If they were alive today....

....it would be the birthday of these famous folks:

Jack Cole choreographing Marilyn Monroe in Let's Make Love, 1960

 

Rita Hayworth performing "Put the Blame on Mame," choreographed by Jack Cole.



"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," choreographed by Jack Cole. He became one of Monroe's best friends and closest advisors, working with her on six of her films.



Jack Cole would turn 100 years old today.  He was one of Broadway and Hollywood's all-time ground-breaking greats...and yet his name is hardly known at all today, which is a great shame.  He imagined some of the most memorable film moments in screen history:  Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (see clip in yesterday's posting); Gilda, which pretty much "created" the Rita Hayworth image; Cover Girl, which put Gene Kelly on the map, and many others.  He had a very singular, unique style that is credited with influencing many subsequent choreographers, most notably, Bob Fosse.  Why is he forgotten today?  Who can say?  But perhaps with this being his centenary year, some new light will be shed upon his great talent and he will be given his due credit as one of the most influential, truly great stars of the 20th century world of dance.



U.S. Grant, aged 26


Ulysses S. Grant would be 189.  The two-term Republican was the 18th president of the United States, as well as a legendary and decorated Commanding General during the Civil War and reconstruction era.  His real name was "Hiram Ulysses Grant" but changed it to "Ulysses Simpson Grant," supposedly because he didn't like the idea of the initials "HUG" on his military locker, and because he liked the idea of sharing the initials of Uncle Sam (likely, an apocryphal story, right?).  Also, he and his wife were supposedly the Lincolns' first choice as their theatre guests on the fatal night that Lincoln was killed---though that, too, is probably apocryphal.  Boy, that box would have been crowded if the number of supposed "first choices" were to all have shown up!


Sandy Dennis would be 74.  If only for her Oscar-winning performance as the dippy, frigid and very complicated 'Bunny' in Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff?, she was clearly a monstrously talented actress.  And her very premature death (of ovarian cancer) at the age of 54 left legions of fans bereft at what would have surely been many more years of brilliant performances.
Coretta Scott King would be 84.  Hers was the face of stoic grace;  etched in sadness, yet with a palpable strength and purpose.  She was a pillar of strength to the legions of her husband's followers and picked up where he left off after he was assassinated.  A great and noble lady.