Capitol Hill Blue Forums Hot Topics & Breaking News The RoundTable Round Table for the week of 12/26/10 to 1/1/11

December 26th

1939 - W.C. Handy of Memphis, TN one of the legendary blues composers of all time, recorded the classic "St. Louis Blues."



1947 - A monster snowstorm hit New York City, dumping up to 26 inches of snow on the Big Apple. It became the worst snowstorm in the city’s history, surpassing the 22 inch snowfall total from the Blizzard of 1888.



December 27th

1845 - Dr. Crawford Williamson Long used anesthesia for childbirth for the first time, when he delivered his own child in Jefferson, Georgia.

1947 - “Hey kids... What time is it? It’s Howdy Doody time!” Buffalo Bob (Smith), Clarabelle the Clown (Bob Keeshan), Judy Canova and a host of others joined "Howdy Doody" on NBC-TV. The show stayed on the air for 13 years.



December 28th

1869 - William Finley Semple of Mt. Vernon, Ohio patented “the combination of rubber with other articles adapted to the formation of an acceptable chewing gum.”

1956 - After five years on television, the last "Ding Dong School" was seen on NBC-TV. Miss Frances (Dr. Frances Horwich) rang the bell for one last time this day.



December 29th

1848 - President James Polk turned on the first gas light at the White House.

1957 - Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme were married. They became popular singers on the "The Tonight Show" with Steve Allen, and as Las Vegas showroom regulars and recording artists. They are still together in one of Hollywood’s most enduring marriages.



December 30th

1961 - Jack Nicklaus lost to Gary Player in an exhibition match in Miami, FL. It was Nicklaus’ first attempt at pro golf. The following year he entered the pro tour, winning $61,868.95, more than any other golf rookie in history.

1969 - Peter, Paul and Mary received a gold record for the single, "Leaving On a Jet Plane". The song had hit #1 on December 20.



December 31st

1879 - Thomas Edison delighted an audience in Menlo Park, New Jersey. He gave his first public demonstration of incandescent lighting with the words, “Now it’s on. Now it’s off.”

1929 - Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played "Auld Lang Syne" as a New Year’s Eve song for the first time.




1967 - Playing in a wind chill of 40 degrees below zero, the Green Bay Packers won the National Football League championship game by defeating Tom Landry’s Dallas Cowboys, 21-17. The game, played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin was called the Ice Bowl. During the game, the whistles of the referees actually froze to their lips.



January 1st

1751 - The world’s most celebrated holiday, New Year’s Day, has been observed on this day in most English-speaking countries since 1751 when the British calendar act was passed. Before that, it was on March 25, to coincide, approximately, with the beginning of spring.

1764 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart played for the Royal Family at Versailles in France. He was eight years old.

1890 - The very first Tournament of Roses Parade was staged in Pasadena, California. Horse-drawn carriages decorated in flowers made up the parade.



1892 - Ellis Island opened this day to begin the processing of what would amount to more than 20 million immigrants to the United States. Ellis Island is now a museum.

1898 - The five boroughs of New York became the city of New York this day. It was called ‘the consolidation’ and the five boroughs were fused into a single city.

A lovely opener Naomi! Full of rich textures and colors, music and memories. Perfect to ring in the new year!

And there's a hand my trusty fiere, And gie's a hand o thine, And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught, For auld lang syne

Rabbie Burns, at his best:>

AN~What a lovely opening to start off the New Year! Going to Disneyland today with some old high school friends. I am having a wonderful holiday!

Thank you, Phil.
That felt nice.

New Years resolution....try to come back around more.
Even though it's snowing (3 or 4 inches so far and still more? what?) I've feel a lift in my spirits looking forward to the spring.

Lovely, Naomi. I love the music.

Geez, Naomi, a great opening but this one might have gotten more notice:

To the best of my knowledge, it also was the first and only time a man actually gave birth!!! And yes, any man who delivered his own baby would have to be under a very strong anesthetic!

WARNING! WARNING! Danger, Will Robinson!!!

The brand of champagne pictured above will cause severe intestinal distress from January 3, 2011 forward.

Severe nausea and constipation will be frequent occurrences during the next two years.

edited to fix date type error

Oh, wow! Ding Dong School! I had two pictures that made it onto the show; my sister who majored in art got zero!!

When one gets bored this winter--I say head to Maui and do a little surfing:

For those who may care, I am taking a break from RR. It just isn't fun anymore and I have better things to do with my time than butt heads with one or two people here.

If anyone wants to reach me, try me on FaceBook or at philiphoskins@sbcglobal.net.

Thanks and carry on.

Ken, that's not "a little surfing".

This is a "little" surfing.