May 4: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

May 4, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “MONTS, FRANCE (A.P.) — Edward, Duke of Windsor, was reunited in the moss-covered Chateau de Cande today with the woman for whom he renounced an empire, Wallis Warfield Simpson. Five months and one day of enforced loneliness for the former King Edward VIII and ‘the woman I love’ ended at 1:45 p.m. (8:45 a.m. Eastern daylight time), when the Duke, like a knight returning to his damsel fair, reached the ancient chateau. He came from St. Wolfgang, Austria, by train and by motor. His betrothed was free to marry him, and that was what was foremost in their hearts. He had not seen her since the dark night of Dec. 3 when she fled to France from the abdication crisis that changed crowns for a quarter of the world. Breathless and radiant, Wallis Simpson met her beloved on the doorstep of the rambling chateau.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle reported, “HOLLYWOOD (A.P.) — Friction and a flare of violence appeared as pickets paced before the gates of the walled film studios today. The friction was between the striking Federated Motion Picture Crafts and the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees, which previously had reached an agreement. Federation spokesmen said ‘camera squads’ would be posted at the studio gates to take pictures of members of the other American Federation of Labor affiliate passing the picket lines. Strikers telegraphed William Green, A.F. of L. president, protesting that the I.A.T.S.E. was attempting to sign them as members. Charles Lessing, Federated Crafts head, said he was asking the Los Angeles Central Labor Council to condemn it ‘as a company union, because of its anti-strike attitude.’ One of Hollywood’s most luxurious beauty salons, operated by the four Westmore brothers, who are makeup executives in four film companies, was splashed with two gallons of creosote last night by three vandals. Ernest Westmore estimated damage at $15,000. He told police he blamed ‘racketeers.’ A janitor, William Powell, said three men, armed with a pistol and a long knife, forced him to admit them. A woman attendant and a woman customer were threatened while the vandals scattered creosote over walls, pictures, hangings and carpets.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1941, the Eagle reported, “LOUISVILLE, KY., MAY 3 (U.P.) — Whirlaway, a picture-book horse with a streak of madness in his blood and a touch of greatness in his brown legs, turned the biggest and richest Kentucky Derby into the fastest one as well today with an eight-length triumph that stamped his name among the immortals of the turf. In exactly 1:21 2-5 seconds — the fastest time any thoroughbred has ever run the mile and a quarter strip in all the 67 years of America’s favorite race — the copper-colored colt from Calumet Farm wiped out the heartbreaks of a dozen previous disappointments with a performance that will linger as long as horses are bred. For Kentucky, the homecoming was one that the hard-boots will never forget. Beaten by 20 different horses, defeated at seven different racetracks and ridden by eight different jockeys before a rider who could hold his wild temper in check climbed on his bronze back today, Whirlaway won as only a champion can.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “Dozens of Brooklyn public schools are scheduled to be designated shortly as community fallout shelters under the state’s Civil Defense program. Engineering surveys are underway to determine how many of the buildings will have to be altered to fit CD needs. Those schools which fit the bill will be stocked with emergency and vital supplies probably after the summer. According to the plan, students and teaching staffs will have priority for use of these shelters in the event of a nuclear attack. PS 261, Pacific and Hoyt Sts., has been selected as the ‘model’ underground school shelter, with the state spending $180,000 to build a protective area under the playground to accommodate more than a thousand persons. However, Civil Defense officials are anticipating a barrage of protests against the plan.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include World Golf Hall of Famer Betsy Rawls, who was born in 1928; Jackson family matriarch Katherine Jackson, who was born in 1930; “Outbreak” author Robin Cook, who was born in Brooklyn in 1940; Pulitzer Prize-winning commentator George Will, who was born in 1941; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Jackie Jackson (Jackson 5), who was born in 1951; actress and singer Pia Zadora, who was born in 1954; Country Music Hall of Famer Randy Travis, who was born in 1959; “Saturday Night Live” star Ana Gasteyer, who was born in 1967; “Arrested Development” star Will Arnett, who was born in 1970; former “Dancing with the Stars” host Erin Andrews, who was born in 1978; NSYNC member Lance Bass, who was born in 1979; former Panic! at the Disco bassist Dallon Weekes, who was born in 1981; and four-time major golf champion Rory McIlroy, who was born in 1989.

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A CLASS ACT: Audrey Hepburn was born on this day in 1929. The stylish star won an Oscar for her first major film role, “Roman Holiday” (1953), and appeared in such classics as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Sabrina,” “My Fair Lady” and “Funny Face.” In later years, she was a spokesperson and fundraiser for the United Nations Children’s Fund. She died in 1993.

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A FORCE OF NATURE: Today is Star Wars Day, which is celebrated worldwide by fans of the sci-fi universe created by George Lucas. Fans greet each other by saying “May the 4th be with you,” have lightsaber fights and indulge in other activities connected with the blockbuster film series. Some celebrate May 5 as “Revenge of the Fifth” and May 6 as “Revenge of the Sixth.”

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

Quotable:

“The pursuit of perfection often impedes improvement.”

— political commentator George Will, who was born on this day in 1941