Pitch Reel in the board room sequences, during the first season of Sesame Street, the character was nicknamed Fuzzyface or The Hairy One, though neither would be used for his actual name. In an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on May 31,1970, the character acquired his present name and his appearance was changed to the more familiar puppet with blue fur and a pink nose. In this appearance, Kermit the Frog tried to sing What Kind of Fool Am I. the true Grover officially debuted in the second season of Sesame Street. Another of the more frequent sketch segments featuring Grover involves him taking a series of service jobs. One of his customers is always Mr. Johnson, a balding, Johnson series of sketches, set at Charlies Restaurant, aired in the early 1970s, here, Grover is employed as a waiter and Mr. Johnson is his customer. Repeats of the Charlies Restaurant series of sketches aired for years on Sesame Street. In the years since, new Grover-Mr, Johnson sketches have been produced, with Grover taking other customer service jobs and Mr. Johnson as his hapless customer. Every time, Mr. Johnson recognizes Grover as that waiter from Charlies, Grovers jobs have ranged from that of a taxi driver and a photographer to a flight attendant and singing telegram artist. One sketch parodied the ABC television series Extreme Makeover, Home Edition in a segment where Grover began remodeling Mr. Johnsons home against his express wishes. In another one, Mr. Grover also has a persona who wears a cap and gown to provide educational context for simple. His lessons are often wrong, leaving himself open to correction by a group of children or Muppets and this, combined with the failings of the Super Grover character, means that Grover can be very self-conscious and timid. He is often a source of humor and often accidentally injures himself
Grover
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Grover
16.
Sesame Street
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Sesame Street is a long-running American childrens television series, produced by Sesame Workshop and created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett. The program is known for its content, and images communicated through the use of Jim Hensons Muppets, animation, short films, humor. The show has undergone significant changes throughout its history, with the creation of Sesame Street, producers and writers of a childrens television show used, for the first time, educational goals and a curriculum to shape its content. It was also the first time a shows educational effects were studied, the show was initially funded by government and private foundations but has become somewhat self-supporting due to revenues from licensing arrangements, international sales, and other media. By 2006, there were independently produced versions, or co-productions, in 2001 there were over 120 million viewers of various international versions of Sesame Street, and by the shows 40th anniversary in 2009, it was broadcast in more than 140 countries. By its 40th anniversary in 2009, Sesame Street was the childrens television show in the United States. A1996 survey found that 95% of all American preschoolers had watched the show by the time they were three years old, in 2008, it was estimated that 77 million Americans had watched the series as children. As of 2014, Sesame Street has won 167 Emmy Awards and 8 Grammy Awards—more than any other childrens show, Sesame Street was conceived in 1966 during discussions between television producer Joan Ganz Cooney and Carnegie Foundation vice president Lloyd Morrisett. Their goal was to create a television show that would master the addictive qualities of television and do something good with them. The program premiered on television stations on November 10,1969. It was the first preschool educational television program to base its contents and production values on laboratory, initial responses to the show included adulatory reviews, some controversy, and high ratings. By its 40th anniversary in 2009, Sesame Street was broadcast in over 120 countries, Sesame Street has evolved from its initial inception. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become an American institution, the cast and crew expanded during this time, with emphasis on the hiring of women crew members and the addition of minorities to the cast. The shows success continued into the 1980s, Sesame Streets curriculum has expanded to include more affective topics such as relationships, ethics, and emotions. After the turn of the 21st century, Sesame Street made major structural changes, for example, starting in 2002, its format became more narrative and included ongoing storylines. After its thirtieth anniversary in 1999 and due to the popularity of the Muppet Elmo, upon its fortieth anniversary in 2009, the show received a Lifetime Achievement Emmy at the 36th Daytime Emmy Awards. In April 2017, Sesame Street will introduce a new puppet called Julia with Autism to the show, and will be voiced by Stacey Gordon, who started Puppet Pie and has a son on the autism spectrum. From its first episode, Sesame Street has structured its format by using a visual style, fast-moving action, humor
Sesame Street
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Co-creator
Joan Ganz Cooney, in 1985
Sesame Street
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Welcome sign at entrance to ETS headquarters. The ETS conducted the early summative studies about Sesame Street.
Sesame Street
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The
Kaufman Astoria Studios, where Sesame Street is taped.
Sesame Street
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Jim Henson, creator of the
Muppets, in 1989
17.
Yoda
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Yoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas, first appearing in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back. In the original films, he trains Luke Skywalker to fight against the Galactic Empire, in the prequel films, he serves as the Grand Master of the Jedi Order and as a high-ranking general of Clone Troopers in the Clone Wars. Frank Oz provided Yodas voice in each film and used his skills as a puppeteer in the trilogy and Star Wars. For some walking scenes in Episodes V and I, dwarf actors Deep Roy, the make-up artist Stuart Freeborn based Yodas face partly on his own and partly on Albert Einsteins. In The Phantom Menace, he was redesigned to look younger and he was computer-generated for two distant shots, but remained mostly a puppet. The puppet was re-designed by Nick Dudman from Stuart Freeborns original design, in Revenge of the Sith, his face appears in several big close-ups, demanding highly detailed CGI work. His performance was designed to be consistent with the limitations of the puppet version. Rob Coleman was responsible for the new incarnation to the series. Yoda was recreated in CGI for the 2011 Blu-ray release of The Phantom Menace, a clip of the new CG Yoda from The Phantom Menace was first seen in the featurette The Chosen One, included in the 2005 DVD release of Revenge of the Sith. The 2012 theatrical 3D release of The Phantom Menace also features the CG version of Yoda, Grand Jedi Master Yoda is among the oldest and most powerful known Jedi Masters in the Star Wars universe. Series creator George Lucas opted to have details of the characters life history remain unknown. Yodas race and home world have not been named in any media, canonical or otherwise, Yodas speech syntax has been analyzed and discussed by academic syntacticians, who found it somewhat inconsistent, but could extrapolate that it has object–subject–verb word order. In the Star Wars prequel films, he instructs several younglings in the Jedi Temple before they are assigned to a master and this was displayed in a scene in Star Wars Episode II, Attack of the Clones. In The Empire Strikes Back he mentioned that he had been training Jedi for 800 years, Yoda makes his first film appearance in The Empire Strikes Back. Luke Skywalker arrives on Dagobah to seek his guidance, having been instructed to do so by the Force ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Yoda does not initially identify himself to Luke and instead tests his patience by presenting himself as a comical and senile backwater individual, Luke is shocked when he finally realizes that this small, elderly creature is the powerful Jedi Master he was seeking. Finding that Luke has the same anger and recklessness which caused his fathers downfall, Yoda is reluctant to teach him in the ways of the Force, and agrees only at Obi-Wans behest. Before finishing his training, however, Luke chooses to leave Dagobah in order to confront Darth Vader, Yoda and Obi-Wan warn him that he is not ready to face Vader and is being lured into a trap, but Luke leaves anyway, promising to return
Yoda
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The puppet Oz used in the The Empire Strikes Back and
Return of the Jedi
Yoda
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Yoda in
The Empire Strikes Back
18.
Star Wars
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Star Wars is an American epic space opera franchise, centered on a film series created by George Lucas. It depicts the adventures of characters a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. The franchise began in 1977 with the release of the film Star Wars and it was followed by the successful sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, these three films constitute the original Star Wars trilogy. A prequel trilogy was released between 1999 and 2005, which received mixed-to-negative reactions, a sequel trilogy began in 2015 with the release of Star Wars, The Force Awakens. All seven films were nominated for Academy Awards and have been successes, with a combined box office revenue of over $7.5 billion. Spin-off films include Star Wars, The Clone Wars and Rogue One, Star Wars also holds a Guinness World Records title for the Most successful film merchandising franchise. In 2015, the value of the Star Wars franchise was estimated at USD $42 billion. In 2012, The Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm for $4.06 billion and earned the rights to all subsequent Star Wars films. Walt Disney Studios owns digital distribution rights to all the Star Wars films, the events depicted in the Star Wars franchise take place in an unnamed fictional galaxy at an undetermined point in the distant past. Many species of creatures are depicted. Robotic droids are also commonplace and are built to serve their owners. Space travel is common, and many planets in the galaxy are members of a single galactic government. In the prequel trilogy, this is depicted in the form of the Galactic Republic, at the end of the trilogy and throughout the original trilogy. Preceding and during the trilogy, this government is the New Republic. One of the prominent elements of Star Wars is the Force and it is described in the first produced film as an energy field created by all living things surrounds us, penetrates us, binds the galaxy together. While the Force can be used for good, known as the side, it also has a dark side that, when pursued, imbues users with hatred, aggression. The sequel trilogy introduces the Knights of Ren, an order of practitioners of the side of the Force aligned with the First Order. The first film in the series, Star Wars, was released on May 25,1977 and this was followed by two sequels, The Empire Strikes Back, released on May 21,1980, and Return of the Jedi, released on May 25,1983
Star Wars
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A street performer in costume as
Darth Vader in
Amsterdam. Vader is one of the most iconic characters of the Star Wars franchise.
Star Wars
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The Star Wars logo as seen in all films
Star Wars
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George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars
Star Wars
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John Williams, composer of the musical
scores for all six films of the original and prequel trilogies.
19.
Little Shop of Horrors (1986 film)
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Little Shop of Horrors is a 1986 American rock musical horror comedy film directed by Frank Oz. Menken and Ashmans Off-Broadway musical was based on the low-budget 1960 film The Little Shop of Horrors, the 1986 film stars Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, and Levi Stubbs as the voice of Audrey II. The film also featured appearances by James Belushi, John Candy, Christopher Guest. It was produced by David Geffen through The Geffen Company and released by Warner Bros. on December 19,1986. Little Shop of Horrors was filmed on the Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage at the Pinewood Studios in England, the film was produced on a budget of $25 million, in contrast to the original 1960 film, which, according to Corman, only cost $30,000. The films original 23-minute finale, based on the ending, was rewritten. For years only available as black-and-white workprint footage, the ending was fully restored in 2012 by Warner Home Video. Seymour Krelborn and his colleague, Audrey, work at Mushniks Flower Shop in a run-down and they lament that they cannot escape the neighborhood. Struggling from a lack of customers, Mr. Mushnik decides to close the store, immediately attracting a customer, Seymour explains he bought the plant, which he dubbed Audrey II, from a Chinese flower shop during a solar eclipse. Attracting business to Mushniks shop, the plant soon starts dying, worrying Seymour, accidentally pricking his finger, he then discovers Audrey II needs human blood to thrive. Audrey II continues to rapidly and Seymour becomes a local celebrity. Seymour soon attempts to ask Audrey out, but she turns him down because she has a date with her sadistic, despite this, Audrey is interested in Seymour, dreaming of marrying him and escaping Skid Row. After Seymour closes up shop, Audrey II begins to talk to Seymour, the plant proposes that Seymour murder someone in exchange for fame and fortune, Seymour initially refuses, but agrees after witnessing Orin beating Audrey. Orin, who abuses nitrous oxide, puts on a type of mask to receive a constant flow of the gas. Accidentally breaking an intake valve and unable to remove the mask, Orin begs Seymour for help removing it, when Orin asks Seymour what he ever did to him, Seymour coldly replies, Nothing, its what you did to her. Orin dies from asphyxiation and Seymour drags his body back to Audrey II, while dismembering the body to feed to the plant, Seymour is unknowingly witnessed by Mushnik, who flees in fear. After feeding Orins parts to Audrey II, which has grown to enormous size, Audrey, feeling guilty about wishing Orin would disappear, is comforted by Seymour and the two admit their feelings for each other. That night, Mushnik confronts Seymour about what he saw and holds Seymour at gunpoint, Mushnik then attempts to blackmail Seymour, giving the option to flee the country in exchange for the ownership of the plant
Little Shop of Horrors (1986 film)
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Theatrical release poster
Little Shop of Horrors (1986 film)
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Audrey II on top of the Statue of Liberty in the film's planned ending, shown here in its unfinished state as taken from a black-and-white workprint. The visual effects were eventually completed for the 2012 director's cut of the film, which restored the original ending.
20.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (film)
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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Frank Oz and starring Steve Martin, Michael Caine and Glenne Headly. The screenplay was written by Dale Launer, Stanley Shapiro, and Paul Henning, it is a remake of the Shapiro and it is the story of two men competing to swindle an American heiress out of $50,000. Caine plays the suave, charming British con man Lawrence Jamieson, who believes in conning corrupt, rich people out of their money so he can spend it on culture and a lavish lifestyle. Martin plays his laddish, arrogant American rival, Freddy Benson and it takes place in the French Riviera. Lawrence Jamieson is an intelligent and sophisticated British con artist operating in the French Riviera with the help of manservant Arthur and he seduces wealthy and morally suspect women and steals their money. His only concern is a con artist known as The Jackal who has been preying on other wealthy victims, when underachieving American hustler Freddy Benson searches for easy marks in Beaumont-sur-Mer, Lawrences home base, Lawrence believes the Jackal has shown his face. Worried that Freddys inexperienced antics will scare away his prey, Lawrence has Freddy arrested, however, Freddy meets one of Lawrences former marks and deduces that he is also a crook. Returning to Beaumont-sur-Mer, Freddy forces Lawrence to take him on as a pupil in exchange for his silence, Lawrence attempts to teach Freddy about high culture with limited success. Freddy, tired of not getting paid and the part he has to play. Lawrence believes there are not enough potential victims in Beaumont-sur-Mer for both of them, so a bet is proposed to decide who will stay, the first to con $50,000 out of a selected mark may remain, the other must leave town. The two select Janet Colgate, a naive American heiress, and embark on their separate strategies while ruthlessly sabotaging each other. When Lawrence discovers this scheme he claims to be Dr. Shaffhausen, insisting Freddys condition is one he can cure, Lawrence discovers that Janet is not wealthy but on vacation as a contest winner, she intends to liquidate most of her assets to pay for Freddys treatment. Touched by Janets kindness, Lawrence calls off the bet, Freddy agrees, but proposes a new bet, Janet herself, with the first to bed her declared the winner. Lawrence refuses to bed Janet, instead the bet will be whether or not Freddy can succeed, Lawrence keeps Janet from having any time alone with Freddy in which they might consummate a relationship. With the help of some British sailors, Freddy waylays Lawrence, Lawrence is present and declares Freddy cured of his ailment. Ushering Freddy out of the room he explains that the sailors released him after discovering that he is a Royal Naval Reserve officer, the sailors, angry at being duped by Freddy, keep him occupied at a party while Lawrence puts Janet on a plane to America. Despite his impending loss, Freddy becomes inebriated and enjoys the party, the next day, instead of boarding her flight, Janet returns to her hotel room to find a repentant Freddy there. They kiss, close the door and begin undressing, the news reaches Lawrence and he accepts his defeat with grace
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (film)
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Theatrical release poster
21.
Bowfinger
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Bowfinger is a 1999 American satirical comedy film directed by Frank Oz. It depicts a down-and-out filmmaker in Hollywood attempting to make a film on a budget with a star who does not know that he is in the film. It was written by Steve Martin, to himself, Eddie Murphy in two roles, and Heather Graham as a vapid, ambitious starlet. The film was released on August 13,1999 and grossed $98 million, z-grade film producer Bobby Bowfinger is extremely eager to direct a B-movie of his own and has saved up for it his entire life — he now has $2,184 to pay for production costs. He has a script penned by an accountant, Afrim, and he manages to extract a promise from a film studio executive, Jerry Renfro, that the executive will distribute the film if it includes currently-hot action star Kit Ramsey. Ramsey — a rather pompous, neurotic, and paranoid actor — refuses, the plan goes well at first, Ramsey ends up starring in the film. However, Ramsey misinterprets the movies dialogue and believes he is being stalked by aliens. He finally goes into hiding in order to maintain his sanity and this puts a hold on the film production, and leaves Bowfinger wondering what to do next. A desperate Bowfinger resorts to hiring a Ramsey lookalike named Jiff, Jiff is kind, amiable and rather clueless. He even runs through a gauntlet of stunt drivers racing along a freeway when asked. Eventually, he becomes depressed about his lack of acting talent, Jiff is not sure how much of a talent that is. I mean, I am his brother. Using this new knowledge, Bowfinger has Jiff find out Kit Ramseys movements, all Bowfinger needs to shoot is the final scene at an observatory, with Ramsey shouting the final line Gotcha suckers. During the filming, Ramsey becomes terrified and thinks that they are real aliens, at this point, Ramseys mentor at MindHead, Terry Stricter, has discovered evidence that Kits aliens may not be just in his head. MindHead officials track Bowfinger to the observatory, and shut down production and it seems Bowfinger will never get his film. That is until his camera crew reveals that they were filming B-roll footage of Ramsey off-set, what they got was footage of Ramsey donning a paper bag over his head and exposing himself to an amused Laker Girl Cheerleading Squad. Bowfinger shows the footage to MindHead, and blackmails them, threatening to take the footage public, knowing that this material could ruin Ramseys career, MindHead advises the star to finish the project. Bowfinger finally gets to sit at the premiere of a film he himself directed, following the arguable success of the film, Bowfinger receives a rare Fed-Ex envelope—an offer to film a martial arts film called Fake Purse Ninjas starring Bowfinger and Jiff Ramsey. Steve Martin as Robert Bobby K. Bowfinger Eddie Murphy as Kit Ramsey / Jiffrenson Jiff Ramsey Heather Graham as Daisy Christine Baranski as Carol Terence Stamp as Terry Stricter Robert Downey, Jr
Bowfinger
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Theatrical release poster
22.
The Score (2001 film)
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The Score is an American-Canadian crime thriller film directed by Frank Oz, and stars Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, Angela Bassett and Marlon Brando in his final film role. It was the time that Brando and De Niro appeared onscreen together. The screenplay was based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from a story by Daniel E. Taylor, after nearly being caught on a routine burglary, master safe-cracker Nick Wells decides the time has finally come to retire from his criminal activities. He is enticed into taking one final score by his fence Max, the job, worth a $4 million payoff to Nick, is to steal a sceptre, a French national treasure stored in the ultra-secure basement of the Montréal Customs House. The sceptre was discovered by Customs agents being smuggled into the US through Canada, Max introduces Nick to Jack Teller, an ambitious thief who has infiltrated the Customs House and gained information regarding security by pretending to be an intellectually disabled janitor. Nicks trusted associate Steven hacks into the Custom Houses security system to obtain the bypass codes, Steven is caught, however, by a corrupt systems administrator who extorts Nick for $50,000 for the information. Nick uses a sewer tunnel to enter the Customs House basement as Jack rigs the cameras to shut off when Nick enters the storage room, a fellow janitor stumbles upon Jack, who locks him in a closet. Nick fills the enormous in-floor safe containing the sceptre with water before inserting and detonating a depth charge to blow off the door and he quickly packs up the sceptre in a carrying case to depart, but Jack double crosses him and at gunpoint demands he hand over the sceptre. Nick reluctantly gives up the case and seconds later the alarm, rigged by Jack. Nick darts for the entrance he came in as Jack heads back upstairs, tucking the carrying case inside his janitor jumpsuit. Nick escapes the security guards chasing him through the sewer tunnels, after making it to a bus station to flee the city, Jack calls Nick to gloat but is shocked to discover that Nick has anticipated Jacks actions. Jack opens the carrying case Nick gave him and finds it contains a steel rod weighed down with various bushings, brushing off Jacks threats of vengeance, Nick advises Jack to flee as every cop in the city will now be looking for him. Nick hangs up and boards a boat with the real sceptre as a shocked Jack broods over his situation, later, Max smiles as he watches a news broadcast reporting a massive manhunt being organized to find Jack, the prime suspect, and an unidentified accomplice. Nick then meets Diane at the airport as she returns from work, during the production, Brando repeatedly argued with Oz and called him Miss Piggy, the Muppet whom Oz played from 1976 to 2001. Oz later blamed himself for the tension and cited his tendency to be rather than nurturing in response to Brandos acting style. Brando eventually refused to take direction from Oz and insisted that De Niro direct his scenes, as a result, Brando had his way with De Niro directing him. There was one scene - two days of shooting - when Marlon was too upset with me to act while I was on the set, I watched from outside, with a monitor, and Bob was very good and acted as mediator between us. The film received positive reviews with a rating of 73% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes
The Score (2001 film)
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Theatrical release poster
23.
Death at a Funeral (2007 film)
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Death at a Funeral is a 2007 British ensemble black comedy film directed by Frank Oz. The screenplay by Dean Craig focuses on a family attempting to resolve a variety of problems while attending the funeral of the patriarch, the story is set in England and taking place mainly at a family home. Daniels cousin Martha and her fiancé Simon are desperate to make an impression on Marthas uptight father Victor. While on the way to the funeral, Simon begins to feel its effect, an American dwarf named Peter introduces himself to Daniel, who is too busy to speak to him at that moment and suggests they talk later. None of Daniels relatives can identify the man, the service begins and the hallucinating Simon, certain he sees the coffin moving, tips it over, causing the body to spill out onto the floor. During the ensuing chaos, Martha drags Simon outside, where her father forbids her to marry him, when Simon is told why he is reacting as he is, he panics and locks himself in the upstairs bathroom. Martha tries to him to open the door while fending off the unwelcome advances of Justin, with whom she once had a one-night stand that she deeply regrets. When the drug overcomes Simon, he out of the window naked. Thinking what he sees reflects mutual feelings, he proceeds to climb onto the roof, hoping to calm him, Martha reveals she is pregnant with their child. While most of the guests are caught up in Simons seeming insanity, Peter meets privately with Daniel and Robert, unhappy that he was left nothing in their fathers will, Peter reveals photographs that prove his relationship, and attempts to blackmail the family for £15,000. The brothers panic and bind and gag Peter, and to him down they give him the hallucinogenic drug. Peter manages to free himself, but in his state he jumps repeatedly on the sofa before falling and hitting his head on a glass coffee table. Troy and germaphobic family friend Howard cannot feel a pulse, so they believe Peter to be dead, forced to dispose of the body as quickly and surreptitiously as possible, Daniel and Robert decide to place it in the casket with their father. Daniel demands everyone stay calm and declares his father was a man, although clearly one with secrets. Their conversation is interrupted when Jane shows up and tells them that Uncle Alfie will be staying over that night because of his attack after having seen Daniel. She also tells them that she gave him some Valium, which shocks Daniel, the scene cuts to a shot of Uncle Alfie on the roof, naked like Simon had been, complaining about how everything is so fucking green. It opened throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia before going into theatrical release in the United Kingdom on 2 November 2007, thats high praise for Death but no more than it deserves. The humor manages to be sophisticated, supremely silly and very dark
Death at a Funeral (2007 film)
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British theatrical release banner
24.
Nazism
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National Socialism, more commonly known as Nazism, is the ideology and practice associated with the 20th-century German Nazi Party and Nazi Germany, as well as other far-right groups. Nazism subscribed to theories of racial hierarchy and Social Darwinism, identifying Germans as part of what Nazis regarded as an Aryan or Nordic master race and it aimed to overcome social divisions and create a homogeneous society, unified on the basis of racial purity. The term National Socialism arose out of attempts to create a nationalist redefinition of socialism, the Nazi Partys precursor, the Pan-German nationalist and anti-Semitic German Workers Party, was founded on 5 January 1919. By the early 1920s, Adolf Hitler assumed control of the organisation, following the Holocaust and German defeat in World War II, only a few fringe racist groups, usually referred to as neo-Nazis, still describe themselves as following National Socialism. The full name of Adolf Hitlers party was Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, the shorthand Nazi was formed from the first two syllables of the German pronunciation of the word national. The term was in use before the rise of the NSDAP as a colloquial and derogatory word for a peasant, characterizing an awkward. It derived from Ignaz, being a version of Ignatius, a common name in Bavaria. Opponents seized on this and shortened the first word of the name, Nationalsozialistische. The NSDAP briefly adopted the Nazi designation, attempting to reappropriate the term, the use of Nazi Germany, Nazi regime, and so on was popularised by German exiles abroad. From them, the spread into other languages and was eventually brought back to Germany after World War II. In English, Nazism is a name for the ideology the party advocated. The majority of scholars identify Nazism in practice as a form of far-right politics, far-right themes in Nazism include the argument that superior people have a right to dominate over other people and purge society of supposed inferior elements. Adolf Hitler and other proponents officially portrayed Nazism as being neither left- nor right-wing, but the politicians of the Right deserve exactly the same reproach. It was through their miserable cowardice that those ruffians of Jews who came into power in 1918 were able to rob the nation of its arms, a major inspiration for the Nazis were the far-right nationalist Freikorps, paramilitary organisations that engaged in political violence after World War I. The Nazis stated the alliance was purely tactical and there remained substantial differences with the DNVP, the Nazis described the DNVP as a bourgeois party and called themselves an anti-bourgeois party. After the elections in 1932, the alliance broke after the DNVP lost many of its seats in the Reichstag, the Nazis denounced them as an insignificant heap of reactionaries. The DNVP responded by denouncing the Nazis for their socialism, their violence. Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was pressured to abdicate the throne and flee into exile amidst an attempted communist revolution in Germany, there were factions in the Nazi Party, both conservative and radical
Nazism
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Foreground, left to right: Führer
Adolf Hitler;
Hermann Göring; Minister of Propaganda
Joseph Goebbels;
Rudolf Hess
Nazism
Nazism
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Nazis alongside members of the far-right
reactionary and
monarchist German National People's Party (DNVP), during the brief Nazi-DNVP alliance in the
Harzburg Front from 1931 to 1932
Nazism
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Johann Gottlieb Fichte, considered one of the fathers of German nationalism
25.
Royal Netherlands Motorized Infantry Brigade
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Elements of this force became the nucleus of what was originally called the Dutch Legion. e. On 11 February 1941, by approval of Queen Wilhelmina, the Dutch Legion gained a new name, on 6 August 1944, the first troops of the P. I. B landed at Graye-sur-Mer Normandy, in northern France. Later, the force landed and the P. I. B. Served under the 1st Canadian Army until it moved forward with the British Second Army, heavy fighting took place around the Chateau St Come and the brigade liberated Pont Audemer in the progress. In mid September, the P. I. B. became involved in fighting with German forces at the town of Beringen, around this time, the brigade was also involved in combating the Dutch Waffen-SS volunteer formation the Landstorm Nederland. From 26 September, the P. I. B guarded the bridge spanning the River Maas at Grave, the bridge, now called John S. Thompsonbrug, was then the longest bridge in Europe. After Operation Market Garden, the operation to capture bridges across the Rhine at Arnhem, on 24 October, the P. I. B. was ordered to go to Tilburg to attack the town from the south while the 51st Infantry Division attacked from the east. The P. I. B. was unable to get to Tilburg and was stranded at Broekhoven, the Prinses Irene Brigade spent the winter of 1944/45 in the region of Walcheren and North Beveland, losing several soldiers. From Zeeland, the P. I. B. went back to Noord-Brabant, on 31 March 1945, the commander of the P. I. B. I. B. So the brigade would have enough troops participating in the liberation of Europe, on 2 March 1945, the P. I. B. was put under the command of the Netherlands District, under Major General A Galloway, based at the HQ in the town of Tilburg. The P. I. B was involved in fighting in the town of Hedel, north of Den Bosch. The P. I. B. was to link up with the 30 Royal Marines, of the 116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines, however, the Royal Marines gave up due to German opposition in the town of Kerkdriel, leaving the P. I. B. Stranded at the bridgehead of Hedel, the Prinses Irene Brigade was under command of the 116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines at this time. Still, they fought the Germans with great gallantry, and were able to hold the town for three days, in these fights, the P. I. B. lost twelve men, around thirty were wounded. Several Gallantry medals were awarded for actions in Hedel. At 11,15 hours on 25 April the order to withdraw from the bridgehead, in Hedel, at 23,30 hours III Independent Company withdrew from the town as the last unit to the south side of the river Maas. This effort was completed at 00,30 hours on 26 April, the Princess Irene Brigade entered The Hague on 9 May 1945 as liberators. After the war, the traditions of the brigade were perpetuated by the Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses Irene
Royal Netherlands Motorized Infantry Brigade
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A
Loyd Carrier of the Prinses Irene Brigade, in September 1944.
26.
Belgium
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Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a sovereign state in Western Europe bordered by France, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and the North Sea. It is a small, densely populated country which covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres and has a population of about 11 million people. Additionally, there is a group of German-speakers who live in the East Cantons located around the High Fens area. Historically, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were known as the Low Countries, the region was called Belgica in Latin, after the Roman province of Gallia Belgica. From the end of the Middle Ages until the 17th century, today, Belgium is a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. It is divided into three regions and three communities, that exist next to each other and its two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia. The Brussels-Capital Region is a bilingual enclave within the Flemish Region. A German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia, Belgiums linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its political history and complex system of governance, made up of six different governments. Upon its independence, declared in 1830, Belgium participated in the Industrial Revolution and, during the course of the 20th century, possessed a number of colonies in Africa. This continuing antagonism has led to several far-reaching reforms, resulting in a transition from a unitary to a federal arrangement during the period from 1970 to 1993. Belgium is also a member of the Eurozone, NATO, OECD and WTO. Its capital, Brussels, hosts several of the EUs official seats as well as the headquarters of major international organizations such as NATO. Belgium is also a part of the Schengen Area, Belgium is a developed country, with an advanced high-income economy and is categorized as very high in the Human Development Index. A gradual immigration by Germanic Frankish tribes during the 5th century brought the area under the rule of the Merovingian kings, a gradual shift of power during the 8th century led the kingdom of the Franks to evolve into the Carolingian Empire. Many of these fiefdoms were united in the Burgundian Netherlands of the 14th and 15th centuries, the Eighty Years War divided the Low Countries into the northern United Provinces and the Southern Netherlands. The latter were ruled successively by the Spanish and the Austrian Habsburgs and this was the theatre of most Franco-Spanish and Franco-Austrian wars during the 17th and 18th centuries. The reunification of the Low Countries as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands occurred at the dissolution of the First French Empire in 1815, although the franchise was initially restricted, universal suffrage for men was introduced after the general strike of 1893 and for women in 1949. The main political parties of the 19th century were the Catholic Party, French was originally the single official language adopted by the nobility and the bourgeoisie
Belgium
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Charlemagne and
Charles V
Belgium
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Flaga
Belgium
Belgium
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Episode of the
Belgian Revolution of 1830 (1834), by
Egide Charles Gustave Wappers
27.
Montana
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Montana /mɒnˈtænə/ is a state in the Western region of the United States. The states name is derived from the Spanish word montaña, Montana has several nicknames, although none official, including Big Sky Country and The Treasure State, and slogans that include Land of the Shining Mountains and more recently The Last Best Place. Montana has a 545-mile border with three Canadian provinces, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, the state to do so. It also borders North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, Montana is ranked 4th in size, but 44th in population and 48th in population density of the 50 United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges, smaller island ranges are found throughout the state. In total,77 named ranges are part of the Rocky Mountains, the eastern half of Montana is characterized by western prairie terrain and badlands. The economy is based on agriculture, including ranching and cereal grain farming. Other significant economic activities include oil, gas, coal and hard rock mining, lumber, the health care, service, and government sectors also are significant to the states economy. Millions of tourists annually visit Glacier National Park, the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, the name Montana comes from the Spanish word Montaña and the Latin word Montana, meaning mountain, or more broadly, mountainous country. Montaña del Norte was the name given by early Spanish explorers to the mountainous region of the west. The name was changed by Representatives Henry Wilson and Benjamin F. Harding, when Ashley presented a bill to establish a temporary government in 1864 for a new territory to be carved out of Idaho, he again chose Montana Territory. This time Rep. Samuel Cox, also of Ohio, objected to the name, Cox complained that the name was a misnomer given most of the territory was not mountainous and that a Native American name would be more appropriate than a Spanish one. Other names such as Shoshone were suggested, but it was decided that the Committee on Territories could name it whatever they wanted, with an area of 147,040 square miles, Montana is slightly larger than Japan. It is the fourth largest state in the United States after Alaska, Texas, and California, the largest landlocked U. S. state, and the worlds 56th largest national state/province subdivision. To the north, Montana shares a 545-mile border with three Canadian provinces, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, the state to do so. It borders North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, the states topography is roughly defined by the Continental Divide, which splits much of the state into distinct eastern and western regions. Most of Montanas 100 or more named mountain ranges are in the western half. The Absaroka and Beartooth ranges in the states south-central part are part of the Central Rocky Mountains
Montana
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Map of Montana
Montana
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Flag
Montana
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Montana terrain
Montana
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St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park
28.
Oakland, California
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Oakland /ˈoʊklənd/ is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. The city was incorporated in 1852, Oaklands territory covers what was once a mosaic of California coastal terrace prairie, oak woodland, and north coastal scrub. Its land served as a resource when its hillside oak and redwood timber were logged to build San Francisco. In the late 1860s, Oakland was selected as the terminal of the Transcontinental Railroad. Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, many San Francisco citizens moved to Oakland, enlarging the citys population, increasing its housing stock and it continued to grow in the 20th century with its busy port, shipyards, and a thriving automobile manufacturing industry. Oakland is known for its sustainability practices, including a top-ranking for usage of electricity from renewable resources, in addition, due to a steady influx of immigrants during the 20th century, along with thousands of African-American war-industry workers who relocated from the Deep South during the 1940s. Oakland is the most ethnically diverse city in the country. The earliest known inhabitants were the Huchiun Indians, who lived there for thousands of years, the Huchiun belonged to a linguistic grouping later called the Ohlone. In Oakland, they were concentrated around Lake Merritt and Temescal Creek, in 1772, the area that later became Oakland was claimed, with the rest of California, by Spanish settlers for the King of Spain. In the early 19th century, the Spanish crown granted the East Bay area to Luis María Peralta for his Rancho San Antonio, the grant was confirmed by the successor Mexican republic upon its independence from Spain. Upon his death in 1842, Peralta divided his land among his four sons, Most of Oakland fell within the shares given to Antonio Maria and Vicente. The portion of the parcel that is now Oakland was called encinal—Spanish for oak grove—due to the oak forest that covered the area. In 1851, three men—Horace Carpentier, Edson Adams, and Andrew Moon—began developing what is now downtown Oakland, on May 4,1852, the Town of Oakland incorporated. Two years later, on March 25,1854, Oakland re-incorporated as the City of Oakland, with Horace Carpentier elected the first mayor, the city and its environs quickly grew with the railroads, becoming a major rail terminal in the late 1860s and 1870s. In 1868, the Central Pacific constructed the Oakland Long Wharf at Oakland Point, a number of horsecar and cable car lines were constructed in Oakland during the latter half of the 19th century. The first electric streetcar set out from Oakland to Berkeley in 1891, at the time of incorporation, Oakland consisted of the territory that lay south of todays major intersection of San Pablo Avenue, Broadway, and Fourteenth Street. The city gradually annexed farmlands and settlements to the east and the north, Oaklands rise to industrial prominence, and its subsequent need for a seaport, led to the digging of a shipping and tidal channel in 1902. This resulted in the town of Alameda being made an island
Oakland, California
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Oakland skyline, with the old eastern span of the
San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge in background
Oakland, California
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1857 Map of Oakland
Oakland, California
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One day's output of 1917
Chevrolet automobiles at their major
West Coast plant, now the location of
Eastmont Town Center
Oakland, California
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In 1924, the
Tribune Tower was completed; in 1976, it was restored and declared an Oakland landmark.
29.
Jim Henson
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James Maury Henson was an American puppeteer, artist, cartoonist, inventor, screenwriter, film director and producer who achieved international fame as the creator of the Muppets. Born in Greenville, Mississippi, and raised in Leland, Mississippi, while he was a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park, he created Sam and Friends, a five-minute sketch-comedy puppet show that appeared on television. After graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in economics, he produced coffee advertisements. Feeling the need for more output, Henson founded Muppets Inc. in 1958. Henson became famous in the 1960s when he joined the educational television program Sesame Street. He also appeared on the comedy show Saturday Night Live. In 1976, after scrapping plans for a Broadway show, he produced The Muppet Show and he won fame for his creations, particularly Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, and Ernie, and was involved with Sesame Street for over 20 years. Rowlf the Dog was a cast member on the Jimmy Dean Show in the early 60s, during the later years of his life, he also founded the Jim Henson Foundation and Jim Hensons Creature Shop. His involvement in two television programs—The Storyteller and The Jim Henson Hour—led to Emmy Award wins, in the weeks after his death, he was celebrated in a wave of tributes. He was posthumously inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991, and as a Disney Legend in 2011. He was raised as a Christian Scientist and spent his childhood in Leland, Mississippi, before moving with his family to University Park, Maryland, near Washington. In 1954, while attending Northwestern High School, he working for WTOP-TV. After graduating from school, Henson enrolled at the University of Maryland, College Park, as a studio arts major. A puppetry class offered in the arts department introduced him to the craft and textiles courses in the College of Home economics. As a freshman, he had asked to create Sam and Friends. The characters on Sam and Friends were forerunners of Muppets, Henson would remain at WRC for seven years, from 1954 to 1961. A marionettes arms are manipulated by strings, but Henson used rods to move his Muppets arms, when Henson began work on Sam and Friends, he asked fellow University of Maryland sophomore Jane Nebel to assist him. The show was a success, but after graduating from college
Jim Henson
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Henson at the 1989
Emmy Awards
Jim Henson
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Henson and producer
George Lucas working on
Labyrinth in 1986
Jim Henson
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Disney artists Joe Lanzisero and Tim Kirk drew this tribute of
Mickey Mouse consoling
Kermit the Frog, which appeared in the Summer 1990 issue of WD Eye,
Walt Disney Imagineering 's employee magazine.
30.
Animal (Muppet)
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Animal is the fictional wild and frenzied drummer of Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem, the fictional band from The Muppet Show. He is one of The Muppets originally created by Michael K. Frith, on The Muppet Show, his drumming is performed by Ronnie Verrell. Animal has had roles in all Muppet movies, and was the member of The Electric Mayhem to be included regularly on the Muppet Babies cartoons. He was voiced by Howie Mandel in the first two seasons of Muppet Babies, followed by Dave Coulier in subsequent seasons. Animal was performed by Rob Mills in the finale of The Jim Henson Hour. John Kennedy also briefly performed Animal in a 2002 commercial for MasterCard, drew Massey performed Animal in Statler and Waldorf, From the Balcony. In Jim Hensons Little Muppet Monsters, Animal was voiced by Hal Rayle, Frank Oz has stated that Animals character can be summed up in five words, sex, sleep, food, drums, and pain. However, Animal has retorted, Drums are food, Animals vocabulary is generally limited to guttural shouts and monosyllabic grunts, often repeating a few simple phrases, as well as his trademark gravelly laugh. During performances, Animal is usually chained to the set by a collar around his neck. In some episodes, he has summoned to chase off performers who are being annoying. The original Animal sketches point to one Grammy Award-winning drummer named Steve Mitchell, Animal is a savant, versatile session drummer, to back Muppet tunes, capable even of finishing a slow song, if the singer is nice lady. He can match both Buddy Rich and Harry Belafonte in drum-offs on The Muppet Show, and on Questlove on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in 2011 and he shows a talent for jazz in a television advert for the Renault Clio car with French footballer Thierry Henry. Animal has also run afoul of Muppet Show guests, in 1981, the aforementioned scene with Buddy Rich ends with the seasoned pro learning Animals gonzo style, and performing it with twice the speed and proficiency. Animal throws a drum onto the irascible entertainers head, when he repeatedly interrupted Rita Morenos rendition of Fever with loud drumming outbursts, she became annoyed and slammed his head between a pair of cymbals. In another episode, Animal became hostile toward Dudley Moore when Moore tried to replace the band with a programmable, for example, Jim Nabors once spoke the traditional theatrical good luck wish, Break a leg, whereupon Animal indulged him by trying to break Naborss leg. Another gag would occasionally occur when the plays a slow song, Animal will get about halfway through. Launch into a faster paced version of the song, the band would usually comment that Animal lasted much longer than they thought he would. In The Muppets Take Manhattan, he chases a female co-ed out of the auditorium, while many Animal gags involve a role reversal, or a moment of intellectualism, others are still more innuendo
Animal (Muppet)
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Animal
31.
Labyrinth (film)
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Labyrinth is a 1986 British-American adventure musical fantasy film directed by Jim Henson, executive-produced by George Lucas, and based upon conceptual designs by Brian Froud. The film revolves around 15-year-old Sarahs quest to reach the center of an enormous otherworldly maze to rescue her infant brother Toby, who Sarah wished away to Jareth, the Goblin King. With the exception of Connelly and Bowie, most of the significant characters are played by puppets produced by Jim Hensons Creature Shop. The film started as a collaboration between Henson and Froud, with ideas for the film first being discussed between them following a screening of their previous collaboration, The Dark Crystal. Terry Jones of Monty Python wrote the first draft of the films early in 1984. Labyrinth was shot on location in Upper Nyack, Piermont and Haverstraw in New York, the New York Times reported that Labyrinth had a budget of $25 million. The film was a box office disappointment, grossing $12.9 million during its U. S. theatrical run. The commercial failure demoralized Henson to the extent that his son Brian remembered the time of the release as one of the most difficult periods of his fathers career. It would be the last feature directed by Henson before his death in 1990. Although it was met with a critical response upon its initial release. A four-volume comic sequel to the film, Return to Labyrinth, was published by Tokyopop between 2006 and 2010, in 2012, Archaia Studios Press announced they were developing a graphic novel prequel to the film. In January 2016, it was announced that a reboot was in development, fifteen-year-old Sarah Williams rehearses a play in the park with her dog Merlin but becomes distracted by a line she is unable to remember while being watched by a barn owl. Realizing she is late to babysit her baby brother Toby, she rushes home and is confronted by her stepmother Irene before she, Sarah has many toys that she has grown out of and realizes that Toby is in possession of her treasured teddy bear Lancelot. Frustrated by this and his constant crying, Sarah rashly wishes Toby be taken away by the Goblin King Jareth and she is shocked when Toby disappears and the Goblin King confronts her then transports her to his kingdom. He refuses to return the baby, but gives Sarah thirteen hours to solve his Labyrinth, Sarah meets a dwarfish man named Hoggle, who aids her in entering the Labyrinth. She has trouble finding turns and corners but then meets a talking worm who inadvertently sends her in the wrong direction, Sarah ends up in an oubliette where she reunites with Hoggle. After they confront Jareth and escape one of his traps, the two encounter a large beast named Ludo, Hoggle cowardly flees while Sarah befriends Ludo. After another riddle, she loses him in a forest, Hoggle encounters Jareth, who gives him a peach and instructs him to give it to Sarah, calling his loyalty into question as he was supposed to lead her out of the maze
Labyrinth (film)
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Theatrical release poster
32.
David Rudman
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David Rudman is an American puppeteer, writer, director, producer and musician, best known as a performer of many of Sesame Streets Muppets. He originated the role of Baby Bear and has been nominated for four Emmy Awards for his work replacing Frank Oz in the role of Cookie Monster, however, Oz still comes in to record new material with Cookie Monster occasionally, as well as Grover and Bert. Rudman also took over as Richard Hunts half of the Two-Headed Monster after his death, along with Sonny Friendly, and also he took over for Sully to Jerry Nelsons Biff, the construction workers. He has also taken over two roles once held by Richard Hunt, Scooter, and Janice of Dr. Teeth, Rudman has also written for Hocle and Stoty and Curious Buddies. Rudman was the speaker at the 2005 graduation ceremony for the Illinois Institute of Art—Chicago and he attended Highland Park High School and graduated in 1981. He has been a speaker at the schools biennial Focus on the Arts program since 2003 and he attended college at the University of Connecticut. He has written and produced cartoons for MTV, Disney Channel and he also created Spiffy Pictures, which was in 1991. His cousin is Max Joseph, host and cameraman from MTVs Catfish, david Rudman at the Internet Movie Database Spiffy Pictures
David Rudman
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David Rudman at SXSW 2015
33.
Jedi
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The Jedi /ˈdʒɛˌdaɪ/ are the main protagonists in the Star Wars universe. They are depicted as an ancient monastic and academic meritocratic organization whose origin dates back to c.25,000 BBY. The Jedi Order mostly consists of polymaths, teachers, philosophers, scientists, engineers, physicians, diplomats and warriors, by serving others, the Jedi give of themselves through acts of charity, citizenship, and volunteerism. A Jedis ideology and strict way of life as a challenge to live up to is a recurring theme in the Star Wars universe. Their traditional weapon is the lightsaber, a device which generates a blade-like plasma controlled by a crystal, the fictional organization has inspired a real-world new religious movement, Jediism. As depicted in the canon, the Jedi study and utilize the Force, in order to help, like their counterparts, the Sith, their main weapon is the lightsaber. By training the mind and the body the Jedi seek to improve themselves by gaining unfettered access to the Force while also seeking to improve those individuals, the film Rogue One suggests that it relates to the planet Jedha, source of the kyber crystals used in lightsabers. George Lucas acknowledged Jedi concepts have been inspired by many sources, the work of the mythologist Joseph Campbell, especially his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces, directly influenced Lucas, and was what drove him to create the modern myth of Star Wars. The Lost Twenty was the given to a group of Jedi Masters—numbering twenty in total—who left the Jedi Order throughout its history. The first twelve of these ‘Lost Twenty’ left the Jedi Order before the Third Great Schism, these twelve Masters later became Dark Jedi who eventually founded the first Sith Empire. In the years preceding the Clone Wars, Jedi Master Dooku left the Jedi Order as a result of differences with his fellow Jedi, to commemorate these former Jedi, memorial statue busts were displayed at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. The prequel films depict the Jedi in their prime, dealing with the presence of the dark side of the Force and determined to fight their mortal enemies. Once corrupted, Vader helps Palpatine hunt down and destroy all of the Jedi, leaving very few left, such as Jedi Masters Yoda. The first person to be issued this order was Clone Commander Cody, Darth Vader led Operation, Knightfall against the Jedi Temple with the 501st Legion while the rest of the clone army around the galaxy carried out Order 66. Palpatine convinced the people of the Republic that Jedi were corrupted warmongers responsible for prolonging the Clone Wars, Darth Vader continued to hunt and execute surviving Jedi by the thousands during the first 10 years of the Empires history. The Jedi are first introduced in the 1977 motion picture Star Wars as an order of monks who serve as the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy. Obi-Wan Kenobi explains that the Galactic Empire had all but exterminated the Jedi some twenty years before the events of the film, Darth Vader is also established as the Jedis main enemy. By the end of the film, Luke is on the path to becoming a Jedi, the third film in the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi, ends with Luke redeeming Vader and helping to destroy the Empire, thus fulfilling his destiny as a Jedi
Jedi
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The Jedi were considered scholars of erudite lore, keepers of the peace, and the guardians of justice in the galaxy, with Jedi Masters often working together on missions with their respective Padawan apprentices in order to pass their knowledge and employ their abilities on the field.
34.
George Lucas
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George Walton Lucas Jr. is an American filmmaker and entrepreneur. He is best known as the creator of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, as well as the founder of Lucasfilm and he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lucasfilm, before selling it to The Walt Disney Company in 2012. Upon graduating from the University of Southern California in 1967, Lucas co-founded American Zoetrope with fellow filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, Lucas wrote and directed THX1138, based on his earlier student short Electronic Labyrinth, THX1138 4EB, which was a critical success but a financial failure. His next work as a writer-director was the film, American Graffiti, inspired by his teen years in early 1960s Modesto, California, the film was critically and commercially successful, and received five Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. Following the first Star Wars film, Lucas produced and co-wrote the following installments in the trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back, along with Steven Spielberg, Lucas co-created and wrote the Indiana Jones films Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, and The Last Crusade. Lucas also produced and/or wrote a variety of films through Lucasfilm in the 1980s and 1990s, Lucas also returned to directing with the Star Wars prequel trilogy, consisting of The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. He later collaborated on the story for the Indiana Jones sequel Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, five of Lucass seven features are among the 100 highest-grossing movies at the North American box office, adjusted for ticket-price inflation. Lucas is one of the American film industrys most financially successful filmmakers, Lucas is considered a significant figure in the New Hollywood era. Lucas was born and raised in Modesto, California, the son of Dorothy Ellinore Lucas and George Walton Lucas and he is of German, Swiss-German, English, Scottish, and distant Dutch and French descent. Growing up, Lucas had a passion for cars and motor racing, on June 12,1962, while driving his souped-up Autobianchi Bianchina, another driver broadsided him, flipping over his car, nearly killing him, causing him to lose interest in racing as a career. He attended Modesto Junior College, where he studied anthropology, sociology and he also began shooting with an 8 mm camera, including filming car races. At this time, Lucas and his friend John Plummer became interested in Canyon Cinema, screenings of underground, avant-garde 16 mm filmmakers like Jordan Belson, Stan Brakhage, and Bruce Conner. Lucas and Plummer also saw classic European films of the time, including Jean-Luc Godards Breathless, François Truffauts Jules et Jim, thats when George really started exploring, Plummer said. Through his interest in racing, Lucas met renowned cinematographer Haskell Wexler, another race enthusiast. Wexler, later to work with Lucas on several occasions, was impressed by Lucas talent, George had a very good eye, and he thought visually, he recalled. Lucas then transferred to the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, USC was one of the earliest universities to have a school devoted to motion picture film. During the years at USC, Lucas shared a room with Randal Kleiser. Along with classmates such as Walter Murch, Hal Barwood, and John Milius and he also became good friends with fellow acclaimed student filmmaker and future Indiana Jones collaborator, Steven Spielberg
George Lucas
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Lucas in 2009
George Lucas
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Director
Jim Henson (left) and Lucas (right) working on
Labyrinth in 1986.
George Lucas
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Lucas at the Time 100 2006 gala
35.
The Empire Strikes Back
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The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan wrote the screenplay, with George Lucas writing the films story, the film is set three years after Star Wars. The Galactic Empire, under the leadership of the villainous Darth Vader and the Emperor, is in pursuit of Luke Skywalker, while Vader chases a small band of Lukes friends—Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, and others—across the galaxy, Luke studies the Force under Jedi Master Yoda. When Vader captures Lukes friends, Luke must decide whether to complete his training and become a full Jedi Knight or to confront Vader, following a difficult production, The Empire Strikes Back was released on May 21,1980. The film ranks #3 on Empires 2008 list of the 500 greatest movies of all time and it became the highest-grossing film of 1980 and, to date, has earned more than $538 million worldwide from its original run and several re-releases. When adjusted for inflation, it is the sequel of all time. The film was followed by a sequel, titled Return of the Jedi, in 2010, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant. Three years after the destruction of the Death Star, the Rebel Alliance has been driven from their base on Yavin IV by the Galactic Empire. The Rebels, led by Princess Leia, have set up their new base on the ice planet Hoth, the Imperial fleet, led by Darth Vader, continues to hunt for the Rebels’ new base by dispatching probe droids across the galaxy. While investigating a meteor strike, Luke Skywalker is injured and captured by a wampa. He manages to escape from its cave with his lightsaber, the ghost of his late mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, instructs him to go to the Dagobah system to train under Jedi Master Yoda. He is found by Han Solo, who kills his tauntaun, Han and Luke make it through the night and are rescued by a search party. On patrol, Han and Chewbacca discover the meteor Luke had planned to investigate is actually a probe droid, the Empire launches a large-scale attack, using AT-AT Walkers to capture the base. Despite heavy resistance, the Walkers destroy the shield generator. Han and Leia escape on the Millennium Falcon with C-3PO and Chewbacca and they hide in an asteroid field, where Han and Leia grow closer, and eventually, kiss. Vader summons bounty hunters, including the notorious Boba Fett, to assist in finding the Falcon, Luke, meanwhile, escapes with R2-D2 in his X-wing fighter and crash-lands on the swamp planet Dagobah. He meets a creature who is revealed to be Yoda, after conferring with Obi-Wans spirit. Yoda trains Luke as a Jedi and raises his sunken ship from the swamp with the power of the Force, after evading the Empire, Han sets a course for Cloud City, a floating colony in the skies of the gas giant planet Bespin
The Empire Strikes Back
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Theatrical release poster
The Empire Strikes Back
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George Lucas, writer/director of the first film, decided to only executive produce this film
The Empire Strikes Back
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The 1997 theatrical release poster of the new Special Edition version of the film (art by
Drew Struzan)
36.
Return of the Jedi
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Return of the Jedi is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand. The screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas was from a story by Lucas and it was the third and final installment in the original Star Wars trilogy and the first film to use THX technology. The film is set one year after The Empire Strikes Back and was produced by Howard Kazanjian for Lucasfilm Ltd, the film stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew and Frank Oz. The Galactic Empire, under the direction of the ruthless Emperor, is constructing a second Death Star in order to crush the Rebel Alliance once, meanwhile, Luke Skywalker, a Jedi apprentice, struggles to bring his father Darth Vader back to the Light Side of the Force. David Lynch and David Cronenberg were considered to direct the project before Marquand signed on as director, the production team relied on Lucas storyboards during pre-production. While writing the script, Lucas, Kasdan, Marquand. Kazanjians schedule pushed shooting to begin a few weeks early to allow Industrial Light & Magic more time to work on the effects in post-production. Filming took place in England, California, and Arizona from January to May 1982, strict secrecy surrounded the production and the film used the working title Blue Harvest to prevent price gouging. The film was released in theaters on May 25,1983, six years to the day after the release of the first film, the film grossed between $475 million and $572 million worldwide. Alongside its success, the film received four Academy Award nominations, several home video and theatrical releases and revisions to the film followed over the next 20 years. Star Wars continued with Episode I, The Phantom Menace as part of the film prequel trilogy. A sequel, Star Wars, The Force Awakens, was released on December 18,2015, Luke Skywalker initiates a plan to rescue Han Solo from the crime lord Jabba the Hutt with the help of Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2. Leia infiltrates Jabbas palace on Tatooine disguised as a bounty hunter with Chewbacca as her prisoner, Lando is already there disguised as a guard. Leia releases Han from his prison, but she is captured and enslaved. Luke arrives soon afterward but after a standoff, he is captured. After Luke survives his battle with Jabbas Rancor, Jabba sentences him, Luke frees himself and battles Jabbas guards. During the chaos, Boba Fett, who has remained at Jabbas palace since delivering Han, attempts to attack Luke, meanwhile, Leia strangles Jabba to death, and Luke destroys Jabbas sail barge as the group escapes. While the others rendezvous with the Rebel Alliance, Luke returns to Dagobah where he finds that Yoda is dying, before he dies, Yoda confirms that Darth Vader, once known as Anakin Skywalker, is Lukes father, and there is another Skywalker
Return of the Jedi
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Theatrical release poster (art by Kazuhiko Sano)
Return of the Jedi
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Sebastian Shaw as the unmasked Darth Vader.
Return of the Jedi
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The heavy forest of
Redwood National Park was used to film the forests of
Endor in Return of the Jedi.
Return of the Jedi
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The teaser poster titled Revenge of the Jedi by
Drew Struzan
37.
Computer-generated imagery
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The term CGI animation refers to dynamic CGI rendered as a movie. The term virtual world refers to agent-based, interactive environments, Computer graphics software is used to make computer-generated imagery for films, etc. Availability of CGI software and increased computer speeds have allowed artists and small companies to produce professional-grade films, games. This has brought about an Internet subculture with its own set of global celebrities, clichés, the evolution of CGI led to the emergence of virtual cinematography in the 1990s where runs of the simulated camera are not constrained by the laws of physics. Not only do animated images form part of computer-generated imagery, natural looking landscapes are generated via computer algorithms. A simple way to generate fractal surfaces is to use an extension of the triangular mesh method, relying on the construction of special case of a de Rham curve. The creation of a Brownian surface may be achieved not only by adding noise as new nodes are created, thus a topographical map with varying levels of height can be created using relatively straightforward fractal algorithms. Some typical, easy-to-program fractals used in CGI are the plasma fractal, modern architects use services from computer graphic firms to create 3-dimensional models for both customers and builders. These computer generated models can be accurate than traditional drawings. Architectural animation can also be used to see the relationship a building will have in relation to the environment. The rendering of architectural spaces without the use of paper and pencil tools is now an accepted practice with a number of computer-assisted architectural design systems. Architectural modeling tools allow an architect to visualize a space and perform walk-throughs in an interactive manner, Architectural modeling tools have now become increasingly internet-based. However, the quality of internet-based systems still lags behind those of sophisticated in-house modeling systems, in some applications, computer-generated images are used to reverse engineer historical buildings. Computer generated models used in animation are not always anatomically correct. However, organizations such as the Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute have developed anatomically correct computer-based models, Computer generated anatomical models can be used both for instructional and operational purposes. To date, a body of artist produced medical images continue to be used by medical students, such as images by Frank H. Netter. However, a number of anatomical models are becoming available. A single patient X-ray is not a computer generated image, even if digitized, however, in applications which involve CT scans a three-dimensional model is automatically produced from a large number of single slice x-rays, producing computer generated image
Computer-generated imagery
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Fractal landscape
Computer-generated imagery
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A computer generated image featuring a house, made in
Blender.
Computer-generated imagery
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A
CT pulmonary angiogram image generated by a computer from a collection of x-rays.
Computer-generated imagery
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Computer-generated wet fur
38.
Syntax
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In linguistics, syntax is the set of rules, principles, and processes that govern the structure of sentences in a given language, specifically word order. The term syntax is used to refer to the study of such principles and processes. The goal of many syntacticians is to discover the syntactic rules common to all languages, in mathematics, syntax refers to the rules governing the behavior of mathematical systems, such as formal languages used in logic. The word syntax comes from Ancient Greek, σύνταξις coordination, which consists of σύν syn, together, and τάξις táxis, a basic feature of a languages syntax is the sequence in which the subject, verb, and object usually appear in sentences. Over 85% of languages usually place the subject first, either in the sequence SVO or the sequence SOV, the other possible sequences are VSO, VOS, OVS, and OSV, the last three of which are rare. In the West, the school of thought came to be known as traditional grammar began with the work of Dionysius Thrax. For centuries, work in syntax was dominated by a known as grammaire générale. This system took as its premise the assumption that language is a direct reflection of thought processes and therefore there is a single. It became apparent that there was no such thing as the most natural way to express a thought, the Port-Royal grammar modeled the study of syntax upon that of logic. Syntactic categories were identified with logical ones, and all sentences were analyzed in terms of Subject – Copula – Predicate, initially, this view was adopted even by the early comparative linguists such as Franz Bopp. The central role of syntax within theoretical linguistics became clear only in the 20th century, there are a number of theoretical approaches to the discipline of syntax. One school of thought, founded in the works of Derek Bickerton, sees syntax as a branch of biology, other linguists take a more Platonistic view, since they regard syntax to be the study of an abstract formal system. Yet others consider syntax a taxonomical device to reach broad generalizations across languages, the hypothesis of generative grammar is that language is a structure of the human mind. The goal of grammar is to make a complete model of this inner language. This model could be used to all human language and to predict the grammaticality of any given utterance. This approach to language was pioneered by Noam Chomsky, most generative theories assume that syntax is based upon the constituent structure of sentences. Generative grammars are among the theories that focus primarily on the form of a sentence and this complex category is notated as instead of V. NP\S is read as a category that searches to the left for an NP and outputs a sentence. The category of verb is defined as an element that requires two NPs to form a sentence
Syntax
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A syntactic parse of "Alfred spoke" under the dependency formalism
39.
Disneyland
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Disneyland Park, originally Disneyland, is the first of two theme parks built at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, opened on July 17,1955. It is the theme park designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. It was originally the attraction on the property, its name was changed to Disneyland Park to distinguish it from the expanding complex in the 1990s. Walt Disney came up with the concept of Disneyland after visiting various amusement parks with his daughters in the 1930s and 1940s. He initially envisioned building a tourist attraction adjacent to his studios in Burbank to entertain fans who wished to visit, however, after hiring a consultant to help him determine an appropriate site for his project, Disney bought a 160-acre site near Anaheim in 1953. Construction began in 1954 and the park was unveiled during a televised press event on the ABC Television Network on July 17,1955. Opened in 2001, Disney California Adventure Park was built on the site of Disneylands original parking lot, Disneyland has a larger cumulative attendance than any other theme park in the world, with over 650 million guests since it opened. In 2013, the park hosted approximately 16.2 million guests, according to a March 2005 Disney report,65,700 jobs are supported by the Disneyland Resort, including about 20,000 direct Disney employees and 3,800 third-party employees. To all who come to this place, Welcome. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy. The concept for Disneyland began when Walt Disney was visiting Griffith Park in Los Angeles with his daughters Diane and Sharon. While watching them ride the merry-go-round, he came up with the idea of a place where adults and their children could go and have fun together and he may have also been influenced by his fathers memories of the Worlds Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. Another likely influence was Benton Harbor, Michigans nationally famous House of Davids Eden Springs Park, Disney visited the park and ultimately bought one of the older miniature trains originally used there, the colony had the largest miniature railway setup in the world at the time. His ideas evolved to a play park with a boat ride. The initial concept, the Mickey Mouse Park, started with an 8-acre plot across Riverside Drive and his designers began working on concepts, though the project grew much larger than the land could hold. Disney hired Harrison Price from Stanford Research Institute to gauge the proper area to locate the theme based on the areas potential growth. Based on Prices analysis, Disney acquired 160 acres of groves and walnut trees in Anaheim
Disneyland
Disneyland
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Walt Disney (center) showing Orange County officials plans for Disneyland's layout, December 1954.
Disneyland
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An aerial view of Disneyland in 1956, with the Disneyland Railroad route visible.
Disneyland
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An aerial view of Disneyland in 2005
40.
Star Wars Rebels
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Star Wars Rebels is an American 3D CGI animated television series produced by Lucasfilm Animation. Imperial forces are hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights while a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking form, the visual style of Star Wars Rebels is inspired by the original Star Wars trilogy concept art by Ralph McQuarrie. The series premiered as a 44-minute film, Star Wars Rebels, the first season consisted of 16 episodes and the series features new characters along with ones from the original trilogy. The second season of 22 episodes premiered on June 20,2015, the third season of 22 episodes premiered on September 24,2016, with the hour-long episode Steps Into Shadow. On March 3,2017, it was announced that the series is renewed for a season that is set to premiere in the third quarter. Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg and Greg Weisman served as producers of season one. Weisman left the show after season one, the series has been generally well-received and has often received in excess of one million viewers per episode. Taylor Gray as Ezra Bridger Freddie Prinze, Jr, in Australia, the series premiered on October 17 on Disney XD. The Siege of Lothal premiered on June 28,2015 and the season debuted on October 18. In Canada, the series premiered on October 19 on the DHX-owned Disney XD, however, due to DHX Media losing the rights to Disney content, the show was later moved to Disney Channel. The second season premiered on November 7 and it was moved to the Corus-owned Disney XD channel on December 1, in the Middle East and Africa, Spark of Rebellion premiered on October 11 and the series debuted on October 18 on Disney XD. Siege of Lothal premiered on October 10, followed the season premiere on October 17. In Southeast Asia, Spark of Rebellion premiered on Disney XD on October 4, Siege of Lothal premiered on October 3 on Disney XD and Disney Channel and the second season was released on October 24. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the series debuted on October 16 on Disney XD, Siege of Lothal premiered on July 18,2015 followed by the second season debut on October 17. Star Wars Rebels, Spark of Rebellion was released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on DVD in the US at all retailers on October 14,2014, DVD bonus features include character shorts, a 3D model kit of the Ghost ship, and a preview of season 1. The Complete Season One of Star Wars Rebels was released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray on September 1,2015 in America, the Season 1 collection contains the expanded version of Spark of Rebellion with the Darth Vader/Grand Inquisitor prologue shown on ABC-TV. The Complete Season Two of Star Wars Rebels was released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on DVD, in the United States, the one hour special garnered 2.74 million viewers on Disney Channel and 2.40 million viewers on ABC. Worldwide, it delivered a total of 6.5 million viewers, on Disney Channel, the first and second episodes delivered 2.33 million and 1.92 million viewers, respectively
Star Wars Rebels
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From left to right: Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, Ezra Bridger, Zeb Orrelios, and Kanan Jarrus.
Star Wars Rebels
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Star Wars Rebels
41.
Touch of Evil
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Touch of Evil is a 1958 crime drama film noir, written, directed by, and co-starring Orson Welles. The screenplay was based on the novel Badge of Evil by Whit Masterson. Along with Welles, the cast includes Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Joseph Calleia, Akim Tamiroff, Touch of Evil is one of the last examples of film noir in the genres classic era. Since its release, the reputation has grown in stature, and it is now widely regarded as one of Welles best films. In 1993 Touch of Evil was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, in a Mexican town along the U. S. –Mexico border, a time bomb is planted in a car. Rudy Linnekar and woman Zita enter the vehicle and make a journey through town to the U. S. border. Newlyweds Miguel Mike Vargas, an enforcement official in the Mexican government. The car crosses the border, then explodes, realizing the implications of a Mexican bomb exploding on American soil, Vargas takes an interest in the investigation. The obese and disheveled Captain nostalgically visits a brothel run by Tanya, Quinlans and Menzies prime suspect is Sanchez, a young Mexican secretly married to the victims daughter. They interrogate Sanchez in his apartment with Vargas present, Vargas visits the bathroom and accidentally knocks over an empty shoebox. Moments later, Menzies enters the bathroom and announces that two sticks of dynamite were found in the same shoebox, Vargas accuses Quinlan of planting the evidence and begins to suspect that he may have been doing so for years, to help win convictions. Quinlan dismisses the Vargas claim, saying he is just biased in favor of fellow Mexicans, with assistance from District Attorneys Assistant Al Schwartz, Vargas studies the public records on Quinlans previous cases, revealing his findings to Gould and Adair. Quinlan arrives in time to overhear the discussion and angrily threatens to resign, Susie Vargas is moved from her Mexican hotel to a remote American motel to escape the unwanted attention of Grandi. The motel, which Menzies recommended to her, has no guests and is staffed only by a very peculiar night manager. Grandis family members take over the motel and terrorize Susie, Vargas becomes concerned when his attempts to telephone Susie at the motel are blocked. Quinlan conspires with Grandi, arranging for Susie to be knocked unconscious, kidnapped, Quinlan then double-crosses Grandi, strangles him, and leaves Susie, still unconscious, in the room with Grandis body, all in order to discredit the narcotics officer Vargas. However, exhausted, drunk, and shaken from killing Grandi, Quinlan carelessly leaves his cane at the scene of the murder, when Susie wakes up, she sees Grandis body, screams for help, and is arrested on suspicion of murder. Vargas confronts Menzies about the history of evidence discovered by Quinlan, when he goes to Susies motel, but cant find her, Vargas learns the motel is owned by Grandi, and that his handgun has been stolen
Touch of Evil
–
Theatrical release poster
Touch of Evil
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Janet Leigh and Charlton Heston
Touch of Evil
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Janet Leigh as Susan Vargas
Touch of Evil
–
Janet Leigh
42.
The Dark Crystal
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The Dark Crystal is a 1982 American–British fantasy adventure film directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz and stars the voices of Stephen Garlick, Lisa Maxwell, Billie Whitelaw, and Percy Edwards. The plot revolves around Jen, an elf-like Gelfling on a quest to restore balance to his world by returning a lost shard to a powerful. Although marketed as a film, it was notably darker than the creators previous material. The animatronics used in the film were considered groundbreaking, the primary concept artist was the fantasy illustrator Brian Froud, famous for his distinctive fairy and dwarf designs. Froud also collaborated with Henson and Oz for their project, the 1986 film Labyrinth. The Dark Crystal was produced by Gary Kurtz, while the screenplay was written by David Odell, the films score was composed by Trevor Jones. The film was produced by ITC Entertainment, the British production company responsible for producing The Muppet Show, the film earned mixed to positive reviews from multiple critics, particularly commenting on its special effects. Jen, an elf-like Gelfling taken in by the Mystics after his clan was killed, is told by his Mystic master that he must heal the Crystal, if he fails to do so before the planets three suns align, then the Skeksis will rule forever. The Skeksis emperor and Jens master die simultaneously, a duel ensues between the Skeksis Chamberlain and General, both of whom desire the throne. The General wins, taking power and exiling the Chamberlain, learning of Jens existence, the Skeksis send large crab-like creatures called Garthim to track him. Jen reaches Aughra and is taken to her home, which contains an enormous orrery she uses to predict the motions of the heavens and she has a box full of shards, from which Jen selects the correct one by playing music on his flute to cause it to resonate. Aughra tells Jen of the upcoming Great Conjunction, the alignment of the three suns, but he learns little of its connection to the shard, suddenly the Garthim appear and destroy Aughras home taking her prisoner as Jen flees. Hearing the call of the Crystal, the Mystics leave their valley to travel to the Skeksis castle, Jen meets Kira, another surviving Gelfling who can communicate with animals, and her pet Fizzgig. They discover that they have a connection, which Kira calls dreamfasting. They stay for a night with the Podlings, who raised Kira after the death of her parents, the Garthim raid the village, capturing most of the Podlings, but Kira, Jen, and Fizzgig flee when the Chamberlain stops the Garthim from attacking them. Jen and Kira discover a ruined Gelfling city with ancient writing describing a prophecy and they are interrupted by the Chamberlain, who claims that the Skeksis want to make peace and wants the Gelflings to return to the castle with him, but they distrust him and refuse. Riding on Landstriders, the Gelflings arrive at the Skeksis castle, while trying to free the captured Podlings, Kira, Jen, and Fizzgig descend to the bottom of the castles dry moat and use a lower-level entrance to gain access. They are followed by the Chamberlain, who repeats his peace offer, the General reinstates him to his former position, and the Skeksis Scientist tries to drain Kiras life essence for the General to drink so that he can regain his youth
The Dark Crystal
–
Theatrical release poster by
Richard Amsel
The Dark Crystal
–
One of the original Skeksis costumes, on display at the Center for Puppetry Arts in
Atlanta,
Georgia, USA.
The Dark Crystal
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Mystic puppet,
National Museum of American History.
43.
The Muppets Take Manhattan
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The Muppets Take Manhattan is a 1984 American musical comedy film directed by Frank Oz. The film was produced by Henson Associates and TriStar Pictures, and was filmed on location in New York City during the summer of 1983 and it was the first film to be directed solely by Oz, as he previously co-directed The Dark Crystal with Henson. The film introduced the Muppet Babies, as versions of the Muppet characters in a fantasy sequence. The Muppet Babies later received their own Saturday morning animated television series, upon the suggestion of taking the show to Broadway, the Muppets proceed with the idea, certain they will become stars instantly. Arriving in Manhattan, the group meet producer Martin Price but soon discover he is a con artist named Murray Plotsky upon the arrival of the police, Plotsky is arrested, leaving the Muppetss hopes dashed. They try other theatrical producers to no avail, leading to their morale, attempting to promote the show, Kermit first poses as an eccentric producer bragging about the musicals quality but the producer he meets discards the script after Kermit makes his exit. Kermit then poses as a playwright, having the rats insert a caricature picture at Sardis restaurant by replacing it with Liza Minnellis picture. When Liza Minnelli comes in and notices it missing, she asks Vincent Sardi Jr. if she did something wrong to get it removed, when the rats are exposed, Vincent Sardi Jr. discover Lizas picture near Kermit. This causes Kermit and the rats to get out of the restaurant. While in Central Park, Jenny comforts Kermit about his losses, when a thief steals her purse, Miss Piggy borrows a pair of rollerskates and furiously gives chase until she captures him, but reunites with Kermit in the process and they make up. Piggy takes a job at Petes diner while Kermit receives several letters from his friends who have taken up numerous jobs around the United States and he then receives a letter from producer Bernard Crawford who is interested in the musical. However, the letter was sent by his son, Ronnie Crawford. Bernard himself is hesitant but agrees to fund the show, a thrilled Kermit heads back to the diner but is so happy that he walks into oncoming traffic and is immobilized when he gets struck by a passing motorcar. The rest of the Muppets are summoned back to New York, at the hospital, Kermits doctor discovers that he has lost memory of his life. He makes his way to Madison Avenue, where he finds a trio of frogs who work in advertising, the rest of the Muppets search for Kermit where one attempt involved Gonzo trying to persuade Mayor Edward I. Koch to assist. Bill, Gill, Jill, and Kermit end up visiting Petes diner where Kermits friends recognize him when he plays the opening number with spoons. At the Biltmore Theatre on opening night, the Muppets try to help Kermit remember, Kermit regains his memories and, realizing the show needs more Muppets, requests the Madison Avenue frogs, the dogs, the bears, the chickens, and others to become supernumeracies. The show is a success, culminating in what is intended to be a wedding between Kermit and Miss Piggys characters, only for a real minister to appear
The Muppets Take Manhattan
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Theatrical release poster
The Muppets Take Manhattan
–
The Muppets Take Manhattan: The Original Soundtrack
44.
Rick Moranis
–
Frederick Allan Rick Moranis is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician and songwriter. In 1997, Moranis began a hiatus from acting to raise his children as a widowed father. He has not appeared in a film since, although he has provided voice-over work for a few animated films. He has also released albums and made appearances at fan conventions. Moranis was born in Toronto, Ontario, to a Jewish family and he went to elementary school with Geddy Lee, frontman of the rock band Rush. His career as an entertainer began as a disc jockey in the mid-1970s. In 1980, Moranis was persuaded to join the third-season cast of Second City Television by friend, at the time, Moranis was the only cast member who had not come from a Second City stage troupe. He is known for such impressions as Woody Allen, Merv Griffin, Bob and Doug became a pop culture phenomenon, which led to a top-selling and Grammy nominated album, Great White North, and the 1983 movie Strange Brew, Moraniss first major film role. He also did the voice-over for a short lived cartoon series on NBC called Gravedale High, in a 2004 interview, Moranis talked about his favourite kinds of films, On the last couple of movies I made—big-budget Hollywood movies—I really missed being able to create my own material. In the early movies I did, I was brought in to rewrite my stuff. By the time I got to the point where I was starring in movies, and I had executives telling me what lines to say, that wasnt for me. Im a guy who comes out of comedy, and my impetus was always to rewrite the line to make it funnier, Moraniss last film roles were Barney Rubble in The Flintstones and the box-office flop Big Bully. Disneys final film in the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise is 1997s direct-to-video film Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, the series Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, The TV Show also launched in 1997 but without Moranis, then concluding in 2000. He worked for Disney twice more, voicing Rutt the moose in the 2003 animated film Brother Bear, Moranis was also slated to appear in The Breakfast Club, but was released by John Hughes because his interpretation of the role was not what Hughes was looking for. In 2000, Moranis received his first film credit since 1997 when he provided voice work in the film, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. In 2003, he provided his voice to the animated film Brother Bear, as of 2004, Moranis was on the Advisory Committee for the comedy program at Humber College. The album was produced by Tony Scherr and is distributed through ArtistShare, commenting on the origins of the songs, he said that in 2003, Out of the blue, I just wrote a bunch of songs. For lack of an explanation, they’re more country than anything
Rick Moranis
–
Moranis at the
1990 Academy Awards
Rick Moranis
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The handprints of Rick Moranis in front of
The Great Movie Ride at
Walt Disney World 's theme park,
Disney's Hollywood Studios
45.
Ellen Greene
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Ellen Greene is an American singer and actress. From 2007 to 2009, she starred as Vivian Charles on the ABC series Pushing Daisies, Greene was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother was a counselor, and her father was a dentist. She attended W. Tresper Clarke High School, in Westbury and she spent summers at Cejwin Camps in Port Jervis, New York, where she performed in musical theatre productions, including the role of Tzeitel in a 1966 production of Fiddler on the Roof. She had a relationship with puppeteer Martin P. Robinson and her first marriage was to Tibor Hardik. She married Christian Klikovits on September 25,2003, they have since divorced, greenes career began as a nightclub singer in clubs such as The Brothers and Sisters, Grand Finale, and Reno Sweeney. She received rave reviews from such as Rex Reed, George Bell. Around this time, she befriended the late Peter Allen and her first starring role was as the lead in the notorious Broadway bomb Rachael Lily Rosenbloom, which co-starred Anita Morris. She then won the role of Chrissy in Joseph Papps production of In the Boom Boom Room. Her reviews brought her to the attention of Paul Mazursky, who was at that time casting Next Stop, Greenwich Village, she got the role of Sarah and she has appeared on television in Miami Vice, Glory. The Adventures of Pete and Pete, Cybill, Law & Order, Suddenly Susan, The X-Files, Mystery Woman, Sing Me a Murder, Fielder’s Choice, in 1983 she was the voice of Creeping Ivy in the animated TV special The Magic of Herself the Elf. Greene released an album in 2004 entitled In His Eyes, on which she was accompanied by her husband and musical director and her latest work includes the role of Vivian Charles on the television series Pushing Daisies and the voice of Dolly Gopher in the animated Out of Jimmys Head. Greene was also the voice of the Priscilla Presley type of character Goldie in the Don Bluth film Rock-a-Doodle. In the summer of 2009, Greene starred as Miss Adelaide in a version of the Broadway musical Guys and Dolls. Her co-stars included Scott Bakula as Nathan Detroit, theatre veteran and Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell as Sky Masterson, in 2011, she appeared in five episodes on the soap opera The Young and the Restless as Primrose DeVille. Greene performed in the musical Betwixt. at the Trafalgar Studios in Londons West End from July 26 to August 20,2011 and she also recently appeared in two episodes of the new ABC Family show Bunheads, alongside Sutton Foster and Kelly Bishop. Greene performed in the 2016 Democratic National Conventions Fight Song video, official website Ellen Greene at the Internet Movie Database Ellen Greene at the Internet Broadway Database Ellen Greene at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
Ellen Greene
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Greene in Glory! Glory! (1989)
Ellen Greene
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Greene (left) with fellow
Pushing Daisies star
Swoosie Kurtz
46.
Vincent Gardenia
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Vincent Gardenia was an Italian-American stage, film, and television actor. He was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, first for Bang the Drum Slowly, Frank Ochoa in Death Wish and its 1982 sequel, as well as Mr. Mushnik in the musical film adaptation of Little Shop of Horrors. Gardenias other notable films include Murder Inc. The Hustler, The Front Page, Greased Lightning and Heaven Can Wait, Gardenia was born Vincenzo Scognamiglio in Naples, Italy, the son of Elisa and Gennaro Gardenia Scognamiglio. When he was two old, the family emigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, New York City. His father established an acting troupe that presented Italian-language melodramas and he debuted in the company at age five, portraying a shoeshine boy. He graduated to character roles while still a teenager and he remained a member of the company until 1960, five years after his first English-speaking role on Broadway. Gardenia played a role in the film The House on 92nd Street and bit parts in other films, including Cop Hater. His first English-speaking role was in 1955, as a pirate in the Broadway play In April Once, the following year, at age 36, he appeared as Piggy in his Off-Broadway debut in The Man with the Golden Arm. He described his role in the film Little Murders as a turning point and he won Obie Awards in 1960 and 1969. A life member of The Actors Studio, Gardenia won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play in 1972 for his performance in The Prisoner of Second Avenue, in 1979, he was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Ballroom. In film, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in Bang the Drum Slowly. In television, Gardenia won the 1990 Emmy Award for his performance in Age-Old Friends, among his best remembered TV roles is his portrayal of Archie Bunkers neighbor Frank Lorenzo on All in the Family and as J. Edgar Hoover in the miniseries Kennedy. He also played in an episode of Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea titled Escape From Venice, in December 1992, Gardenia was in Philadelphia to perform in the stage production of the Tom Dulack comedy Breaking Legs. He was beginning a run as restaurant owner Lou Garziano in the off-Broadway hit at the Forrest Theatre. It was a role he had performed since the shows New York opening in May 1991, according to Martin, Gardenia showed no signs of illness, adding, It was just a jolly evening. When they arrived at Gardenias hotel room, there was no answer, the hotel sent an engineer who opened the door and Gardenia was discovered dead of a heart attack, dressed and clutching the telephone. That evening, in the tradition of the show must go on and just hours after Gardenias death
Vincent Gardenia
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Gardenia at the 1988 Academy Awards
47.
Steve Martin
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Stephen Glenn Steve Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer and musician. Martin came to notice in the 1960s as a writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. In the 1970s, Martin performed his offbeat, absurdist comedy routines before packed houses on national tours, in 2004, Comedy Central ranked Martin at sixth place in a list of the 100 greatest stand-up comics. He was awarded an Honorary Academy Award at the Academys 5th Annual Governors Awards in 2013 and he released his first solo music album, The Crow, New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, in 2009, for which he won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. Martin was born on August 14,1945, in Waco, Texas, the son of Mary Lee and Glenn Vernon Martin, Martin was raised in Inglewood, California, and then later in Garden Grove, California, in a Baptist family. Martin was a cheerleader of Garden Grove High School, One of his earliest memories is of seeing his father, as an extra, serving drinks onstage at the Call Board Theatre on Melrose Place. During World War II, in the United Kingdom, Martins father had appeared in a production of Our Town with Raymond Massey, expressing his affection through gifts of cars, bikes, etc. Martins father was stern, and not emotionally open to his son and he was proud but critical, with Martin later recalling that in his teens his feelings for his father were mostly ones of hatred. Martins first job was at Disneyland, selling guidebooks on weekends, during his free time, he frequented the Main Street Magic shop, where tricks were demonstrated to potential customers. While working at Disneyland, he was captured in the background of the movie that was made into the short-subject film Disneyland Dream. By 1960, he had mastered several of the tricks and illusions, there he perfected his talents for magic, juggling, and creating balloon animals in the manner of mentor Wally Boag, frequently performing for tips. After high school graduation, Martin attended Santa Ana College, taking classes in drama, in his free time, he teamed up with friend and Garden Grove High School classmate Kathy Westmoreland to participate in comedies and other productions at the Bird Cage Theatre. He joined a comedy troupe at Knotts Berry Farm, later, he met budding actress Stormie Sherk, and they developed comedy routines and became romantically involved. Sherks influence caused Martin to apply to the California State University, Long Beach, Stormie enrolled at UCLA, about an hours drive north, and the distance eventually caused them to lead separate lives. Inspired by his classes, Martin considered becoming a professor instead of an actor-comedian. His time at college changed his life and it changed what I believe and what I think about everything. Something about non-sequiturs appealed to me, in philosophy, I started studying logic, and they were talking about cause and effect, and you start to realize, Hey, there is no cause and effect. Then it gets real easy to write this stuff because all you have to do is twist everything hard—you twist the punch line, Martin recalls reading a treatise on comedy that led him to think What if there were no punch lines
Steve Martin
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Martin at the 120th Anniversary of Carnegie Hall in New York City in April 2011
Steve Martin
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Martin as a high school senior, 1963
Steve Martin
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Martin at the 2008
Tribeca Film Festival
48.
Bill Murray
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William James Bill Murray is an American actor, comedian, and writer. Murray received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2016, Murray was born on September 21,1950 in Evanston, Illinois, and was raised in Wilmette, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. He is the son of Lucille, a room clerk, and Edward Joseph Murray II. Murray and his eight siblings were raised in a Roman Catholic Irish-American family, three of his siblings, John Murray, Joel Murray, and Brian Doyle-Murray, are also actors. A sister, Nancy, is an Adrian Dominican nun in Michigan and their father died in 1967 at the age of 46 from complications of diabetes when Bill was 17 years old. As a youth, Murray read childrens biographies of American heroes like Kit Carson, Wild Bill Hickok and he attended St. Josephs grade school and Loyola Academy. During his teen years, he worked as a golf caddy to fund his education at the Jesuit high school, one of his sisters had polio and his mother suffered several miscarriages. During his teen years he was the singer of a rock band called the Dutch Masters and took part in high school. After graduating, Murray attended Regis University in Denver, Colorado and he quickly dropped out, returning to Illinois. Decades later, in 2007, Regis awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree, on September 21,1970, his 20th birthday, the police arrested Murray at Chicagos OHare Airport for trying to smuggle 10 lb of cannabis, which he had allegedly intended to sell. The drugs were discovered when Murray joked to the next to him that he was smuggling. Murray was convicted and sentenced to probation, with an invitation from his older brother, Brian, Murray got his start at The Second City in Chicago, an improvisational comedy troupe, studying under Del Close. In 1974, he moved to New York City and was recruited by John Belushi as a player on The National Lampoon Radio Hour. In 1975, an Off-Broadway version of a Lampoon show led to his first television role as a cast member of the ABC variety show Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell and that same season, another variety show titled NBCs Saturday Night premiered. Cosells show lasted just one season, canceled in early 1976, after working in Los Angeles with the guerrilla video commune TVTV on several projects, Murray rose to prominence in 1976. He officially joined the cast of NBCs Saturday Night Live for the second season, following the departure of Chevy Chase. Murray was with SNL for three seasons from 1977 to 1980. S, during the first few seasons of SNL, Murray was in a romantic relationship with fellow cast member Gilda Radner. Murray landed his first starring role with the film Meatballs in 1979 and he followed this up with his portrayal of Hunter S. Thompson in 1980s Where the Buffalo Roam
Bill Murray
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Murray at the 2015
San Diego Comic-Con International
Bill Murray
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Murray at the
2010 Toronto International Film Festival
Bill Murray
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Murray in 2014
Bill Murray
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Eric Clapton and Murray kicking off the Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2007
49.
John Candy
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John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian known mainly for his work in Hollywood films. One of his most renowned onscreen performances was as Del Griffith, while filming the Western parody Wagons East. Candy died of an infarction in Durango, Mexico, on March 4,1994. His final two films, Wagons East, and Canadian Bacon, are dedicated to his memory. Candy was born in 1950 in Newmarket, Ontario, the son of Sidney James Candy and Evangeline Candy, he was brought up in a working-class Roman Catholic family. Candys father was of English and Scottish descent, while his mother was of Polish, Candy studied at Neil McNeil Catholic High School, later enrolled in the Centennial Community College to study journalism, and went to McMaster University for higher education. His first film role was a small, uncredited appearance in the 1973 film Class of 44 and he appeared in several other low-budget films during the 1970s, including the bank-robbery thriller The Silent Partner with Christopher Plummer and Elliott Gould. In 1975, he played Richie, a killer, in episode Web of Guilt. In 1976, Candy played a role on Peter Gzowskis short-lived. NBC picked the show up in 1981 and it became a fan favourite. It had won Emmy Awards for the writing in 1981 and 1982. Williams, and Melonvilles corrupt Mayor Tommy Shanks, messenger, corrupt soap-opera doctor William Wainwright, smut merchant Harry, the Guy With the Snake on His Face, and Giorgy, everyones favourite Cossack. Mimicry was one of Candys talents, which he used often at SCTV, a year later, Candy played the lovable, mild-mannered Army recruit Dewey Oxberger in 1981s Stripes, one of the most successful films of the year. In 1983, Candy had a small but memorable appearance in Harold Ramiss National Lampoons Vacation. Candy was one of the celebrities who appeared chanting Ghostbusters in Ray Parker. In 1984, Candy played Tom Hankss womanizing brother in the hit romantic comedy Splash, throughout the latter half of the 1980s, Candy often took roles in substandard films. He also continued to provide memorable bit roles, including a disc jockey in the musical film Little Shop of Horrors. Candy also produced and starred in a Saturday-morning animated series on NBC titled Camp Candy in 1989
John Candy
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Candy in September 1993 at
Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
John Candy
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Candy's grave at
Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California
John Candy
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Candy's star on Canada's Walk of Fame
