Hy Lit, 73, died under mysterious circumstances in Philadelphia over the weekend in a case reminiscent of what happened to former WABC programming guru, Rick Sklar. You may remember that in June of 1992, Sklar, a runner, went in for elective foot surgery but died from a lack of oxygen, which was mistakenly pumped into his stomach. Rick was just 62 at the time of his death. Hy Lit's son, Sam spoke of "bizarre complications" suffered by his father who had entered the hospital (Lankenau Hospital) to have his knee drained following a fall on November 4. Heavily sedated, Lit was transferred to Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital and last Thursday, to Paoli Memorial, where he passed away. No cause of death has been announced and a spokeswoman for Paoli referred questions to Lit's family...
Lit, from South Philadelphia was also known as "Hyski" or "Hyski O'Rooney McVoutie O'Zoot". Born Hyman Litsky, Hy became one of Philadelphia's most highly-rated and famous disc jockeys of his era in the 50s and 60s, along with Joe Niagra, Jimmy Bishop, Frank X. Feller and Georgie Woods. Veteran disc jockeys offered their praise of Lit: "Here's a guy who made it for all of us" - Don Cannon, Jerry Blavat, the 'Geator with the Heater', added, "It's the end of the era for personality radio" and Joe "Butterball" Tamburro, program director of WDAS, who was taken under Hy Lit's wings, remembered Hy as a "fascinating, dynamic impresario". Hy Lit, dead at 73...
I remember running into Rick Sklar shortly before his death. He had run the New York City Marathon and said he was going to have minor surgery on a foot that was bothering him. What ensued shouldn't happen to anyone. The anesthesiologist was blamed for Sklar's accidental death and Rick's kids received an out-of-court settlement eventually. They lost their mother, Rick's wife Sydelle suddenly, 6 months after their dad's death. You hate to hear of a similar incident happening to another radio veteran. It hits too close to home, not only for the Sklar's but for radio veterans everywhere...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1863] Four Score, for sure: President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address as he dedicates a national cemetery at the Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania...
- 1954] What a wreck: Sammy Davis, Jr. losses an eye in a serious auto crash in San Bernardino (CA). Here's Sammy in happier times, taking some grief from Archie Bunker: http://youtube.com/watch?v=RL9eWbgCCog&feature=related ...
- 1954] Two tolls, no waiting: Two automatic toll machines are installed on the Garden State Parkway. Now there's just one big toll when you get off the Parkway...
- 1959] Rama Lama Ding Dong: The Ford Motor Company halts production of the Edsel. Here, Ford extols the virtue of owning one, one year earlier (1958): http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kkoa_xgHfPo ...
- 1966] Hanging them up: Future Hall of Fame pitcher, Sandy Koufax announces his retirement from baseball, one month shy of his 32nd birthday, due to arm problems. Koufax simply dominated his era. Watch this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dm8oHYRS6hA ...
- 1969] Fly me to the Moon: Apollo XII astronauts Charles Conrad and Alan Bean make man's second lunar landing...
- 1985] A Geneva treat: Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev meet for the first time as they begin their summit in Geneva...
- 1998] A Starr is born: Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr lays out his evidence against President Bill Clinton during a daylong appearance before the House Judiciary Committee...
- 2001] MVP...MVP...MVP...MVP: Barry Bonds wins his 4th MVP award (he'll win 3 more). Wasn't this the year they said Bonds started using the 'clear cream'???
- 2004] Fight Night: In one of sports ugliest days, after a fight breaks out on the floor, Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson of the Pacers charge into the stands and fight with fans during an NBA game in Detroit. Officials end the Pacers' 97-82 win with 45.9 ticks left. Fines and suspensions follow. Fan John Green who tossed his drink at Artest, was banned for life in Detroit and hefty fines are levied at Artest, Jackson and others. If you never saw how this started (and ended), you can now: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zr_tr6aq9zY . This is not for the feint of heart...
Music Memories:
- 1959] Number One on this date: "Mr. Blue" - Fleetwoods, seen here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=etiCeMBYLK8&feature=related ...1969] "Wedding Bell Blues" - Fifth Dimension, Marilyn McCoo belts it out: http://youtube.com/watch?v=IkMhWQgkZ8c ...
Commentary:
In addition to wishing 'Happy Trails' to Hy Lit, baseball lost one of its best spokesman over the weekend when Cincinnati Reds play-by-play man, Joe Nuxhall passed away at 79. Before becoming a broadcaster, Joe was the youngest player in baseball history at 15 years, 10 months and 11 days old. Joe's parents let him join the Reds when school let out. 'Nuxxie' won 135 games during his career. Joe died while awaiting surgery for a pacemaker. He had been slowed by a recurrence of cancer since September...Here's a clarification from Sal Ingeme on his statements about Carl Yastrzemski and Ted Williams: "Ted Williams was the GREATEST HITTER in baseball and the BIGGEST STAR in Red Sox history. My choice of YAZ was for the GREATEST ALL AROUND player for the Red Sox"...A personal observation on last night's Patriots crushing of Buffalo. I was expecting the 'mercy' rule to be invoked at any moment but I still enjoyed watching it. Next victim for the Pats: the Philadelphia Eagles in Foxboro next Sunday night...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Savion Glover (34), Jodie Foster (45), Meg Ryan (46), Ann Curry (51), Calvin Klein (65), Garrick Utley (68), Ted Turner (69), Dick Cavett (71), Larry King (73) and Alan Young (88)...
Timeline Countdown: 3 days until Thanksgiving, 16 days until Hanukah, 33 days until winter and 36 shopping days until Christmas...
