12 random things that happened on this day, September 29th, in showbiz history...
Natalie Wood gave birth to her first child on this day in 1970
1940 Strike Up the Band starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland is a hit in its opening weekend. One of my favorite old review blurbs ever is for Judy Garland calling her "oomphy". Hee.
1948 Hamlet has its american premiere in New York City. 176 days later it wins 4 Oscars: Picture, Actor, Art Direction... and Costume Design...
It was Laerte's codpieces that sealed the win, wasn't it?
1949 Pinky starring Ethel Barrymore, Jeanne Crain, and Ethel Waters has its world premiere in NYC. All three of its principle women go on to Oscar nominations for this tale of a black girl "passing" as white. Her doctor boyfriend doesn't know the truth! This was one of the last movies I saw at a repertory cinema before COVID closed down movie theaters.
1954 Two major divas have film premieres on this day Ava Gardner in The Barefoot Contessa and Judy Garland in the immortal A Star is Born.
1963 Speaking of Judy Garland... "The Judy Garland Show" premiered on CBS on this date with Donald O'Connor as her first guest. (This was actually the 7th show recorded but for some reason the first to be aired.)
1970 Happy 50th birthday today to director Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive) who is born in Denmark. (We once interviewed him and he did not disappoint.) On that same day in Los Angeles, Natalie Wood gives birth to the first of her two daughters Natasha Gregson Wagner.
1980 Actors Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen marry shortly after his infamous Caligula performance and shortly before her terrific performance in Melvin & Howard wins her the Oscar. The marriage lasts ten years
1987 The seminal TV series thirtystomething debuts. It wins the Emmy for Drama Series for its debut season and the Globe for Drama Series for its second season. A reboot of thirtysomething with the cast reuniting as parents of a new generation of thirtysomethings was supposed to arrive in 2021 but the network cancelled their plans. *cries*
1991 Gus Van Sant's My Own Private Idaho, which should have won River Phoenix the Oscar (he wasn't nominated) starts its limited release after playing several festivals.
2000 Christopher Guest's beloved dog show mockumentary Best in Show begins its limited release. Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara (who just won Emmys together) really loved their terrier!
Today's Birthday Suit:
Happy 55th birthday today to Norwegian star Rune Temte (Captain Marvel and two current TV shows The Machinery and Rig 45)
Other actors celebrating birthdays today: Sasha Lane (25), Anaïs Demoustier (33), Chrissy Metz (40), Zachary Levy (40), Tou Chih-kung (41), Anna Khaja (46), Mackenzie Crook (49), Emily Lloyd (50), Erika Eleniak (51), Luke and Matt Goss (52),Roger Bart (58), Dale Dickey (59), Andrew Dice Clay (63), and Ian McShane (78).
Showbiz people celebrating birthdays this day: Musician Halsey (26), Drag star Adore Delano (31), Host Bryant Gumbel (72), and three time Oscar winner Robert Benton of Kramer vs Kramer fame (88)
Gone but not forgotten: Oscar beloved Greer Garson (born on this day in 1904), singing cowboy Gene Autry (born on this day in 1907), Auteur Michelangelo Antonioni of Blow-up fame (born on this day in 1912), Oscar beloved director/producer Stanley Kramer (born on this day in 1913), Six-time Oscar nominated cinematographer William A Fraker (born on this day in 1923), Noir actress Lizabeth Scott (born on this day in 1922), Actor Steve Forrest (born on this day in 1925), La Dolce Vita's Anita Ekberg (born on this day in 1931), Musician Jerry Lee Lewis (born on this day in 1935), and comic genius Madeline Kahn (born on this day in 1942).