Anne Bauchens (1882 - 1967)

Noted Film Editor. She worked as the editor on every Cecil B. DeMille film from 1919 on. It was also said that Mr. DeMille would not sign a contract to do a film unless Ms. Bauchens was also signed on. Oscar nominations/win for film editing: “The Ten Commandments” (1956),  “The Greatest Show on Earth” (1952), […]

Gordon Bau (1907 - 1975)

Motion Picture Make-up Artist. Fames Hollywood make-up artist of the 1930s through the 1970s. Brother of make-up artist George Bau. (bio by: A.J. Marik)

Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates (1907 - 1998)

Tap Dancer and Pioneer in Black Entertainment Field/Hotel Owner. Peg Leg Bates was a world famous tap dancer best known for his 20 appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show,the last being in the early 1960’s,delighting an audience of millions. Bates lost his left leg in a Cotton Gin accident at age 12. He subsequently taught […]

Lina Basquette (1907 - 1994)

In 1923, Lina Baskette and her mother traveled across the country by train to New York City, so that the girl could audition for John Murray Anderson. Anderson urged her to change the spelling of her surname from “Baskette” to “Basquette”. Producer Charles Dillingham changed the spelling of her first name from “Lena” to “Lina” […]

Morris Barry (1918 - 2000)

Morris Barry (9 February 1918 – 20 November 2000) was born in Northampton, England. He was a notable figure on the production side of the BBC in the 1960s and 1970s. He made his name as a producer and director on productions such as Angels, Compact and Z-Cars; but his most impressive credit was perhaps as […]

Jack Barry (1918 - 1984)

Television Game Show Producer, Host. He was involved in the quiz show scandals of the late 1950s while hosting “Twenty-One,” which formed the basis of the movie “Quiz Show” (1994). (bio by: A.J. Marik)

Dave Barry (1918 - 2001)

Comedian. Worked in Las Vegas for many years as the opening act for many top performers, including Wayne Newton. Played in 16 films and had 5 guest appearances. (bio by: Tina Urban)  Family links:  Spouse:  Ginny Barry (1920 – 2002)* *Calculated relationshipCause of death: Cancer

George Barris (1925 - 2015)

American Car Customizer and Designer. Known as the “King of the Kustomizers”, Barris created some of the most iconic automobiles for film and television, among them the Batmobile and the Munster Koach. He and his brother, Sam, began fixing up cars in their teen years, opening the Barris Brothers Custom Shop in Los Angeles in […]

Richard William “Ritchie” Barrett (1933 - 2006)

Producer and Songwriter.  As one of the first successful independent black producers and songwriters, he was also a creative force behind many groups of the ’50s and ’60s, including the Cleftones, the Flamingos, the Chantels, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers, the Isley Brothers and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. […]

Phineas Taylor “P.T.” Barnum (1810 - 1891)

Legendary 19th Century American showman and circus promoter.  Best remembered for founding the first modern three-ring circus, which also would eventually became the biggest and most important circus in the world, the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. He was born Phineas Taylor Barnum on July 5, 1810 in Bethel, Connecticut, the oldest of five […]

George S. Barnes (1892 - 1953)

Motion Picture Cinematographer. For 30 years one of Hollywood’s top cameramen, he was equally distinguished in black-and-white and color photography. He worked with many of the best directors in the business and was mentor to cinematographer Gregg Toland (“Citizen Kane”), who started out as his assistant. Barnes won an Academy Award for his moody lensing […]

Lawrence Carter “Slim” Barnard (1903 - 1975)

Television Show Host. Creator and host of television’s “The Happy Wanderer” travelogue show of the 1960s. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Spouse:  Henrietta Lena Seipp Barnard (1904 – 2004)* *Calculated relationship

Julius Francis “Jules” Barlow (1917 - 2007)

Orchestra and Big Band Leader, Musician, The Jules Barlow Orchestra played with many bands of the big band era, including the Blue Baron. The orchestra appeared in many ballrooms throughout the south, including the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennesee, the Broadmoor and Buena Vista Hotels in Biloxi, Mississippi, and many more. The Jules Barlow Orchestra […]

Andre Barlatier (1882 - 1943)

Cinematographer. A former cameraman for Pathe, the French-born Barlatier was brought to the United States by producer Carl Laemmle and shot several of Universal’s early prestige pictures, including “Neptune’s Daughter” (1914) and “A Daughter of the Gods” (1916), starring legendary swimmer Annette Kellerman. From 1924 to 1929 he was under contract at MGM, where he […]

Ronnie Barker (1929 - 2005)

Actor, Comedian. Famous for being one of the ‘The Two Ronnies’ with fellow comedian Ronnie Corbett for over 30 years. He also appeared in several television comedies including the BBC’s ‘Open All Hours’ and ‘Porridge’. He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for services to entertainment and in 2004 […]

Reginald Barker (1886 - 1945)

Motion Picture Director. Working for producer Thomas Ince in the 1910s, he directed William S. Hart’s first westerns and co-directed Ince’s famous pacifist feature “Civilization” (1916). He was highly esteemed for his outdoor adventure films shot in rugged locations, such as “The Eternal Struggle” (1923) and “The Flaming Forest” (1927). With the coming of talkies […]

Francine “Peaches” Hurd Barker (1947 - 2005)

Singer. She was a member of the singing duo “Peaches and Herb”. Some of their popular songs were “Let’s Fall In Love”, “Close Your Eyes”, “For Your Love” and “Love Is Strange”. their success earning the romantic sounding duo the sobriquet “The Sweethearts of Soul.” (bio by: Brown Girl 33)

Eric Barker (1912 - 1990)

Actor. He is best remembered for his roles in the popular British “Carry On” films. Born Eric Leslie Barker in Thornton Heath, Surrey, England he was raised in Croydon, Surrey, the youngest of three children of a paper merchant. After completing his education at Whitgift School in Croydon, he joined his father’s paper merchant’s company […]

Cecil Barker (1916 - 1966)

Motion Picture Director. World War II army veteran. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Parents:  Cecil Winfred Barker (1888 – 1967)  Willie Ann Barker (1889 – 1969)

Bob Barker (1923 - 1970)

Game Show Host and Television Personality, best remembered as the MC of the television game show, “The Price is Right,” currently the longest-running game show in television history (it started in 1972).  In 1999, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Daytime Television, as the show’s executive producer. Born Robert William Barker in Darrington, Washington, […]

Barend Barendse (1907 - 1989)

TV commentator “spel zonder Grenzen ( Game without Borders).

Richard Leland Bare (1913 - 2015)

Director. He was a director, producer, and screenwriter of television shows and short films. He directed The Twilight Zone episode “To Serve Man”. He directed most episodes of the 1960s-1970s CBS television series Green Acres. Bare began his career in the 1940s at Warner Bros., where he was contracted to write and direct a collection […]

Juan Antonio Bardem (1922 - 2002)

Renowned spanish motion picture director and writer. Son of actor parents, he was an active member of the Communist Party and he rejected Franco’s dictatorship. His films include “Bienvenido, Mr. Marshall” (as writer), “Esa Pareja Feliz” (1953), “Cómicos” (1954), “Muerte de un Ciclista” (1955), “Calle Mayor”(1956), and “Siete Días de Enero” (1978). He was the […]

Barbette (1899 - 1973)

Actor, Trapeze Artist. At a young age he left home to become an acrobat. Later he formed a partnership with a woman trapeze artist assuming the role of her twin sister, who had died. As a solo-trapeze and wire-walker artist, he continued to dress as a woman, and in the mid-1920s he went to perform […]

Joseph Barbera (1911 - 2006)

American Animator, Director and Producer. Born on Delancey Street in the Little Italy Lower East Side section of Manhattan, New York. The son of Vincent Barbera and Francesca Calvacca. Joseph displayed a talent for drawing as early as the first grade. While in high school, Joseph won several boxing titles. He graduated from Erasmus Hall […]

Elisabetta Barbato (1921 - 2014)

Opera Singer. A dramatic soprano who performed in major venues on both sides of the Atlantic, she is perhaps best remembered for interpreting the title heroine of Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca”. Raised in Rome from early childhood, she began her vocal training in 1939 with Maria Angucci in Bologna, continued with Luigi Ricci in Rome, made […]

Maurice Baquet (1911 - 2005)

French Actor and Musician. He began his career as a cellist, obtaining the first prize in the Conservatoire de Paris. But soon, he joined Prevert’s theather Octobre group. Also he worked in cinema, becoming one of the most important French actors. He appeared in “Les Beaux Jours” (1935), “Les Bas-Fonds” (1936), “Premier de Cordée” (1944), […]

Travis Banton (1894 - 1958)

Motion Picture Costume Designer. Designed costumes for a large variety of films from the 1920s to the 1950s. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Parents:  Rentfro B. Banton (1865 – 1949)

Ron Banks (1951 - 2010)

R&B Vocalist. He was a founding member of the Detroit-based music group The Dramatics. Originally named The Dynamics, Banks formed the group as a teenager in the early 1960s,  along with William Howard, Larry Demps, Willie Ford and Elbert Wilkins;  their influences were Jackie Wilson and the Motown groups Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and […]

Leslie Banks (1890 - 1952)

Actor, Director. Born Leslie James Banks, he was educated at Oxford University to become a parson. In 1911 he made his acting debut in regional vaudeville before moving to London theatres. During World War I he served in the Essex Regiment in the British Army, suffering a serious injury that resulted in extensive scarring on […]