Jury selection begins in Spector trial...
After 4 long years, it looks like there might actually be a trial for Phil Spector, surrounded by a "wall of trouble" in the death of "Barbarian Queen" actress, Lana Clarkson, who died of a massive gunshot wound at Spector's home in February of 2003. The coroner's office called it a homicide, "death by the hand of another" while Spector has called it "an accidental suicide"...
Jury selection for the trial, which will be televised on Court TV, begins today and continues tomorrow but after that there will be no rush to judgement with a one-month break. A pre-trial hearing takes place on April 9 with jurors to be questioned individually on April 16. The jury is expected to be seated by April 30...
Spector's New York lawyer, Bruce Cutler, who never met a Gotti he didn't defend, says his defense will be simple: "He didn't shoot this woman." Of course prosecutors have a slightly different take: "He placed the gun in her mouth and fired."...
Cutler and company would love to have music fans with a love for the mark on music history left by Phil Spector but as Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson says: "There won't be many of those in the jury pool, not even in Tinseltown." Anyone over 40 will say, "I never heard of him. Who's Phil Spector?"...
There are 2 music video links on tap today. The first one can be found in the "New Massachusetts State Song?" timeline, video #2 is in our "Happy Birthday...happy birthday" timeline...
Timeline Memories...
Tragedy at Sea: 1945] About 800 lose their lives as Japanese kamikaze planes attack the U.S. carrier Franklin off the coast of Japan...
"Shock and Awe": 2003] An American-led coalition launches a war against Iraq, beginning with the launch of U.S. cruise missiles and precision-guided bombs aimed at Saddam Hussein near Baghdad...
New Massachusetts State song?: 1629] The Massachusetts colony is founded by Englishmen. The Massachusetts state song is : "All Hail To Massachusetts" which should be replaced by the Bee Gees song about the Bay State: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2OquCZzDCw ...1822] The city of Boston is incorporated...
"Stick-Up, highway robbery": 1831] The 1st bank robbery in America is reported. The City Bank of New York City loses $245,000 in a stick-up...
Let the games begin: 1931] Nevada legalizes gambling...
Where there's Hope, there's the Oscars: 1953] Bob Hope emcees the 1st televised Academy Awards show on the network. 174 stations give viewers a look at Gary Cooper winning for 'Best Actor' in 'High Noon' and Shirley Booth accepting the 'Best Actress' for 'Come Back Little Sheba'. 'The Greatest Show on Earth' is 'Best Picture'...
Style and Grace: 1957] Elvis Presley buys the mansion he names "Graceland"...
Released on this date: 1962] "Bob Dylan" LP - Bob Dylan...
"D-I-V-O-R-C-E": 1976] Buckingham Palace announces the separation of Princess Margaret and her husband, the Earl of Snowdon after 16 years of marriage. They divorce 2 years later...
Debuted on this date: 1984] "Kate & Allie" starring Susan Saint James (Kate) and Jane Curtin (Allie). The show will run for 5 seasons, ending in 1989...
The preacher and the church lady: 1987] TV evangelist Jim Bakker resigns as chairman of his PTL ministry amid a sex-and-money scandal involving former church secretary Jessica Hahn...
"Glory Road": 1966] #3 ranked Texas Western upsets #1 Kentucky in the NCAA tournament's final game to win the championship of college basketball. The Miners, primarily a team composed of blacks beats the Wildcats 72-65. This was recently made into a movie...
Heeeee's bahhhhk: 1995] One day after returning from his 1st retirement, Michael Jordan, wearing #45 instead of his familiar #23, scores 19 points for the Bulls in an OT loss to the Indian Pacers...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
I missed a "Happy Trails" mention of Betty Hutton's death last week. Hutton started as a singer, turned to acting and her success was based on humor, not sex. Betty Hutton passed away last week at the age of 86...
You may remember the cheerleading Dallas Cowboy fan, known as the Cowboy's unoffical mascot who came complete with cowboy hat, blue vest, spats and six-shooter. Well, he went to the Cowboy cheerleading section of the great beyond over the weekend. Wilford "Crazy Ray" Jones was 76. He was never paid by the Cowboys but was given a special parking space at Texas Stadium and a free pass to all home games...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Bruce Willis (52), Glenn Close (60), Ruth Pointer (61), Clarence "Frogman" Henry (70) Video clip #2, feature's the 'Frogman' croaking out "Ain't Got No Home": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXc6Y0DB3LE , Ursula Andress (71), Renee Taylor (74), Phyllis Newman (74) and Patrick McGoohan (79)...
Timeline Countdown: spring arrives at 8:07 tomorrow night, 12 days until Opening Day and 13 days until the NCAA championship game...
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