On August 22…
“The Beatles exist apart from myself. I am not really Beatle George. Beatle George is like a suit or shirt that I once wore on occasion, and until the end of my life, people may see that shirt and mistake it for me.”
~George Harrison
1851 – The U.S. built schooner America defeated a fleet of 14 of Britain’s finest ships in a race around England’s Isle of Wight.
In the 53-mile race, the America trounced the competition, beating the cutter Aurora by 22 minutes and finishing nearly an hour ahead of the third boat, the schooner Bacchante.
The ornate silver trophy won by the America was later donated to the New York Yacht Club on condition that it forever be placed in international competition. Today, the “America’s Cup” is the world’s oldest continually contested sporting trophy and represents the pinnacle of international sailing yacht competition.
1862 – President Abraham Lincoln wrote a carefully worded letter in response to an abolitionist editorial by Horace Greeley, the editor of the influential New York Tribune, and hinted at a change in his policy concerning slavery.
From the outset of the Civil War, Lincoln proclaimed the war’s goal to be the reunion of the nation. He said little about slavery for fear of alienating key constituencies such as the border states of Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and, to a lesser extent, Delaware.
Each of these states allowed slavery but had not seceded from the Union. Lincoln was also concerned about Northern Democrats, who generally opposed fighting the war to free the slaves but whose support Lincoln needed.
In his editorial, “The Prayer of Twenty Millions,” Greeley had criticized Lincoln for his soft treatment of slaveholders and for his unwillingness to enforce the Confiscation Acts, which called for the property, including slaves, of Confederates to be taken when their homes were captured by Union forces.
In a rare public response to criticism, Lincoln articulated his policy by stating, “If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.”
Although this sounded noncommittal, Lincoln closed by stating, “I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere could be free.”
By hinting that ending slavery might become a goal of the war, Lincoln was preparing the public for the change in policy that would come one month later with the Emancipation Proclamation.
1953 – The penal colony on Devil’s Island in French Guiana was permanently closed.
Opened in 1852, it was notorious for being used for internal exile of French political prisoners, the most famous being Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a French artillery officer of Jewish background whose trial and conviction in 1894 on charges of treason became one of the most tense political dramas in modern European history.
Devil’s Island was also known for its harsh treatment of criminals, who were deported there from all parts of the French empire.
1956 – Elvis Presley began filming his first movie (Love Me Tender). The film’s original (working) title was The Reno Brothers.
1965 – Juan Marichal, pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, struck John Roseboro, catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, on the head with a bat, sparking a 14-minute brawl, one of the most violent on-field incidents in sports history.
1968 – Ringo Starr, feeling unwanted by the other three members of the Beatles, became the first to walk out on the group (he was convinced to come back two weeks later).
Ringo said it was a traumatic period but the end results were positive.
“After I walked out I kept getting these postcards – telegrams actually – from John and George: ‘Come on home! You’re the best!’ And when I did come back, George had the whole studio decorated in flowers. It was just a beautiful moment. You know, you go through those moments in your life when things are crazy.”
1969 – It was the end of an era. The Beatles – the tension and weariness evident on their faces – gathered at John Lennon’s Tittenhurst Park estate in Ascot for their final photo session together.
“George Harrison was miserable from frame one to frame five hundred, said photographer Ethan Russell.” He was so over it. I don’t think he did anything but scowl for three hours.
“Paul was trying to hold it together. He had his arms crossed like, ‘Come on, lads.’ But the concept of the Beatles just didn’t sync with who they were any more. I could have asked them to smile, but it would have been totally fake and I’m glad I didn’t. This marriage had come to an end – and boy does it show.”
1977 – Actor Sebastian Cabot died at the age of 59, following a series of strokes.
Cabot was a voice performer in many animated films, in particular the voice of “The Narrator” in the Winnie-the-Pooh series. He also appeared in over 40 films, was a co-star on the Checkmate television series, but will forever be best known for his role as “Mr. French” on Family Affair.
1989 – Huey P. Newton, African-American political activist and revolutionary who, along with Bobby Seale, co-founded the Black Panther Party in 1966, was fatally shot by drug dealer Tyrone Robinson in Oakland, CA. The murder occurred in a neighborhood where Newton once organized social programs that helped destitute African-Americans.
Robinson claimed that Newton pulled a gun when the two met at the street corner, but Oakland police officers found no evidence that Newton had been armed.
Newton’s last words, as he stood facing his killer, were, “You can kill my body, and you can take my life but you can never kill my soul. My soul will live forever!”
Robinson then shot Newton twice in the face.
2007 – The Texas Rangers defeated the Baltimore Orioles 30–3, the most runs scored by a team in modern Major League Baseball history.
2011 – Lyricist Jerry Leiber, who together with composer Mike Stoller wrote countless hits during the early days of rock and roll, died at the age of 78.
The duo wrote (and these are just a few examples) Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, King Creole, Kansas City, Yakety Yak, There Goes My Baby, Love Potion #9, Charlie Brown, Ruby Baby, Along Came Jones, Loving You, Poison Ivy, and many, many more.
2018 – Guitarist Ed King died from cancer at the age of 68.
He was a guitarist for the psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock (Incense and Peppermints) and guitarist for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd (Sweet Home Alabama) – he wrote the famous riff to start the song – from 1972 to 1975 and again from 1987 to 1996.
Compiled by Ray Lemire ©2024 RayLemire.com / Streamingoldies.com All Rights Reserved.