Tuesday, December 31, 2019

2019 Summary -- December 31, 2019

www.listal.com
In 2019 I saw a president (so-called) impeached for the second time in my life.  Donald Judas Trump has done horrible things to our country.  I hope we can recover.


In January, I noted the 100th birthdays of author JD Salinger, baseball player and civil rights pioneer Jackie Robinson and test pilot Captain Eric Brown. I noted the 100th anniversary of the death of Theodore Roosevelt.

I wrote about the 125th anniversary of the opening of the California Midwinter International Exposition in Golden Gate Park. I noted the 100th anniversaries of the Boston Molasses Disaster and the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment, Prohibition.

In January, I started a new series on the unidentified flying object, the Great Airship that appeared all over Northern California in 1896 and 1897. I had a story about the wreck of the steamer San Benito near Point Arena.

I noted that the name of the Giants' ballpark had changed again. I mourned the death of former Giants owner Peter Magowan.

For the first time in this blog, I mentioned the name of our so-called president, who had shut down the government to get funding for his racist wall.


In February, the Washington Post ran a commercial called "Democracy Dies in Darkness" during the Super Bowl. It talked about the importance of a free press.

In February, I wrote about the 125th anniversaries of the birth of painter Norman Rockwell and comedian Jack Benny. I wrote about the 100th birthday of Negro League player and Giants great Monte Irvin.

I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the start of the Seattle General Strike.

I mourned the deaths of the first African American manager in the majors, Frank Robinson, long-time congressman John Dingell, pitcher Don Newcombe, Word Jazz pioneer Ken Nordine, and composer, conductor and pianist André Previn.

I noted the beginning of the Year of the Pig.

The Annals of San Francisco by Frank Soulé, John H. Gihon, James Nisbet. 1855.
In March, Governor Gavin Newsom blocked implementation of the death penalty in California.

I wrote about the 100th birthdays of pianist and singer Nat King Cole and poet and publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

I noted the deaths of singer Andre Williams, guitarist Dick Dale and ska singer Ranking Roger.

I noted the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth hitting four home runs in an exhibition game.

I wrote about a DVD produced by Fritzi, the proprietor of the wonderful blog Movies Silently.

Washington Times, 01-April-1919
In April, Notre Dame de Paris caught fire.  It suffered great damage.

A podcast used some of my recordings of the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest.

I began a series of Krazy Kat comic strips, and another of Toonerville Trolley cartoons.

I noted the death of Lt Colonel Richard Cole, the last of Doolittle's Raiders. I noted the 100th anniversaries of the deaths of James Reese Europe and Emiliano Zapata.

New York World, 08-May-1919
In May I posted on the 100th anniversary of the first flight across the Atlantic, some stops along the way, and the final arrival.  I posted on the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad.

I noted the 125th anniversaries of the birth of novelist Dashiell Hammett and comic writer and performer Fred Allen, and the 100th anniversary of the birth of activist and musician Pete Seeger..

I wrote about the death of musician Leon Redbone.

New York Sun, 15-June-1919
In June I posted on the 100th anniversary of the first non-stop transatlantic flight.

I mourned the death of Dr John.

New York Evening World, 05-July-1919
In July I noted the 100th anniversary of the Dempsey-Willard fight.  I wrote about the 100th anniversaries of dirigibles exploding in Maryland and Chicago.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the first lighter-than-air transatlantic flight. I noted the 100th anniversary of the air mile strike.  I noted the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the Chicago Race Riot.

I wrote about the 175th anniversary of the birth of poet Gerard Manley Hopkins and the 100th anniversary of the death of fighter pilot Jean Navarre.

I posted on the deaths of João Gilberto and Art Neville.

New York Tribune, 31-August-1919
In August, I marked the 100th anniversary of pilot Charles Godefroy flying under the Arc de Triomphe. I also wrote about the 1919 crash of a huge Italian airliner.  I wrote about the 50th anniversary of Woodstock.

We saw the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at SFJazz.

I wrote about the 200th anniversary of the death of naval hero Oliver Hazard Perry.  I wrote about the 1619 Project, remembering the first arrival of enslaved Africans in the English North American colonies.

I wrote about the 200th anniversary of the birth of writer Herman Melville, the 100th birthday of George Shearing.  I wrote about the 100th anniversary of regular airline flights between London and Paris.

In September, I wrote about the retirement of Giants manager Bruce Bochy.

I wrote about the 400th anniversary of the voyage of the Mayflower. I wrote about the 200th anniversary of the extension of the Transcontinental Railroad to San Francisco Bay.

I noted the deaths of musicians Ric Ocasek and Eddie Money.

At the end of the month, family health issues led me to take another break.  I have continued posting, but at a much slower rate.

In October, PG and E did poorly managed power shutdowns to try to cut down on wildfires during high-wind periods. Our power was out for parts of three days.

I wrote about the 30th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake.

I noted the deaths of Representative Elijah Cummings, singer Jessye Norman and drummer Ginger Baker.

I marked the 100th anniversary of the death of flying boat designer John Cyril Porte.


In November we went to a game at the new Chase Center.  My last Warriors game had been at the Cow Palace.

I wrote about the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Eliot.

In December, the House of Representatives impeached our so-called president.

I wrote about the death of producer Lee Mendelson.

I marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Captain John Alcock, who had been the pilot for the first non-stop transatlantic flight.

Actress Rochelle Hudson had a long career in movies.

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Lee Mendelson, RIP -- December 28, 2019

I was sad to learn the Lee Mendelson, who produced the Peanuts television shows, had died.  He worked closely with Charles Schulz and Bill Melendez. I remember seeing reruns of Mendelson's documentary about the PPIE, The Innocent Fair.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas, 2019 -- December 25, 2019


Merry Christmas, everyone. Peace on Earth and goodwill to men (women, and children).

A cartoon from the 25-December-1919 Seattle Star wishes a Merry Christmas and reports "Two Women Slugged."


Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Black and White Christmas -- December 24, 2019

Richmond Times-Dispatch, 25-December-1919
Happy Christmas, everyone. This cartoon from the 25-December-1919 Richmond Times-Dispatch refers to Prohibition and the shortages of coal and sugar during the Christmas season.  The United Mine Workers went on strike on 01-November-1919.  Sugar had been short throughout the war.  Some people blamed the continuing shortage on Prohibition.


Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Impeached -- December 18, 2019

The House of Representatives voted to impeach our so-called president.  He is only the third president to be impeached.

"According to Jane Taylor, 'the central character is notorious for his infantile engagement with his world. Ubu inhabits a domain of greedy self-gratification'. Jarry's metaphor for the modern man, he is an antihero—fat, ugly, vulgar, gluttonous, grandiose, dishonest, stupid, jejune, voracious, greedy, cruel, cowardly and evil..." -- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubu_Roi

Alcock, Cross-Ocean Flier, Dies in France -- December 18, 2019

Washington Times, 20-December-1919
On 15-June-1919, Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown landed their converted Vickers Vimy bomber in Ireland, completing the first successful non-stop transatlantic flight. 100 years ago today, on 18-December-1919, Alcock died flying a Vickers Viking flying boat to a Paris air show.

ALCOCK, CROSS-OCEAN
FLIER, DIES IN FRANCE
First Aviator to Make Non-Stop
Trans-Atlantic Flight Succumbs to Injuries.

ROUEN, France, Dec. 20. -- Capt. Sir John Alcock, the first aviator to make a nonstop airplane flight across the Atlantic, died here yesterday after noon as a result of injuries he received when his plane crashed near Cottevrard, department of Seine-lnferieure, Normandy.

Alcock, who was flying in a water plane, was following the Seine at the time of the accident. Intending to alight on the river opposite the grand palace for an aviation exhibition.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 20. -- The death of Capt. Sir John Alcock in France was characterized as "a true sacrifice for the sake of humanity" by Lieut. Sir Arthur W. Brown, Captain Alcock's navigator in the nonstop flight across the Atlantic. Lieutenant Brown will depart for Japan, December 27.

"The sad death of Captain Alcock removes one of the most notable names from among those of notable aviators" said Lieutenant Brown. "He has probably spent more time in the air than any other man. His experience in the air with many different types of machines had fitted him for the highly paid and responsible position of test pilot, but rather than accept such a position he joined the royal naval air service at the out break of the war."


Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Impeachment Vote -- December 17, 2019

Tomorrow the full House of Representatives will vote on impeaching our so-called president.

"According to Jane Taylor, 'the central character is notorious for his infantile engagement with his world. Ubu inhabits a domain of greedy self-gratification'. Jarry's metaphor for the modern man, he is an antihero—fat, ugly, vulgar, gluttonous, grandiose, dishonest, stupid, jejune, voracious, greedy, cruel, cowardly and evil..." -- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubu_Roi

Thursday, December 12, 2019

December, 2019 Version of the Cable Car Home Page -- December 12, 2019


Due to some family medical issues, I am shamefully late in putting out my December updates.

I just put the December, 2019 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/


It includes some new items:
1. Picture of the Month: Big 19 lays over at California and Drumm. November 2019.
2. With Christmas coming, it's a good time to visit the late Joe Lacey's article Christmas on the Cables (22nd anniversary this year), and the Decorated Cable Cars page. Added list of cars decorated for Christmas, 2019.
3. On the More Muni Photos page: Big 19 -- Return to Duty -- 2019
4. On the Cable Trams in the UK page: A ten and twenty year update about London's Highgate Hill Cable Tramway, including a new photo
5. On the Cable Car Lines in Saint Louis page: An update about the Loop Trolley, which may be suspended by the end of the year.


Ten years ago this month (December, 2009):
1. Picture of the Month: The proposed incline and improvements in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. From the Los Angeles Herald, 27-August-1905.
2. On the Los Angeles area funiculars page: Roll out a new article about the proposed Griffith Park Incline Railway, including newspaper articles:
- Griffth Park Incline Proposed (Los Angeles Herald, Sunday, August 27, 1905)
- Griffth Park Incline Needs More Time (Los Angeles Herald, Thursday, November 28, 1907)
3. Also on the Los Angeles area funiculars page: More about the Industry Hills Incline including its current status
4. On the Cable Trams in the UK, more about London's Highgate Hill Cable Tramway, including an entry from Baedeker's guidebook for 1889. Also an illustrated paper, Cable Tramways, concentrating on Highgate Hill, that engineer William Newby Colam presented to the Society of Engineers in 1885
5. With Christmas coming, it's a good time to visit Joe Lacey's article Christmas on the Cables, and the Decorated Cable Cars page.
6. Added a new photo of Janelle Wang of Channel 7 performing with the 49er Cheerleaders at the 47th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest
7. Added News and Bibliography items about Woody Labounty's Carville book
8. Added News and Bibliography items about a sudden stop on Powell Street and the last Carville house


Twenty years ago this month (December, 1999):
1. Picture of the Month: Highgate Hill, London
2. Roll out Highgate Hill Cable Tramway on the Other Cities page. Add thanks to Stuart Jenkins
3. Roll out Los Angeles area funiculars/Industry Hills and Getty Center on the Other California Cities page
4. Add IW Hellman to the Who page
5. Add California/Drumm and old Cal Cable barn photos to the More California Pictures page
6. Add National Geographic Carville article to bibliography

Coming in January, 2020: On the Cable Car Lines in Chicago page: A ten and twenty year update about the Chicago City Railway, one of the most successful companies in the industry

The Cable Car Home Page now has a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CableCarHomePage/

Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (updated 01-December-2019)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-January-2019)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 31-July-2019)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
The Big V Riot Squad (new blog)
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/









Saturday, December 7, 2019

Pearl Harbor Day, 2019 -- December 7, 2019


78 years ago a sneak attack by forces of the Japanese Empire sank or damaged much of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in the territory of Hawaii. The Japanese Empire came to regret doing this.

Dreadnought USS Maryland (BB-46) was commissioned in 1921.  She was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked in 1941. She was damaged, but was repaired. She was at Tarawa, Kwajalein Atoll, Saipan, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo #: 80-G-455000.