Harris M. Lentz – författare

Though professional wrestlers are usually ignored by sportswriters and entertainment reporters alike, the popularity of these gifted athletes and showbiz pros is undeniable. Few fans are concerned with whether the wrestling is "legitimate."From Ace Abbott to Buck Zumhofe, this is the second edition of the first-ever comprehensive compilation of biographical information on professional wrestlers past and present, including major promoters and managers. Each entry is listed under the wrestling name most often used, with cross references to real names and other ring names. The ring name is followed by the grappler's real name, hometown, height and weight, and birth and death dates when available. The biographical data provide the era in which the individual competed, wrestling associations, titles, tag team partners, major bouts and other highlights.

From 1900 through 2000, the Catholic Church has had nine popes. Their terms of office have ranged from over 25 years (Leo XII) to slightly over one month (John Paul I). As the 21st century began, John Paul II was in his 22nd year as head of the church. During the century over 600 cardinals have helped to lead the church. This biographical reference work covers all nine popes and all 641 cardinals. The first section presents the popes in chronological order and provides full biographical information as date and place of birth and death, educational training and background for the priesthood, positions held within the church, and roles in church leadership and various conclaves. In the second section the cardinals are listed alphabetically and much the same biographical information is provided for them. (An appendix gives all the cardinals appointed by John Paul II in 2001.)

The first half of the 20th century was perhaps the most turbulent in history. Two world wars and numerous smaller conflicts resulted in an unprecedented number of changes. Some of the leaders made an indelible mark on their nation and the world; others are scarcely remembered.Nearly 1,200 emperors, kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers, premiers, emirs, and other heads of state or government served from 1900 through 1945, and all are included in this comprehensive reference work. Each biographical profile is packed with data.

More than half the nations that exist today have gained their independence since 1945. During this period over 2,300 individuals have ruled the various nations of the world; this encyclopedia offers insight into the history of individual nations through the lives of their leaders.Outstanding Academic Book

The entertainment world lost many notable talents in 2017, including iconic character actor Harry Dean Stanton, comedians Jerry Lewis and Dick Gregory, country singer Glen Campbell, playwright Sam Shepard and actor-singer Jim Nabors.Obituaries of actors, filmmakers, musicians, producers, dancers, composers, writers, animals and others associated with the performing arts who died in 2017 are included. Date, place and cause of death are provided for each, along with a career recap and a photograph. Filmographies are given for film and television performers.

The entertainment world lost many notable talents in 2018, including movie icon Burt Reynolds, "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin, celebrity chef and food critic Anthony Bourdain, bestselling novelist Anita Shreve and influential Chicago blues artist Otis Rush.Obituaries of actors, filmmakers, musicians, producers, dancers, composers, writers, animals and others associated with the performing arts who died in 2018 are included. Date, place and cause of death are provided for each, along with a career recap and a photograph. Filmographies are given for film and television performers.

The entertainment world lost many notable talents in 2019, including television icon Doris Day, iconic novelist Toni Morrison, groundbreaking director John Singleton, Broadway starlet Carol Channing and lovable Star Wars actor Peter Mayhew. Obituaries of actors, filmmakers, musicians, producers, dancers, composers, writers, animals and others associated with the performing arts who died in 2019 are included in this edition. Date, place and cause of death are provided for each, along with a career recap and a photograph. Filmographies are given for film and television performers.

This is a filmography, in two volumes, of not only all of the English-language movies made during the 1960s that had a U. S. theatrical release but major foreign films exhibited in the United States as well. The following information is provided for each film: year of release, nation of origin if other than the U.S., production or distribution company, black and white or color, running time, genre, production credits, cast and characters, and a brief synopsis. This turbulent decade is unusually interesting in the history of cinema. Those films released in the early part of the decade were similar to those of the 1950s, but as the years passed, the offerings changed in many ways.

Since Hopalong Cassidy and the Lone Ranger blazed their first trails on television in 1949, Westerns have been the genre of choice for 180 series through 1996. Some (Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Maverick, for example) were classics; others, such as 26 Men and Shotgun Slade, were quickly forgotten.From Adventures of Briscoe County, Jr., through Zorro and Son, this comprehensive reference work covers all 180 Western series. Each entry opens with a listing of the broadcast history of the series, including original network, day and time. This is followed by a listing of the regular cast members and a brief premise of the series. The individual episodes are then covered, with the title, original air date, leading guest stars and a brief synopsis given. An exhaustive index completes the work.

This book provides a single source of biographical information for the thousands of individuals who have held high elective and appointive offices in the federal, state, and municipal governments. The first half of the book lists positions in the government with a chronological record of the persons who have held the positions and the duration of their terms of office.Executive branch listings include the presidents, first ladies, vice presidents, cabinet members, deputy and undersecretaries of cabinet departments, directors and administrators of high government agencies, high-ranking military officials, ambassadors, and high-ranking presidential staff and White House aides. In the judiciary, the chief justice of the United States and members of the Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals, and U.S. District Courts are listed. Legislative listings include presidents of the Continental Congresses, speakers of the House of Representatives, presidents pro tempore of the Senate, majority and minority leaders in both houses of Congress, members of Congress, territorial delegates, resident commissioners, governors and lieutenant governors.Next are sections on state and territorial governments (listing governors and lieutenant governors) and city governments (listing mayors of over 150 cities).The second half of the book is a biographical index of individuals found in the earlier sections, listed in alphabetical order. The entries contain dates of birth and death, when known, political party or affiliation, state or states of significance to the officeholder, and listing of offices held.