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What is it with male Gemini’s and guyliner? I don’t follow horoscopes too much but I do see a pattern. June 7th was Dave Navarro & Prince’s birthday. June 9th is Johnny Depp’s birthday. All three look fabulous wearing eyeliner. Does it have something to do with the two sides of a Gemini?

Have you seen how good looking Johnny is dressed in drag? Click here.

Guyliner aside, Johnny Depp is 46 today. Don’t you think he looks great for his age? This doesn’t mean he hasn’t aged at all. If you look back at old photos, say from his 21 Jump Street days, you can see how much he has changed over the years. Like a fine wine Johnny gets better every year.

Many of you know that I suffer with JDOCD, Johnny Depp Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. My site has helped a lot with diminishing my symptoms but just like Rosie O’Donnell had her Tom Cruise, Housewife in Hollywood has her Johnny Depp.

Like most JD enthusiasts I’m looking forward to his latest film Public Enemies coming out July 1st. The hype for this movie started before filming was underway. Fan sites, movie buffs, and local Midwest merchants generated excitement about Michael Mann’s film telling the story of notorious bank robber, John Dillinger. Sites were popping up everywhere about Johnny Depp’s location, current filming status with frontline reports from fans. Videos were all over YouTube showing Depp autographing, shaking hands and giving out hugs.

In honor of JD’s birthday I’ll choose one movie from my Depp collection. Maybe Cry Baby. I can never pick just one Johnny Depp movie, can you?

Today’s The 5 on Friday is all about the year 1970 because my birthday is tomorrow May 16th. I was born in 1970. Yes that means I’m in the last year of my thirties. Do you remember the show Thirty Something?

I’m almost out of my thirty somethings so I’m celebrating this 5 on Friday with 5 Cool Happenings in 1970.

1. Isle of Wight Festival 1970

This musical event in 1970 was the largest of early music festivals. At the time, it was said to be one of the largest human gatherings in the world, surpassing the attendance at Woodstock. With a list of over 50 performers including The Doors, The Moody Blues, The Who, Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix.

Leonard Cohen performed his song “Suzanne”, how convenient was that?

For information about this year’s Isle of Wight Festival click here.

2. M*A*S*H

The movie MASH premiered in 1970. My father was in Vietnam just a few years before. For reasons he’s never fully explained, he didn’t like the movie or the television show. I’ve always been intrigued by the movie because it seemed a bit taboo at our house. Are you a MASH fan?

3. The First Earth Day

“. . . on April 22, 1970, Earth Day was held, one of the most
remarkable happenings in the history of democracy. . . ” -American Heritage Magazine, October 1993

Visit earthday.wilderness.org for more info about Earth Day

4. PBS Begins Broadcasting

I’ve been happily watching PBS since I was a kiddo. With unique programming made possible by viewers like me, such as Sesame Street, The Electric Company, Cyberchase, Arthur, Masterpiece Theater, Nature, Independent Lens, and Tavis Smiley.

In my opinion Tavis Smiley has one of the best interview shows on TV.

5. Big Bird on Time

Speaking of Sesame Street, one of my favorite characters, Big Bird, was on the cover of Time Magazine in October of 1970. Here’s a bit about Big Bird from the man who knows him best Caroll Spinney.

Today we observe, and celebrate the birth of Martin Luther King Jr. He was a legendary man with inspirational dreams of hope and change.

I scoured the internet for just the right photo or video that would capture the ideas that Martin Luther King Jr. stood for. Here’s a video made by 2nd grade students and their teachers at Rice Elementary:

The video above came from a great website called teachertube.com. This site has many resources and lots of fun videos for teachers, students, and anyone who can’t keep up with Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader. Here’s a video about multiplication facts that I just had to post.

If you’re a pop culture or history enthusiast like I am, you’ll appreciate this video made by TeacherTube Member mrallsop:

“I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing-that it was all started by a mouse.”—Walt Disney

Mickey Mouse is 80 today. Ahh to be 80 and still look the same, or even better than you did the day you were born. The only other character who has experienced that in life might be Jack LaLanne.

Check out this retro clip of Michael Landon and friends telling the story of The Birth of Mickey Mouse:

Click me!
 
Happy Birthday Mickey!
 

The best character actor of our century is 45 today.
The man that brought to life characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow, Sweeney Todd, and Edward Scissorhands just to name a few, is also one of the most humble celebrities on the planet.

Recently, while filming Public Enemies in the Midwest he took time to shake hands, hug fans, sign autographs, and take photographs with the locals. This isn’t a rarity for Depp, he does this each time his fans, to whom he has referred as “his boss” gather to greet him. Huge turnouts are present when he’s on location for a film, premiere, or awards ceremony, no matter what country he is in.

He gives time, energy, and personal attention to many charitable groups. In October 2006, Johnny received the Courage to Care award in recognition of his contributions to the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital. The list of his benevolent actions is long, and there are many stories of his generosity on the internet. I don’t know if all those accounts are accurate but I do know that his kindness transcends to people of all ages and conditions. He is not the type of celebrity that calls a press conference, or makes sure photographers are around when he does a good deed. Johnny Depp does most of these things without the mainstream media knowing about them, the buzz comes from the people themselves saying thank you and it’s carried around the globe by his fans on internet forums, blogs, and word of mouth.

Depp is proof that a person can stay true to their ideals while playing the game in Hollywood. He has chosen every character, even helped create many of them, without wavering his creative principles. Many of his devoted fans loved his work even before the world wide phenomena of Captain Jack Sparrow in 2003. They have followed his career since his 21 Jump Street Days, or that first glimpse of Edward Scissorhands on screen. Many of them were able to meet with him in person, shake his hand, take a photo, get an autograph, or just chat awhile after a long days work on the set. Stories of his sincerity with these people are evident whenever they are being told.

I have my own story of being behind the barricades on Hollywood & Highland hoping for a glimpse of Johnny or better yet a few words in my direction, maybe the desired hug photo. It was the premiere of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory in 2005. I brought my old book from 1978 for Johnny Depp to sign. I was one of the lucky fans that day getting his autograph, a smile, and a WOW when I told him how old my book was. That was my golden ticket day.

Seeing him get out of his car, dodging the press, and traffic, running across the street to his fans was amazing to watch. I really do think he gets the idea that without us, he’d be out of a job.

So to help celebrate the birthday of an amazing person I’ll be watching one of my favorite Depp movie’s tonight, Edward Scissorhands. Or maybe, Dead Man, of course Ed Wood might be best, well for now I’ll sing along with Amy Anne to her cool tune named after the man of the day. You can listen to it here at cdbaby.com

Tommy Chong was recently in the news talking about the controversial seizure of one of his latest projects, DVD’s of the film a/k/a Tommy Chong by Josh Gilbert.

According to Wikipedia, federal agents seized over 10,000 copies of Tommy Chong’s documentary, a/k/a Tommy Chong. In a statement released to the press, Tommy Chong stated “It’s (the seizure of the DVDs) a way to punish the distributor financially. There’s no way to get the DVDs back until the investigation is over.” Chong also stated that he has no ownership in the film.

The film was the official selection of the Toronto International Film Festival. You can watch the trailer and purchase DVD’s, and other merchandise at the film’s official website.  

Take a look at Tommy Chong’s classic character, Chong, via this retro trailer to Up In Smoke. This clip is intended for an older audience due to the R movie rating. Thanks to youtube for the video.
You can purchase Up In Smoke the Special Collecter’s Edition on Amazon.com

Happy Birthday Man!