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George Lucas picks Chicago for art and movie memorabilia museum

Lucas
Lucas
From Wire Reports

“Star Wars” creator George Lucas announced Tuesday that he has picked Chicago to host his much-anticipated museum of art and movie memorabilia, in a major victory for the nation’s third-largest city.

San Francisco and Los Angeles also had sought the museum. Lucas said in a written statement that he hopes to open the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in 2018.

The selection was somewhat of a surprise, given Lucas’ close ties to California: He is a native of the state, Lucasfilm’s visual effects division is based in San Francisco, and the headquarters for Lucasfilm and Skywalker Sound is across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County.

But Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel pushed hard for his city. And Chicago was always given a good chance at the Lucas museum, in large part because Lucas’ wife, Mellody Hobson, a prominent businesswoman, is from Chicago.

For the Lucas museum, Chicago offered up a slice of real estate along the lakefront that’s near other attractions, including the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History.

Frank Sinatra’s first New Jersey driver’s license is on the auction block.

The (Newark, New Jersey) Star-Ledger reports that the yellowed, text-only 1934 license was issued, typo and all, to Francis Sintra, 841 Garden St., Hoboken, New Jersey.

The license is signed by the 19-year-old Sinatra, whose eyes, of course, are recorded as blue. It was issued a year before Sinatra got his first big break in the music industry.

Also included is a 1940 letter to the state Commissioner of Motor Vehicles from the lawyer of a man who had been involved in a car crash with Sinatra, insisting that Sinatra’s driving privileges be revoked until he pays up. Bidding had reached at least $2,500 by Tuesday afternoon for the items, which are being sold by Boston-based RR Auction. Initial bids must be placed by 6 p.m. Thursday.

The birthday bunch

Actress June Lockhart is 89. Singer Carly Simon is 69. Actor-comedian Jimmie Walker is 67. Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain is 58. Actor-writer-director Ricky Gervais is 53.