MILESTONES: September 12, birthdays for Jennifer Hudson, Yao Ming, Emmy Rossum

Brooklyn Today

September 12, 2017 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Jennifer Hudson. Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

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On this day in 1937, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle front page reported that then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt pledged peace to an American citizenry skittish about developments in Europe … NYC election primary results had popular mayoral incumbent Fiorello H. LaGuardia running against Democrat Jeremiah T. Mahoney. (LaGuardia would prevail in the November election.) Mahoney was an activist for social reform in his own right, fighting against religious and racial discrimination. He later became a state supreme court justice … Meanwhile, that front page also announced the marriage of Genevieve Livingston Estes (known familiarly as Bunnie) to Nicholas Ridgely du Pont, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s brother. Both the bride and groom were from prominent families.

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On this day in 1942, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle front page picked up a report from Radio Moscow that the Russian Army had fought back German soldiers invading Stalingrad. The harsh Russian winters served as an extra line of defense for the people of Stalingrad … Locally, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia was incensed to receive junk in return for several months of begging for new firefighting equipment: The 30,000 feet of new hoses for the city’s auxiliary firefighting services — essentially six miles of hose — was useless because it did not fit the city’s hydrants.

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On this day in 1950, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle front page reported that Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker announced that “the worst is over,” as GIs launched an offensive over Taegu, Korea. As the 1st Cavalry gained a mile in their first rush, Gen. Walker expressed certainty that the enemy could be beat. The Korean Conflict would last until July 27, 1953. However, as recent 2017 headlines indicate, hostilities between North and South Korea are still ongoing.

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include Kansas Gov. and former U.S. Sen. SAM BROWNBACK, who was born in 1956; actress LINDA GRAY, who was born in 1941; Oscar Award-winning actor IAN HOLM, who was born in 1931; singer and Oscar Award-winning actress JENNIFER HUDSON, who was born in 1981; comedian and actor LOUIS C.K., who was born in 1967; actor BENJAMIN McKENZIE, who was born in 1978; former basketball player YAO MING, who was born in 1980; singer MARIA MULDAUR, who was born in 1943; actor JOE PANTOLIANO, who was born in 1954; actress EMMY ROSSUM, who was born in 1986; actor PETER SCOLARI, who was born in 1954; actress RACHEL WARD, who was born in 1957; and actress AMY YASBECK, who was born in 1963.

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“THE MONKEES” PREMIERED ON THIS DAY IN 1966. Featuring a rock group that was supposed to be an American version of The Beatles, the half-hour show featured a blend of comedy and music. Four young actors were chosen from more than 400 to play the group members: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork. Dolenz and Jones had acting experience, and Tork and Nesmith had musical experience. The music that they performed on the show proved to be immensely popular. At first, they sang with a studio band but later insisted on writing and performing their own music. They released several albums and toured several times. In later years, various members of The Monkees gathered for reunion and anniversary tours.

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JESSE OWENS WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1913. The American athlete, winner of four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, set 11 world records in track and field. During a 1935 track meet in Michigan, Owens, representing Ohio State University, broke three world records and tied a fourth in the space of 45 minutes. He died in Arizona in 1980.

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CHARLES LEROUX’S LAST JUMP OCCURRED ON THIS DAY IN 1889. The American aeronaut achieved world fame as a parachutist. After his first public performance in Philadelphia in 1887, he toured European cities, where his parachute jumps attracted wide attention. He was credited with 238 successful jumps. In 1889, he jumped from a balloon over Estonia, and died in the Bay of Reval.

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THE BATTLE OF SAINT-MIHIEL WAS FOUGHT ON THIS DAY IN 1918. Under the command of General John J. Pershing, the First U.S. Army attacked the Germans at the Saint-Mihiel salient, making it the first major U.S. offensive of World War I. Sixteen army divisions, coupled with French II Colonial Corps tanks and artillery support, forced back the Germans after 36 hours of heavy fighting and reclaimed 200 square miles of French territory that had been in the hands of the Germans since 1914. The First U.S. Army lost about 7,000 soldiers in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel.

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ALFRED A. KNOPF WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1892. The distinguished American publisher, with his soon-to-be-wife Blanche Wolf, started the house that bears his name in 1915 and brought European authors to America. Knopf died in 1984 in New York. At his memorial service, author John Hersey eulogized Knopf: ”When all scores are settled, it will be written that Alfred Knopf was the greatest publisher this country ever had.”

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

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“No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public.” — journalist and critic H.L. Mencken, who was born on this day in 1880