This & That

WELCOME
This week we have a little bit of everything from Thomas Jefferson to Lucille
Ball. I hope you enjoy it.  Next week I'll be back with more of my favorite
subject, Baseball



OUR FOUNDING FATHERS
Here is a little American History that I find interesting.   Everyone knows that
the Declaration Of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.   It is amazing
to note that it's principle author, our third President, Thomas Jefferson died
July 4th, 1826, exactly 50 years to the date of the signing.  Even more
amazing is that our second President, John Adams, died on the exact same
day. Jefferson was 83,  Adams was 90.


A LITTLE MORE HISTORY TRIVIA
I don't know how many counties we have in our 50 states combined but it
surprised me that four of our forty-four Presidents were born in the same
county.   John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John F Kennedy and  George
Herbert Walker Bush were all born in Norfolk County in Massachusetts.


THE BING BANG TRIBUTE
Sheldon Leonard was a great character actor in the 1940's and 1950's playing
the heavy in movies sich as "It's A Wonderful Life" and  "Guys And Dolls". 
He later went on to be a prolific TV producer putting together classic shows
such as"Make Room For Daddy", "The Andy Griffith Show", and "The Dick
Van Dyke Show" to name a few.  One of todays most prolific TV producers,
Chuck Lorre, with hits such as "Two and A Half Men" and "Mike and Molly"
admired his predecessor's work and as a tribute named the two main
characters in his hit series "The Big Bang Theory" Sheldon and Leonard.


WE LOVE LUCY
Last Week, August 6th, would have been the 100th birthday of Lucille Ball.
Her are a few trivia notes from that crazy redhead.
....She went to acting school with Bette Davis
....She appeared in Movies with the Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges
....She auditioned for the role of Scarlet O'Hara
....She was on the cover of the very first issue of  TV Guide, 1953.
....Her last appearance was at the 1989 Oscars.  She died a month later.
....She started out as a Ziegfield Girl
....She was the first woman to own her own film sudio, "Desilu".
....That studio produced   "Star Trek" and "The Untouchables" among others.
....She is in the National Women's Hall Of Fame. 
....The only other TV personality in the above Hall is Oprah Winfrey.

Note: Rhett Butler to Scarlett O'Hara(Lucille Ball):
'Frankly my dear, you got some splainin to do"


THERE IS NO N.J.U.
Rutgers University is the offical state University of New Jersey making the
Garden State the only one of our fifty that does not have the name of its state
in its top academic facility.


IT'S HIS PARTY !!
If you saw the video from my last blog you know that one of my favorite
singers from that era was Leslie Gore.  She had a great run of Top 40 hits.  
It's interesting to note that her younger brother, Michael, also had great
success. He won an Oscar in 1980 for writing the score for the original
"Fame" and also other awards for music in movies like "Pretty In Pink",
"Terms Of Endearment", "Broadcast News" and others.


A PRESIDENTAL NO SHOW
On April 14, 1910, President Howard Taft threw a ceremonial opening
day pitch to baseball great Walter Johnson thus beginning a tradition that
has lasted over 100 years.  Every President since has honored the tradition
at least once while in office except for one, Jimmy Carter.  I guess he was
waiting for his second term.


Thanks Everyone

See You Next Week !!