Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88.

GOODBYE, DENNIS!

 RIP JAY NORTH (1951-2025)

An important part of my childhood has passed on! Jay North was the star of TV's DENNIS THE MENACE show. We were both the same age and I followed Dennis antics closely, identifying with him in many forms.  Sorry to see you go, Jay! You made my childhood brighter!

Jay North, who played Dennis Mitchell in the original 1959 “Dennis the Menace” TV series, died Sunday after a battle with cancer, his long-time friend Laurie Jacobson confirmed in a social media post. He was 73.  

                           Jay North with cartoonist Hank Ketcham, creator of DENNIS THE MENACE

DENNIS THE MENACE  reunion! (1988)

“Dennis the Menace,” based on Hank Ketcham’s comic strip of the same name, ran for 146 episodes across four seasons. The show followed North’s Dennis “the menace” Mitchell, a young troublemaker who terrorizes his aging neighbor Mr. George Wilson (Joseph Kearns) through a never-ending series of mischievous deeds. Other cast members include Herbert Anderson, Gloria Henry, Billy Booth, Sylvia Field and Gale Gordon.

 

SEAN CONNERY as James Bond.

 Sean Connery would've been 94 years old today. Born in August 25th, 1930, he passed away on 0ctober 31, 2020. I've always been a big fan of all his movies but I choose to remember him today as James Bond 007, one of his most famous roles!

ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!

 

RIP ILLYA KURYAKIN

                                      SAD NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT - 

David McCallum, who starred as Illya Kuryakin alongside Robert Vaughn’s Napoleon Solo in the 1960s hit spy drama “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” and had a supporting role as pathologist Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on the top-rated series “NCIS” decades later, died Monday of natural causes in New York City. He was 90.

                                                  As Ashley-Pitt in THE GREAT ESCAPE

                                                                       Ducky Mallard in NCIS

As Illya Kuryakin with Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo in

                                                         THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

He was in THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD as Judas Iscariot, THE GREAT ESCAPE, SOL MADRID, AROUND THE WORLD UNDER THE SEA, TV's The Invisible Man, Sapphire & Steel TV series, NCIS as Ducky Mallard and many other distinguished roles, but he will always be Illya Kuryakin to me!  - RIP David McCallum -

                          Listen to Hugo Montenegro's recording of the song ILLYA, from the

                                 1965 LP Original Music From The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

                     

REMEMBERING MR. HARDY

 On this date, 66 years ago, the world lost one of its brightest and funniest comedians. 

We remember Oliver Hardy, who, as his plaque declares, was: 

"A GENIUS OF COMEDY. HIS TALENT BROUGHT JOY AND LAUGHTER TO ALL THE WORLD."

Spanish comic strip artist Francisco Ibáñez, creator of "Mortadelo & Filemón", dies aged 87.

Stan Laurel - Born on this day, 133 years ago.

The Day of St. Fernando.

Every May 30th is Saint Fernando's Day which is my namesake.  I used to celebrate it every year until 1973, when my son was born and I realized my Name Day was a pointless celebration, but nonetheless, I always take a moment to pay my respects to my grandfather FERNANDO LLERA MATEOS who passed away on December 9th, 1956, when I was only 5 years old and whom I still remember fondly.

Here are some historical facts about the name Fernando:

Ferdinand III (Spanish: Fernando; 1199/1201 – 30 May 1252), called the Saint (el Santo), was King of Castile from 1217 and King of León from 1230 as well as King of Galicia from 1231.[1] He was the son of Alfonso IX of León and Berenguela of Castile.  Saint Ferdinand is the patron saint of Seville, Aranjuez, San Fernando de Henares, Maspalomas, Pivijay, and of several other localities. He is also the patron of the Spanish Army's Corps of Engineers, and engineers generally.

 St. Fernando III

My grandfather's headstone

Al Jaffee, King of the Mad Magazine Fold-In, Dies at 102

 Al Jaffee, a cartoonist who folded in when the trend in magazine publishing was to fold out, thereby creating one of Mad magazine’s most recognizable and enduring features, died on Monday in Manhattan. He was 102.

The news comes from the Twitter feed of Tom Heintjes, dedicated to Eisner Award winner Hogan's Alley. "I'm very sad to report that the great Al Jaffee has died," the tweet reads. "He had celebrated his 102nd birthday just last month. An incredible legend. RIP to a giant of cartooning." Along with being known for Mad Magazine, Al Jaffee also contributed to Timely Comics and Atlas Comics, which would eventually become the publishing juggernaut Marvel Comics. His longest-running Mad Magazine feature was the Fold-In, which featured a piece of artwork that had to be folded vertically and inward to reveal a new image. 

The First Fold-In appeared in MAD # 86!