And so it began. Today in 1950 “Peanuts” appeared in nine newspapers across the country (including The Minneapolis Tribune, The Denver Post, The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, The Seattle Times, The Washington Post and the Boston Globe) and would continue to run until February 13, 2000. Charles M. Schulz’s made 17,897 strips of “Peanuts” and according to media scholar Robert Thompson of Syracuse University, it is, “arguably the longest story ever told by one human being.”
CBS debuted “The Twilight Zone” today in 1959 and it ran for five seasons. The spooky show that usually involved a plot twist and some type of moral lesson had appearances by then unknowns Robert Duvall, Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds and William Shatner. The show’s name has been referenced a zillion times since it went off the air, most recently by Green Bay Packers fans after Golden Tate’s catch of a guy who caught a football.
Today in 1945, a 10-year old Elvis Presley made his first public appearance at the Mississippi/Alabama Fair and Dairy Show. Elvis sang “Old Shep” and came in second place. Simon said he had a decent voice, but lacked any charisma.
Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first African-American Supreme Court Justice today in 1967.
It was 10 years ago today that the Beltway Sniper Attacks began, when James Martin, 55, was killed in a grocery store parking lot. Five more people were killed the next day. The sniper was put to death by lethal injection in 2009 and the minor that was with him is serving six life sentences.
“Mean Streets” came out today in 1973 and launched Martin Scorcese and Robert DeNiro into the big time. The movie centered around Harvey Keitel’s character, but it’s DeNiro who steals the show as the reckless, jittery gambler.
Two of the best albums of the last 30 years came out on October 2, “Let It Be,” by the Replacements in 1984, and “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?” by Oasis in 1995. The ‘Mats album is one of the most beloved “indie” records ever made, and the song, “Unsatisfied” neatly summarizes every punk rock song ever recorded. Robert Christgau, the Village Voices’ “dean of rock critics” gave the record one of the few A+ grades he’s handed out. (Fun fact: I grew up less than three miles from the roof they’re on top of on the cover).
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and I love the Beatles.
Oasis’ second album vaulted them to a place the Replacements never got to go, world famous rock stardom. It sold over 30 million copies and is largely considered one of the best albums of the 90’s.
Rock Hudson became the first celebrity to die from AIDS today in 1985. The 6’5″, star of film and television was 59 years old.
It was today in 1968 that Bob Gibson opened the World Series with a masterful 4-0 shutout of the Detroit Tigers. Gibson set a World Series record with 17 strikeouts.
And nobody in Boston probably needs reminding that it was today that Bucky Dent hit a 3-run homer in the 7th inning to lead the Yankees over the Red Sox in a one game playoff in 1978. It was a lot more fun to remind them of that before they won a World Series.
Musical icons celebrating birthdays today include the two-named Don McLean, 67, and one-namers Sting, 61 and Tiffany, 41. Ok, one of them is an icon, one of them has an iconic song and one of them just sort of was.
Annie Leibovitz turns 63 today, which is a good excuse to post a couple of her best known portraits:
— Bill Hubbell