Cyd Charisse, 86; dancer starred in movie musicals with Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire

Trained as a ballerina in the Russian tradition, she listed ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and ‘Silk Stockings’ among her many credits.

By Mary Rourke, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

June 17, 2008

Cyd Charisse, who brought sizzle and sophistication to dance in such classic movie musicals as Singin’ in the Rain and Silk Stockings, died today. She was 86. READ MORE

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 Joy blooms on California’s first day of legal gay marriages

 A newly married couple, Joe Alfano, left, and Frank Capley hug in the rotunda

of San Francisco’s City Hall. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times)

By Tami Abdollah, Duke Helfand and Tony Perry
Los Angeles Times Staff Writers

June 17, 2008

More than 1,451 marriages licenses were issued or scheduled to be issued as of 3 p.m. today in California — nearly three times as many as on a typical June day — as gay couples across the state embraced the first opportunity to wed legally in the wake of the state Supreme Court’s rejection of a ban on same-sex marriages, a Times survey found. READ MORE
 

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 George ‘Sulu’ Takei to Marry on Sept. 14

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (June 17) - Star Trek star George Takei is ready to “live long and prosper” with his partner of 21 years.

Takei will marry 54-year-old Brad Altman on September 14th in Los Angeles.

The 71-year-old actor, known for his role as Sulu on the Star Trek sci-fi TV series, was the first to pay $70 for a marriage license in West Hollywood early Tuesday. The marriage license is good for 90 days.

Takei was jubilant, saying “it’s going to be the only day like this in our lives and it is the only day like this in the history of America.”

He told reporters and a swelling crowd outside the West Hollywood city auditorium “may equality live long and prosper.”