Remembering Andre' the Giant May 19, 1946 - January 27, 1993

The name Andre' Rene' Roussimoff may not be familiar to you but his wrestling name of "Andre the Giant" will probably strike a familiar note to anyone who has enjoyed the wrestling circles.  He was born with acromegaly (gigantism.)

Andre was born in Grenoble, France to a Jewish couple of Bulgarian and Polish ancestry.  His size first became noticeable as a child  when he reached 6 ft. 3 inches and weighed 240 pounds by the age of 12.    Because of his size, he was unable to take the school bus as a child but had to be driven to school by a neighbor.  It has been said that he was a good student in school but dropped out of school after the 8th grade because he didn't see its importance.  He began working on the farm and also did woodworking that would eventually lead him to a job working on engines for hay balers.

He took up wrestling at the age of 17 at the advice of a promoter who could see that Andre would be successful.  For some time, he worked as a mover during the day and trained for a future wrestling career at night.    He first took the name of "Geant Ferre ( a mythical French giant.)  He traveled throughout the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and New Zealand and reached Japan in 1970.  In Japan, he was known as "Monster Roussimoff" where he wrestled singles and tag team matches.  His next move was Canada where he performed to sell out crowds.  Soon Vince McMahon, founder of the World Wide Wrestling Federation noticed him and agreed to promote him.  Promoters had to guarantee Andre a certain amount of money, as well as pay the WWF booking fee.

Andre the Giant became known as "The Eighth Wonder of the World."    He debuted in the WWF on March 26, 1973.  He became loved by virtually all wrestling fans.  He stood  7 ft. 4 inches and usually weighed in at about 500 lbs.

His film career began when he took on the character in a French boxing movie.  He also had the role of "Fezzik" in the film "The Princess Bride" and "Sasquatch ("Bigfoot") on "The Six Million Dollar Man" tv series.  He also appeared in "The Greatest American Hero" "B.J. and the Bear" and "The Fall Guy."  He also made a cameo appearance as a circus giant in "Trading Mom"

Andre the Giant was the highest paid wrestler in history in 1974 where he earned $400,000 in one year.  He also enjoyed his beer and was known to  consume 119 12 oz. beers in 6 hours.

Andre received numerous honors for his wrestling.  Among them, he was the inaugural inductee into the  WWF Hall of Fame.

Andre made his home in Ellerbe, North Carolina.  He raised long horn steer on his ranch just outside of Ellerbe.  His father died in 1993 and Andre traveled back to France to attend his funeral.  On the evening of January 27, 1993, while in his Paris Hotel room, Andre died in his sleep from congestive heart failure.

Andre was cremated.  Following the cremation, Andre's cremated remains were returned to Ellerbe.  A memorial service (program pictured) was held at his AFJ ranch and Andre's cremated remains were scattered around the pond at his farm.  Among those who paid tribute to Andre during the service was William Goldman, author of the novel and screenplay "The Princess Bride" who said of Andre "he was one of the gentlest and most generous people I have ever known.  Whenever Andre treated someone to a meal in a restaurant, he would pay but would always insist on paying when he was a guest.  It is said that one day following dinner Arnold Schwarzenegger had quietly moved to the cashier to pay the check but found himself being physically lifted, carried from his table and deposited on the top of his car."  Hulk Hogan and Randy "Macho Man" Savage

Andre the Giant's memorial service program

also spoke at Andre's tribute and following the service a "Parade of Flags Ceremony " took place.

His memorial program includes the poem  "A Traveler Coming Home."

A couple of years ago while returning from Myrtle Beach, we stopped in Ellerbe.  I spoke with a police officer about Andre.  The officer said that "Andre was a legend.  When walking down the street, hundreds of kids would flock to Andre.  He always treated the kids with kindness and everyone in Ellerbe loved him."  A nice way to be remembered.

Remembering Mattie Stepanek July 17, 1990 - June 22, 2004

One of the most interesting people I have ever learned about was a young man by the name of Mattie
Stepanek.

If ever there was an "angel on earth" it was this 13 year poet, peacemaker, and challenged little boy who lived his life more full than most people who have lived to be 90 to 100.  Mattie suffered from a condition known as dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, a genetic disease that impaired his heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and digestion and causes muscle weakness.

Mattie was often seen on talk shows including the Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live.  Although his young body endured much pain and suffering, his spirit was so alive and he authored such beautiful poetry about peace known as "Heartsongs" that would raise the spirits of all who read it. Mattie's mother, Jeni also suffers the adult onset form of the disease and following Mattie's passing, he would be laid to rest with his deceased siblings that include Jamie, Katie, and Stevie, also victims of the disease.

Mattie with President Carter

Mattie's funeral

Mattie went to be with God on June 22, 2004.  Over 1500 people attended his funeral and wake that included Harley bikers, celebrities, friends and neighbors.  A packed St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church held the funeral of young Mattie on June 28, 2004.  Among those who spoke about him were the former U.S. President, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and friend of Mattie, President Jimmy Carter who summed up Mattie's life best when he said "in my decades of meeting with world leaders and legends of the world, the most extraordinary person whom I have ever known in my life is Mattie Stepanek."  Oprah Winfrey also eulogized Mattie by saying "I found him magical"  "Every one of us who knew him...will feel the glow for the rest of our lives."

Mattie's funeral program

One of Mattie's many loves was firefighters and fire trucks.  Following Mattie's funeral, his pallbearers (firemen) placed his small casket on a huge red firetruck that carried Mattie to the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in a mile's long funeral procession while his own "Heartsongs" echoed as the beloved child poet was laid to rest.

Mattie's prayer card

Will Bowen, the funeral director with Robert Pumphrey Funeral Home said afterwards "the funeral service for Mattie J.T. Stepanek was the most memorable experience in my 20 years in funeral service.  Mattie's funeral program (pictured) included several poems written by Mattie including his Prayer for A Journey

Thank you, God
Not just for life,
But for our journey through life.
Life is a miracle.
And a journey through life
Is so full of so many more miracles

Mattie's resting place

If we travel with our Heartsongs.
Thank you, God,
For blessing me with the
Gift of Heartsongs,
So that I can enjoy my miracles.

Remembering Walter Frederick Morrison Inventor of the Frisbee January 23, 1920 - February 9, 2010

When Walter Frederick Morrison was 17, he was goofing around in his backyard at his home
 in southern California with his girlfriend, Lu (later to become his wife) when he sent the lid of a popcorn tin through the air. Eventually the result of that day would become hugely successful.  When Morrison became an adult, he remade that lid in plastic and in the process, invented the flying disc known today as
"The Frisbee."  Walter and Lu developed a little business selling "Flyin Cake Pans" on the beaches of Santa Monica, California.

As the New York Times said after Morrison's death, "Beloved of man and dog, the Frisbee has far more than a half of century been the signature product of  the company, Wham-O, a toy and sporting goods manufacturer based in Emeryville, California.  The company has sold more than 200 million of the discs (as of Feb. 2010), since acquiring the rights to Mr. Morrison's "Pluto Platter" as it was known in 1957 and its popularity continues to grow even stronger today with the invention of disc golf. 

Morrison was born in Richfield, Utah.  Inventing was in Walter's blood.  His father invented the "sealed beam headlight" for cars. 

He joined the U.S. Air Force during World War II and became fighter/bomber pilot.  On his fifty seventh mission, Morrison was shot down and became a prisoner of war for 48 days.  He learned about aerodynamics during that time having flown a P-47 Thunderbolt. 

Morrison and the Pluto Platter

In 1946, he sketched out a design (called a Whirlo-Way) for the world's first flying disc.  Morrison and an investor by the name of Warren Franscioni, paid for molding the design in plastic.  They named it the "Flyin Saucer."    Their venture was deemed unsuccessful and the two parted ways in 1950.  Morrison didn't give up.  He had more of the molded plastic discs made and sold them at local fairs.  He soon discovered that he could have them produced in a less expensive way and Walter and Lu designed the "Pluto Platter"  On January 23, 1957, they sold the rights of the Pluto Platter to "Wham-O and it's named changed to Frisbee.  Over the years, Morrison invented other products including a water filled bowling set and a battery powered tomahawk, but none were as successful as the "Pluto Platter."

'That simple little toy has permeated every continent in every country, as many homes have Frisbees as any other device ever invented."

Morrison's biography

Morrison co-wrote a book with Frisbee historian Phil Kennedy called "Flat Flip Flies Straight! True Origins of the Frisbee" (pictured)

Walter Morrison died at his home in Monroe, Utah on February 9, 2010 at the age of 90.  He had suffered from cancer.


Items from Walter Morrison's memorial given to Famous Endings

A memorial service in honor of Walter Frederick Morrison was held at one of his favorite hang-outs, the Cowboy Corral in Elsinore, Utah (program and letter from the owner of the Corral pictured) along with  Morrison's memorial Frisbee.

Remembering Bela Lugosi October 20, 1882 - August 16, 1956

Bela Ferenc Dezso Blasko aka Bela Lugosi was born in Hungary.  His dad was a banker and Bela was the youngest of four children.  He soon changed his last name to the name of his hometown of Lugos.

Bela dropped out of school at the age of 12 and began his acting career in about 1901.  He played small parts in provincial theaters, plays, and operettas.  In 1911, Lugosi moved to Budapest where he performed in dozens of roles at the National Theatre of Hungary.

During World War I, Lugosi served as an infantry lieutenant in the Austro-Hugarian Army and soon rose to the rank of captain.  He suffered injuries on the Russian front and received medals for his wounds.  He was forced to leave Hungary due to activism in the war and came to the United States having arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana by being a crewman for a merchant ship.

Lugosi made twelve movies in Hungary.  When he arrived in the U.S., Lugosi worked as a laborer and eventually landed in New York where he worked in the theater in the NYC Hungarian immigrant colony.  He performed his first Broadway play in 1922 called "The Red Poppy."  He soon got more parts and landed his first American film role in "The Silent Command" in 1923.  He continued to perform in silent film having played villain like characters.

His life would change in 1927 when Lugosi was asked to perform in the Broadway production of "Dracula" and following its success, Lugosi was called to Hollywood to act as a similar character.

Interestingly, Lugosi wasn't chosen first for his role as Dracula but another well known actor by the name of Lon Chaney was the first selection.  Lon Chaney died before the production began.  He would become Dracula and appeared in "Murders in the Rue Morgue" "The Raven" and "Son of Frankenstein" for Universal Studios.  Lugosi attempted the earn roles in other types of films but was unsuccessful.  He would appear with Boris Karloff.  It has been said that Lugosi never received top billing from Karloff and that resentment existed in their relationship.

Unfortunately, Lugosi had some problems including chronic health problems, some relating to his war injuries, as well as financial difficulties.  He would also become drug dependent from painkillers and his behavior became unstable.

Lugosi's last A film was "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" and Lugosi would become nearly a recluse.  He would make an occasional appearance.  He spent time in England playing in traveling "spook shows"

He made one final film in 1955 called "The Black Sheep" but it was unsuccessful.

Register book sold at auction for nearly $11000.

Bela Lugosi died on August 16, 1956 of a heart attack while lying in his couch at his Los Angeles home at the age of 73. Rumors said that Lugosi was clutching the script for "The Final Curtain" but was proved untrue.

Lugosi funeral card at Famous Endings

Bela Lugosi died virtually penniless.  It is reported that Frank Sinatra paid for Lugosi's funeral even though the two had never met.

For his funeral, Lugosi was dressed in his Dracula regalia
(except the fangs) and hundreds of Lugosi fans lined Hollywood Boulevard to view his body at the former Utter-McKinley Mortuary (his funeral program pictured).  He was then laid to rest in the Holy Cross Cemetery at Culver City, California.

Lugosi grave at Holy Cross

Footnote:  Famous Endings attempted to acquire Bela Lugosi's register book from his funeral a few years ago.  Winning bid was nearly $11000.00.  Needless to say, all we got was a photograph of it.

Remembering Will Rogers November 4, 1879 - August 15, 1935

William Penn Adair Rogers remains the "American humorist."

Rogers was born in Oklahoma and was the eighth and final child whose father was a rancher and mother part Cherokee Indi
an.

At a very early age, Rogers perfected the art of the lasso and roping.  He had difficulty taking school very seriously.  He eventually went to South Africa in the early 1900's where he made his show business debut in a wild west circus.  In 1905, he performed his act in Madison Square Garden as a rough rider in a rodeo show.  During the show, a steer got loose and went on a rampage towards the stands and Rogers, with his lasso talent, saved many people from serious injury and, needless to say, he received much publicity.  He would soon take his talent to vaudeville where he performed both in the U.S. and abroad.  In the meantime, he met the love of his life, Betty Blake.  He often claimed "The day I roped Betty, I did the star performance of a lifetime."

Soon Will moved his efforts in to real acting.  He appeared in "The Wall Street Girl" and then associated himself with the Ziegfeld Follies.  During his roping act, Will would spout observations on the absurdities of pompous individuals and politicians. During that time, he made his film debut in "Laughing Bill Hyde."  Soon, he would author two books including "The Cowboy Philosopher."  He also began his fame as a writer having written columns for a syndicated newspaper  and eventually began lecturing and performing his monologues.  Many world leaders, heads of royalty, writers, and "the average man" were attracted to Rogers.  He continued performances on Broadway for a short time until 1928 when he did his last Broadway gig in "Three Cheers"  His popular role that drew sellout crowds was in "Ah, Wilderness" that received rave reviews.  During his writing career, he wrote over 4000 columns and created his own talk show.  He is remembered for his off the cuff quips and comments.

Rogers had many friends including a pilot by the name of Wiley Post.  Post was a recognized aviator and in 1935, he was exploring flight routes from Seattle to Russia.  Rogers decided to go with his friend and document his experiences thru his columns to his thousands of readers.

Original funeral plan at Forest Lawn for Will Rogers

Rogers and Wiley took off from Seattle, when a few days later, Wiley lost course and landed in Point Barrow, Alaska.  When he got his bearings, the pair took off again but shortly after takeoff, the plane's engine quit and the plane crashed.  Both Rogers and Wiley were killed.

The world was shocked at this sudden horrific news.

An estimated 100,000 people gathered to mourn his passing.  Nearly 90 people a minute filed by his casket at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale (original instructions from Rogers service pictured)  Persons from all walks of life were there and 400 policemen from Los Angeles directed the parking.  His casket was banked with flowers that were designed with the American Flag.  The casket sat near the entrance to the cemetery near the cemetery pond.

Will Rogers service

Rogers funeral was private and those included were U.S President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  Roosevelt said of Rogers "The American nation, to whose heart he brought gladness, will hold him in everlasting remembrance." At the same time, the Hollywood Bowl seated nearly 35000 people along with the Community Presbyterian Church of Beverly Hills.  Memorial services were also held in the Claremore, Oklahoma.  Over 12000 theaters across the US darkened their lights for two minutes in honor of him.

Rogers memorial at Universal studios

Will Rogers was initially buried at a Los Angeles Cemetery.  His wife, Betty had him reinterred on May 22, 1944 in a crypt in the gardens of Claremont Memorial to Will Rogers in Claremont, Oklahoma (photo)  His wife and son, Fred rest with Rogers.

I will end with a quote from Rogers

"When I die, my epitaph, or whatever you call those signs on gravestones, is going to read: I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I didn't like. I am so proud of that, I can hardly wait to die so it can be carved."

Will Rogers grave 

Remembering Dorothy Stratten February 28, 1960 - August 14, 1980

Born in a Salvation Army hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia to Dutch immigrants, Dorothy Hoogstraten was one of three children.

In 1977, while attending high school, Dorothy also worked at a Dairy Queen when one day she met a 26 year old club promoter by the name of Paul Snider.  They began to date and he convinced her that she was pretty enough to be a model in Playboy magazine.  He took nude photographs of her and forwarded them to the magazine.  At the time, she was under the age of 18 and her mother refused sign a model release and (someone) forged her mother's signature.

Paul and Dorothy's relationship continued and decided in 1978 to move to Los Angeles together.  After seeing the photos, Playboy hired her as a model for the magazine and Dorothy began working as a Playboy Bunny in the Century City Playboy Club.  During that time, she shortened her name to Stratten.  Playboy's Hugh Hefner felt that she could qualify for both a model and an actress.  She began getting film jobs having guest starred in the television series of Buck Rogers and Fantasy Island.  She also took a small role in the comedy "Skatetown, U.S.A."

In 1980, Stratten was voted Playmate of the Year and also earned a role in the film "Galaxina (a sci-fi movie).

Stratten and Snider's relationship became volatile.   Soon, Hefner encouraged Stratten to move on and referred to Snider as both a hustler and pimp.  Over a short period of time, Stratten had eyes for a film director by the name of Peter Bogdanovich during the filming of "They All Laughed."  The movie would become Stratten's only major film.  The two began an affair and, after leaving Snider, moved in with Bogdanovich.  Snider became both irrational and jealous.  He hired a private detective to follow Stratten everywhere.  She eventually filed for divorce.

Snider began sharing a home with their mutual friend, Dr. Stephen Cushner.  On the day of August 14, 1980, Snider convinced Stratten to come to his home to discuss the divorce and Stratten obliged. That evening, several hours had passed and Snider nor Stratten could be reached.  Cushner broke into the home and discovered both Snider and Stratten dead from apparent gunshot wounds.  It is believed that after raping Stratten, he murdered her and then took his own life with the same shotgun.

Since her death, she has been the subject of a number of movies and TV stories including two by Playboy, and one on" E! True Hollywood Stories."

Dorothy Stratten funeral folder

Dorothy Stratten was cremated. The Rev. Charles Poole officiated her funeral on August 27, 1980 in the Westwood Village Funeral Chapel (funeral folder pictured).  She was laid to rest in the Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

Dorothy Stratten's monument reads

 "If people bring so much courage to this world    The world has to kill them to break them.  So of course it kills them...It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially.   If you are none of these you can be sure that it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.  We love you  D.R." ( I don't quite understand it but wanted to share it)

Remembering Les Paul June 9, 1915 - August 13, 2009

Following the death of Les Paul on August 13, 2009, the legendary blues musician B.B. King said of him, "Les Paul was truly one of a kind.  We owe many of his inventions that made the rock 'n roll sound of today to him, and he was the founding father of modern music."

Born Lester William Polsfuss in the town of Waukesha, Wisconsin of German ancestry.  His mother was a descendent of the Blatz Brewing Company and maker of the Stutz automobile.  He became interested in music at the age of 8 having played the harmonica and then the guitar.  During that time, he began to invent.  He wanted to figure out how to play the harmonica at the same time as his guitar and so he invented the "neck worn harmonica holder" still used today.  At the age of 13, he began playing semi-professionally as a country music singer, guitarist and harmonica player.  He played in drive-ins and roadhouses and that is when he began experimenting with sounds. He wanted to figure out how to boost the sound volume out of his acoustic guitar.  Initially, he wired a record player needle to a radio speaker in order to amplify it.  During that time, he dropped out of high school and played music with various bands.

He would eventually move to Chicago in 1934 where he continued to perform on the radio and continued to play with bands.  He still was not happy with the sound of his acoustic guitar.  During that time, he played with Chet Atkin's brother.  He moved to New York and continued to experiment with sounds and was nearly electrocuted.  He then moved to Hollywood.  He entered the US Army at the beginning of World War II having served in the Armed Forces network.  He supported himself
by backing such artists as Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, and others.

The Log

He eventually built "The Log" in the Epiphone Guitar Factory in
1940 that combined pine wood with strings and it would go down in history as the first solid body electric guitar.  At first the Gibson Guitar Company was not interested in it but soon realized it's importance.  Paul was not impressed with Gibson's first version of the guitar but eventually Gibson manufactured the "Gibson SG" that stood for solid guitar.

Les Paul is recognized as the "Father of the Modern Guitar" but is also credited with a number of other inventions including other recording devices that are still used today.  These include "tap delay" and "multitrack recording."

His inventions earned him one of a handful of artists with a permanent stand alone exhibit in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Just as importantly, he is recognized as an outstanding musician having recorded some major hits including "How High the Moon" "Bye Bye Blues" and "The World is Waiting for the Sunrise" with Mary Ford.  He also hosted a radio program called "The Les Paul Show" He continued to perform into the early 90's.

The Rock and Roll legend died of complications from pneumonia at the age of 94.  Time Magazine named Les Paul one of the ten best electric guitar players of all time and Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

Les Paul's funeral program

Les Paul's funeral was held on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 in the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in New York City (program pictured).  Songs were performed by his trio (Les Paul Trio) that included "It's Been A Long, Long Time" "Nature Boy" and "Vaya Con Dios" (May God Be With You).  Among those who

Les Paul memorial card

eulogized Paul were Ron Sturm from the Iridum Jazz Club and Henry Juszkiewicz (CEO of the Gibson Guitar Company) and a reception was held in the Gibson Showroom in New York.  He was then taken to his hometown near Milwaukee and visitation was held at Discovery World (memorial card pictured).

Les Paul was laid to rest on August 21, 2009 in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha, Wisconsin.