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April 8: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

April 8, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History
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ON THIS DAY IN 1917, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Big and patriotic doings will mark the opening of the National League baseball season in Brooklyn, next Wednesday, April 11, at 3:30 p.m. The Brooklyn Superbas, wind and weather permitting — which they did not yesterday when the Superbas were booked to meet the New York Americans in an exhibition game — will meet the Phillies at Ebbets Field on that date, and preceding the conflict on the diamond there will be business of raising the Stars and Stripes. This is an annual stunt, but this year, with the United States involved in the greatest war in history, the raising of the national emblem over the national game will have a special significance that should appeal profoundly to the 25,000 or so fans expected to be at the diamondside. President Charles H. Ebbets of the Brooklyn club has adopted a suggestion from the Eagle and is getting in touch with Admiral Usher, commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and with the officials of the land forces, with a view to having detachments of sailors, soldiers and marines, all properly accoutered and officered, with bugles and such, to take charge of the flag ceremonies.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1928, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON, APRIL 7 (AP) — Following the same path it traveled 2,000 years ago, Easter’s rising sun will join modern iconography in depicting the Resurrection and Ascension. The ‘drama in stone’ will be illuminated in the new Washington Cathedral on Mount Saint Alban, sponsored by the Protestant Episcopal Church as a national sanctuary of religion. Through the medium of iconography, the art of illustration by figure, builders of the edifice have presented in stone, wood carvings, stained glass windows, mural paintings, statues and bas reliefs a pictorial resume of the Christian story. To co-ordinate in sequence the symbols and each rising sun, it was necessary to determine the exact date of the first Easter. A careful investigation of opinions by scholars resulted in the decision that the Resurrection actually occurred on what is March 25 of the present calendar and that Christ’s Ascension into Heaven took place 40 days later, on May 4. With such data, the cathedral is orientated to 21 degrees and 5 minutes north to east, so that each May 4 the rising sun will fall flush on the eastern window. Although Easter is a movable feast fixed by the date of the Jewish Passover, which in turn is based on various phases of the moon, the cathedral’s orientation is considered ideal for revealing in the light of each morning’s sun the history of Christ’s last days on earth. It starts in the Chapel of the Resurrection, high-arched with carved and vaulted keystones, where the rays fall first on a bas relief of the awe-inspired group at the vacant tomb and of the angel who told of the Risen Christ.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1947, a Brooklyn Daily Eagle editorial said, “The last time the Dodgers played at Ebbets Field was the history-making playoff series for the National League pennant against the victorious Cardinals. Tomorrow afternoon, the battling Flock returns to its home park again, this time to meet the Montreal Royals in an exhibition game. While there is no importance attached to the eventual winner of the contest, the game nevertheless will also make history. For it marks the first time that a Negro baseball player will play at Ebbets Field against the Dodgers. This player is Jackie Robinson, infielder of Montreal, the first member of his race ever to be signed by a major league club — the Dodgers. While it has not been decided yet whether Robinson will remain with the Royals again this season or whether he will be a member of the Brooklyn team, nevertheless his showing tomorrow and Thursday may have a good deal of bearing on the case. Brooklyn fans, known the nation over for their sportsmanship, can help Robinson get off to a fine start here by cheering him on.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1952, the Eagle reported, “WINDSOR, ENGLAND (U.P.) – Prince Charles went to church here Sunday for the first time and like many children his age he had trouble keeping quiet, it was disclosed today.”

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Patricia Arquette
Chris Pizzello/AP
Emma Caulfield
Chris Pizzello/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include comedian and actor Shecky Greene, who was born in 1926; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steve Howe (Yes), who was born in 1947; “Piano in the Dark” singer Brenda Russell, who was born in Brooklyn in 1949; “The Dukes of Hazzard” star John Schneider, who was born in 1960; “Valotte” singer Julian Lennon, who was born in 1963; L7 co-founder Donita Sparks, who was born in 1963; “The Princess Bride” star Robin Wright, who was born in 1966; Oscar-winning actress Patricia Arquette, who was born in 1968; “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Emma Caulfield, who was born in 1973; former N.Y. Mets outfielder Timo Perez, who was born in 1975; “Battlestar Galactica” star Katee Sackhoff, who was born in 1980; and “Jessie” star Skai Jackson, who was born in 2002.

John Schneider
Richard Drew/AP

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ARMS AROUND THE WORLD: The Venus de Milo was discovered on this day in 1820. One of the most famous works of Greek sculpture, it was found in the ruins of the ancient city of Milos in the Aegean Sea, intact except for its missing arms. It currently resides at the Louvre in Paris.

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ALL THAT JAZZ: Carmen McRae was born on this day in 1920. After winning an amateur contest at the Apollo Theatre in her native Harlem, she became a noted jazz artist, singing with the Earl Hines, Mercer Ellington and Benny Carter bands, among others, and recording dozens of albums. She died in 1994.

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

 

Quotable:

“Blues is to jazz what yeast is to bread — without it, it’s flat.”

— singer Carmen McRae, who was born on this day in 1920

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