Wednesday, March 22, 2017

This Date in History - March 22

Happy birthday, Stephen Sondheim.   A Broadway genius.

238:  GORDIAN I AND HIS SON GORDIAN II ARE PROCLAIMED ROMAN EMPERORS.

Having co-leaders of a country never works.

1508:  FERDINAND II OF ARAGON COMMISSIONS AMERIGO VESPUCCI CHIEF NAVIGATOR OF THE SPANISH EMPIRE.

Hopefully with an expense account.

1622:  JAMESTOWN MASSACRE - ALGONQUIAN INDIANS KILL 347 ENGLISH SETTLERS AROUND JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA DURING THE SECOND ANGLO-POWHATAN WAR.

Powhatan sounds like a perfect name for a future Indian casino.

1630:  THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY OUTLAWS THE POSSESSION OF CARDS, DICE, AND GAMING TABLES.

So there goes the casino idea.

1638:  ANNE HUTCHINSON IS EXPELLED FROM MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY FOR RELIGIOUS DISSENT.

Meanwhile, her Westchester County parkway is one of the worst roads to drive in the nation.

1765:  THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT PASSES THE STAMP ACT THAT INTRODUCES A TAX TO BE LEVIED DIRECTLY ON ITS AMERICAN COLONIES.

And we've been nailed ever since.

1784:  THE EMERALD BUDDHA IS MOVED WITH GREAT CEREMONY TO ITS CURRENT LOCATION IN THAILAND.

I've got a take-out menu for Emerald Buddha somewhere in this house.

1871:  IN NORTH CAROLINA, WILLIAM WOODS HOLDEN BECOMES THE FIRST GOVERNOR OF A US STATE TO BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE BY IMPEACHMENT.

I'm surprised there haven't been thousands of politicians facing impeachment.

1872:  IILINOIS BECOMES THE FIRST STATE TO REQUIRE GENDER EQUALITY IN EMPLOYMENT.   

Before they could vote?

1887:  ACTOR CHICO MARX IS BORN.

Get-a your tootsie frootsie ice cream.

1888:  MY GRANDFATHER WAS BORN.

Oddly enough, he died on March 23...the very next day...78 years later.

1894:  THE FIRST PLAYOFF GAME FOR THE STANLEY CUP STARTS.

Even then, the playoffs were too long.

1912:  ACTOR KARL MALDEN IS BORN.

American Express Card Member Number 1.

1920:  ACTOR WERNER KLEMPERER IS BORN.

Hogan!

1930:  COMPOSER STEPHEN SONDHEIM IS BORN.

Merrily He Comes Along.

1931:  ACTOR WILLIAM SHATNER IS BORN.

I use the word "actor" loosely.

1939:  WORLD WAR II - GERMANY TAKES MEMEL FROM LITHUANIA.

Germany took everything in those days.

1945:  THE ARAB LEAGUE IS FOUNDED WHEN A CHARTER IS ADOPTED IN CAIRO, EGYPT.

This league featured a DT....Designated Terrorist.

1958:  FILM PRODUCER MIKE TODD DIES IN A PLANE CRASH.

Married Liz Taylor, won an Oscar, and then died.   Life ain't fair.

1960:  ARTHUR LEONARD SCHAWLOW AND CHARLES HARD TOWNES RECEIVE THE FIRST PATENT FOR A LASER.

Just in case it ever comes up when you're a contestant on Jeopardy.

1972:  THE US CONGRESS SENDS THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT TO THE STATES FOR RATIFICATION.

See how long this shit takes to pass.

1978:  KARL WALLENDA OF THE FLYING WALLENDAS DIES AFTER FALLING OFF A TIGHTROPE BETWEEN TWO HOTELS IN PUERTO RICO.

Well, he said he would be right down.

1992:  US AIR FLIGHT 405 CRASHES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM NY'S LAGUARDIA AIRPORT, LEADING TO A NUMBER OF SUTDIES INTO THE EFFECT THAT ICE HAS ON AIRCRAFT.

Duh.

1993:  THE INTEL CORPORATION SHIPS THE FIRST PENTIUM CHIPS.

In Ranch and BBQ flavors.

1994:  ANIMATOR WALTER LANTZ DIES.

Woody Woodpecker weeps.

1995:  COSMONAUT VALERI POLYAKOV RETURNS TO EARTH AFTER SETTING A RECORD OF 438 DAYS IN SPACE.

He obviously had a lot of vacation time coming.

1997:  THE COMET HALE-BOPP HAS ITS CLOSEST APPROACH TO EARTH.

Slow news day...that March 22, 1997.

2013:  BASKETBALL STAR RAY WILLIAMS DIES.

From my home town of Mount Vernon, New York.

2016:  ACTRESS RITA GAM DIES.

And I bet she had nice ones.

Dinner last night:  Roast beef sandwich at the NY abode.

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