August 22: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

August 22, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1911, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “‘La Jaconde,’ the masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci, has disappeared from the Salon Carre of the Louvre, where it occupied the place of honor. The great museum has been searched from cellars to attics in vain … Just a year and a month ago, the Cri de Paris announced that ‘La Jaconde’ had been stolen from the gallery of the Louvre one night in June through the complicity of an official of the museum and that a copy had been substituted in the frame for the original, which, the paper asserted, had been taken to New York and sold to an American collector. This report was repeatedly denied later.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1915, the Eagle reported, “CHICAGO, AUGUST 21 — Two of the three White Sox players who will join the Cleveland Club of the American League as part payment for Joe Jackson, the outfielder, were announced by Secretary Blackwood of the Cleveland Club today. The men chosen are Bobby Roth, utility outfielder, and Ed Klepfer, a pitcher. The third player has not been announced, but it is understood to be Thomas Daly, a catcher. Jackson was purchased from the Cleveland Club late yesterday by President Comiskey for a reported price of $15,000 and three players. He reported to Manager Rowland today.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1938, the Eagle reported, “A group program, comprising the five pictures which won Walt Disney the motion picture awards for five years in succession, has been chosen by the First International Film Festival to represent the creator of ‘Mickey Mouse’ and ‘Snow White’ in the bill in his honor at the 5th Ave. Playhouse today. The pictures and the years in which they won the award are: ‘Flowers and Trees,’ 1932; ‘Three Little Pigs,’ 1933; ‘The Tortoise and the Hare,’ 1934; ‘The Three Orphan Kittens,’ 1935, and ‘The Country Cousin,’ 1936.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1944, the Eagle reported, “SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, A.E.F. (UP) — American tank troops swept down the Seine River for the Channel ports today in a great new offensive that closed to a bare 60 miles the last escape corridor for the fleeing German 7th Army in Normandy, while other Yank columns were reported halfway around Paris in a lightning thrust to the River Marne. A huge noose was tightening swiftly around tens of thousands of battle-wearied Nazis caught south of the Seine as the Americans lashed out for the Channel and veteran Canadian troops drove eastward along the Norman coast to within 12 miles of the Seine estuary. Between the two converging armies the remnants of the German army were in headlong flight toward the handful of temporary pontoon bridges thrown across the Seine … At the same time, other American units were across the river in force at Mantes and Vernon, 13 miles to the north, and fanning out downstream toward the channel coast and upriver toward Paris … Meanwhile, the battle of Paris appeared to be nearing a showdown as American armor pressed in on the city from three sides against slightly stiffening enemy resistance.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1947, the Eagle reported, “Walter Lantz is now engaged in full-scale production of an entire year’s supply of cartoons for release through United Artists, according to word received from Hollywood. The producer has 12 completed stories in work, six of which are currently in production. Filmed in Technicolor, the Lantz Cartunes will be delivered at the rate of one each month, starting around the middle of September. Lantz’ program consists of five Woody Woodpecker cartoons, four Musical Miniatures and three Andy Panda cartoons. In the Woody Woodpecker group are ‘Mad Hatter,’ ‘Woody and the Beanstalk,’ ‘Wacky Bye Baby,’ ‘Wet Blanket Policy’ and ‘Wild and Woody.’ The Andy Panda group includes ‘Banquet Busters,’ ‘Playful Pelicans’ and ‘Dog Tax Dodgers.’ The four Musical Miniatures are ‘Pixie Picnic,’ ‘Kiddy Koncert,’ ‘Tin Can Concert’ and ‘Scrappy Birthday.’ Four new Lantz Cartune characters will make their screen appearances in this initial series. Andy Panda’s sweetheart, Miranda Panda, will be introduced, as will be Dizzy, a goofy dog; Buck Beaver, a fast-talking salesman, and Buck Buzzard, a menacing heavy.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Annie Proulx, who was born in 1935; Baseball Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, who was born in 1939; Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Parcells, who was born in 1941; “The Sopranos” creator David Chase, who was born in 1945; Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, who was born in 1956; Living Colour founder Vernon Reid, who was born in 1958; Tears for Fears co-founder Roland Orzabal, who was born in 1961; “Crucify” singer Tori Amos, who was born in 1963; Wu-Tang Clan co-founder GZA, who was born in Brooklyn in 1966; “Modern Family” star Ty Burrell, who was born in 1967; National Review editor-in-chief Rich Lowry, who was born in 1968; chef and TV personality Giada De Laurentiis, who was born in 1970; former “Saturday Night Live” star Kristen Wiig, who was born in 1973; and “Don’t Start Now” singer Dua Lipa, who was born in 1995.

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WIT AND WISDOM: Dorothy Parker was born on this day in 1893. The acclaimed poet, critic and author was known as “the wittiest woman in America.” Parker wrote for Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and other top periodicals, and was one of the founders of the elite literary group the Algonquin Round Table. Strong but subtle critiques of sexism were prevailing themes in her works, along with critiques of other forms of social inequality. She died in 1967.

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FACE THE FUTURE: Ray Bradbury was born on this day in 1920. The Illinois native was one of the preeminent science fiction/fantasy writers of the 20th century. His body of work, which critiqued social mores and depicted the consequences of unfettered technology, is considered timeless and transcends generations. Notable works include “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” “The Body Electric” and “Fahrenheit 451.” He died in 2012.

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

Quotable:

“You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.”

— writer Ray Bradbury, who was born on this day in 1920