Craig Hill Media and Consulting
Entertainment
December 13, 1955 – Australian housewife “superstar”, Dame Edna Everage, makes her stage debut
Dame Edna Everage is the brainchild and ostentatious alter-ego of Australian actor Barry Humphries. The Moonee Ponds housewife, originally created as a parody of Australian suburban insularity, has developed from her earlier dowdiness to become a satire of stardom, the gaudily dressed, ostentatious, international Housewife Gigastar with outrageous glasses. Barry Humphries was born on 17 … Continue reading
December 13, 1925 – Dick Van Dyke, American actor, singer, and dancer was born
Richard Wayne Van Dyke was born on December 13, 1925 in West Plains, Missouri. He went on to become an actor, comedian, writer, singer, and dancer, whose award-winning career has spanned seven decades. He grew up in Danville, Illinois. His family line traces back to Mayflower passenger John Alden.He is the older brother of actor Gerry Van Dyke. His … Continue reading
Dozens of British celebrities implicated in talent avoidance schemes
George Michael, Katie Melua and Gary Barlow are among a list of entertainers involved in massive talent avoidance schemes – all completely within the bounds of the law, according to a leaked report. Other serial talent dodgers in the report include reality TV contestants, comedy panellists and newspaper columnists, all sheltered by schemes devised to … Continue reading
Thousands flee London as Andrew Lloyd Webber announces return of Cats and Evita
Thousands of Londoners have been filmed leaving the capital in fear for their musical sanity this week, as rumours surfaced that Andrew Lloyd Webber intends to carpet bomb the West End with ‘theatrical turds’ from the 1980s. Not since the Great Fire of 1666 have so many people abandoned their homes so readily. One eyewitness … Continue reading
Video shows Justin Bieber using three syllable word
Yet another shocking video of Justin Bieber has surfaced, this one purportedly showing the young star using what appears to be a three-syllable word in a complete sentence. “It’s somewhat difficult to decipher between the swears and racial slurs, but it sounds like he might have said the word travesty,” said Harvard Linguistics Professor Murray … Continue reading
Gwyneth Paltrow fitted for muzzle, treated for diarrhea of the mouth
Some people don’t know when to shut up. Such is the case with actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Her mouth has gotten her in hot water with critics again and, this time, drastic measures have been taken to prevent further asinine comments on her part. Paltrow has been fitted with a muzzle that she must wear when … Continue reading
Bedroom Tax may force Doctor Who to be evicted from TARDIS
‘We have discovered a single man claiming housing benefit for a property that appears to have an infinite number of spare rooms,’ said Benefits Officer Kimberley Smalls. ‘He is therefore liable for the most severe under-occupancy penalty.’ The decision means the Doctor faces significant cuts to his housing benefit and he may be forced to … Continue reading
Gwyneth Paltrow writing book on how to properly get divorced
Gwyneth Paltrow announced today she is writing a self-help book for people going through a divorce. In a blog post on Goop, her personal website, the 41-year-old actress said she has signed a deal with a major publisher to write “Conscious Uncoupling: How to Survive Divorce With Style, Grace and Class,” which will draw from … Continue reading
Angelina Jolie and Kim Kardashian feud causes concern
Two actresses who love the spotlight have entered into a feud that has their family and friends concerned. Angelina Jolie, 38, started the fray when she told a reporter with Bedroom Pillow Talk that Kim Kardashian, 33, really needs to do something about her butt which seems to be growing out of control. Angelina noted … Continue reading
Obama nominates Oprah as ambassador to Russia
President Obama nominated Oprah Winfrey to serve as ambassador to Russia today. In a written statement, the White House said the veteran broadcaster has been selected to replace Russian policy expert Michael McFaul, who announced last week that he was stepping down after little more than a year on the job. “Oprah Winfrey is an … Continue reading
Court orders Justin Bieber to stop making music
A court in Canada has ordered teen pop sensation Justin Bieber to stop making music for the next three years as restitution for a recent assault charge. In a plea deal with the prosecution today, 19-year-old Bieber agreed to refrain from touring or recording new material in exchange for keeping himself out of jail. The … Continue reading
‘Dirty’ Harry Callahan found not guilty of shooting unarmed civilians
In a controversial ruling, no-nonsense cop ‘Dirty’ Harry Callahan walked free from a federal court yesterday after a jury acquitted him of the ‘targeted hits’ of lowlife, good-for-nothing punks. The hard-bitten San Francisco detective was charged after it emerged that some of his victims may have been unarmed when he blew them away. Among the … Continue reading
Wikipedia founder discovered rolling around in millions of facts at mansion
Wikipedia’s creator Jimmy Wales was under police guard in hospital today after being discovered naked and “laughing hysterically” in millions of facts printed from his website. Police were called to the 47-year-old’s London home only after one of 200 printers jammed and caught fire, sending plumes of black smoke into the skies. Officers broke into … Continue reading
Justin Bieber may buy land In Colorado and become a pot farmer
Justin Bieber recently announced that he was retiring from the music business. The iRumors News Agency is now reporting that the Canadian singer is considering purchasing some land in the marijuana haven state of Colorado and becoming a pot farmer. Bieber spoke with Vodka Vermicelli of iRumors and said that he figures that by being … Continue reading
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd back on television
Cabinet Minister Tony Burke was unceremoniously dumped from Seven’s Sunrise program by email yesterday afternoon to make way for Kevin Rudd’s return to the show that made him a political star. Mr Rudd faced off against his old sparring partner Joe Hockey on Sunrise this morning after agreeing early last month to resume duties with … Continue reading
December 28 1895 First commercial movie screened in Paris
On December 28th 1895, the world’s first commercial movie screening took place at the Grand Cafe in Paris. The film was made by Louis and Auguste Lumiere, two French brothers who developed a camera-projector called the Cinematographe. The Lumiere brothers unveiled their invention to the public in March 1895 with a brief film showing workers … Continue reading
December 27 1932 Radio City Music Hall opens
On December 27th 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, thousands turned out for the opening of Radio City Music Hall, a magnificent Art Deco theatre in New York City. Radio City Music Hall was designed as a palace for the people, a place of beauty where ordinary people could see high-quality entertainment. Since … Continue reading
December 26 1946 Bugsy Siegel opens Flamingo Hotel
On December 26th 1946, in Las Vegas, Nevada, mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel opens The Pink Flamingo Hotel & Casino at a total cost of $6 million. The 40-acre facility wasn’t complete and Siegel was hoping to raise some revenue with the grand opening. Well-known singer and comedian Jimmy Durante headlined the entertainment, with music by … Continue reading
December 18 1961 “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” reaches number 1
On December 18th 1961, The Lion Sleeps Tonight hit number one on the Billboard Charts. It was an instant classic that endured to become one of the most successful pop songs of all time. Few realise, however, that its true originator saw only a minuscule portion of the song’s massive profits. The story began in … Continue reading
December 13 1925 Dick Van Dyke born
On December 13th 1925, Dick Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri. The classic “nice guy” actor would became famous for his roles in such movie classics as Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as well as the popular 1960s TV sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show. Van Dyke, who was reared in … Continue reading
November 10 1969 Sesame Street debuts
On November 10th 1969, “Sesame Street,” a pioneering TV show that would teach generations of young children the alphabet and how to count, made its broadcast debut. “Sesame Street,” with its memorable theme song (“Can you tell me how to get/How to get to Sesame Street”), went on to become the most widely viewed children’s … Continue reading
November 7 1980 Steve McQueen dies
On November 7th 1980, the actor Steve McQueen, one of Hollywood’s leading men of the 1960s and 1970s and the star of such action thrillers as Bullitt and The Towering Inferno, died at the age of 50 in Mexico, where he was undergoing an experimental treatment for cancer. In 1979, McQueen had been diagnosed with … Continue reading
November 3 1976 Carrie creeps out audiences
On November 3rd 1976, Carrie, a horror film starring Sissy Spacek and based on Stephen King’s 1974 best-selling first novel, opened in theatres around the United States. Directed by Brian De Palma, the film tells the story of high school outcast Carrie White, who uses her telekinetic powers to exact a violent revenge on her … Continue reading
October 30 1938 Orson Welles scares a nation
On October 30th 1938, Orson Welles caused a nationwide panic with his broadcast of “War of the Worlds,” a realistic radio dramatisation of a Martian invasion of Earth. Orson Welles was only 23 years old when his Mercury Theatre company decided to update H.G. Wells‘ 19th-century science fiction novel War of the Worlds for national … Continue reading
October 28 1961 Chuck Berry goes on trial for the second time
On October 28th 1961, the second so-called “Apache trial” began for rock-and-roller Chuck Berry. Although his earlier conviction for transporting a minor across state lines for immoral purposes in violation of the Mann Act was thrown out on appeal, the prosecution decided to retry Berry. Born October 18th 1926 into a middle-class family in St. … Continue reading
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