Lights...Camera...Spector...
Forty-two years ago today Phil Spector was at the top of the charts as producer of the Righteous Brothers #1 hit, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling". Today he lives free as a result of the $1 million bail he paid. If convicted of the murder of actress Lana Clarkson at his suburban Los Angeles mansion on February 3, 2003, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. The Los Angeles Superior Court judge who will try the case is leaning toward allowing the trial to be televised. Says Judge Larry Paul Fidler: "This is a trial of public interest". It sure is...
Phil Spector's legend as a music producer is real. He was a great rock and roll producer in the 60's. His "wall of sound" production has never been equalled - never will be. We'll never see the like of Phil Spector again, as a producer. Phil Spector the person is another story. If you've ever made his acquaintance you know how wacky he can be. He's everything you've ever read about him and more. And let's remember that he's been accused of murder...
The next pretrial hearing is set for February 16th. On March 19th as many as 300 prospective jurors will be screened. Once the jury is selected, testimony will start in 3 or 4 weeks. The trial is expected to last 3 months. Then comes the verdict followed by the sentencing if there's a conviction. No conviction and Spector can be as wacky as he wants once again. And you might be able to see it all unfolding live. Stay tuned...
Today's video link is contained in a "#1 on this date" timeline from 1971...
"Timeline Memories"...
The final version of "Runaway": 1990] Del Shannon dies of a self-inflicted gun shot wound at the age of 50...
The final curtain: 1969] The last issue of the 'Saturday Evening Post' is published...
"On my honor I will do my best, etc.": 1910] The American version of the Boy Scouts (which began in England) is started here by William D. Boyce. The Boy Scouts of America is founded...
"$100,000 and it's silent?": 1915] Director D.W. Griffith's civil war epic, "Birth of a Nation" premieres at Clune's Auditorium in Los Angeles. The 3-hour movie cost $100,000 - a fortune for 1915...
"Live from Chicago - the 1st infomercial": 1924] The 1st coast-to-coast radio broadcast is aired, a speech by a Bell Telephone VP to a meeting of a men's club in Chicago. Some 50 million listeners tune in in New York, Providence, Washington (D.C.), San Francisco and Oakland...
Caught in a draft: 1935] University of Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger picks up a trophy for being "the most valuable football player east of the Mississippi" and is drafted and signed by the Philadelphia Eagles. Chicago Bear coach George Halas acquires the rights to Jay. Berwanger asks for $25,000 for 2 years and Halas backs off. Berwanger never plays a game in the NFL. In 1936 this award was named after the athletic director of the (Manhattan) Downtown Athletic Club, John W. Heisman...
Ed Sullivan with mouse ears: 1953] Walt Disney is featured on a one-hour special broadcast on Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town" show. One year later Disney starts his own show...
Released on this date: 1974] "You're 16" - Ringo Starr...
#1 on this date: 1961] "Calcutta" - Lawrence Welk...1971] "One Bad Apple" - The Osmonds...Our video link of the day: a really good live version of "Apple" with The Osmonds all decked out in their white Elvis suits and cutting a rug with great choreography: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96HqPpjI3UY 1981] "Celebration" - Kool and The Gang...1992] "I'm Too Sexy" - Right Said Fred...
Hail to the Chiefs: 1963] Lamar Hunt, owner of the AFL franchise in Dallas moves to Kansas City and starts the Chiefs...
No Sale: 1969] George Harrison's tonsils are removed and destroyed in London so they cannot be sold. What would that fetch on eBay???
"Good things come in small packages": 1981] Scott Hamilton (5'3", 115 lbs) receives 2 perfect 6.0's winning the 1st of 4 straight titles in both national and world figure skating as well as the gold medal at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics...1986] Tiny (5'6") Spud Webb of Atlanta wins the NBA Slam Dunk competition at the All-Star game...
"So sue me": 1993] General Motors sues NBC alleging that "Dateline NBC" rigged 2 car crashes showing some GM pickups were prone to fires. The suit will be settled by NBC the following day...
Paying and playing for Gold: 1998] NHL stars arrive for the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan removing restrictions against professionals being used in the Olympics (the NBA "Dream Team" started all this nonsense at the Summer games in Barcelona 6 years earlier)...
"And the Grammy goes to": 2004] Beyonce wins 5 Grammy Awards tying the record for female performers held by Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and Norah Jones...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
Shivering all week long as we've been doing in the northeast offers a clue as to why so many college athletes prefer warm places to play in. The general consensus in yesterday's college football signings is that USC, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, LSU, South Carolina and Georgia signed the best players. Only two schools north of the Mason-Dixon line showed up in that list: Notre Dame and Wisconsin. Yes you have to do a great job in recruiting and must also have a great football program but in yesterday's signings, the rich got richer. Is it any wonder that USC, Tennessee, Texas, LSU, one of the Georgia schools and one of the Florida schools show up in the top 10 every year???
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Gary Coleman (39), John Grisham (52), Mary Steenburgen (54), Dan Seals (59), Robert Klein (65), Nick Nolte (66) Ted Koppel (67) and John Williams (75)...
Timeline Countdown: 7 days until 'pitchers and catchers' and 41 days until spring...
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