Born on this day – Robert Shaw:

 

Blues singer

Pianist

Songwriter

August 9, 1908 – May 18, 1985

Born on this day – Dorothy Jordan:

 

Actress

August 9, 1906 – December 7, 1988

Born on this day – P.L. Travers:

Writer

August 9, 1899 – April 23, 1996

Credits:

Books:

About the Sleeping Beauty (1975); Aunt Sass (2014); Essential Modern Classics Collection for Girls (2010); Fox at the Manger (1962); Friend Monkey (1971); Gingerbread Shop (1952); I Go By Sea, I Go By Land (1941); Mary Poppins - the Complete Collection (2013); Mary Poppins (1934); Mary Poppins / Mary Poppins Comes Back (2007); Mary Poppins and the House Next Door (1988); Mary Poppins Comes Back (1935); Mary Poppins From A-Z (1962); Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane (1982); Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane / Mary Poppins and the House Next Door (1999); Mary Poppins in the Kitchen (1975); Mary Poppins in the Park (1935); Mary Poppins Opens the Door (1943); Mary Poppins Vintage Boxed Set (2007); Mr. Wigg's Birthday Party (1952); Stories from Mary Poppins (1952); The Magic Compass (1953); Two Pairs of Shoes (1976); What the Bee Knows (1989).

Movies and television:

Desert Island Discs: Archive 1976-1980 (1977); Diminishing Returns (2018); Hollywood goes to a World Premiere (1964); Hollywood Insider (2021); I riassuntini (2018); Jackanory (1966–1967); Mary Poppins (1964); Mary Poppins Returns (2018); Mary Poppins: From Page to Stage (2009); Saving Mr. Banks (2013); Special Collector's Edition (2014); Studio One (1949); The Cat That Looked at a King (2004); The Culture Show (2013); The Real Mary Poppins (2013).

Born on this day – Florelle:

Opera singer

Soprano

Actress

August 9, 1898 – September 28, 1974

Credits:

Amants et voleurs / Lovers and thieves (1935); Atout coeur (1931); Autour d'une enquête (1931); Blood in the Head (1956); Clodoche / Tramp (1938); Die Herrin von Atlantis (1932); El amor solfeando (1930); Faubourg Montmartre (1931); Gagne ta vie (1931); Gervaise (1956); Gigolette (1937); Gonzague (1923); In theaters tonight (1972); Jim Bougne, boxeur (1923); La dame de chez Maxim's / The lady at Maxim's (1933); La dernière nuit / The Last Night (1933); La femme nue / The naked woman (1932); La marmaille / The kids (1935); La merveilleuse journée / The Wonderful Day (1932); La nuit est à elles, Paris 1919-1939 / The Night Is Them, Paris 1919-1939 (2018); L'affaire de la rue de Lourcine (1923); L'amour chante (1930); L'Atlantide / Atlantis (1932); L'autre (1930); Le fils improvisé / The improvised son (1932); Le grand bluff / The big bluff (1933); Le joker (1930); Le poignard malais (1931); Les anges noirs / Black Angels (1937); Les caves du Majestic / The Majestic cellars (1945); Les deux canards / The Two Ducks (1934); Les dieux s'amusent / The gods have fun (1935); Les Misérables (1934); Les surprises du sleeping / The surprises of sleeping (1933); Liliom (1934); L'Oeil du cyclone / The Eye of the Storm (1992); Ma tante d'Honfleur / My aunt from Honfleur (1931); Mariage à responsabilité limitée / Limited Liability Marriage (1933); Mimosa Bar (1933); Mon coeur incognito (1931); Monsieur, Madame et Bibi / Mr, Mrs. and Bibi (1932); Nuits de Venise (1931); Oasis (1955); Passionnément / Passionately (1932); Sidonie Panache (1934); Sixième étage / Sixth floor (1940); The Crime of Monsieur Lange (1936); The Crime on the Coast (1913); The Mask of Horror (1912); The Mistress of Atlantis (1932); The Threepenny Opera (1931); Trois femmes / Three women (1952); Tumultes / Tumult (1932); Un meurtre a été commis / A murder was committed (1938); Une nuit de noces / A Wedding Night (1935); Vacances (1931).

 

Born on this day – Alice Fleming:

Actress

August 9, 1882 – December 6, 1952

Credits:

A Medal for Benny (1945); California Gold Rush (1946); Cheyenne Wildcat (1944); Colorado Pioneers (1945); Conquest of Cheyenne (1946); Dick Tracy (1937 / 1990); Fired Wife (1943); Great Stagecoach Robbery (1945); Headin' for God's Country (1943); Her Primitive Man (1944); His Greatest Sacrifice (1921); In Society (1944); It's a Pleasure (1945); Keep 'Em Slugging (1943); Lone Texas Ranger (1945); Marshal of Laredo (1945); Marshal of Reno (1944); Moonlight in Vermont (1943); Mystery Broadcast (1943); Overland Mail Robbery (1943); Phantom Lady (1944); Phantom of the Plains (1945); Playmates (1941); Queen of Burlesque (1946); Reckless Age (1944); Saratoga Trunk (1945); Sheriff of Las Vegas (1944); Sheriff of Redwood Valley (1946); Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943); Silas Marner (1922); Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman (1947); State Fair (1945); Storm Over Lisbon (1944); Sun Valley Cyclone (1946); Sunday Dinner for a Soldier (1944); The Affairs of Susan (1945); The Beloved Cheater (1919); The Conquest of Canaan (1921); The Dark Corner (1946); The Dark Horse (1946); The Mantrap (1943); The San Antonio Kid (1944); Three Is a Family (1944); Tucson Raiders (1944); Vigilantes of Dodge City (1944); Wagon Wheels Westward (1945); Who Done It? (1942); Women Men Love (1921); Youth for the Kingdom (1945).

Recommended reading - The Bearded Lady (1955)

 

The Bearded Lady (1955).

by Ross MacDonald.

 

ASIN: B097265SP9
 
Description:
 

In this short story from Ross Macdonald’s The Archer Files, detective Lew Archer stops in town to look in on an old army buddy, an artist, only to find that he has mysteriously disappeared. Seemingly the only clue is a disturbing charcoal sketch of a woman with a thick beard sitting in his studio. As Archer finds himself drawn into the investigation, it soon becomes clear that things are not what they seem. And that no one is above suspicion.

 

A Vintage Short.
 

Mary Roberts Rinehart, on writing:

 

Of one thing the reader can be certain:
the more easily anything reads, the harder it has been to write.

- Mary Roberts Rinehart.