December 19: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

December 19, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1915, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 18 — In a bower of rare and graceful ferns and orchids, in the presence of the closest relatives and the dearest friends, President Woodrow Wilson was married at 8:30 o’clock this evening to Mrs. Edith Bolling Galt. The President and Mrs. Wilson left Washington shortly after 10 o’clock to spend their honeymoon at Hot Springs, Va. They motored from the Galt residence to Alexandria, Va., across the Potomac, to take their private car there and avoid a crowd at the railroad station in this city. The private car was attached to a special train leaving here 11:10 o’clock, due to arrive in Hot Springs at 8:15 in the morning. The ruse by which the wedding party got away to Alexandria was complete. When the White House automobile pulled away from Mrs. Wilson’s house, lines of police blocked pursuit in all the adjoining streets. At the Union station the Presidential entrance was fully lighted and lines of police were spread all about. Those who were attracted to the railroad station by the show of preparation were disappointed, while the President and Mrs. Wilson were speeding to the station across the river ten miles away. At Hot Springs, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson will live at the Homestead Hotel until after New Year’s Day, unless some development should necessitate the President’s earlier return to the capitol.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1923, the Eagle reported, “Cecil B. DeMille and a large family and studio party from Los Angeles arrived here yesterday on the 20th Century for the purpose of attending the producer’s first New York presentation of ‘The Ten Commandments’ at the Cohan Theater on Friday evening. They are staying at the Hotel Ambassador.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle reported, “The Red Sox think they have another Joe DiMaggio in Ted Williams, the 19-year-old outfielder they’re going to take a look at in Florida this Spring. The boy hit only .292 last year at San Diego, but he is supposed to be one of those natural athletes who can’t miss with a little experience. Eddie Collins saw him in 1936 out there and started negotiating immediately. Boston gave up Dominic Dallesandro, an expensive rookie himself, and Al Niemic for Williams, as well as cash.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1947, the Eagle reported, “The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures has selected Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Monsieur Verdoux’ as the year’s best film ‘on the basis of artistic merit and importance.’ Others selected, in the order of preference, were: ‘Great Expectations,’ ‘Shoeshine,’ ‘Crossfire,’ ‘Boomerang,’ ‘Odd Man Out,’ ‘Gentleman’s Agreement,’ ‘To Live in Peace,’ ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘The Overlanders.’ … Another list of 10 best films ‘on the basis of entertainment’ follows in the order of preference: ‘Great Expectations,’ ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ ‘Gentleman’s Agreement,’ ‘Life With Father,’ ‘Crossfire,’ ‘Boomerang,’ ‘The Yearling,’ ‘I Know Where I’m Going,’ ‘Kiss of Death’ and ‘The Late George Apley.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1948, the Eagle reported, “Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, founder and president of the Free Milk Fund for Babies, announces the Junior committee for the charity’s 22nd anniversary opera benefit, a ‘Verdi Festival,’ to be given at the Metropolitan on Tuesday evening, Jan. 11. Under the chairmanship of Miss Jacqueline Bouvier, the committee membership will include the Misses Cynthia Schwartz, Betsy Newbold, Nancy Tuckerman, Mimi Foss, Anne Sheffield, Laura Leonard, Ellen Gates, Edith Powell, Anne Powell and Melissa Weston. Miss Bouvier was chairman of the debutante committee for last season’s Free Milk Fund opera benefit, and the Misses Mimi Foss, Nancy Tuckerman, Laura Leonard and Edith Powell, who were members of that committee, are again cooperating with the fund to help make its benefit a success.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1950, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — President Truman said today that American troops will be sent to Europe to join the anti-Communist defense forces under Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower just as soon as it is possible to get them ready. Mr. Truman appointed General Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander of the European defense forces at the request of the North Atlantic Pact Council meeting in Brussels. The President conferred by telephone with Eisenhower, who was in the Middle West. Mr. Truman told reporters Eisenhower will come to Washington for a conference with him, then report to his European post as soon as possible. The Chief Executive, in response to news conference questioning, said he would designate additional American forces to be part of the European army. He would not hazard a guess as to the time of this action, but said the troops would be sent to Europe just as soon as it is possible to get them ready.”

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Jennifer Beals
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Jake Gyllenhaal
Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “WKRP in Cincinnati” star Tim Reid, who was born in 1944; swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Claudia Kolb, who was born in 1949; Basketball Hall of Famer Kevin McHale, who was born in 1957; “Flashdance” star Jennifer Beals, who was born in 1963; Pro Football Hall of Famer Randall McDaniel, who was born in 1964; magician Criss Angel, who was born in 1967; model and actor Tyson Beckford, who was born in 1970; “Charmed” star Alyssa Milano, who was born in Brooklyn in 1972; Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp, who was born in 1972; former N.Y Giants wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, who was born in 1974; “Brokeback Mountain” star Jake Gyllenhaal, who was born in 1980; “The Practice” star Marla Sokoloff, who was born in 1980; former N.Y. Yankees pitcher Ian Kennedy, who was born in 1984; journalist Ronan Farrow, who was born in 1987; and chess grandmaster Nicolas Checa, who was born in 2001.