Posted on 02/24/2004 2:18:48 AM PST by Radix
Edited on 11/09/2004 6:40:11 PM PST by Jim Robinson. [history]
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On this day1868 - The first parade to use floats occurred in New Orleans
at Mardi Gras.
Shrove Tuesday, the eve of Lent also known as Mardi Gras (literally "fat Tuesday" in French), Carnival (from the Latin for "farewell to the flesh"), and Fasnacht (the Germanic "night of the fast") is celebrated across the world with riotous merrymaking and feasting.
On this day
1868 - The U.S. House of Representatives impeached President Andrew Johnson due to his attempt to dismiss Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. The U.S. Senate later acquitted Johnson.
On this Day
1903 - In Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, an area was leased to the U.S. for a naval base.
On this day
1924 - Johnny Weissmuller broke the worlds record in the 100-meter swimming event.
Johnny Weissmuller won five gold medals in 1924 and 1928, and then became even more famous as an actor playing the role of Tarzan. In the 1924 Olympics, he won three gold medals in the 100-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle relay. He also won a bronze medal as a member of the U.S. water polo team. In 1928, he took gold in the 100- and 800-meter freestyle relay. Weissmulled starred in 12 Tarzan films between 1932 and 1948.
The line "Me Tarzan, you Jane" was NOT an Edgar Rice Burroughs line from his books. Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan was much more articulate. "Me Tarzan, you Jane" is not even a line from the movie script as many critics are wont to point out. So where did this piece of Americana come from? It was a bit of chauvinistic, back-lot humor (said in spirit of mirth). "Me Tarzan, you Jane" was a quip Johnny Weissmuller made to Maureen O'Sullivan in the movie studio parking lot. Seeing her struggling to lift her heavy suitcase into the trunk of her car, Johnny Weissmuller laughingly uttered these famous words as he effortlessly swooped up the case and tossed it into the car. Enough cast and crew were around to hear his comment and it struck everyone as so funny that the quip (and its intended chauvinistic tone) lives on to this day. The actor, quipster, and five gold medal Olympic swimming star (1924 Paris and 1928 Amsterdam) passed away in January 1984.
Today's Pancake Field Trip takes us to a house for the practitioners of ledgerdemain and prestidigitation.
On this day
1925 - A thermit was used for the first time. It was used to break up a 250,000-ton ice jam that had clogged the St. Lawrence River near Waddington, NY.
I thought that they said trains.
On this day
1938 - The first nylon bristle toothbrush was made. It was the first time that nylon yarn had been used commercially.
On this day
1942 - The Voice of America aired for the first time.
On this day
1946 - Juan Peron was elected president of Argentina.
"Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance.
And as for fortune, and as for fame,
I never invited them in
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired.
They are illusions
They are not the solutions they promised to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you and hope you love me.
Don't cry for me Argentina..."
On this day
1980 - NBC premiered the TV movie "Harper Valley P.T.A."
Jeannie C. Riley
- words and music by Tom T. Hall
I want to tell you all a story 'bout a Harper Valley widowed wife
Who had a teenage daughter who attended Harper Valley Junior High
Well her daughter came home one afternoon and didn't even stop to play
She said, "Mom, I got a note here from the Harper Valley P.T.A."
The note said, "Mrs. Johnson, you're wearing your dresses way too high
It's reported you've been drinking and a-runnin' 'round with men and going wild
And we don't believe you ought to be bringing up your little girl this way"
It was signed by the secretary, Harper Valley P.T.A.
Well, it happened that the P.T.A. was gonna meet that very afternoon
They were sure surprised when Mrs. Johnson wore her mini-skirt into the room
And as she walked up to the blackboard, I still recall the words she had to say
She said, "I'd like to address this meeting of the Harper Valley P.T.A."
Well, there's Bobby Taylor sittin' there and seven times he's asked me for a date
Mrs. Taylor sure seems to use a lot of ice whenever he's away
And Mr. Baker, can you tell us why your secretary had to leave this town?
And shouldn't widow Jones be told to keep her window shades all pulled completely down?
Well, Mr. Harper couldn't be here 'cause he stayed too long at Kelly's Bar again
And if you smell Shirley Thompson's breath, you'll find she's had a little nip of gin
Then you have the nerve to tell me you think that as a mother I'm not fit
Well, this is just a little Peyton Place and you're all Harper Valley hypocrites
No I wouldn't put you on because it really did, it happened just this way
The day my Mama socked it to the Harper Valley P.T.A.
The day my Mama socked it to the Harper Valley P.T.A.
On this day
1987 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, of the Los Angeles Lakers got his first three-point shot in the NBA.
On this day
1987 - An exploding supernova was discovered in the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy.
On this day
1992 - "Wayne's World" opened in U.S. theaters.
Don't forget the maple syrup.
Pancakes Tuesday
Definitely
Hi, John. Thanks for your service to America. Prayers sent for your success and safety. 21!!
Thank you, Eric, for your service to our great America.
Prayers for your safety and success of mission.
Hi CPT kj!! Hi Star!! Thank you for serving this great nation of ours.
Prayers for your success and safety, kj.
Thank you, 1Sgt Mike, for your service to our country with the Army National Guard.
Prayers for your safety and success in Balad.
And a very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all of our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your continued service to our country.
I'm going to bump stuff from last night, then check my freepmail. It appears the troublemakers may have ruined some of the other threads.
Hi Stu!! Thank you for serving this great nation of ours.
Prayers for your safety and success in Afghanistan. Thanks to Brad and Graham too.
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