Thursday, July 31, 2008

Thursday, July 31, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:
  1. 1928] I am Leo hear me roar: MGM's Leo the Lion roars for the first time when he's introduced to the big screen for "White Shadows in the South Seas"...
  2. 1948] Idlewild about Harry: President Harry S. Truman helps dedicate Idlewild International Airport (later changed to JFK) with New York Governor (and soon to be opponent in the presidential election) Thomas E. Dewey and Mayor William O'Dwyer in attendance with live radio and TV coverage...
  3. 1964] Say "cheese": American space probe Ranger 7 transmits pictures of the moon's surface back to earth...
  4. 1964] "Happy Trails": Country singer Jim Reeves dies when the single-engine Beechcraft he was piloting goes down during a violent thunderstorm near his home in Nashville. His business partner and manager Dean Manuel is also killed. "Gentleman Jim" was just 40...
  5. 1972] McGovern picks Eagleton as running mate: Of course the rest of the story involves Sargent Shriver replacing Eagleton because of his fragile mental health...
  6. 1976] Real Golden Gloves: The U.S. picks up 5 gold medals in boxing at the Montreal Olympics. Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks, Leon Spinks, Howard Davis and Leo Randolph are the winners of the gold awards. Sugar Ray and Leon Spinks will become pro-boxing champions...
  7. 1981] Back to work: The 7-week baseball players strike comes to an end when the players and owners agree on the issue of free agent compensation...
  8. 1990] Joining the 300 club: Nolan Ryan becomes the 20th major league pitcher to win 300 games as his Texas Rangers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 11-3...
  9. 1995] ABC sprouts mouse ears: The Walt Disney Company agrees to buy Capital Cities-ABC Inc. for $15 billion...
  10. 1997] Busted: New York City police seize 5 bombs believed bound for terrorists attacks on subways...

For more on July 31st: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1956] Our motto is born: By order of Congress and approved by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, "In God We Trust" becomes our national motto...
  2. 1960] Pats win...Pats win...Pats win: In the 1st American Football League pre-season game, the Boston Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills 28-7...
  3. 1965] Medicaring: President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into law, the Social Security Act, establishing Medicare and Medicaid...
  4. 1970] De-Kleining: The Rolling Stones fire Allen Klein as their business manager...
  5. 1975] Poof: Former Teamster Union president Jimmy Hoffa disappears in suburban Detroit. Although presumed dead, his remains have never been found...
  6. 1990] The Boss is banished: Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner is ordered by the Baseball Commissioner to resign for hiring a private detective (Howie Spira) to spy on outfielder Dave Winfield. Although banned for life, he is reinstated in 1993...
  7. 1998] "Happy Trails": Buffalo Bob Smith, Howdy Doody's daddy, dies of lung cancer at 80. I had a picture taken with Smith and Howdy when they visited CBS-FM shortly before his death and he looked like the picture of health...2003] Sun Records founder Sam Phillips who discovered Elvis Presley, dies of respiratory failure in Memphis at 80...
  8. 2000] Wedding Bells: Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt walk down the aisle. They will divorce in 2005...
  9. 2003] The last Beetle: In Mexico the last 'old style' Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the assembly line...
  10. 2006] Stopping the "Top": The world's oldest and longest running music show "Top of the Pops" is broadcast for the last time on BBC Two. The show had run for 42 years...

For more on July 30th: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com



Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:
  1. 1957] Paar for the course: Jack Paar becomes the new host of the "Tonight Show". Paar will host until 1962 and the arrival of Johnny Carson...
  2. 1966] Rock and Roll Wreck: Bob Dylan crashes his motorcycle near his home in Woodstock, breaking his neck. He remains in critical condition for a week. When he recovers he becomes a recluse for months...
  3. 1974] "Happy Trails": Mama Cass Elliot dies from heart failure in London at the age of 32 (reports that circulated for years about her choking on a ham sandwich were bogus according to the coroner)...
  4. 1981] Royal Wedding Bells: England's Prince Charles, 32 and Lady Diana Spencer, 20, tie the royal knot at St. Paul's Cathedral in London (the royals will divorce in 1996)...
  5. 1987] Life is just a bowl of cherries: Ben & Jerry introduce a new flavor in honor of the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia: "Cherry Garcia", still their #1 best-selling flavor. Many assume that they created the flavor after Garcia died...not true...
  6. 1989] "Worst Trade": Texas Rangers' owner George W. Bush makes what he describes as his "worst trade": Sammy Sosa and 2 lesser players for Harold Baines (a pretty good hitter) and the immortal Fred Manrique. Sosa will only hit about 400 home runs after the trade. (Best butchering of Sosa's name was made by Teddy Kennedy who called him "Sammy Sowsa" and then corrected it to "Sammy Soosa")...
  7. 1993] Ivan the Free: The Israeli Supreme Court acquits retired Ohio autoworker John ("Ivan the terrible") Demjanjuk as a Nazi death camp guard...
  8. 1998] Right you are: Miramax buys the rights to the Beatles film, "A Hard Day's Night"...
  9. 1999] Blood Bath: A day trader opens fire in 2 Atlanta brokerage offices, killing 9 and wounding 13. He then turns the gun on himself. Earlier in the day he had killed his wife and 2 children...
  10. 2003] Two Salami's, no waiting: Bill Mueller of the Red Sox becomes the 1st player in major league history to hit grand slams from both sides of the plate in a single game which the Sawx win 14-7 over Texas...

For more on July 29th: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com



Monday, July 28, 2008

Monday, July 28, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:
  1. 1945] Empire is hit: A U.S. bomber crashes into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building, killing 14 and injuring 26. The building only sustained minor damage...
  2. 1973] Wedding Bells: Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett tie the knot (and in time will tie each other's neck in a knot). The couple separates in 1979 in an "on-again, off-again" relationship...
  3. 1978] Heeeeeeee's back: At Old Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium it's announced that Billy Martin will return as Yankee manager in 1979 (I remember being at this game. My jaw didn't shut for a week after this bizarre announcement)...
  4. 1987] So Sue me: The remaining members of the Beatles and Yoko Ono sue Nike from using "Revolution" in one of its sneaker ads without permission or paying for it. An out-of-court settlement is made at an undisclosed amount...1995] A settlement returns the rights to Jimi Hendrix's estate to his father. The ruling includes all unmastered tapes, concert recordings, photographs and other personal possessions...
  5. 1991] A pair of perfectos: Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers pitches a perfect game against California, 4-0...1994] Three years to the date in 1994, the next perfect game is pitched by Montreal's Dennis Martinez against the Dodgers...
  6. 1995] A life sentence: A jury in Union (SC) rejects the death penalty for Susan Smith, sentencing her instead to life in prison for drowning her 2 young sons...
  7. 1998] Blanket immunity: Monica Lewinsky is given blanket immunity from prosecution in exchange for grand jury testimony in the investigation of her, er, relationship with President Bill Clinton...
  8. 1999] Curtains: Detroit running back Barry Sanders, in the prime of his career, retires after 10 years at the age of 31 (a lot of teams would sign him today if they could)...2000] Kathie Lee Gifford makes her final appearance as co-host of "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" (Sheeeeeee's back but this time Reeg lucked out)...
  9. 2002] Tour de Lance: Lance Armstrong wins his 4th consecutive Tour de France...
  10. 2004] Kerry's the one: The Democratic National Convention in Boston nominates Massachusetts Senator John Kerry for president (Vietnam veterans drop what they're doing and call information for the number of the White House)...

For more on July 28th: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com


Thursday, July 24, 2008

(Weekend Edition) July 25-27, 2008...

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1871] On a carousel: Wilhelm Schneider of Davenport (IA) patents the carousel (7/25)...
  2. 1948] Final Bambino Sighting: Babe Ruth is seen publicly for the last time attending the premiere of "The Babe Ruth Story" in Manhattan (7/26)...
  3. 1956] Tragedy at sea: The Stockholm collides with the Andrea Doria off the coast of Nantucket. 1,660 survive but 51, including the crew, goes down with the ship (7/25). The Andrea Doria lies in 200 feet of water, 45 miles south of Nantucket. Divers continue to brave the depth and sharks in order to salvage valuables that still remain...
  4. 1960] Nixon's the one: VP Richard Nixon is nominated for President at the Republican national convention in Chicago. The funniest sign at the convention was the pregnant delegate with a "Nixon's The One" sign on her belly (7/27)...
  5. 1966] Going to Hall: Casey Stengel is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ted Williams also goes in. This weekend it's Goose Gossage and Dick Williams' turn...1997] Giants' owner Wellington Mara and Dolphins coach Don Shula go into the NFL Hall of Fame (7/26)...
  6. 1978] Tubular Belle: Louise Joy Brown, the 1st test-tube baby is born. Louise is a happily married postal employee with an 2-year old son who was born naturally. Today Louise celebrates her 30th birthday at her home in Bristol, England (7/25)...
  7. 1981] I started to choke: New York Mayor Ed Koch is given the Heimlich maneuver when he chokes on Chinese food. It saves his life (7/26)...
  8. 1990] Rosanne Boo: Rosanne Barr gets booed in San Diego for her disgraceful singing of the 'Star Spangled Banner'. Following her mangling of the song she grabs her crotch and spits on the ground (7/25)...
  9. 1992] "Happy Trails": Mary Wells, Motown's first Diva, dies from larynx cancer, first diagnosed in 1990. Mary was just 49 (7/26)...2003] Legendary comedian Bob Hope dies at the age of 100 (7/27)...
  10. 1996] Dropping a bomb: A home-made bomb explodes in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta (GA) killing one person and injuring over 100 (7/27). The games continue and a suspect (Richard Jewell) is charged in the case in 2003...

For more on July 25 -27: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com










Thursday, July 24, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:
  1. 1956] Curtains: Following a performance at the Copa, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis split up after a partnership that began 10 years earlier on July 24, 1946. They made their 1st appearance as a team at the 500 Club in Atlantic City...1965] At the age of 75 and nursing a broken hip, Casey Stengel calls it quits as manager of the New York Mets...1978] A tearful Billy Martin gives his famous "One is a born liar, the other a convict" speech. The liar was Reggie Jackson, the convict - George Steinbrenner. With that statement made, Billy Martin "retired" as Yankee manager...
  2. 2002] Guilty as charged: The U.S. House expels Rep. James Traficant, D-Ohio, who had been convicted of bribery, racketeering, tax evasion and stealing paper clips...
  3. 1969] Splashdown: The Apollo 11 astronauts (Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins) splash down safely in the Pacific Ocean after their historic walk on the moon...
  4. 1974] Supremes Rule: The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rules that Richard Nixon must turn over subpoenaed White House tapes to the Watergate special prosecutor...
  5. 1983] The Pine Tar game: A George Brett home run is taken away from him for using too much pine tar on his bat. The score reverts back to 4-3 Yankees. AL President Lee MacPhail overrules the umpires and the home run counts. The game is resumed on August 18th with KC winning the game 5-4 after the Yankees fail to score in the 9th inning...
  6. 1990] Gulf War prelude: Iraq masses tens of thousands of troops and hundreds of tanks along its border with Kuwait...
  7. 1998] Wacko whacks 2: Madman Russell Eugene Weston Jr. bursts into the U.S. Capitol and opens fire killing two police officers. He is later ruled incompetent to stand trial...
  8. 2001] A new owner for WTC: Larry A. Silverstein signs a $3.2 billion, 99-year lease on the World Trade Center proving timing is everything...
  9. 2003] Snapped: The U.S. releases photos of Odai and Qusai Hussein to prove that they now sleep with the fishes...
  10. 2005] Lucky Seven: Lance Armstrong closes out his cycling career with a seventh consecutive Tour de France victory...


For More on July 24th: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com





Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1715] Gotta Light?: The 1st lighthouse in America is authorized for construction at Little Brewster Island (MA). Boston Light will open in 1716...
  2. 1827] Do the swim: The 1st swimming school in the U.S. opens in Boston...
  3. 1886] Brodie does it: Saloonkeeper/Bookmaker Steve Brodie must have been sampling the schnapps. Brodie jumps from the Brooklyn Bridge and survives...
  4. 1904] One scoop or two?: The ice cream cone is invented by Charles E. Menches during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis...
  5. 1986] Wedding Bells: Britain's Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson walk down the aisle at Westminster Abbey in London. They will divorce 10 years later...
  6. 1997] Lost and found: Police find the body of Andrew Cunanan, the suspected killer of designer Gianni Versace, on a houseboat in Miami Beach. Cunanan was believed to be a suicide...
  7. 2000] Baby Tiger: Tiger Woods becomes the youngest pro to complete a career Grand Slam when he wins the British Open at 24...
  8. 2000] Vive le Lance: Lance Armstrong wins his second Tour de France...
  9. 2003] Clergy bust: The Massachusetts Attorney General issues a report citing that members of the clergy and others in the Boston Archdiocese probably sexually abused more than 1,000 people over a period of 6 decades...
  10. 2007] The Price was right: Drew Carey is announced as the replacement for the retiring Bob Barker as host of "The Price Is Right"...

For more on July 23rd: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com



Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1916] They forgot the "un": During a Preparedness Day parade in San Francisco, a bomb goes off killing 10...
  2. 1931] O Solo Mio: American aviator Wiley Post completes the first solo flight around the world in 7 days, 18 1/2 hours...
  3. 1934] Dillinger down: A man identified as bank robber John Dillinger is shot to death by federal agents in Chicago...
  4. 1963] A Sonny day: Sonny Liston defends his heavyweight crown with a KO of Floyd Patterson (for the second time) in one round. The fight in Las Vegas was a rematch of a 1962 fight...
  5. 1981] Justice served: Turkish extremist Mehmet Ali Agca is sentenced in Rome to life in prison for shooting Pope John Paul II...
  6. 1991] He's busted - we're disgusted: Milwaukee police arrest Jeffrey Dahmer after finding the remains of 11 victims in his apartment. Dahmer confesses to 17 murders and is sentenced to life in prison...
  7. 1994] Guilty as charged: O.J. Simpson pleads innocent to the murders of his wife Nicole and her friend Ronald Goldman...1995] Susan Smith is convicted by a jury in Union (SC) of 1st-degree murder for drowning her 2 sons...
  8. 2003] Welcome back: Months after her P.O.W. ordeal, Pvt. 1st Class Jessica Lynch returns home to a hero's welcome in Elizabeth (WV)...
  9. 2003] Saddam's sons: Saddam Hussein's sons Odai and Qusai are killed by U.S. forces when they storm their villa in Mosul, Iraq...
  10. 2004] Grave report: The Sept. 11 commission issues a report saying America's leaders failed to grasp the gravity of terrorist threats before 911...

For more on July 22: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com

Friday, July 18, 2008

(Extended Weekend Edition) Friday-Monday, July 18-21, 2008...

10 Timeline Memories:
  1. 1931] A radio first: CBS airs the first radio and TV simulcast. The show features Kate Smith, George Gershwin and New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker (7/18)...
  2. 1966] Wedding Bells: 50-year old Frank Sinatra and 21-year old Mia Farrow tie the knot. Old Blue Eyes had pants older than Mia (7/19)...1986] Caroline Kennedy, 28-year old daughter of JFK walks down the aisle with Edwin A. Schlossberg in Centerville (MA), not far from the Kennedy compound (7/19)...
  3. 1969] Chappaquiddick tragedy: This was the day that Mary Jo Kopechne died when Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy lost control of the car he was driving. Mary Jo was just 28 (7/18)...
  4. 1969] Bachelor's II: Joe Namath agrees to sell his interest in Bachelor's III to stay in the NFL (7/18)...
  5. 1969] Moonwalk: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" - the words of Neil Armstrong who becomes the first man to set foot on the moon (7/20)...
  6. 1976] Olympic: Tiny 14-year old Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci scores a perfect "10" on the parallel bars. "Comaneech" becomes an overnight sensation (7/19)...1980] The Moscow Summer Olympics is boycotted by half the nations of the world including the U.S. because of Russia's intervention in Afghanistan (7/19)...1996] The most recognizable person in the world, Muhammad Ali lights the Olympic torch in Atlanta (7/19)...
  7. 1982] Going to Hall: 2007 inductee Tony Gwynn makes his MLB debut with 2 hits (7/19). Before he's through in 2001 he will tally 3,141 hits and earn 8 NL batting titles...
  8. 1998] 'Happy Trails': 74-year old former astronaut Alan Shepard passes away, a victim of leukemia (7/21)...2003] Barry White dies of renal failure at 58 (7/18)...2005] Retired commander of U.S. troops in Vietnam, General William Westmoreland, dies of natural causes at 91 (7/18)...
  9. 1999] Another sad day for the Kennedy's: Navy divers find the bodies of John F. Kennedy Jr., wife Carolyn and sister-in-law Lauren (Bessette) in the wreckage of Kennedy's plane in the Atlantic Ocean off the shore of Martha's Vineyard (7/21)...
  10. 1999] Perfecto: Yankee pitcher David Cone pitches a perfect game at YS against the Montreal Expos (7/18)...

For more on July 18-21: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Thursday, July 17, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:
  1. 1900] Debuted on this date: Future Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson makes his major league debut with the New York Giants...
  2. 1941] Boogety, boogety. This streak ends: The longest hitting streak in baseball ends in Cleveland for the "Yankee Clipper", Joe DiMaggio. After hitting in 56 games, Indian pitchers stop DiMag. 66 years later, no one has come close to equalling or breaking his record...
  3. 1954] Jazz matazz: The 1st Newport Jazz Festival is held at the Newport (RI) Casino...
  4. 1955] Mickey goes Hollywood: Disneyland opens in Anaheim (CA)...
  5. 1959] "Happy Trails": The legendary Billie Holiday is a victim of cirrhosis of the liver at 44...2006] Author Mickey Spillane dies from pancreatic cancer at 88...
  6. 1975] What's up Dock?: An Apollo spaceship and Soyuz spacecraft dock in orbit. It's the 1st superpower linkup of its kind...
  7. 1981] Tragedy on the ground: A pair of walkways above the lobby of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel collapses during a dance. 114 are killed...
  8. 1996] Tragedy in the air: TWA Flight 800, a Boeing 747 bound for Paris, explodes and crashes off Long Island, shortly after take-off from JFK killing all 230 aboard...
  9. 1997] Nickel and diming days are over: The Woolworth Corp. closes its last 400 five-and-ten stores...
  10. 2004] Girlie Mahn: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger mockingly refers to Democrats as "girlie men" for delaying the state budget by catering to special interests...

Music Memories:

  • 1967] Opening for the Monkees: The Jimi Hendrix Experience. It's true!!! It happened in Forest Hills, Queens...

  • 1974] Should I stay or should I go?: John Lennon is ordered to leave America in 60 days. The 60-day order will be wiped out and John stays in the U.S.A...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Mark Burnett (48), Bryan Trottier (52), Phoebe Snow (56), David Hasselhoff (56), Lucie Arnaz (57), Spencer Davis (66), Diahann Carroll (73), Donald Sutherland (74), Phyllis Diller (91) and Art Linkletter (96)...

Timeline Countdown: 10 days away from the opening of all NFL training camps and 22 days away from the Summer Olympics...

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1935] Time's up: The 1st parking meters are installed in Oklahoma City. Lovely Rita, meter maid, is hired...
  2. 1945] A-Bomb era begins: The U.S. explodes its first experimental atomic bomb in the desert near Alamogordo, NM...
  3. 1951] Debuted on this date: The J.D. Salinger novel "Catcher In The Rye" is published...
  4. 1957] Record setting John Glenn: Marine Major John Glenn sets a transcontinental speed record, flying a jet from California to New York in 3 hours, 23 minutes and 8 seconds...
  5. 1969] To the Moon Alice: Apollo 11 blasts off from Cape Kennedy to begin its journey to the moon and the 1st landing made by man on that surface...
  6. 1973] There goes the secret: Former White House aide Alexander P. Butterfield publicly reveals the existence of President Richard Nixon's secret taping system during the Senate Watergate hearings...
  7. 1979] Are we having fun yet?: Saddam Hussein becomes president of Iraq after forcing Hasan al-Bakr to resign...
  8. 1981] LIE tragedy: Harry Chapin is killed on the Long Island Expressway on his way to a benefit concert. Chapin was 38...
  9. 1999] Vineyard tragedy: Another day ends in tragedy for the Kennedy's as John F. Kennedy Jr.'s plane crashes off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, John's wife and Carolyn's sister Lauren Bessette was also aboard. All the bodies are found on July 21...
  10. 2004] Not a good thing: Martha Stewart is sentenced to 5 months in prison for lying about a stock sale...

For more on July 16th: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1916] What's your name?: In Seattle, Pacific Aero Products is incorporated by William Boeing. He will later name the company? Boeing!!!
  2. 1952] Debuted on this date: Patti Page makes her TV debut in a summer replacement series for Perry Como...1968] The soap "One Life to Live" debuts...1996] MSNBC debuts. Originally a 50/50 partnership between NBC and Bill Gates, Gates sold 32% of his shares in 2005. NBC is now principal owner with 82%, Gates with 18%...
  3. 1964] Vote for me: Conservative Barry Goldwater is nominated for President at the Republican National Convention...
  4. 1965] Smile, you're on Candid Mariner: Mariner IV sends back the 1st closeup pictures of Mars but can't get the red eye out as hard as they try...
  5. 1968] Commack, home of the Amerinets: The New Jersey Americans move to Long Island and become the New York Nets. Then they move back to Jersey and they will soon move to Brooklyn. Have you been following along???
  6. 1973] Lending an ear: Paul Getty III (grandson of J.Paul), 16, is kidnapped. His parents receive a lock of hair and an ear in a box. Paul will be ransomed for $2 million with less hair and one ear...
  7. 1973] Oh no? Oh yes: Nolan Ryan becomes the 1st pitcher since Allie Reynolds in 1951 to pitch and win 2 no-hitters in one year. Ryan is the best pitcher I've ever seen in my lifetime...
  8. 1992] Taking care of T-C-B: Aretha Franklin sings the National Anthem as Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton is nominated for the presidency at the Democrats National Convention at Madison Square Garden...
  9. 1997] In cold blood: Designer Gianni Versace is shot to death by Andrew Philip Cunanan outside his home in Miami Beach. Cunanan was found dead 8 days later...
  10. 2002] Turncoat gets his due: John Walker Lindh pleads guilty to 2 felonies: supplying services to Afghanistan's former Taliban government and for carrying explosives during the commission of a felony. Lindh agrees to spend 10 years in prison on each charge...

For more on July 15th: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com




Thursday, July 10, 2008

(Extended Weekend Edition) July 10 - July 14, 2008...

10 Timeline Memories:
  1. 1900] Nipper arrives: RCA Victor registers "His Master's Voice" a.k.a. "Nipper". The dog looking into the horn of the gramophone machine becomes the symbol of the label (7/10)...
  2. 1915] Debuted on this date: 19-year old Babe Ruth makes his major league debut as a pitcher for the Red Sox and picks up his first win...(7/11). In 1918 Ruth moves to the outfield...1936] The Triborough Bridge linking Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens, opens to traffic (7/11)...1960] The first Etch-A-Sketch goes on sale. What were those black metallic specks anyway? (7/12)...1990] "Northern Exposure" starts a 5-year run (7/12)...
  3. 1946] Dr. Spock makes a house call: "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" is published (7/14). At this point the book has sold over 50 million copies with no end in sight...
  4. 1966] Killing Spree: 25-year old Richard Speck goes on a rampage in a Chicago dormitory killing 8 student nurses (7/14). Speck will die of a heart attack in prison in 1991. No one claims his body which is cremated...
  5. 1970] All-Star highlight: In one of the most famous of all All-Star game plays, Pete Rose bowls over catcher Ray Fosse to score (7/14)...
  6. 1971] Curtains: Red Sox slugger Tony Conigliaro, the victim of a horrible beaning in August, 1967 announces his retirement at 25 (7/10). Tony C will try to come back in 1975 but he was never the same. Tony's starstruck life will end way too soon when he suffers a fatal heart attack in 1990 at 45...
  7. 1972] Trading Teams: The owners of the Baltimore Colts (Robert Irsay) and Los Angeles Rams (Carroll Rosenbloom) swap teams (7/13). It's the first and last trade of its kind...
  8. 1977] Lights Out: A 25-hour blackout hits the New York City area (7/13)...
  9. 1979] "Happy Trails": Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fiedler, who led the orchestra for half a century, passes away from natural causes at 84 (7/10)...1979] Minnie Riperton ("Lovin' You") dies from breast cancer at 31 (7/12). Minnie's daughter Maya (SNL) Rudolph was just 5 years old at the time...1989] Mel Blanc who provided the voices of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and countless other WB characters, dies from heart disease at 81 (7/10)...1989] Sir Laurence Olivier dies from cancer at 82 (7/11)...2007] Former first lady Lady Bird Johnson passes away from natural causes at 94 (7/11)...
  10. 1984] Fritz picks a woman: Walter Mondale chooses U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro as a running mate for his Democratic Presidential run. Ferraro from New York is the first woman to run for VP on a major ticket (7/12)...

For more on July 10 - 14: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1847] Uh-working in the coal mine: A 10-hour day is established for workers in New Hampshire...
  2. 1872] Dunkin' Donuts best friend: The doughnut cutter is patented by John F. Blondel...
  3. 1953] Whirlybirding it: New York Airways begins the 1st commuter passenger service by helicopter...
  4. 1976] "Happy Trails": Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey dies at 73 from an undisclosed illness. Widow Jean Yawkey succeeds her husband as president and sole owner of the team...
  5. 1982] Tragedy in the air: A Pan Am Boeing 727 crashes in Kenner (LA) killing all 146 on board and 8 on the ground...
  6. 1992] Running mate: Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton picks Sen. Al Gore (Tennessee) to be his running mate. Gore accepts on the 10th...
  7. 1997] Banned for biting: Mike Tyson is banned from the ring and fined $3 million for biting opponent Evander Holyfield's ear...
  8. 2000] Lucky #7: Pete Sampras wins his 7th Wimbledon singles title, tying the record for men. After winning 5 straight Roger Federer just lost to Rafael Nadal...
  9. 2002] A tie in the rain: Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig stops play during a rain delay at the All-Star game in Milwaukee ending the 11-inning game in a 2-2 tie, a 1st in All-Star game history. Selig gets booed by the crowd...
  10. 2006] Butt-out: Zinedine Zidane in his final match, headbutts Marco Materazzi and gets sent off in the final of the FIFA World Cup...

For more on July 9th: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1629] Pass the cranberry: The Massachusetts Bay Colony celebrates what's recognized as the 1st Thanksgiving. White meat or dark???
  2. 1776] Declaring our independence: Militia officer John Nixon gives the 1st public reading of the Declaration of Independence to a crowd gathered at Independence Square in Philadelphia...
  3. 1889] WSJ sighting: The Wall Street Journal is published for the 1st time...
  4. 1947] Ground breaking begins: For the building of the U.N. in Manhattan...
  5. 1981] Confirmation Day: The Senate confirms Sandra Day O'Connor as Supreme Court Justice...
  6. 1985] Madonna Unplugged: Madonna poses nude in Playboy and Penthouse. Soon to be 10-year old A-Rod hides his copies under his bed...
  7. 1986] Not kosher: Kurt Waldheim is inaugurated as president of Austria despite controversy over his alleged ties to Nazi war crimes...
  8. 1997] Fen-Phen, 'Feh': The Mayo Clinic and the government warn that the diet-drug "fen-phen" could cause serious heart and lung damage...
  9. 2000] Beaned by a 'Rocket': Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens beans Met catcher Mike Piazza which is a warm up for throwing a bat chard at Piazza in a 2000 World Series game...
  10. 2006] "Happy Trails": To June Allyson who passes away from pulmonary respiratory failure at the age of 88...

For more on July 8th: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com ...

Monday, July 7, 2008

Monday, July 7, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1754] The Name Game: Kings College opens in Manhattan. 30 years later, Kings College becomes Columbia. Students will enter on July 17th...
  2. 1865] Hang 'em High: Four people convicted of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, are hanged in Washington, D.C...
  3. 1964] All-Stars: Newly opened Shea Stadium hosts the 35th All-Star game, a 7-4 win for the National League...
  4. 1983] Visiting the curtain: 11-year old Samantha Smith of Manchester (ME) leaves for a visit to the Soviet Union at the invitation of Soviet leader Yuri Andropov who met the girl on a visit to the U.S...
  5. 1987] Ratting out: Lt. Col. Oliver North begins his public testimony at the Iran-Contra hearing. North tells Congress that he "never carried out a single act", "not one" without authorization...
  6. 1990] Wimbledon Winner: Martina Navratilova wins a record 9th women's single's title...
  7. 2003] Gotcha: A federal judge approves a settlement fining WorldCom $750 million for its $11 billion accounting scandal...2004] Former Enron chairman Kenneth Lay, is indicted on criminal charges related to the energy company's collapse. The trial will take everything out of Lay who would have a fatal heart attack before his sentencing in July, 2006 at 64...
  8. 2005] Terror in the Underground: Terrorist bombings in 3 Underground stations and a double-decker bus kills 52 victims and 4 suicide bombers in the worst attack on London since WWII...
  9. 2005] Influenced by Live 8, the G8 leaders pledge to double 2004 levels of aid to Africa from $25 to $50 billion by 2010...
  10. 2006] "Happy Trails": Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett dies from pancreatic cancer at 60...

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Thursday, July 3, 2008

(July 4th Weekend Edition) Thursday-Sunday, July 3-6, 2008...

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1776] The birth of a nation: The Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Indepence (7/4)...
  2. 1826] A bad day for president's: Former presidents and mostly friends despite their differences - John Adams and Thomas Jefferson die on the same day (7/4). Adams was 90, Jefferson 83...1831] James Monroe, our 5th president passes away at 73 (7/4)...1872] Independence Day was a good day for our 30th president, Calvin Coolidge, born in Plymouth (VT) (7/4)...
  3. 1933] The 1st All-Star Game: Is played in Chicago at Comiskey Park (7/6). The American League won that game too, 4-2...
  4. 1939] The luckiest man: Lou Gehrig gives his touching farewell speech in front of a packed house (61,800) at Yankee Stadium (7/4). Afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the fatal disease that will bear his name, the Iron Man retires from baseball...
  5. 1947] Breaking the color barrier: Larry Doby becomes the American League's first black player when he strikes out in a pinch-hitting role for the Cleveland Indians (7/5)...1975] Arthur Ashe becomes the first black to win a Wimbledon singles title when he defeats Jimmy Connors (7/5)...1982] Jackie Robinson becomes the 1st black to be inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y (7/3)...
  6. 1969] Rock & Roll Tragedies: 27-year old Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones is found at the bottom of a swimming pool (7/3)...1971] Jim Morrison, 27 of The Doors is found dead in a bathtub in Paris. He died of heart failure, likely caused by a drug overdose (7/3)...
  7. 1971] "Happy Trails": Louis ("Satchmo") Armstrong dies of a heart attack at his home in Corona (Queens) at 69 (7/6)...1998] Roy Rogers passes away peacefully in his sleep at 86 (7/6)...2002] After a lengthy illness, Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams dies at 83 (7/5)...2003] Singer Barry White dies at 58 from renal failure (7/4)...2007] Bill Pinkney, last surviving member of the original Drifters passes away from undisclosed causes at 81 (7/4)...
  8. 1978] "Seven dirty words": The Supreme Court rules (5-4) that the FCC has a right to reprimand WBAI New York for broadcasting George Carlin's "filthy words" which would become known as "seven dirty words" (7/3)...
  9. 1983] Oh No: Wade Boggs becomes Dave Righetti's final victim as he strikes out and 'Rags' completes a no-hitter against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium (7/4). I had tickets for the following day's game...
  10. 1986] Lady Liberty: The Statue of Liberty is re-dedicated as President Ronald Reagan lights up the lady before a global TV audience estimated at 1.5 billion (7/3)...

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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1881] President James A. Garfield is shot by Charles J. Guiteau at the Washington railroad station. He never fully recovers and will die from his wounds on September 19th...
  2. 1937] Poof: Aviator Amelia Earhart and her navigator disappear over the Pacific Ocean near the equator while attempting the 1st round-the world flight...
  3. 1955] Start-uh the bubble machine-uh: "The Lawrence Welk Show" premieres on ABC-TV. It will run for 16 years and then forever in rerun for all of eternity. If we turn on our TV when we take our last breath we'll see Lawrence Welk holding his baton...
  4. 1961] Death by suicide: Author Ernest Hemingway, 62, shoots himself to death in his home in Ketchum, Idaho...
  5. 1964] Civility Rules: President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into law, a sweeping civil rights bill...
  6. 1981] The Boss opens the Brendan Byrne: Bruce Springsteen plays the 1st show ever at 21,000 seat Meadowlands Arena...
  7. 1994] A tough crowd: Colombian soccer star Andres Escobar is shot to death in Medellin 10 days after accidentally scoring a goal against his own team in World Cup competition. At least they don't do that here - yet!!!
  8. 1997] "Happy Trails": James Stewart dies at 89 from cardiac arrest...2006] Comedian Jan Murray, 83, dies from complications brought about by asthma...
  9. 2002] Up, Up and Away: American Steve Fossett becomes the 1st person to fly a balloon solo around the world...
  10. 2005] Live 8, a marathon concert designed to pressure world leaders into fighting African poverty is held at 10 sites worldwide and broadcast around the globe on TV and the Internet...


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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1863] Not so civil: The Civil War 'Battle of Gettysburg' begins...
  2. 1963] Zip It!: The U.S. Post Office introduces 5-digit ZIP codes...
  3. 1969] Britain's Prince Charles is invested as the prince of Wales...
  4. 1979] The 70s version of the iPhone, the Walkman is introduced by SONY. Does anyone still have one???
  5. 1979] The Susan B. Anthony Dollar coin is introduced. Whose brilliant idea was this???
  6. 1980] "O Canada" is proclaimed the national anthem of Canada on "Canada Day"...
  7. 1987] All sports, all the time: WFAN becomes the 1st All-Sports station in the nation. The Country format moves to WYNY...
  8. 1995] "Happy Trails": Wolfman Jack dies from a heart attack at 57...1996] 42 year-old Margaux Hemingway takes a fatal overdose one day before the anniversary of her grandfather's suicide in 1961...1997] Actor Robert Mitchum is a victim of lung cancer at 79...2000] Walter Matthau dies from cardiac arrest at 79...2004] Marlon Brando dies from respiratory failure at 80...2005] Singer Luther Vandross passes away in New York, two years after suffering a stroke. He was 54...
  9. 2004] Deter takes a dive: Derek Jeter dives headfirst into the Yankee Stadium stands to catch a foul ball and inspires the Yankees to a 5-4 victory over the Red Sox. Derek's father, an avid hockey fan, gave Derek the middle name "Sanderson" after Derek Sanderson (who was at my going-away party at one of the restaurants he owned in Boston)...
  10. 2005] Sandra's day is done: Justice Sandra Day O'Connor unexpectedly announces her retirement from the Supreme Court...

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