-
[first lines]
Narrator: The magnificence of the Ambersons began in 1873. Their splendor lasted throughout all the years that saw their midland town spread and darken into a city. In that town, in those days, all the women who wore silk or velvet knew all the other women who wore silk or velvet, and everybody knew everybody else's family horse and carriage. The only public conveyance was the streetcar. A lady could whistle to it from an upstairs window, and the car would halt at once and wait for her, while she shut the window, put on her hat and coat, went downstairs, found an umbrella, told the girl what to have for dinner, and came forth from the house. Too slow for us nowadays, because the faster we're carried, the less time we have to spare. During the earlier years of this period, while bangs and bustles were having their way with women, there were seen men of all ages to whom a hat meant only that rigid, tall silk thing known to impudence as a stovepipe. But the long contagion of the derby had arrived. One season the crown of this hat would be a bucket; the next it would be a spoon. Every house still kept its bootjack, but high-top boots gave way to shoes and congress gaiters, and these were played through fashions that shaped them now with toes like box ends, and now with toes like the prows of racing shells. Trousers with a crease were considered plebian; the crease proved that the garment had lain upon a shelf and hence was ready-made. With evening dress, a gentleman wore a tan overcoat, so short that his black coattails hung visible five inches below the overcoat. But after a season or two, he lengthened his overcoat till it touched his heels. And he passed out of his tight trousers into trousers like great bags. In those days, they had time for everything. Time for sleigh rides, and balls, and assemblies, and cotillions, and open house on New Year's, and all-day picnics in the woods, and even that prettiest of all vanished customs: the serenade. Of a summer night, young men would bring an orchestra under a pretty girl's window, and flute, harp, fiddle, cello, cornet, bass viol, would presently release their melodies to the dulcet stars. Against so home-spun a background, the magnificence of the Ambersons was as conspicuous as a brass band at a funeral.
-
George: I said, automobiles are a useless nuisance. Never amount to anything but a nuisance. They had no business to be invented.
Agnes Moorehead
Agnes Moorehead (Agnes Moorehead, December 6, 1900-April 30, 1974), was born in England and Ireland, actor
[1]
.
In 1941, starred in his first movie " Citizen Kane "
[1]
. In 1944, starred in the movie "Mrs. Parkington"
[1]
. In 1948, he co-hosted the Oscar awards ceremony with Dick Powell
[1]
. In 1964, co-starred with Joseph Cotten in the movie " Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte "
[1]
.
Early Experience
Agnes Moorehead, formerly known as Agnes Robertson Moorehead, was born near Boston, Ireland. His father, John Henderson Moorehead, was a Presbyterian pastor. Her parents encouraged her to attend church celebrations
.
At the age of three, Agnes sang "The Lord is My Shepherd " on a public stage. Seven years later, she joined the St. Louis City Opera as a dancer and singer for four years. He then studied at Muskingum University in Ohio, and then at the University of Wisconsin System and received a master's degree. Later, he received a doctorate in literature from Bradley University
.
When her family moved to Reedsburg, Wisconsin, where Agnes taught English and drama in public schools for five years. In the meantime, she went to Paris to learn pantomime from Marcel Marceau . In 1928, Agnes Moorehead started studying with Rosalind Russell at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and graduated with honors the following year
.
Performing Experience
In 1923, Agnes Moorehead did his first job as a singer on a radio station in St. Louis
.
In 1937, Agnes Moorehead met and became friends with the actor Orson Welles . Wells soon invited her to join him and Joseph Cotten as a member of the Mercury Theater as a founding member
.
In 1941, Agnes Moorehead starred in his first movie " Citizen Kane "
.
In 1944, Agnes Moorehead starred in the movie "Mrs. Parkington", playing the compassionate Baroness Conti
.
In 1948, Agnes Moorehead played the leading role in the movie " Johnny Belinda " Aunt Agie
.
In 1948, Agnes Moorehead co-hosted the Oscars with Dick Powell , and was the first woman to host the Oscars
.
In 1962, Agnes Moorehead co-starred in the TV series "Prescription Murder" with Joseph Cotten
.
In 1964, Agnes Moorehead starred in the movie " Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte ", playing the loyal housekeeper Velma, co-starring her old friend Joseph Cotten
.
In 1956, Agnes Moorehead participated in the film "Conqueror" directed by Dick Powell and starring John Wayne and Susan Hayward . Other actors and many crew members in the film died of cancer because this film was in The Silver State . It was filmed in the test site where the radioactive fall-out from the atmospheric nuclear test was severe
.
Personal Life
Marriage
On June 5, 1930, Agnes Moorehead married Jack G. Lee, and divorced on June 11, 1952. Soon after separating from her first husband, Agnes adopted her son Sean
.
Agnes Moorehead married Robert Gist on February 14, 1953, and divorced on March 11, 1958
.
Political leanings
Agnes Moorehead is a Republican supporter and Christian conservative
.
Passed away
On February 8, 1960, Agnes Moorehead was awarded the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1719 Vine Street in Hollywood, California
.
On April 30, 1974, Agnes Moorehead died of uterine cancer in Rochester, Minnesota, USA . He was buried in Dutton Memorial Park in Dutton , Ohio
.
Extended Reading
Related articles
The Magnificent Ambersons quotes
