Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Dancers Deborah Riggs Maher and Christine Colby Jacques

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Deborah Riggs Maher (l) began dancing early in life with instruction in tap and ballet, and went on to train at the Anniliesa Von Oettingen School of Ballet.

After attending the prestigious Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, she began studying contemporary/modern dance under Alvin Ailey teachers. Concurrently, she began dancing with Contemporary Dance Theater.

Debbie taught dance at the Cincinnati School of Creative and Performing Arts, and at the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

She met Christine Colby Jacques (r) at the Conservatory, and they danced at Contemporary Dance Theater.

Debbie hold a bachelor's degree, and a Master of Education degree.

Following high school, Christine Colby Jacques (r) toured with Disney on Parade, then became a Radio City Music Hall Rockette. 

She was discovered by Bob Fosse, and he cast her in his original 1978 show 'Dancin'', which ran more than four years on Broadway.

Christine also performed in Fosse's 'Sweet Charity' on Broadway and in the first national tour, and danced in the first national tour of the Broadway show 'Fosse'.

Television and movie credits include, 'A Chorus Line', 'Annie', 'All That Jazz', and 'The Tonight Show'.

Debbie and I have been friends many years; Christine and I served on the local board of directors of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, where she was an exceptional president.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#Dance #Friends


Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Paul Robert Greenlease, Musician

Paul, performing with Elton Dan and the Rocket Band.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@paulgreenlease

@elton_dan 

Monday, May 29, 2023

Print Model

From the archives.

Photographer: Scott Chapin.

Client: HealthNet.

Agent: Exposure. 

Sunday, May 28, 2023

Pink Fire Extinguisher

The pink fire extinguisher suggests a fashion milieu.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Bret Bourquin, Musician

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@bretbfromouterspace  

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Ricky Kidd, Wrongfully Convicted



By a stroke of good fortune, I ran into Ricky Kidd and his lovely family today.

Ricky served 23 years in prison for a double-murder he did not commit. 

With the help of Midwest Innocence Project, two attorneys, two investigators, and fifty law students over 15 years, Ricky's innocence was proven.

Photograph ©Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@rickykiddiar @the.mip #WrongfullyConvicted #Exonerated 

Brad Gaddy, Musician

 


Brad, performing with The Zeros.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@gaddyz

@thezeroskc

Friday, May 26, 2023

Rusty Laffoon, Musician

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

@RustyLaffoon

Freedom Is Not Free

Be a leader this Memorial Day weekend.

While you are with friends and family, offer this tribute: "We honor the sacrifices of fallen service members. We also recognize military veterans who served with them, and all the families." 

Photograph copyright 2023 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

#FreedomIsNotFree #FamiliesServeToo #TheCauseGreaterThanTheRisk #CourageDedicationSelflessness 

John Flynn, Musician

John, performing with Summer Breeze: A Tribute to Yacht Rock.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@summerbreezekc  

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Larry the Cable Guy

Daniel Lawrence Whitney, Larry the Cable Guy, played football in college, and keeps himself in excellent physical condition.

In his luxury suite during a Nebraska football game, he was challenged to an arm-wrestling match by an Army veteran, who was a Nebraska Army National Guard member.

The match ended in less than a minute with the challenger's upper-arm bone (humerus) broken by Whitney.

I confirmed the accuracy of this story.

Photograph © 2009 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

Elton Dan and the Rocket Band

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@elton_dan 

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Kim Osborne, Vocalist

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Kim, performing with GDD Band.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

@kimosborne0606 

Monday, May 22, 2023

Blue

 


Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.


Bottles

 


Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.


Norman Dahlor, Musician

 


Norm, performing with The Elders.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@normandahlor

@theelderskc 

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Antonio Rojas Flor, Musician

Antonio, performing with The Suburbans.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@perrodeterracota

@suburbanskc 

Traffic Cones

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

Saturday, May 20, 2023

Chairs

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

Friday, May 19, 2023

The Fabulous Nicki White: Musician, Singer, Guitarist





#WomenYouShouldKnow

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.  

All rights reserved.

@mamma_nickiwhite 

Chairs

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

Justin Huey: Singer, Guitarist

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

 

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Mike Bozzoli: Musician, Singer, Songwriter

Mike released his new single, "Saturday Night."

Listen, and download it here: "Saturday Night" - Mike Bozzoli 

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@MBBozzoli

Chad Bourquin, Musician

Chad, performing with Big Time Grain Co.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@ChadBourquin

@BigTimeGrainCo 

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Trent Oehlert, Musician

Trent, performing with Way Too Famous.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

 

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Stools

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved. 

National Police Week

New names of fallen police officers are added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial each spring, in conjunction with National Police Week.

Photograph © 2020 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#NationalPoliceWeek 

Monday, May 15, 2023

Ryan Lynch: Lead Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist at The Champagne

Ryan, warming up.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@TheChampagneKC

@brothalyynch 

Shoe Shine Chairs

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

Sunday, May 14, 2023

Mother's Day

 


Explaining the meaning of life, the universe, and everything to her child.

Happy Mother's Day.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Warmest Mother's Day Wishes

 


Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Saturday, May 13, 2023

Sonia Warshawski

 


#WomenYouShouldKnow

At the age of 15, Sonia Warshawski 48689, watched her mother enter the gas chamber doors in the Majdanek Nazi concentration camp.

Sonia survived slave labor and atrocities in Auschwitz-Birkenau and Bergen-Belson, then survived being shot in the chest while the death camp was being liberated.

Happy Mother's Day, Sonia. Stay well. 

48689 is the number tattooed on her arm.

Photograph © 2017 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#CelebratingWomen

Estella Luttrell: Writer, Photographer

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Estella, feeling happy.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#CelebratingWomen

@polaroid_dream_ 

Friday, May 12, 2023

Justin Stancil, Musician

#Mentor

Prior to a performance, Justin Stancil spontaneously took time to chat with children curious about playing a guitar.

This one had never strummed a guitar, another possessed enough experience to ask about technique.

Nice job, Justin.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Larry F. Levenson: Self Portrait

 


Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Rachel Parkin, Musician

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Rachel, performing with JAM: Jackson And Mars.

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#CelebratingWomen

#ParkinThoughts

@JacksonAndMars 

Janie Lincoln-Porter

In 2019, I was photographing an event and met Janie Lincoln-Porter (#WomenYouShouldKnow). That is she next to me.

We talked, and I learned photography was an interest of hers.

Soon after, these images were posted on her Facebook page, and I love them.

Thank you so much. They are a thoughtful gift.








 

Storm Clouds

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

 

Thursday, May 11, 2023

McPherson Guitars

Carbon fiber, offset sound hole.

This beauty belongs to Miguel Antonio.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@McPhersonGuitars

@JustTheMiguel 

Under-Appreciated Service Providers

There are service providers in the entertainment world often not noticed, and under-appreciated.

The driver of the truck asked to show the name on his shirt, rather than his face.

Photograph © 2009 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#EveryoneIsImportant 

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Cathy Runyan-Svacina, The Marble Lady

 


#WomenYouShouldKnow

Cathy Runyan-Svacina let me know that earlier this year she climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, and became the first woman to play marbles at the summit.

This is a follow-up to my post of May 10, 2023, where I described Cathy's accomplishments, and why she is known as The Marble Lady.

I apologize for the omission, Cathy. Perhaps you could slow down a bit so I can keep up.

Photograph © 2010 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#CelebratingWomen

@TheMarbleLady

Cathy Runyan-Svacina, The Marble Lady

#WomenYouShouldKnow

My friend, Cathy Runyan-Svacina, is holding a marble in her hand on the right.

Cathy is The Marble Lady, and known around the world for her marble collection, knowledge, and expertise.

She was the first woman to play in The National Rolley Hole Marbles Championship, and the first woman in The Marble Collectors Society of America to actively study and teach the subject of American Machine-Made Marbles From the Early 1900's through the 1960's.

She authored two books: Knuckles Down!: A Fun Guide to Marble Play, and What Goes Around.

Cathy and her husband donated one of the world's largest, most complete marble collections to the Toy and Miniature Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.

She has worked with nearly a million children and adults, teaching them to play marbles, and traveled to numerous countries.

People magazine, Reminisce magazine, and Woman's World magazine have featured Cathy and her story.

She is also President of Right Brain Publishing.

Photograph © 2009 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#CelebratingWomen

@TheMarbleLady

 

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Plaza Life

Photograph © 2020 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

Mobile Gym

This is a complete gym in a tractor-trailer rig, and it is not an extravagance for celebrities while touring, or on movie locations. The truck follows the celebrities bus.

For entertainers on the road, confined to a bus, bouncing down the highway for day or weeks in a row is arduous.

Physical fitness is a necessity for those wanting to be their best on stage and off, and this makes it most convenient.

Photograph © 2009 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.


Sunday, May 7, 2023

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

 


Bamboo Penny's is honoring Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

See my friend, 'Red', have her create an AAPI-inspired cocktail, then enjoy the traditions and heritage of the Asian community on the patio, where I made this photograph.

A portion of sales will benefit the Thai Cultural Center of Greater Kansas City.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@BambooPennys


Saturday, May 6, 2023

Estella Luttrell

 


#WomenYouShouldKnow  #NeverQuit

At the age of 34, Estella Luttrell lost an eye to cancer - melanoma.

She continues to thrive as a writer, photographer, director, novelist, and screenwriter.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#CelebratingWomen

@Polaroid_Dream_




Friday, May 5, 2023

Miguel Antonio, Musician



Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.  

All rights reserved.

@justthemiguel