July 15: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

July 15, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1842, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “A large number of deaths have recently occurred, in various parts of the country, from the effects of lightning. How strange it is, when these appalling calamities may be so readily averted, by means of lightning rods, that more attempts are not made to do it. We saw it stated in a New York paper lately, that a person in that city could furnish suitable rods for less than a dollar each; and that the entire cost, erecting and all, would be within $5. These facts are worth looking into.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1913, the Eagle reported, “Two of the brown-uniformed special policemen of the Long Island Railroad Company and some of the plainclothes men attached to the police service of the line have been recently investigating reports of rowdyism in the Flatbush avenue railroad depot. In order to protect the patrons of the road, and especially women, there are two uniformed men on duty in the station day and night, and the plainclothes men circulate around at hours when there is supposed to be special need for them. The railroad authorities have had to grapple with new conditions at the Flatbush avenue station of late. On several occasions women, waiting for trains, particularly at night, have been insulted by loafers who drift in from the street and from the nearby terminus of the subway.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1917, the Eagle reported, “GILGO BEACH, L.I., JULY 14 — Evidence of the attractions of this ocean and bay resort, just across the Great South Bay from Amityville, is seen in the presence this year of many persons who have spent every summer here since this part of the beach became a summer resort. The number of week-end boating parties who come to the hotel for a shore dinner is greater than in any previous season. Nearly every cottage is now occupied and many of those which are offered for rent have been taken until late in the season. One thing that draws an increasing number of vacationists here is that the visitor has his choice of safe, still water bathing in the Great South Bay or safe surf bathing on one of the finest beaches on the South Shore of Long Island. The beach slopes gently, there is a good surf and there has not been a serious accident to a bather this season.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle reported, “Installed cost of equipment sold by members of the Air Conditioning Manufacturers Association in the first five months of 1937 amounted to $50,131,360, against $49,942,301 in all of last year, according to William B. Henderson, executive vice president. The May total was $8,820,059, an increase of 43 1-5 percent over [May] 1936. While this shows a seasonal decrease from the April total of $9,663,009, it represents record new totals of small units being installed, Mr. Henderson said.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Eagle reported, “All was not well in the realm of make-believe today, with Sophie Tucker fighting to save her charterless American Federation of Actors in the face of opposition from a newly chartered American Guild of Variety Artists, headed by Eddie Cantor. The charter of the A.F.A. was revoked last night by its parent American Federation of Labor union, the Associated Actors and Artists of America, on charges of misuse of relief funds and general mismanagement of its affairs. Speedily following up that action, the A.A.A.A. granted a charter to the Cantor union, formed to take over the A.F.A.’s jurisdiction of vaudeville theaters, night clubs, circuses and carnivals, and Miss Tucker threatened court action.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, “SEOUL, JULY 16 (U.P.) — United Nations and Communist negotiators hold a ‘showdown’ meeting on the Korean truce today, with the UN ready to walk out on the Reds a second time if they continue to stall. The issue will be whether the Reds finally are ready to accept UN assertions that South Korean President Syngman Rhee has pledged to ‘collaborate’ on an armistice. The Reds have accused Mr. Rhee of an ‘arrogant stand’ in opposition to a truce, but have been challenged by the UN to go ahead and sign a truce, and then ‘see who makes the first violation.’ Today’s meeting starts at 11 a.m. (10 p.m. Wednesday, Brooklyn time). It was scheduled despite a Peiping radio charge that the Americans had walked out on Red negotiators yesterday. From the tone of both sides, it was obvious conditions were deteriorating rapidly around the Panmunjom truce table.”

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Lana Parrilla
John Salangsang/Invision/AP

Forest Whitaker
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Linda Ronstadt, who was born in 1946; Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Russo, who was born in 1949; Huffington Post co-founder Arianna Huffington, who was born in 1950; former wrestler and Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, who was born in 1951; “Lost” star Terry O’Quinn, who was born in 1952; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Marky Ramone (The Ramones), who was born in Brooklyn in 1952; “I Love the Nightlife” singer Alicia Bridges, who was born in 1953; guitar legend Joe Satriani, who was born in 1956; model and actress Kim Alexis, who was born in 1960; Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker, who was born in 1961; “Malcolm & Eddie” star Eddie Griffin, who was born in 1968; “Beverly Hills 90210” star Brian Austin Green, who was born in 1973; “Once Upon a Time” star Lana Parrilla, who was born in Brooklyn in 1977; and “Young Sheldon” star Iain Armitage, who was born in 2008.

Brian Austin Green
Christopher Smith/Invision/AP

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EXPRESS DELIVERY: Nolan Ryan pitched his second no-hitter of the season on this day in 1973. The California Angels righthander no-hit the Detroit Tigers two months to the day after he blanked the Kansas City Royals. Nicknamed “The Ryan Express,” he pitched seven no-hitters in his 27-year career, the seventh in 1991 at age 44. He retired after the 1993 season and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999.

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BUILDING SUSPENSE: “Die Hard” premiered on this day in 1988. The action film stars Bruce Willis as NYPD Det. John McClane, who must stop the terrorist takeover of a Los Angeles office building and rescue a group of hostages that includes his estranged wife. Co-stars include Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia and Reginald Veljohnson. The film was a big hit, launching Willis’ movie career and leading to four sequels.

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

Quotable:

“A painting is finished when the artist says it is finished.”

— Dutch painter Rembrandt, who was born on this day in 1606