Mike Hirsh

1962-OTD the 13day Cuban Missile Crisis came 2 a peaceful conclusion when Nikita Khrushchev of the USSR agrees 2 withdraw the missiles & bases he was building in Cuba.Secretly, JFK agreed 2 withdraw missles from Turkey.We were on the brink,but we stood up 2 Russia.If only we could repeat this today🙏

1955-Rebel Without A Cause starring James Dean,Natalie Wood,Sal Mineo, Ed Platt, &Jim Backus,was released.It made Dean,Natalie & Sal teen idols.It expressed the teen restlessness & angst with 1950’s nuclear age suburban life.i saw it in the 60’s & just marveled at how James stole every scene. 🎥👏🏻❤️

1984-John Cameron’s prescient and provocative thriller #Terminator was released. Featuring #ArnoldSchwartzenegger it predicted the rise of autonomous computers and their desire to destroy human civilization. Think of today’s AI controversy on steroids. It was a WOW of a movie!🎥🙏❤️

1854-OTD inthe Crimean War the British Light Cavalry Brigade made its mistaken charge into a Russian artillery battery resulting in over 50% casualties.The event was immortalized in a poem by British Poet Laureate, Alfred Lord Tennyson.War is Hell!😞

Happy 79th bday to the incredibly versatile #KevinKline of St Louis, MO. He has played heroes, scoundrels, comic roles all flawlessly. My personal favorites were the Big Chill, Silverado and Dave. In any film in which he appears, he makes it better. 🎥📺👏🏻🙏❤️

Remembering the 1925 bday of the greatest talk show host in history,Johnny Carson.His monologues,comedy skits,hosting skills were unmatched.The Tonight Show was a launching pad 4 stars,including Bette Midler who sang Johnny off 2 retirement on his last show in 1992📺👏🏻 www.facebook.com/DivineBette1...

Remembering the 1903 bdayof Jerome “Curly” Howard,the youngest of the Howard Bros (MOE & Shemp) who was arguably the funniest of the 3 Stooges.Yes they were slap happy & many didn’t let their kids watch,but-this child of non-English speaking Holocaust survivors looked at Curly as a friend.NyukNyuk🎭😂

1854-Senior Nurse Florence Nightingale takes 38 other nurses to tend to British casualties in the Crimean War. She developed nursing protocols and provided comfort to the wounded. Her nighttime rounds were illuminated by a small kerosene lamp. She got the nickname of “The Lady with the Lamp”. 👏🏻🙏🇬🇧

1955-Harry Bellafonte begins the Calypso music craze with the release of his Banana Boat song (Day-O). It received new life in the Beetlejuice movies. Mr. Bellafonte became an actor/activist/writer in his distinguished career. Song is still a fun listen. 🎶👏🏻🙏❤️ music.apple.com/us/album/ban...

1781-British General Lord Cornwallis surrenders 2 George Washington & French General Rochambeau after losing the battle at the Yorktown Peninsula in Virginia.This essentially ended the conflict between the Colonies & Great Britain.The colonies were now the independent United States of America.WOW!🇺🇸👏🏻

Remembering the 1927 bday of the amazing actor George C. Scott,who dazzled us with amazing roles 4 decades.His portrayal of Patton won him an Oscar. But I loved in particular the lead role he played in Paddy Chayefsky’s The Hospital.He could make you believe he truly was the character he portrayed.

1777-OTD British General Burgoyne,whose army’s mission was 2 cut off New England from the rest of the rebellious Colonies, surrendered his 5K force 2 Continental General Horatio gates in 1 of the biggest British defeats of the Revolution.The 🇺🇸 victory convinced France 2 join us against 🇬🇧. Huzzah!

1846-OTD William Thomas Green Morton,a local dentist helped Harvard Med School Dean John Collins Warren painlessly remove a tumor from the neck of a patient Edward Gilbert Abbott by administering Ether 4 anesthesia.Making surgery painless was a major breakthrough in medicine. Remember Ether Day!👏🏻🙏

OTD in 1958 Paul Tanner,a trombonist with the Tommy Dorsey Band,developed an electro-Theramin based on a Russian keyboard instrument invented by Leon Theramin. Tanner’s version produced an eerie,other worldly sound perfect 4 Brian Wilson’s Epic #GoodVibrations Bravo👏🏻🎸🎶❤️ youtu.be/apBWI6xrbLY?...

Remembering the 1890 bday of POTUS #34 Dwight David Eisenhower.He was the Allied Supreme Commander in the European Theater of WW2 who had 2 win the war against the Nazis while balancing the egos of generals like Montgomery, Patton, Clark & Alexander. See the movie #Pressure 4 a view of his task🇺🇸👏🏻🙏

1978- #BillyJoel’s Grammy winning album 52nd Street is released. It is an homage to a neighborhood in NYC that was a home to jazz musicians and afterhour jazz clubs. Billy’s musicianship and songwriting skills never better. Bravo🎶👏🏻🙏 music.apple.com/us/album/my-...

Remembering the 1936 bday of the great tenor and music personality Luciano Pavarotti. He re-popularized opera around the world. We all love his version of the aria “Nessun Dorma” music.apple.com/us/album/nes...

1963-arguably the creepiest #TwilightZone episode ever, Nightmare at 20,000 feet, airs on CBS. It starred future Captain Kirk #WilliamShatner. It is still scary to watch. Especially that scary Gremlin on the wing. 😜📺👏🏻

1842-on this day Secretary of the Navy George BANCROFT opened the US Naval Academy at Annapolis. BANCROFT was a historian and public servant born in bread in WORCESTER Massachusetts that has turned out some of America’s best and brightest midshipman over the many generations since. ⚓️👏🏻🙏🇺🇸

Remembering the 1940 bday of #Beatle #JohnLennon of Liverpool.He was the driving creative force of the Beatles & along with his writing partner #PaulMcCartney gave us so much incredible music 2 cherish.It’s been amazing 2 watch how my 4 grandchildren gravitate 2 the music today.Thanks John🎸🎶❤️🙏

Happy 77th birthday to wonderful actress Sigourney Weaver who turns 77 today. She has played every kind of role- heroine, villain, character and cameo. And she is consistently brilliant. From Riley in the Alien series to Dana in Ghostbusters her range is unrivaled. Happy Borthday!🎥👏🏻🙏❤️

As a son of Holocaust survivors I never thought a day like October 7th could happen again. My prayers go out for the fallen, the hostages living or dead and their loved ones. We will never forget.And my the wave of antisemitism that has subsequently gripped the world be acknowledged and quashed.🙏😞

RIP Eva Marie Saint who passed away today at age 102. She gave us so many great film memories like On the Waterfront, North by Northwest and so many more. You will be missed!😞🎥👏🏻❤️

1963-rising star #BarbraStreisand guest stars on iconic #JudyGarland’s TV show and gifts us with one of the all-time great duets. What a moment of Must C TV 📺 👏🏻🎶❤️ youtu.be/zFVxX3RtyhQ?...

1983-OTD Lech Walesa, Polish electrician/labor organizer/patriot is awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace for his leadership in the Solidarity movement that essentially spelled the end of the Communist dictatorship in Poland. He later became Poland’s first freely elected President.Bravo!👏🏻🙏🇵🇱

Happy 59 bday to one of my favorite actors, Liev Schrieber. Whether playing Shakespeare, Ray Donavan, one of the Bielski Bros, or so many other characters- Mr. Schrieber makes them all believable. Hope you have a great day!🎂🎥📺❤️👏🏻

1941-OTD 1 of the all-time great film noir detective films, #TheMalteseFalcon , premieres.It was a perfect combination of screenwriting (Dashiell Hammett),directing (John Huston),& casting (Humphrey Bogart/Mary Astor/Peter Lorre/Sidney Greenstreet).still supercool🎥❤️ www.onthisday.com/people/humph...

In 1902 OTD, author Beatrix Potter introduces her adorable imaginary garden friend, Peter Rabbit, to the world’s children. The book became a staple for parents,teachers and babysitters ever since. Just a lovely character. Thanks Beatrix! 📚👏🏻❤️

1942-The iconic children’s book series,the Little Golden Books,published their 1st batch of 12.These have delighted children 4 generations.I had them read 2 me, Inread them 2 my kids & my kids are reading them 2 my grandchildren.They are calming, colorful and sweet. Love the Poly Little Puppy!📚👏🏻❤️

Future HOFer Hank Greenberg got traded to Pittsburgh in 1947. He befriended a young left fielder named Ralph Kiner whom he taught to pull the ball into the LF corner of Forbes Field (Kiner’s Korner). OTD in 1954, Kiner hit his record 16th Sept HR (#54). Kiner led the NL in HRs for 7 straight yrs. ⚾️👏🏻

#ChelseaJanes on BBNY last night said a very important warning to the Mets front office. Don’t go out and get one overpaid pitcher lukewarm about pitching in NYC. Get pitchers who want to be here. I hope they listen.

85 yrs ago OTD the Nazis began their horrific massacre of Jews in a ravine outside of Kyiv called Babi Yar. Over a 3 day period they executed over 33,000 people and then using Russian prisoners they buried them in a mass grave there which was only uncovered later by Russian forces.Never forget😞

Remebering the 1934 birthday of the versatile character actor, Wilford Brinkley. He gave us so many memorable roles. I loved him in the Natural. youtu.be/TgIB5Yl4sBQ?...

1969-The Beatles release an absolute masterpiece of an album- #AbbeyRoad. You have to listen it it’s entirety, but this song is the Penultimate song and is so emblematic of their career and life in general. Bravo!🎶❤️👏🏻 music.apple.com/us/album/the...

1973-OTD Willie Mays said goodbye to baseball at the end of his 2nd season with the #NYMets. He still got his team to the 1973 World Series which they took to Oakland A’s juggernaut. Willie was the GOAT. ⚾️👏🏻❤️

Remembering the 1917 bday of iconic #NYYankees HOF shortstop and broadcaster Phil Rizzuto. His on the field career was almost overshadowed by the way he called games. “HOLY COW”! 🎂👏🏻❤️

1968- OTD #CBS premiered the iconic news magazine show #60minutes. It has been a bulwark of cutting edge news ever since. Most recently it taken a hit because of perceived censorship to accommodate POTUS. But it has always had some comedic criticism. youtu.be/b_5jZ3DbwoM?...

1952-OTD VP Candidate Nixon had 2 go on TV & deliver his “Checkers” speech 2 explain that some of the money that came into his PAC was illegal & he would return it.But he drew the line at returning Checkers,his gift cocker spaniel.His speech helped Ike win the election. Compare 2 today’s graft !🤬

Remembering the 1901 birthday of Canadian American physician/scientist Charles B. Huggins, who received the 1966 Nobel Prize for Medicine for his seminal work on the hormonal effects on prostate cancer. As a prostate cancer survivor I am very grateful for his work. 🩺👏🏻

Happy birthday 79th birthday 2 the prolific horror author extraordinaire Stephen King.He has gifted us with so many novels, short stories & eventually screenplays in that genre many of which have become modern day classics.The Shining,Stand by Me,Shawshank Redemption,the Stand 2 name a few!Bravo🎂👏🏻📚

Remembering the 1920 bday kid the amazing cartoonist, animator and voice actor Jay Ward, creator of Rocky and Bullwinkle. This cartoon was so clever in retrospect I think it was more for adults than kids, but this kid loved every minute of watching. 📺👏🏻❤️

Remembering the 1926 birthday of the legendary #Dodgers slugger Duke Snider. He was an underrated center fielder (always compared to Willie Mays & Mickey Mantle). An awesome hitter who led the Brooklyn Dodgers to a decade of brilliance from 1947-57. Finished his career with the Metsies ⚾️🎉😊

1966-OTD the spy spoof #GetSmart was premiered on #NBC. Written by Mel Brooks & Buck Henry,it featured Don Adams as Agent 86,Maxwell Smart,his Chief,played by Ed Platt & his sidekick Agent 99,Barbara Feldon.Seems like every week they coined another iconic phrase-WOULD YOU BELIEVE?Must c 📺👏🏻

1862-OTD in Maryland, Robert E Lee took his Army of Northern Virginia 2 invade the North.General McClellan, despite having received the battle plans of the Rebel Army in advance,met them head on with the Army of the Potomac leading 2 the bloodiest single day battle in US history.Antietam😞

1963-OTD #ABC premiered the creepiest show this 9yo had ever seen- #TheOuterLimits. I used to watch it peeking out from behind a chair. My parents let me do it so long as I didn’t have nightmares about it. I did- but I didn’t tell them. 😜

1969-OTD in the crazy Miracle Mets season HOF pitcher Steve Carlton of the Cardinals struck out the then #MLB record of 19 batters. But he LOST the game because Mets right fielder Ron Swoboda hit 2 2-run HRs to beat “Lefty”.That’s how that year went 4 the Metsies.We haven’t seen that in 4ever. ⚾️❤️👏🏻

1939-OTD Russian-American inventor Igor Sikorsky demonstrates his helicopter model (it was tethered 2 the ground 2 ensure safety) in Stratford, CT.Helicopters have became vital 2 provision of emergency medical services & combat operations & have saved thousands of lives. A great breakthrough!🚁👏🏻

1814-OTD Baltimore lawyer Francis Scott Key watched the British attack on Fort McHenry fail.He penned new words to the anthem of the British Anacreontic Society which he titled the Star Spangled Banner. It became very popular and was named the National Anthem in 1931 by an act of Congress. 👏🏻 🇺🇸🎶