- Sunday, January 8, 2012

Jackson’s children to make impression at Grauman’s

Michael Jackson’s three children will sink their father’s shoes and sequined glove into the cement outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, a storied Hollywood cinema and tourist site, organizers said Thursday.

According to Agence France-Presse, in a rare public appearance, Prince, Paris and Blanket will make their late father’s mark in the cement outside the theater on Jan. 26.

The entrance to the historic cinema on Hollywood Boulevard is a major tourist attraction, with hand and footprints of movie stars and filmmakers from over the decades.

The vast majority of those with prints at Grauman’s - including icons such as Fred Astaire, Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Sidney Poitier and Clark Gable - are from the movie world.

The Jackson Estate, which manages the late star’s affairs, pointed out that the King of Pop was responsible for such ground-breaking short films as “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and the classic “Thriller.”

Duchess of Cambridge becomes charities’ patron

She’s married into the royal family, and now the former Kate Middleton is moving to define her new role by choosing the charities she will support.

According to the Associated Press, the Duchess of Cambridge has accepted honorary positions with charities that deal with a range of issues, including tackling drug addiction and helping young people, St. James’s Palace said Thursday.

The palace said the positions reflect her “personal interests in the arts, the promotion of outdoor activity and supporting people who are in need of all ages, especially young children.”

The royal, who married Prince William in a gala ceremony last year, became a patron of Action on Addiction and the National Portrait Gallery. She also has become a royal patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices and the Art Room, and a volunteer with the Scout Association.

Patronage raises the profile of the charities the royals support - bringing attention to their causes. It also is considered important to the members of the royal family, because their support shows their commitment to worthy causes.

“The duchess has chosen to support organizations that complement the charitable work already undertaken by her husband,” the palace said in a statement.

The late Princess Diana, mother to Prince William, was active in supporting numerous charities, and worked with organizations to help AIDS patients and remove land mines from conflict zones.

The duchess is already a patron of the charitable foundation Prince William founded with his brother, Prince Harry.

Fleetwood Mac ex-guitarist found dead in London home

Bob Weston, a British guitarist who played with Fleetwood Mac, has died at age 64.

Police said Weston’s body was found in his north London home Tuesday after neighbors raised the alarm, the Associated Press reports.

Police said Friday that his death was not being treated as suspicious. An autopsy revealed the causes of death as gastric intestinal hemorrhage, cirrhosis of the liver and throat problems.

Weston joined Fleetwood Mac in 1972 as replacement for Danny Kirwan, and played on the band’s albums “Penguin” and “Mystery to Me.”

During an American tour the next year, Mick Fleetwood discovered Weston was having an affair with his wife, Jenny Boyd. Weston was fired.

He released several solo albums and recorded with musicians including Long John Baldry, Murray Head and Steve Marriott.

Drew Barrymore to take third trip down the aisle

Drew Barrymore is engaged to art consultant Will Kopelman.

Ms. Barrymore’s publicist confirmed the engagement Friday, the Associated Press reports. The couple reportedly were engaged over the holidays in Sun Valley, Idaho. It will be the actress’ third marriage.

Us Weekly first reported the engagement. A photo of the pair, in which Ms. Barrymore sports a 4-carat diamond ring, was released to People magazine.

The 36-year-old Ms. Barrymore was briefly married to Jeremy Thomas in 1994 and to comedian Tom Green in 2001.

Mr. Kopelman is the son of former Chanel CEO Arie Kopelman.

Comic-Con co-founder dies of pancreatic cancer

Richard Alf, one of the co-founders of San Diego’s Comic-Con, has died from pancreatic cancer at age 59.

U-T San Diego reported that Alf joined up with a band of volunteers in 1970 to help start the now-annual convention celebrating comic books and pop culture.

Friend and fellow Comic-Con co-founder Mike Towry said Alf fronted the money to pay for the convention for the first three years and gave other co-founders rides in his car.

In 1970, the first Comic-Con was relatively modest compared to the convention that now draws more than 125,000 people to San Diego every summer for a three-day extravaganza.

Alf also founded the Comic Kingdom shop in North Park in the 1970s.

He was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in December.

Compiled from Web and wire service reports.

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