1896: Puccini’s La bohème debut in Italy

"La Boheme" made its debut on this day in 1896.

And we've been watching the story and listening to the music ever since.

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The World's Fair, The Beatles, The Ford Mustang and a few stories of 1964

Our family landed in Miami on September 4, 1964, or my brother’s birthday.  I guess that we had double reasons to celebrate that day.  

A week later,  we found our way to Wisconsin where a church was kindly sponsoring our family.  We reunited with my Uncle and his family up there.

All of us learned a lot about the US that year:

The Beatles and lots of other rock groups, were on The Ed Sullivan Show.  It seem like every Sunday there was a new band, from The Beatles to The Dave Clark Five to the Animals and more.  Like most kids back then, my brother and I got our music from AM radio and then saw the groups on that memorable show; 

The Ford Mustang was introduced.  I remember going with my father to a Ford dealer and admiring this wonderful new car;

We watched our first World Series on TV. The Cardinals beat the Yankees in what would be Mickey Mantle’s last post-season game.   He won game 3 with a HR and then hit his last (# 18) World Series HR in game 7.

and perphaps the biggest event of 1964: The New York World’s Fair.

It was a showcase for companies and future technology, such as a touch tone phone!

One big change is that we were a manufacturing nation in 1964. We made cars, telephones, TV’s and lots of other things.   It would have been inconceivable back then to go to the store and find nothing made in the USA.   No one would have believed that it’d be the exact opposite 50 something years later.

We don’t do that anymore and that is something to think about, specially after this pandemic that came from China.

You can hear my 1964 World Fair chat with our friend Frank Burke.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Listen to "We remember 1964 New York World's Fair with Frank Burke, author" on Spreaker.

The Texas report with George Rodriguez, South Texas conservative.

Guest: George Rodriguez, South Texas conservative.   Talarico vs Crockett primary and polls.  South Texas primaries.  ICE and sanctuary cities.    And other stories.....

Claudia says ‘adios’ to Cuba

 

So the oil deliveries are out and President Sheinbaum looks confused and weak.  She has always loved the Cuban regime, but now must choose between her late bearded hero Fidel or trade with the U.S.

Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/01/claudia_says_adios_to_cuba.html

1865: The House passed the 13th Amendment

On this day in 1865, the US House passed the 13th Amendment.  It was sent to the states for ratification and approved in November.  

President Lincoln just gets better with age. He was the right man at the most critical moment in US history.    A few years ago, a great movie came out about his efforts to pass the 13th amendment that abolished slavery.   

It was a great movie!

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Happy # 79 Nolan Ryan

We remember the great Nolan Ryan who was born on this day in 1947 in Refugio, Texas.    

His numbers are unbelievable:   324 wins, 3.19 ERA, 5,714 K and 7 no-hitters.     

Ryan was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999.

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We remember Jackie Robinson (1919-72)

We remember Jackie Robinson, who was born in Cairo, Georgia, on this day in 1919.     He died October 24, 1972.

Robinson was one of the biggest sports stories of the 20th century, as we see in this biography from his Hall of Fame page:   

At the end of his first season, Robinson was named the Rookie of the Year. He was named the NL MVP just two years later in 1949, when he led the league in hitting with a .342 average and steals with 37, while also notching a career-high 124 RBI. The Dodgers won six pennants in Robinson’s 10 seasons, but his contributions clearly extended far beyond the field.

He retired with a .311 career batting average plus 137 HR & 734 RBI in 1,382 games.

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A word about Ernie Banks (1931-2015)

The great Ernie Banks was born in Dallas, Texas, on this day in 1931.     He died in 2014.

My guess is that most people don't know much about his younger days in Dallas, Texas.

Over the years, I've seen some great players in person and TV.  Sadly, I never got to see Ernie Banks in person but do recall hearing #500 on WGN radio.  

Banks was a great player. Better than that, he was a great human being.  

We will miss Ernie Banks for a long time.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

World War II: The great military leaders with Barry Jacobsen

CLICK TO LISTEN:

Guest:

Barry Jacobsen, military historian and blogger.......we will remember the Allied and Axis commanders: Ike, MacArthur, Nimitz, Monty, Zukov; and on the Axis side, Von Manstein, Guderian, Rommel, Kesselring, Adm. Yamamoto, General Yamashita.......

and other stories of the war...........

Listen to "World War II: The great military leaders with Barry Jacobsen" on Spreaker.

A chat with Frank Burke, businessman and author......

Guest:  ......Frank Burke, businessman and author.......We will review the situation in Minneapolis and exchange some notes about the winter storm.