Archive for April, 2011
TV NEWS PIONEER ~ BORN ON THIS DATE IN 1908
A 20 year old Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow (April 25, 1908 – April 27, 1965) was a broadcast journalist
who first came to prominence with a series of radio news broadcasts during World
War ll, which were followed by millions of listeners in the United States and also in
Canada. Many of his fellow journalists considered Murrow to be one of journalism’s
greatest figures, noting his honesty and integrity in delivering the news. Murrow
produced a series of TV news reports that helped lead to the censure of Senator
Joseph McCarthy.
BOYHOOD HOME TO BECOME A MUSEUM
The boyhood home (above) of music legend Johnny Cash in the small town of Dyess
in northeastern Arkansas is being turned into a museum. Funds from the Johnny
Cash Music Festival on August 4 will go towards renovating the home and creating
the museum. Family members will be among those performing, along with country
stars George Jones and Kris Kristofferson. The townspeople are also raising
funds with an annual Dyess Day.
A LOOK AT ‘’THE BIG BOPPER’’
Jiles Perry "J. P." Richardson, Jr. (October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959) went
by the name “The Big Bopper” when he became a deejay (below) at KTRM radio
(now KZZB) in Beaumont, Texas. He had been working part time at the station after graduating from high school in 1949. Richardson went full time at KTRM after a stint
in the army and having quit college. His show,"The Big Bopper Shop", attracted a
strong listenership. In May 1957 he set a world record for continuous broadcasting
with his "Discathon," remaining on the air for six straight days and spinning 1,821 records. J.P. was influenced by Country and Western music and began writing songs, moving toward the new sound of Rockabilly. During this abbreviated songwriting career, he composed about thirty-eight tunes, and recorded over twenty of them. One of those tunes was Chantilly Lace, released on Mercury Records in the summer of 1958. On
February 3, 1959, Richardson was killed in a small-plane crash in Iowa, along with
the great Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
EASTER EGG ROLL BEGAN ON THIS DATE IN 1814
The Easter Egg Roll is an annual event, and is held on the White House Lawn each Easter Monday for children and their parents. It is a race where the children push
an egg through the grass with a long-handled spoon. The event includes White
House personalities in Easter Bunny costumes, speeches and book reading by
cabinet secretaries along with exhibits of decorated eggs.
Dolly Madison, the wife of President James Madison is credited with beginning the
Egg Roll in 1814. The original site was on the grounds of the United States Capital,
but in 1877 a new lawn was planted and the gardeners cancelled the event. Congress then passed a law making it illegal to use the grounds as a children’s playground. At
the request of a number of children, including his own, the then President Rutherford
B. Hayes and his wife Lucy brought the event to the White House lawns. The event
was abandoned during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency, and revived by Mamie Eisenhower during her husband’s term in office.
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