October 8, birthdays for Matt Damon, Bruno Mars, Chevy Chase

Brooklyn Today

October 8, 2015 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Actor Matt Damon. Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP

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Greetings, Brooklyn. Today is the 281st day of the year.

ON THIS DAY IN 1915, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published an article titled “Women Unfit to Run Cars?”

The article focused on an automobile accident in which a female driver struck a male driver, which resulted in the male’s death.

“’Women should not be permitted run autos,’ said the Coroner, in speaking of the case. ‘Unless they have been subjected to a state examination as to their fitness, the same as professional chauffeurs. It seems to me that women are physically unfit to run a car,’” the Eagle reported.

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include gossip columnist Rona Barrett, who was born in New York City in 1936; comedian and actor Chevy Chase, who was born in New York City in 1943; designer Clodagh, who was born in 1937; Oscar Award-winning actor and filmmaker Matt Damon, who was born in 1970; racecar driver Bill Elliot, who was born in 1955; comedian and actor Darrell Hammond, who was born in 1960; actor and writer Paul Hogan, who was born in 1939; clergyman and civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who was born in 1941; singer Bruno Mars, who was born in 1985; professional wrestler Michael “The Miz” Mizanin, who was born in 11980; TV personality Sarah Purcell, who was born in 1948; artist and writer Faith Ringgold, who was born in New York City in 1930; author R.L. Stine, who was born in 1943; actress Bella Thorne, who was born in 1997; and actress Sigourney Weaver, who was born in New York City in 1949.

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THE GREAT CHICAGO fire took place on this day in 1871. The fire began, according to legend, when Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over the lantern in her hard, subsequently causing a fire that leveled 3.5 square miles, destroyed 17,450 buildings, left 98,500 people homeless and killed about 250. Financially, the loss was $200 million.

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THE 10TH ANNUAL BIG Eyed Blues Festival begins today and lasts until Saturday, Oct. 10. The festival will host performances and special events throughout Brooklyn that celebrate blues music. “Roots to Blues — The Road from Blues to Hip-Hop” will take place tonight at 7 p.m. at the Kumble Theater at Long Island University in Downtown Brooklyn. For more information on the festival, visit bigeyedblues.org or call 718-670-3214.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.