November 27: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

November 27, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1918, a Brooklyn Daily Eagle editorial said, “Washington society knew little of Grover Cleveland, and he knew little of Washington society, when he became President in 1885. Miss Rose Elizabeth Cleveland, his sister, whose death is today reported as having occurred in Italy, became mistress of the White House. She compelled attention, and respectful attention, though Eugene Field found much of humor that tickled Chicago in her imagined emotions when she was supplanted by the President’s young bride in June, 1886. Miss Cleveland, who was perhaps more scholarly than any of her graceful predecessors in the Executive Mansion, had herself much to learn, but dignity and force of character were a safe reliance. She had been a schoolteacher, a lecturer on medieval history at the Elmira Female College; perhaps she was rather more interested in books than in people. She edited Literary Life in Chicago after her Washington experience, then taught for a series of years in New York City. She published a critical work on George Eliot and one novel, ‘The Long Run.’ In Italy since the war began she had become deeply interested in war hospitals. Always she took seriously her obligations as an American woman. Miss Rose Elizabeth Cleveland has a place, a worthy place, if not a great one, in American history. She was as true to type as her brother, who came to be trusted as a protagonist of common sense by the masses all over the United States.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “HOLLYWOOD (U.P.) — Genuine gold Oscars will be presented winners of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards for 1945 instead of the war-time plastic substitutes, Academy president Jean Hersholt announced today.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, “PARIS, NOV. 24 (U.P.) — A ‘battle of the ballets’ has been touched off by the millionaire who bought ‘the bank’ at Monte Carlo. Aristotle Socrates Onassis, 47-year-old Greek-born Argentine shipping titan who purchased control of tiny Monaco’s Society Des Bains de Mer and direction of the principality’s Casino, has plunged into culture in his grand manner and ordered that the world’s best dancers be hired. Sol Hurok, American impresario, is doing this work for Onassis. He seeks to revive the fame of ballet that brought thousands to Monte Carlo when toes twinkled under the peerless Serge Diaghilev years ago. Onassis claims that the Chilean-born Marquis George de Cuevas ran away with Monte Carlo’s troupe. So, being the possessor of a fortune estimated at $300,000,000, he decided to buy a better one. De Cuevas responded by announcing he is improving his own ballet troupe. De Cuevas joined the Monte Carlo company in 1947. He took control and, in 1950, dropped ‘Monte Carlo’ from the company’s title. ‘You just can’t build ballets with mere money,’ a spokesman for the Marquis snapped. ‘Inspiration is what you need.’ He announced de Cuevas is planning his biggest season in years, including a revival of ‘La Sylphide’ to be staged by Harold Lander, a Dane. It has been reported that Hurok, manager of Nora Kovach and Istvan Rabovsky, might build Onassis’ troupe around these two, who stepped from behind the Iron Curtain in Berlin and chose ‘freedom to dance’ in the West.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — Red China had stern warning today that continued ‘outrages’ against American citizens who fall into Chinese Communist hands can strain U.S. patience to the breaking point. Officials said this was the plain meaning of a blistering note delivered to Red China yesterday demanding the release of 13 Americans imprisoned on ‘trumped-up’ spy charges. In a move to get world public opinion behind its demand, the U.S. also asked the United Nations to circulate copies of the note to the 60 member countries of the world organization. The note, delivered to the Chinese through British channels, did not say what might happen if China persisted in its mistreatment of U.S. citizens. Its delivery came one day after President Eisenhower promised families of the 13 imprisoned Americans that ‘your Government is using every feasible means’ to obtain their freedom.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “PHILADELPHIA — Two tackles from Brooklyn, Navy’s John I. Hopkins (Erasmus Hall) and Army’s Ron Melnik (Brooklyn Tech), provide the local touch in the 55th Army-Navy football game today for the 100,000-plus spectators — minus President Eisenhower — in Municipal Stadium. Veteran observers, after viewing the tremendous striking force of both elevens, No. 1 and No. 2 ground gainers in the nation, the superb state of health of both squads and the odds which make Army (the best ground gainer) only an infinitesimal favorite, are ready for anything. Even a 0-0 standoff will be no shock.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, who was born in 1951; former Space Shuttle commander Jim Wetherbee, who was born in 1952; “Revenge of the Nerds” star Curtis Armstrong, who was born in 1953; TV personality Bill Nye, who was born in 1955; “Prison Break” star William Fichtner, who was born in 1956; author and diplomat Caroline Kennedy, who was born in 1957; former baseball player and manager Mike Scioscia, who was born in 1958; Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, who was born in 1962; “Early Edition” star Fisher Stevens, who was born in 1963; “Head of the Class” star Robin Givens, who was born in 1964; “Alias” star Michael Vartan, who was born in 1968; Baseball Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez, who was born in 1971; “Tug of Words” host Samantha Harris, who was born in 1973; and “Family Matters” star Jaleel White, who was born in 1976.