The Mazda MX-5 is a Japanese-American two seater front-engined, rear-wheel drive roadster produced in various engine sizes since 1989, in both soft top and hard top coupe models. The Mazda MX-5 has a top speed in the region of 130 mph and can reach 60 mph from still in about 7.9 seconds. The Mazda MX-5 was developed in California and Tokyo, with the prototype - code named V705 - first driven in Santa Barbara, California in 1985. Since its introduction the Mazda MX-5 has achieved cult status and is the most popular roadster ever created. Research Mazda MX-5
A presidio was a military settlement made by the Spanish in California. They were massive forts, the chief being at Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Diego. That of Los Angeles was the first established, it being begun some time before 1795, but the later forts were of more importance. Regular armed forces were placed in these fortresses, and villages grew up around them. They were primarily intended to protect the religious missions, but the soldiers and friars were in constant collision. The commander of a presidio exercised no little influence in the management of the province. Research Presidio
The abalone is the popular name for various species of the shell-fish of the Haliotidae family. They have a richly coloured shell yielding mother-of-pearl. This sort of Haliotis is also commonly called ear-shell, and in Guernsey the ormer. The abalone shell is found especially at Santa Barbara and other places on the southern Californian coast, and when polished makes a beautiful ornament. The mollusc itself is often eaten, and dried for consumption in China and Japan. Research Abalone
Jenny Geddes is the name tradition gives to a street fruit-seller, who, during the tumult in St Giles' Church, Edinburgh, in July 1637, when the dean attempted to introduce the Episcopalian service-book, threw her stool at his head exclaiming, 'Villain! dost thou say mass at my lug?' (translates as 'Uneducated peasant! Do you preach mass at me?') This tumult led to events which annulled Episcopacy and restored Presbyterianism. The honour of the exploit has been claimed for a Barbara Hamilton, wife of John Mein, merchant in Edinburgh, but Jenny Geddes, the street fruit-seller's claim, has always been the popular one, and a memorial brass was placed in St Giles to her memory. Research Jenny Geddes
Gary Cooper was an American actor. He was born Frank James Cooper in 1901 at Helena, Montana and died in 1961. The son of a Montana state supreme court justice, he received his elementary schooling in England, later attending Wesleyan College, an agricultural school, in Montana and Grinnell College in Iowa. After graduation, he worked briefly as a guide at Yellowstone National Park and began submitting political cartoons to his hometownnewspaper, the Helena Independent. In 1924, Cooper set out for California, hoping to become a cartoonist for a Los Angeles newspaper. Instead he found himself a door-to-door salesman for a photographer and space salesman for theatre curtain advertising. In 1925 he was introduced by friends to Hollywoodcasting directors and began playing cowboy extras in Westerns. During 1925 and early 1926 he appeared briefly in many films, including The Thundering Herd, Wild HorseMesa, The Vanishing American, The Eagle, and The Enchanted Hill. He also played heavies in several two-reelers.
His big break came in 1926, when he was cast as a last-minute replacement for the second lead in Goldwyn's 'The Winning of Barbara Worth', starring Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky. The film was a big box-office hit and it started Cooper on his way to becoming one of Hollywood's all-time great stars. Tall, handsome, and laconic, with a shy smile and a hesitant delivery, he had an immediate appeal to both male and female audiences and steadily moved to the top. In the eyes of millions the world over he came to personify the strong, silent American, a man of action and few words. At first taken lightly by the critics, he received more press coverage for his romantic escapades (with Clara Bow, Lupe Velez, Evelyn Brent, etc.) than for his acting in films. But he soon settled down, married socialite Veronica Balfe, who had briefly appeared in films as Sandra Shaw, and gradually developed a natural aptitude for screen acting. By the mid-30s he was generally accepted as a capable performer.
His physique and nonchalant manner had been effective from the start in romantic and adventure films. Now his slightly awkward mannerisms and delayed reactions also proved to be perfect assets for screen comedy, under the guidance of such directors as Lubitsch and Capra. But above all, he remained most closely identified with his roles as a man of the American West. The diversity of his roles was reflected in two of his Oscar nominations: the 1946 'Mr Deeds Goes to Town', and the 1942 'The Pride of the Yankees'. He won his first Academy Award, as well as the New York Film Critics Award, for the 1941 'Sergeant York'. Cooper received another Oscar in 1952 for High Noon, perhaps his most memorable film, and received a Special Academy Award in the 1960 ceremony, held in April of 1961, for his many memorable screen performances and the international recognition he, as an individual, has gained for the motion picture industry. His close friend, James Stewart, accepted this last award in Cooper's behalf with tears in his eyes. He had just learned, along with a few other Cooper intimates, that the belovedstar was suffering from incurable cancer. On May the 13th, 1961, about one month later, Gary Cooper died at 60. Research Gary Cooper
Sidney Joel James was a South African-born English actor. He was born in 1913 at Natal, South Africa and died in 1976 of a heartattack while appearing in 'The Mating Game' at the Empire Theatre, Sunderland. A former top lady's hairdresser in South Africa, he came to England in 1946 using his army demob money to buy a one-way ticket and went on to appear on television beside Tony Hancock and star in many of the Carry On films, where his dirty laugh made him popular. From 1956 to his death he was having an affair with fellow Carry On film star, Barbara Windsor. Research Sidney James
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