ON THIS DAY IN 1947, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Immediate adoption of a 10-cent subway fare was urged today by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce as ‘a logical and intelligent step’ to balance the city’s budget for 1947-48. Calling for a realistic consideration of the problem, which he termed ‘a perennial political football,’ H.L. Wilkinson, chairman of the Chamber’s Committee on Municipal Affairs, declared in a letter to Mayor [William] O’Dwyer there is no need for a long wait for a public referendum before establishing a self-sustaining subway fare. The Board of Estimate, Mr. Wilkinson pointed out, could enact legislation for an increase within a matter of days and, unless the City Council within the following 30 days ordered a public referendum, the new fare would become operative at once. Commenting on a report last week that the Mayor would seek a higher fare ‘only as a last resort,’ the Chamber spokesman said a city income tax or an additional sales tax would be a far more burdensome alternative to the people.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1952, the Eagle reported, “A twin-engine Northeast Airlines plane, with 36 aboard, undershot the LaGuardia Field runway in the fog early today and plunged into the East River. At least 28 persons were injured. All passengers and crew members were rescued. Eyewitnesses reported that about 9 a.m. the plane, arriving from Boston, ‘sputtered’ and dived into the murky water about 1,000 feet from the field. A crash boat and a commercial tug were the first to arrive at the scene. Martin Byrne, 44, of 7522 Ridge Boulevard, aboard the tug, said the passengers lined the wings and tail assembly of the sinking airliner waving for help. Police, Coast Guard and Navy rescue facilities were rushed to the area and victims were taken to Flushing, Queens General and Mary Immaculate Hospitals in Queens and others were sent to Fordham Hospital in the Bronx. Police Commissioner George P. Monaghan, who directed police rescue operations at the emergency station at the foot of 14th Ave., College Point, said he was sure all the passengers were removed from the plane. Joseph Amico, 27, of Mount Vernon, who operated the crash boat at the scene, took 25 persons from the sinking plane and transferred them to the nearby tug. ‘There was no screaming, no panic,’ he said, ‘although some of the passengers seemed to be suffering from shock.’”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “Tom Landry, an outstanding defensive back for the football Giants, has been named the team’s defensive coach. Landry will continue to be an active player but his main concern will be teaching defensive tactics.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1955, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — The United States today ruled out any deal with Red China to swap diplomatic recognition or a seat in the United Nations for freedom of jailed Americans. Officials at the same time, however, did not veto the possibility of letting 35 Chinese students in this country go home to Communism if that alone is the Communist price for freedom of the 11 American fliers and others held by the Reds. The State Department some time ago indicated it would go for a students-for-Americans trade. Authorities said the cases of the Chinese were ‘still under review on an individual basis’ — an indication they could get exit permits on a speedy basis. Stiff American objections to recognition or U.N. membership at this time were regarded as significant. They were sounded simultaneously with the return home of U.N. Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold from his trip to Peiping to try to free the Americans who are regarded as U.N. personnel. The United States has taken the position that it is up to the U.N. to get the Americans out of Communist hands since they were captured while fighting under the U.N. banner in Korea. The policy position has cut down the prospects of any direct American-Red China negotiations.”
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LL Cool J Evan Agostini/APCarl Weathers Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include blues and soul singer Clarence Carter, who was born in 1936; Oscar-winning actress Faye Dunaway, who was born in 1941; astronaut Shannon Lucid, who was born in 1943; “The Practice” star Holland Taylor, who was born in 1943; musician T Bone Burnett, who was born in 1948; “Rocky” star Carl Weathers, who was born in 1948; director and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, who was born in 1949; Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh, who was born in 1963; “Angela’s Ashes” star Emily Watson, who was born in 1967; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dave Grohl (Nirvana), who was born in 1969; rapper and actor LL Cool J, who was born in 1970; former N.Y. Jets tight end Kyle Brady, who was born in 1972; former N.Y. Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey, who was born in 1984; and “The Flash” star Grant Gustin, who was born in 1990.
Jason Bateman Chris Pizzello/AP
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IT’S OFFICIAL: On this day in 1784, Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the American Revolution, established the U.S. as a sovereign power and fulfilled the Declaration of Independence of 1776.
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MORNING IN AMERICA: “Today” premiered on NBC on this day in 1952. Captained by Dave Garroway, the show was segmented with bits and pieces of news, sports, weather, interviews and other features that were repeated so that viewers did not have to stop their morning routine to watch. The segments were brief and to the point. Sylvester Weaver devised this concept to capitalize on television’s unusual qualities. It is the fifth longest-running TV series in U.S. history.
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable:
“I don’t live my life in the rear-view mirror because, if you do, you’re bound to end up wrapped around a pole somewhere.”
— rapper and actor LL Cool J, who was born on this day in 1970
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.
