2010 Necrology - The Best of the Rest (Celebrities and other Notable Characters) PART 1 of 3

The Best of the rest means that a hodgepodge of Celebrities and Notable people will be listed. Some actors/actresses were well known, some were not, some were deaths that occured toward the end of the year. As well as them, I've included other personalities that made a great contribution to society. This is broken in to 2 parts, there were a lot of sad passings in 2010.


Simon MacCorkindale
Born: Feb. 12, 1952 (Cambridgeshire, England)
Died: Oct. 14, 2010 (London, England)
Age: 58

He studied drama, gaining experience on the repertory stage, appearing in a production of "Pygmalion" (1974). During that period, he began appearing on British TV in the series "Hawkeye, the Pathfinder" and made his movie debut in the suspenseful picture "Juggernaut" (1974). More substantial roles followed in "Death on the Nile" (1978) and "The Sword and the Sorcerer" (1982). MacCorkindale will be best remembered by American audiences for his part as Greg Reardon on the TV series "Falcon Crest" (1984 to 1986). During the late-1980s, he began producing, but remained an active performer, with a recurring role as Harry Harper in the TV series "Casualty". He was married to actress Susan George. He died following a lengthy battle with cancer.


Kathryn Grayson
Born: Feb. 9, 1922
Died: Feb. 17, 2010
Age: 88

She starred in a number of film and Broadway musicals from the 1940s to the 1960s. Born Zelma Kathryn Hedrick, she moved from North Carolina to St. Louis with her family where, at 12, she was discovered singing on the stage of an empty opera house. After she received voice lessons from Frances Marshall, the Hedricks relocated to Hollywood so that she could gain more advanced training. Meeting Louis B. Mayer, she was signed by MGM; her silver screen debut came in the 1941 "Andy Hardy's Private Secretary". Thru the 1940s, Grayson was to have a number of musical roles, including an appearance with Frank Sinatra in "Anchors Aweigh" (1945), and turns in Mario Lanza's first two movies, 1949's "That Midnight Kiss", and the 1950 "The Toast of New Orleans".


Ilene Woods
Born: May 5, 1929 (Portsmouth, NH)
Died: Jul. 1, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 81

She voiced the title role of Walt Disney's 1950 animated classic "Cinderella". She was born Jacqueline Ruth Woods. She died of Alzheimer's Disease. Of her part in "Cinderella", she said: "Oh, I love the idea that after I'm gone children will still be hearing my voice".

George Steinbrenner
Born: Jul. 4, 1930 (Rocky River, OH)
Died: Jul. 13, 2010 (Tampa, FL)
Age: 80

He was owner of the New York Yankees Major League baseball team from 1973 until his death in 2010. His health failing, he gave up the day to day control of the team to his sons in 2006, and was feted triumphantly at the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which was held at the old Yankee Stadium. Soon after his 80th birthday, and two days after long time Yankee Stadium announcer Bob Sheppard's death, he died of a heart attack in Tampa, Florida.

Edith Shain
Born: Jul. 29, 1918 (Tarrytown, NY)
Died: Jun. 20, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 91

She was a subject of one of the 20th Century's most indelible images. On August 14, 1945, she was photographed by the renowned Alfred Eisenstadt while being kissed by a jubilant US Navy sailor in Times Square, in celebration of the end of World War II. Her identity was a mystery until the 1970s, when Shain wrote to Eisenstadt and said she was the nurse in the photo; she was working at Doctor's Hospital in New York City when the spontaneous smooch took place. The sailor's identity is still unknown. In 1979 she and photographer Eisenstadt were the subject of a Life Magazine feature article. From that time she became a World War II icon, participating in ceremonies on the 50th anniversary of V-J Day in 1995 and the 60th in 2005. She also devoted herself to helping veterans, was Grand Marshal of numerous parades and made many overseas appearances for Veterans Memorial events.

Miep Gies
Born: Feb. 15, 1909
Died: Jan. 11, 2010 (Noord-Holland Province, Netherlands)
Age: 100

One of the Dutch citizens who hid Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis during World War II. She discovered and preserved Anne Frank's diary after the Franks were arrested. Born Hermine Santrouschitz in Vienna, Miep Gies was transported to Leiden from Vienna in December 1920 to escape the food shortages prevailing in Austria after World War I. In 1922, she moved with her foster family to Amsterdam. In 1933, she met Otto Frank when she applied for the post of temporary secretary in his spice company, Opekta. She initially ran the Complaints and Information desk in Opekta, and was eventually promoted to a more general administrative role. She became a close friend of the Frank family, as did Jan Gies, whom she married on 28 July 1941 after she refused to join a Nazi women's association and was threatened with deportation back to Austria. Her knowledge of Dutch and German helped the Frank family assimilate into Dutch society, and she and her husband became regular guests at the Franks' home. Gies died on 11 January 2010, following a short illness.

J.D. Salinger
Birth: Jan. 1, 1919
Death: Jan. 27, 2010
Age: 91

His book "The Catcher in the Rye" (1951) is considered the classic 20th Century novel of alienated youth. It has sold over 60 million copies worldwide. The author himself became legendary for his reclusive behavior. The mystery of what he wrote during his long silence - the manuscripts reportedly locked in a safe inside a concrete bunker at his home - will no doubt entice fans of literature for years to come.

Merlin Olsen
Born: Sep. 15, 1940 (Logan, UT)
Died: Mar. 11, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 69

Hall of Fame Professional Football Player, Actor, Broadcaster. For fifteen seasons (1962 to 1976), he played at the left and right-defensive tackle positions in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Rams. Olsen concentrated on his acting career (which began in TV guest appearances) and became a respected performer with roles as 'Jonathan Garvey' in the TV series "Little House on the Prairie" (1977 to 1981), as 'John Michael Murphy' in "Father Murphy" (1981 to 1984) and as 'Aaron Miller' in "Aaron's Way" (1988). He also appeared in a series of commercials as a spokesman for FTD florists. In addition, he served as a broadcaster on nationally televised NFL games with NBC along with Dick Enberg. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980, and enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982. Cause of death was Mesothelioma.

Pernell Roberts
Born: May 18, 1928 (Waycross, CA)
Died: Jan. 24, 2010 (Malibu, CA)
Age: 81

His role of 'Adam Cartwright' in the popular long-running television western series "Bonanza", made Roberts identifiable. He left the cast in 1965, remaining busy with guest appearances in a wide range of television programs throughout the 1960s and 1970s including "The Wild, Wild West", "Mission: Impossible", "Hawaii Five-O", "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Rockford Files". His second most identifiable part was the title role in the television medical drama "Trapper John, M.D." (1979 to 1986), for which he earned an Emmy Award nomination.

Fess Parker
Born: Aug. 16, 1924 (Fort Worth, TX)
Died: Mar. 18, 2010
Age: 86

He had a voice role as the driver in the now classic film "Harvey." He didn't appear in another film for two years, but then was in three separate films in 1952 and another four in 1953, most of which were uncredited. In 1954 he appeared in feature films such as "Them!" and "Battlecry" as well as branching out, appearing in almost a dozen television series including one of his twin signature roles, that of Davy Crockett, for which he returned for seven episodes of "The Wonderful World of Disney" over the next two years. He signed a contract with Disney appearing in films such as "The Great Locomotive Chase," in 1956 and "Old Yeller" in 1957. Apparently jealous of their wildly popular star, Disney refused to loan him out to other studios so as not to tarnish his persona. By 1959, his popularity had leveled off, and he found that he was unable to regain the success he had has Crockett.

2010 Necrology - Celebrity Edition PART 3 of 3

Harold Gould
Born: Dec. 10, 1923 (Schenectady, NY)
Died: Sep. 11, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 87

Harold V. Goldstein launched his Hollywood career during the early 1960s, gradually becoming one of the busiest and most recognized character performers over the next five decades. He appeared in scores of TV programs and films, among them "Dennis the Menace", "Route 66", "That Girl", "The Wild, Wild West", "Hogan's Heroes" and "The Golden Girls", the movies "Harper" (1966), "The Sting" (1973), "Patch Adams" (1998) and "Stuart Little" (1999). He had featured roles in the TV series "Rhoda" (1974 to 1978) as Martin Morgenstern, and "The Feather and Father Gang" (1976 to 1977). He died from prostate cancer.

Gloria Stuart
Birth: Jul. 4, 1910 (Santa Monica, CA)
Died : Sep. 26, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 100

Best remembered for her Academy Award nominated role of the more mature, 'Rose Calvert ' in the multi-Academy Award winning motion picture, "Titanic" (1997). Stuart's film career spanned nearly seven decades. During the "Golden Age" of Hollywood she worked along side James Cagney, Claude Rains, Lionel Barrymore, Dick Powell, and Shirley Temple. She was scouted by Universal Pictures and signed to a contract in 1932, appearing in the films, "The Old Dark House" (1932), "The Invisible Man" (1933), and "The Kiss Before the Mirror" (1933). She would briefly retire from acting to become an accomplished artist, painting and sculpting. She returned to acting in the mid-seventies, appearing in numerous television shows. She continued acting until 2004, to retire a comfortable life in Beverly Hills, where she died of natural causes.

Robert Culp
Born: Aug. 16, 1930
Died: Mar. 24, 2010
Age: 79

Best known for his work in television, he earned an international reputation for his role as Kelly Robinson on I Spy (1965-1968), the espionage series, where he and co-star Bill Cosby played a pair of secret agents.



Dixie Carter
Born: May 25, 1939 (McLemoresville, TN)
Died: Apr. 10, 2010 (Houston, TX)
Age: 70

She graduated from the University of Memphis and competed in the 1959 Miss Tennessee pageant, earning first runner-up. She then began an acting career, first on the Memphis stage and later in New York City theaters. After a hiatus she returned to acting in 1974, landing television parts on the daytime dramas "One Life to Live" and "The Edge of Night". She was also an accomplished singer, winning positive reviews for her cabaret performances and recordings.

Kevin McCarthy
Born: Feb. 15, 1914 (Seattle, WA)
Died: Sep. 11, 2010 (Hyannis, MA)
Age: 96

His breakthrough role happened on the London stage where McCarthy played Biff Loman in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" in 1949. He would reprise his part in the motion picture version two years later, receiving a Golden Globe Award and garnering himself an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Movie audiences will perhaps best remember McCarthy for his role of Dr. Miles J. Bennell in the original version of the classic 1956 science-fiction film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (he would make a cameo appearance in the 1978 remake). He died from natural causes.

Ronnie James Dio
Birth: Jul. 10, 1942 (Portsmouth, NH)
Death: May 16, 2010
Age: 67

Ronald James Padavona was born to an Italian family. He started his musical career in New York in 1957, playing in various bands first on bass and then switched to lead vocals. He took the name of Ronnie James Dio professionally in 1961. Dio joined the group Rainbow and they released their first album in 1975. Dio left Rainbow and joined Black Sabbath in 1979, replacing Ozzy Osbourne. He formed his own band, Dio, in 1982. In January 2007, Dio was inducted into the Rock Walk of Fame on Sunset Boulevard. He died from Stomach Cancer.

Eddie Fisher
Born: Aug. 10, 1928 (Philadelphia, PA
Died: Sep. 22, 2010
Age: 82

One of America's most popular singers of the 1950s. At the height of his celebrity Fisher left his first wife, actress Debbie Reynolds for recently widowed Elizabeth Taylor, creating one of the biggest scandals of the era. Although he married Taylor in 1959, NBC, RCA and Coca-Cola all dropped him over the negative publicity.


Teddy Pendergrass
Born: Mar. 26, 1950 (Philadelphia, PA)
Died: Jan. 13, 2010 (Philadelphia, PA
Age: 59

Theodore DeReese Pendergrass was a major figure in the American Soul and R&B genres as both a singer and a songwriter during the 1970s and 80s. His hits included "Close the Door," "Love T.K.O.," "Joy," and "It Should Have Been You." The Philadelphia native was named Theodore, which means "gift from God," by his mother because she had suffered six previous miscarriages before giving birth to him. His father Jesse, who had left the family, was murdered when Pendergrass was 12. Pendergrass started singing gospel music in Philadelphia churches at a young age, becoming an ordained minister at ten years old. He soon taught himself to play several instruments and he joined several local musical groups in Philadelphia. Pendergrass was the first African-American singer to sell five platinum albums in a row. On March 18, 1982, in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pendergrass was paralyzed when the brakes failed on his Rolls Royce and his car hit a tree. Paralyzed from the chest down with a spinal cord injury, he spent six months in rehabilitation. After completing physical therapy, he returned to public appearances on July 13, 1985 at the historic Live Aid concert in Philadelphia and continued to record throughout the 1980s and 90s. In 1998, he released his autobiography entitled, Truly Blessed. In 2006, Pendergrass announced his retirement from the music business. In 2009, Pendergrass entered Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania for treatment of a rare illness related to his paralysis condition. He later died there months later from complications following surgery for colon cancer at age 59.

2010 Necrology - Shocking Deaths

Joshua Andrew Koenig
Born: Aug. 17, 1968, Los Angeles, CA
Died: c. Feb. 25, 2010, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Actor, film director, editor and writer. Known for his portrayal in the 1980s sitcom Growing Pains, as Mike Seaver's best friend Richard 'Boner' Stabone. He was also a video producer for the podcast Never Not Funny. His father is actor Walter Koenig known for his role as 'Pavel Chekov' in the original Star Trek television series. Andrew took his own life in a State Park located in Vancouver, Canada.

This death hit me hard. Andrew was a funny young man and seemed to have it all. His suicide was a shock. I have nothing but sadness in my heart for his family. I was very depressed for weeks after his death, but slowly I came to terms with it.



Mary Christine Brockert
Born: Mar. 5, 1956 Los Angeles, CA
Died: Dec. 26, 2010 California

Best known as Teena Marie or Lady T(ee).

Teena Marie was notable as a performer of R & B and funk through her work on rhythm guitar, keyboards and vocals, as well as working as a songwriter and producer. Formerly a protege of Rick James. Marie continued to produce recordings and tour, and had been doing so until shortly before her passing.

I have been a fan of Teena Marie since 1980. I fell in love with her song "Behind the Groove". I recall hearing it on the radio and dancing to it. The first time I saw the cover of her album I almost fell over. I did not know she was white. She had such a soulful voice.

I learned of her passing while on Facebook. Word was going around, but I refused to believe it until an established news site stated it. Once it broke on Huffington Post, I knew it was true. She was and will always be one of my favorite singers.

2010 Necrology - Celebrity Edition PART 2 of 3

Zelda Rubinstein
Born: May 28, 1933 (Pittsburg, PA)
Died: Jan. 27, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 76

She is best remembered as the ghost-hunting psychic from the "Poltergeist" movies of the 1980s. The 4'3" Rubinstein, who preferred the designation "little person", attended the University of Pittsburgh and the University of California, Berkeley, and went on to work as a blood bank technician. She lived for a number of years in London. Returning to the United States, she made the decision, at age 47, to switch to an acting career. She died of a combination of cardiac and respiratory problems. Of coming to terms with her short stature, she said: "I just decided it was a very interesting variation".

Corey Haim
Born: Dec. 23, 1971 (Toronto, Canada)
Death: Mar. 10, 2010 (Burbank, CA)
Age: 39

Best known for his 1980s Hollywood career as a teen idol. He starred or co-starred in a number of films such as "Lucas", "The Lost Boys", "License to Drive" and "Dream a Little Dream". He also collaborated numerous times with actor Corey Feldman, most notably appearing together on the reality TV show "The Two Coreys", which aired on the A&E Network from 2007 to 2008.

Gary Coleman
Born: Feb. 8, 1968 (Zion, IL)
Died: May 28, 2010 (Provo, Utah)
Age: 42

As a child he appeared in episodes of "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times" before attaining celebrity status as a star of the NBC situation comedy "Diff'rent Strokes", where his character's usual retort to his brother (played by Todd Bridges) "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" became a national catchphrase. He suffered from a congenital kidney disease which halted his growth at an early age, leaving him with a small stature (less than five feet tall) and a childlike appearance even as he grew into adulthood. He underwent two kidney transplants, one in 1973 and one in 1984, and required daily dialysis. Coleman died at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center after being removed from life support following a brain hemorrhage he suffered at his home.

John Forsythe
Born: Jan. 29, 1918 (Penns Grove, NJ)
Died: Apr. 1, 2010
Age: 92

John Forsythe starred in three television series, spanning three decades, as single playboy father Bentley Gregg in the 1950s sitcom Bachelor Father (1957–1962); as the unseen millionaire Charles Townsend on the 1970s crime drama Charlie's Angels (1976–1981), and as ruthless and beloved patriarch Blake Carrington on the 1980s soap opera Dynasty (1981–1989).


Jean Simmons
Born: Jan. 31, 1929 (London, England)
Died: Jan. 22, 2010 (Santa Monica, CA)
Age: 81

A leading lady of captivating beauty, she appeared in British and American motion pictures. During the 1950s and 1960s, she achieved star status with an abundance of memorable roles in such popular pictures as "The Robe" (1953), "Guys and Dolls" (1955), "The Big Country" (1958), "Elmer Gantry" (1960) and "Spartacus" (1960). She received an Emmy for her role in the mini-series "The Thorn Birds". She died from lung cancer. *she was one of my favorite actresses*

Lynn Redgrave, OBE
Born: Mar. 8, 1943 (London, England)
Died: May 2, 2010 (Kent, CT)
Age: 67

She had a long career on stage, television, and film. The child of a distinguished British theatrical family, she was raised within the show-business milieu and studied at the London School of Speech and Drama before making her professional stage debut in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Ill with breast cancer since 2002, Redgrave continued her work on such shows as "Desparate Housewives" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", making her final appearance in "Ugly Betty" (2009). A naturalized American citizen, she was named Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in 2002.

Peter Graves
Born: Mar. 18, 1926 (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Died: Mar. 14, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 84

Peter Aurness participated in athletics and was an accomplished musician before beginning his career as a radio announcer, where he utilized his robust speaking voice. After studying drama at the University of Minnesota, he followed his older brother James Arness into the entertainment industry, when he broke into films with his motion picture debut in "Rogue River" (1951). It would be the role of 'Jim Phelps' on the popular series "Mission: Impossible" (1967 to 1973), for which TV audiences would most identify him with. A later generation would fondly remember him for his comical performance in the movie "Airplane!" (1980), its sequel in 1982, and for his narration work in the "Biography" series with the Arts and Entertainment Network.He died from natural causes.

Patricia Neal
Born: Jan. 20, 1926 (Whitley County, KY)
Died: Aug. 8, 2010 (Dukes County, MA)
Age: 84

Striking, husky-voiced leading lady of stage and screen. She won a Best Actress Academy Award for "Hud" (1963). In 1965 Neal nearly lost her life to a series of crippling strokes, but fought back and triumphantly resumed her career.

2010 Necrology - Celebrity Edition PART 1 of 3

It is the end of another year, and this is when I like to look back and remember all of those we have lost. These celebrities have brought us many decades of joy. Good-bye to you all.

(this will be done in parts)


Jimmy Dean
Born: Aug. 10, 1928 (Olton, TX)
Died: Jun. 13, 2010 (Richmond, VA)
Age: 82

Jimmy Ray Dean was an American country music singer, television host, actor and businessman. Although he may be best known today as the creator of the Jimmy Dean Sausage brand, he first rose to fame for his 1961 country crossover hit "Big Bad John"; and became a national television personality in the 1960s. His acting career included a supporting role in the 1971 James Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever. He lived near Richmond, Virginia, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

Lena Horne

Born: Jun. 30, 1917 (Brooklyn, NY)
Died: May 9, 2010 (New York, NY)
Age: 93

Lena Mary Calhoun Horne broke through racial barriers as the first black performer to sign a long-term contract with a major Hollywood studio. Throughout her career, she was a passionate advocate for civil rights. She was honored for Lifetime Achievement at the Kennedy Center in 1984, was recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 1989, and a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist in 1999. She received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for music, the other for film.

Dennis Hopper
Born: May 17, 1936 (Dodge City, KS)
Died: May 29, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 74

Actor, Director. He was considered one of Hollywood's most outspoken and versatile actors. He appeared in over 150 motion pictures during his lifetime, working as both an actor and film director, in a career that spanned over five decades. Known in the motion picture industry for his anti-establishment reputation, he was nominated for two Academy Awards during his professional career. Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2002, he suffered a recurrence of the disease in October 2009, which ultimately resulted in his death. He made his final public appearance on Friday March 26, 2010 in Los Angeles, California, accepting a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.



Art Linkletter
Born: Jul. 17, 1912 (Canada)
Died: May 26, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 97

Television and Radio Personality, Author. He hosted two of the longest-running programs in broadcast history and was a presence in American media for more than six decades. "Art Linkletter's House Party," a variety show, debuted on radio in 1944 and was seen on CBS television from 1952 to 1969, and "People Are Funny", which he helmed on radio from 1943 and on NBC television from 1954 to 1960.


Rue McClanahan
Born: Feb. 21, 1934 (Carter County OK)
Died: Jun. 3, 2010 (New York, NY)
Age: 76

Best known as the co-star of the popular TV sitcom The Golden Girls. Born Eddi-Rue McClanahan, she grew up in Ardmore, Oklahoma, graduated from the University of Tulsa, and began a career as an actress in 1957. She died from a stroke.



Tom Bosley
Born: Oct. 1, 1927 (Chicago, IL)
Died: Oct. 19, 2010 (Palm Springs, CA)
Age: 83

He will be remembered for his role as the patriarch Howard Cunningham in the popular TV series "Happy Days". Born in Chicago, he served in the US Navy, and attended DePaul University following his return home. After becoming interested in an acting career, he studied at the Radio Institute of Chicago, and began performing on various radio programs. He made his debut on Broadway in the production "The Power and the Glory" (1958 to 1959), and began a lengthy television career during that same period. He died from heart failure.


Barbara Billingsley
Born: Dec. 22, 1915 (Los Angeles, CA)
Died: Oct. 16, 2010 (Santa Monica, CA)
Age: 94

Born Barbara Lillian Combes, she attended Los Angeles Junior College in the mid 1930s and then moved to New York City, where she worked as a model. In 1945 she received a contract from MGM, and she appeared in several films during the late 1940s and 1950s, sometimes without screen credit. In 1957 Billingsley began starring in the sitcom "Leave it to Beaver" as June Cleaver, mother to Wally and Theodore, nicknamed "Beaver". She appeared in her most famous role for 234 episodes, remaining with the show until it ended after six seasons. She died at her home after having dealt for several years with the effects of a rheumatoid disease.


Tony Curtis
Born: Jun. 3, 1925 (Bronx, NY)
Died: Sep. 29, 2010 (Clark County, NV)
Age: 85

Bernard Schwartz was brought up in poverty in a tough Bronx neighborhood. He developed an interest in acting after visiting a neighborhood settlement house, and following service in the US Navy, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill and studied at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School for Social Research (New York City). He was formerly married to actress Janet Leigh (1927 - 2004) and was the father of actresses Kelly and Jamie Lee Curtis. In addition to acting, Curtis was a gifted painter. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Recently Watched Christmas Movies

All Mine To Give

The tag line to this movie (If you can see it at the top) says "Six Kids on a True and Wonderful Adventure!" I'm hear to tell you that this tag line is misleading. The movie itself was very good, and it is often cited as a Christmas movie. Here is what this movie is about in my words:

A Scottish couple emigrate to America (Eureka, Wisconsin) in the mid 1800s. They plan to live with the wife's uncle, but find him and his house incenerated when they arrive. They decide to stay and build their own home. Winter is fast approaching and the wife is pregnant with their first kid. The neighbors pitch a hand and get the house built before winter sets in. OK so far so good.

Time passes, the wife has five more children and the father is working as a lumberjack, eventually he owns his own boating business.

Dad dies, mom dies, six kids are left orphaned. The oldest boy makes a promise to his dying mother that he will find good homes for his siblings. He decides to do this on Christmas Eve, when people are the most generous. One by one he gives them away, but as for himself, being a 12 year old, he decides to leave school and follow in his father's footsteps to be a lumberjack, he walks off in the snow alone.

Very Very Very SAD! ACK! Not a feel good Christmas film. But it is a good movie and it is based on a true story, which makes it all the more sad.


La Buche

Noted French screenwriter Daniele Thompson makes her directorial debut with this lighthearted romantic comedy. After the December 21st funeral of Yvette's second husband, she is consoled by the three daughters from her first marriage to Stanislas, a Russian-Jewish violinist. The oldest, Lorba, lives with her father and makes a living by singing ballads in a Russian cabaret, Sonia is a fastidious middle-class housewife, and Yvette's youngest, Milla, is a go-getting businesswoman. As Christmas celebrations gather steam, Louba learns that at age 42, she is unexpectedly pregnant by Gilbert, her married lover of 12 years. Meanwhile, Sonia develops a habit of taking five-finger discounts while shopping, and Milla takes up with a mysterious drifter who lives as a boarder in Stanislas' house. - Jonathan Crow, Rovi

I usually like French films, but I've never seen a French Christmas film. La Buche (The Cake) is a very entertaining film with a lot going on. There are no lulls in this film, it moves at a good pace, although it is somewhat depressing in parts. The overall movie was good, from story-line to the acting. I recommend this film, even if you are not a fan of Foreign film, it is just good.

Thursday Thirteen - Week 98

13 Christmas Carols I love
1. What Child is This (Greensleeves)
A popular Christmas carol written in 1865. At the age of twenty-nine, English writer William Chatterton Dix was struck with a sudden near-fatal illness and confined to bedrest for several months, during which he went into a deep depression. Yet out of his near-death experience, Dix wrote many hymns, including "What Child is This?", later set to the traditional English tune "Greensleeves"


2. Riu, Riu Chiu
A Spanish villancico that has attained some contemporary fame as a Christmas carol.


3. Silent Night (Stille Nacht)
A popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song Stille Nacht were written in German by the Austrian priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber. In 1859, John Freeman Young published the English translation that is most frequently sung today.

4. The First Noel (Nowell) A traditional English Christmas carol, most likely from the 18th century. In its current form it is of Cornish origin, and it was first published in Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (1823) and Gilbert and Sandys Christmas Carols (1833), both of which were edited by William B. Sandys and arranged, edited and with extra lyrics written by Davies Gilbert.

5. Gaudete
A sacred Christmas carol, composed sometime in the 16th century. The song was published in Piae Cantiones, a collection of Finnish/Swedish sacred songs published in 1582. No music is given for the verses, but the standard tune comes from older liturgical books. The Latin text is a typical medieval song of praise, which follows the standard pattern for the time - a uniform series of four-line stanzas, each preceded by a two-line refrain (in the early English carol this was known as the burden). Carols could be on any subject, but typically they were about the Virgin Mary, the Saints or Christmastide themes.



6. O Come O Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
A hymn tune attributed to King John IV of Portugal (although the exact authorship is unknown and disputed). The text itself has unclear beginnings, and may have been written in the 13th century by John of Reading, though it has been concluded that John Frances Wade was probably the author.

7. Little Drummer Boy
A popular Christmas song written by Katherine K. Davis. It was popularised by the version of the Harry Simeone Chorale and has been adapted many times since.
The lyrics tell of a poor young boy who, unable to afford a gift for the infant Jesus, plays his drum for the newborn with the Virgin Mary's approval. The newborn seems to understand and smiles at the boy in gratitude.
(This song ALWAYS makes me cry)

8. Canon in D major (Pachlabel's Canon)
The most famous piece of music by German Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel. Like most other works by Pachelbel and other pre-1700 composers, the Canon remained forgotten for centuries and was rediscovered only in the 20th century. Several decades after it was first published in 1919, the piece became extremely popular, and today it is frequently played at weddings and included on classical music compilations. Not a traditional Christmas song, not written as one, I recognize it as a Christmas Carol due to the following...

9. Christmas Canon
A Christmas song by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra from their 1998 album The Christmas Attic. It has debuted on the iTunes Top 100 download chart at #48 during Christmas time. The song is set to the tune of Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D Major with new lyrics added. The group's rock version is entitled "Christmas Canon Rock", which debuted on their 2004 album The Lost Christmas Eve.

10. Carol of the Bells
is a choral miniature work originally composed by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych. The "Carol of the Bells" was premiered in December 1916 by a choral group made up of students at Kiev University. It was introduced to Western audiences by the Ukrainian National Chorus during its concert tour of Europe and the Americas, where it premiered in the United States on October 5, 1921 at Carnegie Hall. It was later adapted into an English language version by Peter Wilhousky in the 1930s, and to this day is performed and sung worldwide during the Christmas season.

11. Good King Wenceslas
A popular Christmas carol about a king who goes out to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (the second day of Christmas, December 26). During the journey, his page is about to give up the struggle against the cold weather, but is enabled to continue by the heat miraculously emanating from the king's footprints in the snow. The legend is based on the life of the historical Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935), known in the Czech language as Svatý Václav.

12. Mary Did You KnowMark Lowry wrote the words in 1984 "when his pastor asked him to write the program for the living Christmas tree choir presentation. It was while he was working on the project that Mark considered what it would have been like to have been Jesus' mother".



13. Halleluja Chorus
Originally, Handel wrote The Messiah to be performed at Lent or Easter. Today, however, the Hallelujah Chorus is most popular as a piece of Christmas music.

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