Arts & Entertainment
Essays by speakers in the arts or entertainment professions.
Adams, Julie, 1926-
Actor Julie Adams (also called Julia Adams) describes her decision to pursue acting, and describes the small inner voice that guides her through disappointments, criticism, failures, and success.
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Barrymore, Lionel, 1878-1954
Actor Lionel Barrymore talks about the acting profession and the importance of planning to create a successful career and role and how any success in one’s life is based on the same principle of goal setting and planning.
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Bartlett, Florence Dibell, 1882-1954
Philanthropist and art collector Florence Bartlett describes how her belief in the unity of humanity developed during an encounter with Bedouins in the Sahara desert, and explains her decision to create a museum of folk art, which expresses that bond of unity between peoples.
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Bernstein, Leonard, 1918-1990
Composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein describes his belief in the importance and dignity of individuals, and in the future of America as a leader in science, art, and human progress.
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Bloch, Alexander
Conductor Alexander Bloch describes his parents’ desire for him to start a career in business rather than in music, and his ultimate decision to pursue what he loved.
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Bronowski, Jacob, 1908-1974
Polish-born biologist and dramatist Jacob Bronowski describes his simultaneous introduction to mathematics and the English language, his love that developed for both subjects, and his belief in using one’s mind to find truth.
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Bryan, Julien Hequembourg
Documentary film producer Julien Bryan describes his early religious beliefs and the transformation, as a result of his experiences in WWI and filmaking, that led him to his belief in the common goodness of all people around the world.
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Button, Dick, 1929-
Figure skater Dick Button describes how, during a skating exhibition in Prague in 1948, he was showered with oranges wrapped in messages from the Czech people, messages which underscored his belief in the importance of political freedom.
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Byers, Carl C.
Educator and entertainer Carl Byers describes his beliefs in using intelligent change to create an optimistic future and in living his life in a way that makes others happy to see him come rather than glad to see him go.
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Cantor, Eddie
Comedian and entertainer Eddie Cantor states his beliefs in simple things (such as faith, family, and friends) and describes how giving to others has brought him personal satisfaction and reward.
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Carpenter, Ellen Waller
Ellen Carpenter, musician and wife of composer John Alden Carpenter, describes her belief that prayer works and that the answer to the poverty and problems of the world is a spiritual one.
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Clurman, Harold, 1901-1980
Theater critic and director Harold Clurman describes how difficult the theater field was during the Great Depression, but expresses his love and motivations for being in theater and his desire to serve others.
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Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965
Composer Henry Cowell describes his belief in music as a medium through which a composer may communicate a humanizing philosophy to others, and states his beliefs in the Golden Rule, equality, indvidualism, freedom, and the responsibility to behave ethically in exchange for participation in society.
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Crooks, Richard, 1900-1972
Tenor Richard Crooks recounts the impact that simple encouragement can have on a young singer’s life, and describes his beliefs drawn from choral works: that there is a king whose reign is eternal, that all men are brothers, and that those who seek shall find.
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Davenport, Barbara Dean
Fashion designer Barbarba Davenport states her belief that world peace can be achieved through a shifting of focus towards the oneness (rather than difference) of humanity.
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Davison, Archibald T. (Archibald Thompson), 1883-1961
Archibald Davison, Professor of Music at Harvard University and Director of the Harvard Glee Club, recounts a childhood experience in which he shut the door on a man who had come to the house in search of work, and describes his belief in the importance of weighing his actions and words carefully and avoiding the unnecessary infliction of pain.
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De La Torre, Lillian, 1902-1993
Author, dramatist, and actor Lillian McCue (pseudonym Lillian De La Torre) describes how growing up in a family of seven children shaped her beliefs that she must carry her own weight in the world, that being angry only hurt herself, that it is important to be needed, and that happiness is a habit.
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Drake, Alfred, 1914-1992
Actor and theater director Alfred Drake describes his belief that life is like a tight-rope act he witnessed as a child: that individuals are constantly wavering between good and evil in an upward fight against gravity, but ultimately good will win.
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Duer, Caroline, 1865-1956
Author and artist Caroline Duer describes most of her beliefs through a poem she wrote which emphasizes the value of enjoying simple pleasures, showing kindness and courtesy, working, avoiding excessive caution, meeting obligations, being courageous, showing tolerance, and avoiding regrets, for “the day is dark; it may be fair tomorrow.”
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Earle, Edwin, 1904-1989
Edwin Earle recounts a lesson from a painting instructor at art school and the impact they had on him later in life when coping with his blindness and other adversity.
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Evans, Edith, Dame, 1888-1976
British actor Edith Evans describes how she believes that good is stronger than evil, that following Christ’s command to love God and one’s neighbors will bring about a better world, and that fear of war and social chaos can be answered by relying on the power of good to overcome.
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Fairbanks, Douglas, 1909-2000
Actor Douglas Fairbanks describes his father’s resistance to his acting career, and the difficulties starting his political career and how he overcame obstacles through his determination.
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Farooki, Nazrat
Pakistani painter and teacher Nazrat Farooki recalls her father’s and grandfather’s constant search for knowledge and how she now shares this passion. She also adds why she believes that learning and understanding can lead to peace and security in the world.
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Ferrence, Lillian
Artist Lillian Ferrence describes a moment of spiritual revelation in the sculpture court at the Brooklyn Museum, and her beliefs in God’s tie to beauty, the importance of considering the feelings of others, the use of humor to dispel anxiety, and the brotherhood of humanity.
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Gassner, John, 1903-1967
Theater critic and producer John Gassner describes his abhorrence of dogma and his belief that humanism is the belief system that can enable humanity to make scientific progress without destroying itself.
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Gerschefski, Edwin, 1909-1992
Composer, pianist, and educator Edwin Gerschefski describes how he realized that both his beliefs and compositional style were really the products of other people’s thoughts, and he recounts how he came to discover and listen to his own voice.
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Graham, Martha
Dancer and choreographer Martha Graham describes her belief that individuals learn through practice: just as learning to dance is achieved through difficult yet rewarding discipline, so life is learned through the process of living.
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Greene, Ward, 1892-1956
Dramatist, newspaper editor, and author Ward Greene charts a timeline of faith through an individual’s lifetime (accepting as a child, intense as a young adult, and uncertain in middle age) and describes his beliefs in simple truths such as the Golden Rule.
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Grenfell, Joyce, 1910-1979
Entertainer Joyce Grenfell describes her belief that the Universe and God are inherently good, a belief which gives her faith and tolerance.
Guthrie, Tyrone, Sir, 1900-1971
Theatrical producer Tyrone Guthrie describes his belief that concepts traditionally considered opposites (God vs. the Devil, good vs. evil, success vs. failure, happiness vs. unhappiness) are really points on the same spectrum, and impossible to fully separate.
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Hagen, Uta, 1919-2004
German-born actor Uta Hagen describes her belief that, despite being threatened and blackmailed, she has been true to herself and her beliefs in art and simple acts that bring pleasure to others.
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Harris, Roy, 1898-1979
Composer Roy Harris describes his belief in an intelligent designer, in natural laws, in the limitations of human intelligence and the need for humility, and in the great evil and great good of which humans are capable.
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Hasso, Signe, 1915-2002
Swedish actor Signe Hasso uses the parable of a painter attempting to create his masterpiece to describe her belief in the importance of refraining from judgement since it is impossible to know and understand the complicated events that bring a person to any moment or place in his or her life.
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Hawk, Bob, 1907-1989
Comedian and CBS quiz master Bob Hawk believes in humility and, like Charles Lamb, he likes to do good deeds without taking credit. However, he also describes some of the satisfaction he takes from doing good deeds and posits that a little selfishness is not a bad thing when done for the right reasons, what he calls “selfish humility.”
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Hersholt, Jean, 1886-1956
Danish-born radio actor Jean Hersholt describes his belief that human relationships are “problems of arithmetic”: where there are few people, individuals realize their responsibility to help their neighbors, but in crowded areas, the responsibility is passed along to someone else. He notes that the world would be a better place if people remembered that they were in fact neighbors.
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Hodder, Maximilian
Polish-born filmmaker Maximilian Hodder describes his experiences in prewar Poland, as a prisoner sent to a Siberian concentration camp, and as an immigrant to America, and summarizes his beliefs with the conviction that humanity is more good than evil, that individuals have a right to live the life of their choice, and that he has the responsibility to work to end oppression.
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Hoffman, Elinor Gene
Dramatist Elinor Gene Hoffman describes her belief in what Quakers call the “inner light,” and how that belief led her to give up an unsatisfying career in theater to pursue the “inner light” more fully.
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Hurok, Sol, 1888-1974
Ukrainian-born impresario Sol Hurok recounts his experiences as an immigrant to America, and his vision for a venture that would bring classical artists to a popular audience.
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Jackson, Lee
Painter Lee Jackson describes his love of painting, and how he found encouragement to pursue that love despite lack of recognition or finances in the early days of his career.
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Kenton, Stan
Composer and pianist Stan Kenton is concerned with the development of humanity and he describes the need for growth and change for positive development to progress in all aspects of a person’s life and also explains that everyone participates and contributes something to the development of humanity, and his contributions and own developments are through music.
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Kimball, Maulsby, 1904-1987
Painter and educator Maulsby Kimball, Jr., describes his belief that man is full of potential that has yet to be tapped, and his belief that humans can unlock that potential through art and creative activity.
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King, Robert S.
Television cameraman and author Robert King describes how a youthful desire for an automobile led to several crimes and a stretch in jail; however, the time to reflect and the gift of a jalopy from a friend helped him change his lifestyle, and now he believes in a Supreme Being, the oneness of humanity, and the possibility that a universal language could achieve world peace.
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Kingman, Ruth W.
Choral conductor and social reformer Ruth Kingman describes the religious beliefs of her ancestors, and describes her own belief in college students, who provide her hope for the future.
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Kramer, Stanley
Film producer Stanley Kramer describes how a schoolteacher told him to have “the courage to be unpopular” and how that advice shaped his life and career in Hollywood.
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Krone, Max T. (Max Thomas), 1901-1970
Max Krone, Choral Director and Dean of the University of Southern California’s Institute of the Arts, imagines looking on earth from a great distance and explains how this perspective gives him insight into the fundamental unity of man on earth.
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Kruger, Otto, 1885-1974
Actor Otto Kruger describes his beliefs and faith in God and his consequent transformation, as a result of his beliefs, from a gullible person who enjoyed gossip to a more thoughtful, reasoned debater.
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La Forge, Frank, 1879-1953
Pianist and composer Frank La Forge describes his work and achievements in his career as a musician and pianist and believes in the necessity of acting to the best of one’s ability and faith in God’s support of one’s efforts.
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Linkletter, Art, 1912-2010
Canadian-born entertainer Art Linkletter talks about his experiences in the entertainment industry as a host and announcer and how his focus on his own abilities, limits and performance, as well as his appreciation of people, have contributed to his success.
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Levenson, Harry, 1905-1993
Conductor, violinist, and music teacher Harry Levenson relates his experience as a musician to the struggles of people in the world and explains his belief that doing one’s best and appreciating the individual as a person can guide us towards a peaceful future.
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Lloyd, Frank, 1887-1960
Film producer Frank Lloyd recounts how he met his wife through a series of events, and describes his beliefs that trying to flout God’s rule leads to disappointment and regret and that human beings are created in God’s image with an innate sense of religion and understanding of right and wrong.
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Lyon, P. H. B. (Percy Hugh Beverley), 1893-1986
Educator Hugh Lyon talks about God and man and explains that the noble qualities of man, such as love, valor and heroism, prove that humans must be the children of God, and that God gives life meaning and purpose.
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MacMillan, Ernest, Sir, 1893-1973
Canadian composer and conductor Ernest Macmillan describes the importance of life in the world and its immaterial mystery and how one must find the purpose in life and enjoy it as best as one can in order to glorify God.
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MacNeice, Louis, 1907-1963
Poet and dramatist Louis MacNeice defines beliefs as statements of personal preference, and describes his belief that the world can avoid anarchism because people share many of the same preferences, including the desire to build an orderly society.
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Martin, Mary, 1913-1990
Actor and dancer Mary Martin describes how an Episcopalian minister and a school teacher gave her the encouragement she needed to build integrity and to pursue her dreams of acting, and recounts an experience in which she lost her voice, but found the strength to recover in a matter of days in time for a major performance, despite some doctor’s predictions.
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Massey, Curt
Musician and broadcaster Curt Massey talks about the importance of attending church in his life and the life of his family and how prayer and meditation allow him to better cope with stress in his life.
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McEvoy, J. P. (Joseph Patrick), 1895-1958
Author and cartoonist J. P. McEvoy describes his beliefs that prayer is a two-way communication with God, that philosophers haven’t yet worked out all the mysteries of the universe, that opportunities should be equal for all with rewards based on achievement, that individuals should live for liberty at home as well as die for it abroad, that people should take responsibility for solving their own problems, and that it is better to be kind than to be clever.
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Milliken, William Mathewson, 1889-1978
William Milliken, Director of the Cleveland Museum of Art, describes his grandfather and mother’s legacy of service to others, and his attempts to follow the same philosophy.
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Mitropoulos, Dimitri, 1896-1960
Greek-born conductor Dimitri Mitropolous describes two experiences that led him to his belief that talent and celebrity should be used to help others.
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Moorehead, Agnes, 1906-1974
Actor Agnes Moorehead describes her beliefs in the efficacy of prayer, the joy of self-improvement, the necessity of truth, the challenges of an acting career, and the responsibility of an individual to live an honest life.
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O’Brien, Pat, 1899-1983
Actor Pat O’Brien describes his belief in faith and prayer and the diginity of persons.
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Orbeliani, Irakli
Georgian pianist Irakli Orbelianin talks about deserving happiness and peace through generosity and following the guidance of “The Supreme Being.”
Peters, Rollo
French-born theatrical director Rollo Peters explains his faith and wonder in people as individuals and the influence of friends on people’s lives, recalling his friendship with Edward Gordon Craig.
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Pickles, Wilfred, 1904-1978
Entertainer Wilfred Pickles talks about his faith in the “common man” and that it is the work of these people that make a difference in the world.
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Pons, Lily, 1898-1976
French-born soprano Lily Pons describes how she learned to deal with stage fright, and how an inner voice helped her persevere to become an opera singer.
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Potter, Gillie
British comedian Gillie Potter states his belief in the power of wit and “foolishness” to communicate truth, and describes his belief that his task is to bring merriness back to a modern zeitgeist that is currently devoid of humor.
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Potter, Richard C.
Richard Potter, curator of the Museum of Natural History in Worcester, Massachusetts, discusses his closeness with nature as a child and his belief that there is much to be gained from living close to nature and more children must be raised with an awareness of nature.
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Powell, Dick, 1904-1963
Actor Dick Powell talks of the simple adages that have shaped his views of life and his faith, and describes his desire to pass them on to his children.
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Rank, J. Arthur, 1888-1972
Film producer J. Arthur Rank expresses his faith in God and humanity and the power of faith to transform the world into a peaceful society.
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Resnick, Rose
Educator and pianist Rose Resnick describes her experiences as a blind pianist trying to make a living and the depression she found herself in. At the suggestion of a friend she turned to prayer and describes the transformation this suggestion had on her life.
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Richter, Mischa, 1910-2001
Russian-born cartoonist Mischa Richter describes his youth and early career as an artist and the importance of generosity and humor.
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Rogers, Clyde
Entertainer and singer Clyde Rogers describes his belief that everyone is interrelated and how he came to believe this after struggling with depression, from which he found relief in prayer, God, and a new focus on helping others.
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Rothenstein, John, 1901-1992
Director of the Tate Museum, John Rothenstein describes the path that led him to the Roman Catholic Church as an adolescent and why he continues to be part of the Church.
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Sale, Virginia
Actor Virginia Sale believes that to have a succesful and happy life it is important to do good for others in all things and to do this she tries to remember to act always as one of God’s children.
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Salmon, Richard
Artist and author Richard Salmon ponders the magnitude of the universe and describes his realization that everything is part of God’s plan and how fishing teaches him to make the best of life.
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Schary, Dore
Film producer Dore Schary lists some of the beliefs he has acquired over the course of his life: the importance of family, equality of people, respect for law, democracy, and patriotism. He concludes by describing the importance of wisdom to the past, present, and future of the human race.
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Scott, Peter, 1909-1989
Painter and ornithologist Peter Scott describes his belief in painting and science as a means by which to discover truth, and describes the wide variety of interests that provide him a busy life.
Shankar, Uday, 1900-1977
Indian dancer Uday Shankar describes his belief that his own career path was a result of God’s all-powerful will, and that his talents (and those of others) are God’s creative force manifest through him.
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Strickling, George F. (George Franklin), 1896-1985
Music teacher and composer George Strickling recounts how the rowdiness of a previous regiment of American soldiers in England limited his own freedom to sight-see as a soldier, and describes his belief in good manners.
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Szigeti, Joseph, 1892-1973
Hungarian violinist Joseph Szigeti describes his efforts to avoid being stereotyped and to remain authentic to himself and also describes the obligation one has to work with and help other people.
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Thayer, Eliza Talbott, 1901-1990
Sculptor Eliza Thayer observes how fortunate she has been in life to underscore her beliefs in the importance of love in one’s life and why love assures her of the existence of life after death.
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Trapp, Maria Augusta
Austrian-born singer and author Maria Trapp describes how she and her husband attempted to understand the Gospels’ instructions to “become like little children” and, by observing their own children, came to the conclusion that children live whole-heartedly in the present without worrying about the past or future.
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Tucker, Richard, 1913-1975
Metropolitan Opera tenor and Jewish cantor Richard Tucker describes his belief in honesty and keeping one’s word, and recounts how he strives to teach his son that even so-called “white lies” still hurt the teller of the lie.
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Ustinov, Peter
Actor, dramatist, and radio broadcaster Peter Ustinov describes his belief that organized religion is oppressive, and that doubt, liberalism, the individual, moral courage, and the privacy of the human conscience are all essential to avoid religious oppression.
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Vierheller, George P.
George Vierheller, Director of the St. Louis Zoological Gardens, describes his beliefs in the importance of individual achievement, self-improvement, service to others, family, and friendship.
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Wachner, Barbara
Actor and author Babara Wachner describes her belief that she can “pay in advance” for life’s rewards, that hardships ultimately lead to happiness, and that blessings can be met without fear of loss, because they have already been earned.
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Warren, Fran
Singer Fran Warren describes the start of her career as a professional singer, her belief that people are instinctively nice, her gratitude for her faithful fans, and the responsibility she feels as a celebrity in the public eye.
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Watson, Lucile, 1879-1962
Canadian-born actor Lucile Watson recounts her childhood discovery of the knowledge that she could change herself for the better, and, after successes with simple things such as maintaining her hair and quitting nail-biting, she developed a philosophy for life, including a belief that God was in everything and made everything.
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Wells, Jacqueline, 1914-2001
Actor Julie Bishop (born Jacqueline Wells) describes her belief in the efficacy of prayer, and recounts a childhood experience in which she asked God to help her learn how to ice skate.
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Whitehurst, Bert W.
Engineer and radio dramatist Bert Whitehurst describes how waiting for a spinal fusion surgery brought him to a belief in prayer and released him from the fear of death.
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Whiting, Margaret, 1924-2011
Singer Margaret Whiting describes her belief in the value of human relationships, and recounts an experience in which she had the opportunity to cheer up a veteran who had lost his arms and legs.
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Willson, Meredith, 1902-1984
Composer Meredith Willson remembers his friend Max Terr to explain why one does not need to be famous in order to leave one’s mark on the world.
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Wilson, Steuart
Tenor Steuart Wilson describes the search for truth and why a love for the truth must also be accompanied by the will to act on deeply felt convictions.
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Winston, Helen, 1925-1972
Canadian-born actor Helen Winston describes her experiences of trying to become an actress (working as a waitress in order to study people) and states her beliefs that there is a little bit of godliness in every person, that individuals have a basic impulse towards virtue, and that it is important to value the beauty and love available in the present moment.
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Zanuck, Darryl Francis, 1902-1979
Film producer Daryl Zanuck explains that the virtues he learned in his boyhood in Nebraska, charity and loyalty, are still the fundamental virtues that are most important in his life.
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Ziebarth, E. W. (Elmer William), 1910-
E.W. Ziebarth, broadcaster and Chair of the Speech Department at the University of Minnesota, describes being challenged in high school to write out his beliefs and finds that, years later, his beliefs are just as difficult to pin down; nevertheless, he firmly believes in freedom, the worth and dignity of the individual, and the need to receive generalizations and propaganda with a healthy dose of skepticism.
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Zorach, William, 1889-1966
Lithuanian-born sculptor and painter William Zorach believes that people have had their faith strained and that it is important to get in touch with one’s creative ability to communicate and define one’s feelings in order to progress towards a world of happiness and prosperity.
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