This Date in History - March 31

 

Happy birthday to Herb Alpert.  My parents played his music all the time.   I stared at this album cover all the time.

307:  AFTER DIVORCING HIS WIFE MINERVINA, CONSTANTINE MARRIES FAUSTA, DAUGHTER OF THE RETIRED ROMAN EMPEROR MAXIMIAN.

A slow news day back in 307.

1492:  QUEEN ISABELLA ISSUES THE ALHAMBRA DECREE, ORDERING 150,000 JEWISH AND MUSLIM SUBJECT TO CONVERT TO CHIRSTIANITY.

And you thought she was this nice lady who liked Columbus.

1717:  A SERMON ON "THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST" BY BENJAMIN HOADLY, IS PREACHED IN THE PRESENCE OF KING GEORGE I OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THIS PROVOKES THE BANGORIAN CONTROVERSY.

I missed that day in World History.

1774:  THE KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN ORDERS THE PORT OF BOSTON CLOSED.

So where do you have all that tea hidden?

1885:  POET CHARLOTTE BRONTE DIES.

She wrote all that stuff I never read.

1889:  THE EIFFEL TOWER IS OPENED.

Hold that elevator!

1906:  THE INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION OF THE US (LATER THE NCAA) IS ESTABLISHED.

Brackets invented in 1907.

1918:  DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME GOES INTO EFFECT IN THE US FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Spring ahead....whatever.

1922:  ACTOR RICHARD KILEY IS BORN.

Man of La Mancha!

1922:  ACTOR PATRICK MAGEE IS BORN.

Man of Diana Rigg!

1927:  ACTIVIST CESAR CHAVEZ IS BORN.

That reminds me.  I need to buy some lettuce.

1927:  ACTOR WILLIAM DANIELS IS BORN.

Later played one of the most interesting characters on TV...Dr. Mark Craig of "St. Elsewhere."

1928:  HOCKEY STAR GORDIE HOWE IS BORN.

How?  Easy.

1930:  THE MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION CODE IS INSTITUTED, IMPOSING STRICT GUIDELINES ON THE TREATMENT OF SEX, RELIGION, CRIME, AND VIOLENCE IN FILM FOR THE NEXT 38 YEARS.

So much for going to the movies.

1931:  AN AIRLINER CRASHES IN KANSAS, KILLING EIGHT, INCLUDING NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL COACH KNUTE ROCKNE.

Sure have taken the train.

1933:  THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS IS ESTABLISHED WITH THE MISSION OF RELIEVING UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE US.

How about creating some jobs?!

1935:  MUSICIAN HERB ALPERT IS BORN.

Have I mentioned that "Whipped Cream" album cover?

1942:  JAPANESE FORCES INVADE CHRISTMAS ISLAND, A BRITISH POSSESSION.

Okay, we'll let you have fun for now.

1948:  POLITICIAN AL GORE IS BORN.

Inventor of the Internet.   Yeah, right.

1948:  ACTRESS RHEA PERLMAN IS BORN.

Carla on "Cheers."

1959:  THE 14TH DALAI LAMA CROSSES THE BORDER INTO INDIA AND IS GRANTED POLITICAL ASYLUM.

Wait!   You mean there were 13 others?

1968:  IN A TELEVISED SPEECH, PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON ANNOUNCES THAT HE WILL NOT RUN FOR ANOTHER TERM.

Good move, because he would have died in office.

1980:  OLYMPIC STAR JESSE OWENS DIES.

Only death could stop him.

1985:  THE FIRST WRESTLEMANIA IS HELD IN MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.

It wasn't the same without Bobo Brazil.

1986:  ACTOR JERRY PARIS DIES.

Jerry Halper on the old "Dick Van Dyke" show.

1990:  APPROXIMATELY 200,000 PROTESTORS TAKE TO THE STREETS OF LONDON TO PROTEST THE NEW POLL TAX.

You mean you get taxed to vote??

1995:  SINGER SELENA IS MURDERED BY HER FAN CLUB PRESIDENT AT A DAYS INN IN CORPUS CHRISTI.

Dead....and in a Days Inn.  How redundant.

1998:  POLITICIAN BELLA ABZUG DIES.

Yenta.

2005:  BUSINESSMAN FRANK PERDUE DIES.

Plucked.

2019:  RAPPER NIPSEY HUSSLE DIES.

I'd write a poem here but that's for the other Nipsey.

Dinner last night:   Grilled bratwurst.