This Date in History - May 24

 

Happy birthday to Mrs. Elvis.    Back when she was a looker on Dallas.   The doctors have not been kind.  And a tough year all around with the passing of daughter Lisa Marie.   Stay tuned...

1487:  THE TEN-YEAR-OLD LAMBERT SIMMEL IS CROWNED IN DUBLIN WITH THE NAME OF EDWARD VI IN A BID TO THREATEN KING HENRY'S VII REIGN.

If King Henry can't beat the crap out of a ten-year-old, he doesn't deserve the crown.

1607:  100 ENGLISH SETTLES DISEMBARK IN JAMESTOWN, THE FIRST ENGLISH COLONY IN AMERICA.

What Indians??

1626:  PETER MINUIT BUYS MANHATTAN.

With a credit limit of 30 dollars on his Diner's Club card.

1689:  THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT PASSES THE ACT OF TOLERATION PROTECTING PROTESTANTS.  ROMAN CATHOLICS ARE EXCLUDED.

So much for tolerance.

1738:  JOHN WESLEY IS CONVERTED, ESSENTIALLY LAUNCHING THE METHODIST MOVEMENT.

Roman Catholics excluded again?

1830:  "MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB" BY SARAH JOSEPHA HALE IS PUBLISHED.

Fleece as white as snow?  Is that racist?

1844:  SAMUEL MORSE SENDS THE MESSAGE 'WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT" TO INAUGURATE THE FIRST TELEGRAPH LINE.

Dot dot dash dot dash dot dash dash.

1883:  THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE IN NEW YORK CITY IS OPENED TO TRAFFIC AFTER 14 YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION.

Where's the E-Z pass lane?

1895:  HENRY IRVING BECOMES THE FIRST PERSON FROM THE THEATER TO BE KNIGHTED.

For those of you who thought it was Lin-Manuel Miranda.

1921:  THE TRIAL OF SACCO AND VANZETTI OPENS.

Paging Perry Mason.

1935:  THE FIRST NIGHT GAME IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HISTORY IS PLAYED IN CINCINNATI, OHIO.  

The Reds beat the Phillies, 2-1 for those of you keeping score.

1940:  IGOR SIKORSKY PERFORMS THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL SINGLE ROTOR HELICOPTER.

Tell us which freeway is jammed, please.

1941:  WORLD WAR II - THE GERMAN BATTLESHIP BISMARCK SINKS THE HMS HOOD OF THE ROYAL NAVY.

What goes around will come around.

1941:  MUSICIAN BOB DYLAN IS BORN.

Just what does a woman taste like?

1943:  ACTOR GARY BURGHOFF IS BORN.

B*A*B*Y*.

1945:  ACTRESS PRISCILLA PRESLEY IS BORN.

Mother and daughter.  In happier times.  Obviously, they had the same plastic surgeon.

 

1953:  ACTOR ALFRED MOLINA IS BORN.

My friend once threw a script into his front yard.

1958:  UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL IS FORMED THROUGH A MERGER OF THE UNITED PRESS AND THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE.

Slow news day.

1961:  AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT - FREEDOM RIDERS ARE ARRESTED IN MISSISSIPPI FOR "DISTURBING THE PEACE" AFTER DISEMBARKING FROM THEIR BUS.

Al Sharpton, I'm looking at you.

1962:  PROJECT MERCURY - AMERICAN ASTRONAUT SCOTT CARPENTER ORBITS THE EARTH THREE TIMES.

"So, what did you do at work today, Honey?"

1967:  EGYPT IMPOSES A BLOCKADE AND SIEGE OF THE COAST OF ISRAEL.

And the fighting still goes on to this day.

1974:  MUSICIAN DUKE ELLINGTON DIES.

Take the A Hearse.

1976:  THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS TAKES PLACE IN FRANCE, LAUNCHING AS A WORLDWIDE FORCE IN THE PRODUCTION OF QUALITY WINE.

I'll have the house Cabernet, thank you.

1984:  WRESTLING PROMOTER VINCE MCMAHON SR. DIES.

Bobo Brazil and Haystacks Calhoun were pall bearers.

1993:  ERITREA GAINS ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM ETHIOPIA.

Who?  What?  Where?

1994:  FOUR MEN CONVICTED OF BOMBING THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN 1993 ARE EACH SENTENCED TO 240 YEARS IN PRISON.

Six months with good behavior.

2001:  THE VERSAILLES WEDDING HALL DISASTER IN JERUSALEM KILLS 23 AND INJURES OVER 200.

Remember this?  Can you say "fire laws?"

2008:  COMIC DICK MARTIN DIES.

Good night, Dick.

Dinner last night:  Leftover lasagna.