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The son of a lumberman, Tom Mix joined the army as a young man and was an artillery sergeant during the Philippine campaign from 1898 to 1901, though he never saw action. In fact, Mix deserted from the army and carefully kept the facts about his military service a closely guarded secret. About 1903 he was drum major with the Oklahoma Cavalry Band, playing in the St. Louis World's Fair. In 1904 he was a bartender and sheriff/marshal in Dewey, Oklahoma. He was in a series of Wild West shows, such as The Miller Bros. Wild West Show, from 1906-1909; the Widerman show in Amarillo, Texas; with wife Olive Mix in Seattle's Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition; and Will A. Dickey's Circle D Ranch. The latter supplied Selig Pictures with cowboys and Indians for movies and, in 1910, Mix was hired by Selig to provide and handle horses. His first movie was Ranch Life in the Great Southwest (1910). He continued with Selig until 1917, writing and directing as well as acting. He was signed by Fox Films in 1917 and remained with them until 1928, averaging five or so films a year. His popularity eclipsed all other great cowboy stars (Hoot Gibson and even the legendary William S. Hart) of the silent era and he earned--and spent--millions.

In addition to Mix's riding and shooting skills, the films also showcased the talents of his amazing horse, Tony the Horse. Sound and encroaching middle age were not favorable to Mix, and after making a handful of pictures during the sound era he left the film industry after 1935's serial, The Miracle Rider (1935) (a huge hit for lowly Mascot Pictures, grossing over $1 million; Mix earned $40,000), touring with the Sells Floto Circus in 1930 and 1931 and the Tom Mix Circus from 1936 to 1938. While Mix was a great showman, the combination of the Depression and the high overhead of his traveling shows conspired against his success. Mix developed a comical style, emphasizing fast action thrills to a greater extent than had been common in earlier westerns, and he did his own stunts. He was king of the cowboys during the 1920s and remained popular on radio and in comic books for more than a decade after his death. He died in an auto accident in 1940.

Charles Harrelson was born on 23 July 1939 in Huntsville, Texas, USA. He died on 15 March 2007 in Florence, Colorado, USA.

Gianna Maria Canale was born on 12 September 1927 in Reggio di Calabria, Calabria, Italy. She was an actress, known for Clash of Steel (1962), Theodora, Slave Empress (1954) and Dead Woman's Kiss (1949). She was married to Riccardo Freda. She died on 13 February 2009 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Oriana Fallaci was born on 29 June 1929 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy. She was a writer, known for Television Theater (1953), El grito (1968) and Oriana Fallaci intervista Ayatollah Khomeini (1979). She died on 15 September 2006 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Lina Cavalieri was born on 25 December 1874 in Viterbo, Lazio, Italy. She was an actress, known for Manon Lescaut (1914), The Eternal Temptress (1917) and The Two Brides (1919). She was married to Lucien Muratore, Robert W. Chanler, Giovanni Campari and Aleksandr Beriatinskij. She died on 7 February 1944 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Muriel Spark was born on 1 February 1918 in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. She was a writer, known for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), The Driver's Seat (1974) and Teletale (1963). She was married to Sidney Oswald Spark. She died on 13 April 2006 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Carlo Monni was born on 23 October 1943 in Campi Bisenzio, Tuscany, Italy. He was an actor, known for Capri (2006), 10 ragazze (2011) and Treasure Island in Outer Space (1987). He died on 19 May 2013 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Giovanni Boccaccio was born in June 1313 in Certaldo, Florence, Tuscany, Italy. He was a writer, known for The Little Hours (2017), Decameron Nights (1953) and Decameron n° 3 - Le più belle donne del Boccaccio (1972). He died on 21 December 1375 in Certaldo, Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Carlo Collodi was born on 24 November 1826 in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany [now Tuscany, Italy]. He was a writer, known for Pinocchio (2022), Pinocchio (1940) and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022). He died on 26 October 1890 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Under the direction of Vittorio De Sica, Carlo Battisti left a remarkable mark in cinema history as the lead character in Umberto D. (1952), an Italian Neo-Realist classic about an elderly man who wanders through Rome with his dog Flike while trying to survive the Italy of post WWII. He was born on 10 October, 1882 in Trento - then an Austro-Hungary territory that later became part of Italy during the war years.

He wasn't an actor by trade, in fact, he was a Linguistic professor. At the age of 70, De Sica discovered Battisti and chose him for the lead role in Umberto D. (1952), who didn't want a professional actor for the role, wanting to give a more realistic approach to the story just like Rossellini did with his films in the late 1940's. Battisti received excellent reviews and praise from audiences who loved his heart-breaking performance and his memorable scenes with his loyal companion, the cute dog Flike.

After the movie, Battisti never appeared on another movie and returned to teaching until his retirement some years later. He died in 1977, aged 94.

Melvin Purvis was born on 24 October 1903 in Timmonsville, South Carolina, USA. He died on 29 February 1960 in Florence, South Carolina, USA.

Aldo Berti was born on 29 February 1936 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy. He was an actor, known for A Stranger in Town (1967), Born to Kill (1967) and Night of Violence (1965). He died on 26 December 2010 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Born into a time of extreme political upheaveal, Niccolò Machiavelli was a member of the old Florentine nobility. He received a proper humanistic Renaissance education, and as a young man began the climb up the perilous political ladder of Italy. In 1502 he was sent to Romagna as an envoy to Cesare Borgia, the infamous papal prince and despot who would later influence Machiavelli's political philosophy. The return of the Medici dynasty in 1512 resulted in Machiavelli's downfall. He lost his office and was imprisoned and tortured before finally being banished from Florence. It was during his exile that Machiavelli wrote his most famous work, "Il Principe (The Prince)", a handbook of sorts for autocratic rulers. Though his sympathies lay with republicanism, he was first and foremost intensely pragmatic, a quality which did not endear him to later, more idealistic, generations.

Considered on of the best drivers in the history of NASCAR, Cale Yarborough retired from driving after the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup season. During his career, Cale posted 83 NASCAR Winston Cup victories, currently 5th on the all time list. He won his first Daytona 500 in 1968 with the Wood Brothers, but came into his own when he began driving for legendary car owner Junior Johnson. With Johnson, Cale won three straight Winston Cup championships ('76-'78) and his second Daytona 500 ('77). He left the Johnson team in 1981 and drove a limited schedule for the rest of his career. He managed two straight Daytona 500 wins in '83 and '84 (with Harry Ranier) giving him a total of four Daytona 500's, second only to Richard Petty's seven Daytona 500 victori es. In 1987, Cale moved from Ranier Racing to form his own team, which he still owns today.

Jay Nefcy was born on 7 March 1948 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was a director and cinematographer, known for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993), The Truman Show (1998) and Love & Other Drugs (2010). He died on 8 December 2022 in Florence, Oregon, USA.

Robert Hanssen was born on 18 April 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was married to Bernadette Wauck. He died on 5 June 2023 in Florence, Colorado, USA.

This colorful diva of the Metropolitan Opera was one of several who jumped on the operatic bandwagon during the 1930s to achieve film stardom. Following her prima donna peers Jeanette MacDonald, Lily Pons and Grace Moore to the silver screen, Gladys' turnout would be meager and a major disappointment. Born in Deepwater, Missouri, an Ozark mining town, in 1900 (some sources give the years 1898 and even 1904), Gladys was schooled in Kansas City. A delicate and sickly child, her singing talents were robust, however, and she showed great promise at an early age. A local church soloist by age 13, she attended the Bush Conservatory of Music in Chicago where she received a Doctorate of Music in 1923. She joined the Chicago Civic Opera Company the following year where she learned over 22 roles. Training and performing in Europe in the late 20s, she made her Metropolitan debut in 1929 with "La Gioconda". As one of the Met's finest mezzos, her vast repertoire (25 in all) would include "Norma", "Peter Ibbetson", "La Forza del Destino", "Mignon" and, notably, "Carmen", which would become her signature role. While MGM had a lucrative commodity in MacDonald, RKO was busy grooming Pons and Columbia was putting Moore on glossy display. Paramount, in turn, courted and recruited the lovely, brown-eyed Gladys for their operettas. Rather docile and slightly meek in countenance, she nevertheless signed a lucrative deal and her publicity was quite the envy. She made an ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful debut in dual roles with Rose of the Rancho (1936). Not only playing a Spanish senorita, she was handed the role of "Don Carlos", the masked vigilante leader, due to her reputation on the operatic stage for playing "trouser" roles. Opposite John Boles, the film died fairly quickly at the box office. Things did not get better. Give Us This Night (1936) fizzled despite a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and a strong leading man in Polish tenor Jan Kiepura, who managed to outshine her. Champagne Waltz (1937) lacked both fiery songs and an engaging script. The mediocre Romance in the Dark (1938), which paired her again tritely with Boles, top-lined a declining John Barrymore. But it was the dull, non-singing melodrama Ambush (1939) that clinched her final cinematic curtain. Radio, on the other hand, was a superlative medium for Gladys. She was a vibrant guest on a number of programs and had her own show in New York City, singing everything from arias to spirituals to standards. She was named the #1 classical radio singer throughout the war years with sold-out recordings and concert tours to match. It would take something tragic to stop this workhorse diva and that's exactly what happened. Having survived rheumatic fever as a child, she developed life-threatening heart problems in later years and, following major surgery to repair a valve, was forced into retirement by 1957. Her personal life was, thankfully, quite blissful. Her second husband was opera singer Frank Chapman, who gave up his own career to manage hers. In the twilight years, they divided their time between a Connecticut home and a villa in Italy. Chapman died in 1966 and Gladys, who remained childless, died of her heart ailment three years later.

Chiara Moretti was born on 8 August 1955 in Siena, Tuscany, Italy. She was an actress, known for Berlinguer: I Love You (1977), Seeking Asylum (1979) and Sweet Dreams (1981). She died on 17 May 2023 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Roberto Cavalli was born on 15 November 1940 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy. He was a costume designer and writer, known for Pootie Tang (2001), Just Me! and Virgin Territory (2007). He was married to Eva Maria Düringer and Silvana Giannoni. He died on 12 April 2024 in Florence, Italy.

In 1575 Galileo moved to Florence with his parents. He returned to Pisa in 1581 to study mathematics, where he studied until 1585. At the Florentine Accademia del Disegno he became acquainted with the writings of Archimdes and in 1586 constructed a hydrostatic balance. In 1589 he was appointed professor of mathematics at the University of Pisa and in 1592 at the University of Padua. In his precision engineering workshop he developed a proportion compass, found the laws for the string pendulum and derived the fall laws. His daughters Virginia and Livia were born in 1600 and 1601 and his son Vincenzo in 1591 in 1606. Galileo, who was enthusiastic about natural science, excelled in astronomical studies in 1606 following the appearance of a new star. For this purpose, in Padua he further developed a telescope that had been built in Holland, with the help of which he was able to demonstrate the structure of the Milky Way and the surface of the moon.

In January 1610 he discovered the first four moons of Jupiter, which he named "Medicea Sidera" in honor of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo II de' Medici. This discovery was significant because Jupiter's gravitational system led the researcher to gradually develop his theory of the solar-centered planetary system. After Galileo returned to Florence in July 1610, in the same year the Grand Duke of Tuscany appointed him the first mathematician and philosopher in the state for his astronomical research. His astronomical research results, which now also included sunspots and the ring of Saturn, were received by scientific and religious-philosophical experts, sometimes with extreme skepticism and sometimes with enthusiasm. In particular, Galileo came into conflict early on with the discovery of ever new celestial phenomena, particularly with Aristotelian philosophy, which was based on the perfection and immutability of the cosmos.

His scientific findings were initially recognized by the Catholic Church. In 1611, on the occasion of his visit to Pope Paul V, Galileo saw himself accepted into the Roman "Academia dei Lincei" and honored by the papal scholars. However, his research into the solar system led to far-reaching consequences for the religious-philosophical world view of the time: Galileo gained a heliocentric model of the world from this, which was based on the scientific knowledge that the planets revolved around the sun and therefore not the Earth but the sun was the center of the solar system system. In doing so, he demonstrated for the first time through scientific and astronomical observations and research a theory that had been developed and published by Nicholas Copernicus since 1514. As his teaching, which was in clear contradiction to the geocentric worldview of the Bible, became increasingly widespread, the Catholic authorities became increasingly concerned.

In 1615, a Dominican monk denounced Galileo as a heretic at the Congregation of the Sacred Uffizi in Rome, i.e. H. at the Papal Inquisition Court. In 1616, the Inquisition court condemned the Copernican doctrine as an error. Galileo was forbidden from further disseminating it, and Nicholas Copernicus's 1543 treatise was placed on the index of forbidden literature. In the following years, which Galileo Galilei spent in Florence until 1631 and then in nearby Arcetri, he adhered to the commandment imposed on him, but devoted himself increasingly to the refutation of Aristotelian-scholastic physics. During this time, one of his most witty writings, the "Saggiatore" (Tester with the Gold Scales), was written. As a result of the change of pope (Urban VIII), in 1632 he was able to obtain initial ecclesiastical approval to publish another work, the "Dialogue on the two principal world systems, the Ptolemaic and the Copernian". Soon afterwards, however, the Jesuits banned the publication.

In the same year, Galileo was again summoned before the Roman Inquisitorial Court, which sentenced him on June 22, 1633 to renounce the disputed doctrine. The prison sentence imposed on him was converted into banishment by Pope Urban VIII a few months later. The legend is considered historically controversial, according to which Galileo immediately after the forced renunciation said "And it (the earth) moves!" would have insisted on the validity of the Copernican theory of the Earth revolving around the fixed star, the Sun. Galileo spent the following years in exile on his estate in Arcetri near Florence, where he continued the research he had begun earlier in the areas of mechanics, motion and gravity. It was not until 1638 that he achieved a partial relaxation of the banishment sentence so that he could also stay in Florence. In 1634 his dearest daughter Virginia died. Another stroke of fate struck him in the same year t because he became blind and could only continue his work to a limited extent.

Galileo Galilei died on January 8, 1642 at the age of 77 in Arcetri and was buried in Santa Croce, the Church of the Holy Cross, in Florence.

It took the Catholic Church more than a century to recognize the teachings of Copernicus and Galileo in 1757 and to remove their works from the index of banned books. It was only under Pope John Paul II in 1992/93 that she acknowledged the miscarriage of justice that had once been committed with the rehabilitation of both scholars. In recent research, the theory is increasingly being put forward that Galileo was condemned at the time because of his deviation from the Tridentine doctrine of the Eucharist. Galileo and René Descartes founded a new age of scientific teaching through a change in method. He doesn't ask the "why" of a process but rather the "how."

Fiamma Breschi was born on 24 April 1934 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy. She was an actress, known for Desiderio 'e sole (1954) and In amore si pecca in due (1954). She died on 21 November 2015 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Buddy Draper was born on 30 December 1947 in Canon City, Colorado, USA. He was an actor, known for Sundown (2013) and Music of Muscle Shoals (1982). He was married to Jerry. He died on 25 June 2023 in Florence, Colorado, USA.

Songwriter "Don't Go to Strangers"), composer, pianist and teacher, educated at City College of New York (Bachelor of Science), at Teachers College, Columbia University (Master of Arts) and in private music study. At age ten, he won five medals in city-wide piano competitions. He composed college musicals and became a pianist for hotels and night clubs, eventually serving in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He conducted and arranged for a number of singers, and taught private piano lessons and directed church choirs. Joining ASCAP in 1942, his chief musical collaborators included Edward Warren and Sylvia Dee, and his other popular-song and instrumental compositions include "The End of the World", "We Go Well Together", "Wonder When My Baby's Coming Home", "You Never Miss the Water Till the Well Runs Dry", "Take Good Care of Her", "Ring-a-ling-a-lario", and "I'm Coming Back to You".

Gino Bechi was born on 16 October 1913 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy. He was an actor, known for Music on the Run (1943), Come Back to Sorrento (1945) and The Lovers (1946). He died on 2 February 1993 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Franco Ferrara was born on 4 July 1911 in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. He was a composer and actor, known for La Strada (1954), Nights of Cabiria (1957) and The Leopard (1963). He died on 7 September 1985 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.