FAMOUS PENNSYLVANIANS

World Renown Figures Like Princess Grace
and Arnold Palmer Have Called Pennsylvania Home
By Kay Jenkins Rew

Pennsylvania may not hold the record for spawning the most celebrities, but it has to rank somewhere near the top. The angelic, operatic voice of Marion Anderson, the classic comedy of The Three Stooge's Larry Fine, as well as the sports world's Tommy Lasorda, all began life in the Keystone State.

Internationally known novelist James A. Michener was a native of Doylestown, PA. Michener, always an avid reader even as a child, grew up and attended school in picturesque Bucks County. He began his career as a social studies teacher, and didn't write his first novel until 1947 (at the age of 40). His first literary effort, Tales of the South Pacific, earned Michener the much coveted Pulitzer Prize. In 1977, he was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Michener's love of literature prompted him to donate over $100 million to various cultural institutions throughout his lifetime. James A. Michener was a prolific writer, authoring 48 books in his 50-year career. The self-proclaimed loner recently passed away at the age of 90 from kidney disease.

Mario Lanza, the charismatic tenor from South Philadelphia, was born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza, but used his mother's maiden name (Maria Lanza) as his stage name. Born at 634-36 Christian Street in 1921, Lanza's good looks quickly made him a Hollywood matinee idol as well as an opera star.

Lanza's voice was often compared to the great Enrico Caruso (who passed away five months before Lanza was born), and in fact, Lanza starred in Caruso's film biography. Fans across the world continue to remember the talented singer/actor who passed away in 1959 from a heart attack at the age of 38.

A 40-foot tall mural of Lanza was recently painted on the corner of Broad and Reed Streets in South Philadelphia. Vacationers can also visit the Mario Lanza Museum at 416 Queen Street (located between 4th and 5th Streets on Christian).

Bad, Bad Leroy Brown singer Jim Croce was born on January 10, 1943 in South Philadelphia. Croce graduated from Villanova University, located on Philadelphia's prestigious Main Line, with a degree in psychology. But before his first hit record, Croce worked as a construction worker, truck driver and special education teacher at a south Philly high school. Sadly, Croce died in a plane crash in Nalchitoches, LA when he was only 30 years old. His music lives on today.

Two of the most famous and beloved Pennsylvania-born actors are Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart.

Princess Grace of Monaco was born on Philadelphia's Main Line. Her Irish father, very active in the community and local politics, owned a construction company. Kelly's mother was the first woman to head the physical education department at the University of Pennsylvania.

Princess Grace attended Temple University (in Philadelphia). Philadelphia's Kelly Drive, running aside the Schuylkill River, was named after Grace Kelly's father. Grace Kelly died when her car went off the roadway in Monaco.

Jimmy Stewart was born May 20, 1908 on Philadelphia Street in Indiana, Pennsylvania, the only son of a hardware store owner. After graduating from Princeton in 1932 with a degree in architecture, Stewart joined the University Players in Falmouth, Massachusetts. By 1935, he landed his first movie role in Murder Man, starring Spencer Tracy. Although he received an Oscar nomination for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, he didn't win the golden award until he appeared in The Philadelphia Story in 1940. Stewart is probably best remembered for his portrayal of George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. The Jimmy Stewart Museum is located in Stewart's hometown.

Page: 11