On April 19, 1775 American colonists battled the British army in Lexington and Concord and the American Revolutionary War was underway. The British troops had set out from Boston to capture rebel leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock and to destroy the Colonists’ repository of weapons and ammunition … Read more about The Midnight Rider
Esto es un Robo
Saturday marks the 153rd anniversary of the birth of Robert Leroy Parker, better known as Butch Cassidy. The oldest of thirteen children, Robert left his Mormon parents’ subsistence farm in Beaver, Utah at age thirteen. He found work in a butcher shop in Rock Springs, Wyoming and was soon … Read more about Esto es un Robo
Hotdogs, Mustard and Cracker Jack
The other night while watching Chris Sale try to pitch the Red Sox out of their early season funk, I thought about how much I prefer watching baseball in my man cave to schlepping over to Fenway Park. I would much rather consume beverages and snacks purchased at Costco than pay confiscatory ballpark … Read more about Hotdogs, Mustard and Cracker Jack
Marathon Milestones
On March 22, 1896, Charilaos Vasilakos won the first modern marathon at the Panhellenic Games. The purpose of the games was to select the team that would compete in the first modern Olympic games later that year. Vasilakos emerged victorious from a field of 17 men who ran 24.8 miles from Marathon … Read more about Marathon Milestones
The Angry Mob Speaks
The reaction to my blog on worst rock songs received unprecedented feedback. Joe from Wrentham, MA. was one of many to opine that “MacArthur Park” is the undisputed all-time worst. Erin From Danville, CA. was one of many questioning my omission of “I shot the Sheriff”.Here is a smattering of other … Read more about The Angry Mob Speaks
The Pompitous of Bad Songs
I was channel surfing in the car the other day when I heard Procol Harum’s “Whiter Shade of Pale”. I make it a point never to listen to the song despite its iconic status. It didn’t make sense when it was released in 1967 and it didn’t make sense that it became part of the “Big Chill “soundtrack. So … Read more about The Pompitous of Bad Songs
Holy Cow !
March 1 marks the 105th anniversary of the birth of legendary baseball broadcaster Harry Caray. Orphaned at the age of ten, Harry was brought up in a series of foster homes in tough St. Louis neighborhoods. After graduating from high school Caray volunteered for the military but was rejected … Read more about Holy Cow !
Quite a Joker
On February 22, 2009, Heath Ledger became the second actor to posthumously win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The award recognized Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker in “The Dark Knight”, making him the only actor playing a comic book character to win a best acting Oscar. It is difficult imagining … Read more about Quite a Joker
Covering the Beatles
This weekend marks the 55th anniversary of The Beatles second appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. It is also the 56thanniversary of Kenny Lynch releasing his single, "Misery" making that song the first Beatles' number to be covered by another artist In their first few albums the Beatles … Read more about Covering the Beatles
Here’s to Elvis
January 8 is the 84th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birth and I highly recommend that you search your television listings on that date for the documentary “Elvis- That’s the way it is”. The 1970 film chronicles Elvis Presley’s return to live performing following a seven-year break. The film takes … Read more about Here’s to Elvis
Whatever Happened to Lumpy Rutherford
Let’s raise a glass of un-spiked eggnog to Barbara Billingsley who would have turned 103 on Saturday. The woman who gained international fame as June Cleaver was born Barbara Lillian Combes in Los Angeles. She attended Los Angeles Junior College in the 1930s before becoming a model. After two failed … Read more about Whatever Happened to Lumpy Rutherford
Pope Francis, Babe Ruth and Nostradamus walk into a bar
Nostradamus enjoys almost mythical status around the world due to his renowned publication, “Les Propheties”, which first appeared in 1555 and has never been out of print. He supposedly predicted the Great London Fire, the French Revolution, the rise of Napoleon, the dropping of the atomic bomb, … Read more about Pope Francis, Babe Ruth and Nostradamus walk into a bar