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West, Nathanael

(Encyclopedia)West, Nathanael, 1903–40, American novelist, whose real name was Nathan Weinstein, b. New York City, grad. Brown Univ., 1924. An innovative, highly original author, West revealed the sterility and g...

Inglewood

(Encyclopedia)Inglewood, city (2020 pop. 107,762), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential and industrial suburb of Los Angeles, in an oil-producing area; founded 18...

Lescaze, William

(Encyclopedia)Lescaze, William lĕskäzˈ [key], 1896–1969, American architect, born and trained in Switzerland. Emigrating to the United States in 1920, Lescaze became influential in introducing the new European...

Karloff, Boris

(Encyclopedia)Karloff, Boris kärˈlôf, –lŏf [key], 1887–1969, Anglo-American actor, b. Dulwich, England; his original name was William Henry Pratt. A distinguished character actor with a superb speaking voic...

Mercer, Johnny

(Encyclopedia)Mercer, Johnny (John Herndon Mercer) mûrˈsər [key], 1909–76, American lyricist and songwriter, b. Savannah, Ga. Mercer, who was one of American popular music's most accomplished wordsmiths, began...

Benton, Thomas Hart, American painter

(Encyclopedia)Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889–1975, American regionalist painter, b. Neosho, Mo.; grandnephew of Sen. Thomas Hart Benton and son of Rep. Maecenas E. Benton. In 1906 and 1907 he attended the Art Institut...

Gable, Clark

(Encyclopedia)Gable, Clark, 1901–60, American film actor, b. Cadiz, Ohio. He began his career in films in 1930 and soon after became a star. He won an Academy Award in 1934 for his brilliant comic performance in ...

Straus, Oscar

(Encyclopedia)Straus, Oscar ôsˈkär shtrous [key], 1870–1954, Austrian composer; studied in Vienna and with Max Bruch in Berlin. After a brief career as conductor he turned entirely to composition. His operas a...

Sedona

(Encyclopedia)Sedona, city (2010 pop. 10,031), Coconino and Yavapai co., N Ariz., 22 mi (35 km) SSW of Flagstaff on Oak Creek in the Coconino National Forest; est. 1902, inc. 1988. Tourism is Sedona's main industry...

Mayer, Louis Burt

(Encyclopedia)Mayer, Louis Burt, 1885–1957, American movie producer, b. Russia. Mayer began (1907) as the operator of a theater in Haverhill, Mass., gradually gaining control of all the theaters in the city. In 1...