Actor Ray Bolger, best remembered for his performance as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, was born on January 10, 1904, 110 years ago today.  He died 5 days after his 83rd birthday in 1987.  He made his film debut in 1926 and ended his screen career in a 1984 episode of Diff'rent Strokes.  

Actor Dennis Morgan was born on December 20, 1908, 105 years ago today.  He passed away on September 7, 1994 at the age of 85.  He died just 2 days after he and his wife Lillian celebrated 61 years of marriage.  Dennis Morgan made many fine films between 1936 and 1976, but my all-time favorite is Christmas In Connecticut (1945) with Barbara Stanwyck.  He ended his career in front of the camera with a 1980 episode of The Love Boat.

Happy 100th Birthday, Marc Platt

Actor/dancer Marc Platt celebrates his 100th birthday today.  He was born on December 2, 1913.  He played one of the brothers in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and also appeared in the classic musical Oklahoma.  Below is a picture taken of Marc Platt, then already in his 90s, being honored for his early work as a ballet dancer.  Below that is a clip of Marc Platt in the 1945 Rita Hayworth film, Tonight and Every Night.  His wife of over 40 years, Jean, passed away in 1994.   Here's hoping that he is in excellent health and that he truly knows how much he is still appreciated by his fans.

The silent-era film classic, The Phantom of the Opera, was released in theaters on November 15, 1925, 88 years ago today.  The stars were Lon Chaney and Mary Philbin, but the movie also served as the film debut of the 16 year old niece of Universal Pictures founder Carl Laemmle. Her name is Carla Laemmle and she celebrated her 104th birthday last month.  After a very long retirement from the screen, she is once again working in films.

Happy 91st birthday to actress Juanita Moore.  She made her film debut in 1942 and has been retired from the big screen since the 2000 Disney film The Kid, starring Bruce Willis.  She was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Annie Johnson in the 1959 Lana Turner film, Imitation of Life.  She portrayed a widow and mother working as a housekeeper for Turner and nanny for Turner's daughter.   In 1960, Moore became only the 5th African American nominated in the 32 years of the Academy Awards.  She also received a Golden Globe nomination for the movie.  She began her career as a chorus girl at the famous Cotton Club in Harlem.  In April 2010, at the Turner Classic Movies Film Festival, 87 year old Juanita Moore was interviewed on stage by host Robert Osborne following a screening of Imitation of Life.

The Maltese Falcon was released in theaters on October 18, 1941, 72 years ago today.

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises, starring Christian Bale and Michael Caine, was released on July 20, 2012, one year ago today.   I enjoyed seeing this in Manhattan very late at night with really good friends.