This Date in History - July 5

 

Happy birthday to Edie Falco.  Terrific actress who will be remembered forever as Carmella Soprano.

328:  THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF CONSTANTINE'S BRIDGE BUILT OVER THE DANUBE.

E-Z Pass lane?

1610:  JOHN GUY SETS SAIL FROM BRISTOL WITH 30 OTHER COLONISTS FOR NEWFOUNDLAND.

What a Guy.

1687:  ISAAC NEWTON PUBLISHES PHILOSOPHIAE NATURALIS PRINCIPA MATHEMATICA.

Which is Latin for "fucking apple hit me in the head."

1810:  CIRCUS EXECUTIVE P.T. BARNUM IS BORN.

In the center ring.

1813:  WAR OF 1812 - BRITISH RAIDS ON PLATTSBURG, NEW YORK.

Boy, that got close to me.  If I was alive in 1813.

1841:  THOMAS COOK ORGANIZES THE FIRST PACKAGE TRAVEL EXCURSION FROM LEICESTER TO LOUGHBOROUGH.

Continental breakfast included.

1884:  GERMANY TAKES POSSESSION OF CAMEROON.

Because it was there.

1915:  THE LIBERTY BELL LEAVES PHILADELPHIA BY SPECIAL TRAIN ON ITS WAY TO THE PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION.  THIS WILL BE ITS LAST TRIP OUTSIDE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Hey, where did that crack come from?

1929:  ACTRESS KATHERINE HELMOND IS BORN.

Jessica from TV's underrated "Soap."

1934:  ON BLOODY THURSDAY, POLICE OPEN FIRE ON STRIKING LONGSHOREMEN IN SAN FRANCISCO.

Hence the name of the day.

1935:  THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT IS SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT.

Okay, everybody can go home early.

1937:  LUNCHEON MEAT SPAM IS INTRODUCED INTO THE MARKET BY HORMEL.

Meat?  In a can??

1945:  WORLD WAR II - THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES IS DECLARED.

Good, now they can open some telemarketing call centers.

1946:  THE BIKINI GOES ON SALE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PARIS.

Hey now.

1948:  NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACTS CREATE THE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

And some people are still waiting for appointments.

1950:  MUSICIAN HUEY LEWIS IS BORN.

Doppelganger to Tim McCarver.

1950:  THE KNESSET PASSES THE LAW OF RETURN WHICH GRANTS ALL JEWS THE RIGHT TO IMMIGRATE TO ISRAEL.

No wall here.

1954:  THE BBC BROADCASTS ITS FIRST TELEVISION NEWS BULLETIN.

"Breaking news.  We are broadcasting our first news bulletin."

1954:  ELVIS PRESLEY RECORDS HIS FIRST SINGLE "THAT'S ALL RIGHT."

One hit wonder.

1963:  ACTRESS EDIE FALCO IS BORN.

Also brilliant as "Nurse Jackie."  Check it out on Showtime On Demand.

1971:  THE 26TH AMENDMENT TO THE US CONSTITUTION, LOWERING THE AGE VOTING AGE FROM 21 TO 18, IS FORMALLY CERTIFIED BY PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON.

Personally, I would argue that all citizens must pass an American History test to vote at all.

1975:  ARTHUR ASHE BECOMES THE FIRST BLACK MAN TO WIN THE WIMBLEDON SINGLES TITLE.

Had the same name as my orthodontist.

1983:  TRUMPET PLAYER HARRY JAMES DIES.

Married to Betty Grable.  Blow on that.

1989:  IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR - OLIVER NORTH IS SENTENCED TO A THREE-YEAR SUSPENDED PRISON TERM WITH PROBATION, FINES AND HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.  HIS CONVICTIONS ARE LATER OVERTURNED.

So Iran slept with somebody named Contra?

1996:  DOLLY THE SHEEP BECOMES THE FIRST MAMMAL CLONED FROM AN ADULT CELL.

I still wouldn't want to sleep with a sheep.

2002:  BASEBALL STAR TED WILLIAMS DIES.

Cue the soundtrack from "Frozen."

Dinner last night:  Hot dog at the Hollywood Bowl.