Some More Notables at West Laurel Hill: RCA, Comic Strips and Throat Lozenges

ANNA JARVIS  (1864-1948)--  Originator of Mother's Day.

ELDRIDGE R. JOHNSON  ( 1867-1945)--  Founder of Victor Talking Machine Company predecessor of RCA Records.

WILLAIM J. KIRKPATRICK (1838-1921)--  Wrote "Away in a Manger."

HAROLD HERING KNER  (1882-1949)--  Writer-artist of "Katzenjammer Kids" for 35 years.  Considered one of earliest comic strips.

WILLIAM H. LUDEN  (1859-1949)--  Developer of the menthol  throat lozenge.

--Cooter

A Chicago Christmas-- Part 5: Hot, Cold and Snow

This entry is very appropriate for today.  This morning, December 23, 2022, it was -8 degrees outside here in Spring Grove, Illinois.  By 1 pm, it had "Warmed Up" to -2 degrees.  It is -5 degrees right now.

Christmas 1982 saw Chicago reach 64 degrees, setting a record for highest temperature on the holiday.

Just one year later in 1983, the coldest-ever temperature for the holiday was recorded at O'Hare at bone-chilling negative 17 degrees.

As for a very white Christmas Day, it happened in 1950 when Chicago received a whopping 5.1 inches of snow, setting a city snowfall record for that day.  Yesterday and this morning we got maybe two-tenths of an inch of the white stuff.

--CootHotColdSnow

Today in White Sox History: Buehrle Almost Has Another Perfect Game!!

From the July 28, 2022, SB Nation site.

Mark Buehrle  was perfect through 5 2/3 innings against the Minnesota Twins.  This was his next start after pitching a perfect game his last time on the mound.  I have written a lot about that outing in the previous posts.

In so doing, he set a MLB record for most consecutibe batters retired at 45.

That streak had started when he got the last out in his July 18th win over Baltimore and added substantially on his July 23 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers which was a perfect game on July 23.

In so doing this, he broke the previous record mark of 41 set by  Jim Barr in 1971 and tied by Buehrle's teammate Bobby Jenks in 2007.

However, the Sox lost the game that Buehrle broke the record to the Twins 5-3.

Doggone Twinkies.  --Cooter

Death of Olivia Hooker-- Part 2: Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre

She was one of the last-known survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre in what is often regarded as the deadliest episode of racial violence in American history.

This event, and others like it, are rarely mentioned mentioned in history books.

In interviews about it, she recalled the rampage through the eyes of a child.  Her father had been the owner of a department store in the community of Greenwood, a center of commerce known as the Black Wall street. When the mob marched on Greenwood, burning houses and shooting people in the street, her mother hid her and her siblings under a big oak dining room table as their home was being ransacked.

"We could see what they were doing, she recalled.  They took everything they thought was valuable.  They smashed everything they couldn't take.  My mother has [opera singer Enrico] Caruso records she loved.  They smashed the Caruso records."

They also poured oil over her grandmother's bed but didn't light it because members of the white mob were still in the house.

"It took me a long time to get over the nightmares.  I was keeping my family awake screaming."

Let's Dance-- Part 10: Give Me Good Old Frat/Soul Dancing Anytime

My idea of fun dancing is what you saw on "Animal House" at the Delta Tau Delta toga party.  That and any type of soul dancing.

We used to do a lot of dancing at our Delta Sigma Phi parties at NIU.  We generally played just four albums (yes, albums as that is what we had back 1969-1973).  They were:  Green River by CCR (our fraternity song was "The Buffalo Song" to the tune of "Lodi"), Sly & the Family Stone's Greatest Hits, Four Tops Greatest Hits and Temptations Greatest Hits.

Play one side of all four, flip them over and do the other side.  Repeat as needed.

I dance where the music takes me.

Give Me a Beat That Can't Be Beat.  --CootFrat

A Heartbreaking Year for Celebrity Deaths-- Part 7: Politics

Other 2016 deaths:

POLITICAL

Shimon Peres, former president and prime minister of Israel.

Former Attorney General Janet Reno.

Phyllis Schlafly, conservative activist whose opposition to feminism created a hero for the political right.

RECORDS

Phil Chess, whose Chess Records on South Michigan Avenue was so big for blues, recording such acts as Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf and many others.


FOOTBALL

NFL defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan whose fabled "46" defense (named after Doug Plank's number) gave the '85 Bears their only team Championship in Super Bowl XX.  We just saw that game again this past weekend.

DaBears!!

Shorpy Photos: Talking Machines: 1914

From the March 3, 2016, Shorpy site.

Richmond, California, 1914.  "Victor Talking Machine display, Hawley Piano Company, Macdonald Avenue."  With Nipper heading the list of the latest platters.

Early, early stereos.    There is an ad poster for Harry Lauder "Lauder Laughs and when you hear his Four New Victor records you will laugh with him.   12 in Purple Label.  Price $1.25.  Come in and laugh with Harry Lauder."

Another poster:  "New Victor Records "The Spring Maid.  Daydreams: Two Little Love Bees.  Sung by Christie Macdonald.  The Rabbit Story ? by Tom McNaugh ?.

Comment:  One of Lauder's biggest hits was in 1911 "Roamin' in the Gloamin." Price of records appears to be 75 cents to $1.25, which was a whole lot of money back then.

RCA did not come into existence until 1919 and bought Victor Talking Machines.

--Cooter

Seven Secret Indy 500 Remnants-- Part 11: Grave of the "Canonball"

GRAVE OF ERWIN GEORGE "CANNON BALL" BAKER (1882-1960):  CROWN HILL CEMETERY, 700 W. 38TH STREET, SECTION 60, LOT 150.

Baker won the first motorized race ever held at the the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a motorcycle race on August 14, 1909.  The new track's unusual surface, a combination of "asphaltum oil" and crushed limestone proved treacherous to rubber tires.  of the 30 riders who started the race, only four finished.  And, it was just a four lap sprint.  Baker went on to win 52 more races.

Baker is best-known for his record-setting cross-country runs.  In 1914, he went from San Diego to New York on an Indian motorcycle in 11 days, 11 hours and 11 minutes -- 3,379 miles, only four of them on paved roads.  He beat the previous record by nine days.

--DaCootBike

Stars Remember the First Record They Ever Bought

From April 12, 2015, Parade Magazine Picks.

KELLY CLARKSON--  "Purple Rain"--  Prince

GLORIA ESTEFAN--  "El Pequeno Ruisenor Joselito"

BARRY MANILOW--  "Goody Goody"--  Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers

CARLY SIMON--  "Guys and Dolls Original Broadway Cast Recording"

KEITH URBAN--  "Bobby Dazzley"--  various artists

FRANKIE VALLI--  "Stan Kenton and His Orchestra"

My first album was "Herman's Hermits Greatest Hits."

--Cooter

About Those Old Record Stores and Albums-- Part 1: Record Store Day

From April 12, 2015, Parade magazine Picks "For te Record" edited by Erin Hill.

"Remember records?  Of course you do.  Happily vinyl is still spinning its way into the hands of music lovers--  whether they're 16 or 60--today.

"April 18 is Record Store Day--a global celebration of independent record stores, where vinyl is still king--  and the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, 46, is this year's official ambassador."

He said: "Growing up in the '70s and '80s, my local record stores were magical, mysterious places that I spent all my spare time (and money) in, finding what was to eventually become the soundtrack of my life."

--CootLPer

Remembering Columbia House Record Club

Back in the 70s and again in the 80s to 90s, I belonged to the Columbia House Record Club so I could get a lot of albums for the cheapest price possible.

You'd join with at least 13 albums for free, just postage and handling, and then would have to agree to buy seven or more albums in the next 2-3 years at regular price (and, of course, always that pesky p&h, I really hated that). I also belonged to BMG Record Club.

I wrote about this in one of today's posts to my Down Da Road Blog.

But, Don't Forget That Reply Card. Otherwise, You Get Sent The Select Album.  --DaCoot

What Is the Best-Selling Christmas Song? (And It's Not "Grandma")

From the Dec. 23, 2012, Parade Magazine Personality Page.

No, it's not Elmo and Patsy's "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer."

Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" has sold at least 50 million singles (Wonder how many downloads?) making it not only the best-selling Christmas song, but the top-selling single of all time.

It was written by Irving Berlin and recorded by Bing Crosby for the 1942 musical "Holiday Inn."  It won an Oscar for best original song and inspired the movie "White Christmas, which topped the box office in 1954.

Parade has voting for favorite holiday tune at www.parade.com/song

I'll Be Voting Now.  --DaCoot

Now, That's a Real Old Message in a Bottle

From the August 30th Side Show "98-year-okd message in bottle sets world record" by Eric Pfeiffer.

A Scottish fisherman, Andrew Leaper, 43, found a bottle off Scortland's northern coast and, according to the Guinness people, this old messgae in abottle beat the previous oldest by five years at 98.  By coincidence, the previous record-holder was also found by the fishing boat Copious out of Scotland. 

In 1914, Scottish Captain C. H. Brown of the Glasgow School of Navigation released 1,890 bottles as part of an government experiment to map underwater currents in the seas around Scotland.

Each bottle had a postcard asking the finder to record details of where it was found and promised a reward of six pence.  Sadly, the reward is no longer in effect.

Only 350 of those bottles were found, including this one.

Sting and Police Would Be So Proud.  --Cooter

Jim Thome Closes in On 600-HR Club

From the June 5th Chicago Tribune.

Another great, non-steroid, player is closing in on a milestone like Jeter. Jim Thome is within seven home runs of attaining that 600-level, which has only seven members, of whom two are steroid-users.

But, he did it the old-fashioned way. No drugs.

Thome began his career in 1991 and is in his 21st season. He played with five teams: Indians, Phillies, White Sox!!, Dodgers and Twins. I'll have to forgive him for playing with the Twins, but the Sox could have had him again after the Dodgers. Instead, we got nut case Manny.

The 600 HOME RUN CLUB

1. Barry Bonds 762
2. Hank Aaron 755
3. Babe Ruth 714
4. Willie Mays 660
5. Alex Rodriguez 623
7. Sammy Sosa 609 (And he was with the Sox during his pre-steroid, skinny arm days.)

Jim Thome 593

Here's Pulling For Ya, Jimmy Boy!! --Cooter

Derek Jeter Closes in on 3,000-Hit Club-- Part 2

Definitely some real major baseball history in this list and I am glad to have seen so many play at the old bark when I could still afford to go. Again, the ones with asterisks are the ones I saw in person.

16. Paul Waner 3,152
17. Robin Yount* 3,142-- One of those great True Blue Brew Club Brewers from 1982.
18. Tony Gwynn* 3,141
19. Dave Winfield* 3,110-- His foul ball against Britt Burns was the only-ever foul ball that I caught.
20. Craig Biggio 3,060-- Saw him on TV.
21. Ricky Henderson* 3,055-- I saw him break Maury Wills' stolen base record.
22. Rod Carew* 3.053
23. Lou Brock* 3,023-- Worst Cub trade-ever!!
24. Rafael Palmeiro-- 3.020-- One of those steroid boys.
25. Wade Boggs* 3,010
26. Roberto Clemente* 3,000-- You have to wonder how many he would have hit had he not died in that tragic plane crash.

Some Great Players on This List. --DaCoot

Derek Jeter Closing in on 3,000-Hit Club-- Part 1

The June 5th Chicago Tribune had an article on the Yankees' Derek Jeter closing in on a baseball milestone, 3,000 career hits. As of Saturday, he was at 2.985, so it should happen in the next two weeks.

Jeter started his major league career in 1995 and is now in his 17th season, all with the Yankees. I'll have to forgive him for that as I AM NOT a Yankee fan.

And, in these post-steroid days, he was never found to have been using. Now, that is impressive.

The Tribune also had the complete list of all the others who had 3,000+ hits. I have an asterisk after the ones I have seen play in person.

1. Pete Rose* 4,256-- Charlie Hustle
2. Ty Cobb 4,189
3. Hank Aaron* 3,771
4. Stan Musial 3,630
5. Tris Speaker 3,514
6. Cap Anson 3,435
7. Honus Wagner 3,420
8. Carl Yastrzemski* 3,419
9. Paul Molitor* 3,319-- One of those great True Blue Brew Club Brewers from '82.
10. Eddie Collins 3,315
11. Willie Mays* 3,283
12. Eddie Murray* 3,255
13. Nap Lajoie 3,242
14. Cal Ripken* 3,184
15. George Brett* 3,154

Another 13 to Come. --Cooter