Topic: Frank Sinatra

How Elizabeth Taylor invented modern celebrity

Nowadays, all public celebrities have causes. But not before Elizabeth Taylor. With her advocacy for AIDS research, she made taking very public, very controversial stands acceptable.

James Franco and Anne Hathaway: Why are they hosting the Oscars?

James Franco and Anne Hathaway are the youngest to have hosted the Oscars. The choice has people guessing: Why were Franco and Hathaway chosen to host the 83rd annual Academy Awards? And why two hosts?

Frank: The Voice

Biographer James Kaplan succeeds in capturing the fragile ego, contradictory impulses, and immense talent that defined Frank Sinatra.

Why Wayne Newton wants you to visit his Las Vegas home

Wayne Newton is saying he wants to open his home to the public. Why, and what can you see inside?

3 great books for November

When the days get short and the nights grow long, what you need is a great book. I recommend grabbing at least one of these three terrific new releases.

Top Picks: Patrick Stewart, Nat Geo 'Making History,' Rahim AlHaj, and more

Patrick Stewart in new 'MacBeth' film, National Geographic's 'Making History,' Iraqi musician Rahim AlHaj's new CD 'Little Earth,' and more recommendations.

Top Picks: Esperanza Spalding's newest CD, Ken Burns's unseen films, 'City Island' out on DVD, and more recommendations

Esperanza Spalding's new album, 'Chamber Music Society,' three unseen Ken Burns documentaries on pbs.org, adult drama 'City Island' on DVD, and more.

Gay Talese: Writing tips from a master of observation

American author Gay Talese advises budding writers to pursue ideas that don't seem obvious.

Broadway musicals: The new jukebox heroes

Broadway musicals that ground themselves in the songbook of a famous pop artist are energizing the Great White Way.

When does a tennis fan slip over the line into a fanatic?

An avid tennis fan weighs whether his fascination is sliding into delectable obsession.

Twyla Tharp takes a spin once more with Sinatra in 'Come Fly Away'

Twyla Tharp’s new Broadway musical grew out of an early love of Sinatra’s music, introduced to her by her mother.

What will you learn from Kitty Kelley's new Oprah biography?

Excerpts of Kitty Kelley's new biography of Oprah Winfrey are leaking out but some complain that there are few real revelations.

Six Picks: Recommendations from the Monitor staff

'The African Queen' on DVD at last, Jamie Cullum's latest burst of talent on a new CD, a tale of forgiveness on Lifetime, and more.

Which Oscar nominees made political donations, and to whom?

Hollywood has long been intertwined with politics, especially Democratic causes. That holds true for most of the political cash donated by this year's Oscar nominees. A Best Supporting Actor candidate heads the list.

So you've got Google Wave. Now what?

A Google Wave invite may have been a hot eBay commodity, but what do you do with it once you get it?

Who owns an artist's legacy?

Digital media open the door to mash-ups, tributes, and other reinventions.

Soupy Sales, slapstick pioneer

The pie-in-the-face comic Soupy Sales died in New York Thursday.

Soupy Sales -- YouTube remembers

Nobody threw more pies than Soupy Sales.

Empire State Building to glow red on Chinese anniversary

With Google Moon, a chance to play among the stars

How the Beatles Destroyed Rock ‘n’ Roll

A catchy title for an alternative history of American popular music.

The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday

Foreign correspondent Neil MacFarquhar serves up a memoir that is part-journalistic account, part-foreign-policy primer on the Middle East.