February 4th

Born this day in 1913, Rosa Parks, a leader in Civil Rights. December 1st,1955 in Montgomery, Alabama the Civil Rights Movement began with one humble act of civil disobedience. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus. No one special,a woman, who knew if she did not give up her seat, she could be arrested, fined and or jailed. This demand to give up her seat on the bus, was a symbol to give up her rights. And Rosa Parks refused. She was arrested and the Civil Rights Movement was born. Rosa Parks courage was like a spark, lighting the way for a Nation to see that all people are equal. Rosa Parks remained a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Like any Social Justice issue be it Slavery, Suffrage, Civil Rights, many suffer and many die for the Cause, so that many more will live without the cruel injustices placed upon the innocent lives.
In 1977, Parks founded The Raymond and Rosa Parks Institute for Self-Development. The Institute sponsors an annual summer program for young people to travel throughout the United States on buses visiting and learning the history of their country. President Clinton presented Rosa Parks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996. She received a Congressional Gold Medal in 1999.

Born this day in 1921, Betty Freidan, she also died on this day 2006. An author and activist, Friedan is best known for her book,The Feminine Mystique, published in
1963. This book and Friedan herself were central to the re-kindling the Feminist Movement. This book set a fire in the hearts and gave a voice to of millions of women who longed for an identity outside of the care of family. Freidan lectured throughout the world raising awareness of women's issues. She wrote The Women's Movement in 1976, in 1981 she published Changed My Life: Writings on the Women's Movement and in 1993 The Second Stage The Fountain of Aging in Fall.
Freidan was the founder of the National Organization for Women. And Freidan worked toward the passage of, The Equal Rights Amendment. Women today are still not protected under the United States Constitution. Feminism is a word so mis-understood in society. This is what the word means. Feminism: "the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men." That is all. Anything else is fear and here say.

February 3rd

Born this day in 1874, Gertrude Stein, author,art collector, genius. Stein is one of the great characters of the 20th century. An American in Paris,France. Her address 27 Rue de Fleurus the famous address, the home to the great Saturday night salons.
Stein compared her character (written) studies to the way Picasso painted. They were great friends. Picasso painted a portrait of Stein.
Gertrude and her brother Leo were some of first to recognize... and purchase the great artists of the early part of the 20th century, Henri Manguin, Pierre Bonnard, Pablo Picasso, Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Honoré Daumier, Henri Matisse, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. But, mostly Picasso and Matisse.
September 8 1907, Stein met the love of her life and life companion Alice B. Toklas. Gertrude Stein was a woman whose life was her work,and her work was her life. Stein wrote openly about her love of Toklas. They were together for over forty years. Till death do us part...

Not only did the great visual artist of the day visit but also the writers, Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Thornton Wilder, and Sherwood Anderson.

And there is Stein's own work, Tender Buttons Three Lives, Q.E.D. The Making of Americans, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas,Three Lives, And then there is her most famous quote,"A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose"

February 2nd

Born this day in 1650, Nell Gwyn, an actress and mistress to an British king. "Pretty-witty Nell",began her career age 14 at the London Bridges Street Theatre as an "orange girl". Orange girls sold oranges and other sweets to the audience. And as in the case of Nell, caught the eye of leading actor, Charles Hart, who trained Nell for the stage. That said, Nell Gwyn kept herself on the stage. Known for her beauty and her wit, a leading lady in the making and the new style of Restoration plays- they were made for each other. Her first play All Mistaken. Gwyn played opposite Charles Hart and a star was born. April 1668 is the year Nell met King Charles. By 1668, their relationship was known publicly. They had two sons. The oldest son named Charles the King made Earl of Burford,and later Duke of St. Albans.
Their younger son died at age 8 at school in Paris.

On this day in 1901, the Female Army Nurse Corps established as a permanent organization.

February 1st

On this day in 1902 Empress Tzu-hsi of China forbids the binding of women's feet. Sadly, in 1911 the law was revoked. Why do women suffer for fashion.....sadly in this case in history, foot binding was forced on young girls around the ages of 4 to 7.

Born this day in 1878, Hattie Ophelia Wyatt Caraway. Caraway began her career in politics as the wife of Senator Thaddeus Carawy of Arkansas who served from 1920 until 1931. When he suddenly died. Govenor Parnell appointed Hattie Caraway to complete her husband's term. But, then Caraway surprised everyone when she announced she would run for another term and in doing so Caraway was..."the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate, the first woman to preside over the Senate, the first to chair a Senate committee, and the first to preside over a Senate hearing. She served from 1932 to 1945 and was a strong supporter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's economic recovery legislation during the Great Depression."
I include this because of it's importance even today.
May 25, 1938, Caraway stated, “My philosophy of legislation, and really on life, is to be broad-minded enough to consider human relationships and the well-being of all the people as worthy of consideration, to realize that all human beings are entitled to earn, so far as possible, their daily bread, and to try to prevent the exploitation of the underprivileged."

On this day in 1892, Mrs. William Astor invited 400 guests to a grand ball at her lovely mansion and from that day forward there have been...the 400 social elite.

January 31th

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAROL CHANNING!! 90 years young today! Born this day in 1921 Carol Channing has been a working actor for 70 years! No For An Answer stage 1941 was her first show. Ten years later Channing landed the role that made her a star in the musical,Gentleman Prefer Blonde's as Lorelei Lee, and the signature song, Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend Channing went on to create another great role Dolly Levi in the musical, Hello Dolly. Channing has also worked in film and television and was nominated for an Academy Award Best Supporting Actress in the film, Thoroughly Modern Millie and she won Golden Globe. Channing also won three Tony Awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
Carol Channning is currently married to her junior high school sweetheart, Harry Kullijian , together they promote arts education with the Dr. Carol Channing and Harry Kullijian Foundation.

"My mother said, 'Carol, would you like to help me distribute Christian Science Monitors backstage at the live theatres in San Francisco?' And I said, 'All right, I'll help you.' I don't know how old I was. I must have been little. We went through the stage door alley (for the Curran Theatre), and I couldn't get the stage door open. My mother came and opened it very well. Anyway, my mother went to put the Monitors where they were supposed to go for the actors and the crew and the musicians, and she left me alone. And I stood there and realized – I'll never forget it because it came over me so strongly – that this is a temple. This is a cathedral. It's a mosque. It's a mother church. This is for people who have gotten a glimpse of creation and all they do is recreate it. I stood there and wanted to kiss the floorboards."


Born this day in 1902, stage and film legend Tallulah Bankhead. Began her life in Huntsville, Alabama, her mother died shortly after her birth and her father and grandfather were the movers and shakers in the Democratic Party. Mr. Bankhead was in the House of Representatives,and the Speaker of the House from 1936 to 1940.
Bankhead began her career at age 15 and at this time she won a beauty contest. Using this as a basis to talk her Father into allowing her to go to New York City for a try at a stage career. Tallulah got her wish! Little success in the Big Apple, she moved to London and there in the Westend (London's Broadway) theatres, a star was born. This said what really was Bankhead's calling card in life, was her life! Larger than life, Bankhead was outrageous, and known for anything from her drug abuse to removing her clothing while in conversation. Throwing parties that went on for days and then Tallulah's wit which is still quoted today. Said to have inspired the Disney character Cruela DeVille in 101 Dalmations, she called everyone, "Dahling". It is thought that her best film role was, Lifeboat(1944) directed by ALfred Hitchcock. Talullah Bankhead was known for her very unusual voice(very deep) and her very unusual mind and wit. Here are a few of her great quotes.
"My father warned me about men and booze but he never said anything about women and cocaine.”
"Television could perform a great service in mass education, but there's no indication its sponsors have anything like this on their minds."
"If you really want to help the American theater, don't be an actress, dahling. Be an audience."

It is very interesting that both these female actors born the same day 19 years apart have very dististive voices.