With the 100th Birthday celebration of the Westport Public Library fast approaching, all things having to do with the year 1908 hold a particular fascination for the staff. It was also a landmark year for the future of the movie industry. That year saw the birth of an incredible array of beloved actors. Bernard Lee known to all as M in the James Bond movies was born in London. The world welcomed Robert Cummings, Eve Arden and Fred MacMurray first respected for their roles in the movies and later on TV. Ethel Merman also belted out her first sounds in 1908. In Los Angeles, Olympic medal swimming medal winner Clarence Crabbe (better known as Buster) took his first breath on earth. Later, he would venture into outer space as Flash Gordon, to the delight of movie goers. Distinctive voiced actors Mae Questel who was the voice of both Betty Boop and Olive Oyl and Burgess Meredith are also among those born.
Academy Award winners are well represented including Don Ameche who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his supporting role in Cocoon and Italian actress Anna Magnani who won Best Actress in 1956 for the Rose Tattoo. But if you want to talk star power of the highest power, four of the truly brightest stars are represented. She of the incredible eyes, Bette Davis was born on April 5th just days before the Westport Library’s grand opening on April 8th. Diminutive beauty Carole Lombard who lost her life at age 33 in an airplane crash (she was headed back from a war bond rally) and dapper Rex Harrison graced us in that year as well. Finally, James Matiland Stewart was born in Indiana on May 20th, which is, take it from me, a great day to have a birthday. (Is this why I can’t resist a Stewart movie?) The actor, known for his halting delivery and self-deprecating humor once said, “If I had my career over again? Maybe I'd say to myself, speed it up a little.”
All of these actors are well represented in our film collection. And, you will find several autobiographies and biographies about them in our book collection. Why not salute their birthdays along with the library's while watching one of their films or reading their life history.
