Once again we feature a forgotten movie star of the silent and early sound era – Alice White seen here in pensive mood in Show Girl (1928).
Born Alva White August 25, 1904 in Paterson, NJ, Alice was first in the employ of director Tom Forman as a script girl. Alice moved on to be an assistant to director Josef Von Sternberg. Later she worked for Charlie Chaplin. It was Chaplin Continue reading
Baltimore, MD, Sept. 24 – KALINE GETS HIT NO. 3,000 — Al Kaline swings at the first pitch in the fourth inning and lashes a double to right field for the 3,000th hit of his major league career. The hit came off Baltimore pitcher Dave McNally and enabled Kaline to become the 12th player in major league history to reach the 3,000 hit plateau. He was the first American Leaguer to reach that mark since 1925. credit AP Wirephoto, September 29, 1974
In August 1974 Kaline told San Francisco Examiner sports editor Roger Williams of his goal. “If I get my 3,000 hits, I’ll definitely quit after this season.”
But what if he did not get to 3,000 he was asked. Continue reading
NOT FOR GROWNUPS
New York; – Pat Powell, an airline passenger service representative, tries to take a ride on “Shorty,” the world’s smallest horse, who is enroute from London to Atlanta, GA., where he will go on exhibition at a children’s playground. “Shorty” weighs 59 pounds and is just 30 inches long, although he is full grown. Credit: United Press 3/26/1953
Shorty, the two-year-old, fully ground stallion was 7 hands high (28 inches) and was purchased for $500.
Virginia Hyde & Thistle May 23, 1966 credit: Montreal Gazette
After Continue reading
While paging through the New York Evening World of October 4, 1894 this portrait and blurb stood out. This is Louis Philippe Robert d’Orléans.
The fact that Louis (born 1869) is described as having a reputation as a “gay boy” does not translate today the same as it did in 1894.
The gay here refers to happy, merry or jovial, not a homosexual. Continue reading
Raschi’s Arm Dims Yankees Hope
Chicago: Vic Raschi (r), New York Yankees’ 20 game winner and Yank manager Casey Stengel look melancholy today at the game with the White Sox. The arm trouble which took Raschi out of last night’s game, which the Yanks lost 4-3, may result in a knockout blow to the New Yorkers’ pennant hopes. photo Acme 9/20/1950
The news slug comments on Raschi’s arm trouble, yet in that 4-3 loss which Raschi did not figure in, he allowed only six hits and two runs over six innings.
On September 19, the Yankees held a half game lead over both the Red Sox and the Tigers for first place. Until playoffs came about in 1969, only each league’s winner would advance to the World Series.
But, Raschi would pitch again Continue reading
This magic lantern slide is from about 1915 and shows the ornate entrance to Coney Island’s Luna Park. Along with George C. Tilyou’s Steeplechase Park (opened 1897) and Dreamland (1904) , Luna Park (1903) was one of the big three Coney Island amusement attractions at the turn of the century. Luna’s founders, Frederic Thompson and Elmer “Skip” Dundy took over Sea Lion Park which opened in 1895.
Dreamland was destroyed by fire in 1911. Luna Park would suffer a similar fate on August 12, 1944. Steeplechase shut down in 1964.
Having never been to Steeplechase or Luna Park I can only relate the tales of my grandparents who describe old Coney Island as a crowded, glorious pageant of exciting and colorful sights, unique smells and sounds that Continue reading
Mary Helps Marilynn Primp Up For Her First Screen Appearance
Mary Pickford, the world’s sweetheart, is here seen assisting Marilynn Miller, her sister-in-law to put the final touches to her hair before taking her first screen test. Marilynn was recently given a test at the Pickford-Fairbanks studio, and it proved highly satisfactory. photo: Kadel & Herbert News Photos, October 1923
Marilyn Miller (born Mary Ellen Reynolds, September 1, 1898) was a Ziegfeld Follies headliner before she was 20-years-old. Continue reading
There are stories that are so bizarre you think they cannot be true. This brief article from The Meridan Daily Journal ran September 1, 1906. Several other newspapers including The New York Tribune (also reproduced below) and Washington Times would tell the tale as well. Continue reading
Unfortunately this news photo. provides no location except that it was labeled New York City. In addition there is no date, credit or caption. However the automobiles in the background Continue reading
“They always did work faster in Michigan.” A news item reported that former governor Chase Osborn, a well-known big game hunter, killed the bear after a 20 minute fight. The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power in Russia in 1917, and by 1921, the country was ravaged by famine and disease. The cartoonist suggests that it took somewhat longer for Lenin and his government to wreak disaster on Russia. drawing by Clifford Kennedy Berryman via Library of Congress
With the passage of time there are news stories that do not age well. Contemporary attitudes towards activities, attitudes and behaviors of the past often leave many readers aghast.
This example is from 105 years ago appearing on page six of the August 24, 1921 New York Evening World.
