(Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien)Born: 4/16/1939Birthplace: Hampstead, London, England soulful British singer whose hits included '60s songs “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Wishin' and Hopin…
actressBorn: 1/4/1956Birthplace: Charleston, West Virginia After working as a performance artist in New York City, Magnuson appeared opposite David Bowie in The Hunger (1983). She has also played…
From the Russian countryside to Disneyland by Marcus McGraw and Catherine McNiff Editor's Picks Alpengeist Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA Alpengeist is one of the world's fastest…
(Encyclopedia) Banks, Thomas, 1735–1805, English neoclassical sculptor, studied at the Royal Academy. A traveling scholarship enabled him to study in Rome from 1772 to 1779. In 1781 he went to Russia…
(Encyclopedia) RéjaneRéjanerāzhänˈ [key], 1857–1920, stage name of Gabrielle Réju, French actress. After her first success, in Meilhac's Ma Camarade (1883), she grew in reputation as a comedienne.…
(Encyclopedia) Poissy, Colloquy ofPoissy, Colloquy ofpwäsēˈ [key], 1561, conference of Roman Catholic prelates and Protestant ministers, initiated by Catherine de' Medici and Michel de L'Hôpital in…
(Encyclopedia) Gustavus III, 1746–92, king of Sweden (1771–92), son and successor of Adolphus Frederick. When Gustavus ascended the throne, he found his kingdom torn by civil strife. To the…
