Clint Ballard, Jr. (May 24, 1931 – December 23, 2008)
Ballard was a songwriter who wrote two Billboard Hot 100 number
one hits. The first was “Game of Love” by Wayne Fontana and
The Mindbenders in 1965. The second song was the 1975 hit,
”You’re No Good” by Linda Ronstadt, originally sung by “Dee
Dee” Warwick.
Sorensen demonstrating his novelty invention the
“Suction Cupped Plate”
The Joy Buzzer
Soren Sorenson Adams (May 24, 1879 – October 20, 1963) was a
Danish-born inventor who founded Adams Magic Manufacturing in
1906. He created novelty products such as the Joy Buzzer, Cachoo
Sneeze Powder, the Dribble Glass and the Exploding Cigar.
Other prank products included the nut can with a spring snake. He
was once offered the rights to the Whoppee Cushion, but deemed
it “too indelicate”. He is credited with having invented over 650 joke
shop items.
The Snake Nut Can
Abraham Lincoln and the Army discharge note (inset)
(FoxNews) – A hastily scrawled note by President Abraham Lincoln just two months
before his assassination ordering a disabled 14-year-old boy released from the
Army in response to an impassioned plea from the boy’s father went on sale
today in Philadelphia.
The message saying “Let this boy be discharged,” and signed A. Lincoln was
written on a telegram from Col. Thomas W. Harris about his son, Perry. It had
been in a private collection and was valued at $15,000 by Nathan Raab of the
Raab Collection, which offered the previously unknown document for sale.
The letter is considered rare because there are few Lincoln documents relating
to children.
Lincoln’s order came just two months before he was assassinated by John Wilkes
Booth at Ford’s Theatre on April 15, 1865. Ironically, Perry Harris was discharged
from the Army the same day.
