Elvis Presley’s first recording ever made has sold at a Graceland auction for $300,000. An unnamed buyer placed the winning bid online for the 78 rpm recording of My Happiness, the first time it has come up for public sale. The auction was held at Elvis Presley’s former home Graceland on what would have been… Continue reading Elvis first recording sells for $300,000 at Graceland auction
Category: Entertainment
Books, movies, music
Jyllands-Posten stops printing Prophet Mohammad cartoons
Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten has announced that it will not republish Charlie Hebdo‘s cartoons due to security concerns. Jyllands-Posten already angered Muslims by publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad 10 years ago. The magazine is the only major Danish newspaper not to do so. “It shows that violence works,” Jyllands-Posten stated in its editorial on January… Continue reading Jyllands-Posten stops printing Prophet Mohammad cartoons
Jaycee Chan jailed for six months in China
Jackie Chan’s son, Jaycee, has been jailed in China for six months for a drug offence. Jaycee Chan, 32, pleaded guilty in Beijing’s Dongcheng District Court to “sheltering others to use drugs”. Police raided his home in August and found more than 100g of marijuana. He faced a maximum sentence of three years. Jaycee Chan’s… Continue reading Jaycee Chan jailed for six months in China
Rod Taylor dies in Los Angeles at 84
Movie legend Rod Taylor, who starred in The Time Machine and Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller The Birds, has died aged 84, according to reports in the US. The Australian actor, who lived in the US, is said to have died from natural causes at his home in Los Angeles after a dinner party. Rod Taylor came… Continue reading Rod Taylor dies in Los Angeles at 84
Charlie Hebdo to print 1 million copies next week
Charlie Hebdo will go to print next week, in defiance of yesterday’s apparent militant Islamist attack. Ten journalists at the French satirical magazine and two police officers were killed when masked attackers opened fire at its Paris headquarters. Columnist Patrick Pelloux said the decision to continue to publish will show that “stupidity will not win”.… Continue reading Charlie Hebdo to print 1 million copies next week
WGA Nominations 2015: Full List
Writers Guild Awards 2015 winners will be honored February 14 at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York. Full list of nominees: ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Boyhood Written by Richard Linklater; IFC Films Foxcatcher Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman; Sony Pictures Classics The Grand Budapest Hotel Screenplay by Wes Anderson; Story by Wes… Continue reading WGA Nominations 2015: Full List
Coachella 2015: Drake, AC/DC and John White to headline festival
Coachella festival announced the full lineup for 2015 which includes Drake, AC/DC and Jack White. The California festival made the announcement on Twitter, with more than 16,000 retweets in an hour. David Guetta, Interpol and Florence and the Machine will also play over two weekends in Indio in April. Acts like Tame Impala, Steely Dan… Continue reading Coachella 2015: Drake, AC/DC and John White to headline festival
Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine sued by Monster CEO Noel Lee over Beats headphones
Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine are being sued by Noel Lee, a former business partner who co-designed their Beats headphone range. Noel Lee, whose firm Monster helped launch Beats by Dr Dre in 2008, says his company was betrayed and its technology “pirated”. He alleges he “lost millions” after Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine “improperly… Continue reading Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine sued by Monster CEO Noel Lee over Beats headphones
The Interview to be released in UK and Ireland
The Interview will have “a wide release” in the UK and Ireland, Sony Pictures has confirmed. The controversial North Korea comedy, which presents a fictional plot to kill Kim Jong-un, will be shown, in theaters only, from February 6. Sony Pictures had withdrawn The Interview in the wake of a damaging studio cyber-attack, only to… Continue reading The Interview to be released in UK and Ireland
Kan Bonfils dies during theater rehearsal at 42
Actor Kan Bonfils, who appeared in James Bond films and as a Jedi master in the Star Wars franchise, has collapsed and died during a theater rehearsal. Kan Bonfils, 42, was rehearsing for Dante’s Inferno, which was due to open at The Rag Factory in London this week. Members of the production’s Craft Theatre company… Continue reading Kan Bonfils dies during theater rehearsal at 42
Dustin Diamond ordered to go on trial over Christmas Day stabbing
Saved by the Bell actor Dustin Diamond has been ordered to go on trial over the stabbing of a man at a bar on Christmas Day. Dustin Diamond, 37, is charged with felony reckless endangerment and two misdemeanors. His lawyer, Thomas Alberti, said there were no witnesses who said they saw Dustin Diamond stab the… Continue reading Dustin Diamond ordered to go on trial over Christmas Day stabbing
Joey Bada$$ charged with assault after punching security guard in Australia
An Australian court has charged Brooklyn rapper Joey Badass with assault after allegedly punching a security guard before a show near Byron Bay on January 2. According to a police statement, Joey Badass, 19, was walking towards the stage at The Falls Music and Arts Festival when he was asked to prove his identity. Joey… Continue reading Joey Bada$$ charged with assault after punching security guard in Australia
Stephen Fry and Elliot Spencer to marry in Norfolk
The Hobbit’s Stephen Fry has confirmed he is to marry his partner, Elliott Spencer. The 57-year-old comedian and writer Stephen Fry has given formal notice to wed Elliott Spencer, 27, at a register office in Norfolk, the UK, near where he grew up. Writing on Twitter after The Sun newspaper revealed the marriage plans, Stephen… Continue reading Stephen Fry and Elliot Spencer to marry in Norfolk
China box office made $4.8 billion in 2014
The Chinese box office made a total of 29.9 billion yuan ($4.8 billion) in 2014, a 36% increase vs. 2013. For the second year in a row, domestic productions beat Hollywood offerings, taking a 55% share of the market. That was despite the fact import quotas were expanded in 2012 to allow more Hollywood imports,… Continue reading China box office made $4.8 billion in 2014
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies tops North American box office for third week
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies has topped the North American box office for a third week in a row. The final film in Peter Jackson’s series took $21.9 million according to early studio estimates. Disney’s new release, the musical Into the Woods, was at number two with $19.1 million in its second… Continue reading The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies tops North American box office for third week
The Interview: North Korea attacks new US sanctions
North Korea has attacked new US sanctions in response to a major cyber-attack against Sony Pictures. The US placed sanctions on three North Korean organizations and 10 individuals after the FBI blamed Pyongyang for the cyber-attack. North Korea praised the attack on Sony but denied any involvement in it. It came as Sony Pictures was… Continue reading The Interview: North Korea attacks new US sanctions
Little Jimmy Dickens dies of cardiac arrest at 94
Country legend Little Jimmy Dickens has died aged 94. Jimmy Dickens’ spokeswoman Jessie Schmidt said the singer died on January 2 of cardiac arrest after suffering a stroke on Christmas Day. His novelty songs, including May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose, earned him a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame… Continue reading Little Jimmy Dickens dies of cardiac arrest at 94
Donna Douglas dies at the age of 81
The Beverly Hillbillies star Donna Douglas has died at the age of 81, according to a report by CBS affiliate WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. According to WAFB, Donna Douglas died on January 2 at her home in Zachary, Louisiana. Donna Douglas starred as Elly May Clampett, the naive only daughter of oil-rich Clampett clan,… Continue reading Donna Douglas dies at the age of 81
The Interview: US imposes new sanctions on North Korea in response to Sony attack
On January 2, 2015, the White House has announced new sanctions on North Korea in response to a cyber-attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment. President Barack Obama signed an executive order allowing sanctions on three North Korean organizations and 10 individuals. The White House said the move was a response to North Korea’s “provocative, destabilizing, and… Continue reading The Interview: US imposes new sanctions on North Korea in response to Sony attack
Elvis Presley’s private jets Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II going up for auction
Elvis Presley’s private jets – the Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II – are going up for auction. The Lisa Marie, named after his daughter, was bought by Elvis Presley in 1975 and refurbished to include a master suite with full-size bed and conference room. Neither plane is airworthy but has been on display at… Continue reading Elvis Presley’s private jets Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II going up for auction
Edward Herrmann dies from brain cancer at 71
Gilmore Girls’ Edward Herrmann has died at the age of 71. The 6ft 5in star had been diagnosed with brain cancer and was in intensive care in New York before his death on December 31. Edward Herrmann’s son Rory said in a statement: “He was full of knowledge and kindness and goodness. “He always wanted… Continue reading Edward Herrmann dies from brain cancer at 71
Bono may never play guitar again following bike accident
Bono says he fears that he may never play guitar again following a bike accident in November 2014. The U2 frontman made the comment in his A to Z of 2014, published on the band’s website. Bono broke his arm in six places and fractured his eye socket, hand and shoulder blade in what he… Continue reading Bono may never play guitar again following bike accident
Christine Cavanaugh dies aged 51
Cartoon voice Christine Cavanaugh, who brought to life characters including Babe and Chuckie on Nickelodeon cartoon Rugrats, has died aged 51. Christine Cavanaugh’s sister, Deionn Masock, confirmed the actress had died on December 22 at her home in Utah. Deionn Masock said the cause of death was not known. “She was able to do incredible… Continue reading Christine Cavanaugh dies aged 51
Luise Rainer dies of pneumonia aged 104
Oscar-winning star Luise Rainer, who became the first winner of consecutive awards in the 1930s, has died at the age of 104. German-born Luise Rainer was named best actress in 1936 and 1937 – a feat achieved by only five actors in Academy Awards history to date. Luise Rainer’s achievement made her a force in… Continue reading Luise Rainer dies of pneumonia aged 104
Jamie Oliver reveals he turned down Hobbit role
Jamie Oliver has revealed he turned down the chance to appear as a Hobbit in one of Peter Jackson’s big screen blockbusters. The celebrity chef said he had been offered the role in return for flying to New Zealand in 2001 to cook at Peter Jackson’s 50th birthday celebrations. “I really wanted to do it,”… Continue reading Jamie Oliver reveals he turned down Hobbit role