They said "hello" and now they say "goodbye"...
They would be the Beatles who said hello to America in 1964 but just 2 years later they were saying goodbye as they started their last U.S. tour on this date in 1966. Arriving at Chicago's O'Hare Airport on August 11th, the Beatles were set to launch a 14-city farewell tour that would take them from Chicago to San Francisco...
At a Chicago press conference on the 12th John Lennon would start festivities by apologizing for his statements comparing the Beatles and Jesus and then it was on to the International Amphitheater in the Windy City for 2 shows before 26,000 Beatlemaniacs. Close to 400,000 in all would witness The Fab Four's final U.S. tour which would end at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on August 29th...
It's hard to believe that only 2 members of the Beatles are still with us. Ringo Starr is just happy to be the drummer in a rock and roll band of All-Stars but the remaining member of the Beatles who would like to relive this day in 1966 is Sir Paul McCartney. He has 47 million reasons to go back to 1966 if just for one day...
Ten Timeline Memories...
1934] Alcatraz, in San Francisco Bay, receives federal prisoners for the first time (get ready for the Birdman, inmates)...
1951] The first major league baseball game is televised in living color as the Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Boston Braves 8-1...
1965] 34 are killed, more than 1,000 injured during rioting in Watts...
1968] The first Beatles single on their own Apple label is released. It's a little ditty you may have heard of, "Hey Jude"...
1969] Diana Ross invites 350 guests to the Daisy Club in Beverly Hills to unveil her new discovery: The Jackson Five...
1972] Elvis and Priscilla Presley file for D-I-V-O-R-C-E. They married in May of 1967...
1984] Ronald Reagan jokes, "today we have signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes" (no one in the Soviet Union is amused)...
1984] Carl Lewis duplicates Jesse Owen's feat (feet ?) of winning 4 Olympic gold medals in track...
1992] The Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the U.S. opens in Bloomington, Minnesota...
2002] U.S. Airways files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection...
#1 on this date in 3 different decades: 1964] "Everybody Loves Somebody" - Dean Martin...1974] "The Night Chicago Died" - Paper Lace...1984] "Endless Love" - Diana Ross and Lionel Richie...
Released on this date: 1956] "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley...1962] "Surfin' Safari" - Beach Boys..."Green Onions" - Booker T. and the MG's...1973] "Free Ride" - Edgar Winter Group...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
Joe Rogan (who has sold his soul to the devil as host of "Fear Factor") (39), Singer Joe Jackson (52), Hulk Hogan (53), Steve (co-Apple founder) Wozniak (56), Eric Carmen (57), Kenny Gamble (63), TV evangelist Jerry Falwell (73), Arlene Dahl (78), Former TV talk show host Mike Douglas (81)...
[Timeline Countdown: 25 days until Labor Day, 29 days until NFL kickoff, 54 days until MLB playoffs and 142 days remaining in 2006]
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Saturday, August 12, 2006...
Ten Timeline Memories...
1851] Isaac Singer is granted a patent on his sewing machine (his sewing machine will soon be your sewing machine)...
1865] Disinfectant is used for the 1st time during surgery by Joseph Lister (ya think Warner-Lambert gives residuals for the use of Listerine to the Lister estate ? Just asking)...
1877] Thomas Edison invents the phonograph and makes the 1st sound recording (TAE, you show off)...
1966] John Lennon apologizes at a news conference in Chicago for his "the Beatles are more popular than Jesus" statement...
1967] Fleetwood Mac make their stage debut in Great Britain at the Windsor Jazz & Blues Festival...
1969] The Boston Celtics are sold for $6 million (the highest price paid for an NBA franchise at the time)...
1972] The last American combat ground troops leave Vietnam...
1981] IBM rolls out its 1st PC (and the rest is history)...
1992] The U.S., Canada and Mexico announce the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been created after 14 months of negotiations...
1994] Major league baseball players go on strike rather than allow team owners (who happen to be their bosses, by the way) to limit their salaries. The strike lasts for 232 days, cancelling the World Series for the 1st time in 90 years...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple references are used in the timeline]...
"Happy birthday...happy birthday"...
Pete Sampras (35), Peter ("Six Feet Under") Krause (41), Suzanne Vega (47), Mark Knopfler (57), George Hamilton (67) and Porter (discoverer of Dolly Parton) Wagoner (79)...
"Anniversary Waltz": 2001] Let's see...uh, oh I know, lucky me and Diane Brady. Happy Anniversary Diane...
[Timeline Countdown: 24 days until Labor Day, 28 days until NFL kickoff, 53 days until MLB playoffs and 141 days remaining in 2006]
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Sunday, August 13, 2006...
Ten Timeline Memories...
1907] The 1st taxicab hits the streets of Manhattan (the 1st auto accident will follow shortly)...
1912] The 1st experimental radio license for a college radio station is given to St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia...
1934] Al Capp's comic strip "L'il Abner" makes its debut in newspapers (I had the pleasure of meeting this rather eccentric but brilliant man when he briefly provided comedy material for WNAC and the beginning of WRKO)...
1942] Walt Disney's "Bambi" opens at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan...
1959] Ground is broken in New York on the $320 million Verrazano Narrows Bridge (which will connect Staten Island to Brooklyn)...
1961] Berlin is divided by a barbed wire fence to halt the flight of refugees (2 days later work begins on the Berlin Wall)...
1965] The Jefferson Airplane make their performance debut at San Francisco's Matrix Club...
1990] Singer Curtis Mayfield is paralyzed after a light rack falls on him during a concert in Brooklyn...
1994] A report claims that aspirin not only helps reduce the risk of heart disease, but also helps prevent colon cancer...
1995] Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle loses his battle with liver cancer at age 63 (at the end of his life Mickey campaigned very actively for the donation of organs to save lives. After an outstanding playing career but cursed by many personal problems created by alcohol, he died a hero)...
Recorded on this date: 1952] The original version of "Hound Dog" - Willie Mae (Big Mama) Thornton...
Released on this date: 1965] "Help" single - The Beatles...1966] "You Can't Hurry Love" - The Supremes...
Engaged: Maria Shriver and Ahnold Schwarzenagger...
Remembering: 1971] Musician King Curtis (37) stabbed to death in Manhattan...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
Danny Bonaduce (47), Scott Hamilton (48), Dan Folgelberg (55), Don Ho (75), Pat Harrington (77) and Fidel Castro (80)...
[Timeline Countdown: 23 days until Labor Day, 27 days until NFL kickoff, 52 days until MLB playoffs and 140 days remaining in 2006]
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Monday, August 14, 2006...
Ten Timeline Memories...
1935] FDR signs the Social Security Act into law creating unemployment insurance and pension plans for those over 65...
1953] The whiffle ball is invented (how many hundreds of major leaguers started out playing whiffle ball ?)...
1973] Bombing in Cambodia comes to an end...
1980] The Democratic National Convention at Madison Square Garden nominates Jimmuh Carter for president...
1985] Michael Jackson outbids Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono for the ATV Music Publishing catalogue containing the rights to more than 250 songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Total price: $47.5 million (McCartney will regret this day as long as he lives or unless he gains ownership again)...
1992] The Platters lead singer Tony Williams dies at 64 from diabetes and emphysema...
1994] International terrorist "Carlos the Jackal" is captured in Sudan (he's extradited to France the next day)...
1996] The Republican National Convention nominates Bob Dole for president...
1997] Timothy McVeigh is sentenced to death for the Oklahoma City bombing...
2003] A massive blackout hits the northeast and parts of Canada with 50 million losing power (luckily we were on the Cape which was not affected)...
Released on this date: 1965] "Hang on Sloopy" - The McCoys...1971] "Reason To Believe/Maggie May" - Rod Stewart...1976] "Rock 'N Me" - Steve Miller Band...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
Patriot linebacker Mike Vrabel (31), Halle Berry (48), Magic Johnson (47), "Far Side" cartoonist Gary Larson (56), Danielle Steel (59), Susan St. James (60), Steve Martin (61), David Crosby (65), Earl Weaver (76), Alice Ghostly (80) and Buddy Greco (80)...
[Timeline Countdown: 22 days until Labor Day, 26 days until NFL kickoff, 51 days until MLB playoffs and 139 days remaining in 2006]
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Tuesday, August 15, 2006...
Ten Timeline Memories...
1848] The dental chair is patented by M. Waldo Hanchett (let the torture begin)...
1935] Humorist Will Rogers and aviator Wiley Post are killed when their experimental, top-heavy plane crashes near Point Barrow, Alaska. Rogers was 56 (forgive me for asking but why the devil would anyone go up in an experimental plane ?)...
1939] The MGM musical "The Wizard of Oz" premieres at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood...
1948] CBS-TV inaugurates the 1st nightly news broadcast with anchorman Douglas Edwards (who was recently and posthumously voted into the Chicago Radio Hall of Fame)...
1958] Buddy Holly and Maria Elena Santiago rock down the aisle in Lubbock (TX)...
1965] The Beatles set a record for the largest single crowd at a concert as Shea Stadium swells to 56,000 fans screaming their brains out for the Fab Four...
1969] On the same date in 1969, another historic musical event: Woodstock ! Richie Havens kicks off 3 days of music, mayhem and mud (and love...man). Also appearing: Crosby, Stills & Nash, Janis Joplin, Sly & the Family Stone, Joe Cocker, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Blood, Sweat & Tears...24 acts in all. The 3-day happening draws 400,000...
1971] President Richard Nixon puts a 90-day freeze on wages, rents and retail prices (well, I like 2 out of the 3)...
1990] Cancer sufferer, Giant pitcher Dave Dravecky breaks his arm while throwing a pitch in a televised game (Odds on this happening ? A buzillion to one. Odds on an arm falling off ? C'mon)...
1991] Paul Simon plays a free concert in Central Park before a gathering of 750,000...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
Ben Affleck (34), Debra Messing (38), Princess Anne (56), Jimmy Webb (60), Linda Ellerbee (62), Bill Pinckney of the Drifters (81), Mike Connors (81), and Rose Marie (83)...
[Timeline Countdown: 21 days until Labor Day, 25 days until NFL kickoff, 50 days until MLB playoffs and 138 days remaining in 2006]
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Wednesday, August 16, 2006...
Ten Timeline Memories...
1829] The original Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker (related to Archie ?), 18, arrive in Boston to be exhibited to the Western world (remember you read it here first)...
1948] Babe Ruth loses his battle with throat cancer at 53. The legendary slugger was reduced to a shrunken frame at the time of his death (his body will lie in Stadium state at Yankee Stadium as thousands pay their respect)...
1954] Sports Illustrated publishes its 1st issue (showing Milwaukee star Eddie Matthews at bat on the cover)...
1962] Ringo Starr replaces Pete Best as Beatle drummer...
1975] Peter Gabriel leaves Genesis which leaves lead vocals to Phil Collins (get ready for 31 years of boring music)...
1977] Elvis Presley dies suddenly at home in Memphis. Cause of death is listed as "coronary arrhythmia". "The King" was just 42. The world mourns...
1988] George Bush names Dan Quayle as his running mate...
1993] A 68-year old manufacturer of tuxedos, Harvey Weinstein, is found buried alive in a bunker near the Hudson River after being kidnapped 12 days earlier. Ransomed for $2 million, the money and suspects are arrested including a longtime employee of the victim...
2000] The Democratic National Convention names Al Gore to run for president...
2003] Idi Amin, former dictator of Uganda dies in exile in Saudi Arabia at 80...
Released on this date: 1966] "Last Train To Clarksville" - The Monkees...
Wedding Bells: 1983] Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher...1985] Madonna and Sean Penn...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
Timothy Hutton (46), Angela Bassett (48), Madonna (48), "Titanic" director James Cameron (52), J. T. Taylor (Kool and the Gang) (53), Lesley Ann Warren (60), Julie Newmar (73), Eydie Gorme (74), Frank Gifford (76), Robert Culp (76), Ann Blyth (78) and Fess ("Daniel Boone") Parker (81)...
[Timeline Countdown: 20 days until Labor Day, 24 days until NFL kickoff, 49 days until MLB playoffs and 137 days remaining in 2006]
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Thursday, August 17, 2006...
Ten Timeline Memories...
1790] The capital city of the U.S. moves from New York City to Philadelphia...
1877] F. P. Cahill becomes "Billy the Kid's" 1st victim (I can think of other things I'd much rather be famous for)...
1896] The Klondike gold rush is set off by George Carmack who discovers gold on Rabbit Creek in Alaska...
1903] Joseph Pulitzer donates a million dollars to Columbia University. This starts the Pulitzer Prizes in his name...
1920] 29-year old Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians is beaned by Yankee fastballer Carl Mays on the 16th and succumbs to that beaning on the 17th. It's the first and last time a baseball player is killed in a game...
1969] The Woodstock Music and Art Fair (its official name) ends after 3 days...
1969] Hurricane Camille slams into the Gulf Coast killing 248 people...
1969] The Jets and Giants play their 1st pre-season game with the J-E-T-S winning...
1988] President Bill Clinton finally admits to an improper relationship (but not sex, right ?) with Monica Lewinsky...
1992] Woody Allen admits to being romantically involved with 21-year old Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of Mia Farrow, Allen's longtime companion (yikes !) (of course, they are now Mr. and Mrs.)...
Released on this date: 1964] "You Really Got Me" - The Kinks...1968] "Hush" - Deep Purple...
Suicides: 1973] The Temptations' Paul Williams...1987] Nazi Rudolph Hess...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
Yankee catcher Jorge Posada (35), Donnie Wahlberg (37), Sean Penn (46), the Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle (48), Robert DeNiro (63) and Maureen O'Hara (86)...
[Timeline Countdown: 19 days until Labor Day, 23 days until NFL kickoff, 48 days until MLB playoffs and 136 days remaining in 2006]
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Friday, August 18, 2006...
Ten Timeline Memories...
1937] The 1st FM construction permit is issued in Boston. W1XOJ in Paxton goes on the air 2 years later (that station is now WSRS in Paxton, MA)...
1955] Hurricane Diane kills 400 in the U.S...
1961] Construction of the Berlin Wall is completed...
1962] Having already been named the Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr plays his 1st gig at The Cavern Club...
1963] James Meredith becomes the 1st black to graduate from the University of Mississippi
1967] WCBS in New York goes all-news as they decide to compete with WINS (both are now CBS Radio stations)...
1967] The Red Sox' Tony Conigliaro is beaned by the Angels' Jack Hamilton at Fenway Park (a promising future is cut short although Tony will recover from the beaning but never be the same player again)...
1977] Funeral services are held for Elvis Presley as hundreds of thousands of fans mourn The King...
1992] One of the greatest players to wear the green of the Celtics, Larry Bird announces his retirement from the Boston Celtics after 13 years...
1996] A record 6,654 tap their brains out at Macy's "Tap-o-mania" in front of Macy's on 34th Street to set a new world's record (that's 13,308 happy feet if my math is correct)...
Released on this date: 1962] "If I had a Hammer" - Peter, Paul and Mary...1973] "China Grove" - Doobie Brothers...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
Spoiled brat Giant TE Jeremy Shockey (26), Dennis Leary (49), Patrick Swayze (54), LaBelle's Nona Hendryx (61) and Sarah Dash (63), Martin Mull (63), Former Jet great Matt Snell (65), Frankie Avalon (66), Robert Redford (69), Roman Polanski (73) and Rosalynn Carter (79)...
[Timeline Countdown: 18 days until Labor Day, 22 days until NFL kickoff, 47 days until MLB playoffs and 135 days remaining in 2006]
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Saturday, August 19, 2006...
Ten Timeline Memories...
1856] The process of processing condensed milk is patented by Gail Borden (and what about Elsie ?)...
1960] A tribunal in Moscow convicts American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers of espionage...
1964] "Beatlemania" arrives in the U.S. as The Beatles begin their 1st tour at San Francisco's Cow Palace with The Righteous Brothers as the opening act...
1972] John Denver hosts the first "Midnight Special"...
1976] President Gerald Ford wins the Republican presidential nomination (wouldn't he ?)...
1977] The legendary Groucho Marx dies of pneumonia at 86 (Groucho always said he wanted to be buried above Marilyn Monroe)...
1981] The final episode of "Charlie's Angels" airs after 5 years as a series...
1984] President Ronald Reagan is nominated by the Republicans for president (refer to note on Gerald Ford, "1976")...
1993] "Cheers", one of the most popular sit-coms of all-time ends its 11-year run...
2004] Google goes public, opening at $85 and closing at $100 (22 million shares are sold)...
#1 on this date: "My Sharona" - The Knack (it's #1 for over a month)...
Wedding Bells: 1973] Rita Coolidge and Kris Kristofferson...1993] Kim Bassinger and Alec Baldwin (World War III to follow)...1993] Mattel and Fisher Price...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
Matthew Perry (37), Lee Ann Womack (40), Kyra Sedgwick (41), John Stamos (43), Mets Broadcaster Ron Darling (46), Adam Arkin (50), Mary Matalin (53), Tipper Gore (58), Bill Clinton (60), Billy J. Kramer (63), Actor Fred Thompson (64), Jill St. John (66), Johnny Nash (66) and Cream drummer Ginger Baker (67)...
[Timeline Countdown: 17 days until Labor Day, 21 days until NFL kickoff, 46 days until MLB playoffs and 134 days remaining in 2006]
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Sunday, August 20, 2006...
Ten Timeline Memories...
1866] The National Labor Union in the U.S. advocates an 8-hour workday...
1955] Bo Diddley makes his 1st appearance at the Apollo Theater in Harlem...
1960] Connie Francis begins filming "Where The Boys Are" in Florida...
1967] The New York Times reports about a new noise reduction system for album and tape recording developed by technicians R. and D.W. Dolby (Elektra's subsidiary, Checkmate, becomes the 1st label to use the process in recording)...
1974] After Agnew steps down, former New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller becomes Vice President...
1989] Record executive Jose Menendez and his wife Kitty are shot to death by their sons Lyle and Erik, who claim self-defense after being abused. The 1st trials ended in hung juries but eventually the brothers are convicted and are serving jail sentences...
1990] George Steinbrenner steps down as Yankee owner, Gene Michael is named VP/GM...
1992] Tiger Woods wins his 3rd consecutive major tournament...
1998] Retaliating 13 days after deadly embassy bombings in East Africa, the U.S. launches missile strikes against al-Qaida training camps in Afghanistan and at a chemical plant in Sudan...
Released on this date: 1966] "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" - The Temptations...1974] "Angie" - Rolling Stones...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
Joan Allen (50), Al Roker (52), Robert Plant (58), Chicago's Jim Pankow (59), Connie Chung (60), Graig Nettles (62), Isaac Hayes (64) and Don King (75)...
[Timeline Countdown: 16 days until Labor Day, 20 days until NFL kickoff, 45 days until MLB playoffs and 133 days remaining in 2006] Back on Monday, August 21st with a brand new blog...
