Like it or not, it's Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of the Summer. Not only is the fleet in but with all the military hardware in New York, people are acting even cockier than usual. The weather has cooperated, turning the end of May into July and we may hit a high of 90 today. The beaches will be open with life guards on duty, there are parades throughout the city, nearly half a million people will be on hand for the annual air show at Jones Beach and the annual arts festival will be held in Washington Square. Now here's your History 101 lesson on the meaning of the day:
- It started as "Decoration Day" at the time of the Civil War as a memorial to those who died in battle...
- In 1866 the tiny village of Waterloo, New York started observing the day on May 5th and made it an annual event. A proclamation followed that observance, changing the date to May 30th...
- "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882 but would not replace "Decoration Day" until 1967...
- On June 28, 1968 Congress passed the 'Uniform Holidays' bill which moved 4 holidays, including Memorial Day to Monday (the others were 'President's Day', 'Columbus Day' and 'Veteran's Day'). They also locked in the observance of Memorial Day to the last Monday in May...
However you decide to celebrate the Holiday, make it a safe and happy occasion but do remember those who gave (and are still giving) their lives for us. Check my Memorial Day Commentary for some events that might interest you...
10 Timeline Memories...
- 1844] Patent Pending: Stuart Perry patents the gasoline engine (which would have permanently been modified to 'green' by Al Gore and Mike Bloomberg)...
- 1925] Guilty as charged: John T. Scopes is indicted in Tennessee for teaching 'Darwin's theory of evolution'...
- 1927] Debuted on this date: "Movietone News" is shown for the 1st time at the Sam Harris Theatre in New York City...1951] Future Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays debuts with the New York Giants...1969] "Midnight Cowboy" premieres in New York City and here's the opening of the film with Harry Nilsson singing "Everybody's Talkin": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QorkFwpOo6E&mode=related&search= ...1977] "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" (the 1st 'Star Wars' movie) opens as the largest grossing film to-date...1992] Jay Leno debuts as the new host of NBC-TV's "Tonight Show", succeeding Johnny Carson...
- 1935] The curtain comes down: Babe Ruth hits his 714th and final home run at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, as a member of the Boston Braves. The blast reportedly went more than 600 feet...1978] Keith Moon plays with The Who for the last time. In September he will OD at 32...1988] After a 6 year run, "St. Elsewhere" (one of my all-time favorite shows) bows out with their final episode. The series starred Denzel Washington, Mark Harmon, Alfre Woodard, Howie Mandel and Ronnie Cox. What a cast!...
- 1961] The Moon or bust: President John F. Kennedy asks America to work toward putting a man on the moon before the end of the decade...
- 1965] And still champ: Cassius Clay (not yet Ali) retains his heavyweight crown with a one-round TKO of Sonny Liston (many believe this fight may have been fixed)...
- 1979] Tragedy at O'Hare: An American Airlines DC-10 crashes on takeoff from O'Hare International in Chicago killing all 271 on board and 2 on the ground...
- 1986] Put your hand in the hand: An estimated 7 million people form a line for "Hands Across America" to raise money for the nation's hungry and homeless...
- 2005] Your American Idol: Carrie Underwood is named "American Idol". The 22-year old Oklahoma native beats out rocker Bo Bice. Wednesday night Jordin Sparks was chosen the new 2007 American Idol...
- 2006] "Happy Trails": Desmond ("The Israelites") Dekker who dies from a heart attack at 64...
Music Memories:
- 1962] Released on this date: "Twist and Shout" - Isley Brothers...1968] "Jumping Jack Flash" - Rolling Stones who were obviously dressed for Halloween in this live video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ma977B37c&mode=related&search= ...
- 1969] Recorded on this date: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" -Hollies...
- 1973] Packing the park: Carole King plays and sings in Central Park for an audience of 100,000...
- 1975] #1 on this date: "Before The Next Teardrop Falls" - Freddy Fender...1983] "Flashdance...What a Feeling" - Irene Cara and here's the video of that song and "She's a Maniac" - Michael Sembello, from the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcp7v0uoybc ...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
WFNY has changed its format from Free-FM Talk back to K-Rock, WXRK 92.3 FM. A CBS Radio station changing format is not exactly big news, it seems to happen with regularity these days..."Oh, it's Memorial Day weekend? Let's change the format"...So what if their format overlaps that of WCBS-FM and WPLJ. How does this company stay in business??? One more late breaking item: Sirius Satellite Radio CEO Mel Karmazin trying to assure shareholder concerns at the company's annual meeting yesterday that the sky is not falling, said: "We suck less" (as compared to XM). Ya gotta love this guy. Sirius stock has fallen consistently since early 2006 when it opened the year trading at $6.70 and has fallen below $3 since May. It was up 4 cents yesterday, to $2.90, less than the price of a gallon of gas...XM Satellite Radio recalls the Top 40 heyday of WABC with a special tonight from 4-9 p.m. on Channel 6...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Anne Heche (38), Mike Myers (44), Karen Valentine (60), Leslie Uggams (64), Jessi Colter (64), Ian McKellen (68), Dixie Carter (68), Tom T. Hall (71), Cookie Gilchrist (72), K.C. Jones (75), Beverly Sills (78), Kitty Kallen (81) and Hal David (86)...
Timeline Countdown: 3 days until Memorial Day and 15 days until the Belmont Stakes...
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Saturday, May 26, 2007...
10 Timeline Memories...
- 1647] Tough love: A new law banning Catholic priests from the colony of Massachusetts with the penalty being banishment or death for a second offense (you New Englanders are tough)...1868] President Andrew Johnson is acquitted (by 1 vote) of all charges in his impeachment trial...
- 1896] How now Dow Jones?: The Dow is published for the 1st time with the average price of the 11 initial stocks at $40.94, a bloody fortune in 1896...
- 1959] Wake me up before you throw-throw: The word "Frisbee" becomes a registered trademark of Wham-O...
- 1959] No one's perfect: Harvey Haddix of the Pirates pitches 12 perfect innings but loses in the 13th on the 1st hit he gives up - a Joe Adcock home run...
- 1972] Can you pass the SALT?: SALT 1 is signed by the U.S. and USSR putting a freeze on the testing and deployment of land and sub based ICBMs and ballistic missiles for 5 years...
- 1977] Who needs Spiderman: George H. Willig is arrested after he scales the South Tower of the WTC in 3 1/2 hours (or about the time it takes to get crosstown)...
- 1978] You can bet on it: The 1st legal casino in the eastern U.S. opens in Atlantic City...
- 1993] Jose uses his head: Jose Canseco is 'heads-up' while trying to catch a flyball. The ball hits off his head into the stands. HOME RUN!!!
- 1994] And somewhere Elvis is kvelling: Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley secretly wed in the Dominican Republic. They divorce 20 months later. I wish they would've kept it a secret from us...
- 2004] Guilty as charged: Terry Nichols is found guilty of 161 state murder charges for helping carry out the Oklahoma City bombing. He receives 161 consecutive life sentences. Not enough for that crime...
Music Memories:
- #1 on this date: 1959] "The Battle of New Orleans" - Johnny Horton...1970] "Everything is Beautiful" - Ray Stevens...1980] "Funkytown" - Lipps, Inc. Did you ever see the video? Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUm6TCbEK0g ...
- On Shindig!: 1965] The Rolling Stones, Jackie DeShannon, Sonny & Cher and Jimmy Rodgers...
- Released on this date: 1973] "Smoke On The Water" - Deep Purple, the ultimate Classic Rock song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olnGNkgAE6c ...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Lenny Kravitz (43), Bobcat Goldthwait (45), 'Miami Vice's' Philip Michael Thomas (58), Hank Williams Jr. (58), Stevie Nicks (59), Levon Helm (67), Brent Musburger (68) and James Arness (84)...
Timeline Countdown: 2 days until Memorial Day and 14 days until the Belmont Stakes...
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Sunday, May 27, 2007...
10 Timeline Memories...
- 1647] Witchy Woman: Alse Young becomes the 1st person executed as a witch in America when she is hanged in Hartford (CT). What? You can't be a witch???
- 1668] Pre-religious freedom: Three colonists are expelled from Massachusetts for being Baptists (lighten up people)...
- 1932] Debuted on this date: Massachusetts Governor Joseph Ely signs a bill making Sunday baseball possible at Fenway Park...1933] The Walt Disney Company releases the cartoon "The Three Little Pigs", with its hit song: "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf"...1937] The Golden Gate Bridge connecting San Francisco and Marin County opens to 'pedestrians only'. On the 28th, it opens to traffic...
- 1941] Sink the Bismarck: The British naval and air forces do. 2,300 are killed on the German battleship...
- 1960] If the glove don't fit you must acquit: The Baltimore Orioles debut a giant size catcher's mitt, the size of Rhode Island, to help Clint Courtney catch Hoyt Wilhelm's knuckleball...
- 1968] Papa Bear hangs up his paws: George Halas retires after 48 years as coach of the Chicago Bears...
- 1969] Disney discovers Florida: Construction of Walt Disney World begins in Orlando...
- 1995] Tragedy in the saddle: Christopher Reeve is paralyzed when thrown from his horse during a jumping competition in Charlottesville (VA)...
- 1997] The Supes rule: The Supreme Court rules that Paula Jones can pursue her sexual harassment lawsuit against President Bill Clinton while he is in office...
- 1998] Guilty as charged: The government's star witness in the Oklahoma City bombing case, Michael Fortier is sentenced to 12 years in prison for not apologizing for not warning anyone about the deadly plot...
Music Memories:
- Released on this date: 1957] "That'll Be The Day" - Buddy Holly & The Crickets ...they do the song live on TV in this video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pribHw93OPc ...1962] "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" and from the album, this live TV version of "Blowin' In The Wind": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUz2OulZ-q4&mode=related&search= ...
Commentary...
Today my daughter Lynn renews her vows with husband Lindsay at a big party. Married on Oct. 21, 2006 in Wellington, NZ, this is the U.S. version of the wedding for family and friends. Congratulations Lynn and Lindsay...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Todd Bridges (42), Peri Gilpin (46), Bruce Weitz (64), Cilla Black (64), Louis Gossett Jr. (71), Lee Meriwether (72), Ramsey Lewis (72), Sumner Redstone (84) and Henry Kissinger (84)...
Timeline Countdown: 1 day until Memorial Day and 13 days until the Belmont Stakes...
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Monday, May 28, 2007 (Memorial Day)...
10 Timeline Memories...
- 1934] A women's basketball team: The Dionne quintuplets (Annette, Cecile, Emilie, Marie and Yvonne) are born to Elzire Dionne at their farm in Ontario, Canada. If Celine Dion were born at the same time she would've been Celine Dion Dionne...
- 1951] Say homer: Willie Mays hits his 1st home run against future Baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn. They will become teammates in the 70s with the Mets...1956] Say 8 homers: The Pirates Dale Long becomes the 1st player to hit home runs in 8 consecutive games. In 1987 the Yankees' Don Mattingly and in 1993, Seattle's Ken Griffey Jr. will tie the record...
- 1957] The curtain comes down: The National League approves the move of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants to Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Mets will come along in 1962 when the National League returns to New York...
- 1977] A showbiz tragedy: John Davidson escapes a fire at a supper club in Kentucky that takes the lives of 164. Another 130 are injured...
- 1985] Debuted on this date: Vanity Fair debuts with President Ronald Regan and First Lady Nancy on the cover...
- 1987] Do we have a gulag for you: 19-year old West German pilot Mathias Rust lands his plane in Moscow's Red Square after evading Soviet air defenses. Rust is lucky, he's released in August, 1988...
- 1989] Indy winner: Emerson Fittipaldi (my favorite racing driver's name) and Al Unser Jr. play bumper cars in the Indy 500 with Unser helping Fittipaldi cross the finish line 1st. Understand this is not what Unser intended to do...
- 1996] Taking a bullet for Bubba: President Clinton's former business partners in the Whitewater land deal, James and Susan McDougal refuse to say the Clinton's had anything to do with the case and end up in jail. Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker is also convicted of fraud...
- 1998] Heartbreak in Hollywood: Comic actor Phil Hartman, 49, of 'Saturday Night Live' and 'Newsradio' is shot to death at his home in Calfornia by his wife Brynn who then takes her own life...
- 2005] Rivalry record: The Boston Red Sox score 2 touchdowns and a field goal and beat the Yankees 17-1 in the most lopsided score in their rivalry's history...
Music Memories:
- Billboard's Most Popular Song on this date: 1955] "The Ballad of Davey Crockett" - Fess Parker...Here's the song being played on the same type of jukebox used in 'Back To The Future (part 1)': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01rNP89pSyk ...
- Debuted on this date: 1957] The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) is established. NARAS puts on the Grammy Awards every year...1977] "Barracuda" - Heart (which every Classic Rock jock ever on the air has at least one time intro'd as 'Baccaruda") and here's the great video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-6o1BRezuw ...
- Breaking up is hard to do: 1976] The Allman Brothers Band breaks up after Gregg Allman testifies against his personal road manager in a drug case. The band re-forms in 1978...
Commentary...
WABC Rewound is on the air, today, Memorial Day from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. 770 AM abandons their Talk format during those hours to return to the station's Top 40 glory days...All weekend long The Grand Ole Opry has been honoring the U.S. military with a salute that will continue through Labor Day Weekend. Artists performing this weekend include Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Joe Diffie, Mark Chesnutt, Hal Ketchum, the Del McCoury Band and Porter Wagoner...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Rosie sparring partner Elizabeth Hasselbeck of 'The View' (30), John Fogerty (62), Billy Vera (63), Gladys Knight (63), Rudolph Giuliani (63), NBA logo silhouette Jerry West (69) and Carroll Baker (76)...
Timeline Countdown: Today is Memorial Day, 12 days until the Belmont Stakes and 37 days until July 4th...
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