ON THIS DAY IN 1909, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle said, “The really up-to-date Santa Claus is the rural free delivery carrier. He it is who brings Christmas presents to the farmers and their children all over the country. One can easily imagine with what eagerness and delight the young folks look forward to his coming on the great holiday of the year. On all other holidays the delivery service in rural districts is suspended, but on Christmas Day, by special order of the Post Office Department, the carrier is obliged to make his customary round, visiting every dwelling on his route. As may well be supposed, his wagon is filled to overflowing with parcels containing gifts. It is a big day’s work for him, and he may grumble a bit about it, but all the same he enjoys playing Santa Claus. Very pleasant is it to distribute the welcome bundles, and see so many happy, smiling faces.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1909, the Eagle reported, “Musical post cards. Paris originated this idea. Already post card photographs of great singers and composers are accompanied by extracts from their successes; pictures of national flags by the anthems of different countries, and so on in endless variety. To an ordinary pictorial card is affixed a very thin transparent gelatin disk, on which is impressed a phonograph musical record. Through the center of the disk a small hole is pierced, enabling the post card to be placed in the small-sized phonographs and played in the usual way.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1923, the Eagle reported, “Several speakers, prominent in the business world and at the same time influential figures in football, painted a moral picture with an artistic touch for the members of the championship Erasmus Hall High School gridiron team, who were fittingly honored at a dinner given last night in recognition of their achievement by the alumni committee of Brooklyn schools at the University Club. If the Buff and Blue moleskin wearers follow out the recipe prescribed for their future they cannot help but make a success in the business world as valuable citizens. The gala occasion gave the signal that the committee’s plans are still in their infancy and that greater deeds are in mind for future development of scholastic athletics. The Erasmians had the distinction of listening to an array of orators the like of which have seldom if ever before assembled around the festive board at a function of its kind. The successful Flatbush warriors were each presented with a solid gold football, the gift of the Poly Prep Fathers Association, cooperating with the alumni committee of Brooklyn, and heard their praises sung in an eloquency of oratory.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1927, the Eagle reported, “An ideal day greeted Santa and his reindeer yesterday when they returned to their Boro Hall headquarters after their happy five-day tour of Long Island. Nor had the children of Brooklyn forgotten old Kris Kringle during his absence. From the time he appeared at his headquarters at noon until he left at 5 o’clock, youngsters filed past to shake hands and report how good they had been.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “Similarities between the principles behind the Christian Christmas and the Jewish Chanukah were pointed out by Florence Beaumont, district school superintendent, at a Christmas-Chanukah party sponsored by the Intercultural Committee of School Districts 43 and 44. David Flacks, a teacher at P.S. 174, is chairman of the committee. Two thousand children of Brownsville and East New York, representing Thomas Jefferson and the East New York Vocational High Schools and about 20 elementary and junior high schools, attended the party yesterday at Thomas Jefferson High School, Pennsylvania and Blake Aves. Each child donated a can of food for European relief.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, “Seven hundred fifty New Englanders came to New York last evening on a special New Haven Railroad show train to see Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas show. Sold out to capacity and bringing theater-goers from as far north as Massachusetts to the Rockefeller Center showplace, the train also carried three of the celebrated Music Hall Rockettes in costume, as a glamorous preview of the holiday show.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “‘White Christmas’ is a publishing business in itself,’ declares Irving Berlin, the man who wrote this great popular classic and also had the good fortune to publish it. Currently serving as the title song and as one of the big production numbers for the new Paramount VistaVision musical, ‘White Christmas,’ the tune, according to Berlin, has been recorded by more than 80 singers, whose combined disks have sold in excess of 18,000,000 copies. Bing Crosby, co-starred in ‘White Christmas’ with Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, alone has accounted for 8,000,000 of these records on the Decca label. And now, with the Christmas season approaching, the Irving Berlin publishing house is again preparing to print up large orders of ‘White Christmas’ sheet music, which to date has sold approximately 3,500,000 copies. Berlin points out that if ‘White Christmas’ continues to average its sheet music sale on the basis of its showing for the past few years, it will be bought in quantities of 15,000 copies a day for a month. The picture is at the Brooklyn Paramount, with a featurette.”
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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAYinclude “WKRP in Cincinnati” star Tim Reid, who was born in 1944; swimmer and
Tyson Beckford. Photo: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Olympic gold medalist Claudia Kolb, who was born in 1949; Basketball Hall of Famer Kevin McHale, who was born in 1957; “Flashdance” star Jennifer Beals, who was born in 1963; Pro Football Hall of Famer Randall McDaniel, who was born in 1964; magician Criss Angel, who was born in 1967; model and actor Tyson Beckford, who was born in 1970; “Charmed” star Alyssa Milano, who was born in Brooklyn in 1972; Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp, who was born in 1972; former N.Y Giants wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, who was born in 1974; “Brokeback Mountain” star Jake Gyllenhaal, who was born in 1980; “The Practice” star Marla Sokoloff, who was born in 1980; former N.Y. Yankees pitcher Ian Kennedy, who was born in 1984; journalist Ronan Farrow, who was born in 1987; and chess grandmaster Nicolas Checa, who was
Jennifer Beals. Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
born in 2001.
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THE PUCK STARTS HERE:The National Hockey League began its first season on this day in 1917. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators, 7-4, with Joe Malone scoring five goals, and the Montreal Wanderers beat the Toronto Arenas, 10-9, with Harry Hyland scoring five goals. Despite their victory, the Wanderers lasted only six games, withdrawing from the league when the Montreal Arena burned down.
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SCREEN QUEEN: Cicely Tyson was born on this day in 1924. The Bronx native starred in “Sounder” (1972), “Fried Green Tomatoes” (1991), “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” (2005) and other feature films, earning an Honorary Academy Award in 2018. She won Emmys for two miniseries, “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” (1974) and “Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All” (1994), and a Tony for “The Trip to Bountiful” (2013). Tyson also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016). She died in 2021.
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Jake Gyllenhaal. Photo: Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP
TOP OF THE WORLD: “Titanic” premiered on this day in 1997. James Cameron’s re-creation of the doomed ocean liner’s only voyage stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane and Kathy Bates. The blockbuster film won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, which tied it with 1959’s “Ben Hur.”
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable
“Age is just a number. Life and aging are the greatest gifts that we could possibly ever have.” — Oscar-winning actress Cicely Tyson, who was born on this day in 1924
SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
