Entertainment
LEGENDARY AND BELOVED ENTERTAINER TONY BENNETT HAS PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 96
Last Updated on July 11, 2024 by Daily News Staff
NEW YORK /PRNewswire/ — Tony Bennett, born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in Astoria, Queens on August 3rd, 1926, passed away in his hometown of New York City at the age of 96 earlier Friday. The beloved singer, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2016, is survived by his wife, Susan Benedetto, his two sons, Danny and Dae Bennett, his daughters Johanna Bennett and Antonia Bennett , and 9 grandchildren.
Bennett’s unparalleled career history began when he signed with Columbia Records in 1950 and has spanned over 70 years. His last public concert performances were held at Radio City Music Hall on August 3rd and 5th, in celebration of his 95th birthday. Lady Gaga, Bennett’s long-time and most frequent musical collaborator in the last ten years joined Bennett for the sold-out performances. Bennett had his first #1 single in 1951 with “Because of You” and made music industry history by being the oldest performer, twice, to have a #1 album on the Billboard Top 200 Albums at the age of 85 and 88. He has received 20 Grammy awards including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, two Emmy Awards, was named a Kennedy Center Honoree, a Gershwin Prize Honoree and a NEA Jazz Master during his career. He won his last Grammy Award for the collaborative album with Lady Gaga, “LOVE FOR SALE,” which was released in 2021.
Having served as a foot soldier in World War II, and among his experiences during that time was the liberation of a Nazi war camp in Germany, he became a life-long pacifist and humanitarian.
Tony Bennett History
Bennett marched with Dr. Martin Luther King in Selma in 1965 and was a supporter of human rights for all, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, and gender. A life-long visual artist he painted for most of his life and three of his paintings are part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution. With his wife, Susan Benedetto, he founded a non-profit, Exploring the Arts, to provide support and funding for arts education in public high schools and as part of that endeavor founded the New York City public high school, Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, in his hometown in Astoria, Queens.
In later life, when Tony Bennett was asked in interviews how he wanted to be remembered he would often say, “As a nice person.”
Tony Bennett Bio/Historical Timeline:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/eymbytox851v7ycvhlr1n/h?dl=0&rlkey=x6ixezqew68z1vfp12acont27
Tony Bennett Career Overview:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0m4ebvk6ipzh3zoa5a0zm/h?dl=0&rlkey=b77751jw9uecvkssqh544vrxb
LINKS TO TONY BENNETT WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA:
www.tonybennett.com
www.exploringthearts.org
https://www.facebook.com/tonybennett
https://twitter.com/itstonybennett
https://www.instagram.com/itstonybennett/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwo4ZnAcFI-AyDsitZvBRvg
SOURCE Columbia Records
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Entertainment
Hollywood vs. Reality: How LA’s Wilshire Subway Was Really Built
Wilshire Subway: Did LA blast subway tunnels under Wilshire Boulevard? Hollywood says yes — engineers say no. Here’s how Metro safely tunneled beneath Miracle Mile.
When the 1997 disaster film Volcano depicted lava erupting along Wilshire Boulevard and referenced blasting during Red Line subway construction, it delivered gripping cinema — but not accurate engineering.
In reality, Los Angeles Metro did not rely on large-scale blasting to construct subway tunnels beneath Wilshire Boulevard and the Miracle Mile. Instead, engineers used tunnel boring machines (TBMs) specifically to avoid the very risks Hollywood dramatized.
Why Blasting Was Avoided
The Wilshire Corridor sits atop historic oil fields, making methane gas pockets a known and serious concern. A deadly methane explosion near Fairfax Avenue in 1985 led to heightened scrutiny of underground construction in the area. Blasting in such conditions could have caused unpredictable gas releases, ground instability, or damage to surface structures.
As a result, Metro engineers chose pressurized, closed-face tunnel boring machines, which allow for:
Controlled excavation in dense urban environments
Continuous ground support to prevent settlement
Integrated gas detection and ventilation systems
These machines grind slowly through soil and rock while installing precast concrete tunnel linings, creating a sealed, gas-resistant structure as they advance. 
The Real Engineering Feat
Although Volcano took creative liberties for dramatic effect, the true story of tunneling under Wilshire is no less impressive. Advances in TBM technology and methane mitigation ultimately allowed the Metro D Line (formerly the Red Line/Purple Line) to safely pass through one of Los Angeles’ most geologically complex corridors — without explosions, collapsing streets, or cinematic chaos.
Bottom Line
Volcano remains a memorable piece of 1990s disaster cinema, but its portrayal of subway construction is fiction. The real achievement lies in decades of careful planning, modern tunneling technology, and engineering solutions that quietly reshaped Los Angeles beneath its busiest boulevard.
Related Links:
- LA Metro – D Line (Purple Line) Extension Project
- Engineering News-Record: Tunneling Through Gas and Tar in LA
- Los Angeles Times Archive: Methane Risk and Subway Construction
Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story — A Closer Look at the Documentary and Its Uncredited VoiceLink: https://stmdailynews.com/dreambreaker-a-pickleball-story-a-closer-look-at-the-documentary-and-its-uncredited-voice/
Entertainment
Beam Unveils Veo 3.1-Powered AI Platform: Transforming Videos into Playable Games and Interactive Stories
Discover Beam’s new Veo 3.1-powered AI platform, transforming videos into playable mini-games and interactive stories—no coding required. Explore the future of interactive media for creators and storytellers.
Last Updated on December 13, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Play and Create
Interactive Shorts
Beam Unveils Veo 3.1-Powered AI Platform: Transforming Videos into Playable Games and Interactive Stories
Video, Reimagined: From Passive Watching to Active Playing
How It Works: No-Code Creation, Limitless Possibilities
- AI-Generated Media: Instantly create video, images, and music using cutting-edge AI tools.
- Drag-and-Drop Grid Editor: Arrange scenes, add branching choices, and build interactive storylines—all visually, right in your browser.
- Instant Publishing: Share your playable mini-games and interactive shorts to the web with a single click.
Free Early Access for Creators
The Future of Interactive Media
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actors & performers
What Was the Cause of Michael Jackson’s Death?
Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 from acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. Learn what the coroner found, why his death was ruled a homicide, and how Dr. Conrad Murray was held responsible.
What Was the Cause of Michael Jackson’s Death?
On June 25, 2009, the world lost one of its most influential entertainers when Michael Jackson died at the age of 50. The Los Angeles County Coroner determined that Jackson’s death was caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. The powerful anesthetic propofol—administered in a home setting—combined with sedatives created a fatal mix that stopped his breathing.
Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for administering the drugs without proper monitoring or medical safeguards. The ruling underscored the dangers of using hospital-grade anesthesia outside a controlled environment.
Michael Jackson’s passing remains one of the most discussed celebrity deaths in modern history, marking a tragic end to the life of a groundbreaking artist whose music still shapes global culture.
Related Links
- LA Times – Coroner Rules Michael Jackson’s Death a Homicide
- New York Times – Michael Jackson Dies at 50
- CNN – Dr. Conrad Murray Found Guilty
- BBC – Understanding the Drugs Involved in Jackson’s Death
- Biography.com – The Final Days of Michael Jackson
- Rolling Stone – Timeline of the Death Investigation
- NBC News – Why Propofol Is So Dangerous Outside Hospitals
Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story — A Closer Look at the Documentary and Its Uncredited VoiceLink: https://stmdailynews.com/dreambreaker-a-pickleball-story-a-closer-look-at-the-documentary-and-its-uncredited-voice/
