Wednesday, July 8, 2020

This Date in History - July 8

Happy birthday to Steve Lawrence, pictured here with his late wife, Eydie Gorme.  The Bossa Nova kills.

1099:  FIRST CRUSADE - FIFTEEN THOUSAND STARVING CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS MARCH IN A RELIGIOUS PROCESSION AROUND JERUSALEM AS ITS MUSLIM DEFENDERS LOOK ON.

And they're still marching.

1497:  VASCO DA GAMA SETS SAIL ON THE FIRST DIRECT EUROPEAN VOYAGE TO INDIA.

An awful long way to go for some curry.

1579:  OUR LADY OF KAZAN, A HOLY ICON OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, IS DISCOVERED UNDERGROUND IN THE CITY OF KAZAN.

Elia or Lainie?

1730:  AN ESTIMATED MAGNITUDE 8.7 EARTHQUAKE CAUSES A TSUNAMI THAT DAMAGES CHILI'S COASTLINE.

Back in 1730, I would guess that about four people were impacted.

1775:  THE OLIVE BRANCH PETITION IS SIGNED BY THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS OF THE THIRTEEN COLONIES OF NORTH AMERICA.

With or without pimentos?

1853:  US COMMODORE MATTHEW PERRY ARRIVES IN EDO BAY WITH A TREATY REQUESTING TRADE.

So, when Perry finally got on Friends, he was really, really, really old.

1874:  THE MOUNTIES BEGIN THEIR MARCH WEST.

Sgt. Preston leading the way.

1876:  WHITE SUPREMACISTS KILL FIVE BLACK REPUBLICANS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

And the note I take from this?   Five dead Black Republicans.

1889:  THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL IS PUBLISHED.

Where are the funny pages?

1892:  ST JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA IS DEVASTATED IN THE GREAT FIRE OF 1892.

And I guess I am too.  Devastated, I mean.

1898:  THE DEATH OF CRIME BOSS SOAPY SMITH, WHO IS KILLED IN AN ALASKAN SHOOTOUT.

The Sopranos Go to Juneau.

1908:  GOVERNOR NELSON ROCKEFELLER IS BORN.

Best joke I ever heard about him.   When he wakes up in the morning, he feels happy.  And then Happy feels him.

1917:  ACTRESS FAYE EMERSON IS BORN.

A name I've heard countless times.   I couldn't place her if I fell over her.

1918:  ACTOR CRAIG STEVENS IS BORN.

Peter Gunn!

1930:  SINGER JERRY VALE IS BORN.

My writing partner once saw him in the super market, looking for his name in the tabloids.

1932:  THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE REACHES ITS LOWEST LEVEL OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

For those who still haven't jumped out of their window...

1934:  ACTOR MARTY FELDMAN IS BORN.

It's Eye-gor.

1935:  SINGER STEVE LAWRENCE IS BORN.

Go away, little boy.

1947:  REPORTS ARE BROADCAST THAT A UFO CRASH LANDED IN ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO.

Hence, all the jokes about Roswell ever since.

1948:  THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACCEPTS ITS FIRST FEMALE RECRUITS.

Opening the Mile High Club....

1949:  CHEF WOLFGANG PUCK IS BORN.

Overrated.

1958:  ACTOR KEVIN BACON IS BORN.

If you share this birthday, you have one degree of separation.

1960:  FRANCIS GARY POWERS IS CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE RESULTING FROM HIS FLIGHT OVER THE SOVIET UNION.

Vat you looking at, Yankee.

1968:  THE CHRYSLER WILDCAT STRIKE BEGINS IN DETROIT.

Is that their new model?   A Wildcat.

1982:  ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.

Too bad it didn't take.

1990:  ACTOR HOWARD DUFF DIES.

Making Ida Lupino an ex-wife/widow.

1991:  ACTOR JAMES FRANCISCUS DIES.

Not a good last name if you lisp.

1994:  ACTOR DICK SARGENT DIES.

The second and lesser Darrin Stevens.

1994:  KIM JONG-IL BEGINS TO ASSUME SUPREME LEADERSHIP OF NORTH KOREA UPON THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER.

So I guess Dad was Il, too.

2006:  ACTRESS JUNE ALLYSON DIES.

Bladder no longer full.

2011:  FORMER FIRST LADY BETTY FORD DIES.

She didn't last much longer after her husband.

2012:  ACTOR ERNEST BORGNINE DIES.

What are you going to do now, Marty?

2018:  ACTOR TAB HUNTER DIES.

I always preferred Diet Coke.

YEAR NOT SPECIFIED:  A HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DEAR FRIEND, THE BIBSTER.

A regular reader to this Wednesday frivolity.  I couldn't enjoy this life without you.

Dinner last night:  Steak salad.

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