MILESTONES: July 23, birthdays for Marlon Wayans, Paul Wesley, Omar Epps

July 23, 2018 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Marlon Wayans. Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

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Greetings, Brooklyn. Today is the 204th day of the year.

On this day in 1951, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “A beaut of a rhubarb was brewing in Brooklyn today. In the face of a ban by the musicians’ union against the encouraging strains of the fabulous Dodgers Sym-Phony, Brooklyn fans were preparing, as Red Barber might put it, to ‘tear up the pea patch.’ Although they’d ordinarily be expected to be sitting back blissfully on the heels of a three-game sweep over the contending St. Louis Cardinals, Dodger rooters were up in arms over the decree by Local 80, American Federation of Musicians, A.F.L., that the Sym-Phony be stilled because the volunteer members were not members of the union. “

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On this day in 1842, the Eagle reported, “Died, in East Bridgewater [Massachusetts], on Wednesday night last, 20th inst., Deacon John Whitman, in the 107th year of his age. He retained both his mental and physical faculties in a remarkable degree up to the hour of his death. He bore a character highly respected in the community in which he lived.”

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On this day in 1861, the Eagle reported, “It would be folly to shut our eyes to the magnitude and consequences of the defeat which overtook the Federal army at Bull’s Run. It was an overwhelming disaster … The 71st regiment, which suffered so severely, contains a large number of the young men of Brooklyn. Amongst them is a son, brother and brother-in-law of Demas Strong, Alderman of the 13th ward. The Alderman received the following dispatch from his son last evening: ‘Washington, July 22, 1861. I am here. Bill and George are all right, but have not come in yet. Seventy-first badly cut up. Richard.’”

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On this day in 1885, the Eagle reported, “Gen. [Ulysses] Grant is dead, and one more figure of heroic mold stands in the pantheon of American liberty. The patient, purified and dauntless spirit that vanished from the sight of man this morning will henceforth live imperishably in the memory of the Republic. Like gold from the furnace of the refiner the character of our greatest soldier emerges from the crucible of disease cleansed from every infirmity and fitted to circulate as sterling coin in the moral exchanges of the world … An embalmer from New York will be summoned to preserve General Grant’s remains, but a local undertaker will undoubtedly conduct the immediate details and convey the remains to New York.”

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On this day in 1886, the Eagle reported, “Steve Briody, who is known as the newsboy, and has made a reputation as a professional walker, has for some time expressed confidence in his ability to jump from the bridge into the East River, and escape injury, from the point where [Emmet] Odlum made his fatal leap. But little attention was paid to his talk, as it was regarded in the nature of a boast … Shortly after noon today, three of Briody’s friends procured a wagon and agreed to take him to the spot from which Odlum jumped … There were but few people on the bridge at the time, and Briody, seizing the opportunity, jumped from the wagon and climbed on the parapet. He wasted no time in making calculations, but waving an adieu to his friends he jumped feet foremost into the water below … Briody struck the water and sank like an iron bar. He reappeared shortly and was taken on board a boat which his friends had waiting for him … Some time ago Brodie made a bet with a reporter that he could perform the feat, and today won the wager.”

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On this day in 1936, the Eagle published an Associated Press story which read, “Fascist rebels, the Liberalist government of Spain announced tonight, have been driven back from the roads to Madrid with heavy losses. Gen. Emilio Mola, rebel commander, was reported to have retired in confusion, cutting telephone and telegraph wires. Many of his troops were said to have slain their officers in order to join the loyal forces.” It was also reported, “An urgent appeal for the evacuation of American women and children at Bilbao, Spain, by a war vessel was transmitted to the State Department today by Consul William E. Chapman at that place. The number of Americans known to be in Bilbao prior to the outbreak of the Spanish revolution was placed by the State Department at 155. The Oklahoma, America’s big battleship, steamed out of Cherbourg harbor in answer to the appeal.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include actor RONNY COX, who was born in 1938; actor OMAR EPPS, who was born in Brooklyn in 1973; journalist, film producer and writer NICHOLAS GAGE, who was born in 1939; sportscaster and former baseball player NOMAR GARCIAPARRA, who was born in 1973; Emmy Award-winning actor WOODY HARRELSON, who was born in 1961; radio personality and author DON IMUS, who was born in 1940; architect ARATA ISOZAKI, who was born in 1931; retiring Associate Justice of the U.S. ANTHONY M. KENNEDY, who was born on this day in 1936; actor ERIQ LA SALLE, who was born in 1962; actress EDIE McCLURG, who was born in 1951; actor TOM MISON, who was born in 1982; actress BELINDA MONTGOMERY, who was born in 1950; former basketball player GARY PAYTON, who was born in 1968; actor DANIEL RADCLIFFE, who was born in 1989; former basketball player BRANDON ROY, who was born in 1984; actor MARLON WAYANS, who was born in 1972; and actor PAUL WESLEY, who was born in 1982.

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SAMUEL MAVERICK WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1803. The rancher, land baron and politician was born at Pendleton, South Carolina, but spent most of his life in Texas. He was a key figure in the battle for Texas independence from Mexico. As a rancher, Maverick refused to brand his calves — claiming humanitarian reasons, but others saw that habit as a wily way to increase his herd by “adopting” unmarked cattle. Nevertheless, an unbranded or stray calf was remarked as being “Maverick’s,” and his last name became a synonym for a stubborn individual. Maverick died in 1870 in San Antonio where he had twice been mayor.

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THE SHARM AL-SHEIKH BOMBINGS OCCURRED ON THIS DAY IN 2005. In the worst act of terrorism in Egypt’s recent history, the Red Sea resort city of Sharm al-Sheikh was the target of three bomb attacks that killed 88 people and injured more than 200. Various groups claimed responsibility for the attacks, which occurred on Egypt’s Revolution Day.

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DON DRYSDALE WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1936. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984, Drysdale was a pitcher for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1956 to 1969, compiling a win-loss record of 209-166 with a career ERA of 2.95. Following his playing career he became a successful and popular broadcast announcer for the Chicago White Sox and then for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was born in California and died in Canada in 1993.

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

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“A grownup is a child with layers on.” — actor Woody Harrelson, who was born on this day in 1961