Special Sub-Topic: The Inimitable Howard Hughes Click Here To Play: The Inimitable Howard Hughes

In what year was Howard Hughes born?

1905. Hughes was born in Houston, Texas and his full name was Howard Robard Hughes, Jr.

To whom was Hughes first married?

Ella Rice. Hughes dated Katherine Hepburn frequently in the 1930s. Jean Harlow starred in one of his movies: "Hell's Angels" (1930). Jean Peters was his second wife.

What college did he attend for a short while?

Rice University. At that time Rice University was known as Rice Institute. Actually, Hughes never finished high school. His father donated money to the California Institute of Technology, for him to attend some classes for a while, before he went to Rice.

What film ,produced by Hughes, won an academy award?

"Two Arabian Nights" (1927). Both "Scarface" and "The Outlaw" were highly controversial films; Hughes had to sue to get "Scarface" released. "The Outlaw" was criticized for explicit sexual advertising and content.

What garment did Hughes create?

The half-cup bra. Hughes took a break from airplane fuselage design and created the half-cup bra which was modeled by actress Jane Russell, star of "The Outlaw" (1943).

What flying record did Hughes set in July, 1938?

New York to Paris. Between July 7th and 14th, 1938 he cut Lindbergh's record from New York to Paris in half. He finished in 3 days, 19 hours, and 17 minutes.

What was the name of the "flying boat" he built and flew?

The Spruce Goose. Hughes had a military contract to build three "flying boats" for $18 million dollars in three months. The terms proved impossible and he produced only one after WW11 ended. It was flown only by him once. People made fun of it and that is how it got the name "Spruce Goose."

What was the name of the theater Hughes built in Dallas, Texas?

Texas Theater. Ironically, this theater built in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas, was the one in which Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested in 1963 after the shooting of John F. Kennedy.

On what date did Hughes die?

April 5, 1976. When his body was returned to Houston it was so deteriorated that he could only be identified by his finger prints by the Treasury Department. He had not been in contact with others for so long and was unrecognizable by people who had known him in the past.

What was Hughes sole act of philanthropy?

He founded The Hughes Medical Institute in Delaware. Even this was not totally philanthropic as it was used as a "tax shelter".