Wednesday, May 4, 2016

This Date in History - May 4

Happy birthday to the Rolls Royce...well, sort of.

1415:  RELIGIOUS REFORMERS JOHN WYCLIFFE AND JAN HUS ARE CONDEMNED AS HERETICS AT THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE.

Don't mess with Connie.

1493:  POPE ALEXANDER VI DIVIDES THE NEW WORLD BETWEEN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL ALONG THE LINE OF DEMARCATION.

Don't mess with Pope Alex.

1626:  DUTCH EXPLORER PETER MINUIT ARRIVES ON AN ISLAND WHICH IS NOW PRESENT DAY MANHATTAN.

What time does the Circle Line leave?

1776:  RHODE ISLAND BECOMES THE FIRST AMERICAN COLONY TO RENOUNCE ALLEGIANCE TO KING GEORGE III.

This would be a big deal if the state wasn't as big as a postage stamp.

1859:  THE CORNWALL RAILWAY OPENS ACROSS THE ROYAL ALBERT BRIDGE LINKING THE COUNTRIES OF DEVON AND CORNWALL IN ENGLAND.

And Doc Martin applauds.

1871:  THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE, OPENS ITS FIRST SEASON IN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

No DH, I hope.

1880:  CARDINAL FRANCIS SPELLMAN IS BORN.

And will wind up as a high school in the Bronx.

1904:  THE UNITED STATES BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF THE PANAMA CANAL.

Dig we must.

1904:  CHARLES STEWART ROLLS MEETS FREDERICK HENRY ROYCE IN ENGLAND.

Let's build a luxury car together.

1929:  ACTRESS AUDREY HEPBURN IS BORN.

Is it me or was she always too skinny?

1932:  IN ATLANTA, MOBSTER AL CAPONE BEGINS SERVING AN ELEVEN-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR TAX EVASION.

He could evade taxes, but not jail.

1945:  WORLD WAR II - DENMARK IS LIBERATED WHEN GERMANY IS FORCED TO WITHDRAW, ENDING FIVE YEARS OF OCCUPATION.

There's the exit door, Hans.

1946:  IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY, US MARINES STOP A TWO-DAY RIOT AT ALCATRAZ.  

Go raise some birds.

1953:  ERNEST HEMINGWAY WINS THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA.

Book report pending.

1959:  THE 1ST ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS ARE HELD.

Back when they awarded music you could listen to.

1961:  AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT - THE FREEDOM RIDERS BEGIN A BUS TRIP THROUGH THE SOUTH.

And they didn't sit in the back.

1970:  THE KENT STATE SHOOTINGS - FOUR STUDENTS ARE KILLED BY THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD DURING A VIETNAM PROTEST.

Whoops.

1972:  GREENPEACE FOUNDATION IS FOUNDED IN CANADA.

Save a whale.

1975:  ACTOR MOE HOWARD DIES.

Why I oughta....

1979:  MARGARET THATCHER BECOMES THE FIRST FEMALE PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

Ask a coal miner there if he's thrilled about this.

1989:  IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR - FORMER WHITE HOUSE AIDE OLIVER NORTH IS CONVICTED OF THREE CRIMES.

North going south.

1994:  ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN AND PLO LEADER YASSER ARAFAT SIGN A PEACE ACCORD, GRANTING SELF-RULE IN THE GAZA STRIP.

Yeah, that never works.

2009:  ACTOR DOM DELUISE DIES.

But he sure did enjoy a meal while he was here.

2012:  PIANIST MORT LINDSEY DIES.

The music guy on the old Merv Griffin Show.   And Judy Garland's pianist.

2012:  GAME SHOW PRODUCER BOB STEWART DIES.

"People Who Died on May 4."

Dinner last night:  Leftover Chinese beef.






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