If they were still alive...

today would be the birthday of:





(Bust of Victor Herbert near Central Park Mall, NYC)

Irish-born operetta composer (Naughty Marietta, Babes in Toyland) Victor Herbert would be 152

Herman Hupfeld, who wrote, "As Time Goes By", 117.

Great Irish-born film director John Ford (Stagecoach, Grapes of Wrath), 117.


"The King of Hollywood," Clark Gable would be 110.


The Incomparable Hildegarde elegant society pianist/singer, would be 105.   (Above, performing in 1933)


Italian opera diva (and chief rival of Maria Callas) Renata Tebaldi, 89.

If they were still alive....

....today, they'd be joining several fellow party-goers....seems there were many famous folk born on January 31st:

Prolific Austrian composer, Franz Schubert would be 214 (pictured, above, as a young man)

Old-West/Adventure novelist, Zane Grey, would be 139.

Great 20th century popular composer, Isham Jones ("It Had to Be You," "I'll See You In My Dreams"), 117.

Outrageous, groundbreaking actress/trend-setter, Tallulah Bankhead would be 109.  Here's a nice video tribute to her:


(Pictured above [R] at NYC's legendary Stork Club w/Ernest Hemingway [L] and proprietor Sherman Billingsley, circa 1938)  Novelist John O'Hara (Appointment in Samarra, BUtterfield 8) would be 106.
 
Jackie Robinson, 92 today.  Broke the MLB color barrier, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Perhaps the most popular opera-singing film star, Mario Lanza would be 90.   Now THAT was a voice!



(portrait by Carl Van Vechten, 1948)
Pugnacious writer Norman Mailer, 87
Beautiful British actress Jean Simmons, 82....she just died in January of last year.

Baritone seductress Suzanne Pleshette, 74.

and........



....we'll welcome the very-much-alive CAROL CHANNING to the party as well....she turns 90 today....