Gil McDougald Needs to Be Reminded Where He Can Stand
Photo © Bill Nehez
New York Yankee third baseman Gil McDougald had one of the most unorthodox batting stances of all time. He would face the pitcher with both feet pointing towards the mound in an open stance.
At Municipal Stadium on June 12, 1953 the Cleveland Indians were upset with where McDougald was standing, claiming his right foot was over the line of the batter’s box. Continue reading
The west side of Fifth Avenue between 23rd and 24th streets had been country land well into the middle of the 19th century. The land for many years had been occupied by a quaint tavern and horse changing station.
Franconi’s Hippodrome- Fifth Avenue 23rd -24th Streets (click to enlarge)
On this site in March 1853, Henri Franconi, a European from a long line of equestrian performers, arranged with investors to have an amphitheater built which was then called Franconi’s Hippodrome. This precursor of the modern day circus with performers, animals and chariot races was housed in a large structure shaped like an ellipse and was 338 feet by 196 1/2 feet that could seat 10,000 people and was covered by a red, white and blue canvas supported by a center pole 70 feet in height and a circle of smaller poles 40 feet in height.
It opened on Monday, May 2, 1853, and The New York Daily Times was not impressed with the class of people attending the Hippodrome shows. Attendees they said “…were blacklegs, gamblers, rowdies, and the miscellanea of polite roguery and blackguardism.” The reporter added “The Hippodrome is badly conducted and Continue reading
Bon Scott and Angus Young With A Blistering Version of Riff Raff
Rock n’ roll was meant to be dangerous and a live performance should reflect that.
In the late 70’s as AC/DC were on the way to conquering the world with a relentless tour schedule and knockout performances, they filmed a few shows for posterity. This one at The Apollo Centre Theatre in Glasgow Scotland on April 30, 1978 does not have great footage, nor is the sound quality all that good. What is exceptional is the dynamic tension that is displayed in this show. AC/DC is ready to blow any other band off the stage. And you can feel it. Continue reading
Babe Ruth Signing Autographs
The Yankees won’t be in the World Series this year. The Detroit Tigers beat the Yankees three games to two in the American League Divisional Series last night. So we won’t be hearing God Bless America at Yankee Stadium during the 7th inning stretch for the rest of 2011 at the ballpark in the Bronx.
In 1936, after Babe Ruth retired, he did not show up to many ball games as a spectator. He grew disillusioned with not being given the chance to get a management job in the game he loved and tended to avoid baseball parks. Of course it was always hard for Babe to go out in public without being besieged by autograph seekers. But he signed for everyone. That was the Babe. Continue reading
Coney Island in the Late 1930’s Early 40’s
On so many levels this is extraordinary. The time is somewhere between 1937 & 1941 based upon the rides shown at Luna Park at Coney Island. The original Luna Park closed in 1944.
When I first saw this film I re-watched it three times. What would it be like to experience the original Luna Park? This film gives you an idea.
Where is the time machine?
A scene of New York life, just before the turn of the century. Two things to note:
1) Everyone wears a hat. Continue reading
Marilyn Monroe and Edward R. Murrow Share a Smoke, April 1, 1955
The caption for this press photo is:
News Commentator Edward R. Murrow holds a match to the cigarette Marilyn Monroe extends to her puckered lips, during discussions at the Ambassador Hotel in New York regarding the luscious actress’ forthcoming appearance on Murrow’s “Person To Person” television show. Scheduled for April 8th, the TV show will be the second one Miss Monroe has ever done.
Here is interview that aired live April 8, 1955
http://youtu.be/NBGIL7-ah1U
Metallica’s Cliff Burton Died 25 Years Ago, September 27, 1986
In 1984, I already owned a 51 minute, soon to be thrash classic called Kill ‘Em All. So when I played a new cassette tape for my father and told him “this is the best heavy metal album I ever heard and one day this band will be acknowledged as great, although they will probably never be popular,” I was sure he would agree with me.
He agreed with one part- that they would never be popular and years later we would both be proven wrong. They did become very popular. The band was Metallica and the cassette tape was Ride The Lightning. My father couldn’t understand how I could listen to it. Too fast, too loud, too much screaming. His hard rock tastes stopped somewhere between Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper. Getting no radio airplay, Continue reading
It probably made the crosstown trip faster than we currently do.
I like the sign in the background – Milk, Cider, Cream Soda, Buttermilk, Lemonade 3¢.
And I love old handwriting:
Tuesday A.M. Dear Mamma, What do you think of this for rapid N.Y. Please send my letters to Aunt Emma’s. Came Monday, will write to-day Love, Evan(?)
According to Appleton’s Dictionary of New York in 1905, there were 7-8 mail deliveries per day and the postal service made a profit. Continue reading
