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RSS FeedRemembering Hollywood Legend Elizabeth Taylor??24 March 2011
Photo: APRichard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in 1969 in Monaco Share ThisDiggYahoo! BuzzFacebookdel.icio.usStumbleUponRelated ArticlesElizabeth Taylor, 1932-2011: She Was an Actress and an ActivistTO DOWNLOAD the MP3 of this story, click on the MP3 link in the upper right corner of the page. Double-click any word to find the definition in the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary
DOUG JOHNSON: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.
(MUSIC)
I'm Doug Johnson.
This week, we answer a question about sports terms and play music by blues great Pinetop Perkins, who died Monday.
And we remember another star who died this week: the extraordinary actress and beauty Elizabeth Taylor.
(MUSIC)
Elizabeth Taylor
DOUG JOHNSON: America lost one of its biggest movie stars this week. Elizabeth Taylor died Wednesday in Los Angeles, California. She had been in poor health for many years.
There was no one like Elizabeth Taylor at the height of her fame. She was an extremely beautiful woman. She won two Academy Awards. She also had an interesting and complex private life. Her many loves, her battles with substance abuse and her humanitarian causes kept her name in the news even after she stopped making films.
Katherine Cole takes a look at Elizabeth Taylor’s professional and personal life.
KATHERINE COLE: It started in nineteen forty-four with the movie “National Velvet.” Twelve-year-old Elizabeth Taylor starred as Velvet Brown, a girl in an English country village. She saves a horse and trains him for an important race. Then she rides him to victory.
APElizabeth Taylor in 1944 while filming "National Velvet"
But the real victory was for the young Elizabeth Taylor. Throughout the nineteen forties she played in many movies about families. The nineteen fifty comedy “Father of the Bride” was a major hit. Eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Taylor played the bride.
This was also the year of her first marriage, to Nicky Hilton, of the Hilton Hotels business. But they separated after just nine months.
Elizabeth Taylor married seven more times to six other men. She married actor Richard Burton twice. She had four children by three of her husbands. Her relationships caused her some public image problems, especially her marriage to singer Eddie Fisher. He had been married to Taylor’s best friend and popular actress Debbie Reynolds. Fisher left Reynolds for Taylor in nineteen fifty-nine. The American public was shocked and many were angered by this behavior.
In nineteen fifty-eight she played Maggie in the film version of Tennessee Williams’ play, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Some critics consider it her best movie.
APElizabeth Taylor as "Cleopatra"
She won her first Academy Award for her work in the nineteen sixty film, “Butterfield 8.” She played a sex worker who is involved with a married man. She won another Oscar in nineteen sixty-six for the movie, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Taylor became the highest paid film actress in history. She earned more than one million dollars for her role as “Cleopatra,” in the extraordinary production of the same name, released in nineteen sixty-three.
Elizabeth Taylor made more than sixty movies in all. In the nineteen eighties, she battled drug and alcohol abuse. She entered a medical center for treatment and was very open with the public about it. She also became a leader in the fight against AIDS and HIV. She helped found amFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research. She did this in nineteen eighty-five when many people believed those infected with the disease were immoral.
APElizabeth Taylor at a 1996 AIDS event in front of the US Capitol
The British singer-songwriter Elton John was a good friend of Elizabeth Taylor. He said the world had lost not just a Hollywood giant, but also “an incredible human being.” Elton John said she earned love and respect for speaking out against AIDS when others wanted to bury their heads in the sand.
(MUSIC)
Sports Terms
DOUG JOHNSON: Our question this week comes from the Dominican Republic. Junior Olivares wants us to explain some of the terms used in baseball and basketball.
Baseball is known as America’s “national pastime.” The pitcher throws the ball and the batter tries to hit it on the playing field to get a “base hit.” Then the batter runs to one of the bases, depending on how far he hits the ball. The batter gets a single if he reaches first base safely. A double gets him to second base and a triple gets him to third base. A very good batter may hit the ball out of the playing field and run to all four bases for a “home run.”
A batter can get to first base even if he doesn’t hit the ball. He can “walk” to first base if the pitcher throws four balls that are either too high, too low or too far from the batter. But the batter may also “strike out” if he is unable to hit the ball after three pitches. A base runner may try to “steal” a base by running to the next base while the pitcher is throwing the ball to another player.
A pitcher who is very good may throw a “no hitter” if none of the opposing batters gets a hit. Or the pitcher may even throw a “perfect game” if none of the players from the other team reaches a base.
The game of basketball has different language to describe the action. It all begins with the “tip-off.” It is the first “jump ball” that starts the game. An official throws the ball in the air as a player from each opposing team jumps to gain possession of the ball.
Next the “man-to-man defense” begins. Each defensive player is responsible for guarding one of the opposing team members. A “full court press” happens when the defenders begin guarding the offense in the back court.
Sometimes the pressure is so great that two teammates may join together to guard a single opponent. This is called “double teaming.” It is an illegal defense and may result in a “technical foul.” The opponent may be awarded a “free throw,” a chance to throw the ball into the basket.
If he misses the shot and one his teammates is able to regain control of the ball, it is called an “offensive rebound.” But, the winning team may choose to play a “keepaway game” if the game is close to ending. Players may pass the ball back and forth among themselves until there is no time left and the game ends.
One of the most exciting moves in basketball is the “slam dunk.” Players jump up high and force the ball into the net. The famous former basketball player Michael Jordan is considered to be one of the best “slam dunkers” of all time.
(MUSIC: “Pinetop’s Mambo”/Pinetop Perkins)
Pinetop Perkins
DOUG JOHNSON: Blues pianist Pinetop Perkins died Monday at his home in Austin, Texas. The ninety-seven year old musician was still making great music in his last days. In fact, just last month he won a Grammy Award. Mario Ritter remembers Pinetop Perkins and plays some of his music.
(MUSIC)
MARIO RITTER: The piano player was born Joe Willie Perkins in Mississippi in nineteen thirteen. He lived with his mother and grandmother as a boy. His grandmother was abusive. She finally beat the boy so badly that he left home.
Pinetop Perkins said he started playing guitar when he was ten years old. He taught himself to play by listening to others. Two years later, he started a job repairing pianos and decided to teach himself to play that instrument as well.
(MUSIC: “I Almost Lost My Mind”/Pinetop Perkins)
Perkins began playing music in small clubs and at parties when he was a young man. At one club in Arkansas a woman cut his arm badly with a knife. There was so much damage that Perkins could no longer play guitar. So the piano became his instrument.
Perkins took the name “Pinetop” in honor of an earlier pianist, Clarence “Pinetop” Smith. One of Smith’s songs, “Pinetop Boogie Woogie” is now linked more closely with Pinetop Perkins.
(MUSIC)
In the nineteen forties Pinetop Perkins worked as a band member for two radio programs. One was the famous King Biscuit Time broadcast from Helena, Arkansas.
In the late nineteen sixties, blues great Muddy Waters asked Pinetop Perkins to join his band. The pianist played with Muddy Waters for more than ten years.
In nineteen eighty, Pinetop Perkins and the other Muddy Waters’ band members formed their own group, the Legendary Blues Band. They played Chicago- style blues music.
(MUSIC: “Pinetop’s Blues”/Pinetop Perkins)
The Recording Academy presented Pinetop Perkins with a Lifetime Achievement Award in two thousand five. The Academy honored him with his first Grammy two years later for best traditional blues album. Last month, he won in the same category again. Pinetop Perkins became the oldest performer to receive a Grammy.
Pinetop Perkins told a reporter that performing in his nineties was not the joy it had been when he was younger. But he said he could not stop --- it was all he knew how to do. “I’m just trying to make people happy and make a dollar or two,” he said.
(MUSIC: “Take Your Eyes Off My Woman”/Pinetop Perkins)
I’m Doug Johnson. Our program was written by June Simms and Caty Weaver who was also the producer.
Join us again next week for AMERICAN MOSAIC, VOA’s radio magazine in Special English.
Listen? Email? Print? Comments?Comments (45)25-03-2011wendy(china)
i am sorry to hear that.
25-03-2011Aliyu Kinkilo Shabu(Nasarawa State, Nigeria)May the God Almighty soft the ground for the soul of Elizabeth Taylor
25-03-2011WinsorThe time has come to say good bye to Elizabeth Taylor. Every memory of yours will be remembered. She was 79 years old. Thanks you.
25-03-2011Denis(Croatia)Thanks VOA for story about Elizabeth Taylor
25-03-2011Sergey(Russia)Goodbye Queen.
26-03-2011Ana de Fátim(Brazil)I'm in midly eige and now I decided learn English and this text really had been help me.Thnks voa for stoy about Elizabeth I love her.
26-03-2011Edgar Guariguata(Venezuela)For me she was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, God save the Queen Elizabeth
26-03-2011miran(Korea)I was impressived Perkins's story! Thank you.
26-03-2011nham pham(viet nam)pray for her!
26-03-2011M .Niazi(Afghanistan)I receive a bad news about Taylor that is dead in this week she seventh time marriage she was priceless for Hollywood .
26-03-2011It is really great pity
26-03-2011yoshiko(japan)I would like to watch movies were performed with Elizabeth Taylor as soon as possible!
27-03-2011Long(Vietnam)goodbye the Queen! thanks VOA for great the story!
27-03-2011saul tzompantzi netzahualcoyotl(Mexico)when I was a child she was very famous person, I dont believe in this moment she is died.Tchuss
27-03-2011Seung-soo(Korea)I'm really sorry to hear the death of Elizabeth. Any any rate, I'll never forget her nama and I'd like to pray for her.
27-03-2011Hoang Tha(Vietnam)I am very sad to hear about that
27-03-2011B.Ok(korea)There are three storys and I think a music stroy is the best story among these. I like blues.
27-03-2011Ahmadzai(Afghanistan)i am very glad that, i am one of the VOA news site reader this site is very help us to improve our English so i wish they all continuous like that best of luck VOA NEWS thanks alot
27-03-2011Dm(Russia)How can i download this audio??
27-03-2011Nantenaina(Madagascar)Elisabeth was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. May she rest in peace.
27-03-2011Hwayong Ahn(Korea)I will remember the great star, Elizabeth Taylor forever.
28-03-2011Yuggi(China)Elisabeth is a beautiful woman,her death is a great lose to us. God bless her!!
28-03-2011Abdul Kabir(Afghanistan)Thanks VOA I am really glade that I am one of your reader, Its really helpfully and supporting our to learn English.
28-03-2011Lailuma taheri(kabul)i am very happy that this site is very good i liked
28-03-2011chang(China)It's sad that we forever lose the flower which brings us so much beauty and pleasure.
28-03-2011James Chang(China)It's sad that we forever lose Elizabeth Taylor who once brought us so much beauty and pleasure.
28-03-2011mahantesh s(india)good bye the land queen. God may give another Elizabeth to the green land
28-03-2011Chen gang(China)Thanks VOA,I know about the film star Tailor's story.
28-03-2011fan(china)god bless Tailor
28-03-2011Kiss Elizabeth Taylor.
28-03-2011Zoe Chen(Taiwan)I am sorry to hear about her death. Tylor was a famous superstar, though mostly for the people of earlier generations. Yet she has been part of the good memory for audience all over the world. May she rest in peace!
29-03-2011genxifun(china)Talor was a famous woman, and i am sorry to hear the news that she was died.
29-03-2011Geraldo A. Fassis(Brazil)Elizabeth Taylor was really the Best Actress I'' ve ever seen in my life.I greatly admired her as a movie star.
29-03-2011Khanh Ngoc(Vietnam)I'm so sorry to hear about that. Her life is a legend. Good bye the Queen Elizabeth!
29-03-2011XIAMay she rest in peace
29-03-2011zhongsen wang(china). Tylor was a famous superstar,she have a lot marriage.But she is a great woman
29-03-2011Susumu(Japan)I heard the news that Elizabeth Taylor passed away from my girlfriend. She said Elizabeth got married so many times. We were astonished. Anyway she was such a quite popular actress that we could talk about her.
30-03-2011Nica(Philippines)Thanks VOA..I like Pinetop Perkins story.
30-03-2011gabriela Fassis(Brazil)The world lost one of the greatest movie star of all times.Rest in Peace Elizabeth Taylor.
30-03-2011Trà Giang(Vi?t Nam)Thank you VOA!
30-03-2011Moises Barbosa(Araripe,Ceara, Brazil)I want to thank Voice Of America for report with Elizabeth Taylor. I loved her very much. I saw many films with her.Moises,from Araripe,CE.,Brazil
30-03-2011Maki(Japan)I have two questions when I watched television in my country and of the U.S. Firstly, as I like to watch ABC World News, I'm curious that those anchor woman and correspondents put their hands in their pockets when they stand speaking. In my country Japan, the attitude implies impolite or lazy. When we talk in front of someone both in a television program and in a meeting room, we put hands out of the pockets. What does putting hands in a pocket mean?
01-04-2011Peter(china)thanks the voa for the special stories!
01-04-2011Sin(Taiwan)This is the website that I need! I think it would helps me a lot in improving my listening. :D
03-04-2011leeen(korea)she is very beautiful.
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