Mel Phillips Remembers

Wednesday, July 15, 2009...

2009-07-15T07:15:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1916] What’s your name?: In Seattle, Pacific Aero Products is incorporated by William Boeing. He will later name the company? Boeing!!!
1952] Debuted on this date: Patti Page makes her TV debut in a summer replacement series for Perry Como…1968] The soap "One Life To Live" debuts…1996] MSNBC debuts. Originally a 50/50 partnership between NBC and Bill Gates, Gates sold 32% of his shares in 2005. NBC is now principal owner with 82%, Gates with 18%…
1964] Vote for me: Conservative Barry Goldwater is nominated for President at the Republican National Convention…
1965] Smile, you’re on Candid Mariner: Mariner IV sends back the 1st closeup pictures of Mars but can’t get the red eye out as hard as they try…
1968] Commack, home of the Amerinets: The New Jersey Americans move to Long Island and become the New York Nets. Then they move back to Jersey and will someday move to Brooklyn. Have you been following along???
1973] Lending an ear: Paul Getty III (grandson of J.Paul), 16, is kidnapped. His parents receive a lock of hair and an ear in a box. Paul will be ransomed for $2 million with less hair and one ear…
1973] Oh no? Oh yes: Nolan Ryan becomes the 1st pitcher since Allie Reynolds in 1951 to pitch and win 2 no-hitters in one year. Ryan is the best pitcher I’ve ever seen in my lifetime…
1992] Taking care of T-C-B: Aretha Franklin sings the National Anthem as Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton is nominated for the presidency at the Democrats National Convention at Madison Square Garden…
1997] In cold blood: Designer Gianni Versace is shot to death by Andrew Philip Cunanan outside his home in Miami Beach. Cunanan was found dead 8 days later…
2002] Turncoat gets his due: John Walker Lindh pleads guilty to 2 felonies: supplying services to Afghanistan’s former Taliban government and for carrying explosives during the commission of a felony. Lindh agrees to spend 10 years in prison on each charge…For more on July 15th:

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Tuesday, July 14, 2009...

2009-07-14T06:06:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1881] A legend dies: Outlaw William H. Bonney Jr., alias Billy the Kid is shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett...
1921] Showing who's boss: Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti are convicted in Dedham (MA) of killing a shoe company paymaster and his guard. They will be executed in 1927...
1946] Dr. Spock makes a house call: "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" is published. To date, the book has sold over 50 million copies with no end in sight...
1958] The fun begins in Iraq: The army of Iraq overthrows the monarchy...
1965] No need to get the red eye out: American space probe Mariner 4 makes a fly-by of Mars and sends back photos...
1966] Killing Spree: 25-year old Richard Speck goes on a rampage in a Chicago dormitory killing 8 student nurses. Speck will die of a heart attack in prison in 1991. No one claims his body which is cremated...
1970] All-Star highlight: In one of the most famous of all All-Star game plays, Pete Rose bowls over catcher Ray Fosse to score...
1976] Mr. Peanut: Jimmy Carter wins the Democratic presidential nomination at the party's convention in New York...
1999] School busing busted: Race-based school busing in Boston ends after 25 years...
2004] Not that there's anything wrong with that: The Senate votes 50-48 against a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage...For more on July 14th:

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Monday, July 13, 2009...

2009-07-13T08:12:00.004-04:00

Timeline Memories:

1960] Vote for me: John F. Kennedy wins the Democratic presidential nomination at the party’s convention in Los Angeles…
1967] Race riot: Race-related rioting breaks out in Newark (NJ) with 27 killed in four days of violence…
1972] Trading Teams: The owners of the Baltimore Colts (Robert Irsay) and Los Angeles Rams (Carroll Rosenbloom) swap teams. It’s the first and last trade of its kind…
1977] Lights Out: A 25-hour blackout hits the New York City area…
1978] Canned Iacocca: Lee Iacocca is fired as president of Ford Motor Company by chairman Henry Ford II…
1985] Temporary prez: The Constitution’s presidential disability clause is invoked for the first time as President Ronald Reagan transfers power temporarily to VP George H.W. Bush before undergoing surgery for colon cancer…
1994] Guilty as charged: Tonya Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, is sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the attack on Harding’s skating rival, Nancy Kerrigan…
1998] Tawana bet?: A jury in Poughkeepsie (NY) rules that the Rev. Al Sharpton and two others had defamed a former prosecutor by accusing him of raping Tawana Brawley…
2005] Gotcha: Former WorldCom Inc. boss Bernard Ebbers, is sentenced to 25 years in prison for leading the largest corporate fraud in U.S. history…
2007] Convicted: Former media mogul Conrad Black is convicted of swindling the Hollinger International newspaper empire he once ran out of millions of dollars. Black is serving a 6-year sentence at a federal prison…

(Weekend Edition) July 10 - 12, 2009

2009-07-10T06:49:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1900] Nipper arrives: RCA Victor registers “His Master’s Voice” a.k.a. “Nipper“. The dog looking into the horn of the gramophone machine becomes the symbol of the label (7/10)…
1915] Debuted on this date: 19-year old Babe Ruth makes his major league debut as a pitcher for the Red Sox and picks up his first win…(7/11). In 1918 Ruth moves to the outfield…1936] The Triborough Bridge linking Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens, opens to traffic (7/11)…1960] The first Etch-A-Sketch goes on sale. What were those black metallic specks anyway? (7/12)…1990] “Northern Exposure” starts a 5-year run (7/12)…
1971] Curtains: Red Sox slugger Tony Conigliaro, the victim of a horrible beaning in August, 1967 announces his retirement at 25 (7/10). Tony C will try to come back in 1975 but he was never the same. Tony’s starstruck life will end way too soon when he suffers a fatal heart attack in 1990 at 45…
1979] “Happy Trails“: Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fiedler, who led the orchestra for half a century, passes away from natural causes at 84 (7/10)…1979] Minnie Riperton (”Lovin’ You“) dies from breast cancer at 31 (7/12). Minnie’s daughter Maya (SNL) Rudolph was just 5 years old at the time…1989] Mel Blanc who provided the voices of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and countless other WB characters, dies from heart disease at 81 (7/10)…1989] Sir Laurence Olivier dies from cancer at 82 (7/11)…2007] Former first lady Lady Bird Johnson passes away from natural causes at 94 (7/11)…2008] Yankee broadcaster and former player Bobby Murcer, 62, dies from complications related to brain cancer (7/12)...
1984] Fritz picks a woman: Walter Mondale chooses U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro as a running mate for his Democratic Presidential run. Ferraro from New York is the first woman to run for VP on a major ticket (7/12)…
1985] Out with the new, in with the old: Coca Cola, bowing to pressure from irate customers after the introduction of New Coke, says it will resume selling old-formula Coke…
1999] World Cup runneth over: The U.S. women’s soccer team wins the World Cup at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (CA) (7/10)…
2001] Blood money: Abner Louima, tortured in a New York City police station, agrees to an $8.7 million settlement (7/12)…
2005] Sitting on the throne: Prince Albert II of Monaco accedes to the throne (7/12)…
2006] The Dig kills: A section of ceiling in Boston’s Big Dig tunnel collapses, killing a car passenger (7/10)…For more on July 10 - 12:

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Thursday, July 9, 2009...

2009-07-09T07:06:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1847] Uh-working in the coal mine: A 10-hour day is established for workers in New Hampshire...
1872] Dunkin’ Donuts best friend: The doughnut cutter cutter is patented by John F. Blondel…
1953] Whirlybirding it: New York Airways begins the 1st commuter passenger service by helicopter…
1976] “Happy Trails": Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey dies at 73 from an undisclosed illness. Widow Jean Yawkey succeeds her husband as president and sole owner of the team…
1982] Tragedy in the air: A Pam Am Boeing 727 crashes in Kenner (LA) killing all 146 on board and 8 on the ground…
1992] Running mate: Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton picks Sen. Al Gore (Tennessee) to be his running mate. Gore accepts the nomination on the 10th…
1997] Banned for biting: Mike Tyson is banned from the ring and fined $3 million for biting opponent Evander Holyfield’s ear…
2000] Lucky #7: Pete Sampras wins his 7th Wimbledon singles title, tying the record for men...
2002] Kiss your sister: Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig stops play during a rain delay at the All-Star game in Milwaukee ending the 11-inning game in a 2-2 tie, a 1st in All-Star game history. Selig gets booed by the crowd…
2006] Butt-out: Zinedine Zidane in his final match, headbutts Marco Materazzi and gets sent off in the final of the FIFA World Cup…For more on July 9th:

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Wednesday, July 8, 2009...

2009-07-08T06:43:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1629] Pass the cranberry: The Massachusetts Bay Colony celebrates what’s recognized as the 1st Thanksgiving. White meat or dark???
1776] Declaring our independence: Militia officer John Nixon gives the 1st public reading of the Declaration of Independence to a crowd gathered at Independence Square in Philadelphia…
1889] WSJ sighting: The Wall Street Journal is published for the 1st time…
1947] Ground breaking begins: For the building of the U.N. in Manhattan…
1981] Confirmation Day: The Senate confirms Sandra Day O'Connor as Supreme Court Justice…
1985] Madonna Unplugged: Madonna poses nude in Playboy and Penthouse. Soon to be 10-year old A-Rod hides his under his bed…
1986] This is not kosher: Kurt Waldheim is inaugurated as president of Austria despite controversy over his alleged ties to Nazi war crimes…
1997] Fen-Phen, ‘Feh’: The Mayo Clinic and the government warn that the diet-drug "fen-phen" could cause serious heart and lung damage…
2000] Beaned by a ‘Rocket’: Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens beans Met catcher Mike Piazza which is a warm up for throwing a bat chard at Piazza in a 2000 World Series game…
2006] “Happy Trails": To June Allyson who passes away from pulmonary respiratory failure at the age of 88…For more on July 8th:

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(July 4th Edition) July 2 - 7, 2009...

2009-07-02T05:55:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1776] The Birth of a nation: The Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence (7/4)…
1933] The first All-Star Game: It’s played in Chicago at Comiskey Park. The American League won that game too, 4-2 (7/6)…
1937] Poof: Aviator Amelia Earhart and her navigator disappear over the Pacific Ocean near the equator while attempting the 1st round-the world flight (7/2)…
1939] The luckiest man: Lou Gehrig gives his touching farewell speech in front of a packed (61,800) Yankee Stadium (7/4). Afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the fatal disease that will bear his name, the Iron Man retires…
1947] Breaking the color barrier: Larry Doby becomes the American League’s first black player when he strikes out in a pinch-hitting role for the Cleveland Indians (7/5)…
1964] Civility rules: President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into law, a sweeping civil rights bill (7/2)…
1969] Rock and Roll tragedies: 27-year old Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones is found at the bottom of a swimming pool (7/3)…1971] Jim Morrison, 27, lead singer of The Doors is found dead in a bathtub in Paris (7/3). Morrison died of heart failure, likely caused by a drug overdose…
1978] “Seven dirty words": The Supreme Court rules 5-4 that the FCC has the right to reprimand WBAI New York for broadcasting George Carlin’s “filthy words” which would become known as “seven dirty words” (7/3)…
2002] Bye, bye, number nine: After a lengthy illness, Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams dies at 83 (7/5)…
2005] Terror in the Underground: Terrorist bombings in 3 Underground stations and a double-decker bus kills 52 victims and 4 suicide bombers in the worst attack on London since WWII (7/7)…For more on July 2 -7:

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Wednesday, July 1, 2009...

2009-07-01T07:24:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1863] Not so civil: The Civil War’s Battle of Gettysburg begins…
1963] Zip It!: The U.S. Post Office introduces 5-digit ZIP codes...
1969] A princely investment: Britain’s Prince Charles is invested as the prince of Wales…
1979] Walking the Walk: The 70s version of the iPhone, the Walkman is introduced by SONY. Does anyone still have one???
1979] The Susan B. Anthony Dollar coin is introduced: Whose brilliant idea was this???
1980] Mapleleaf pride: "O Canada" is proclaimed the national anthem of Canada on “Canada Day“…
1987] All sports, all the time: WFAN becomes the 1st All-Sports station in the nation. The Country format moves to WYNY...
1995] “Happy Trails": Wolfman Jack dies from a heart attack at 57…1996] 42 year-old Margaux Hemingway takes a fatal overdose one day before the anniversary of her grandfather’s suicide in 1961…1997] Actor Robert Mitchum is a victim of lung cancer at 79…2000] Walter Matthau dies from cardiac arrest at 79…2004] Marlon Brando dies from respiratory failure at 80...2005] Singer Luther Vandross passes away in New York, two years after suffering a stroke. He was 54...
2004] Deter takes a dive: Derek Jeter dives headfirst into the Yankee Stadium stands to catch a foul ball and inspires the Yankees to a 5-4 victory over the Red Sox. Derek’s father, an avid hockey fan, gave Derek the middle name “Sanderson” after Derek Sanderson (who was at my going-away party at one of the restaurants he owned in Boston)…
2005] Sandra’s day is done: Justice Sandra Day O'Connor unexpectedly announces her retirement from the Supreme Court…For more on July 1st:

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Tuesday, June 30, 2009...

2009-06-30T06:55:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1908] No - No - No: Cy Young pitches his 3rd no-hitter and at 41 becomes the oldest pitcher to do so. The Red Sox blank the Yankees 8-0…1962] The Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax no hits the Mets 5-0 in Los Angeles. The future Hall of Famer will pitch 4 no-hitters including a perfect game before he’s through…
1936] Debuted on this date: "Gone With The Wind", written by Margaret Mitchell is published…
1952] Lighting the way: "The Guiding Light" moves from radio to TV. It’s still on…
1953] America’s ‘Dream Car': The first Corvette rolls off the Chevrolet assembly line in Flint, Michigan. The 3rd ‘Vette‘ to roll off the line was sold in 2006 for a cool million…
1971] Old enough: The 26th Amendment to the Constitution lowers the minimum voting age to 18…
1975] Wedding Bells: Cher and Greg Allman rock down the aisle 4 days after she and Sonny are divorced. Cher and Greg will be divorced two years later…
1982] The Devil you say: New Jersey fans pick the name 'Devils' (by ballot) for their new NHL franchise. Runner-up names: Meadowlanders and Americans. The Devils it is…
1994] Tonya un-plugged: The U.S. Figure Skating Association strips Tonya Harding of the national championship and bans her from the organization for life for an attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan...
1997] Hong Gone: The Union Jack is lowered for the last time over Hong Kong's Government House as Britain prepares to hand the colony back to China July 1st after 156 years of British rule…
2001] “Happy Trails": Legendary Nashville musician Chet Atkins is a victim of cancer at 77…

Monday, June 29, 2009...

2009-06-29T07:26:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1916] Talkin’ Baseball: The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds play a 9-inning game with just one baseball…
1956] Wedding Bells: Marilyn Monroe sings "I want to be loved by you" to Arthur Miller as they walk down the aisle. Sadly the marriage will end with a Mexican divorce in 1961…
1967] Hollywood tragedy: 34-year old blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield and 2 others are killed when their car goes into the back of a truck on U.S. highway 90. Her daughter, Mariska Hargitay survives…
1972] The Supes rule: The Supreme Court rules the death penalty could constitute "cruel and unusual punishment."...
1995] What's up dock?: The shuttle Atlantis and the Russian space station Mir dock, forming the largest man-made satellite ever to orbit the Earth...
1996] Sold to the highest bidder: Superman Action Comic #1 (1938) is auctioned at Sotheby's to Maryland businessman Steve Geppi for $61,900 and a pound of kryptonite...
2002] ‘Happy Trails’: Singer Rosemary Clooney passes away at her Beverly Hills home following a long battle with lung cancer. Rosemary was 74…2003] Legendary actress Katharine Hepburn dies of natural causes at 96…2007] ABC-TV movie critic Joel Siegel passes away from colon cancer at 63…
2004] 4,000 Ks: Arizona pitcher Randy Johnson becomes the fourth pitcher in major league history to record 4,000 strikeouts...
2006] Guantanamo Bay bye bye: The Supreme court rules that President George W. Bush's plan to try Gitmo detainees in military tribunals violates U.S. and international law...
2007] I phone, you phone, we all phone for iPhone: Apple Inc. rolls out their iPhone in the U.S...For more on June 29th:

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(Weekend Edition) June 26 - 28, 2009...

2009-06-26T06:56:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1916] Numbers: In a game against the White Sox, the Cleveland Indians appear on the field with numbers on their sleeves. It marked the 1st time players were identified by numbers corresponding to the scorecard (6/26)…
1919] Debuted on this date: The New York Daily News publishes for the first time and it’s still here (6/26)…1981] “For Your Eyes Only” premieres starring Roger Moore as James Bond. Sheena Easton has a hit with the theme (6/26)…1987] “Dragnet” premieres starring Dan Aykroyd as Sgt. Joe Friday. Christopher Plummer, Dabney Coleman, Henry Morgan and Tom Hanks also star (6/26)…
1959] And the winner and new champ: Ingemar Johansson of Sweden knocks down heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson 7 times in the 3rd round to win the title on a TKO. One year later, Patterson becomes the 1st heavyweight to regain the title when he beats Johansson (6/26)…
1959] Curtains: The legendary Edward R. Murrow interviews Lee Remick on “Person to Person“. It’s his 500th and final guest on the CBS-TV show (6/26)…1977] Elvis Presley plays his final concert at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis (6/26). 51-days later, Elvis would be dead…
1962] Oh-no: Earl Wilson of the Red Sox pitches a 2-0 no-hitter against the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park. Wilson helps his own cause by hitting a home run in the game (6/26)…
1963] JFK goes to the Wall: The President visits the Berlin Wall and gives his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech (6/26)…
1974] “D-I-V-O-R-C-E": Richard Burton becomes divorce victim #5 for Elizabeth Taylor. He was also victim #4 after their 1st marriage (6/26)…1975] Cher divorces Sonny Bono after the pair had been together since meeting in 1962 (6/26)…
1975] 'Happy Trails': Rod Serling dies after open-heart surgery at 50 (6/28). I met Serling at LAX in the early 70s and he told me about selling his rights to "The Twilight Zone" for $1 million. He was taping "Night Gallery" and we got into a conversation about radio, his training grounds. Several months later there was a NG episode about a disc jockey (Mickey Rooney) who sells his soul to the devil. I always wondered if our talk may have inspired Serling to write that episode...2001] Legendary actor Jack Lemmon dies from cancer at 76 (6/27)...2002] The Who's John Entwistle dies from a cocaine-induced heart attack at 57 (6/27)...
1988] A time for joy, a time for tears: Proving it's never too late to get your diploma, Cyndi Lauper (Richmond Hills High) and Debbie Gibson (Merrick High) receive their high school diplomas (6/27)...
1997] A bite to the finish: Mike Tyson takes a bite out of Evander Holyfield's ear and is disqualified during their heavyweight championship rematch (6/28)...For more on June 26 - 28:

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Thursday, June 25, 2009...

2009-06-25T07:06:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1876] Curtains: Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and the U.S. 7th Cavalry are wiped out by Sioux and Cheyenne Indians at Little Big Horn (MT). And yes, this was known as “Custer’s Last Stand"…
1950] War…what is it good for? Absolutely nothing: War breaks out on the Korean peninsula as forces from the communist North invade the South…
1968] Talkin’ Baseball: Bobby Bonds (father of Barry) becomes the first major leaguer to debut with a grand-slam home run…
1970] Beep It!: The FCC makes it illegal for radio stations to put telephone callers on the air without the permission of the person being called. A beep was then installed on the phone for that purpose…
1973] Ratted out: White House Counsel John Dean admits that President Nixon took part in the Watergate cover-up…
1985] Two and a half men: ABC-TV’s "Monday Night Football" announces a new line-up in the booth: Frank Gifford, Joe Namath and O.J. Simpson. The worst play-by-pay team ever…
1993] TV curtains: The last original “Late Night With David Letterman” airs on NBC-TV with guest Tom Hanks. Re-runs will follow until September. On August 30th, Letterman takes his show to CBS-TV where it still resides…
1996] Death in the desert: A truck bomb kills 19 Americans and injures hundreds at a U.S. military housing complex in Saudi Arabia…
1997] “Happy Trails": Oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau dies of a heart attack at 87…
2005] Trouble in Tehran: Hardline Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is declared the winner of Iran’s presidential runoff election. Sound familiar??? For more on June 25th:

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009...

2009-06-24T06:50:00.005-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1664] Are you from Jersey?: New Jersey, named after the Isle of Jersey, is founded. Get ready for the stench as soon as you approach Secaucus…
1922] And they called it…the NFL: The American Professional Football Association has the good sense to change its name to the National Football League. Interesting footnote: Curly Lambeau paid $250 for the Green Bay Packers, founded by his employer, the Indian Packing Company. Today the entire community of Green Bay owns the team…
1948] That wall won’t be for handball: Communists forces cut off all land and water routes between West and East Berlin. The U.S. organizes a massive airlift known as "The Berlin Airlift"…
1949] Hoppy’s happy: "Hopalong Cassidy" becomes the 1st network (NBC) western on TV. The series will run 2 seasons…
1953] With this ring: John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier announce their engagement…
1956] Hi-Ho Steverino: "The Steve Allen Show" returns on NBC-TV for 5 years…
1975] Tragedy at JFK: An Eastern Airlines Boeing 727 crashes while attempting to land during a thunderstorm at JFK, killing 113…
1979] Diamond Dust: Rickey Henderson wastes no time in stealing his 1st base, doing it in his major league debut with Oakland…
1987] “Happy Trails": Jackie Gleason dies from colon and liver cancer at 71…2006] Patsy Ramsey, mother of JonBenet, dies from ovarian cancer at 49…
1992] Gotcha: “Crazy Eddie” Antar is captured and arrested in Israel on U.S. fraud charges. Remember the commercial done by Jerry Carroll?…1993] An Arab terror group planning the bombing of the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels gets caught - all are arrested…For more on June 24th:

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Tuesday, June 23, 2009...

2009-06-23T06:46:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1868] Patent no longer pending: Christopher Latham Sholes receives a patent for an invention he calls the ‘type-writer’. Sholes will sell the rights to his typewriter to the Remington Arms Company in 1872 for $12,000…
1955] Debuted on this date: Walt Disney’s "Lady and the Tramp"...1982] Mary Hart and her legs debut on “Entertainment Tonight"...1989] "Batman" starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson (The Joker) premieres…
1957] Curtains: “The Roy Rogers Show” bows out on Sundays (NBC-TV) after 6 seasons but Roy and Dale will do a Saturday musical variety show on ABC-TV in the fall of ‘62...1960] "The Pat Boone Show", a weekly musical variety show airs for the last time on ABC-TV after 3 seasons. I used to watch this live show when I worked late in the ABC mailroom…
1963] Talkin’ Baseball: To celebrate hitting his 100th home run, wacky Mets outfielder Jimmy Piersall runs the bases backwards…1981] The Pawtucket Red Sox-Rochester minor league game picks up in the 33rd inning. This time it only takes 18 minutes to finish the game as Pawtucket scores a run in the bottom of the 33rd. Wade Boggs played for Pawtucket and Cal Ripken Jr. for Rochester…
1969] This I swear: Warren E. Burger is sworn in as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court…
1972] Title IX: Richard Nixon signs an act barring sex discrimination in college sports. On the surface it sounds like a good idea but it's not. Title IX allocates funds for female teams indiscriminately and is a lousy rule…
1992] Guilty as charged: John Gotti, convicted on racketeering charges is sentenced to life in prison where he will die of throat cancer…1993] Lorena Bobbitt of Prince William County (VA) mutilates her husband John by severing a particularly sensitive male organ after he allegedly rapes her…
1995] ‘Happy Trails’: Dr. Jonas Salk who developed the first vaccine against Polio, dies of unknown causes at 80…2006] Aaron Spelling passes away at 83 from complications of a recent stroke…
1997] Friendly fire: Civil Rights activist Betty Shabazz, 61, widow of Malcolm X, dies from burns she suffered in an earlier fire set by her 12-year old grandson…
2003] Meltdown countdown begins: Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean announces his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination which turns into a Barnum and Bailey Circus ending...For more on June 23rd:

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Monday, June 22, 2009...

2009-06-22T07:25:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1915] The straphanger is born: The BMT begins subway service from Brooklyn to Manhattan…
1937] Bombs away: Joe Louis makes the clock strike 12 for “Cinderella Man", James J. Braddock by taking the heavyweight title from him with a KO in the 8th round…1938] Same date, one year later, Louis defends his title with a 1st round KO of Germany’s Max Schmeling…
1944] GI Bill of Rights: FDR signs the GI Bill of Rights, authorizing a broad package of benefits for WWII veterans...
1945] Bloody battle: The WWII battle for Okinawa ends with 12,520 Americans and 110,000 Japanese killed in the 83-day campaign...
1969] ‘Happy Trails’: Judy Garland dies from an overdose of sleeping pills at 47…1987] Fred Astaire dies from pneumonia at 88...1993] Former first lady Pat Nixon is a victim of lung cancer at 81...2002] St. Louis pitcher Darryl Kile is found dead of heart disease at 33…2002] Advice columnist Ann Landers passes away from multiple myeloma at 83…2008] George Carlin dies of heart failure at 71...
1970] Too young to drink but old enough to fight and vote: President Richard Nixon signs a measure lowering the voting age to 18…
1977] Serving the time: Former Attorney General John N. Mitchell begins serving a sentence for his role in the Watergate cover-up...
1981] Guilty as charged: Mark David Chapman pleads guilty to killing John Lennon…
1987] The end of 'The Franchise': After spending over two weeks training for a comeback with the Mets, Tom Seaver retires, finishing his Hall of Fame career with 311 victories -- 198 wearing a Met uniform...
1992] What were the Supes thinking?: The Supreme Court unanimously rules that hate-crime laws that ban cross-burning and similar expressions of racial bias violate free-speech rights...For more on June 22nd:

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(Weekend Edition) June 19 - 21, 2009...

2009-06-19T06:58:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1910] Dad's day: Father's Day is celebrated for the first time in Spokane (WA) (6/19)...
1934] Beware the FCC: Congress establishes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The original duties of the FCC were to: "regulate interstate and foreign communications in the public interest." Regulating the airwaves came later (6/19)…
1947] Bugsy swatted: Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel is rubbed out, gangland style in Beverly Hills (CA) apparently over soaring costs on his pet project -- the Flamingo Resort in Las Vegas (6/20)...
1948] Debuted on this date: "The Toast Of The Town", soon to be known as "The Ed Sullivan Show" debuts on CBS-TV (6/20)...1975] "Jaws" premieres and becomes the big summer blockbuster (6/20). Most of the exteriors are shot on Martha's Vineyard where the water was still cold...1985] The summer sleeper is "Cocoon" starring husband and wife team, Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy and let's not forget Don Ameche (6/21)...
1952] Talkin’ baseball: Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine pitches a 5-0 no-hitter against the Cubs at Ebbets Field (6/19)…1977] Carl Yastrzemski hits a 460-foot home run at Fenway Park that strikes the facade to the right of the retired numbers and is the only home run to reach Fenway’s right field roof facade (6/19)…1979] The reign of 'Billy Martin II' begins in a cycle of 5 trips back as Yankee manager (6/19)…
1953] On the hot seat: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are executed by electric chair at Sing Sing on charges of conspiring to pass U.S. atomic secrets to Russia, although their sons have been fighting to free their names for years (6/19)…
1963] Hotline 5-5300: The U.S. and Soviet Union sign an agreement to set up a hotline between the two superpowers (6/20)...
1964] Oh no: Future Hall of Fame pitcher and U.S. Senator from Kentucky, Jim Bunning, pitches a perfect game against the Mets at Shea Stadium on Father's Day (6/21). His catcher Gus Triandos becomes the first catcher to catch no-hitters in both leagues, having done it previously in the 50s when he caught Hoyt Wilhelm's no-hitter...
1986] Celtic tragedy: University of Maryland basketball star, Len Bias, Boston’s 1st pick (and 2nd overall) in the NBA Draft, suffers a fatal cocaine - induced seizure (6/19)…
2001] 'Happy Trails': Carroll O'Connor dies from a heart attack brought about by diabetes at 76 (6/21)...2001] Legendary blues singer John Lee Hooker, believed to be 83, dies from natural causes at his home in Los Altos (CA) (6/21)...For more on June 19 -21:

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Thursday, June 18, 2009...

2009-06-18T06:51:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1812] If it’s 1812 there must be a war: The War of 1812 begins as the U.S. declares war against Great Britain. The conflict begins over trade restrictions…
1898] Debuted on this date: The Atlantic City Steel Pier opens…1948] Columbia Records unveils its new long-playing 33 1/3 rpm phonograph record…
1960] Open and closed: Arnold Palmer comes from 7 strokes down to win the U.S. Open…2000] Tiger Woods wins the U.S. Open by 15 strokes…
1961] Curtains: "Gunsmoke" airs for the last time on CBS Radio but the show had already moved to TV in 1955…
1977] Battling Billy: Billy Martin accuses Reggie Jackson of loafing in rightfield during a game against the Red Sox at Fenway. Martin pulls him out of the game and then the fun begins. Players and coaches have to separate the two as they fight in the Yankee dugout on live TV. Just another day at the office for the Yankees…
1979] Pass the salt: President Jimmy Carter and Soviet President Leonid I. Brezhnev sign the SALT II strategic arms limitation treaty in Vienna. They celebrate by downing Vienna sausage and cookies and wash it down with Stoly…
1983] Ride Sally Ride: Astronaut Sally K. Ride becomes our first woman in space as she and 4 other colleagues blast off aboard the space shuttle Challenger. This is the same Challenger that will explode later in January, 1986. Sally was not aboard that time and is now retired from the space program…
1984] Talk can be deadly: Denver Talk Radio host Alan Berg is shot to death outside his home. Two white supremacists are convicted of civil rights violations in the slaying…
1996] Guilty as charged: Richard Allen Davis is convicted in San Jose (CA) of the 1993 kidnap-murder of 12-year old Polly Klaas…
2004] Must-not see TV: An al-Qaida cell in Saudi Arabia beheads American engineer Paul M. Johnson Jr., posting grisly photos of his severed head on the Internet. Saudi security forces track down and kill the alleged mastermind of the kidnapping and murder…For more on June 18th:

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Wednesday, June 17, 2009...

2009-06-17T07:01:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1775] Hunker at Bunker: The Battle of Bunker Hill is waged near Boston during the Revolutionary War…
1885] Who’s that lady?: The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor aboard the French ship Isere…
1941] First TV CP: WNBT-TV (now WNBC), channel 4, New York City is granted the first construction permit to operate a commercial TV station in the country. The station signs on July 1, 1941…
1950] I left my heart in San Francisco and my liver in Kansas City: 44-year old Ruth Tucker receives the first kidney transplant in a 45-minute operation in a suburban Chicago hospital. Unfortunately Ms. Tucker was supposed to get a new liver (kidding)...
1960] Teddy launches #500: Ted Williams hits a two-run shot to help the Red Sox beat the Indians 3-1. That home run gives Williams 500 as the “Splendid Splinter” becomes only the 4th player with 500 home runs…
1961] Dancing defector: Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev defects to the West while his troupe performs in Paris...
1972] The floodgates open up at Watergate: President Richard Nixon’s downfall begins with the arrest of 5 burglars inside Democratic national headquarters in Washington, D.C.’s Watergate complex…
1994] This is A.C., I got O.J. in the car: After leading the LAPD on a crawl-like chase through Southern California, O.J. Simpson is arrested and charged with the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman…
2005] Guilty as charged: Dennis Kozlowski, former Tyco CEO is convicted of misappropriating Tyco’s corporate funds, among other charges. Kozlowski is serving 8 to 25 years in upstate New York…
2008] Celtic Pride: The Boston Celtics win their 17th NBA championship by beating the Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games. The Lakers just beat Orlando for this year's title...For more on July 17th:

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Tuesday, June 16, 2009...

2009-06-16T07:35:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1883] Ladies Day: The New York Giants admit all ladies to the game free, creating the first “Ladies Day” in baseball…
1893] Buy me some peanuts and: Fritz Rueckheim invents Cracker Jack…
1932] Debuted on this date: The Ford Motor Company is incorporated…1947] The first network newscast, “News From Washington” is broadcast on the Dumont Television Network…1952] "Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl" is published in the U.S…1960] Alfred Hitchcock’s "Psycho" premieres in New York City…
1978] Talkin’ Baseball: Tom Seaver, now a member of the Cincinnati Reds, no-hits the Cardinals 4-0. Sure, now he does it…1981] The Chicago Tribune buys the Chicago Cubs from the P.K. Wrigley Chewing Gum Co. for $20.5 million. Wrigley throws in a lifetime supply of gum for every employee of the Chicago Tribune but doesn’t guarantee to double the pleasure of Cub fans. The sale of the Cubs by the Tribune is now pending…
1987] Take that: A jury in New York acquits Bernhard Goetz of attempted murder in the subway shooting of 4 youths who he said were about to rob him. He is convicted of illegal possession of a weapon. Goetz ran for public office in Manhattan a few years ago but lost…
1992] Guilty as charged: Former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger is indicted on felony charges in the Iran-Contra affair. He will later be pardoned by President George H.W. Bush (41)…
1996] ‘Happy Trails’: The legendary “Voice of the Yankees“, Mel Allen, dies at 83. Mel had open heart surgery several years earlier and had been in poor health…
1996] Vote for me or else: Russian voters go to the polls in their first independent presidential election. The result is a runoff between President Boris Yeltsin, the eventual winner, and a Communist challenger...
2000] Wedding Bells: Federal regulators approve the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE Corp., creating the nation’s largest local phone company: Verizon on June 30…
2004] Rebuffing the Prez: The independent commission investigating the 911 attacks says no evidence existed that al-Qaida had strong ties to Saddam Hussein…For more on June 16th:

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Monday, June 15, 2009...

2009-06-15T07:06:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1904] East River tragedy: More than 1,000 die when fire erupts aboard the steamboat General Slocum in New York City’s East River. From my window I can see the actual location of the tragedy...
1923] The Ironman era has begun: Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig makes his major league debut with the Yankees...
1948] Debuted on this date: WPIX-TV (11) begins broadcasting in New York City…1969] "Hee Haw" debuts on CBS-TV, hosted by Buck Owens and Roy Clark…1973] "American Graffiti (Where were you in '62?)" premieres in New York City…
1938] Talkin’ Baseball: Reds pitcher Johnny Vander Meer spoils Ebbets Field’s first night game by pitching his second consecutive no-hitter. It's safe to say that this record will never be broken because a pitcher would have to pitch 3 consecutive no-hitters to break it…1977] The Mets do the unthinkable, trading Tom Seaver to Cincinnati for Pat Zachry, Steve Henderson, Doug Flynn and Dan Norman. The Mets will eventually reacquire Seaver in 1983…
1978] Wedding bells: King Hussein of Jordan marries 26-year old American Lisa Halaby, who becomes Queen Noor...
1992] Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?: Vice President Dan Quayle puts on a dunce cap and sits in the corner after spelling potato with an "e". The Trenton (NJ) elementary school than spells Quayle's name: "d-u-m-m-y"...
1995] If the glove don't fit, you must acquit: That was the quote from attorney Johnnie Cochran in the O.J. Simpson double-murder trial after O.J. struggles to put on the murder gloves. Case over, O.J. walks...
1996] ‘Happy Trails’: The legendary Ella Fitzgerald dies from circulation problems, having lost both legs in 1994. Ella was 79…
2005] Autopsy results: The autopsy on Terri Schiavo is released, backing the contention of her husband, Michael, that she was in a persistent vegetative state when they pulled the plug...
2006] Gates bows out: Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates says he will transition from day-to-day reponsibilities at the company to concentrate on the charitable work of the Bill and Melida Gates Foundation. Since then, he and his wife have given out millions to help people worldwide...For more on June 15th:

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(Weekend Edition) June 12 - 14, 2009...

2009-06-12T07:15:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1777] Flag Day: The Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopts the Stars and Stripes as our national flag (6/14). The city of brotherly love observes the first Flag Day in 1893. On Sunday we celebrate the 116th Flag Day...
1912] 300-wins club: Christy Mathewson pitches a no-hitter in winning his 300th game (6/13)...2003] Roger Clemens joins the 300-wins club and becomes the third pitcher to reach 4,000 strikeouts (6/13)...
1923] Free at last: Harry Houdini frees himself from a straight jacket while suspended upside down, 40 feet above the street in New York City (6/12)...
1935] Cinderella man: James J. Braddock, a 29-year old New Jersey longshoreman wins the world heavyweight championship in a 15-round decision over Max Baer (6/13). Braddock wears the crown for 2 years before losing it to Joe Louis...
1939] Going to hall: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is officially opened in Cooperstown, N.Y. Most of the original members, chosen in 1936 (Ruth, Cobb, Wagner, Mathewson and Johnson) are in attendance (6/12). Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson go in next month...
1949] Bye, bye Babe: Babe Ruth bows out at Yankee Stadium as his #3 is retired (6/13)...
1971] Whitehouse wedding bells: Tricia Nixon and Edward F. Cox say "I Do" in the White House Rose Garden. They celebrate their 38th anniversary today (6/12)...
1972] 'Happy Trails': Drifters' former lead singer Clyde McPhatter, 39, who had several solo hits, dies from a heart attack...(6/13)...1986] "King Of Swing", Benny Goodman dies from an apparent heart attack in Manhattan at 77 (6/13)...1994] Composer Henry Mancini, winner of 20 Grammy Awards, dies at 70 from pancreatic cancer (6/14)...2008] "Meet The Press" host Tim Russert dies suddenly from a heart attack at 58 (6/13)...
1978] Guilty as charged: David Berkowitz aka 'Son of Sam' is sentenced to 6 life sentences, one for each of the 6 murders he committed during his rampage (6/12)...
1994] Slashed to death: Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman are slashed to death outside her Los Angeles home. Former husband, football Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson is later acquitted of the killings in a criminal trial but held liable in a civil action (6/12)...For more on June 12 - 14:

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Thursday, June 11, 2009...

2009-06-11T06:58:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1953] Gone too soon: “Amos and Andy” ends its 2-year run on television, 24 years on radio, because of racial sensitivity. In my opinion this was one of the greatest comedy series of all-time...
1963] Alabama justice: Alabama Governor George Wallace tries to prevent black students from registering at the University of Alabama. He will lose the battle, rightfully so…
1977] Triple Crown Champ: Seattle Slew wins the third leg of the Triple Crown by taking the Belmont Stakes. Fifty-eight years earlier -- to the date in 1919, Sir Barton became the first Triple Crown winner...
1978] Premiered on this date: "Grease" the movie, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John…1982] “ET” opens and sets record-breaking box-office numbers. It’s the big summer movie...
1979] ‘Happy Trails’: Legendary tough-guy actor John Wayne dies from stomach cancer at 72…1985] Karen Ann Quinlan dies at 31 after a lengthy coma. Her case prompts a right-to-die court decision after her life-support system is removed…2003] Pioneering broadcast journalist David Brinkley dies at 82 from complications of a fall…
1982] The winner and still champ: Heavyweight champ Larry Holmes defends his title successfully with a 13-round TKO of Long Island’s Gerry Cooney…
1987] Maggie keeps on tickin’: Margaret Thatcher becomes the first British Prime Minister in 160 years to win a third consecutive term of office…
1990] Half a dozen in the books: Nolan Ryan pitches his sixth no-hitter in a win over Oakland. Ryan will pitch one more before retiring after the 1993 season…
2002] Wedding Bells: Paul McCartney and Heather Mills are married. They will separate in May 2006 and the divorce becomes final in May, 2008…
Music Memories:
2004] Stately: The nation bids farewell to former President Ronald Reagan at a stately funeral in Washington, D.C. He will be laid to rest hours later in California...For more on June 11th:

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Wednesday, June 10, 2009...

2009-06-10T07:04:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1935] The birth of AA: Alcoholic Anonymous is founded by William G. Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith…
1944] Knucksie sighting: Cincinnati pitcher Joe Nuxhall becomes the youngest major leaguer at 15 and change…
1967] On the seven day they rested: The Six-Day War ends as Israel and Syria agree to observe a U.N. mediated cease-fire...
1978] Affirmed and confirmed: Affirmed with jockey phenom Steve Cauthen wraps up the Triple Crown with a win over Alydar in the Belmont Stakes. Affirmed is still our last Triple Crown champ…
1984] Celtic Pride: The Boston Celtics do it again by beating the Los Angeles Lakers to take NBA title #15. The Celts were just 2 wins away from taking title #17 on this date in 2008...
1985] Acquitted: Socialite Claus von Bulow is acquitted by a jury in Providence (RI) in his second trial on charges of attempted murder of his heiress wife Martha “Sunny” von Bulow…
1991] Storming down ticker tape: Desert Storm troops get a hero’s welcome home with a ticker tape parade down the “canyon of the hero’s” on Broadway…
1991] Motown funeral: Michael Jackson pays for the funeral while Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin sing at the burial of Temptations lead singer David Ruffin…
2002] ‘Happy Trails’: Organized crime figure John Gotti dies in prison at 61 from throat cancer…2004] The great Ray Charles passes away from liver disease at home in Beverly Hills. Ray was 73…
2007] Ciao Bambino: The final episode of "The Sopranos" airs on HBO...For more on June 10th:

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Tuesday, June 9, 2009...

2009-06-09T07:17:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1934] Debuted on this date: Donald Duck makes his debut in the “Silly Symphonies” cartoon "The Wise Little Hen"…1963] "Cleopatra" starring Liz Taylor opens in Manhattan…
1946] Teddy Tape Measure: Ted Williams hits the longest home run ever at Fenway. The ball lands 502 feet away in the bleachers. To this day, there’s a red seat to commemorate the spot in row 37, section 42..
1948] TV debut: Boston gets a new TV station, WBZ-TV (channel 4) which starts broadcasting. WPIX (11) New York is celebrating their 61st anniversary next weekend…
1973] Triple Crown Champ: The greatest horse of our generation and perhaps all-time, Secretariat, wins the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths, the largest victory ever and in the fastest time ever in Stakes history...
1977] “D-I-V-O-R-C-E": George Harrison and Patti Boyd Harrison call it quits. They married in 1966…
1980] En fuego: Richard Pryor suffers near-fatal burns at his home when a mixture of “free-base” cocaine explodes…
1985] Kidnapped: American educator Thomas Sutherland is kidnapped in Lebanon...
1992] A walk on the wild side: Ben Vereen is nearly killed when struck by a car driven by record producer David Foster. This was an accident and Foster is not charged…
1998] So sue me: The Ronettes sue producer Phil Spector on charges that Spector and his label Philles breached the group’s contract by not paying royalties. In 2002, a New York court ordered Spector to pay $3 million but the judgement was overturned on appeal…
2007] Filly champ: Rags to Riches becomes the first filly in over 100 years to win the Belmont Stakes...For more on June 9th:

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Monday, June 8, 2009...

2009-06-08T07:30:00.000-04:00

10 Timeline Memories:

1948] “Mr. Television": Milton Berle debuts as the host of “Texaco Star Theater” for an 8-year run in its original version...
1966] Wedding Bells: The 47-year old NFL and 6-year old AFL agree to merge in 1970... For those that thought they agreed to merge after the Jets won the Super Bowl - WRONG!!!
1968] Busted: Authorities announce the capture in London of James Earl Ray, the suspected assassin of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr...
1969] Mickey Mantle Day: The New York Yankees retire Mickey Mantle's uniform no. 7 during 'Mickey Mantle Day' at Yankee Stadium...
1982] Ronnie bashes communism: In the first speech by an American president to a joint session of the British Parliament, President Ronald Reagan predicts that Marxism-Leninism will wind up "on the ash heap of history."...
1986] Celtic Pride: The Boston Celtics win their 16th NBA title led by Larry Bird's 29 points, 11 boards and 12 assists against Houston in game 6. This was the last title won by the Celts until last year when they notched no. 17...
1987] Fawn testifies: Fawn Hill, secretary to national security aide Oliver L. North, testifies at the Iran-Contra hearings and admits to shredding some documents...
1995] Marine rescue: U.S. Marines rescue Capt. Scott O'Grady, whose F16-C fighter had been shot down by Bosnian Serbs on June 2...
1998] Moses is chosen: The National Rifle Association elects actor Charlton Heston its president...
2001] Landslide: British Prime Minister Tony Blair is elected to a second term in a landslide...For more on June 8th:

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