July 13: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

July 13, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1930, Brooklyn Daily Eagle columnist Eleanore L. Levenson said, “What is happening to the American family? This question has alarmed not only the Church but thoughtful social workers who see the possible disintegration of the home in the increasing number of divorces and the steady growth of desertion. Criminologists have stressed the ‘broken home’ as one of the major causes of crime, and organized charity in New York alone spends close to a million dollars annually in maintaining deserted families. We help pay for the various ‘homes’ for abandoned children, for industrial schools and reformatories, and even the jails into which so many of these children finally go. Through taxation or private contribution we must support the children left by an irresponsible or unfortunate father. ‘Why men leave home’ becomes a community problem that is not answered by lurid romances and whispered tales of the ‘other woman.’ Various studies have been made of family desertion … They have told us not only ‘why’ men leave home, but what should be done to awaken their sense of responsibility and keep them there. They have found that the growing disregard of family ties, the increasing ease of getting from place to place, the restlessness of American life, particularly in our large cities, and the increasing employment of women outside the home are the more general causes of desertion. Still this doesn’t explain why John leaves Mary. Why, for instance, doesn’t Mary leave John? Case studies have shown that the number of women who desert are negligible. Convention and tradition bind Mary to her home. Especially if there are John Jr. and Patsy, Mary is firmly anchored. It is difficult to take young children away with her, and it is still more difficult to leave them behind. Very few women will desert their children in order to gain their own freedom.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1930, the Eagle reported, “The advent of the talkie was followed by the most radical salary upheaval that ever hit Hollywood. This is a bad year for Hollywood players who are free-lancing. Such favorites as Harrison Ford, Kenneth Harlan, Jacqueline Logan [and] Ricardo Cortez had their earnings cut in half … There is a concerted campaign on the part of many of the big studios to release most of their players and cast them on the free-lance field. The object of this move is to bring about a general reduction in paychecks. Also, many of the players whom the studios have retained under contract for tryout purposes will have proven unsuccessful for talking picture work and will not long be in demand. The new ones signed up will have to sign at a considerably lower salary than formerly.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (A.P.) — Senator [Carl] Hatch (D., N.M.) said today that Paul V. McNutt should give up his new position as Federal Security Administrator if he wants to campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Hatch, author of a bill to ban political activity by Government employees, told reporters his measure would not prevent McNutt from campaigning because it does not apply to the President, cabinet members or policy-making Government officials. But he expressed the belief that if McNutt or any member of the cabinet steps out for the Presidential nomination, ‘he should disassociate himself from his official position.’ McNutt’s nomination to head the FSA was confirmed by the Senate late yesterday after a sharp political debate between Republicans and Democrats.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1948, the Eagle reported, “Port of New York Authority officials today were confident that international flights into and out of Idlewild Airport will increase to 78 by the end of this month. Following the beginning of Air France’s services at the field tomorrow, KLM, the Dutch line; Sabena for the Belgians and the Scandinavian Airlines System will begin to fly the Atlantic. The Peruvian International Airways already is flying to Havana and South America and the Argentine line FAMA soon will follow. Meanwhile, excavation work was begun yesterday on the first of the permanent buildings to be built there by the Port Authority. Ground was broken for the $4,500,000 home of the Federal agencies at the field. The authority also completed yesterday the marking of 72 miles of parkway and streets with new signs indicating routes to the airport.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1961, the Brooklyn Heights Press reported, “The Department of the Interior last week designated Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, 75 Hicks St., as a National Historic Landmark. It joins 254 other sites on the Department’s Registry, whose purpose is to encourage their preservation. Founded in 1847 by Henry Ward Beecher, Plymouth Church became a 19th Century sound system for his abolitionist views. Beecher auctioned slaves into freedom from the pulpit and in 1854 sent rifles in a box marked ‘Bibles’ to anti-slavery men fighting in ‘Bleeding Kansas.’ Future arms supplied to free-soilers came to be known as ‘Beecher’s Bibles.’”

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Harrison Ford
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Jeopardy!” announcer Johnny Gilbert, who was born in 1928; “Picard” star Patrick Stewart, who was born in 1940; “Raiders of the Lost Ark” star Harrison Ford, who was born in 1942; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), who was born in 1942; game designer Erno Rubik, who was born in 1944; “Grease” star Didi Conn, who was born in Brooklyn in 1951; Olympic gold medalist and former light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks, who was born in 1956; Oscar-winning filmmaker Cameron Crowe, who was born in 1957; “Community” star Ken Jeong, who was born in 1969; “Jericho” star Ashley Scott, who was born in 1977; “The Vampire Diaries” star Steven R. McQueen, who was born in 1988; and 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger, who was born in 1995.

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A SONG IN THEIR HEARTS: “Live Aid” took place on this day in 1985. The concerts in Philadelphia and London were seen by 162,000 attendees and an estimated 1.5 billion TV viewers. Performers included Queen, U2, Madonna, Eric Clapton and a reunited Led Zeppelin, among many others. The event was organized to raise funds for African famine relief and the musicians performed without a fee. Nearly $100 million was pledged toward aid to the hungry.

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KICKSTARTER: The first World Cup soccer competition was held in Montevideo, Uruguay on this day in 1930, with 14 countries participating. On July 30, Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 to take the cup.

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

Quotable:

“You know you’re getting old when all the names in your black book have M.D. after them.”

— actor Harrison Ford, who was born on this day in 1942