Some things you may not know about Halloween...
- Halloween was introduced to America in the 19th century by European immigrants...
- The tradition for dressing in costumes and "trick-or-treating" came from the Irish & English...
- Halloween is now the third biggest party day after New Year's and Super Bowl Sunday...
- Pumpkins are fruits that originated in Central America...
- 90% of a pumpkin is made of water...
- The largest pumpkin grown weighed in at 1,446 lbs...
- The world record for fastest time in carving a pumpkin is 54.72 seconds by Stephen Clarke in 2001 according to Guiness World Records...
- More than 93% of children go trick-or-treating (there are 36.8 million potential "trick-or-treaters" ages 5-13...
- Of those 36.8 million, 90% will come to your door tonight...
- Happy Halloween...
On a serious note: It's with a great deal of sadness to announce the death of Tommy Noonan. Tommy was the spirit and guiding force among so many people who were reunited by Tommy's efforts in organizing the CBS Records Alumni Association. He worked effortlessly, endlessly and tirelessly in putting out his regular news letters even though he suffered the agonizing effects of a cancer that had spread throughout his body. Tom Noonan was 78. R.I.P. Tommy. We owe you so much but know this - you'll always be in our hearts...
Ten Timeline Memories...
- [1926] Harry Houdini dies from complications of a ruptured appendix at 52 (he had been punched in the stomach 12 days earlier by a student unexpectedly and developed gangrene and peritonitis)...
- [1941] Mount Rushmore is declared completed after 14 years of work. At the time, 60-foot busts of Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Lincoln were finished and the landmark would soon open...
- [1950] West Virginia's Earl Lloyd becomes the NBA's 1st black player when he debuts with the Washington Capitols. He'll move to the Syracuse Nationals when the Caps fold. He would play one game before Chuck Cooper played for the Celtics...
- [1956] Streetcar service ends in Brooklyn as electric buses (remember those poles on top of the buses ?) replace them...
- [1964] The mighty Kelso becomes the greatest money earning thoroughbred in racing history. At the time of the great gelding's retirement in 1966 he had amassed $2 million in winnings...
- [1984] Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, 67, is assassinated by Sikh security guards. Her son Rajiv is sworn in as prime minister...
- [1988] Debbie Gibson holds a seance at her Halloween party to contact the spirits of Liberace and Sid Vicious. That don't appear but she channels the future and contacts Britney Spears...
- [1993] River Phoenix collapses and dies outside The Viper Room in Hollywood at 23. Results of an autopsy reveal that he had overdosed on heroin and cocaine...
- [1999] EgyptAir Flight 990 crashes off of Nantucket (MA) killing all 217 aboard (no foul play was indicated)...
- [2001] A 61-year old New York hospital worker becomes the 4th person to die from the inhalation of anthrax...
"Happy Trails": 1988] Distinguished director, producer and actor John Houseman dies of spinal cancer at 86...1991] Broadway producer Joseph Papp dies of cancer at 70...1993] Movie director Federico Fellini dies in Rome following a heart attack, at 73...
Wedding Bells: 1970] Michelle Phillips and actor Dennis Hopper (now there's a match) get married. The marriage ends in divorce 8 days later when Michelle discovers Dennis's sneaker smelling fetish)...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Rob Schneider 42, Peter Jackson 45, Jane Pauley 56, Imus bud and now politician Kinky Friedman 62, David Ogden Stiers 64, Ron Rifkin 67, Lee Grant 75, Former astronaut Michael Collins 76, Dan Rather 75 and former Brit jockey and author Dick Francis 86...
Timeline Countdown: 61 days until 2007, 68 days until the NFL playoffs and 96 days until Super Bowl XLI...
For a special Halloween "treat", click on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0thH3qnHTbI
