Seeger appears on postage stamp
Pete Seeger, the banjoplaying folk singer whose music was indelibly intertwined with his social activism, was honored Thursday as the latest American musician to appear on a U.S. postage stamp.
The forever stamp, which features a colortinted, black-and-white photograph taken in the early 1960s showing Seeger in profile singing and playing his five-string banjo, has gone on sale at post offices nationwide, according to a U.S. Postal Service spokesperson.
“It is an honor to see a photo of my father I’d taken some 60 years ago become this wonderful forever stamp,” his son, Dan Seeger, said in a statement. “My dad did most of his correspondence by hand — written letters — and I can imagine him smiling and of course appreciating this great honor because he relied on the U.S. mail with its simplicity and honesty, knowing that thoughts and ideas can go from the sender over a tremendous expanse to a single receiver and get delivered.”
Seeger, a Harvard dropout who died in 2014 at age 94, wrote or co-wrote “If I Had a Hammer,” “Turn, Turn, Turn,” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone.” He won multiple Grammy Awards, and earned the National Medal of the Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors.
TIFF debuts announced: Steven Spielberg is bringing his highly personal film “The Fabelmans” to the Toronto International Film Festival this fall, organizers said Friday.
It will be the world premiere for the film, which Spielberg has said is based on his early years, and will also mark
the filmmaker’s first time at the festival. The cast includes Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen and Judd Hirsch. “The Fabelmans” is set for a Nov. 11 theatrical release.
In addition, TIFF organizers confirmed Thursday that Harry Styles’ highly anticipated gay love-triangle movie “My Policeman” will have its world premiere at the festival. Based on Bethan Roberts’ 2012 novel of the same name, the romantic drama also stars Emma Corrin and David Dawson. “My Policeman” is set to open in theaters on Oct. 21, and stream on Amazon Prime Video starting
Nov. 4.
The Toronto International Film Festival runs from Sept. 8 to 18.
H.E.R. to star in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ special:
Disney has tapped musician H.E.R. to star as Belle in the upcoming ABC animated and live-action special “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration.”
“I can’t believe I get to be a part of the Beauty and the Beast legacy. The world will see a Black and Filipino Belle!” H.E.R. said in a statement. “I have always wanted to be a Disney princess … It is very surreal, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
This year marks the
30th anniversary of when “Beauty and the Beast” became the first animated film to be nominated for the best picture Oscar. The special is set to air Dec. 15 on ABC and stream on Disney+ the next day.