Entertainment News from Athens, Tributes to Greek Artists

Spyros Panagiotis Skouras was a Greek - American motion picture pioneer and film executive who was president of 20th Century Fox from 1942-1962. A rags to riches life story of a shepherd that became the most influential Greek in business, politics and a true patriot. His story is not widely known, take the time to listen how this larger than life man saved three million Greeks from famine and disease during WW2 while at the same time he was making successful Hollywood movies.

This is part 3 of a compilation of Greek songs that have been covered by international artists. Music unites nations, connects people, its the universal language that speaks to our soul!

Part 2 of a compilation of Greek songs that have been covered or adapted by international artists. Music unites nations, Connects people, its the universal language that speaks to our souls!

Irene "Rena" Vlahopoulou 28 July 1917 – 29 July 2004 was a Greek actress and singer. She starred in theatre, musicals, and Greek cinema productions, including The Gambler and The Countess of Corfu. Vlahopoulou was born on the island of Corfu, the fifth of nine children. She was a talented dancer and actress and a qualified mezzo-soprano. Over the course of her fifty-five-year career she appeared in 105 theatrical plays between 1939 and 1994, and twenty-six films between 1951 and 1985. Listen to the podcast and learn more about the Greek female version of Charly Chaplin as she was known.

Aris San was a Greek musician, singer and entrepreneur. He popularized Greek music in Israel in the late 1950's and 60's. Aris led a mysterious life as a non Jewish Greek singer who formed close ties with generals and politicians. He became a megastar, club owner and lover of many movie actresses. He is mostly remembered for the magic he could play with his guitar and his lucid vocal style. His life should be made into a movie, it has all the qualities for a hit musical, drama, thriller. Listen to the podcast and find out more about this eclectic musician who has even a music award named after him in Israel.

Georgia Vassiliadou born 1 January 1897, to a family with ten children. She was a Greek actress that played mainly in comedies of cinema and on stage. Her real name was Georgia Athanasiou, but she changed it to Vassiliadou when she decided to get into singing and acting.  In 1922 she began her studies at the Gennadius School and  in 1923 she appeared in various operas. She worked in major theatrical groups of the time with Kyveli, Marika Kotopouli, Dimitris Myrat, performing various roles. Alekos Sakellarios offered her a role in 1939 in The Girls of the Marriage, which marked the beginning of a second, but better known career - this time as a comedian, the "most beautiful ugly" of Greek cinema, as she was called. Listen to the podcast and find out more about this legendary actress that is still loved and remembered to this day.

Despo Diamantidou born 13 July 1916 in Athens, she was a Greek actress of theater and cinema. She was the granddaughter of engineer Spyridon Kritsilis, who served many times as a Member of Parliament. She spoke four foreign languages (English, French, Italian and Russian), which helped her translate a number of foreign plays. In the spring of 1967, Despo Diamantidou participated in a theatrical tour in the USA, staging the play "Illya Darling" (theatrical adaptation of the film "Never on Sunday") at the Broadway Theater in New York. During her stay there, the April coup d'état took place in Greece. Diamantidou decided not to return to Greece under these conditions and remained "in exile" in the United States until the transition to democracy, having returned to Greece only late in the summer of 1974. While in the USA she participated in Woody Allen's 1975 film The Peacemaker, playing the mother of the protagonist.  A milestone in her career was her participation in the 1960 film Never on Sunday by American director Jules Dassin starring Melina Mercouri. Listen to the podcast and find out more about this remarkable woman that was characterized by her husband as a real free spirit but a real lady that opened the way and empowered female actresses to be independent.

Vasilis Tsivilikas was a Greek comedy actor with significant appearances in the Greek film industry, television and especially theater. His first theatrical performance was in 1965 at Nea Ionia. Two years later Karolos Koun invited him to Theatro Technis. In the early 1970s he got involved with satire plays and in the mid-1970s with prose.  The 70's was also the decade he first appeared on the Big Screen. The first movie he appeared in was I theia mou, i hipissa by Alekos Sakellarios. Tzivilikas loved the energy exchange between audience and actor, while on stage. His acting career spanned over 50 successful years of which he only brought laughter and joy to his faithful followers. Listen to the podcast and find out more about this, unforgettable,  loved and successful artist: 

While the the World Cup is taking place in Qatar this year causing much criticism and controversy, I took the liberty and made this podcast to get us in the spirit of the game.  The tradition of football chants vary from country to country and team to team, in this episode we explore the creative side of the sport, the songs and stories behind the Greek soccer team chants.  Not being fanatical or biased towards a specific team, pure entertainment in mind as we journey into the stadiums chanting famous songs with different lyrics from the poets of the popular game. Credits to the Greek music band walkman the band – Walkman the band-WEDDING BAND   for re creating & singing beautifully many of the audio clips in this tribute. (2905) Walkman The Band - YouTube

In this episode of One Story, One Song we search for the truth behind a very popular Greek rebetiko song titled "Ta Nea tis Alexandras" (Alexandras News) it was recorded in 1961 by Vangelis Perpiniadis.  The real story remained unknown for more than 60 years but a facebook post by Argyro Moustakas Vretou after a spike in murders against women (Femicide) in Greece, tell a different story.   The real news of Alexandra was recorded & released based on her statement as a short film and the song sang by singer Semeli Papavasileiou and lyrics adjusted by lyricist Demitra Athanasopoulos. Listen to the podcast as we try and bring attention to the social crimes against women that are more relevant now than ever.