Rose Bampton (1907 - 2007)

Opera Singer. Born in Lakewood, Ohio, Bampton was a leading singer at the Metropolitan Opera House. Bampton debuted in 1929 and only three years later, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Laura in “La Gioconda.” She switched from mezzo-soprano to soprano, playing among many others in “Il Trovatore,” “Don Giovanni,” “Die Walküre,” “Lohengrin” and […]

Erik Balling (1924 - 2005)

Film director. Successful and popular director born at Nyborg, Denmark, who worked his way up in the film studios before making his début as a director in 1952. This was the first of his 40 feature films, one of which, “Qivitoq” from 1956, was nominated for an Oscar in the category “Best foreign language film”. […]

Christine Ballard (1970 - 2016)

Television Program Producer. In 1969, she graduated with a degree in radio and television from Indiana University, where she also worked for several local radio stations. In 1973, she moved to Los Angeles where she began working as an associate director for such shows as ‘The Golden Girls’, ‘The Redd Foxx Show’ and ‘Benson’ before […]

Harvey Ross Ball (1921 - 2001)

Originator of the “Smiley” face logo, an international icon. While working at State Mutual Life Assurance Co. in Worcester, MA, as a graphic artist, he created the Smiley in 1962 as part of a friendship campaign. He was paid $45, and never applied for a trademark or copyright. Also a World War II veteran, he […]

Arthur Ball (1894 - 1951)

Motion Picture Cinematographer. He worked on the films “The Black Pirate” (1926), and “Wanderer Of The Wasteland” (1924). Ball was also one of the 36 persons who helped founded the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). (bio by: K)  Family links:  Parents:  Elijah Ball (1863 – 1955)  Clara A Ball (1863 – 1945)

Victor Balasz Balasic, Jr (1897 - 1943)

Entertainer. He was a member of the Balasic Family Acrobats and Vaudeville Performers. He is buried in the National Vaudeville Association section of Kensico Cemetery. (bio by: Mark Balasi)

Maria Katherina Holz Balasic (1896 - 1963)

Circus Performer. She was a member of the Royal Vienna Ballet and member of the Balasic Family Acrobats. (bio by: Mark Balasi)

Alfred Joseph Balasic (1896 - 1967)

Cirus Performer. Vaudeville star with the Balasic Family acrobats. (bio by: Mark Balasi)

Robert S. Baker (1916 - 2009)

Motion Picture and Television Producer, Director. Along with Monty Berman he co-produced many British films and television programs, most notably the hit 1960s series “The Saint”,  which starred Roger Moore. Born in London, Baker worked as a photographer before serving in the Army Film and Photograph Unit where he would meet Berman during World War […]

Ox Baker (1934 - 2014)

Ox Baker Professional Wrestler. A gentle giant who was typecast as a villain, he is remembered for his thirty year career during which he felled numerous opponents with his trademark “Heart Punch”. Raised in Waterloo, Iowa, he was a standout athlete in high school until he was, for reasons unspecified, kicked out. After spending two […]

LaVern Baker (1929 - 1997)

Singer. Born in Chicago, Illinois as Delores  LaVern Baker. She began singing gospel as a child, but she was familiar with more secular styles, as well. Her aunt, Merline Baker, was better known as Memphis Minnie, a blues singer and guitarist. Blessed with a powerful voice, which she put to use as a teenager singing […]

Judy Baker (1924 - 2000)

Country Music’s Hostess.

Johnny Baker (1869 - 1931)

Showman, Entertainer. Foster son of William “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Although his parents never allowed Cody to officially adopt him, he nevertheless travelled, worked and studied with Buffalo Bill from the age of 7 years, after the death of Cody’s natural son, Kit Carson, in 1876 at the age of 5. Under Cody’s tutelage he became […]

Hylda Baker (1905 - 1986)

Entertainer. She was one of Britain’s best loved comediennes in the 1960s/1970s. She was born in Farnsworth, Lancashire and began to perform in the musical halls at the tender age of 10. As an adult she continued to work in the music halls, teamed with a male stooge – always mute, and always called Cynthia, […]

C. Graham Baker (1883 - 1950)

A typical Hollywood professional, screenwriter C. Graham Baker had been a newspaper reporter prior to entering films in 1914 writing farces for Vitagraph’s rotund comedian John Bunny. Baker later supplied stories and/or scenarios for Inspirational, Fox, and Universal and, using the pseudonym of Leslie S. Barrows, penned Warner Bros.’ 1928 part-talkie The Singing Fool, a […]

Constantin Bakaleinikoff (1896 - 1966)

Conductor,  Composer.  Born in Moscow,  he was a student at the Conservatory there when the Bolshevik Revolution erupted in 1917.  He fled the country with his older brother,   Mischa Bakaleinikoff,  arriving in the United States in 1926.  The following year he was hired as conductor of the new Chinese Theatre in Hollywood,  which opened […]

Bil Baird (1904 - 1987)

Puppetteer, Entertainer. He was born William Britton Baird. Cause of death was pneumonia and bone marrow cancer. He and his wife Cora Baird, were the driving forces behind the Bil & Cora Baird Puppets, and were pioneer entertainers in U.S. TV, when commercial television was taking its first steps. Their medium  was their marionettes – […]

Mildred Bailey (1907 - 1951)

Entertainer. She is best remembered as a popular jazz singer in the 1930s, known by the names “The Queen of Swing,” “The Rockin’ Chair Lady,” and “Mrs. Swing”. She was born Mildred Rinker into a musical family, the oldest of four children. Her father played the fiddle and called square dances and her mother, who […]

Jim Bailey (1938 - 2015)

American Entertainer. Born James William Bailey, in his teens he studied opera at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, and was cast on the television program ‘The Children’s Hour’ for almost a year, where he performed by acting, singing and dancing. During the mid-1960s, he performed in New York, mostly in summer stock and began honing […]

Jean Bailey (1970 - 1970)

Famous mezzo soprano singer. (bio by: Kieran Smith)

King Baggot (1879 - 1948)

Actor, Director, and Screenwriter. He is remembered as an internationally famous movie star of the silent era and the first individually publicized leading man in the US. He was often referred to as “King of the Movies,” “The Most Photographed Man in the World,” and “The Man Whose Face Is As Familiar As The Man […]

Ross “David Seville” Bagdasarian Sr. (1919 - 1972)

Singer, Songwriter. He was perhaps most famous for creating “Alvin and the Chipmunks”, providing the voices of some of the chipmunks and of ‘David Seville’ (sometimes his pseudonym). He was also a prolific composer who wrote many famous songs throughout the years. (bio by: wonderbrat)

Lloyd Francis Bacon (1889 - 1955)

Actor, Motion Picture Director. He appeared in vaudeville, on stage, and on screen. Began his film career with Charlie Chaplin’s Essanay Corporation. Many credits spanning from the 1920s to the 1950s. Directed “Knute Rockne All American” (starring Pat O’Brien and Ronald Reagan) in 1940, and “It Happens Every Spring” (1949) with Ray Milland and Jean […]

Pierre Bachelet (1944 - 2005)

French singer and songwriter. Born in Roubaix in northern France, he spent his childhood and youth in Calais. Initially concentrating on film projects, the first record he made in 1974 was the song “L’Atlantique”. He continued his success with the release of “Les corons”, “Elle est d’ailleurs”, “Ecris moi” and “Sans amour”, all of which […]

Salvatore Baccaloni (1900 - 1969)

Opera Singer. The archetypal fat Italian basso buffo, he is considered by many to have been the greatest clown in the history of opera. Raised in Rome he got his initial training with the Sistine Chapel Choir then after study with noted baritone Josip Kasman bowed at the Teatro Adriano of Rome in 1922 as […]

Fay Babcock (1895 - 1970)

Motion Picture Set Decorator. Worked on numerous films from the 1940s to the 1960s.  Family links:  Parents:  Bulia Cavanaugh Babcock (1870 – 1948)

Art Babbitt (1907 - 1992)

Cartoonist. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, as Arthur Harold Babitsky. After his fathers accident, Art decided to move to New York so he could send money home. Art began his career in New York City working for Paul Terry’s Terrytoons Studio. But in the early 1930s he moved to Los Angeles followed by his fellow Terrytoon […]

Beatriz Azurduy Palacios (1970 - 2003)

Motion Picture Director. She is bound very indissolubly to the filmography of Jorge Sanjinés, with whom she was united for more than 28 years. Among the works she contributed to, either as producer, editor or screenwriter, were “¡Fuera de aquí!”, “Banderas del amanecer”, “La nación clandestina” y “Para recibir el canto de los pájaros”. She […]

Thomas V. “Tom” Ayres, Jr (1933 - 2000)

Music Producer. He worked with, among others, RCA, Columbia, Capitol, Mercury, and Epic Records.  He was also instrumental in signing David Bowie to RCA Records. (bio by: Joel Manuel)  Family links:  Parents:  Thomas V. Ayres (1892 – 1966)  Bonnie Marie Dowden Hicks (1911 – 2006)  Spouse:  Joyce Sawyer Fryer (1940 – 2011)* *Calculated relationship

Estelle Axton (1918 - 2004)

Businesswoman. She co-founded Stax Records in 1957. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Stax became a rival to Detroit’s giant Motown sound. Ms. Axton’s record company produced hits from acts including Sam and Dave, Otis Redding Jr., Rufus and Carla Thomas, Booker T. and the MGs, Johnny Taylor, Albert King, Rick Dees and the […]