Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Merman, Ethel, 1908–84, American musical comedy star, b. Astoria, N.Y., originally named Ethel Zimmerman. Merman's theater debut was in George and Ira Gershwin's Girl Crazy (1930). Noted for her bra...

(Encyclopedia) Ethel-. For Anglo-Saxon names beginning thus, use Æthel-; e.g., for Ethelbald, see Æthelbald. ...

(Encyclopedia) Robertson, Ethel Richardson: see Richardson, Henry Handel. ...

(Encyclopedia) Smyth, Dame Ethel Mary smīth [key], 1858–1944, English composer, studied at the Leipzig Conservatory. In addition to her many songs and chamber music she wrote operas, including The Wreckers (1906)...

(Encyclopedia) Waters, Ethel, 1896?–1977, African-American singer and actress, b. Chester, Pa. As a singer, she is noted for her sultry, sophisticated, and dramatic version of the blues, evinced in her interpretat...

(Encyclopedia) Rosenberg Case, in U.S. history, a lengthy and controversial espionage case. In 1950, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Julius Rosenberg (1918–53), an electrical engineer who had worked (...

(Encyclopedia) Simsbury, town (1990 pop. 22,023), Hartford co., N Conn.; inc. 1670. Although the town is mainly residential, it produces ordnance, machinery, and chemicals. The Westminster School, the Ethel Walker S...

(Encyclopedia) Barrymore, Anglo-American family of actors. Lionel and Ethel's younger brother, John Barrymore,John Barrymore, 1882–1942, b. Philadelphia, tried his hand at painting and cartooning before turning ...

(Encyclopedia) AARP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan national organization dedicated to “enriching the experience of aging”; membership is open to people age 50 or older. Founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus as Americ...

(Encyclopedia) musicals, earlier known as musical comedies, plays that incorporate music, song, and dance. These elements move with the plot, heightening and commenting on the action. Mixing the sprightly songs and ...