ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published an article titled “U.S. Stamp Fraud Reaped 50 Million.”

The article focused on an illegal stamp ring that led to the arrest of two Brooklynites, among others.

“At least $50,000,000 over the past 10 or 15 years was the ‘take’ of the canceled revenue stamp ring in which nine persons, including two Brooklynites, were arrested yesterday, it was revealed today by Assistant United States Attorney Roger Powelson of Manhattan. At the same time he indicated that there would be between 50 and 60 more arrests beginning Monday,” the Eagle reported.

****

NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include actress MISCHA BARTON, who was born in 1986; singer and composer NEIL DIAMOND, who was born in 1941 in Brooklyn; actor ED HELMS, who was born in 1974; actress NASTASSJA KINSKI, who was born in 1960; actor MATTHEW LILLARD, who was born in 1970; singer and songwriter AARON NEVILLE, who was born in 1941; actor MICHAEL ONTKEAN, who was born in 1946; Olympic gymnast MARY LOU RETTON, who was born in 1968; actor, comedian and TV personality KRISTEN SCHAAL, who was born in 1978; comedian YAKOV SMIRNOFF, who was born in 1951; and aerialist, acrobat and stunt performer NIK WALLENDA, who was born in 1979.

****

JOHN BELUSHI WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1949. The actor and comedian is best-remembered as a “Saturday Night Live” cast member and for his roles in “The Blues Brothers” and “Animal House.” He died in 1982 in California.

****

TODAY IS NATIONAL COMPLIMENT DAY. The day encourages people to compliment at least five others. Not only are compliments appreciated by the receiver, they lift the spirit of the giver. Compliments provide a quick and easy way to connect positively with each other.

****

CANNED BEER WAS SOLD FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THIS DAY IN 1935. The American Can Company and the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company collaborated to package 2,000 cans of Krueger’s Finest Beer and Krueger’s Cream Ale in Virginia. It was an immediate success, and by the end of 1935, most major breweries had begun using cans. More than 200 million cans sold that first year.

****

EDITH WHARTON WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1862. The author’s stories and novels specialized in intense examinations of upper-class Manhattan society at the end of the 19th century. Major novels include “The House of Mirth” (1905) and “The Age of Innocence” (1920), which won a Pulitzer Prize. “Ethan Frome” departed from the upper-class society milieu to depict a grim New England love triangle and its tragic consequences. Wharton died in France in 1937.

****

THE BROOKLTN HISTORICAL SOCIETY (BHS) WILL HOST “THE EVOLUTION of Public History: Richard Rabinowitz and Deborah Schwartz in Conversation” tonight at 6 p.m. For four decades Rabinowitz, founder and president of the American History Workshop, has brought the past to life as a leading innovator of history museums. His new book “Curating America: Journeys through Storyscapes of the American Past” shares his insights on making history relevant today. Rabinowitz will sit down with BHS President Schwartz and explore the art of engaging with our past. For more information, visit brooklynhistory.org.

****

Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

****

“Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope.” — Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Edith Wharton, who was born on this day in 1862

---

Related Articles

January 23, birthdays for Mariska Hargitay, Tito Ortiz, Addison Russell

January 24 | Shlomo Sprung