Day Tripping: October 23
Cinematic Mastery
In 1954, Ang Lee was born in a military village of the Republic of China Armed Forces in Taiwan. He grew up in a family that emphasized education first and his father expected Ang to become a professor. But after failing university entry exams, Lee went to a community college where he became interested in the arts.
After completing military service, Lee moved to the United States to study theater. He returned home with a short film from graduate school that won him an outstanding film award in Taiwan.
“The fear factor actually brings the genuineness.”
In 1990, Lee wrote two screenplays for a Government Information Office competition. The scripts for Pushing Hands and The Wedding Banquet came first and second. Pushing Hands became his first feature directing project.
After further successes through the nineties with Sense and Sensibility Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Ang was asked to direct a low-budget film called Brokeback Mountain.
“What do I know about gay ranch hands in Wyoming?”
So far, Ang Lee has been nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning three times. He was the first non-white film director to win an Oscar.
Today is:
Boston Cream Pie Day — French Chef Monsieur Augustine Francois Anezin is responsible for this delicious creation. Why the name? He came up with it in 1856 at the Parker House Hotel in Boston.
Musical Ride
Def Leppard performed three 45 minute acoustic sets on separate continents in one day in 1995. Using the Concorde jet, the band played in Tangier, in Africa, London in Europe, and then Vancouver in North America.
Interesting Notes
Over 25,000 women marched on 5th Avenue in New York City to protest for the vote in 1915.
Gone But Not Forgotten
Al Jolson will always be remembered for starring in the first talking film, The Jazz Singer. He died in 1950 at the age of 64.
Notable Births
1925 — Johnny Carson said, “I know a man who gave up smoking, drinking, sex, and rich food. He was healthy right up to the day he killed himself.”
1976 — Ryan Reynolds said, “I don’t expect success. I prepare for it.”
K. Barrett Maria Rattray Maryam Merchant Dr. Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, Ph.D. Terry Trueman Dr. Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan ScienceDuuude Marcus Liam Ireland Claire Kelly Noorain Hassan, BMS Amy Pierovich David Acaster Nora Thewriteyard David Perlmutter Joe Luca Holly Kellums Michael Burg, MD Lucy Dan Dave Logan
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