George Washington Gale Ferris, b. 1859. Mr. Ferris is remembered for his invention of the Ferris wheel. It was the main attraction for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 (The World’s Fair). Read a fictional account of Ferris’s Folly, as it was called by many people, in Robert Lawson’s Newbery Honor book, The Great Wheel.

George Jean Nathan, b. 1882. Respected, and feared, American drama critic of the first half of the twentieth century. He was described as “savage” and “independent” in his criticism. Quotes:
“It is also said of me that I now and then contradict myself. Yes, I improve wonderfully as time goes on.” (May I always be unafraid to contradict myself when the I see that I’ve been mistaken.)
“Hollywood is ten million dollars worth of intricate and high ingenious machinery functioning elaborately to put skin on baloney.” (The price has gone up; the product is much the same.)
“He writes his plays for the ages – the ages between five and twelve.” (An example, I assume, of Nathan’s fearsome wit and what he called “destructive” criticism.)