While recently visiting my 14-year-old nephew who lives in Orange County, CA, I asked him when he travels what airport does he fly out of?
He replied,” John Wayne Airport.”
It then occurred to me, “do you know who John Wayne is?” I queried him.
The answer should not have surprised me. The answer of course was no. “A politician,” he guessed.
I mean fame is fleeting but for goodness sake, John Wayne? Continue reading
The lesson in big league ball after hitting a home run used to be- get ready to hit the deck.
Pitchers would routinely throw at hitters on their next at bat after homering. And not for showboating like players do today by standing in the batters box admiring their blast or flipping the bat.
No, all you had to do in the old days was hit a home run and certain pitchers would make sure that you would end up on your keister during your next trip to the plate. A pitcher who does that today risks ejection, suspension and the batter charging the mound to pummel the pitcher.
The news slug says:
St. Paul – Minneapolis, June 9, 1969. A NEW TWIST. Boston Red Sox Carl Yastrzemski (8) twists away from home plate on brush-back pitch from Minnesota Twins pitcher Tom Hall in the 5th inning of American League game Monday in the Twin Cities. Yastrzemski lead off in first inning with a home run. Minnesota catcher John Roseboro gloves ball. photo: AP
There are many children who are afraid of clowns. Not me. I just don’t like clowns. My bodyguard Klaatu, has even had to punch out a few when they have come too close to me.
But there are few adults that suffer a severe fear of clowns. The name for this rare condition is Coulrophobia, the excessive fear of clowns.
Paintings of clowns may not bring about fear so much as repulsion. How anyone could appreciate unfunny comedian Red Skelton or his art, often involving self portraits of him dressed as a clown has always been a mystery to me.
What is worse than a painting of one clown?
A bad painting of four clowns.
While recently in Maine, I stumbled across this monstrosity. If you wish to possibly induce a case of Coulrophobia in someone here is a prime candidate.
The artist’s name Continue reading
While today it might be considered very creepy, “Old Blue Eyes,” Frank Sinatra did marry Mia Farrow on July 19, 1966. Frank was 50-years-old and Mia was 21. Continue reading
Gloria Stuart (b. July 4, 1910) played “Old Rose” in James Cameron’s Titanic (1997) and was nominated for Best Actress in A Supporting Role. She did not win.
This is what Gloria Stuart looked like in the early 1930s.
Vivacious and pretty, Gloria Stuart was a movie star throughout the 1930s appearing in 43 films. Continue reading
Children playing on a roof in New York City April 28, 1910 from the series Living On (A) Skyscraper photo George G. Bain Collection Library of Congress (LOC)
In the early twentieth century the roofs of New York would offer a respite from hot days in New York. While roofs could be dangerous, the streets were full of peril with horses, trolleys and filth.
The news organization headed by George G. Bain sent its photographers up to the roofs to see life from this perspective. Continue reading
July 4, 1860 regatta at The Battery. photo: Anthony
In 1860 a year before the nation was split into two warring factions, New Yorkers celebrated the 84th anniversary of Independence Day in glorious fashion.
The day proliferated with excursions, theatricals, balloon ascensions, salutes, military parades, fireworks and – a regatta.
Regatta derives from Venetian, meaning a contention for mastery or contest. The New York regatta held on July 4 was a series of rowed and sailed boat races held near Castle Clinton at The Battery in New York bay.
All of the photographs seen here were taken by the firm of E. & H.T. Anthony as stereoviews. Continue reading
Photo shows – Manager Connie Mack of Americans (left) Manager John McGraw of Nationals choose for first up with the aid of a bat.
In the game of the century played at Comiskey Park, Chicago, July 6, the picked team of the American League defeated the picked team of the National League 4-2. Photo: Acme July 6, 1933
It’s hard to believe that this is how they decided home field advantage in the American League’s Comiskey Park for the first All-Star Game, but it’s true.
Kids used to do this in pick-up games in parks to see who would bat first. Continue reading
Broadway and 62nd Street – The Colonial Vaudeville Theater is on the left, 1913
Broadway means New York City. Sure there are other Broadway’s in the United States, but none have the same clout that New York’s Broadway does. It is the longest street in Manhattan and one of the oldest. What the Dutch called De Heere Straat and later De Heere Wegh, became Great George Street under English rule. The street was paved in 1707, but only from Bowling Green to Trinity Church at Wall Street. After the Revolution, New York’s citizens began renaming streets and Great George Street became Broadway.
Here are some postcard views of Broadway dating from 1895 – 1915 Continue reading
Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957) is acknowledged by classic movie buffs as among the worst films ever made. Edward D. Wood Jr. the director-writer of Plan 9 has a body of work to make a moviegoer either cringe or provoke hysterical laughter. Continue reading
