F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald

(1896 – 1940)

Regarded as one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, he was an author and a poet.

The Great Gatsby, The Beautiful and the Damned, This Side Of Paradise, Tender is the Night, to name a few, kind of says it all.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” was a short story of his. His wife was Zelda Sayre (1900 -1948). She suffered a lot and spent time in mental institutions, and he was an alcoholic from his college days. A troubled marriage to say the least. His works are still popular today and are required reading in some schools.

He put out some deep thoughts, that’s for sure. He is buried in  St. Mary’s Cemetery, Rockville, MD

Check out his stuff……

Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes

(1905 – 1976)

A brilliant  business magnate, a pioneer aviator, film producer, philanthropist, he was one of the richest men in the world. A lot of people remember him for the image that was projected of him at the end of his life, but he set speed records, made movies, and built a fortune so big even he couldn’t control it at the end. His net worth when he died was about 1.5 billion , and that is 6.5 billion in todays dollars. “The Aviator” is a great movie with Leonardo Di Caprio that explores his life. Just my opinion, but until the plane crash that nearly killed him, I think he had about the same neurosis’s and OCD’s as the rest of us, maybe a little more intense.  After the crash began the spiral.

This is how ahead of his time he was_ I saw a video of him of you tube, and it was a slow motion clip of his golf swing  he had done so he could study what he was doing wrong. That was the forties, folks, before television, before video, before instant replays, and waaaaaay before ESPN. I’ll bet people thought he was crazy.

Another strange one:

“The Outlaw” was movie that Hughes produced in 1943, and the notoriety of the film is basically Hughes’ obsession with Jane Russell’s Boobs. There is an argument for that obsession tho, LOL. He even helped design her special bra’s to accentuate her, uh, assets. In her autobiography, Russell said she secretly discarded it , and wore her own. He had so many problems with the Hollywood Production Code Administration,  the film wasn’t released until 1946.

He is buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Houston, Texas

Trivia:

Actress Gene Tierney is buried there too….her post will be up soon.

George Gordon, Lord Byron

George Gordon, Lord Byron

(1788 – 1824)

The most flamboyant of the romantic poets, Byron lived a life that is almost mythic.

Known for his excesses, he lived scandalously(huge debts, countless affairs with both sexes, even a rumored affair with his half sister, radical political beliefs), and lived his life as he wanted, trying(and it sounds like succeeding) to not be a hypocrite……. Only 36 when he died, it’s had to believe he did so much in that length of time. Even so, he is regarded as one of the greatest British Poets, and he is still widely read and influential.  She walks in beauty is an awesome poem, my favorite anyway. Read his works if you get a chance, and read about his life, it’s better than fiction. The “Byronic Hero” is the image that pervades his works, and the model is used by other authors.

He is buried in St. Mary Magdalene Church, Nottinghamshire, England . There were rumors that his heart was kept and buried by the Greeks(He died in Greece) but I’m not sure about that one.

“Wild Bill” Hickock

 

James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickock

(1837 – !876)

Wild Bill was a gambler, gunfighter, and lawman of the old west. Definitely a folk hero, some of his exploits have been fictionalized. Known for not wanting his back to be unguarded, he ironically died when he was shot in the back of the head and killed during a poker game  at the age of 39. The hand he was holding, a pair of aces and a pair of 8’s, has come to be known as the “deadman’s hand”. Makes you wonder what the kicker was(that’s the fifth card). It’s been the subject of debate since the murder.

He was killed in Deadwood, Dakota Territory(now South Dakota) and is buried there at Mount Moriah Cemetery.

Trivia:

Calamity Jane is buried next to him.

Hickock was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1979.

 

Louise Brooks

Louise Brooks

(1906 – 1985)

Louise was an American dancer and actress. Her first film was an uncredited role in 1925, and she made several silents in America and Europe. She was a wild child for sure, read her autobiography. It’s called “Lulu in Hollywood”, quite a commentary and quite a life. Pandora’s Box is one of her best known films, and remember, this is the silent era, it explores modern sexual mores and even lesbianism. She was quite a girl, and lived her life the way she wanted. After her fall from films, she worked at Saks Fifth Avenue for a while. Beautiful, beautiful lady, that has been re-discovered and has quite a following today. There is even a “Louise Brooks Society”.

She died in 1985 and is buried at the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Rochester, New York.

Jack Kerouac

Jack Kerouac

(1922 – 1966)

A pioneer of the “Beat Generation”, he was an author and poet. His literary prestige grows every year, and all of his works are still in print. He covered just about every topic, and during his life, he was an underground celebrity. Of course now that he is gone the Establishment recognizes his genius. Isn’t it funny how often that happens.

Best known as an author, his poetry is something to read too. Check out his work, he was way ahead of his time.

He is buried in Lowell, Massachusetts, in the Edson Cemetery