Hedi Lamarr, Hollywood Star and co-inventor of Cellular Networks

Hedi Lamarr is most famous for her first acting which required her to swim in the nude in  Gustav Machatý's Ecstasy in 1933. She was born in Austria in 1913. She married an Austrian Industrialist Frederich Mandl at age 19. Her husband entertained Adolf Hitler, Herman Georing and Benito Mussolini. On the eve of the Austrian-German Anschluss, she fled to America. But she isn't just known for this or her career in Hollywood.


A Mathematical Genius and Beautiful Too

Frequency-hopping spread-spectrum invention


Avant garde composer George Antheil, a son of German immigrants and neighbor of Lamarr, had experimented with automated control of musical instruments, including his music for Ballet Mécanique, originally written for Fernand Léger's 1924 abstract film. This score involved multiple player pianos playing simultaneously.
Lamarr took her idea to Antheil and together, Antheil and Lamarr submitted the idea of a secret communication system in June 1941. On August 11, 1942, US Patent 2,292,387  was granted to Antheil and "Hedy Kiesler Markey," Lamarr's married name at the time. This early version of frequency hopping used a piano roll to change between 88 frequencies and was intended to make radio-guided torpedoes harder for enemies to detect or jam. Although a presentation of the technique was soon made to the U.S. Navy, it met with opposition and was not adopted.[16]
The idea was not implemented in the USA until 1962, when it was used by U.S. military ships during a blockade of Cuba after the patent had expired. Perhaps owing to this lag in development, the patent was little known until 1997, when the Electronic Frontier Foundation gave Lamarr an award for this contribution. In 1998, Ottawa wireless technology developer Wi-LAN Inc. acquired a 49 percent claim to the patent from Lamarr for an undisclosed amount of stock (Eliza Schmidkunz, Inside GNSS). Antheil had died in 1959.
Lamarr's and Antheil's frequency-hopping idea serves as a basis for modern spread-spectrum communication technology, such as Bluetooth, COFDM used in Wi-Fi network connections, and CDMA used in some cordless and wireless telephones. Blackwell, Martin, and Vernam's 1920 patent Secrecy Communication System (1598673) seems to lay the communications groundwork for Kiesler and Antheil's patent, which employed the techniques in the autonomous control of torpedoes.
Lamarr wanted to join the National Inventors Council but was reportedly told by NIC member Charles F. Kettering and others that she could better help the war effort by using her celebrity status to sell War Bonds.
Wikipedia

Ronald Reagan's friend General Rios Montt

 

 

 

 

 

Under enormous pressure from the US Military and CIA, a Guatemalan Judge intervened and shut down the War Crimes Trial of Rios Montt a few weeks ago. Rios Montt was a member of the Junta which ruled Guatemala in the 1970's and 80's. He has been accused of War Crimes, Atrocities and Crimes Against Humanity.
He attended the US Military School of the Americas in Columbus, Georgia. That is the school that Martin Sheen tried to shut down, for exactly this reason.
Rios Montt became an Evangelical Christian while training in Columbus. The Guatemalan military dictatorship was plagued with insurrections and revolts. General Montt declared that he could solve the problem. The challenges to the Junta's rule was caused by the Catholic Church and impoverished Mayan Indians. His fellow Generals allowed General Montt to implement his plan to pacify the country. He proceeded to exterminate 500,000 Catholic Mayan Indians. One of the most horrible stories from this genocide was that his army would take babies and throw them up in the air and use them for target practice. Documents show that Rios Montt believed that the only way the Junta could rule was to exterminate the Mayan Indians and silence the Catholic Church.
We now know, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, that President Ronald Reagan knew exactly what was going on and continued to give the Generals Foreign Aid and technical assistance.
In the last few days, the judges order shutting down the trial has been overturned by the Guatemalan Supreme Court, the trial will be re-opened on May 7th. Though 86 years old, this evil man must be made to pay for what he did.

 

 

Michael McNamara was AMAZING and almost no one knows it. Searching for Bobby Fischer

I love old game shows, because it is great way to see stars of yesterday, along with some good, clean, clever dialogue. I must admit to having watched hundreds of episodes, with several sticking out in my mind.  Two episodes of  "I've Got A Secret" in particular caught my eye and I thought I would share the information that I gleaned from Youtube.

Michael McNamara was a "Equilibrist" who had placed 2nd on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour Talent Show at age 11. He was from Crown Point, RFD, Ironville, New York. He had learned his field from an artist with the county fair. When asked, Michael said an old guy taught me. When pressed by Gary Moore, he said that the guy was about 30. You could hear the groans among the panel.
Michael was scheduled to appear on the Steel Pier at Atlantic City during the Memorial Day Break from college.  He had already appeared in major venues in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and New York.  He appeared twice on "I've Got A Secret", at age 13 and again at age 15, and both times charmed and stumped the panel. Michael balanced his entire body on one finger.

Crown Point Bridge over Lake Champlain, Crown Point has a population of about 2400 in 2020

Revolutionary War US Fort at Crown Point

Unfortunately, Michael never had a chance to display his unique talent as an adult.

"Michael and a friend, Paul Frolich, also a student at St. Procopius College, were walking at the side of the road in Naperville, Illinois when an approaching car went out of control. Michael immediately pushed his friend out of the way, just in time, saving his life.  Unfortunately, because of this decision, Michael received the full force of impact from the careening automobile. He sustained a shattered skull and two fractures of his right leg as he was slammed against a brick wall.  He remained in a coma until he died after 8 days in the intensive care unit."

From the local Naperville Newspaper:

Junior  Michael  McNamara    Sustains 

Fatal  Injuries  in  Automobile  Accident 

St. Procopius College Naperville Illinois

Maple Drive near Four Lakes the site of the drunk driver caused accident which took Michael's life.

An  automobile  accident  ended  the  life  of 

junior  Michael  McNamara  on  Dec.  8,  1967. 

He  and  junior  Paul  Froehle  were  walking 

along  Maple  Avenue  near  Four  Lakes  on 

Dec.  1  when  a  car  skidded  out  of  control  and 

hit  them.  Paul  sustained  a  compound  leg 

fracture,  but  Mike  suffered  severe  head  in- 

juries and  died  a  week  later  in  Naperville's 

Edward  Hospital.  He  was  21  years  old. 

                       

Edward Hospital Naperville Il in the 1960's, where Michael died.

A  transfer  student  from  Assumption  Junior 

College  in  Richardson,  N.D.,  Mike  had  at- 

tended Crown  Point  Central  High  School  in 

his  hometown  of  Crown  Point,  N.  Y.  He  had 

planned  to  teach  French  and  physical  educa-

tion on  the  high  school  level  after  college. 

Mike was  a  professional  acrobat  and  equili- 

brist. When  he  was  five  years  old,  Mike,  his 

brother  and  sister  formed  a  novelty act  

known  as  the  Aero-Macs.  They  performed 

acrobatics  at  high  schools  and  county  fairs, 

and  for  several  years  tliey  appeared  on  a 

New  York  television  program  "The  Teenage 

Bam." 

                                 

Michael McNamara on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour

Michael appears at 7:15 into this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51IfHdQBdQs

He  finished  second  on  a  "Ted  Mack  Ama- 

teur Hour"  show  in  1958.  He  has  also  ap- 

peared twice  on  "I've  Got  a  Secret,"  once  in 

1960  and  again  in  1965.  Both  times,  his  secret 

concerned  his  acrobatic  talent. 

He saved his friend's life at the cost of his own. Michael knew the real definition of friendship: he lived it and was willing to die for it. But more than that, the impact of losing such a accomplished young man, because few have had more promise than Michael did, made the pain of losing him all the worse. He was a member of the generation which went to war in Vietnam. His sacrifice was as honorable as any soldier's, because he chose to do the right thing for the right reason. His parents and his brother and sister, rightfully, should be proud of Michael, who was a real hero.

He lies buried in a grave in Torrington, Connecticut

 

Michael McNamara Section #22 St Andrew  Lot 34  Grave #1

New St Francis Cemetery 

863 S Main Street

Torrington, Connecticut 06790

Saint Francis Cemetery

Catholic Cemeteries Association

Archdiocese of Hartford

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs6MoZKIErI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPZRAJiqJTk
 

 

I spoke to Arlene Francis and Martin Gabel's son,  Peter, and told him that the thing that struck me from watching his mother and father, as well as, Benett Cerf, John Daly and Dorothy Kilgallen was how nice they were and that you could tell that they were truly pulling for contestants to win. When Peter and Benett Cerf's son, Jonathan, appeared you could tell how proud each of the panelists and John Daly, the host, were of the boys and their success as editors of the Harvard Lampoon(Peter went to Deerfield prep, Johnny Gunther's Alma Mater).  Many people credit Peter and Jonathan for laying the foundation for the talent and ambience which helped create The National Lampoon. 

And I told Peter that I had come to the conclusion that we were much nicer people then. Peter agreed.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nWq62KKoyA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYCkpfoCo5k

 

Nowadays, the only thing that matters is winning, back then people mattered too.

 

 

Back Row to Front:  Comedian Fred Allen, Journalist Dorothy Kilgallen, Host and Newsman John Daly, Actress and TV Host Arlene Francis Gabel and Bennett Cerf.

I stumbled across the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer online, the best movie ever made about chess, according to Roger Ebert.  Roger gave it four stars, his highest rating. Something with which I totally agree.  Three footnotes that people sometimes don't know about the film. Real Life Chess Champion Max Pomeranc played Josh Waitzkin the real life hero of the story. But Chess World Champion Bobby Fischer did not like the movie. He can be forgiven, life as a child genius and chess champion was difficult and lonely, Bobby would develop mental illness as an adult. 

Michael Nirenberg played Josh/Max's opponent in the championship at the end of the movie. Of course, Josh/Max wins. But there is a poignant epilogue. The movie's producers and director heard that Michael was dying and cast him as Josh's opponent. Max and Michael knew each other and played each other in chess before the movie and were friends. Michael died of cancer December 4, 1996 at the age of 13-years-old, a couple of years after the film was released. I have included a video of Bobby on the 1950's game show, I've Got a Secret. He won a free trip to Moscow to play in the World Championship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otg85v4KJvM

Michael Nirenberg shortly before he died

Bobby when he started winning and became US Champ

Max Pomeranc plays against the real Josh Waitzkin in a NYC Public Park

Chess teacher Bruce Pandolfini 

                                                               Josh and his Dad

Hugh Beaumont of Leave it to Beaver, the Dad every divorced kid wanted.

Jerry Mathers said that he and Tony Dow were very lucky during their acting careers: when they got the chance to make "Leave It To Beaver", serendipity chose good people for the roles of Ward and June.  Hugh Beaumont was a Methodist Minister, but also a thoughtful, intelligent man. Barbara Billingsley had two kids of her own, basically the same age as Wally and The Beav. Both treated the kids as if they were there own and it showed.
Though Hugh hadn't been cast in the Pilot, he auditioned with Jerry, who prayed that Hugh would get the role. He had worked with Hugh in a religious tome and liked him a lot.

My parents had a really nasty divorce and I, like Jerry and Wally, leaned on Hugh/Ward as a substitute when my Dad wasn't available.

When Hugh Beaumont retired from acting, he went to his home in Grand Rapids, Minnesota where he raised Christmas Trees. He would tell his family nothing made him happier than seeing the look on kids faces when they picked out their Christmas Tree.

Hugh and his wife with Barbara and her husband.

Hugh married his wife Kathryn on Easter Sunday 1941

Hugh and his wife Kathryn

Hugh, his wife and kids, Hunter, Kristy and Mark, on their family lake in Minnesota

Tony Dow and his wife visit Hugh shortly before his death. The cast and crew became lifelong friends thanks to the atmosphere on set, much of which credit goes to Hugh.

Don Knotts and his two kids, the families behind the families. Don's kids said he was a very devoted father, not quite as funny at home, but a loving, gentle man.

Another day in the neighborhood

Hugh Beaumont was a kind, gentle man who died in Germany visiting his son, who was a college professor May 14, 1982. Hugh had a stroke earlier which caused him to retired from his beloved Minnesota Christmas Tree Farm.

Leave It To Beaver Creators Bob Mosher, left standing, and Joe Connelly, sitting, Director Norman Tokar, cast  Hugh Beaumont, Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow.

Jerry Mathers and his real life family

 Jerry Mathers/Beaver Clever buddy Gilbert/Stephen Talbot and Whitey/Stanley Fafara. Stephen would go on be an award winning journalist, while Stanley developed a drug problem and died penniless. Jerry and Stephen contributed to buying Stanley a gravestone.

Jerry and Stephen served their country during the Vietnam War

 

Hugh with Jerry and Tony's moms

Tony with Mom and Dad

The only photo I can recall Barbara Billinsley/June Cleaer in JEANS

Eugene Hugh Beaumont (February 16, 1910 – May 14, 1982) was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of Ward Cleaver on the television series Leave It to Beaver, originally broadcast from 1957 to 1963, and as private detective Michael Shayne in a series of low-budget crime films in 1946 and 1947. 

Early life 

Beaumont was born in Lawrence, Kansas, to Ethel Adaline Whitney and Edward H. Beaumont, a traveling salesman whose profession kept the family on the move. After graduating from the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the class of 1930, he attended the University of Chattanooga, where he played football.  He later studied at the University of Southern California and graduated with a master's degree in theology in 1946. 

Beaumont began his career in show business in 1931 by performing in theaters, nightclubs, and radio. He began acting in motion pictures in 1940, appearing in over three dozen films. Many of those roles were bit parts and minor roles and were not credited. He often worked with actor William Bendix; they had prominent roles in the 1946 film noir The Blue Dahlia, playing the friends of star Alan Ladd's character. In 1946–1947, Beaumont starred in five films as private detective Michael Shayne, assuming the role from Lloyd Nolan. In 1950, he narrated the short film A Date with Your Family. He also starred in The Mole People in 1956.

In the early 1950s, Beaumont secured television work, often with guest roles on series such as Adventures of Superman, City Detective, Crossroads, Fireside Theatre, Ford Theatre, The Lone Ranger, Medic, The Millionaire, and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. From 1951 to 1953, he narrated the Reed Hadley series Racket Squad, based on the cases of fictional detective Captain John Braddock in San Francisco. In 1954 and 1955, Beaumont appeared in The Public Defender, Hadley's second series, appearing in three episodes as Ed McGrath. That year, he guest-starred in the Lassie episode "The Well", one of two episodes filmed as pilots for the series. He also portrayed a sympathetic characterization of the Western bandit Jesse James on the series Tales of Wells Fargo.

In September 1957, Beaumont was selected to replace Max Showalter, who had appeared as Ward Cleaver in "It's a Small World", the original pilot for the sitcom Leave It to Beaver, in the role of wise small-town father Ward Cleaver. After initially airing to tepid ratings on CBS, the series moved to ABC for its second season, where it achieved more solid ratings. Beginning with the third season, Beaumont began directing several episodes; including the series' final episode "Family Scrapbook", often considered the first series finale. 

In 2014, TV Guide ranked Beaumont's portrayal of Ward Cleaver at number 28 on its list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time".  Jerry Mathers, who read with Hugh Beaumont of his audition, said he prayed that Hugh would get the role as his and Tony Dow's father on the series because he was such a nice man. Jerry had appeared with Hugh in a religious show years before and liked him.

In 1959, before production on the third season of Leave It to Beaver began, Beaumont's wife, son, and mother-in-law were driving from Minnesota to Hollywood to visit when a car accident killed Beaumont's mother-in-law and severely injured his son. Jerry Mathers later stated that the tragedy seriously affected Beaumont's participation in the production, with Beaumont often just "walking through" his part. 

After Leave It to Beaver ended production in 1963, Beaumont appeared in many community theater productions and played a few guest roles on television series such as Marcus Welby, M.D., Mannix, Petticoat Junction, The Virginian, and Wagon Train. In February 1966, he made another appearance on Lassie, 11 years after his first. 

He also continued to have success as a writer, selling several television screenplays and radio scripts as well as short stories to various magazines. He gradually left the entertainment business, launching a second career as a Christmas-tree farmer in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. After suffering a debilitating stroke in 1970, Beaumont officially retired from acting in 1972. In 1980, he did appear in a Beaver reunion with the rest of the cast that was conducted by a local Los Angeles TV station.

Casey Adams, stage name for Max Showalter, was the original Ward Cleaver and Paul Sullivan was Wally, Its a Small World, the original pilot.

.

Left to right, Bob Mosher and Joe Connelly creators of "Leave it to Beaver" with Director Norman Tokar, with Jerry Mathers, Tony Dow and Hugh Beaumont. An early appearance of Eddie Haskell/Ken Osmond, who later became an LAPD Police Officer.

Personal life and death

On April 13, 1941, Beaumont wed actress Kathryn Adams (née Hohn) at the Hollywood Congregational Church. They had sons Hunter and Mark, and daughter Kristy. Their union lasted 33 years, until their divorce in 1974. 

Beaumont was a lay minister in the Methodist Church. During World War II, he was a conscientious objector and served as a medic. 

On May 14, 1982, Beaumont died of a heart attack while visiting his son Hunter, a psychologist, in Munich, West Germany. He was 72 years old. 

WIKIPEDIA

1942 Wedding Photo of Hugh Beaumont and his wife Kathryn Adams.