Where Celebs Get Their Last Laugh
Header

David Merrick DEAD April 26, 2000

April 26th, 2013 | Posted by Kristing in Celebrity | Tributes - (0 Comments)

Born: November 27, 1911

Died: April 26, 2000

High of His Life: I’m not sure there was a high point because most of his life was completely amazing. He’s known as the best Broadway producer of all time. With more than 80 shows on Broadway over the course of his life the guy was a living legend…well until 12 years ago. 80 shows and 11 Tony Awards.

Low of His Life: He never got to see the revival of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess…which is probably the best thing to hit Broadway since he passed away.

Who Sees Him As a Hero: Broadway actors, producers, fans, and high school drama clubs across the world.

Joseph Merrick DEAD April 11th, 1890

April 11th, 2013 | Posted by MattC in Celebrity | Tributes - (0 Comments)

Born: August 5th, 1862

Died: April 11th, 1890

High of His Life: His life wasn’t exactly rainbows and sunshine but he did have a few joyful moments. He made a friend in Treves and Lady Luisa Knightley and he claimed one of the happiest days of his life was visiting Lady Knightley in Northamptonshire. He had the opportunity to travel and became somewhat of an odd novel celebrity to the wealthy. Also, there was a play about him that became an Oscar winning movie… but that came after his life.

Low of his Life: Well, he was the elephant man so he had his share of being included in freak shows, being a guinea pig for science exhibitions, and medical classes. That sucks pretty bad. He was born deformed, his mother died soon after and his father and step mother disowned him as a child. Not to mention that the growth on his forehead was so big that he had to sleep sitting up. His friend Frederick Treves, a doctor, believed that he suffered from asphyxia trying to sleep lying down and died as a result. Basically everything about his life was depressing.

Who Sees Him As A Hero: Medical researchers and anybody obsessed with political correctness.

,

William Tecumseh Sherman DEAD February 14, 1891

February 14th, 2013 | Posted by ajaxadmin in Celebrity | Tributes - (0 Comments)

General ShermanBorn: February 8, 1820

Died: February 14. 1891

High of His Life: General Sherman received the surrender of all remaining Confederate forces commanded by Joseph E. Johnston (the largest surrender outside of Lee’s surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House) on April 26, 1865.  On the second day of the Grand Review of the Armies on May 24, 1865, he led the Army of Tennessee and the Army of Georgia into Washington, D.C. to be seen and cheered at by the admiring crowds.  During the war he conducted his famous – infamous, to some – March to the Sea, which saw Sherman’s troops living off the land and destroying any and everything that could be used by the Confederate war effort.  This culminated in the capture of Savannah, Georgia on December 21, 1864.  His capture of Atlanta, Georgia previously on September 2, 1864 helped ensure Lincoln’s re-election in the following November.  He is considered by many historians to be the first “modern general.”

Low of His Life: Prior to his successes in the Western Theater, Sherman was one of the only generals to distinguish himself in the First Battle of Bull Run in July 21, 1861 but this was marred by his discontent – at the time – of how the war was going.  He went through a nervous breakdown and even thought about committing suicide.  Some people even called him “insane.”

Who Sees Him As a Hero: Military historians and strategists, Heinz Guderian, Erwin Rommel (a.k.a. The Desert Fox), George S. Patton.

, , ,

Anna Nicole Smith DEAD February 8, 2007

February 8th, 2013 | Posted by christinem in Celebrity | Gone Too Soon | Tributes - (0 Comments)

Born: November 28th, 1967

Died: February 8, 2007

High of Her Life: She was 1993 Playboy of the Year. That’s about it. She was a definite hottie back in the day and had a lot of guys who oggled over her.  She  smartly married some old billionaire and waited for him to die. Too bad she couldn’t make it any more obvious. I  guess that’s a high.  She also, you know, got high. But I don’t know if that counts.

Low of Her Life: How long can I make this list? Let’s see, she dropped out of high school and got married,  then divorced, then married some old dude for his money and that’s just gross in itself. Then she went on to get crazy drugged up and gave Courtney Love a run for her money as most batshit insane blonde in the public eye. She also had some really creepy obsession with looking like and embodying Marilyn Monroe, who wasn’t the best role model in the first place. And just like her idol, she died of an overdose (as her son did prior). Fail.

Who Sees Her As a Hero:  Gold diggers, Hugh Hefner

, ,

Thomas Edison DEAD October 18, 1931

October 18th, 2012 | Posted by KristenM in Celebrity | Tributes - (0 Comments)

Born: February 11, 1847

Died: October 18, 1931

High of His Life: Years ago when someone labeled themselves as an inventor, they truly were. While today someone may have that one cool invention, inventors of the past knew what the heck they were doing and Thomas Edison was no exception. The man had 1,093 patents and we can thank him for some of the milestone inventions of the 19th century, including the phonograph, the motion picture, stock ticker, battery for an electric car, and of course the light bulb.  To say his life was a success is an understatement. Imagine a life without light!

Low of His Life: It’s hard to find a low for a man of such ingenuity. But it seems like any smart man, he was also a jerk. He gypped Nikola Tesla out of $50,000 and refused to give him a raise. After Edison’s death, Tesla noted in the New York Times that Edison had no hobby, cared for no amusement, and apparently smelled bad. Sick burn! I guess you really can’t have it all.

Who Sees Him as a Hero: Inventors, GE,  and interrogation specialists

, ,

Dr. Seuss DEAD September 24th, 1991

September 24th, 2012 | Posted by MattC in Tributes - (0 Comments)

Born: March 2nd, 1904

Died: September 24th, 1991

High of His Life: As we all know, Dr. Seuss was a rhyming man and he spent all his years with a pen in hand. He is mostly known for his children’s books, which were nonsensical, silly, with rhyme-rhymey hooks. He made up words and stories for a living, which is quite thrilling, and some even say that is much more fulfilling than anything they do for a farthing or shilling. And that’s pretty good because in total he had fourty-eight published works, enough to cause lots of children’s smirks and taught them how to lead a good life, to be kind to each other, and to stop being jerks.

Low of His Life: The down of his life is a sad, sad story. He had throat cancer, couldn’t eat, and was cremated to go out in a blaze of glory. His rhymes are remembered, his stories are honored, but the truth is his books are still made into Hollywood bombers. If only The Cat in the Hat didn’t star Mike Myers, the future of children wouldn’t seem so despondent and tired.

Who Sees Him As A Hero: Anyone who still has some whimsy and youth, and who longs for a world pre- Fifty Shades that was couth.

,

Johnny Ramone DEAD September 15, 2004

September 15th, 2012 | Posted by TimD in Celebrity | Tributes - (0 Comments)

Born: October 8, 1948

Dead: September 15, 2004

High of His Life: The Ramones are widely considered in rock critics circles to be the most significant, influential and by some measures best rock band to ever come from America. In the 1970′s they essentially invented the basic “punk rock” vernacular both in style(leather jackets, ripped jeans) and sound(fast catchy songs played loud). They rode their place in rock history to a handful of minor hits in the states and explosive international fame and riches.

Johnny was in many ways the band’s guiding business force, keeping them on track for decades of money making and touring success.

Low of His Life: Of course in the credibility department Johnny Ramone pretty much tanked. His out spoken conservative ideals rarely jived with the punks he inspired, his hard nosed business tactics often left his band mates out in the cold and he stole the woman Joey Ramone loved basically surrendering in the public relations war between the two.

Beyond all of that trouble it was once widely rumored(and at one point publicly confirmed though later retracted Marky Ramone) that Ramones concerts actually featured a second unseen guitarist off stage doing most of the important guitar work.

Who Sees Him As a Hero: Bill Joe Armstrong, Bob Mould, conservative punks everywhere, t-shirt sellers everywhere.

,

Bobby Thomson – DEAD August 16, 2010

August 16th, 2012 | Posted by Kristing in Celebrity | Tributes - (0 Comments)

Born: October 25, 1923

Dead: August 16, 2010

High of His Life: To anyone who knows anything about baseball Bobby Thomson was the man who made the world cry with joy with his “Shot Heard Round the World.” The New York Giants (then a baseball team and not a football team) were 13 1/2 games back in August of 1951. No one comes back from 13 1/2 games back. No one. But apparently nobody told the Giants this because they won 37 of their last 44 games and went on to play the Brooklyn Dodgers for the National League Pennant. It was an historic moment in baseball and everyone was rooting for the underdog. In the bottom of the 9th inning (THE NINTH INNING!!!) the Giants were down 4-1. Three men on and Mr. Bobby “Staten Island Scot” Thomson was at the plate. A pitch from Ralph Branca came soaring over the plate and POW! Thomson shot it right out of the park. While the team would ultimately lose the world series to the Yankees everyone can agree that the most exciting moment in baseball of that year, and possibly one of the most exciting moments in baseball of all time, was hearing the crack of that bat followed by Russ Hodges, the announcer screaming into the microphone “THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!” over and over again. It brings a thrill to any baseball fans heart and a tear to their eye to hear that call.

Low of His Life: In 2001 the Wall Street Journal revealed that the Giants had been stealing hand and finger signals from their opponents to judge the pitches and calls from the catcher to the pitcher. However, even Branca had this to say about that auspicious moment in baseball history. ”I didn’t want to diminish a legendary moment in baseball. And even if Bobby knew what was coming, he had to hit it…. Knowing the pitch doesn’t always help.”

Who Sees Him as a Hero: the underdogs, the baseball fans, the underdog baseball teams (the Pirates…), and Bill Mazeroski

Fritz Lang DEAD August 2nd, 1976

August 2nd, 2012 | Posted by MattC in Celebrity | Tributes - (0 Comments)

Born: December 5th, 1890

Died: August 2nd, 1976

High of His Life: It’s probably easy to say that Fritz Lang’s career was seriously boosted by his 1927 science fiction hit Metropolis. One of his most notable films, this art piece of German expressionism was made during the Weimar Period. The film is clearly dystopian, which is probably partly why it’s been cataloged as pop culture gold. Once in Hollywood he worked on Fury (1936) with Spencer Tracy, which started his film noir genre exploration. His other big films from Hollywood were The Big Heat (1953) and While the City Sleeps (1956).

Low of His Life: Probably the fact that his films came and went without much recognition until after his death. That kind of sucks a little—feeling unappreciated until a bunch of film geeks understand what you worked so hard on for all those years. But then again, most artists die feeling alone and useless. I guess people only realize their genius years later just to continue that morbid tradition. Also, having to emigrate from his homeland in the advent of World War II was not a pleasant experience by any means.

Who Sees Him As A Hero: Pretentious film students, science fiction geeks, and Jean Luc Godard.

,

Ulysses S. Grant DEAD July 23, 1885

July 23rd, 2012 | Posted by ajaxadmin in Celebrity | Tributes - (0 Comments)

Born: April 27, 1822

Died: July 23, 1885

High of His Life: Grant captured Vicksburg, Mississippi in July 1863 and secured Union control over the Mississippi River.  He was appointed Lieutenant General and commander of all Union forces by President Abraham Lincoln later that same year.  He was responsible for the capture of the important railroad town of Petersburg and subsequently Richmond, Virginia.  Grant received Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.  The former commander of all Union armies would then become 18th President of the United States after Andrew Johnson.  He would serve two terms as President.

Low of His Life: After serving two very controversial terms as President that was marred by corruption and scandal perpetrated by many who served under him, Grant was swindled by a business partner from Grant & Ward and was forced to pay off all debts with his own personal savings as a matter of honor which left him and his family financially ruined.  It was also around this time he found out he had throat cancer, most likely caused by his years of smoking cigars on and off the battlefield.

Thankfully this was not the end of an American hero.  He would write a memoir entitled, The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant that was so popular and well-received that it restored his family’s fortunes.

Who See’s Him As A Hero: I dunno… guys with big beards? Alcoholics who want to be President. Chubby military men.

, , , ,