All Star Cast in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “Smokey Robinson” - This Day in History – Dec 12th

Tracy, Hepburn and Poitier deliver high caliber performances in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”

Back in 1967, a movie that discussed an interracial relationship and seeking approval from parents occurred in the groundbreaking movie, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”  

The movie which was directed by Stanley Kramer who according to history.com, “who was known for his “message” films--including Inherit the Wind (about the Scopes “monkey” trial) and Judgment at Nuremberg (about Nazi crimes during World War II)--Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner examines the reactions of the young couple’s various family members and friends to their relationship. Until the landmark 1967 civil-rights case Loving vs. Virginia, which was decided just five months before Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner was released, marriage between blacks and whites was still illegal in parts of America, and Kramer’s film was notable for its willingness to tackle this taboo topic.”

This movie that starred, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn Sidney Poitier and Katherine Houghton (Hepburn’s niece in real life) earned 10 Academy Award nominations but only won two for best Actress for Hepburn and Best Picture.

Smokey Robinson scores a “Miracle” with his first #1 pop hit, “Tears Of A Clown,”

Back in 1970, during Motown Records heyday, its founder Berry Gordy had a friend and gifted songwriter in his ranks, by the name of William, “Smokey” Robinson wrote a song that took him and his back-up singers, “The Miracles,” to their first #1 with the catchy tune, “Tears of a Clown.”

The lyrics discusses a man who was sad when his love one was not with him:

“Now if there's a smile on my face

It's only there trying to fool the public 

But when it comes down to fooling you 

Now honey that's quite a different subject 

But don't let my glad expression 

Give you the wrong impression

Really I'm sad, oh I'm sadder than sad 

You're gone and I'm hurtin' so bad Like a clown

I pretend to be glad Now there's some sad things known to man 

But ain't too much sadder than 

The tears of a clown, when there's no one around”

The Miracles would accompany Smokey on his other songs written by him such as:

“Shop Around”

“You Really Got A Hold On Me”

“I Second That Emotion”

“My Girl”

“Ooo Baby Baby”

“The Tracks of My Tears”

According to azcentral.com,” The great Bob Dylan once referred to Smokey Robinson as "America's greatest living poet.”

According to history.com, “In 1967, Smokey Robinson became the vice president of Motown Records Corporation, a position he held for the next two decades until the company was sold to MCA in 1988.”

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/quottears-of-a-clownquot-gives-smokey-robinson--the-miracles-their-first-1-pop-hit-finally?catId=13