80th Anniversary of 'Casablanca'-- Part 3: 'The Usual Suspects'

Some More Quotes.

**  "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."  --Rick Blane

**  "Round up the usual suspects."  --Captain Louis Renault  (I called out usual group of friends the "Usual Suspects.")

**  "Just because you despise me, you are the only one I trust."  --Ugarte

**  "We'll always have Paris."  --Rick Blane

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**  "I came to Casablanca for the waters."  Rick Blane

       "The waters?  What waters?   We're in the desert."  --Captain Renault

       "I was misinformed."  --Rick Blane

--CootPect

September 2 Events: Atlanta, the 'Big Stick', George H.W. Bush, USS Missouri, Vietnam, Integration and the Titanic

From "On Sept. 2" from Sep. 2, 2021, Chicago Tribune.

SEPTEMBER 2, 1864--  During the Civil War, Union Gen. William Sherman's army occupied Atlanta, Georgia.

SEPTEMBER 2, 1901--  Vice President Theodore Roosevelt offered the advice:  "Speak softly and carry a big stick" in a speech at the Minnesota State Fair.

SEPTEMBER 2, 1930--  The first non-stop airplane flight between Europe and the U.S. was completed in 37 hours.

SEPTEMBER 2, 1844--  During WW II, Navy pilot George Herbert Walker Bush was shot down by Japanese forces as he completed a bombing run over the Bonin Islands.  (Bush was rescued by the submarine USS Finback; his two crew members, however, died.

SEPTEMBER 2, 1945--  Japan formally surrendered in ceremonies aboard the battleship USS Missouri, ending WW II.

Also this date, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam an independent republic.  And, we know where that led.

SEPTEMBER 2, 1963--  Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace prevented integration of Tuskegee High School by encircling the building with state troopers.

SEPTEMBER 2, 1985-- It was announced that a U.S.-French expedition had located the wreckage of the Titanic about 560 miles off Newfoundland.

--Cooter

He Fired When Ready-- Part 1: Who Was This Gridley Guy?

From the order of the Jackalope "He fired when ready" by #13 (David White).

Well, of course if you have been reading this blog, you know.  I didn't know much about this person before I started this series of posts which actually started in my Civil War Navy blog Running the Blockade.  This is a part of my RoadTripping Through History approach to these blogs.

I figured this Gridly guy, and I had to find out his first name, must have been an officer under the command of Dewey.

David White remembers a family trip when he was a child and they went to Independence  Seaport Museum in Philadelphia where one of the attractions was the USS Olympia.  Bolted to the deck by the wheelhouse were two brass footprints engraved with this text:

"From this spot Commodore Dewey directed the Asiatic Squadron to victory in the Spanish-American War, launching the United States onto the world stage. 'You may fire when you are ready, Gridley.' May 11898, Manila Bay, Luzon, Philippines."

They are some of the most famous words in naval history, right up there with "Don't give up the ship" and "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead."

I figured he was a Navy man, likely an officer, but under the command of Dewey.

This is where David White started doing his own research.

--Cooter

Answers to Who Said the Quote in the Last Post

"Go ahead...."  --  Harry Callahan

"Whoever said.... "  --   Elle Woods

"Why did it have ...."  --    Indiana Jones

"I do wish ...."  --  Hannibal Lecter

"You're a ...."  --  Hagrid

--DaCoot

Answers to the Movie Quote Quiz in the Last Post

"Go ahead.  Make my day."  -- "Sudden Impact" (1983)

"Whoever said orange is the new pink was seriously disturbed."  --  "Legally Blonde" (2001)

"Why did it have to be snakes?  I hate snakes."  --  "Raiders of the Lost Ark"  --  (1981)

"I do wish we could chat longer, but ... I'm having an old friend for dinner."  "Silence of the Lambs" (1991)

"You're a wizard, Harry."  "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" --  (2001)

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Okay, now tell the name of the character who said the quote in the movie (not the actor's name).

--Cooter

Name That Movie Quote

Sure looking forward to getting back into the old movie theater this summer.  I haven't been in one since February 2020.  And, I usually see between 50 and 75 movies a year.

Anyway. the May 16, 2021, Parade magazine had an article on "50 Years of Movies We Love."

And, a quote from each movie.

See if you can identify the movie from the quote:

**  "Go ahead and make my day."  (1983)

**  "Whoever said orange is the new pink was seriously disturbed."  (2001)

**  "Why did it have to be snakes?  I hate snakes."   (1981)

**  "I do wish we could chat longer, but ... I'm having an old friend for dinner."   (1991)

**  "You're a wizard, Harry."  (2001)

Answer in the next post.   Maybe.

Get Guessin'.  --Cooter

Who Had Another Famous Death Quote?

The last post was on Mark Twain and his prediction about his death, which got me to thinking about another famous death quote.

Do you know who said this:  "The news of my death is greatly exaggerated."

Well, do ya?

Answer below.

W.C. Fields

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BUT!!!!

Mark Twain also reportedly said at one time:  "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."

I Wonder?  --CootTwainFields

"Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks, Speaks-- Part 2

The Cubs resurgence in the late 60s led to his most memorable saying: "The Cubs will shine in '69."  And, they indeed did shine until September when that horrible thing happened which surely broke a lot of hearts.  (Not mine, though, as the Sox had done that to me with their fold in the final five games in '67.)

IN HIS OWN WORDS"

ERNIE BANKS' SIGNATURE QUOTE (though there are two variations):  "What a beautiful day!  Let's play two!"

IN 1955:  "I'm different from those that swing hard.  Can't follow the pitch if I try to slug.  I whip the bat with my wrists, with a snap.  This way I can wait longer to swing."

IN 1969, WHEN BANKS WAS NAMED TO THE CTA BOARD (Chicago Transportation Agency):  "For one thing, I want to make sure that the elevated always stops at Wrigley Field."

Da Man!

Some Famous Last Words

From Listverse.

1.  "Die, my dear?  Why that's the last thing I'll do."

2.  "Relax.--  This won't hurt."  --Hunter S. Thompson on his suicide note.

3.  "My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death.  One or the other of us has to go."  --OscarWilde

4.  "This is a hell of a way to die."  --George S. Patton after his car accident.

5.  "Don't disturb my circles."  --Greek mathematician Archimedes

Of Course, There Is Always the Tombstone That Reads, "I Told You I Was Sick."