"The 60's are on their way back" - Judy Collins...
What's going on here? Judy Collins just opened at the ritzy Cafe Carlyle on the upper east side and "Cold Case" will use Bob Dylan music as a back drop to this weekend's Sunday night episode. Flash back 40 years and just the thought of either event happening would get you drummed out of Greenwich Village for life. The Village is where both artists cut their musical teeth...
Rather than the 60's returning maybe it's a sign that the decade has been assimilated into the mainstream. I always used to think that someday we would see the Rolling Stones playing at the Carlyle just like Bobby Short used to. I'll settle for Judy Collins instead. The Carlyle where 'Suite Judy Blue Eyes' will be performing through March 2nd is a perfectly small, intimate venue for the 67-year old golden voiced singer. A couple of years ago we saw Judy in Hyannis (MA) at the Cape Cod Melody Tent and she was magnificent. Talk about a 60's flashback, Arlo Guthrie opened for Judy...
I met Judy several years back when she attended a Leonard Cohen party and had a chance to talk to her about her career and life. She's a fascinating person who has lived a life filled with happiness and heartbreak that included the suicide of her son Clark. Of all the songs she's famous for including Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now", "Amazing Grace" and "Send In The Clowns", one of my favorite Judy Collins songs is included into today's video link, "Someday Soon". It's a clip from a 1969 Smothers Brothers show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV7T6KCMosE ...
In today's Commentary, a look at George Steinbrenner's heir apparent and son-in-law Steve Swindal who's in a big jam and Frank Torre, brother of Yankees manager Joe Torre...
Timeline Memories...
Benevolent and Protective: 1868] 'The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks' is formed in New York City (what the devil does the BPOE do besides being benevolent and protective???)...
"Tonight we have a really big shew": 1964] The Beatles return for their 2nd Sunday in a row to "The Ed Sullivan Show" to sing 6 songs...
"Tick...tick...tick": 1975] The music variety series, "Cher" premieres on CBS-TV. The show bombs and is cancelled after one season...
Into the slammer: 1990] Ike Turner is sentenced to 4 years on cocaine charges...
"D-I-V-O-R-C-E": 1982] Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett say "I don't" and divorce after separating in 1979. They married in July, 1973...1989] Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden split up after 16 years of marriage...
LHJ is born: 1883] The "Ladies Home Journal" begins publication. Their first issue asks the question "Are hems on bathing suits being raised to above the ankles?" Not...
Whirlybird Heaven: 1946] The 1st commercially designed helicopter is unveiled and tested in Bridgeport (CT)...
"All news all the time": 1948] NBC-TV begins airing its 1st nightly newscast featuring Fox and Movietone newsreels...
"Have a cigar": 1959] Fidel Castro seizes power in Cuba after the overthrow of President Fulgencio Batista...
My old stomping grounds: 1968] The 1st 911 emergency telephone system is inaugurated in Haleyville (AL) where I started my radio career at WJBB at the age of 18...
"The winner and new heavyweight champeen of the woild": 1970] Joe Frazier begins his reign as undefeated heavyweight champ by knocking out Jimmy Ellis in 5 rounds. Frazier keeps his title until losing it on January 22, 1973 to George Foreman. It would be Frazier's 1st professional loss...
Winter Gold: 1984] 23-year old Bill Johnson becomes the 1st American to win Olympic downhill skiing gold at Sarajevo...
Still wet behind the ears: 1997] At age 25 Jeff Gordon is the youngest winner in Daytona 500 history (today he's pouring sugar in someones tank before the race)...
Good luck getting ticket refunds: 2005] The NHL cancels the 2004-2005 season due to a labor dispute. It's the 1st time a major sports league in North America loses an entire season...
Ivan the acquitted: 1987] John Demjanjuk a.k.a. "Ivan the Terrible", a guard at Treblinka concentration camp is convicted but the Israeli Supreme Court overturns the verdict (huh?)...
Investigators drop a bomb: 1989] Investigators in Lockerbie, Scotland, announce that it was a bomb hidden inside a radio-cassette player that brought down Pan Am 103 the previous December killing all 259 aboard and 11 on the ground...
You smell something?: 2002] The operator of a crematory in Noble (GA) is arrested after dozens of corpses are found stacked in storage sheds and scattered in the surrounding woods...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
Pitchers and catchers have just reported but already there's controversy surrounding the Yankees. First it was super reliever Mariano Rivera hinting that he might leave after this season if he doesn't get a new contract and now, heir apparent and Steinbrenner son-in-law Steve Swindal is DUI in Florida. Swindal was booked for a misdemeanor and released from jail in Largo but the big question is how does Steinbrenner reacts to this. I won't even speculate but stay tuned...
Joe Torre's brother Frank received a heart transplant 11 years ago and now he needs a kidney transplant. If he doesn't find a match, he would go on a transplant list which could force him to wait up to a year for a new organ. Frank's heart is fine but at 75 his kidney needs to be replaced. Joe is no ordinary Joe, nor is Frank an ordinary Frank. My guess is that he'll find a match for a new kidney before a lot of other less famous people do. Our best wishes go out to the Torre's...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Jerome Bettis (35), John McEnroe (48), Ice-T (49), LeVar Burton (50), James Ingram (51), Kim Jong Il (65), The Andrews Sisters' Patty Andrews (89)...
Timeline Countdown: 33 days until spring and 44 days until the baseball opener...
Saturday, February 17, 2007...
Timeline Memories...
"Heads it's Jefferson, tails, it's Burr": 1801] The U.S. House of Representatives breaks an electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr by picking Jefferson as President and Burr as his VP...
Art replaces War: 1913] The Armory Show opens at the 69th Regiment Armory in Manhattan with paintings and sculpture on display. This show continues to be held yearly at the same Armory...
"TIME is not on their side": 1933] Newsweek is published for the 1st time...
Wedding Bells: 1933] Blondie and Dagwood walk down the cartoon aisle, 3 years after they met in the papers. They celebrate their 74th wedding anniversary today...
VOA is born: 1947] The Voice of America begins its broadcasts to the Soviet Union...
Resume to follow: 1955] Little Richard sends his 1st audition tape to Specialty Records which will sign him to a contract...
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered": 1960] The Everly Brothers sign with Warner Brothers. The deal is for 10 years for a total of $1 million...
Recording on this date: 1966] Brian Wilson begins recording "Good Vibrations"...
Prime Time Debut: 1971] James Taylor makes his prime time TV debut on "The Johnny Cash Show" (ABC-TV)...
Released on this date: 1976] "Greatest Hits" LP - The Eagles (which is still selling)...
"Oh Howard": 1986] Howard Stern returns to New York radio at K-Rock (WXRK). Howard just asked Beth Ostrovsky to marry him and after putting up with him for 7 years, do you think she would say "no". She didn't...
Facelift #1: 1965] Joan Rivers makes her 1st guest appearance substituting for Johnny Carson...
A Hall for Hoops: 1968] 'The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame' opens in Springfield (MA)...
Triple Gold: 1968] France's Jean-Claude Killy wins the triple crown of Alpine Skiing at the Grenoble Olympics winning 3 Gold medals...
Murder Inc: 1992] In Milwaukee mass murderer Jeffrey Dahmer is sentenced to life. In November of 1994 he is beaten to death in prison...1995] LIRR killer Colin Ferguson is convicted on 6 counts of murder in the December, 1993 shootings. Ferguson is later sentenced to a minimum of 200 years in prison. No tears are shed for either of these 2 sentences...
Deeply Blue: 1996] World chess champion Garry Kasparov beats "Deep Blue", the IBM supercomputer in Philadelphia. Ironically, the founder of IBM, Thomas Watson would have been 133 today)...
"Can you hear me now?": 2004] Cingular Wireless agrees to pay nearly $41 billion to buy AT&T Wireless...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Paris Hilton (26), Jason Ritter (27), Denise Richards (36), Michael Jordan (44), Lou Diamond Phillips (45), Rene Russo (53), Mary Ann Mobley (68), Jim Brown, the NFL Hall of Famer (71), Hal Holbrook (82) and Margaret Truman Daniel (83)...
Timeline Countdown: 32 days until spring and 43 days until the baseball opener...
Sunday, February 18, 2007...
Timeline Memories...
"Happy Trails": 1998] Cubs play-by-play man Harry Carey dies of a heart attack at 83...2001] Dale Earnhardt dies from injuries suffered in a crash at the Daytona 500. Earnhardt was 49...
The dwarf planet: 1930] Clyde Tombaugh was spinning in his grave last summer when Pluto was designated a "dwarf" planet last summer. Clyde discovered the former planet on this date...
Never the Twain until now: 1885] Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is published in the U.S. for the 1st time...
Close Shave: 1951] The biggest point-shaving scandal in college basketball history begins when 3 players from CCNY, the defending champion, are charged with accepting bribes to throw games. They eventually admit their crimes along with 29 others from 6 schools, including powerhouse Kentucky...
Nothing petty about this feat: 1979] Richard Petty wins his 6th Daytona 500...
Trading Places: 1999] The Yankees and Toronto make a blockbuster trade: 5-time Cy Young winner, Roger Clemens goes to the Bronx for David Wells...
Grab your 3-D glasses: 1953] "Bwana Devil", the 1st 3-D movie opens in New York City...
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered": 1953] Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz sign a contract worth $8 million to continue "I Love Lucy" through 1955...
Recorded on this date: 1959] "What'd I Say" - Ray Charles...
Wedding Bells: 1969] Lulu and Maurice Gibb rock down the aisle in England. They will divorce in 1973...
"Guilty as Charged": 1970] 5 of the "Chicago 7" are found guilty of intent to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic convention. The convictions are later overturned...
Piggy Back: 1977] The space shuttle "Enterprise" goes on its maiden flight on top of a Boeing 747...
He didn't go quietly: 2004] Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean abandons his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination after going off at that press conference...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Molly Ringwald (39), Dr. Dre (42), Matt Dillon (43), Vanna White (50), John Travolta (53), Cybil Shepherd (57), Dennis De Young (Styx) (60), Herman Santiago of The Teenagers (66), Yoko Ono (74), George Kennedy (82) and Helen Gurley Brown (85)...
Timeline Countdown: 31 days until spring and 42 days until baseball's opening day...
President's Day, Monday, February 19, 2007...
Timeline Memories...
Something to play your records on: 1878] Thomas Alva Edison patents a music player - the phonograph is born...
Recorded on this date: 1956] "The Magic Touch" - The Platters...
TV debut: 1974] Kiss make their TV debut on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert"...1974] Dick Clark's "American Music Awards"...
Sound familiar?: 1981] George Harrison is ordered to pay ABKCO Music $587,000 for "subconscious plagiarism" which surpasses "temporary insanity" as a defense, between his song, "My Sweet Lord" and the Chiffons' "He's So Fine"...
Oops: 1942] Franklin D. Roosevelt signs an executive order giving the military authority to relocate and intern Japanese-Americans...
Truly Splendid: 1953] Ted Williams, a Marine pilot since 1951, escapes after crash-landing his F-9 Panther after being hit in Korea. He climbs down from the cockpit just before the plane explodes...
The "Joe Pa" era begins: 1966] Joe Paterno moves from assistant head coach of Penn State, where he began at the school in 1950, to head coach replacing Rip Engle. 41 years later he still is head coach at PSU...
Winter Gold: 1984] Twin brothers Phil and Steve Mahre finish 1-2 in the men's slalom on the final day of the Sarajevo Winter Olympics...
"I beg your pardon": 1977] President Gerald Ford pardons Iva Toguri D'Aquino a.k.a. "Tokyo Rose"...
This is a new drink?: 1985] Cherry Coke is introduced by Coca-Cola. This is a drink that was discovered a lot earlier than that in every neighborhood of New York City along with the Egg-Cream...
The smoking light goes out: 1987] A controversial anti-smoking commercial airs for the 1st time on network TV. It features Yul Brynner who would soon die from lung cancer resulting from his heavy smoking...
Wedding Bells: 1995] Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson rock down the aisle. Pam's website lists her as being "single". This relationship has had more up and downs than the light switch on your wall...
"Guilty as Charged": 2004] Former Enron chief Jeffrey Skilling is charged with fraud, insider trading and other crimes in connection with the energy trader's monumental collapse. Worst of all his loses his company parking space...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Justine Bateman (41), Seal (44), Prince Andrew (47), Jeff Daniels (52), Lou Christy (64), Bobby (The Miracles) Rogers (67), Smokey Robinson (same group) (67)...
Timeline Countdown: 30 days until spring and 41 days until baseball's opening day...
...
