Elizabeth Taylor

She was, of course, an extremely talented actress.

Yet my heavens she was beautiful...

(Photo:  CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)

Songwriter Hugh Martin

The composer and lyricist Hugh Martin passed away on Friday, at 96.  Two of the standards for which he remains well-known are the wonderful "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "The Trolley Song," both from the 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis.

Here, from the film, is Judy Garland singing "The Trolley Song," with choral accompaniment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0odXnKhKBxQ

Here, as well, are two stories about Hugh Martin:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/hugh-martin-composer-of-trolley-song-and-holiday-classic-dies-at-96-/2011/03/12/AB0F7SS_story.html

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/148728-Hugh-Martin-Composer-of-Meet-Me-in-St-Louis-Dies-at-96

Upcoming books, by Martin Grams, Jr. and Laura Wagner

A book by Martin Grams, Jr. (about whom I've written previously in this space), is being published in the next few weeks;  the book is about the radio program The Shadow.  Information about it can be found at the following links:

http://oldtimeradiotapes.homestead.com/Shadow.html

http://www.amazon.com/SHADOW-History-Mystery-Radio-Program/dp/0982531117/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299870830&sr=1-1

And a book about Anne Francis, by author Laura Wagner, will be appearing at the end of May:

http://www.amazon.com/Anne-Francis-Career-Laura-Wagner/dp/0786463651/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299567513&sr=1-1

http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-6365-7