Dolly Parton, one of the most iconic and beloved people in the history of the world, has passed away. So far, a cause of death has not been given.
I am very heartbroken about this because I've admired her for so long. I remember watching her on the Porter Wagoner Show in the late sixties, so there really isn't a time in my life when she was not some part of it.
She was always humble and kind.
Billy Wilder's classic film noir Sunset Boulevard premiered in New York City, August 10, 1950. It starred Gloria Swanson (Norma Desmond), William Holden, Jack Webb, and cameos from Buster Keaton, Hedda Hopper, and Cecil B. DeMille.
It was nominated for a whopping eleven Oscars and won three. Best Writing, Story and Screenplay, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black and White, and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. Gloria Swanson and William Holden were nominated for Best Actress and Best Actor, respectively.
It got seven Golden Globe nominations and won four: Best Motion Picture, Best Director for Wilder, Best Actress for Gloria Swanson, and Best Original Score.
Sharknado 5:Global Swarming, he fifth installment of the crazy, popular Syfy Sharknado series, premiered on August 6, 2017. In this chapter, the sharknados are occurring across the globe, so Fin and his crew travel all over the world to save it.
Ian Ziering and Tara Reid reprise their roles from the previous four films. It starred Nichelle Nichols, Bret Michaels, Olivia Newton-John, Greg Louganis, Fabio, Al Roker, Kathy Lee Gifford, and Dolph Lundgren.
John Saxon, born August 5, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, had a long, prolific career, appearing in some of the most popular and iconic movies. He first appeared in two uncredited roles in 1954. In 1958, he appeared with Angela Lansbury in The Reluctant Debutante. The same year, he won a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer for his work in This Happy Feeling. He appeared in Enter the Dragon in 1973 and the next year, he starred in the cult classic Black Christmas, which help start the slasher genre.
Saxon worked on numerous movie and television projects until 1984, when he appeared in another slasher classic, Nightmare on Elm Street, which has become a lasting franchise. He appeared in the second sequel Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. He continued acting until 2017.
Saxon passed away in July 2020 from pneumonia.
Yoshifumi Tajima, born August 4, 1918 in Kobe, Japan, appeared in many Godzilla and Toho Company films. His first kaiju film was Rodan in 1956. He went on to star in Mothra (1961), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), Ghidora, the Three-headed Monster (1964), Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965), Destroy All Monsters (1968), and The Return of Godzilla (1984).
He passed away in 2009.
The second part of one of my favorite Babylon 5 episodes A Voice in the Wilderness aired August 3, 1994. In the first part, Epsilon III, the planet below the space station, woke up and Babylon 5 officers go to investigate. Soon, other races lay claim to Epsilon III and threaten to attack the station.
I really miss this show!
Sharknado 4: The Fourth Awakens, the sequel to the sequel to the sequel to Sharknado, premiered on the SyFy Channel July 31, 2016. Ian Ziering and Tara Reid reprise their roles for the fourth time. In this movie, the sharknado strikes Las Vegas.
It stars David Hasselhoff, Tommy Davidson, Cheryl Tiegs, Al Roker (again), Garey Busey, Susan Anton, Wayne Newton, Dog the Bounty Hunter, and plenty of beefcake Chippendales dancers.
Sharknado 4 was nominated for a BloodGuts UK Horror Award for Best Prequel/Sequel/Remake
Sharknado 2: The Second One, the long-awaited sequel to Sharknado, premiered on the Syfy Channel July 30, 2014. This time the apocalyptic storm strikes New York City. It starred Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, and Vivica A. Fox (who has a birthday today!). It featured cameos by Judd Hirsch, Billy Ray Cyrus, Robert Hays, Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Michael Strahan, and the Naked Cowboy.
It referenced other movies such as Airplane! and Star Wars, and the Twilight Zone episode Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.
Actor-extraordinaire and one of my favorites, Laurence Fishburne, born July 30, 1961 in Augusta, Georgia, is an Emmy awarded actor, and has been nominated for an Oscar. When he was twelved, he was cast in a recurring role on One Life to Live, which lasted three seasons. He made his film debut in Cornbread, Earl and Me in 1975. He was cast in Apocalypse Now in 1979.
He appeared as Cowboy Curtis on Pee-wee's Playhouse, and appeared in guest roles on M*A*S*H, Trapper John, and Miami Vice. His breakout role came in Boyz n the Hood, and gained an Oscar nomination for his performance in What's Love Got to Do With It? in 1993 with Angela Bassett.
He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his work in The Tuskegee Airmen in 1995. He won a Saturn Award in 2015 for Best Supporting Actor on Television for his work in Hannibal, and won a second in 2025 for the Lance Reddick Legacy Award.
Fishburne's Primetime Emmy Awards are for Outstanding guest Actor in a Drama Series in 1993 for Tribeca, Outstanding Made for Television Movie for Miss Evers' Boys in 1997, and Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for #Freerayshawn.
Robert Louis Behnken, born July 28, 1970 in St. Ann, Missouri, has been to space three times. He earned a BS in mechanical engineering and phusics from Washington University in St. Louis. Then he earned an MS and PhD in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology.
He entered the Air Force and after graduating he flew the F-15 and F-16.
His first trip into space aboard Endeavour (STS-123) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in March 2008. He spent almost 16 days in space.
Behnken's second trip was also aboard Endeavour (STS-130) as mission specialist to the ISS in February 2010. He spent almost 14 days in space.
His third and final trip was aboard Crew Dragon Endeavour Demo-2 as Joint operations commander to the ISS in May 2020. He remained on the space station as part of Expedition 63 before returning to Earth in August 2020. He spent 63 days in space.
Before Chris Evans steamed up the movie screen as the Marvel superhero, Matt Salinger brought Captain America to audiences July 27, 1990. Directed by Albert Pyun, it had a stacked cast: Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty, Darren McGavin, Michael Nouri, Melinda Dillon, and Bill Mumy.
It was not well-received and did poorly at the box office.
Marvel Cinematic Universe had a decent showing at the 38th Saturn Awards presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films July 26, 2012. Thor was nominated for four awards and X-Men: First Class received two nominations. Captain America: The First Avenger got seven nominations.
The first Thor movie starring dreamy Chris Hemsworth released in 2011 won Best Costume for Alexandra Byrne. It was nominated for Best Fantasy Film, Best Supporting Actor for Tom Hiddleston, and Best Production Design for Bo Welch.
X-Men: First Class won Best Make-up for Dave Elsey. It was nominated for Best Science Fiction Film.
Captain America: The First Avenger was nominated for Best Science Fiction film, Best Actor for Chris Evans, Best Supporting Actor for Stanley Tucci, Best Music for Alan Silvestri, Best Production Design, Best Costume, and Best Special Effects.
Caddyshack, the golf comedy from director Harold Ramis, opened in theaters July 25, 1980. It starred Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Ted Knight, and Rodney Dangerfield. Upon its release, it received mediocre reviews but has gained a cult following over the years. The main complaint was the three leads, Dangerfield, Chase and Murray, did not have much interaction, as if they were playing in three different movies. Chase and Murray have a long-standing feud, but were in one scene together.
Caddyshack has been recognized by the American Film Institute: Laughs, Movie Quotes, and #y on the Top 10 Sports movies.
Kenny Loggins' I'm All Right, from the movie made reached #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1980.
John Leguizamo, born July 22, 1960 in Bogota, Columbia, began his career as an extra in Madonna's Borderline video in 1984. His breakout performance was his role as Chi-Chi in To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, which garnered him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Since then, he has shown his immense talent for a variety of genres. He has voiced Sid the Sloth in the animated Ice Age franchise, appeared as Scrooge in comedy-horror Violent Night, and most recently, The Odyssey.
He has been nominated for four Primetime Emmys and won the Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program in 1999 for his performance in John Leguizamo: Freak. He was nominated for two Tony Awards in 1998 for Freak.
He frequently appears as a host for The Daily Show.
Stormy Weather, the comedy musical featuring Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, the Nicholas Brothers, Fats Waller, and Bill Robinson, was released into theaters July 21, 1943. Lean Horne's iconic performance of the title song is performed about an hour into the film. Fats Waller performs Ain't Misbehavin'. Cab Calloway and his orchestra performed Jumpin' Jive while the Nicholas Brothers danced.
Stormy Weather was selected by the Library of Congress for the National Film Registry in 2001.
Adam Shankman's adaptation (or remake) of the Broadway musical Hairspray was released to wide release in US July 20, 2007. The Broadway musical was adapted from John Water's original cult classic Hairspray, released in 1988.
The 2007 release starred John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, James Marsden, and Allison Janney. It opened to positive reviews and set a record for the biggest box office opening for a musical until Mama Mia! in 2008.
Shankman's version won numerous awards and was nominated for three Golden Globes and a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album.
Harry Harris Jr., born August 4, 1956 in Yokosuka, Japan, is the first Asian American to lead the US Pacific Command. His mother was Japanesse and his father was a US Navy Machinist's mate, aboard the USS Lexington. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1978.
Harris was nominated by President Barack Obama to command the USPACOM on September 22, 2014. The Senate confirmed his appointment on December 11, making him the first Asian American to achieve this position.
In 2022, Taylor Dinh, a Vietnamese American, was promoted to Major, becoming the highest ranking Asian American in the Oklahoma City Police Department. I can't find much about him on the internet, but congratulations!
Fassbender has been nominated for two Academy Awards for his performances in Steve Jobs and 12 Years a Slave. He has won 79 awards with a total of 161 nominations.
Vicki Lawrence, born March 26, 1949 in Inglewood, California, is a singer, dancer, and comedian who appeared on the Carol Burnett Show. She also starred in the spin-off series Mama's Family.
In 1973, she released an album which spawned the #1 hit song, The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia. She hosted the talk show Vicki! from 1992-1994.
She won a Primetime Emmy in 1976 for Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Variety or Music for her work on the Carol Burnett Show.
