A rambunctious Kansas girl took to the sky and soared above the rest. Her story has become legend due to its sad, mysterious ending. Amelia Earhart should be remembered as a true pioneer - showing the world that flying would become a common way to travel. Along the way she challenged gender roles, encouraged women to challenge themselves, and became a style icon. Amelia Earhart will never be forgotten. Born July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas, Amelia Mary Earhart was raised to never be a girly girl. Her mother, also Amelia, encouraged Earhart and her sister Grace to wear bloomers instead of dresses. The sisters loved the outdoors and trouped around Atchison with a gang of kids getting dirty climbing trees. Amelia's father, an alcoholic, had trouble holding down a job. He moved the family to Des Moines, Iowa. It was there in 1907 Amelia saw an airplane for the first time. She was, however, too afraid to fly. Amelia graduated high school in 1916. She trained as a nurse's aide for...
We of the 21st century have our fair share of divas - J Lo, Mariah, Ariana, but Gilded Age operetta start Lillian Russell paved the way for all divas to come. She drew enormous crowds in New York and London and lived a lavish lifestyle with a paramour for 20 years. Raised by a suffragist mother and a newspaper man father she wrote a column in support of women's suffrage. She originated many roles in popular operettas of the day. Called "the most beautiful actress on legitimate stage," Lillian Russell was a star before there was recorded music, radio, or Hollywood. Lillian Russell was born Helen Louise Leonard on December 4th either in 1860 or 1861, the fourth of five daughters. Her father Charles Leonard, managed a newspaper in Clinton, Iowa, and her mother Cynthia Leonard worked to promote women's suffrage ; eventually she would become the first woman to run for mayor of New York City. The family moved to Chicago in 1865. Helen, called Nellie, acted in school theat...
"People may say I can't sing, but no one can say I didn't sing." Florence Foster Jenkins never so much sang as performed opera loudly and off key. A wealthy patron of the arts, she lived amongst New York City society, participated in social clubs, and created Tableaux Vivants. And of course, Florence sang. No one could pry her from the stage, to the detriment of audiences' ears. Born Narcissa Florence Foster, July 19th 1886 in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania, she was the elder daughter of wealthy attorney Charles Dorrance Foster, and society matron / painter Mary Jane Hoagland. "Little Miss Foster" loved playing piano and performed in recitals, even performing for President Rutherford B. Hayes. After Florence graduated high school she planned study music in Europe. Her father refused to fund her music education. In 1883 Florence lost a younger sister to diphtheria. Eight days before her 15th birthday she fled to Philadelphia with a doctor 16 years her seni...
Comments
Post a Comment