Sheldon "Shelley" Berman has authored three books, two plays, several TV pilot
scripts, and numerous poems. For over twenty years, Berman taught humor writing
in the Master of Professional Writing program at University of Southern California,
where he is now a Lecturer Emeritus. He continues to do film and television work,
and make personal appearances across the country year-round.

 
                
                      (January 29, 1918 – April 1, 2010)

Born Jacob Lincoln Freund, Forsythe was a stage, television and
film actor. He starred in three TV series, spanning four decades
and three genres. He was Bentley Gregg in the sitcom Bachelor
Father (1959-1962), as the unseen millionaire Charles Townsend
in Charlie’s Angels (1976-1981), and as Blake Carrington on the
prime time soap drama Dynasty (1981-1989). John Forsythe also
hosted World of Survival (1971-1977).

Joan Collins, John Forsythe, Linda Evans from Dynasty

Jerome David Kern was one of the most important theater composers of the
early 20th century. He wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage
works, including “Ol’ Man River”, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”, and “The
Way You Look Tonight”.

Jack Benny married Sadie Marks (above) on January 25, 1927. The couple met
while she was said to be working as a lingerie salesgirl at a May Department Store
in Los Angeles. Sadie changed her name to Mary Livingstone, a scripted character 
in one of Jack’s vaudeville shows.

            Mary Livingstone (1905-1983)      Jack Benny (1894-1974)

Rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly was offered a spot in the Winter Dance Party, a 
three-week tour across the Midwest opening on Friday January 23, 1959. He was accompanied on the tour by Dion and the Belmont’s, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The 
Big Bopper” Richardson. Billed as The Crickets, the backing band consisted of 
Tommy Allsup (lead guitar), Waylon Jennings (bass), and Carl Bunch (drums).

The tour was a miserable ordeal for the group. They endured long overnight
travel in a bus plagued with a faulty heater in freezing temperatures. The bus
also broke down several times between stops.

Pictured from left: Waylon Jennings, Buddy Holly and Tommy Allsup
during the Winter Dance Party at the Duluth Armory on Jan. 31, 1959.

Buddy Holly shown at the Winter Dance Party in Wisconsin, Jan. 26th.

Ritchie Valens

“The Big Bopper” (Richardson) and Tommy Allsup