| Out with the old, in with the new - Happy New Year!!! Whatever your plans might be for New Year's Eve, here's to a safe, healthy and happy New Year in 2007. For over 100 years now they've been dropping the ball in Times Square. It's not officially the new year until we see that and that won't change this year and probably never will... No sooner had I finished my "Happy Trails" for the year when I heard of two more passings in the radio industry. John Gorman e-mailed the news of Len "Boom" Goldberg's death on Wednesday. That name may not ring a bell but Boom was the "voice of the buzzard" at WMMS in Cleveland. John told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that "anyone who listened to 'MMS from the 70s to the 80s knew that voice". It was Len's voice that was also heard when Z100 signed on in New York: "From the Top of the Empire State Building...." That was Len "Boom" Goldberg. Len was 74. "He had a one of a kind voice. Sad for it to be silenced" - John Gorman... I was a jock at WMID in Atlantic City at the time my daughter Lynn was born on January 2, 1964 and before going to a news break, Jack Armstrong who would deliver the news asked me to be sure to listen to the end of his newscast. Jack wrapped up the news with a mention of Lynn's birth. Without asking to, Jack wanted me to have a keepsake and handed me a tape of his newscast. Everyone who knew Jack recognized his business savvy. You just knew that he would wind up on the other side of the mic. Jack would make his fortune in the ownership of radio stations in the Tampa Bay area. After giving out bonus checks to the staff of two of his 3 remaining radio stations (Oldies 106.3 and The Fox) at a Christmas dinner near Clearwater, Jack got into his Mercedes coupe to drive home to his wife of 43 years. He never made it, jumping a curb and smashing into a building. Jack Armstrong's real name was Carl Marcocci. He was 68... I'd like to share a video link to a New Year's greeting that I got from a few people over the last couple of days. It's one of the best I've ever seen. Enjoy it along with your New Year's Eve: http://llerrah.com/newyearwishes.htm Timeline Memories...
"Y.M.C.A": 1851] The 1st Y.M.C.A. is organized in Boston (The Village People start composing)... "Happy Trails": 1980] Folksinger/songwriter Tim Hardin O.D.'s on heroin at 40... |
"Double Dip": 1934] The 1st college basketball doubleheader is played at MSG. The Garden was rented for a measly $4,000 as 16,000 fans watch NYU beat Notre Dame and Westminster (PA) beat St. John's...
Music City: 1945] Sheb Wooley records the 1st commercial record cut in Nashville on the tiny Bullet label (it was no "Purple People Eater")...
Wedding Bells: 1957] Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme walk down the aisle. Eydie "blames it on the bossa nova" while Steve says "go away little girl" (they are still happily married)...
"D-I-V-O-R-C-E": 1975] Grace Slick and Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane (Starship) who were together since 1969 are divorced...
The Final Curtain: 1989] Jane Pauley leaves the "Today Show"...
Released on this date: 1965] "My World Is Empty Without You" - Supremes...
"J-E-T-S": 1968] The Jets beat Oakland 27-23 to win the AFL championship (the same two teams meet this weekend with the playoffs up for grabs if the Jets win)...
#1 on this date: 1974] "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" - Elton John...
"Just walk away Renee": 1992] New York Governor Mario Cuomo grants Scarsdale Diet Doctor killer, Jean Harris clemency...
"Guilty as Charged": 1994] Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopez pleads guilty to arson charges for setting fire to and destroying boyfriend Andre Rison's $1 million Atlanta mansion...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
Paul Power weighs in on Motown Christmas music: "none of those songs Joe McCoy mentioned sound like Motown records because they all lack the sound of the Funk Brothers, heavy drum beat, percussion, etc. It could be compared somewhat to the Beach Boys Christmas LP which featured one side with their sound but the other side produced "big band" style by some a/c arranger. Now the Spector LP is true Spector as the only "wimpy" cut is Phil's "sincere" narration at the end backed by a stringy "Silent Night". Thanks Paul and congratulations on your retirement...
Congratulations to Mike McCann for New York Post sports columnist Phil Mushnick's glowing mention: "McCann's strong on both style - he has a radio narrator's pipes and delivery, and substance - he delivers useful, cut-above parenthetical into and perspective, proving that he knows his sports and pays attention". Kudos Mike...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Mikhi ("E.R.") Phifer (32), Jude Law (34), Paula Poundstone (47), Evonne Elliman (55), Ted Danson (59), Marianne Faithful (60), Jon Voight (68), Mary Tyler Moore (69), Tom Jarriel (72) and Inga ("Benson") Swenson (74)...
Saturday, December 30, 2006...
Timeline Memories...
- [1956] The Giants win their 3rd NFL championship, 47-4 over Chicago on a frozen Yankee Stadium field as Alex Webster runs for 2 touchdowns and catches 5 passes from Chuck Conerly. The Giants play the game in sneakers...
- [1999] George Harrison and his wife are attacked in their West London estate. Harrison is stabbed in the chest 4 times but he and his wife somehow manage to subdue the assailant until the bobbies arrive...
- [2003] The federal government bans ephedra, an herbal stimulant linked to 155 deaths and dozens of heart attacks and strokes...
"Solid Gold": 1861] U.S. banks stop making payments in gold (robbers rejoice - no more hernias)...
"Par-tay": 1731] The first known music concert is held in the U.S. at Peter Pelham's guest room in Boston (music provided by Aerosmith)...
Pass the buckets: 1903] Nearly 600 die when fire breaks out in the Iroquois Theater in Chicago...1962] Brenda Lee's home is destroyed by fire. The singer is not hurt...
Bargain basement: 1953] The 1st color TV sets go on sale for $1,175 (how many do you want?)...
"Beat The Clock": 1954] The 24-second shot clock is used for the 1st time in the NBA in a game between the Celtics and Rochester...
Debuted on this date: 1963] "Let's Make A Deal" joins the daytime lineup on NBC-TV...1971] The Long Island NHL franchise is purchased. The Islanders are born...
#1 on this date: 1967] "Hello Goodbye" - Beatles tops the charts for the 1st of 3 weeks...
"So sue me": 1970] Paul McCartney sues the other 3 Beatles to dissolve the partnership and gain control of his interest...
The Final Curtain: 1978] Ohio State University fires football coach Woody Hayes for his Gator Bowl explosion...
"Walk the Line": 2002] Diana Ross is arrested in Tucson (AZ) on suspicion of drunken driving ("Haaaaapy New Yeeeeaaaar")...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Allyson Mireya Phillips (1), LeBron James (22), Tiger Woods (31), Tracey Ullman (47), Matt Lauer (49), Original "Dream Girl" Sheryl Lee Ralph (51), Meredith Vieira (53), Patti Smith (60), Davy Jones (61), Michael Nesmith (64), Paul (Peter, Paul & Mary) Stookey (69), Sandy Koufax (71) and Bo Diddley (78)...
Sunday, December 31, 2006...
Timeline Memories...
- [1943] Times Square greets Frank Sinatra at the Paramount Theater (his career explodes after this appearance)...
- [1999] Russian President Boris Yeltsin is replaced by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin...
- [1999] Control of the Panama Canal reverts back to Panama...
"Happy Trails": 1972] Future Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente is killed on a mission of mercy when the cargo plane he had chartered goes down in the Caribbean. Clemente, 38, was on his way to helping victims of a Nicaraguan earthquake...1985] Teen Idol Rick Nelson dies in a plane crash on his way to a New Year's Eve concert in Dallas. Probable cause of the crash was mechanical. Rick was just 45 and one of the nicest people I ever met...1997] Michael Kennedy, 39-year old son of the late Robert Kennedy is killed in a skiing accident on Aspen Mountain (CO)...1999] Sarah Knauss, the world's oldest person (119) dies (she was born on Sept. 24, 1880)...
"Pass "Go" and collect $200": 1935] Charles Darrow patents Monopoly...
Wedding Bells: 1947] Roy Rogers ropes Dale Evans in marriage (they stay married until Roy's death in 1998)...
"Cha-ching": 1955] GM becomes the 1st U.S. corporation to earn more than one billion dollars in one year...1956] The Wall Street Journal reports that in the past few months Elvis Presley merchandise has grossed $22 million in sales (and now?)...1974] Free agent pitcher Catfish Hunter signs a $3.75 million, 5-year contract with the Yankees...1975] Elvis performs for 60,000 fans at the Silverdome in Pontiac (MI) and sets a world record by earning $800,000 for a single concert by a single performer...
#1 on this date: 1966] "I'm A Believer" - Monkees...
"Guilty as Charged": 1986] A fire at the Dupont Plaza in San Juan (PR) kills 97 and injures 140. 3 hotel workers later plead guilty to charges in connection with the fire...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Joey McIntyre (34), Val Kilmer (47), Bebe Neuwirth (48), Donna Summer (58), Burton Cummings (59), Diane Von Furstenburg (60), Ben Kingsley (63), Sarah Miles (65), Anthony Hopkins (69), and Odetta (76)...
Monday, January 1, 2007...
"Happy New Year"...
Timeline Memories...
- [1797] Albany replaces New York City as capital of New York State...
- [1863] Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation declaring that slaves in rebel states are free...
- [1898] Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island are consolidated into New York City ("I'll take Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island too")...
- [1959] Fidel Castro overthrows the government of Fulgencio Batista and seizes power in Cuba...
- [1966] Tobacco companies in the U.S. start carrying warning signs on cigarette packs...
- [1967] The FCC starts requiring AM/FM stations to be at least 50% separate in programming...
- [1994] The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA goes into effect...
"Happy Trails": 1953] Hank Williams is found dead in his car, a victim of a drug and alcohol overdose at 29...
The Final Curtain: 0404] The last gladiator competition is held in Rome...1966] The final episode of "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" is filmed...1995] The last "Far Side" cartoon runs. Started in 1980 by Gary Larson, "Far Side" books and calendars continue to be published...
Debuted on this date: 1785] London's oldest daily, "The Daily Universal Register" (later renamed "The Times" in 1788) is published for the 1st time...1892] The Ellis Island Immigrant Station opens in New York Harbor...1902] The 1st Tournament of Roses (later renamed the Rose Bowl) collegiate football game is played in Pasadena (CA)...
"Pasadena": 1962] Decca Records in London, passes on the Beatles in favor of the immortal Brian Poole & the Tremeloes instead (how'd that work out?)...
Recorded on this date: 1956] Elvis Presley records "Heartbreak Hotel" for RCA in Nashville...1964] "Fun, Fun, Fun" - Beach Boys...
"The Name Game": 1968] The Blue Velvets become Creedence Clearwater Revival...
Baby Bells: 1984] AT&T is broken up into 22 Bell Systems under terms of an antitrust agreement...
Premiered on this date: 1985] VH-1...1992] ESPN Radio Network...1999] The "Euro" becomes currency for 11 member states of the European Union (coins vanish after 1/1/02)...
Smoke-Free: 1998] An anti-smoking law went into effect in California, prohibiting people from lighting up in bars (this was a great law that continues to grow)...
Buckle-Up: 1985] The 1st mandatory seat belt law goes into effect in New York (ditto)...
The torch is passed: 1990] David Dinkins is sworn in as New York City's 1st black mayor...
"2YK": 2000] The calendar switches over to 2000 with none of the computer glitches expected (thank you computer geeks everywhere that stuck "2YK" stickers on everything that moved)...
Merger: 1994] Bill Gates adds a new computer chip: wife Marilyn French...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Verne ("mini-me") Troyer (38), Grandmaster Flash a.k.a. Joseph Saddler (49), Don (a.k.a. Father Guido Sarducci) Novello (64), Country Joe McDonald (65), Frank Langella (67) and J.D. Salinger (88)...
Timeline Countdown: Happy New Year, 5 days until the NFL playoffs, 7 days until the BCS championship game, 34 days until Super Bowl XLI and 45 days until "pitchers & catchers"...
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