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Lou Thomas
Posts
Mnemonic tricks can help students master finer points of Italian grammar
Did you know that “a very prude man” helps you remember passato prossimo, or the past perfect tense, the most challenging concept to learn in...
The truth about Nutella, cappuccino, etc. – a holiday grab-bag of Italian tidbits
Did you know that Nutella is a made-up name? Did you know that coffee is cheaper than you think, and it’s against the law to...
Some of moviedom’s first caper comedies appeared in Italian cinema
A caper film is a parody of a theft, kidnapping or a burglary gone wrong. The gang leader is often misguided. He leads a band...
A World War II Italian translator became an auxiliary bishop in Philadelphia
Louis DeSimone was born Feb. 21, 1922, in Philadelphia; His parents Anthony and Nicolina DeSimone were Italian immigrants. He was raised in Bridgeport, Pa., and...
How an Italian prodigy became the world’s top-ranked tennis player at age 22
Jannik Sinner was born in San Candido near the Dolomites in Northern Italy near the Austrian border on Aug. 16, 2001. His parents Hanspeter and...
Did you ever wonder why the winner of Giro d’Italia wears a pink jersey?
Giro d’Italia is Italy’s premier cycling race which began in 1909. The winner is awarded la maglia rosa (pink jersey). Pink is the color of...
Joe Venuti ‘the wild fiddler from Philly’ was an Italian American
Giusepppe Venuti was born Sept. 16, 1903, in Philadelphia. Joe was known throughout his life as being a jokester and using hyperbole to explain his...
First mixed-race Baseball Hall of Famer was Roy ‘Campy’ Campanella
Did you know that the first mixed race baseball player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame was an Italian American? Roy “Campy” Campanella...
Some titles may be unfamiliar, but you may know the tunes
The first music festival (musica leggera) for popular music took place in Italy in the city of San Remo. The war had ended a few...