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1-8 of 8
- Actress
- Soundtrack
The child of a teenage rape victim, Ethel Waters grew up in the slums of Philadelphia and neighboring cities, seldom living anywhere for more than a few weeks at a time. "No one raised me, " she recollected, "I just ran wild." She excelled not only at looking after herself, but also at singing and dancing; she began performing at church functions, and as a teenager was locally renowned for her "hip shimmy shake". In 1917 she made her debut on the black vaudeville circuit; billed as "Sweet Mama Stringbean" for her tall, lithe build, she broke through with her rendition of "St. Louis Blues", which Waters performed in a softer and subtler style than her rivals, Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. Beginning with her appearances in Harlem nightclubs in the late 1920s, then on the lucrative "white time" vaudeville circuit, she became one of America's most celebrated and highest-paid entertainers. At the Cotton Club, she introduced "Stormy Weather", composed for her by Harold Arlen: she wrote of her performance, "I was singing the story of my misery and confusion, the story of the wrongs and outrages done to me by people I had loved and trusted". Impressed by this performance, Irving Berlin wrote "Supper Time", a song about a lyncing, for Waters to perform in a Broadway revue. She later became the first African-American star of a national radio show. In middle age, first on Broadway and then in the movies, she successfully recast herself as a dramatic actress. Devoutly religious but famously difficult to get along with, Waters found few roles worthy of her talents in her later years.- Music Department
- Composer
- Actor
Henry Vars was born on 29 December 1902 in Warsaw, Poland, Russian Empire [now Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland]. He was a composer and actor, known for Schindler's List (1993), The Pianist (2002) and Gog (1954). He died on 1 September 1977 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Elzbieta Dziewonska was born on 1 April 1903 in Moscow, Russia. She was an actress, known for Serce matki (1938). She died on 1 September 1977 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
- Gloria Holly was born on 7 August 1922. She was an actress, known for Kraft Theatre (1947). She died on 1 September 1977 in Florham Park, New Jersey, USA.
- Sound Department
Heinz Dinter was born on 6 December 1929 in Hirschberg, Silesia, Germany. Heinz is known for Mein Land (1969), Und wenn sie nicht gestorben sind... Die Kinder von Golzow - Das Ende der unendlichen Geschichte (2006) and Kindertheater (1965). Heinz died on 1 September 1977 in East Berlin, East Germany.- Gösta Nohre was born on 15 November 1897 in Norberg, Västmanlands län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Flickan från paradiset (1924). He died on 1 September 1977 in Norberg, Västamanlands län, Sweden.
- Alfréd Jávor was born on 4 April 1891 in Márk, Austria-Hungary [now Markovce, Slovakia]. He was an actor, known for Tüzpróba (1918), Pacsirta (1964) and Musical TV Theater (1970). He died on 1 September 1977 in Budapest, Hungary.
- Composer
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Alberto Soifer was born on 1 August 1907 in Argentina. He was a composer and producer, known for Buenos Aires a la vista (1950), Amorina (1961) and La guitarra de Gardel (1949). He died on 1 September 1977 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.