Actor, director, producer, composer, comedian, the talented Mr. Charlie Chaplin was born this day 1889 (died Christmas Day of 1977).

Check out this 1950 New Yorker article on the day in the life of Mr. Chaplin.

“Words are cheap. The biggest thing you can say is ‘elephant’.”

“The saddest thing that I can imagine is to get used to luxury.”

“To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain, and play with it!”

“Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in a long shot." -C. Chaplin

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1959, White Plains, NY. photo:Marvin Koner/CORBIS “You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.” -JR

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sidney in his youth pacino & lumet on the set of serpico

pacino & lumet - lifetime award

The film world lost a legend over the weekend when film director Sidney Lumet passed away at the age of 86. Lumet did not just make great films he made great NEW YORK films including 12 Angry Men, The Pawnbroker, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Prince of The City, and Network. But his work went beyond the boroughs of New York as he also directed classics such as The Verdict, The Wiz, Equus, and Murder on the Orient Express. Text and image via New York Public Library.

"Sidney Lumet was one of the greatest directors in the long history of film. Compelling stories and unforgettable performances were his strong suit." - Steven Spielberg.

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Buddy Miles ~ Them Changes.

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London-born actress Elizabeth Taylor, who hated the nickname "Liz", passed away yesterday at age 79. She grew up on screen when she came to fame at age 12 in National Velvet and went on to star in over 60 films and win two Academy Awards. She was also an AIDS activist, inspired by the death of her close friend Rock Hudson. Beyond her charity work and glamorous screen persona, she had a stormy life, which included eight marriages and a lifetime of health problems - skin cancer, seizures, stroke, brain tumors, diabetes, hip replacements, back operations, but somehow managed to bounce back with force and resilience from all these physical and relationship set backs. Co-star Paul Newman said "her life has not been an easy or a private one, but a series of tribulations, serious illnesses, senseless tragedy and lost love. One thing for sure: She is not afraid to take chances in front of people. I find a lot of actors who reach the top, they become very protective of themselves, and self-indulgent, but not Elizabeth. I was always staggered by her ferocity."

“I don’t entirely approve of some of the things I have done, or am, or have been. But I’m me. God knows, I’m me.” - Elizabeth Taylor

1932 - 2011

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brando donald

jack

jimmy

the lighter side of legends

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We at Grant's like our females with a bit more substance. Because well, good looks nowadays are more than a dime a dozen, and of course with a credit card, it can be bought, altered, and airbrushed in an instant. Which is why I was impressed when I read this NY Times article that Hedy Lamarr, who was called the most beautiful woman in Europe in her day, was also a rocket scientist on the side. So who is this lady?

She was born Hedwig Kiesler in Austria-Hungary, the only child to Jewish parents, studied ballet and played piano before age 10, and starred in dozens of films opposite the likes of Spencer Tracy and Clark Gable. Her escape from Vienna to Hollywood is almost right out of a film  - she supposedly drugged her maid then disguised herself as the maid to escape her husband who had ties to the Nazi. But of course countless Hollywood leading ladies have seen their share of drama off-screen. What set Hedy apart from the rest of the glamour set, was her brains and extracurricular activities. Together with composer George Antheil, Lamarr came up with an early version of frequency hopping intended to make radio-guided torpedoes harder for enemies to detect. Their frequency-hopping idea serves as a basis for modern wireless technologies. So with the exception of an arrest for a Winona-like shopping spree accusation, this lady had some skills.

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self portrait

Vivian Maier's photos have been making their way around the web recently thanks to John Maloof who bought the negatives to her work at an antique auction. This story is particularly interesting because her photos remained unknown and mostly undeveloped until Maloof's discovery - over 100,000 negatives and 3,000 prints. The auction house where Maloof bought Vivian Maier's photos acquired her belongings from her storage locker that was sold off due to delinquent payments. Maloof later found her name written with pencil on an envelope and decided to Google her about a year after he purchased the negatives, only to find her obituary placed the day before his search. She passed away only a couple days before that inquiry on her, leaving so many questions unanswered, and with her not knowing this man she had never met held her life's work and was about to share them with the world.

Vivian's Story Vivian Maier (1929-2009) was a street photographer from the 1950s to 1990s. She's a bit of a mystery, with some contradictory information out there. But here's what's been gathered about her so far: She was born in New York to immigrant parents, spent many years in France before returning to the U.S. where she worked in a sweat shop in New York when she was about 11 or 12, and later worked as a nanny in Chicago for about 40 years. In 1959 she traveled the world alone, where she photographed places like Egypt and Vietnam. She was describe as a tell-it-like-it-is and "keep your distnace from me" type of person, outspoken, a feminist, loved foreign films and learned English by going to theaters, and wore men's jackets and men's shoes most of the time. She was constantly taking pictures, which she didn't show anyone.

If you're in Chicago, Vivian's first U.S. exhibition will be held at the Chicago Cultural Center. Around 80 prints will be on display, including a sample of her color work, and will run 'til April 3rd. There's also a feature length documentary film about her in production now and a book of her work is expected to be released next Fall.

All photos are copyrighted under Maloof Collection, Ltd.

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