Synopsis: Thrust Into Television

Many movie character actors found steady work and arguably more exposure with the advent of television. 

ANTHONY CARUSO (1916-2003)

The American character actor appeared in more than one hundred films, usually playing villains, gangsters, Native Americans, or a variety of ethnic characters. He made his film debut in 1940 and was often uncredited throughout the decade. Caruso's fortunes changed overnight after playing mobster Louis Ciavelli in The Asphalt Jungle (1950). By the mid-1950s, television became his medium, working steadily throughout the 1960s and 1970s on numerous popular series in Westerns, police dramas and comedies, where he often parodied a gangster persona. Caruso's face became very familiar. In the fantasy world of Hollywood, Caruso's life was 180 degrees from his many tough-guy roles. His passion for gardening and cooking, along with his wife of sixty-three years, continued after retirement from acting in 1990.

Discover more about Carsuso's career at IMBD.

Charles Wysocki, Part Two

Charles Wysocki (1924-2002) was famously known for his clean, well-designed American folk art illustrations, a subject I focused on in a previous post. Lesser known is his commercial advertising illustrations for Dodge trucks, among other industries. One can see leanings toward his non-dimensional, flat panels approach.

The First Gold Record

On this date in 1941, Glenn Miller (1904-45) recorded "Chattanooga Choo Choo" for RCA. It became the first gold record. The song was written by lyricist Mack Gordon with music by Harry Warren. It was featured as an extended production number for the 20th Century Fox film Sun Valley Serenade (1941). History indicates Miller officially "disappeared" during a flight to France in 1944. He was declared dead nearly a year later.