6 years ago today, I was at a baseball game. You know, when live sports were a thing. Here’s what else went on….’
122 years ago – In 1898, “Scientific American” became the First Magazine to Publish a Car Ad. Winton Motors urged readers to “Dispense with a Horse”.
64 years ago – In 1956 – “In God We Trust” became the official motto of the U.S. It appeared on our money for the first time a year later, on a $1 silver certificate.
55 years ago – In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Medicare bill, creating Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for the poor. The first two cards went to Harry Truman and his wife, because Truman was the first president to try to get a Medicare bill passed in Congress, way back in 1949.
54 years ago – In 1966, “Batman: The Movie“ made its world premiere . . . starring the One True Batman, Adam West.
It’s a campy classic that sets Batman and Robin against four of their archenemies: In addition to The Joker, they also went up against Catwoman, The Riddler and The Penguin.
Sadly, Batgirl was not included in this film. But it did include one of the greatest scenes EVER committed to film, which ends with Batman’s immortal lament: “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb.” (???)
45 years ago – In 1975, Jimmy Hoffa was last seen outside a restaurant near Detroit, Michigan. He was 62. He was officially declared a dead man by an Oakland County judge after 7 years and 131 days . . . but his body has never been found.
44 years ago – In 1976, Bruce Jenner won the Decathlon Gold Medal at the Montreal Olympics, with Caitlyn Jenner secretly cheering him on.
38 years ago – In 1982, “Night Shift” opened, starring Henry “Post-Fonz” Winkler and Michael “Pre-Batman” Keaton as two guys who turn the city morgue into a brothel with the help of Shelley “Pre-Diane Chambers” Long.
22 years ago – In 1998, “Buffalo Bob” Smith of “The Howdy Doody Show”, died of cancer in Hendersonville, North Carolina, at the age of 80.
21 years ago – In 1999, “The Blair Witch Project” was released.
19 years ago – In 2001, Marilyn Manson sexually assaulted an Ozzfest security guard by wrapping his legs around him and rubbing his genitalia on the poor guy’s head. The charge was later reduced to disorderly conduct.
18 years ago – In 2002, Bruce Springsteen released “The Rising”. It was his 12th album, written in direct response to the September 11th attacks.
17 years ago – In 2003, in Mexico, the very last “old style” Volkswagon Beetle was made.
16 years ago – In 2004, “Harold and Kumar [Went] to White Castle”.
and this song was at the top of the Rock charts…
