Billie Jean King News

The 19th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org), presented by BET Networks (BET) with founding sponsor HBO, today announced all of the films that will be showcased.

People often cite Arthur Ashe as the first African American to win Wimbledon (1975). He was indeed the first African American male to win the men's singles title, but it was, in fact, Althea Gibson, who was the first African American to cross the color lineplaying and winning at Wimbledon (1957 and 1958) and at the U.S. Nationals (1957 and 1958 precursor of the U.S. Open).

This fall, THIRTEEN's American Masters presents Althea, premiering nationwide Friday, September 4, 2015 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) during the U.S. Open.

Through a partnership with the US Open, Josh Groban will performduring the Opening Night Ceremony for the 2015 US Open on August 31, 2015 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Josh will be performing selections from his album, Stages.

The Women's Forum of New York will present The 5th Annual Elly Awards Luncheon benefiting The Education Fund of the Women's Forum on Monday, June 22nd at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. The awards, named for the Women's Forum founder Elinor Guggenheimer, will honor outstanding women leaders.

'American Masters' Season 29 continues with three new documentaries premiering this September on PBS

It was the 7th performance of Marilyn's 8 show sold out run of  "Her Way"  A Salute to Frank Sinatra. The dynamics of the evening made it feel more like a Hockey Play Off Game, with Marilyn scoring goal after goal. The crowd rose to it's feet and cheered after her every song hit the mark of musical perfection.  Then, as it became apparent that Marilyn Maye had conquered all, she was presented with the Stanley Cup. Friars Club Dean Emeritus Freddie Roman was led to the stage by Friar Laura Slutsky and "Marvelous Marilyn" was given the Friars Club Frank Sinatra Lifetime Achievement Award.  The award states:

Deadline writes that Steve Carell and Emma Stone will star in Fox Searchlight's BATTLE OF THE SEXES, directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.

Forest Hills Stadium (ForestHillsStadium.com), the legendary sporting and entertainment venue hidden in the idyllic Queens, New York neighborhood of Forest Hills, has announced their 2015 concert season presented by Madison House Presents.

Like all A-Z books, this one illustrates the alphabet—but instead of 'A is for Apple', A is for Angela—as inAngela Davis, the iconic political activist. B is for Billie Jean King, who shattered the glass ceiling of sports; C is for Carol Burnett, who defied assumptions about women in comedy; D is for Dolores Huerta, who organized farmworkers; and E is for Ella Baker, who mentored Dr. Martin Luther King and helped shape the Civil Rights Movement.

The Women's Forum of New York hosted The 4th Annual Elly Awards Luncheon yesterday, November 17, benefitting The Education Fund of the Women's Forum at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. The awards, named for Women's Forum founder Elinor "Elly" Guggenheimer, were presented to outstanding women leaders, Billie Jean King, 39-time Grand Slam winning tennis player and champion of social change and equality, and Sallie Krawcheck, Chair, Ellevate Network and Ellevate Asset Management, and staunch supporter of women in the financial industry.

The Women's Forum of New York will present The 4th Annual Elly Awards Luncheon benefiting The Education Fund of the Women's Forum on Monday, November 17 at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. The awards, named for the Women's Forum founder Elinor Guggenheimer, will honor outstanding women leaders.

Simmons College has announced the keynote speakers for its April 2, 2015 premier Simmons Leadership Conference. Focusing on the theme 'Dare to Compete,' the conference features Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, author and columnist Arianna Huffington, and Cisco Chief Technology and Strategy Officer Padmasree Warrior.

Referred by Ella Fitzgerald as 'the greatest white female singer in the world', by Johnny Carson as the 'Super Singer' and said to have a voice that is '...robust and steady, her stamina seemingly inexhaustible...' by the NY Times, Marilyn is a jazz legend known and loved by all. Check out photos from her Birdland return below!

For the US Open currently taking place in New York, ESPN viewers are seeing an unlikely doubles team - 88-year old classic singer Tony Bennett and pop sensation Lady Gaga.

CBS Sports presents the US OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS, tennis' final major of the year and the only one played in the United States, for the 47th consecutive year. Live coverage begins on Saturday, August 30 (11:00 AM-6:00 PM, ET) with men's and women's third-round action and concludes with the men's singles championship onMonday, Sept. 8 (5:00 PM, ET). CBS Sports broadcasts over 37 hours of the 2014 US Open live from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

PHOENIX

Heineken, the nation's leading upscale beer importer, will bring back the Heineken House to the 2014 US Open in its 23rd year of sponsorship. Located above the food village, the destination will provide an interactive retreat at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with live screenings of the biggest matches, entertainment, activities and ice-cold Heineken. New for 2014, tennis fans can enjoy sandwiches created exclusively for Heineken House by chef Mario Carbone of the critically acclaimed NYC restaurant Parm and have the chance to compete in "Legend Setter", an interactive competition for fans to participate in their own off-the-court challenges via a partnership with RecordSetter.com.

As part of its mission to document the full breadth of the American experience, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History will add a significant number of objects and archival materials related to LGBT history, including Renee Richard's tennis racquet, the original transgender pride flag, materials from the NBC television series Will& Grace and the diplomatic passports of former U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa David Huebner and his spouse, Duane McWaine, and will acknowledge several other recent donations.

Zach Matari is scheduled to perform at this years Arthur Ashe Kids' Day presented by Hess, scheduled for Saturday, August 23, 2014 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.