Boys and Girls

Today is Boys and Girls Club Day. They used to provide a safe haven for kids to play, learn and stay out of trouble. I wonder if they are still the same or are they just glorified gangs now…I know I loved being part of the Girl Scouts!!! Wish there was something similar for adults to join now.

On This Day…

...The death of Anne Boleyn (May, 1501-May, 1536) Henry VIII’s second wife, after just 3 years of marriage, was beheaded.  Apparently she strayed…sexually…I wonder why???

...The death of Nathaniel Hawthorne (July, 1804-May, 1864) died. His birth name was Nathaniel Hathorne. He changed it to Hawthorne to distance himself from certain relatives (including a judge during the Salem Witch Trials). He is happily remembered for The Scarlet Letter, Twice Told Tales, The House of the Seven Gables and The Maypole of Merry Mount.

…The premiere of the Ringling Brothers’ Circus. Can you name the Iowa born, Wisconsin raised brothers? Albert, Augustus, Otto, Alfred, Charles, John, Henry. Sister Ida’s children were John and Henry Ringling North.

...Death of Ogden Nash (August, 1902-May, 1971). This poet, author and lyric-writer one of America’s best known poets.  Two of my faves are…Candy, Is Dandy, But liquor, Is quicker…The cow is of the bovine ilk; One end is moo, the other, milk. I need to get a few of his books, I love ‘em.

…The death of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (July, 1929-May, 1994). I met the classy lady a couple of time. I worked at Avis Rentals at Dulles Airport. She rented a car when she visited the area, I presume to go to Middleburg for their many ‘hunts’. She requested me the second time, and she removed her sunglasses, something she rarely did ‘in public’.

Born In…

…1795, Johns Hopkins was a philanthropist who posthumously founded (1) Johns Hopkins Colored Children Orphan Asylum (2) Johns Hopkins University (3) Johns Hopkins Press (4) Johns Hopkins Hospital (5) Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (6) Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (7) Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. These were opened in the order listed between 1875 and 1916.

…1870, Albert Fish. At the age of 54 he became a killer. He was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Grace Budd and was executed at Sing Sing Prison by electric chair. He confessed to two other murders, but, the ‘Brooklyn Vampire’ bragged about up to 100 other heinous activities.

…1925…Malcolm Little (aka Malcolm X), civil rights activist. Was assassinated by three men during a a speech in New York City. What would have happened if he had not been killed?

…1934…TV journalist, Jim Lehrer is known as a splendid debate moderator and host of PBS News Hour. He has written over 20 novels and a few screenplays and plays.

…1935...David Hartman, his bio describes him as an actor, but he will always be my Good Morning America host. Although he appeared in a couple of Broadway shows (Hello, Dolly!; The Yearling) he decided to focus on film and television including The Ballad of Josie (with Doris Day), Lucas Tanner, and a remake of Miracle on 34^th Street (with Sebastian Cabot).

…1941, Nora Ehpron, screenwriter and director. Writing credits include Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally, and Sleepless in Seattle (which she also directed). Most recently, she directed, wrote and produced Julie and Julia.

…1946, Andre Rene Roussimoff the French professional wrestler and actor, the 7’4” Andre the Giant was the first inductee into the WWF Hall of Fame, starred in The Princess Bride as Fezzik, Conan the Destroyer and as Bigfoot in a 1976 two episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man.

…1968…He made his father’s day…Kyle Eastwood. American Jazz Musician and son of actor Clint Eastwood.