MILESTONES: September 26, birthdays for Serena Williams, Christina Milian, Olivia Newton-John

Brooklyn Today

September 26, 2017 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Serena Williams. AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File

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Allied Forces Make Headway; Brooklyn Jurist Willing to Be Drafted: On this day in 1918, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle front page reported on several Allied fronts during World War I. French and American troops struck Champagne — a province in northeastern France — driving back the Germans. Allied troops also invaded Bulgaria. Serbs, fighting for Uskub, were on the Allies’ side. Meanwhile, British Gen. Edmund Allenby surrounded the Turkish armies during the British Empire’s Jerusalem Operations (which began in November 1917) against the Ottoman Empire. The British army captured Jerusalem. This marked the start of the British Mandate, a geopolitical entity that proved not too popular. The British Mandate would last until May 1948 when the State of Israel was established.

France Dissolves Communist Party; British Feed Germans in Boston Harbor: On this day in 1939, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle front page reported that the French government had dissolved the Communist Party in France, in reprisal for the non-aggression pact that the Soviets had made with the Third Reich, and for the invasion of Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. Poland was France’s eastern ally … Meanwhile, in Boston Harbor, compassion triumphed over hatred. The crew of the British freighter named the Port Halifax sent food over to the starved crew of a German freighter, the Pauline Friedrich. The German ship, which had pulled into Boston Harbor to avoid capture, depleted its food supply. The Port Halifax’s skipper and chief officer offered food, not without some protest from shipmates about aiding the enemy. Humanitarian aid was won over, and a huge side of beef was donated to the Germans.

On this day in 1946, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle front page reported on President Harry Truman’s refusal to end price controls on meat. The president claimed that Congress took the matter out of his hands by setting up the Price Decontrol Board. One reason was to maintain the priority in getting meat to American servicemen in military posts here and abroad. The War Department ordered that Army orders for meat be filled first. Locally, the comptroller of the Fort Greene Retail Market, a Frances Schulman, got innovative when she saw the long lines. She offered a shorter wait to get meat if the women standing in line with their husbands were willing to join the workers in keeping up with demand. Meanwhile, their husbands could keep place in lines. Provision was made for pregnant women to step up and be served first. Laughter ensued when a pillow fell out from the clothing of one “expecting” lady.

More on Bookie’s Scandal, and Another Loss for Dem Bums: On this day in 1951, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle front page ran the next Ed Reid investigative piece, about gambling bookie Harry Gross’ being indicted on 10 counts of criminal contempt for his refusal to testify at the police graft trial the previous week. Gross had already pleaded guilty to 66 counts of bookmaking (adjusting the odds in horse racing and other gambling pursuits). If found guilty of criminal contempt charges, Gross would also face 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine … Brooklyn Dodgers fans were disheartened as the radio announcers unfolded Dem Bums’ double defeat at the hands of the Giants. Eagle staffer Joseph Wilkinson reported that some fans were heard muttering that the “Dodgers couldn’t even beat Erasmus Hall.” One Montague Street resident, a Leroy Peterson, diagnosed the Dodgers as being in a “psychological impasse” out of which he said they must snap if they are going to win.

NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include actress MELISSA SUE ANDERSON, who was born in 1962; former soccer player MICHAEL BALLACK, who was born in 1976; actor JIM CAVIEZEL, who was born in 1968; singer and songwriter BRYAN FERRY, who was born in 1945; actress LINDA HAMILTON, who was born in 1957; actress MARY BETH HURT, who was born in 1948; singer and actress OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, who was born in 1948; author JANE SMILEY, who was born in 1949; former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and former New Jersey Gov. CHRISTINE T. WHITMAN, who was born in 1946; and tennis player SERENA WILLIAMS, who was born in 1981.

MARTIN HEIDEGGER WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1889. Widely regarded the most original 20th-century philosopher, Heidegger focused on answering one fundamental question, the meaning of “being,” which he explored in his seminal work “Being and Time,” one of the 20th century’s most influential books. His analysis revitalized the study of philosophy and strongly influenced Sartre and other existential philosophers. Born in Germany, Heidegger died there in 1976.

“GILLIGAN’S ISLAND” PREMIERED ON THIS DAY IN 1964. Seven people set sail aboard the Minnow for a three-hour tour and became stranded on an island. They used the resources on the island for food, shelter and entertainment. The cast included Bob Denver (Gilligan), Alan Hale Jr. (the Skipper), Jim Backus (Thurston Howell III), Natalie Schafer (Mrs. “Lovey” Howell), Russell Johnson (the Professor), Dawn Wells (Mary Ann) and Tina Louise (Ginger Grant). The last episode aired on Sept. 4, 1967.

T.S. ELIOT WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1888. The poet, literary critic, dramatist and editor is one of the 20th century’s preeminent poets, T.S. Eliot — with friend and fellow poet Ezra Pound — worked to modernize contemporary poetic diction to one that reflected the rhythm of educated speech. Eliot’s experiments in diction, versification and style are seen throughout the body of his works, which include “A Love Song for J. Alfred Prufrock,” “Four Quartets” and “The Waste Land” — his most renowned poem. Awarded the Order of Merit and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948, Eliot died in England in 1965.

“WEST SIDE STORY” PREMIERED ON THIS DAY IN 1957. Composer Leonard Bernstein’s updated “Romeo and Juliet” musical premiered on Broadway and ran until 1960. Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics, Arthur Laurents wrote the book and Jerome Robbins created the choreography.

GEORGE GERSHWIN WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1898. The Brooklyn-born composer is remembered for his many enduring songs including “The Man I Love,” “Strike Up the Band,” “Funny Face,” “I Got Rhythm” and the opera “Porgy and Bess.” Many of his works were in collaboration with his brother, Ira. Gershwin died of a brain tumor in California in 1937.

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

“If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” — poet T. S. Eliot, who was born on this day in 1888