Tuesday, March 27, 2012

03/27 Rose Marie

Born on the day that the Broadway musical "Rose-Marie" opened, Rose Marie had one of entertainment’s longest and most fascinating entertainment careers in history. She began at the age of 3 by winning an amateur contest that took her to Atlantic City where she was billed as Baby Rose Marie. She became a popular radio personality appearing on numerous top shows of the time. She eventually received her own program on NBC and recorded some of the most successful albums on the Mercury label. Her extensive touring took her to some of the finest showplaces across the country. Rose Marie would sing for presidents Coolidge, Hoover and Roosevelt. She starred in several of the earliest talking films, beginning with a 1929 short, Baby Rose Marie the Child Wonder, which was screened in theaters before feature films such as “The Jazz Singer.”

She appeared in several pictures for Paramount, including “International House” and “Big Broadcast of 1935.” She married her husband, musician Bobby Guy, who was the lead trumpeter for the NBC orchestra on "The Tonight Show" and moved to California. In 1946, when Las Vegas opened its first big-time casino hotel, The Flamingo, Rose Marie was hired by Benjamin “Bugsy” Segal as one of the headliners, along with Jimmy Durante and Xavier Cugat. She had a brief Broadway career in Top Banana with Phil Silvers and in 1960 she accepted her first regular role on “My Sister Eileen.”

When “The Dick Van Dyke Show” premiered in 1961, Rose Marie became a household name as the quick-witted comedy writer, Sally Rogers. After five seasons, she moved to “The Doris Day Show.” She was the only original member of the hit game show “Hollywood Squares” to have worked on all of its reincarnations and hosts.

She extensively toured the night-club circuit with Rosemary Clooney, Helen O'Connell & Margaret Whiting in 4 Girls 4. She received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 3, 2001. When asked about retiring she said, "I've been in show business my whole life. Why start something new now?" She later released her best selling memoirs “Hold The Roses” in 2006.

Her famous hair bow, which had a strong personal significance that she refused to elaborate on, was inducted into the Smithsonian along with other items from her extensive career in 2008.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

03/20 Dennis Bono

Dennis Bono the consummate interpreter of the Great American Songbook, proclaimed by the Chicago press as “a thoroughbred singer, born and bred to sing”, has now archived even greater recognition starring as the host of his own nationally syndicated, musical, variety/talk show from Las Vegas, “The Dennis Bono Show”, featuring established celebrities from the world of entertainment. The Dennis Bono Show is performed weekly in front of a live audience at the South Point Hotel and Casino Showroom on the Las Vegas “South Strip”.

The Key to the success of the show stems from Dennis’ playful personality and his intelligent interaction with his guests. Whether on radio, television or in front of a live audience, he is the perfect host; self-deprecating, attentive and witty.

Before he launched his career as a variety talk show host, Dennis started out in the 70’s and early 80’s by learning his craft as a singer on the eastern seaboard club circuit playing night clubs like Playboy, resorts in the Caribbean and singing the national anthem for the Yankees, Angels, Dodgers and Celtics. In the early 80’s, he was living on the East Coast with his first CD release receiving great recognition on the West Coast. During this time, Jilly Rizzo heard him and gave him a call. Jilly introduced Dennis to his closest friend and confident, Frank Sinatra. Both were impressed by Dennis’ discerning taste in music and his interpretation of the standards. Frank Sinatra said “this is the kid that’s going to carry the torch for our music”. Just as Jilly and Mr. S helped guide Dennis’ career, Dennis also provides the opportunity on television and radio for young, up and coming talents to be discovered and to showcase their abilities on his show.

Dennis’ philosophy of the standards is “great songs stand the test of time and allow every singer the opportunity to interpret the written words and the notes of the melody in a fresh way that make the song come to life’. He honed his craft singing and touring from Las Vegas to Japan, and everywhere in between. A tour with Don Rickles included Bally’s Grand Hotel in Atlantic City and the Golden Nugget and Tropicana Hotels in Las Vegas. In the early 90’s Dennis starred at the Desert Inn Hotel for two years running. He also opened the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas in 1999 and during 2000 he did a five week tour in Japan.

After Dennis recorded “Forget to Remember”, which he received national recognition, he realized he could reach even more people through the mediums of television and radio. The concept of “The Dennis Bono Show” was to appeal to the 50 and over demographic, which was felt to be a largely neglected audience. The success of the show’s national syndication and the acclaim of his fan base helped launch Dennis’ latest CD, “Thinking of When”. The CD is receiving great acclaim in the national and international markets including the United Kingdom and both CD’s are in rotation on Siriusly Sinatra on XM Radio.

He is married to former Lieutenant Governor of Nevada Lorraine Hunt-Bono and they reside in Las Vegas. The family owns and operates the historic Bootlegger Italian Bistro on Las Vegas Blvd., “South Strip”, renowned for nightly, musical entertainment and known as “the” spot “where the stars wine and dine in Las Vegas”. They recently co-hosted a one hour program on Siriusly Sinatra, XM Radios’ “Playing Favorites”.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

03/13 Bruce Boxleitner

One of Hollywood’s leading men, Bruce Boxleitner most recently starred with Jeff Bridges in TRON: LEGACY, the popular motion picture sequel to Disney’s cult film TRON. The cast also included Garret Hedlund and Olivia Wilde.

Boxleitner is looking forward to 2012 when he stars and has a recurring role in two anticipated upcoming network TV series, including the debut of his first animated Disney TV series.

Bruce will reprise his role as TRON in TRON: UPRISING airing on Disney’s XD TV network summer 2012. The multi-talented cast includes: Elijah Wood as BECK, Mandy Moore as MARA, Nate Corddry as ZED, Lance Henriksen as TESLER, Paul Reubens as PAVEL and Emmanuelle Chriqui as PAIGE.

The Sci-Fi series highlights a young program named BECK (Wood) and his warrior mentor TRON (Boxleitner) as they start an uprising against the oppressive regime of CLU. The combination of computer generated images and two-dimensional animation is bold and dynamic. Eddie Kitsis and Adam Horowitz wrote TRON: LEGACY and produced the “hit” series LOST and the new ABC-TV series ONCE UPON A TIME.

The multi-talented actor will also appear in a recurring role, in the upcoming ABC-TV series GCB (formerly titled GOOD CHRISTIAN BELLES). The cast includes: Kristin Chenowith, Annie Potts and David James Elliott. The series debuts on Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 10pm EST/PST.

Bruce Boxleitner also starred in the Hallmark Channel movie, LOVE’S RESOUNDING COURAGE and guest-starred on CBS-TV’s popular series NCIS. NBC’s HEROES utilized Bruce as the recurring character ‘SENATOR’ ROBERT MALDEN and he guest-starred on NBC’s series CHUCK. In addition, the multi-talented actor starred in Hallmark Channel’s movie of the week, FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE GIRL NEXT DOOR. Boxleitner is known to Sci-Fi fans worldwide as the star of the popular TV series BABYLON 5. He played JOHN SHERIDAN, President of
the Interstellar Alliance, a war hero turned diplomat at the helm of Earth Alliance Space Station in the year 2259. The show aired for five seasons.

Bruce’s four year run starring opposite Kate Jackson in CBS-TV’s SCARECROW AND MRS. KING endeared him to fans everywhere and made him a name to remember. Bruce is also well known for his leading roles in the CBS series BRING ‘EM BACK ALIVE; mini-series EAST OF EDEN; THE LAST CONVERTIBLE; KISS ME, KILL ME; FLY AWAY; HAPPILY EVER AFTER and PASSION FLOWER.

Boxleitner loves westerns and used his extensive skills as a horse rider and roper starring as BILLY MONTANA opposite Kenny Rogers in four out of five GAMBLER TV mini-series that aired on CBS and NBC. The mini-series was based on the best-selling song performed by Kenny Rogers.

Bruce will be inducted into the “historic” Cowboy Hall of Fame in April 2012 honoring him for his illustrious career starring in westerns.

Boxleitner also starred in additional Westerns including: GUNSMOKE V:ONE MAN’S JUSTICE ( James Arness), CBS’ remake of RED RIVER ( Gregory Harrison, James Arness and Laura Johnson) and WYATT EARP:RETURN TO TOMBSTONE ( Hugh O’Brian). WYATT EARP was filmed on location in Tombstone, Arizona, site of the infamous shoot out at the O. K. Corral. The versatile actor also appeared in DOWN THE LONG HILLS, based on legendary western author Louis L’Amour’s novel of the same name.

Bruce’s plethora of TV movie credits include: THE SECRET ( Kirk Douglas and Brock Peters), PERFECT FAMILY (Jennifer O’Neal and Joanna Cassidy), DOUBLE JEOPARDY (Rachel Ward, Sally Kirkland and Sela Ward), THE MAHARAHJAH’S DAUGHTER (Hunter Tylo and Burt Young), etc.

Boxleitner has co-starred in several motion pictures including: GODS AND GENERALS (Robert Duvall, Jeff Daniels, Stephen Lang and Mira Sorvino), THE BABE ( John Goodman and Kelly McGillis), KUFFS (Christian Slater), THE BALTIMORE BULLET (James
Coburn) and the acclaimed science-fiction fantasy TRON (Jeff Bridges) and long-awaited sequel TRON: LEGACY (Jeff Bridges, Garret Hedlund, Olivia Wilde). The original TRON recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.

A native mid-westerner, Bruce Boxleitner received his formal training on stage. He is an alumnus of Chicago’s prestigious Goodman Theatre. He re-located to Los Angeles in 1972 and quickly landed a guest spot on the legendary TV series THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW. Bruce co-starred as James Arness’ nephew in his first TV movie: THE MACAHAN’S, which later became an ambitious series of 24 two-hour films under the title, HOW THE WEST WAS WON.

Bruce Boxleitner currently resides in Los Angeles and has three sons: Michael, Sam and Lee.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

03/06 Roger E. Mosley

Roger Earl Mosley (born December 18, 1938) is an American actor best known for his role as the helicopter pilot Theodore "T.C." Calvin on the long running television series, Magnum, P.I., which starred Tom Selleck as the title character.

Mosley was born in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the Imperial Courts project with his mother Eloise Harris in Watts, one of the most dangerous parts of the inner city. In 1974, he founded the Watts Repertory Company.

Mosley's most prominent film role to date was his 1976 starring turn as the title character in Leadbelly, directed by Gordon Parks. He has guest starred on shows such as Night Court, Starsky and Hutch, Kojak, The Rockford Files, Baretta, and Sanford and Son; he also had a role in Roots: The Next Generation. He also made a memorable appearance in the 1973 film The Mack, as the militant brother of the main character Goldie, and played officer Roy Cole alongside Kurt Russell and Ray Liotta in Unlawful Entry (1992).

Most recently he appeared in season five of Las Vegas as the billionaire friend of Montecito owner AJ Cooper (Tom Selleck). There is a vague homage to his Magnum P.I. days as his character 'Roger' is worth more than $2bn and owns a fleet of jets having started with a single helicopter in Hawaii.