Italian American Heritage Month: Don Ameche

Don Ameche (born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was a star of stage, TV, radio and many movies. His father, a bartender, was from the Marche region of Italy.

Some of Ameche's best known movie roles were in "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "In Old Chicago," "The Story of Alexander Graham Bell," "Heaven Can Wait," "Trading Places," and "Cocoon," for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

On the radio, he famously starring alongside Frances Langford in "The Bickersons." He had a distinctive, cultured voice.

In the classic film "Trading Places," Ameche worked with fellow Golden Age actor Ralph Bellamy. He notably asked the entire crew and cast to bear with him as he tried to get one particular scene correct on the first take; it was a scene in which he had to use the "f word," which he did not want to do more than once. Well, he nailed it on the first try.

On Broadway, he starred in the musical "Henry, Sweet Henry" among other roles.

Late in his career he appeared on an episode of the TV series "The Golden Girls," in which he played the father of Rose (Betty White).

Ameche was Old School Hollywood and is fondly remembered to this day.

Just In Case You Were Wondering . . .

 

The Numbers, Like We've Been Saying . . .

CNN: Republicans have the Party ID advantage in the key Senate races and majority of voters think democrats are too left wing Party ID: 🔴 GOP +3 Dem Party To left wing: 🔵 52% https://t.co/Xqtv7YDl9z

— OSZ (@OpenSourceZone) October 12, 2026

From The President Of The United States

THIS Is Why We Observe COLUMBUS DAY

 

Today is Columbus Day, an official federal holiday. And this is one of the few years where this Monday holiday is also the actual birthday (October 12) of Christopher Columbus, who many people regard as the first Italian American. To which we would add, this is Italian American Heritage Month. So, now, more than ever, it's important to know why we celebrate Columbus Day:

• Columbus Day recognizes the achievements of a great Renaissance explorer who founded the first permanent European settlement in the New World. The arrival of Columbus in 1492 marks the beginning of recorded history in America.

• Columbus Day celebrates the beginning of cultural exchange between America and Europe. After Columbus, came millions of European immigrants who brought their art, music, science, medicine, philosophy and religious principles to America. These contributions have helped shape the United States and include Greek democracy, Roman law, Judeo-Christian ethics and the tenet that all men are created equal.

• Columbus Day is one of America s oldest holidays. The tradition of observing Columbus Day dates back to the 18th century. It was first celebrated on October 12, 1792, when the New York Society of Tammany honored Columbus on the 300th anniversary of his first voyage.

• Columbus Day is a patriotic holiday. In fact, the Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 in honor of the 400th anniversary of his first voyage. That year, President Benjamin Harrison declared Columbus Day a legal holiday.

• The United States has long admired Columbus. America has more monuments to Columbus than any nation in the world, according to the Christopher Columbus Encyclopedia. These include a Columbus statue in Providence, R.I., cast by Frederic Auguste Bertholdi, who created the Statue of Liberty, and one in New York City, created by one of the six Italian American brothers who carved the Lincoln Memorial.

• The United States has a significant collection of Columbus memorabilia, including his desk, papers, and the cross he used to claim the New World for Spain. These are in the Columbus Chapel in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.

• In 1971 Columbus Day became a federal holiday in all 50 states after Congress passed a law declaring the second Monday in October Columbus Day.

• Columbus Day also commemorates the arrival on these shores of more than 5 million Italians more than a century ago. Today, their hugely accomplished children and grandchildren (now numbering more than 18 million) constitute the nation's s fifth largest ethnic group, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

• Columbus Day is the only day on which the nation recognizes the heritage of Italian Americans.

Prepared by: The Order Sons of Italy in America in Washington, D.C.

A New Low For The Philadelphia Inquirer . . .

 

35 Years Ago Today: A Profile In Courage!

Most men need a lifetime for their defining moment and many never have one. 35 years ago today, Clarence Thomas needed 3 minutes. I’ve watched this 1000 times and every time still feels like the first. The dishonesty, the media, and the early machinery of lawfare. He saw it all. https://t.co/XT6RKv12oe

— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) October 11, 2026

On The Eve Of A Momentous Day!

 

Every Now and Then SNL Hits The Target . . .

Upfront Heating & Air Conditioning https://t.co/pTWQuIhi1d

— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) October 11, 2026

Senate Candidate Talarico: What REALLY Happened?

Shame on the media covering this race. And shame on the Talarico staffers who covered up this lie.

— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) October 11, 2026