MILESTONES: August 2, birthdays for David Ferrer, Charli XCX, Kristaps Porzingis

Brooklyn Today

August 2, 2017 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Spain's David Ferrer runs for the ball during their Men's Singles Match on day two at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on July 4, 2017. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

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ON THIS DAY IN 1899, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published a front-page article titled “Aged Woman a Prisoner.”

The article focused on an 80-year-old woman who had a long record of theft.

“She was charged today by Mrs. Hedwig Hansen of 411 18th St. with having in April last disappeared from the complainant’s house with two gold-filled watches, valued at $40. This was after she had represented herself to the householder that she robbed that she was hungry and destitute. The kindhearted woman took her in and furnished her with food. Then having her for a few minutes, she returned to find her visitor gone,” the Eagle reported.

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include actress JOANNA CASSIDY, who was born on this day in 1944; journalist and former editor JAMES FALLOWS, who was born in 1949; tennis player DAVID FERRER, who was born in 1982; actor EDWARD FURLONG, who was born in 1977; actress KATHRYN HARROLD, who was born in 1950; actress and comedian VICTORIA JACKSON, who was born in 1959; Tony Award-winning actress MARY-LOUISE PARKER, who was born in 1964; Knicks star KRISTAPS PORZINGIS, who was born in 1995; baseball player HUSTON STREET, who was born in 1983; Olympic figure skater MICHAEL WEISS, who was born in 1976; actor SAM WORTHINGTON, who was born in 1976; and pop artist CHARLI XCX, who was born in 1992.

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JACK WARNER WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1892. The tough, cost-conscious production chief for the famous Warner Bros. film studio was born in Canada to Jewish immigrant parents from Poland. The family’s purchase of a nickelodeon in 1903 led to a great interest in the burgeoning film business. Brothers Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack formed Warner Bros. in 1923 in California, and it grew from a minor concern to a major studio on the strength of “The Jazz Singer,” the first full-length film with synchronized sound, social dramas and a clutch of gangster films starring Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney. A highlight for the studio was “Casablanca,” which took the Best Picture Oscar in 1944. Warner Bros. was sold in 1967 and Jack Warner became an independent producer. He died in Hollywood in 1978.

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THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS OFFICIALLY SIGNED ON THIS DAY IN 1776. Contrary to widespread misconceptions, the 56 signers did not sign as a group and did not do so on July 4. John Hancock and Charles Thomson signed only draft copies that day, the official day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress. The signing of the official declaration occurred on Aug. 2, when reportedly 50 men took part. Later that year, five more apparently signed separately, and one added his name in a subsequent year.

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PIERRE CHARLES L’ENFANT WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1754. The architect, engineer and Revolutionary War officer designed the plan for the city of Washington, D.C. L’Enfant died in Maryland in 1825.

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CARROLL O’CONNOR WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1924. The New York-born stage and screen actor was best known for his portrayal of the bigoted, blue-collar Archie Bunker on “All in the Family.” He played the role of Bunker from 1971 to 1979 and was nominated for eight Emmy Awards, winning four. He won a fifth Emmy in 1989 for “In the Heat of the Night.” He was also inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989 and died in 2001 in California.

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

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“Even a true artist does not always produce art.” — Carroll O’Connor, who was born on this day in 1924