Julius Francis “Jules” Barlow (1917 - 2007)

Orchestra and Big Band Leader, Musician, The Jules Barlow Orchestra played with many bands of the big band era, including the Blue Baron. The orchestra appeared in many ballrooms throughout the south, including the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennesee, the Broadmoor and Buena Vista Hotels in Biloxi, Mississippi, and many more. The Jules Barlow Orchestra […]

Andre Barlatier (1882 - 1943)

Cinematographer. A former cameraman for Pathe, the French-born Barlatier was brought to the United States by producer Carl Laemmle and shot several of Universal’s early prestige pictures, including “Neptune’s Daughter” (1914) and “A Daughter of the Gods” (1916), starring legendary swimmer Annette Kellerman. From 1924 to 1929 he was under contract at MGM, where he […]

Ronnie Barker (1929 - 2005)

Actor, Comedian. Famous for being one of the ‘The Two Ronnies’ with fellow comedian Ronnie Corbett for over 30 years. He also appeared in several television comedies including the BBC’s ‘Open All Hours’ and ‘Porridge’. He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for services to entertainment and in 2004 […]

Reginald Barker (1886 - 1945)

Motion Picture Director. Working for producer Thomas Ince in the 1910s, he directed William S. Hart’s first westerns and co-directed Ince’s famous pacifist feature “Civilization” (1916). He was highly esteemed for his outdoor adventure films shot in rugged locations, such as “The Eternal Struggle” (1923) and “The Flaming Forest” (1927). With the coming of talkies […]

Francine “Peaches” Hurd Barker (1947 - 2005)

Singer. She was a member of the singing duo “Peaches and Herb”. Some of their popular songs were “Let’s Fall In Love”, “Close Your Eyes”, “For Your Love” and “Love Is Strange”. their success earning the romantic sounding duo the sobriquet “The Sweethearts of Soul.” (bio by: Brown Girl 33)

Eric Barker (1912 - 1990)

Actor. He is best remembered for his roles in the popular British “Carry On” films. Born Eric Leslie Barker in Thornton Heath, Surrey, England he was raised in Croydon, Surrey, the youngest of three children of a paper merchant. After completing his education at Whitgift School in Croydon, he joined his father’s paper merchant’s company […]

Cecil Barker (1916 - 1966)

Motion Picture Director. World War II army veteran. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Parents:  Cecil Winfred Barker (1888 – 1967)  Willie Ann Barker (1889 – 1969)

Bob Barker (1923 - 1970)

Game Show Host and Television Personality, best remembered as the MC of the television game show, “The Price is Right,” currently the longest-running game show in television history (it started in 1972).  In 1999, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Daytime Television, as the show’s executive producer. Born Robert William Barker in Darrington, Washington, […]

Barend Barendse (1907 - 1989)

TV commentator “spel zonder Grenzen ( Game without Borders).

Richard Leland Bare (1913 - 2015)

Director. He was a director, producer, and screenwriter of television shows and short films. He directed The Twilight Zone episode “To Serve Man”. He directed most episodes of the 1960s-1970s CBS television series Green Acres. Bare began his career in the 1940s at Warner Bros., where he was contracted to write and direct a collection […]

Juan Antonio Bardem (1922 - 2002)

Renowned spanish motion picture director and writer. Son of actor parents, he was an active member of the Communist Party and he rejected Franco’s dictatorship. His films include “Bienvenido, Mr. Marshall” (as writer), “Esa Pareja Feliz” (1953), “Cómicos” (1954), “Muerte de un Ciclista” (1955), “Calle Mayor”(1956), and “Siete Días de Enero” (1978). He was the […]

Barbette (1899 - 1973)

Actor, Trapeze Artist. At a young age he left home to become an acrobat. Later he formed a partnership with a woman trapeze artist assuming the role of her twin sister, who had died. As a solo-trapeze and wire-walker artist, he continued to dress as a woman, and in the mid-1920s he went to perform […]

Joe Barbera (1911 - 2006)

American Animator, Director and Producer. Born on Delancey Street in the Little Italy Lower East Side section of Manhattan, New York. The son of Vincent Barbera and Francesca Calvacca. Joseph displayed a talent for drawing as early as the first grade. While in high school, Joseph won several boxing titles. He graduated from Erasmus Hall […]

Elisabetta Barbato (1921 - 2014)

Opera Singer. A dramatic soprano who performed in major venues on both sides of the Atlantic, she is perhaps best remembered for interpreting the title heroine of Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca”. Raised in Rome from early childhood, she began her vocal training in 1939 with Maria Angucci in Bologna, continued with Luigi Ricci in Rome, made […]

Maurice Baquet (1911 - 2005)

French Actor and Musician. He began his career as a cellist, obtaining the first prize in the Conservatoire de Paris. But soon, he joined Prevert’s theather Octobre group. Also he worked in cinema, becoming one of the most important French actors. He appeared in “Les Beaux Jours” (1935), “Les Bas-Fonds” (1936), “Premier de Cordée” (1944), […]

Travis Banton (1894 - 1958)

Motion Picture Costume Designer. Designed costumes for a large variety of films from the 1920s to the 1950s. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Parents:  Rentfro B. Banton (1865 – 1949)

Ron Banks (1951 - 2010)

R&B Vocalist. He was a founding member of the Detroit-based music group The Dramatics. Originally named The Dynamics, Banks formed the group as a teenager in the early 1960s,  along with William Howard, Larry Demps, Willie Ford and Elbert Wilkins;  their influences were Jackie Wilson and the Motown groups Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and […]

Leslie Banks (1890 - 1952)

Actor, Director. Born Leslie James Banks, he was educated at Oxford University to become a parson. In 1911 he made his acting debut in regional vaudeville before moving to London theatres. During World War I he served in the Essex Regiment in the British Army, suffering a serious injury that resulted in extensive scarring on […]

Rose Bampton (1907 - 2007)

Opera Singer. Born in Lakewood, Ohio, Bampton was a leading singer at the Metropolitan Opera House. Bampton debuted in 1929 and only three years later, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Laura in “La Gioconda.” She switched from mezzo-soprano to soprano, playing among many others in “Il Trovatore,” “Don Giovanni,” “Die Walküre,” “Lohengrin” and […]

Erik Balling (1924 - 2005)

Film director. Successful and popular director born at Nyborg, Denmark, who worked his way up in the film studios before making his début as a director in 1952. This was the first of his 40 feature films, one of which, “Qivitoq” from 1956, was nominated for an Oscar in the category “Best foreign language film”. […]

Christine Ballard (1970 - 2016)

Television Program Producer. In 1969, she graduated with a degree in radio and television from Indiana University, where she also worked for several local radio stations. In 1973, she moved to Los Angeles where she began working as an associate director for such shows as ‘The Golden Girls’, ‘The Redd Foxx Show’ and ‘Benson’ before […]

Harvey Ross Ball (1921 - 2001)

Originator of the “Smiley” face logo, an international icon. While working at State Mutual Life Assurance Co. in Worcester, MA, as a graphic artist, he created the Smiley in 1962 as part of a friendship campaign. He was paid $45, and never applied for a trademark or copyright. Also a World War II veteran, he […]

Arthur Ball (1894 - 1951)

Motion Picture Cinematographer. He worked on the films “The Black Pirate” (1926), and “Wanderer Of The Wasteland” (1924). Ball was also one of the 36 persons who helped founded the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). (bio by: K)  Family links:  Parents:  Elijah Ball (1863 – 1955)  Clara A Ball (1863 – 1945)

Victor Balasz Balasic, Jr (1897 - 1943)

Entertainer. He was a member of the Balasic Family Acrobats and Vaudeville Performers. He is buried in the National Vaudeville Association section of Kensico Cemetery. (bio by: Mark Balasi)

Maria Katherina Holz Balasic (1896 - 1963)

Circus Performer. She was a member of the Royal Vienna Ballet and member of the Balasic Family Acrobats. (bio by: Mark Balasi)

Alfred Joseph Balasic (1896 - 1967)

Cirus Performer. Vaudeville star with the Balasic Family acrobats. (bio by: Mark Balasi)

Robert S. Baker (1916 - 2009)

Motion Picture and Television Producer, Director. Along with Monty Berman he co-produced many British films and television programs, most notably the hit 1960s series “The Saint”,  which starred Roger Moore. Born in London, Baker worked as a photographer before serving in the Army Film and Photograph Unit where he would meet Berman during World War […]

Ox Baker (1934 - 2014)

Ox Baker Professional Wrestler. A gentle giant who was typecast as a villain, he is remembered for his thirty year career during which he felled numerous opponents with his trademark “Heart Punch”. Raised in Waterloo, Iowa, he was a standout athlete in high school until he was, for reasons unspecified, kicked out. After spending two […]

LaVern Baker (1929 - 1997)

Singer. Born in Chicago, Illinois as Delores  LaVern Baker. She began singing gospel as a child, but she was familiar with more secular styles, as well. Her aunt, Merline Baker, was better known as Memphis Minnie, a blues singer and guitarist. Blessed with a powerful voice, which she put to use as a teenager singing […]

Judy Baker (1924 - 2000)

Country Music’s Hostess.