Well we're off to a relatively mundane start today. First on our birthday list is William Pitt, former prime minister of the UK. Also known as "the guy Pittsburgh was named after", or Pitt the Elder. He was always popular in America, since he leaned towards the American view of the disputes with Britain. Interesting character. You should read more about him.
Also born on this date was Jérome Bonaparte, King of Westphalia. Wonder how he got that throne... Couldn't be from Big Bro Napoleon, now could it?
Felix Frankfurter was born on this date in 1882. He became a US Supreme Court Justice, despite his well-deserved reputation as a hot dog.
Also born in 1891 was Erwin Rommel. As I've suggested before, probably in other venues, he was somewhat over-rated as a commander. Not that he wasn't very good, but he never functioned as a "Field Marshal" until the time of the Normandy battles, which he lost. His peers in Germany weren't overly fond of him, because he got some of his rank from being the commander of Hitler's bodyguard. And he never fought on the Russian front, so they care little about him, compared to guys like Guderian, Manstein, Kleist, and von Runstedt. As for the US and Britain, well it makes our side look better if we beat the most brilliant general in the entire war, rather than some guy who was pretty good but not great. I'm just sayin'.
Annunzio Paolo Mantovani was born in 1905. He was a conductor, but not of "serious" music. On the other hand, he sold millions of albums in his career, so I suspect that if a more "important" conductor made fun of him, he'd just whip out his bank statement, and tell the guy to suck it. That's what I would have done, and since I'm also Italian, I think my opinion is the correct one.
In 1919, along came a paragon of legal virtue- one of the finest legal minds in history, according to Doug Llewelyn and Rusty Burrell. Of course, I'm quoting from memory, so maybe they didn't actually say that. But they no doubt thought it of Judge Joseph Wapner! His was the first tv show to use the format of a fake courtroom with morons arguing about who's stupider. So if you think Judge Judy Brown (I'm combining because I'm annoyed at myself for spending this much time on this topic) is asinine, well thank Wapner. Maybe you should take him to court. The people's court. Arrrghhhh!
Any CBers out there? Well just think how great it was to have a few moments of respect and fame in the 70s. And thank C.W. McCall for that, on the occasion of his birthday. And if you give him roses, he'll probably shove them down your throat. It's no doubt been done to death, and if I were him (and since "C.W. McCall" is not his real name, maybe I am) I'd be tired of it. It's not original anymore. Do you think you're the first one to think of that? God you're an idiot!
Also Ed Asner was born today. He's probably just as crusty and kind-hearted as he was 40 years ago, when he already seemed like he was 60 years old, despite not even being 40. Go figure.
Don't sing "happy birthday" to Petula Clark while in the subway, darling. And don't stand in the pouring rain either. Just a bit of friendly advice.
Anni-Frid Lyngstad has a birthday today. You know her as Frida, from ABBA. Interesting story she has- her father was a (married) German soldier stationed in Norway during the War. When he was evacuated, he left behind a pregnant girlfriend. She was taken to Sweden as a young child, because let's face it- a woman who had a child by a German soldier was not particularly well-liked anywhere in Europe after the War. By the way, don't call her Frida anymore: She's now named "Her Serene Highness Princess Anni-Frid Synni Reuss of Plauen", as of about 20 years ago.
Jack Ingram was born in 1970. I've only heard of him thanks to the incomparable "Texas Renegade Radio" on KNON in Dallas. I made a donation there once, and got a CD called "Unleashed Live", which had him on it, along with the Robison Brothers.
And on that, note, another episode ends. Hope you enjoyed it.
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