Category: Open Lines

One of America’s greatest boxers became world heavyweight champion on this day 75 years ago — Joe Louis. The bout took place at Comiskey Park in Chicago, and Louis knocked out James J. Braddock in the eighth round. A year later to the day, he knocked out German champ Max Schmeling in the first round. Louis, an African-American, was nicknamed “the Brown Bomber,” and held his title for 12 years, longer than any other heavyweight champion. He defended his title …

As of 7:09 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, summer is here. While welcomed by most, it’s a season with mixed blessings. On the one hand, there are trips to the beach and mountains, boating, cookouts, and wearing lighter clothing. On the other, it’s also a time for crowds, insects, higher gas prices — and higher temperatures. The highest thermometer reading ever recorded in the U.S. was 134 degrees Fahrenheit at Greenland Ranch, California on July 10, 1913. Next highest was 128 …

As of 7:09 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, summer is here. While welcomed by most, it’s a season with mixed blessings. On the one hand, there are trips to the beach and mountains, boating, cookouts, and wearing lighter clothing. On the other, it’s also a time for crowds, insects, higher gas prices — and higher temperatures. The highest thermometer reading ever recorded in the U.S. was 134 degrees Fahrenheit at Greenland Ranch, California on July 10, 1913. Next highest was 128 …

One of the most versatile cowboys of the Old West was born on this date in 1906 in Utah. In his 89 years, Earl Bascom won just about every award a cowboy could win and invented the side delivery rodeo chute, the first hornless bronc saddle, and the first one-handed bareback rigging. He also produced the first rodeo performed at night under electric lights. After his active riding career, Bascom became an internationally known western artist and sculptor. In the …

The town of Geneva, Illinois is putting the final touches on its biggest yearly event — Swedish Days, starting tomorrow and running through next Sunday. The festival, celebrating Swedish heritage, will offer food, a parade, special activities for children, crafts, and a carnival. It will also feature displays of just about everything Swedish, including Rosemaling, a Scandinavian art form of decorating wood. A quarter of a million people are expected to enjoy the various attractions. In the U.S. today, there …

Reminder that Sunday is Fathers Day.   From Wikipedia:  Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. In recent years, retailers have adapted to the holiday by promoting greeting cards and traditionally male-oriented gifts such as electronics and tools. Schools and other children’s programs commonly have activities to make Father’s Day gifts. More phone calls are made in the United States during Mother’s Day than during Father’s Day, but the percentage of collect calls on Father’s Day is much …

This is Flag Day — marking the date in 1777 when John Adams proposed the stars and stripes as the official flag of the United States. One of many ceremonies will be held at Fort McHenry in Baltimore. It was the sight of the flag still flying there after an overnight battle with the British in the War of 1812 that inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem, which became the words of the national anthem. Flag Day events …

With summer almost here, children will be urging their parents to take them to the nearest amusement park. The highlight of these parks are ever more thrilling roller coasters, which trace their roots back to 15th century ice slides in Russia. In the U.S., the first modern roller coaster opened 125 years ago this week at Coney Island, New York. It was built by Lamarcus Thompson, and was called “the gravity pleasure switchback railway.” The ride lasted a minute and …

This is a big day for fans of baseball history. On this day in 1880, the sport saw its first perfect game. Lee Richmond, pitching for the Worcester Ruby Legs of the National League, did not allow a single Cleveland Indian player to reach first base, winning the game, 1-to-0. His achievement has been equaled only 20 other times in 132 years. The most recent perfect game occurred in the early weeks of the current season, when Phil Humber of …

One of the most common items of modern life first appeared this month in 1937, when Sylvan Goldman introduced wheeled carts in his Oklahoma City grocery stores. Before that, housewives usually shopped every day or two for what they needed, and stacked their purchases on the counter. After paying, they walked the short distance home, carrying a bag or two. But as people began shopping less frequently and bought more each time, the grocery cart was a natural and was …

One of the great seasonal treats is being honored beginning today in Crawfordsville, Indiana — the city’s annual Strawberry Festival. Some 20,000 people will enjoy a wide range of fun during the next three days — including arts and crafts, music, a classic car show, and antique tractor exhibits. Of course, the star of the show during all three days will be strawberries — fresh, in jams and jellies, on shortcake, and in ice cream. The U.S. grows over 1.4 …

One of the small town summer joys of the past is being recreated this weekend in Danville, Kentucky. Some 40,000 people are expected to enjoy performances at the annual Great American Brass Band Festival. Concerts featuring world famous brass bands will be held on the lawn at Centre College, in the bandstand by the courthouse, and other locations in town. In addition to concerts of patriotic tunes and popular songs, the festival also includes a hot air balloon event, a …

A major pop culture phenomenon began on this day in 1933. With the automobile increasingly reshaping the American landscape, Richard Hollingshead opened the nation’s first drive-in movie theater in Camden, New Jersey. Soon, drive-in movies became a fixture across the country and a popular place for teenage dating. Some even had heaters to go along with the speakers, so they could stay open through the winter. Drive-ins reached their peak in the 1950s. There were nearly 21,000 movie theaters then, …

Can you imagine a popular movie actor today who doesn’t smoke, drink, swear, never kisses a girl and never throws the first punch? Such a character was Hopalong Cassidy, played by William Boyd whose birthday is observed today. He first saddled up as a hero in 1935 and made a total of 66 western movies. At one point, Boyd was so popular he was asked to play the part of Moses in “The Ten Commandments.” He turned down the role, …

Weekly Address: It’s Time for Congress to Get to Work.  President Obama speaks to the American people from a Honeywell manufacturing facility in Minnesota about his proposal to make it easier for companies to hire our returning service members for jobs that utilize their skills and help grow our economy. Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that’s happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President honored Memorial Day and the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam …

What is now routine for millions of Americans each day — checking an all-news cable television channel for the latest events around the world — began on this day in 1980. That’s when CNN — the Cable News Network — started its service. At the time, some critics questioned whether the public would be interested in a channel that carried nothing but news 24 hours a day. Now, there are not only a number of such news channels, but others …

One of the worst disasters to hit the U.S. happened on this day in 1889 — the Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood. Heavy rains burst a nearby dam forming a lake for a fishing and hunting retreat. When the dam broke, it unleashed 20 million tons of water in a giant wave that roared through Johnstown, killing more than 2,300 men, women and children, and destroying the homes of thousands more. The flood remains one of the nation’s most costly, single weather-related …

The first recorded automobile accident involving two vehicles occurred on this date in 1896 in New York City. Henry Wells of Springfield, Massachusetts, was driving a new Duryea Motor Wagon, the first automobile to be made and sold in the U.S. Unfortunately, he collided with Evelyn Thomas of New York, riding a bicycle. Thomas went to the hospital with a broken leg, and Wells spent the night in jail. Now, there are close to 11 million motor vehicle accidents a …

What is the biggest selling single record of all time? The answer may surprise you, since it isn’t by the Beatles or Elvis. The record is Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas,” recorded on this date 70 years ago. Crosby’s rendition has sold 50 million copies since it was released later that year. Adding the many versions of the song recorded by other artists, estimates are that “White Christmas” has stacked up sales of 100 million copies. The year Bing recorded his …

This coming holiday weekend will see the great seasonal migration begin to decks, balconies and backyards to fire up our gas or charcoal grills. May is not only National Barbecue Month, but also National Hamburger Month. While cooking food outside has occurred throughout history, grilling became a popular recreation in the U.S. in the 1920s. The first charcoal briquets were produced by Henry Ford, using scrap wood left over from making Model T’s. More than a third of U.S. adults …