Big Lots and Ann Miller: Difference between pages

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Siddons Award, Hollywood Walk of Fame
 
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'''Ann Miller''' was born on [[April 12]], [[1923]] (some sources still indicate [[1919]]) and died on [[January 22]], [[2004]]. She was an American dancer, singer and actress, who was christened '''Johnnie Lucille Collier''' in [[Chireno, Texas]] (some sources cite [[Houston, Texas]]).
[[Image:Big Lots logo.png|right|160px|Big Lots!]]
[[Image:Biglotsstore.jpg|right|thumb|155px|Big Lots store]]
'''Big Lots Inc.''' {{nyse|BLI}} is a chain of [[department stores]] that focuses on selling closeout and overstock merchandise. The company is based out of [[Columbus, Ohio]]. The company currently operates over 1400 stores in 46 states.
 
She was considered a child dance prodigy. She was given a contract with [[RKO]] allegedly at the tender age of thirteen (she had told them she was eighteen). She became famous for her roles in films such as [[Kiss Me, Kate]], [[Easter Parade]] and [[On the Town]]. Miller was famed for her speed in [[tap dancing]]; she claimed to be able to tap 500 times per minute.
A typical store sells a wide variety of merchandise, including toys, furniture, clothing, housewares, and small electronics. Most of the items sold in these stores are purchased as they become available. What's in the store one day may not be there the next, and the store may not get further shipments of the items. Most of the merchandise in the stores is closeouts and overstocks. However there are some items in the stores, such as foodstuffs that are replenished on a continual basis.
 
Her father (from whom she would become estranged due to his infidelities to her mother) insisted on the name Johnnie because he had wanted a boy, but she was often called Annie. She took up dancing to help exercise her legs to help her [[rickets]]. Her film career effectively ended in [[1956]], but she remained active in the theatre. In [[1979]] she astounded audiences in the [[Broadway]] show [[Sugar Babies]]. In 1983 she won the [[Sarah Siddons Award]] for her work in [[Chicago]] theatre. In 2001 she took her last role as "Coco" in auteur director [[David Lynch]]'s movie [[Mulholland Drive (film)]].
In many cases, Big Lots uses an existing building such as a grocery or department store that had either moved or ceased operations.
 
For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Ann Miller has a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] at 6914 Hollywood Blvd.
The Big Lots chain traces its history back to [[1967]] when the Consolidated Stores Corporation was formed in [[Ohio]] by Sol Shenk. In [[1982]], the company opened its first closeout store, which they called Odd Lots. In [[1983]], drug store chain [[Revco]] bought the company. In [[1985]] the first Big Lots store was introduced.
 
She died at the age of 80 (or 84) from cancer that had spread to her lungs and was interred in the [[Holy Cross Cemetery]] in [[Culver City, California]].
In [[1996]], the company purchased KB Toys from [[Melville Corporation]]. In [[2000]], Consolidated Stores Corporation sold the KB Toys line off. A year later the company decided to focus mainly on the Big Lots chain, and changed its name to Big Lots, Inc. By [[2002]], the company had completed its nationwide conversion to the single national Big Lots brand. In recent times the company has expanded its presence by opening a number of new stores.
 
 
== Filmography ==
* ''[[Anne of Green Gables]]'' (1934)
* ''[[The Good Fairy]]'' (1935)
* ''[[The Devil on Horseback]]'' (1936)
* ''[[New Faces of 1937]]'' (1937)
* ''[[The Life of the Party]]'' (1937)
* ''[[Stage Door]]'' (1937)
* ''[[Radio City Revels]]'' (1938)
* ''[[Having Wonderful Time]]'' (1938)
* ''[[You Can't Take It with You]]'' (1938)
* ''[[Room Service]]'' (1938)
* ''[[Tarnished Angel]]'' (1938)
* ''[[Too Many Girls]]'' (1940)
* ''[[Hit Parade of 1941]]'' (1940)
* ''[[Melody Ranch]]'' (1940)
* ''[[Time Out for Rhythm]]'' (1941)
* ''[[Meet the Stars: Stars Past and Present]]'' (1941) (short subject)
* ''[[Screen Snapshots: Series 21, No. 1]]'' (1941) (short subject)
* ''[[Go West, Young Lady]]'' (1941)
* ''[[True to the Army]]'' (1942)
* ''[[Priorities on Parade]]'' (1942)
* ''[[Reveille with Beverly]]'' (1943)
* ''[[What's Buzzin', Cousin?]]'' (1943)
* ''[[Hey, Rookie]]'' (1944)
* ''[[Jam Session]]'' (1944)
* ''[[Carolina Blues]]'' (1944)
* ''[[Eadie Was a Lady]]'' (1945)
* ''[[Eve Knew Her Apples]]'' (1945)
* ''[[The Thrill of Brazil]]'' (1946)
* ''[[Easter Parade]]'' (1948)
* ''[[The Kissing Bandit]]'' (1948)
* ''[[Mighty Manhattan, New York's Wonder City]]'' (1949) (short subject)
* ''[[On the Town]]'' (1949)
* ''[[Watch the Birdie]]'' (1950)
* ''[[Texas Carnival]]'' (1951)
* ''[[Two Tickets to Broadway]]'' (1951)
* ''[[Lovely to Look At]]'' (1952)
* ''[[Small Town Girl]]'' (1953)
* ''[[Calamity Jane]]'' (1953) (bit part)
* ''[[Kiss Me, Kate]]'' (1953)
* ''[[Deep in My Heart]]'' (1954)
* ''[[Hit the Deck]]'' (1955)
* ''[[The Opposite Sex]]'' (1956)
* ''[[The Great American Pastime]]'' (1956)
* ''[[Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood]]'' (1976)
* ''[[A Century of Cinema]]'' (1994) (documentary)
* ''[[That's Entertainment! III]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Mulholland Dr.]]'' (2001)
 
== External links ==
* {{imdb name|id=0587900|name=Ann Miller}}
* http://www.biglots.com/
* [http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3422589.stm BBC obituary]
 
[[Category:1923 births|Miller, Ann]]
[[Category:2004 deaths|Miller, Ann]]
[[Category:American actors|Miller, Ann]]
[[Category:U.S. stage actors|Miller, Ann]]
[[Category:American film actors|Miller, Ann]]
[[Category:Hollywood Walk of Fame|Miller, Ann]]
[[Category:Female singers|Miller, Ann]]
[[Category:Tap dancers|Miller, Ann]]
[[Category:People from Texas|Miller, Ann]]
 
 
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