This Date in History - March 30

Happy birthday to Warren Beatty and I apologize again.   For what?  You'll have to read on.

1296:  EDWARD I SACKS BERWICK-UPON-TWEED DURING ARMED CONFLICT BETWEEN SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND.

For a 15 yard loss.

1822:  THE FLORIDA TERRITORY IS CREATED IN THE UNITED STATES.

Good.  Now New Yorkers have some place to go during the winter.

1841:  THE NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE IS FOUNDED IN ATHENS.

Where else?

1842:  ETHER ANESTHESIA IS USED FOR THE FIRST TIME BY DR. CRAWFORD LONG.

100, 99, 98....zzzzzzzzz.

1855:  AMERICAN CIVIL WAR - "BORDER RUFFIANS" FROM MISSOURI INVADE KANSAS AND FORCE ELECTION OF A PRO-SLAVERY LEGISLATURE.

I love the word "ruffian."

1856:  THE TREATY OF PARIS IS SIGNED, ENDING THE CRIMEAN WAR.

What the hell is a Crimean?

1867:  ALASKA IS PURCHASED FROM RUSSIA FOR $ 7.2 MILLION.

And an Eskimo to be named later.

1870:  TEXAS IS READMITTED TO THE UNION FOLLOWING RECONSTRUCTION.

Okay if you insist.

1909:  THE QUEENSBORO BRIDGE IN NEW YORK CITY OPENS, LINKING MANHATTAN AND QUEENS.

And immediately got jammed with rush hour traffic.

1913:  SINGER FRANKIE LAINE IS BORN.

Rawhide!!

1926:  TV GAME SHOW HOST PETER MARSHALL IS BORN.

Charlie Weaver to block.

1930:  SINGER ROLF HARRIS IS BORN.

Tie me kangaroo down, sport.

1937:  ACTOR WARREN BEATTY IS BORN.

I literally knocked him over in the lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel when I was listening to the Dodger game over my phone.   Nice guy.

1939:  DETECTIVE COMICS # 27 IS RELEASED, INTRODUCING BATMAN.

And Robin?

1944:  WORLD WAR II - ALLIED BOMBERS CONDUCT THEIR MOST SEVERE BOMBING RUN ON BULGARIA.

Bulgaria?  Seriously?

1954:  THE YONGE STREET SUBWAY LINE OPENS IN TORONTO AS THE FIRST SUBWAY IN CANADA.

Mon Dieu!

1961:  THE SINGLE CONVENTION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS IS SIGNED IN NEW YORK CITY.  

Paging Frank Serpico.

1964:  JEOPARDY, HOSTED BY ART FLEMING, DEBUTS.

Odds and Ends for $20.

1981:  US PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN IS SHOT IN THE CHEST OUTSIDE A WASHINGTON DC HOTEL BY JOHN HINCKLEY JR..

Not a great day for James Brady either.

1986:  ACTOR JAMES CAGNEY DIES.

He's a Yankee Doodle Corpse.

1999:  COMIC GARY MORTON DIES.

Married Lucy and became famous.   Because he married Lucy.

2002:  THE QUEEN MOTHER DIES.

Mum's the word.

2013:  MUSIC PRODUCER PHIL RAMONE DIES.

Little know fact: he's the one who recorded a drunk Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday" to JFK.

Dinner last night:  Leftover barbecue chicken and Brussels sprouts.