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
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
This magic lantern slide view of the Brooklyn Bridge is from around 1890.
On the right is a train and on the left we can get a glimpse of the Brooklyn Bridge shuttle station. Trolleys and horse drawn vehicles are on the outer roadways as pedestrians cross the span on the bridge’s central walkway.
At first Continue reading
Originally this illustration appeared in the January 26, 1922 issue of The New York Times Mid-Week Pictorial magazine. We colorized this birdseye view of The Battery showing lower Manhattan crowded with ships and skyscraper buildings.
It also shows something that never came to be.
On the left is a series of uniform buildings stretching along the Hudson River waterfront. Today this area is the site of Battery Park City.
The Times description Continue reading
At the turn-of-the century, New York City had over a million horses serving the public. That situation was greatly affected by the arrival of automobiles. By the 1920s there were few horse drawn carriages still transporting people to their destinations. Along with the subway and buses, the taxi / auto industry had taken the horse’s place.
So what did these early taxi cabs look like? Below are some examples.
Self-Portrait of the Artist Vincent Van Gogh
The legend is that during his lifetime Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) was able to sell just one painting. Continue reading
This Detroit Publishing Company photograph is from 1900. We are looking east along 23rd Street. The corner of Madison Avenue and Madison Square Park is visible on the left.
The 11-story building completed in 1893 is the home office of The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
To the left of Metropolitan Life is the Madison Square Presbyterian Church. The church was led from 1880-1918 by Dr. Charles Parkhurst, a vocal foe Continue reading
We all know the saying that history is written by the victors. But, as the United States celebrates America 250 on July 4, we don’t acknowledge an overlooked fact.
There were a great number of colonists that did not want to be free of England. These were the Loyalists; those remaining faithful subjects of King George III. And the Loyalists were the losers.
Many colonists had grievances with the King of England. But they did not necessarily wish to dissolve ties with Great Britain. As far as government, a great number of the colonists did not wish to “alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,” as the Declaration of Independence states.
Most Americans today assume the revolution was inevitable due to British oppression. They assume most colonists were rabid patriots starving for liberty and those loyal to the King were a small minority.
That is not the truth.
John Hyde Preston’s dynamic, yet forgotten history of the Revolutionary War, Revolution 1776, Harcourt, Brace and Company (1933), delves into the topic of the numbers when it comes to “Patriots” during the rebellion. Continue reading
