Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
Only includes names with the selected topics
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
1-3 of 3
- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Dadasaaheb Phalke was born in 1870 in Trymbakeshwar in Nasik. He was born to a Sanskrit scholar, he studied at J.J. college of Art in Bombay and at Kala Bhavan, Baroda. He then studied architecture and became landscape painter of academic nature studies. He worked in a photographic studio and at Ratlam learned three-colour block making and ceramics. He then worked as a portrait photographer, stage make-up man, assistant to a German illusionist and as a magician! He was offered backing to start an Art Printing Press and his backers to acquaint him with the latest printing process arranged for him to go to Germany provided that he remain with the company. But by the time Phalke returned he knew that a printing career would not satisfy him. He raised loan from his friend and pledging his life insurance, Phalke went to England in 1912 to purchase the necessary equipment and acquaint himself with the technical aspects of filmmaking. When he returned from London he launched Raja Harishchandra about an honest king who for the sake of his principles sacrifices his kingdom and family before the gods impressed with his honesty restore him to his former glory and this movie was released in 1913. Later he produced Mohini Bhasmasur (1913),Satyavan Savitri (1914), Lanka Dahan (1917), Shri Krishna Janam (1918) and Kaliya Madan (1919). Due to changing tastes of movies and extreme commercialised atmosphere in film world, Phalke retired. Later in 1937 he produced Gangavataram (1937), but he had lost his magic. He died in Nasik, a forgotten man. But today he is considered as a pioneer of Indian cinema and a prestigious Indian film industry award is named after him.- Music Department
One of the legions of jazz musicians to have lived hard and died young, pianist and band leader Bob Zurke is best remembered for his association with Bob Crosby's orchestra. Hard drinking and undisciplined, Zurke played with various outfits in New York, Philadelphia, and his native Detroit during the late 1920s and early 1930s. In late 1928 he cut two sides with female band leader Thelma Terry. In January 1937 he joined Bob Crosby, replacing Joe Sullivan, who had been hospitalized with tuberculosis. And except for a 1937 hiatus brought on by a broken leg suffered in horseplay with Bob Haggart, remained with them until the summer of 1939. He then formed his own short lived big band, and with only average arrangements and a poor rhythm section, it broke up the following spring.
Zurke was very popular and well respected by jazz fans and musicians alike for his piano work. In 1939 he won Downbeat magazine's poll for best piano player.
Zurke spent a brief period in jail due to alimony problems and continued to work as a pianist, first in Chicago, then moving to Detroit, then to St. Paul, and finally to Los Angeles, where he performed at "The Hangover Club" from August 1942 until his death in 1944. He collapsed while in the club and was taken to Los Angeles General Hospital where he died 24 hours later, only 32 years of age. A month before he died he had recorded the background piano music for the Technicolor cartoon film, "Jungle Jive" which was "a Tour De Force display of keyboard magic".- Music Department
Maurice Lawrence was born on 25 December 1888. He died on 16 February 1944 in Los Angeles, California, USA.