Wednesday, September 30, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1946] Justice received: An international military tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany, finds 22 top Nazi leaders guilty of war crimes...
2. 1947] Brought to you by: The World Series is televised for the 1st time with sponsors playing a "hefty" $65,000 for the entire Yankee-Dodger series...
3. 1949] Airlift lands: The Berlin airlift, which delivered 2.3 million tons of food and fuel to West Berliners despite a Soviet blockade, ends...
4. 1950] Premiered on this date: Radio's 'Grand Old Opry' is televised for the first time...1951] "The Red Skelton Show" debuts for a 20-season run...1960] "The Flintstones" becomes the first primetime animated series on its way to 6 years in first run and forever in syndication...1982] "Cheers" kicks off an 11-year run...
5. 1955] Hollywood tragedy: 24-year old Hollywood star James Dean is killed in a two-car collision while racing near Cholame (CA)...
6. 1960] Howdy goes back in the box: "The Howdy Doody Show" bows out with the silent Clarabelle (played by Bob Keeshan, future "Captain Kangaroo" speaking for the 1st time. Clarabelle simply says: "Goodbye kids"...
7. 1962] With more to come: The 1st-year New York Mets lose a record 120th game and they hit into a triple-play to boot...
8. 1972] A hero to the end: Future Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente picks up his 3,000th and final hit as he'll go down in a tragic plane crash on New Year's Eve...
9. 1985] Howard exits: Howard Stern is fired by WNBC after 3 years but he will quickly resurface at WXRK (K-Rock)...
10. 2004] Pulling the plug on Vioxx: Merck & Co. pulls Vioxx, its heavily promoted arthritis drug after a study finds it doubles the risk of heart attacks and strokes...For more on September 30:

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1953] Premiered on this date: "Make Room For Daddy" starring Danny Thomas runs for 18 seasons...1960] "My Three Sons" starring Fred MacMurray runs for 12 seasons...1963] "My Favorite Martian" starring Ray Walston has a short 3 season run but it should have lasted longer...1971] "McMillan And Wife" starring Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James has a 6-season run...1985] "MacGyver" starring Richard Dean Anderson debuts for a 7-year run...1986] "Designing Women" lasts 7 seasons...1987] "Thirtysomething" runs foursomething years...
2. 1954] Greatest catch: There have been better catches since but Willie Mays makes what's considered the greatest catch of all-time against Cleveland's Vic Wertz in game one of the World Series. The Giants not only win that game, they sweep the Indians in 4...
3. 1957] Back to the Polo Grounds: The Giants play their last game in New York, losing to the Pirates 9-1 in front of 11,606 either crazy or diehard fans...
4. 1974] The Beatle and The Professor: John Lennon sits in as a guest disc jockey on WNEW-FM. I believe this was on Scott Muni's show...
5. 1976] It's time for a change: Tommy Lasorda replaces Walter Alston as Dodger manager. Alston was mgr. for 22 years, Lasorda rings up 20...
6. 1978] 'Happy Trails': After serving barely over a month, Pope John Paul I is found dead of a heart attack. Some question whether or not the Pope was poisoned. The Pope was 66...
7. 1982] Tainted Tylenol: Seven people die in Chicago after taking capsules of Extra-Strength Tylenol that had been laced with cyanide. 264,000 bottles are recalled...
8. 1986] Mom always liked you better: For the first time in baseball history 2 brothers (both rookies), pitch against each other in a game. Greg Maddux defeats brother Mike. Greg will waltz into the Hall of Fame 5 years after he retires while the closest Mike will get is by buying a ticket to get in...
9. 1989] Vhat? I did not do that: Zsa Zsa Gabor is convicted of battery for slapping a Beverly Hills police officer who had pulled her and her Rolls-Royce over for expired plates...
10. 2005] Free as a bird: New York Times reporter Judith Miller is released brom 85 days of federal detention after agreeing to testify in a criminal probe into the leak of a covert CIA officer's identity...For more on September 29:

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Monday, September 28, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1850] No floggin zone: Flogging is abolished as a form of punishment in the U.S. Navy. Hey maybe it can replace water-boarding...
2. 1920] Dirty Sox: Eight members of the Chicago White Sox are indicted in the 'Black Sox' scandal. All eight are accused of throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. They will be acquitted in 1921...
3. 1941] Teddy Ballgame: Ted Williams goes 6 for 6 in a doubleheader and finishes with a .406 batting average. No one has done it since. Same date 10 years later in 1951, Williams hits a home run in his last at-bat...
4. 1951] Oh-no x 2: The Yankees' Allie Reynolds pitches his second no-hitter of the season, beating the Red Sox 8-0. Yogi Berra gets a second chance to catch a foul pop-up after muffing one. This time he catches it ending the game and saving the no-hitter...
5. 1955] In living color: The World Series is televised in color for the first time. I watched it in a store window on 13th Avenue in Borough Park - not happy to see the Dodgers win. This was the game that Sandy Amoros made his remarkable grab in left field...
6. 1961] Premiered on this date: Richard Chamberlain starts making house calls as "Dr. Kildare". Four days later "Ben Casey" debuts...
7. 1976] Rubberband Man: Muhammad Ali wins the rubber-match against Ken Norton in 15 rounds to win back the heavyweight title at Yankee Stadium. Not everyone thought Ali should have gotten the decision...
8. 1991] 'Happy Trails': Jazz great Miles Davis dies of a stroke at 65...2003] Tennis champion Althea Gibson dies at 76 from respiratory failure...2004] Legendary disc jockey Scott Muni passes away at 74 after suffering a stroke earlier in the year...
9. 2005] DeLay dances away: House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is indicted by a Texas grand jury on a charge of conspiring to violate political fundraising laws. The charge is later thrown out. Perhaps DeLay was auditioning for 'Dancing With The Stars' which he's currently appearing on...
10. 2005] Funny money: The U.S. Treasury unveils the new $10 bill, which features splashes of red, yellow and orange. I think they should have used 'monopoly gold' myself...For more on September 28:

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(Weekend Edition) September 25 - 27, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1954] Tonight, Tonight: Steve Allen becomes the first host of the new "Tonight Show"...2004] NBC-TV tells Conan O'Brien he will become the new host of the show replacing Jay Leno (now doing 10 - 11) five nights a week. Conan is now hosting the "Tonight Show" (9/26 for both timelines)...
2. 1955] Wedding Bells: Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher walk down the aisle and then go on an 'Aba Dabba Honeymoon'. Four years later Eddie Fisher calls out for help singing "Oh My Papa" (9/26)...
3. 1960] Vote For Me: The first of four nationally televised debates between presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon is held (9/26)...2008] On the same date 48 years later, Senators McCain and Obama square off in a presidential debate (9/26)...
4. 1962] A Sonny forecast: Sonny Liston KO's Floyd Patterson in the 1st round to win the heavyweight championship (9/25)...
5. 1962] Premiered on this date: "Beverly Hillbillies' which will air for 9 seasons (9/26)...1964] "Gilligan's Island" kicks off a 3 season run before going into syndication forever (9/26)...1968] "Hawaii Five-O" says Aloha for 12 years (9/26)...1969] "The Brady Bunch" will start a successful 5 year run before going into syndication (9/26)...
6. 1964] Warren wrap: The Warren Commission issues a report on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone (9/27)...
7. 1965] "Say Hey" has his day: At the age of 34, Willie Mays becomes the oldest player to hit 50 home runs in a season (9/25)...1973] "Willie Mays Night" draws a sold-out Shea Stadium crowd. Willie does not play in the game but the Mets win it for him, 2-1 over Montreal (9/25)...
8. 1992] D-I-V-O-R-C-E: A judge in Orlando (FL) rules in favor of Gregory Kingsley, a 12-year old seeking a divorce from his biological parents (9/25)...
9. 1997] Biting mad: NBC sportscaster Marv Albert pleads guilty to assault and battery of his lover. He is fired by NBC hours later (9/25)...
10. 2008] 'Happy Trails': Legendary actor Paul Newman dies at age 83 after suffering from lung cancer for more than 6 months (9/26)...For more on September 25 - 27:

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Thursday, September 24, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1957] Last exit from Brooklyn: The Dodgers play their last game in Brooklyn at Ebbets Field in front of 6,702 fans. They beat the Pirates 2-0 with Gil Hodges driving in the final run in Brooklyn...
2. 1961] Curtains: "I Love Lucy" bows out after a run of 10 years...
3. 1961] Premiered on this date: "The Bullwinkle Show", originally known as "Rocky and His Friends" in an afternoon slot, the primetime run lasts 3 years with reruns until 1973...1964] "The Munsters", CBS-TV's answer to "The Addams Family" runs first-run for 2 years and then in syndication...1968] "60 Minutes" begins ticking...1968] "Mod Squad" on ABC-TV until 1973...1977] "The Love Boat" sets sail on ABC-TV and won't dock until 1986...
4. 1969] Behind the 8-ball: A trial begins for the "Chicago Eight", accused of inciting riots at the 1968 Democrats national convention in Chicago...
5. 1969] The Mets shock baseball: The New York Mets beat the heavily-favored Baltimore Orioles to win their first World Series. 40 years later the first game of the WS won't start for 34 days...
6. 1972] Broadway Joe beats Baltimore: Jets QB Joe Namath passes for 6 touchdowns in the Jets 44-34 win over the Colts...
7. 1976] Guilty as charged: Patricia Hearst is sentenced to 7 years in prison for her role in a 1974 bank robbery. She serves 22 months before Jimmy Carter sets her free on a clemency order...1988] After shooting it out with a Georgia state trooper, James Brown is arrested...
8. 1991] "Happy Trails": Dr. Seuss a.k.a. Theodor Seuss Geisel dies of natural causes at 87...
9. 1996] No Nukes: Bill Clinton and other major nuclear powers sign a treaty to end all testing and development of nuclear weapons...
10. 2005] Not lovely: Hurricane Rita strikes eastern Texas and the Louisiana coast, causing more flooding in New Orleans...For more on September 24:

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Wednesday, September 23, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1642] A time for joy, a time for tears: Harvard holds its first commencement. A grand total of 9 men graduate with degrees...
2. 1952] Your move Mr. Nixon: When questioned about his integrity, VP candidate Richard Nixon gives his famous "Checkers" speech. Checkers was the name of a dog given as a gift to 6-year old daughter Tricia...
3. 1952] The winner and new champ: Rocky Marciano wins his biggest fight, winning the heavyweight crown by knocking out previous champ Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th round. When Rocky went down in that small plane he was 49-0. He never lost a fight...
4. 1956] Circus Boy: Mickey Braddock begins his career as "Corky", a 12-year old adopted by the circus in NBC-TV's "Circus Boy". Mickey Braddock will change his name to Micky Dolenz...
5. 1962] Maury Wills it so: Dodger Maury Wills breaks Ty Cobb's 47-year old stolen base record when he swipes #97 on the way to 104...
6. 1962] The Name Game: The New York Philharmonic Hall opens as the first unit in Lincoln Center. The hall will later be renamed Avery Fisher Hall...
7. 1969] Paul is dead: The London Daily Mirror reports that Paul McCartney is dead in one of the greatest hoaxes of all-time...
8. 1977] Musical Angels: Cheryl Ladd replaces Farrah Fawcett on "Charlie's Angels"...
9. 1988] 40-40 Club: Jose Canseco is baseball's 1st player to steal 40 bases, hit 40 home runs while dating Madonna...
10. 1991] Going to Hall: Islanders' Mike Bossy and Denis Potvin are inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame...For more on September 23:

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Tuesday, September 22, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1957] Premiered on this date: "Maverick" starring no, not John McCain but James Garner. This was one of the first shows I mailed promotion kits to affiliates when I was a mailboy at ABC. "Maverick" would run for 5 seasons and was one of the first hit shows for this fledgling network at the time...1964] "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.", the spy show that made stars of Robert Vaughn and David McCallum. It ran for four seasons...
2. 1961] Peace be with you: President John F. Kennedy signs a congressional act that establishes the Peace Corps...
3. 1967] On the cover of Time Magazine: The Beatles...
4. 1969] Home run derby: The Giants' Willie Mays becomes the second player, behind Babe Ruth, to hit his 600th home run. Hank Aaron will pass Mays and The Babe. Barry Bonds passes them all...
5. 1975] You missed: Sara Jane Moore fails in an attempt to shoot President Gerald Ford outside the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco (it's the second attempt on Ford's life in 17 days)...
6. 1980] "Happy Trails": Irving Berlin dies at the age of 101. Cause of death was being 101...1999] George C. Scott passes away from a ruptured aortic aneurysm. Scott was 71...2001] Issac Stern dies from congestive heart failure at 81...2007] The only mime I ever liked - Marcel Marceau dies at 84. Marcel who was Jewish passes away on Yom Kippur...
7. 1987] Out on strike: The second regular season strike in five years hits the NFL. This time only 1 game during the 16-game season is cancelled...
8. 1995] SOLD!: Time Warner strikes a $7.5 billion deal to buy Turner Broadcasting System, Inc...
9. 2004] That's a fine thing: CBS is fined $550,000 by the FCC for showing Janet Jackson's exposed right tata during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show which I witnessed in Houston. Can you believe this case is being looked into again by the FCC???
10. 2007] New justice: John Roberts' nomination as chief justice clears the Senate Judiciary Committe on a 13-5 vote...(For more on September 22):

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Monday, September 21, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1897] Santa who?: The New York Sun runs an editorial that answers a question from 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon: 'Is There A Santa Claus'...
2. 1937] Making it a hobbit: 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien is published...
3. 1938] What's your name?: An unnamed category 3 hurricane slams into Long Island and southern New England and claims as many as 600 lives...
4. 1957] Premiered on this date: "Perry Mason" starring Raymond Burr starts a run of 17 seasons...1970] "Monday Night Football" with Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson who will be replaced by Frank Gifford and "Dandy" Don Meredith. The first game features a Cleveland win over the Jets 31-21...
5. 1973] Confirmation day: Henry Kissinger is confirmed as Secretary of State by the Senate...1981] The Senate confirms Sandra Day O'Connor as the first female justice of the Supreme Court...
6. 1982] Football strikes out: National Football League players begin a 57-day strike...
7. 1983] Say watt?: Interior Secretary James G. Watt describes a special advisory panel as consisting of "a black, a woman, two Jews and a cripple." Watt removes the shoe from his mouth, apologizes and then 'resigns'...
8. 1998] What is "is"?: Bill Clinton is less ingenious than Jimmy Carter. This is the day that Bill answered a question about Monica Lewinsky with this question: "it depends on what the meaning of 'is' is?" It's all part of his testimony about an affair with "that woman, Miss Lewinsky." Unlike Carter -no pass for Clinton on his quote...
9. 1998] "Happy Trails": Olympic gold medal track star Florence Griffith Joyner aka 'Flojo' dies in her sleep after suffering an epilectic seizure...
10. 2001] 'Geronimooooooo': Congress approves a $15 billion bailout to help an airline industry reeling from the September 11 terrorist attacks...For more on September 21:

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(Weekend Edition) September 18 - 20, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1851] Premiered on this date: The first issue of The New York Times is published...1927] The Mother Ship has landed: The Columbia Broadcasting System debuts with a network of 47 stations. The name of the company is later shortened to CBS...1963] The following TV shows debuted on this date: "The Patty Duke Show" which airs for 3 years...1965] "I Dream of Jeannie" starring Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman. This series runs for 5 seasons...1965] "Get Smart" starring Don Adams and Barbara Feldon with a run of 5 years plus syndication forever (all premieres were on 9/18)...
2. 1960] Fidel visits the Apple: Fidel Castro stays at the Hotel Theresa in Harlem where he meets with Malcolm X. He also makes TV appearances and is generally treated like the hero he wasn't (9/18)...
3. 1969] No tip-toeing around: Tiny Tim announces his engagement to "Miss Vicki" on the "Tonight Show With Johnny Carson." Johnny invites the lovely couple to get married on his show, which they will do in December (9/18)...
4. 1973] The Battle of The Sexes: Billie Jean King, 30, beats Bobby Riggs, 55, in a grudge tennis match at the Houston Astrodome. King whips Riggs in straight sets (9/20)...
5. 1975] "Happy Trails": Jimi Hendrix dies of a drug overdose at 27 (9/18)...
6. 1975] Gotcha: Patty Hearst is captured in San Mateo (CA) (9/18). She will be convicted and sentenced to 7 years in prison for her role in SLA crimes. Jimmy Carter will commute the sentence and she only serves 22-months...
7. 1976] Just a Love Machine: Playboy releases the Jimmy Carter interview in which he's quoted as saying, "I've looked at a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times." Americans by the millions avoid the imagery (9/20)...
8. 1977] Captain Courageous: Ted Turner captains the Courageous to victory, sweeping Australia in the 24th 'America's Cup' in Newport (RI). Twenty years later on this same date (1997) Turner announces that he will donate $1 billion to the U.N. over the next 10 years (9/18)...
9. 1994] Talkin' baseball: The Ken Burns produced "Baseball" series of specials premieres on PBS, making a star of Buck O'Neill, a former Negro League player (9/18)...
10. 2003] AO-What?: Time Warner drops the "AOL" from its name. The merged company becomes Time Warner Inc. The company started including 'AOL' in 2000 (9/19)...For more on September 18 - 20:

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Thursday, September 17, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1787] Sign in please: The U.S. Constitution is completed and signed by a majority of delegates attending the constitutional convention in Philadelphia...
2. 1862] Monday, bloody Monday: Union forces repel a Confederate invasion of Maryland in the Civil War Battle of Antietam. Over 23,000 are killed, wounded or captured in the bloodiest day in U.S. military history...
3. 1947] Rookie Number One: Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson is named the first 'Rookie of The Year'...
4. 1954] Retaining the title: Brockton (MA) native Rocky Marciano KOs Ezzard Charles in the 8th round to retain his heavyweight crown at Yankee Stadium...
5. 1963] Premiered on this date: "The Fugitive" which will air until 1967 and then in rerun for one more year...1964] "Bewitched", rated #2 in its first season will run until 1967 and then 6 more years in rerun...1965] "Hogan's Heroes" will run through 1971...1966] "Mission: Impossible" will enjoy a phenomenal run until 1990...1972] "M*A*S*H" airs for 11 seasons, ending in 1983 as a 2 1/2 hour special viewed by the largest TV audience to ever watch a single program. Reruns are still running somewhere...
6. 1986] Clincher: The Mets clinch the NL East title by beating the Cubs 4-2 behind Doc Gooden's 15th win of the season...
7. 1992] Halt. Who go's there?: A halt is called in the probe of the Iran-Contra scandal after the investigation had lasted over 5 years...
8. 1994] There she is. Walking on air she is: Heather Whitestone, Miss Alabama becomes the first deaf Miss America...
9. 1996] "Happy Trails": Former VP Spiro Agnew dies from leukemia at 77...
10. 2004] The 700 Club: Barry Bonds hits his 700th home run for the Giants, joining Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755) as the only 700 home run hitters...For more on September 17:

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Wednesday, September 16, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1630] What's Your Name?: The original Native American name of Shawmut is changed to Boston...
2. 1949] Premiered on this date: The "Road Runner" "beep-beeps" for the 1st time in the WB cartoon "Fast and Furry-ous" (Mel Blanc does the sfx)...1972] "The Bob Newhart Show" debuts with Bob playing a shrink. It runs until 1978...1984] "Miami Vice" changes the way men dress and runs for 5 seasons...
3. 1968] Curtains: One of the best comedy series of all-time, "The Andy Griffith Show" bows out after 8 seasons (but will continue in reruns forever)...
4. 1968] Sock it to me: Richard Nixon makes his famous "sock it to me" walk-on appearance on "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In"...
5. 1973] Record-breaking: Buffalo running back O.J. Simpson becomes the first NFL player to gain 250 yards in a game with his slashing ground game against the Patriots...
6. 1974] A grant from the Prez: President Gerald Ford grants a conditional amnesty program for draft evaders and deserters during the Vietnam War...
7. 1977] "Happy Trails": Marc Bolan a.k.a. T. Rex dies in a car accident at 29...
8. 1981] Sweet as sugar: Sugar Ray Leonard rallies to beat Thomas "Hitman" Hearns, winning by a TKO to win the welterweight title. It's Hearns first professional loss...
9. 1988] Perfecto: Tom Browning of the Cincinnati Reds pitches a perfect game in a 1-0 shutout of the Dodgers...
10. 2004] Ivan the terrible: Hurricane Ivan plows into the Gulf Coast with 130 mph winds and is blamed for at least 115 deaths, 43 in the U.S...For more on September 16:

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Tuesday, September 15, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1776] The Redcoats are coming, the Redcoats are coming: The British take over New York City, landing at Kips Bay. They will chase George Washington to New Jersey...
2. 1928] Look what I found: Alexander Fleming discovers the antibiotic penicillin in the mold Penicillium notatum (verily)...
3. 1948] Musical call letters: WHN changes call letters to WMGM but don't fret WHN fans, the call letters will change back in 1962...
4. 1952] Turn out the lights, the party's over: The Boston Braves play their last game in Beantown at what is now Nickerson Field, under the Mass. Turnpike, the place B.U. plays their football games. The Bravos move to Milwaukee the following season...
5. 1954] I see China, I see France: Filming a scene for "The Seven Year Itch", Marilyn Monroe's dress flies up as she stands on a subway grating, infuriating husband Joe DiMaggio who doesn't wait for a seven year itch. Married in January, they soon divorce in October. The marriage lasted 9 months...
6. 1958] Pinstripe tragedy: A commuter train crashes through a drawbridge near Newark (NJ) killing 48 including Yankee second baseman George "Snuffy" Stirnweiss who was only 39...
7. 1962] The call of the century: London Daily Mirror columnist Peter Jones calls The Beatles, "a nothing group" (nice call Peter)...
8. 1971] Debuted on this date: The environmental organization "Greenpeace" is formed in Vancouver, B.C., Canada...1982] The first issue of "USA Today" hits the newsstands and sells out...
9. 1978] A 3-peat: 36-year old Muhammad Ali beats Leon Spinks (by decision) in a rematch, to become the first heavyweight champ to win the title 3 times...
10. 2008] In the beginning: Lehman Brothers files for Chapter 11 resulting from the subprime mortgage crisis. The Dow Jones industrial average plunges over 500 points. You might consider this the beginning of the recession...For more on September 15:

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Monday, September 14, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1814] Jose can you see: Francis Scott Key writes the 'Star-Spangled Banner', a poem originally called 'Defense of Fort McHenry'. Key had witnessed the British bombardment of the Maryland fort during the War of 1812. The song would became our national anthem on March 3, 1931...
2. 1901] "Happy Trails": President William McKinley dies of gunshot wounds inflicted by an assassin. McKinley is succeeded by 42-year old Theodore Roosevelt...1982] Monaco's Princess Grace a.k.a. Grace Kelly dies from injuries suffered when her car plunges off a mountain road one day earlier. The Princess was 52...
3. 1940] Feeling a draft: Congress passes the Selective Training and Service Act, providing for the first peacetime draft in U.S. history...
4. 1948] Breaking ground: Ground is broken in Manhattan for the United Nations' world headquarters...
5. 1959] Machine on the moon: The Soviet space probe Luna 2 becomes the first man-made object to reach the moon...
6. 1968] Record-breaking: Tigers pitcher Denny McLain becomes the first pitcher to win 30 games in 34 years. Denny finishes the season at 31-6. His career stats: 131-91...
7. 1994] Strike Three - you're out: Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig cancels the rest of the 1994 season after a strike continues after 34 days. No World Series will be played in 1994...
8. 2001] Ground Zero: Using a bullhorn, President George W. Bush tells those gathered at Ground Zero that we will get even for the attacks. On the same day, the FBI releases the names of the 19 suspected terrorists...
9. 2005] Chapter 11: Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection...
10. 2005] What was he thinking?: A federal judge in San Francisco declares the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools unconstitutional...For more on September 14:

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(Weekend Edition) September 11 - 13, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1941] Breaking ground: Groundbreaking begins in Arlington (VA) for the building of the Pentagon. Ironically, the Pentagon suffers damage and deaths at the hands of the 911 terrorists 60 years later, to the day (9/11)...
2. 1953] Wedding Bells: Jacqueline Bouvier and Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy walk down the aisle at Hammersmith Farm in Newport (RI) (9/12)...
3. 1960] You pay, we play: The FCC adopts payola rules aka 'The Alan Freed Rules.' Freed and other disc jockeys were accused and in some cases fined and jailed for payola in the late 50s (9/13)...
4. 1964] Down for the count: "Friday Night Fights" is seen for the last time as Gillette's TV contract ends (9/11)...
5. 1964] Oh Shea can you see: The first football game is played at Shea Stadium with the Jets beating Denver 30-6 (9/12)...
6. 1967] Premiered on this date: "The Carol Burnett Show" on CBS-TV (9/11). The highly rated comedy/variety show will run until September, 1979...1974] "Little House On The Prairie" (9/11). The series runs until March, 1983...
7. 1970] Marathon man: The first NYC Marathon is won by Freeport (LI) firefighter Gary Muhrcke (9/13). Only 175 runners compete with 55 finishing. That race consisted of 4 laps around Central Park. The race, now run the first weekend in November, covers all 5 boroughs and the number of runners could fill Citi Field...
8. 1985] The hitman: Pete Rose becomes baseball's all-time hit leader off of San Diego pitcher Eric Show. Hit number 4,192 breaks Ty Cobb's longstanding record by one hit (9/11)...
9. 2001] The horror of 911: Nearly 3,000 lives are taken, mainly at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in a field near Pittsburgh as terrorists launch the most devastating attack ever on United States soil...
10. 2003] 'Happy Trails': An undetected heart flaw takes the life of John Ritter (9/11). Ritter, 54 was the son of country music legend Tex Ritter...2003] Country music icon Johnny Cash dies of complications from diabetes at 71 (9/12)...2008] Radio programmer (Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York) Neil McIntyre passes away at 68 from cancer (9/11)...

Thursday, September 10, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1846] In stitches: Elias Howe of Spencer (MA) receives a patent for the sewing machine. To celebrate, Howe gets ripped, wearing a smile that looks like it was sewn on. From that day on he was known as that old "sew and sew"...
2. 1935] Premiered on this date: "Popeye" debuts on NBC Radio...1955] "Gunsmoke" debuts on CBS-TV...1990] Will Smith debuts as "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"...1990] Ellis Island reopens...1993] "The X-Files" debuts on Fox...
3. 1953] Mmmmm: Swanson begins selling "TV dinners" giving us these luscious choices: Salisbury steaks, Meatloaf, Fried chicken and Turkey. All come with delicious mashed potatoes and the greenest peas you've ever seen...
4. 1955] Bert parks: Bert Parks begins a 25-year career of singing "There She Is, Miss America" as host of the famous pageant on NBC-TV...
5. 1963] Standoff: 20 black students enter public schools in Alabama following a standoff between federal Marshall's and Alabama Governor George C. Wallace...
6. 1972] Curtains: Gayle Sayers of the Bears retires after only 7 years in the NFL. He bows out as the lifetime return leader at the time with 9,435 combined net yards and 336 points...1993] NBC-TV airs its last episode of "Late Night With David Letterman" as Letterman takes his show to CBS-TV...
7. 1974] Legalized larceny: The Cardinals' Lou Brock sets a new major league record for stolen bases in one season with stolen base number 105...
8. 1988] Steffi steals the cup: West Germany's Steffi Graf wins the first women's Grand Slam since Margaret Court in 1970 by taking the U.S. Open final...
9. 1989] Two-sport hero: Deion Sanders scores a touchdown in his NFL debut with Atlanta 5 days after hitting a home run for the Yankees. Trivia buffs: Sanders becomes the 1st athlete to play in a World Series and Super Bowl...
10. 2000] Emmy Gold: "The West Wing" wins a record 9 Emmy's including "Best Drama Series"...For more on September 10th:

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Wednesday, September 9, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1926] Cue the peacock: The Radio Corporation of America (RCA) creates NBC...
2. 1960] AFL kickoff: The Boston Patriots lose the 1st AFL game ever played, 13-10 to Denver (a great trivia question for you)...
3. 1965] Perfecto: Future Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers pitches his 4th no-hitter, a perfecto ! He shuts out the Cubs 1-0. It's the 8th perfect game in major league history...
4. 1971] ATT-I-CA...ATT-I-CA: Prisoners seize control of maximum security Attica prison in upstate New York. Tragically, 43 perish...
5. 1974] Another opening, another show: 22-year old Jimmy Connors wins his 1st U.S. Open Mens title...1979] At age 16, Tracy Austin becomes the youngest player to win the U.S. Open Womens title...
6. 1976] 'Happy Trails': Communist Chinese leader Mao-Tse-tung dies of natural causes at 82...2003] Nuclear scientist Edward Teller passes away from natural causes at 95...
7. 1984] Record breaking: The Bears' Walter Payton breaks Jim Brown's combined yardage record when he reaches 15,517...
8. 1995] Wedding Bells: Chynna Phillips and William Baldwin tie the knot. They're still married...
9. 1998] Rotten justice: Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols appears on "Judge Judy" as the defendant in a case involving a drummer who sued Rotten for allegedly head-butting. The credibility factor of the show is questioned...
10. 2003] Financial justice: The Boston Roman Catholic Archdiocese agrees to pay $85 million to 552 people to settle clergy sex abuse cases...For more on September 9: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com

Tuesday, September 8, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1664] Dutch Treat: The Dutch surrender New Amsterdam to the British, who rename it New York...
2. 1921] There she is: Margaret Gorman of Washington (DC) is crowned the 1st Miss America in Atlantic City (NJ)...1945] Bess Myerson of New York City becomes the 1st Jewish Miss America...
3. 1965] A call for Monkees: A Variety ad announces auditions for "The Monkees" TV show. Those who fail the audition include Stephen Stills, future Three Dog Night member Danny Hutton, Paul Williams and Charles Manson (yes that Charles Manson). No need to tell you who passed the audition...
4. 1965] Jack of all A's: A's infielder Bert Campaneris becomes the 1st player ever to play all 9 positions in a game (won by Kansas City). The Twins' Cesar Tovar repeats the feat 3 years later...
5. 1966] Premiered on this date: "That Girl" starring Marlo Thomas...1968] "Funny Girl" starring Barbra Streisand...
6. 1974] I beg your pardon: President Gerald R. Ford grants an unconditional pardon to former President Richard M. Nixon...
7. 1975] Boston Public: Boston's public schools begin a court-ordered citywide busing program amid scattered incidents of violence...
8. 1996] Emmy Gold: "ER", Dennis Franz and Kathy Baker ("Picket Fences")are the big winners at the 48th Emmy Awards...
9. 1998] With A little help from his friend Andro: Mark McGwire hits his 62nd home run breaking Roger Maris' 37-year old record of 61 (McGwire winds up with 70 with a little help from Andro)...
10. 2004] Bush league: Dan Rather gives us something to remember him by as "60 Minutes Wednesday" airs a report questioning George W. Bush's National Guard Service. Memos featured in the report were challenged as forgeries...For more on September 8: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com

(Labor Day Weekend Edition) September 4 - 7, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1906] Taking a pass: Bradbury Robinson of St. Louis University throws a "projectile pass" to teammate Jack Schneider. It's the first forward pass used in a game as St. Louis beats Carroll 22-0 (9/5)...
2. 1927] Must-see TV: Philo T. Farnsworth succeeds in transmitting an image through purely electronic means by using an image dissector (9/7). TV is born...
3. 1957] How many would you like?: Ford Motor Company starts selling its Edsel line (9/4)...
4. 1957] A black-eye for Arkansas: The National Guard is ordered by Governor Orval Faubus to keep 9 black students from entering Little Rock's Central High School (9/4)...
5. 1959] Barbie is born: The first Barbie Doll is sold by Matel. Ruth Handler, co-founder of Matel invented the doll that was named after her daughter. Ken was named after her son (9/6)...
6. 1967] Curtains: "Gilligan's Island" airs for the final time on CBS-TV after a run of 98 episodes (9/4)...
7. 1972] Bloody Olympics: Arab terrorists kill 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team. Five guerrillas and a police officer are also killed in Munich in the darkest day in Olympic history (9/5)...
8. 1975] Dodging a bullet: President Gerald Ford escapes an attempt on his life in Sacramento (CA) by Charles Manson follower, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme (9/5)...
9. 1995] The new Iron Man: Cal Ripken Jr. breaks Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games (9/6). Ripken entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, on the strength of that achievement...
10. 2006] "Happy Trails": "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, 44, dies after a stingray's barb pierces his chest (9/4)....For more on September 4 - 7:

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Thursday, September 3, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1833] Here comes The Sun: The 1st successful penny newspaper in the U.S., "The New York Sun" is launched by Benjamin H. Day (too bad his name wasn't "Brown", then he could say "I'm Brown from The Sun" but at least people could say he had his day)...
2. 1895] Pigskin debut: According to the folks in Latrobe, PA the 1st professional football game was played in that city as the Latrobe YMCA beat the pants off of the Jeannette (a city name not a girl) Athletic Club 12-0...
3. 1954] Riding off into the sunset: "The Lone Ranger" airs on radio for the last time after 2,956 episodes (that covers a period of 21 years)...1966] "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" ends after 14 years (it ran on radio for 10 years, some of those years it ran on both mediums)...1967] "What Was My Line?": After 17 years, "What's My Line ?" airs for the last time (early panelists were: Arlene Francis, Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf with others like Steve Allen and Fred Allen). John Daly was the host of the show...
4. 1970] "Happy Trails": Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi dies from cancer at 57...
5. 1971] The Walrus returns: After a visit to England, John Lennon returns to New York City, never to return to England, where he was born (in Liverpool)...
6. 1976] Doing the Martian Hop: Viking 2 lands on Mars to take the 1st close-up photos of the red planet...
7. 1977] Mary tosses her hat for the last time: "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" bows out (the 1st episode was title "Love Is All Around" which was the theme song of the sitcom. It was written and performed by Sonny Curtis. And of course that last show featured the famous group hug by all the cast members)...
8. 1999] Super Mario: Mario Lemieux's ownership group officially takes control of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lemieux becomes the first player in the modern era of sports to buy the team he once played for...
9. 2006] Hanging up his racket: Tennis player Andre Agassi retires after losing his third-around match at the U.S. Open...
10. 2007] Like a puff of smoke: Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett, 63, vanishes after taking off in a single-engine plane in western Nevada...For more on September 3: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com

Wednesday, September 2, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1901] Teddy shtick: Vice President Theodore Roosevelt offers this advice: "Speak softly and carry a big stick" in a speech at the Minnesota State Fair...
2. 1935] Hurricaned in Florida: A devastating hurricane slams into the Florida Keys, killing 423...
3. 1944] 41 is down: Navy pilot George H. W. Bush is shot down by Japanese forces as he completes a bombing run over the Bonin Islands. The future president is rescued by a U.S. submarine...
4. 1945] White flagging it: Japan formally surrenders in ceremonies aboard the U.S. Missouri, ending World War II...
5. 1963] Streching the news: CBS and NBC expand network news from 15 minutes to 30 minutes...
6. 1969] A tyrant dies: North Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh dies from multiple health problems at 79...
7. 1983] O Solo Mio: Tom Brokaw takes over as sole anchor of NBC's 'Nightly News'. Brokaw's run lasts until December 1, 2004 when he is succeeded by Brian Williams...
8. 1992] What space race?: The United States and Russia agree to build a space station together...
9. 2004] Vote for me again: President George W. Bush accepts his party's nomination for a second term at the Republican National Convention in New York City...
10. 2005] Care packages for New Orleans: A National Guard convoy packed with food, water and medicine rolls into New Orleans four days after Hurricane Katrina hits...For more on September 2: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com

Tuesday, September 1, 2009...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1897] This subway had no sandwiches: The 1st subway system in the U.S. opens in Boston. Over 95% of the original subway tunnels remain in use today...
2. 1932] Gotcha: New York City Mayor James "Gentleman Jimmy" Walker resigns following charges of graft and corruption in his administration...
3. 1942] This is fair and impartial?: A federal judge in Sacramento (CA) upholds the wartime detention of Japanese-Americans as well as Japanese nationals...
4. 1956] Pink Cadillac: Elvis Presley shares early success with his family, buying his mother a pink Cadillac...
5. 1969] Gadhafi power: A coup in Libya brings Moammar Gadhafi to power. People in NJ don't want him staying there when he attends a U.N. meeting this month after he embraced the Lockerbie bomber...
6. 1970] The dream ends: The last episode of "I Dream of Jeannie" airs. The show premiered on September 18, 1965...
7. 1972] Bobby beats Boris: Brooklyn-born Bobby Fischer wins the international chess crown in Iceland, defeating Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union...
8. 1983] Korean air tragedy: A Korean Air Lines Boeing 747 is shot down by a Soviet jet fighter after the airliner entered Soviet airspace, killing 269...
9. 1985] The real Titanic: Is found by a joint U.S.-French expedition. The wreck site is located 963 miles northeast of New York and 453 miles southeast of Newfoundland...
10. 2004] Chechen terroism: More than 1,000 are taken hostage by heavily armed Chechen militants at a school in southern Russia. More than 330 people, most of them children, are killed during the three-day ordeal...For more on September 1: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com