December 3rd in New York City History - Birth of the Bronx, Brando's Kowalski, a Baseball Great, and Fire Engine Reds.
Posted: Dec 3, 2012 | 12:02 AM
by Jared Goldstein
1639: Jonas Bronck buys 50 acres north of Manhattan for farmland. The Broncks' farm became a destination for urbanites, known as 'going to the Broncks.' Now the whole county is known as the Bronx.
It is the only part of New York City connected to America. New York City's other fours boroughs is part of an archipelago off the coast of America. The Bronx is a peninsula, which is practically an island. About 1/3 of it is parkland. It is also home to the Bronx Bombers, the New York Yankees.
1732: New York City imports its first two fire engines from London. Although their spectacle impressed the public, their first call didn't save the building.
1947: Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire opens
at the Ethel Barrymore Theater with Marlon Brando, Jessica Tandy (winning her a Tony), and Kim Hunter. The Elia Kazan directed play also wins a Tony, the Pulitzer, and a Drama Critics' Circle Award.
It was one of a dozen hit shows that season, before the popularity of television.
Marlon Brando, age 24, 1948 as Stanley Kowalski, photo by van Vechten.
1950: Happy Birthday, Julianne Moore! If you see her around town, ask her for tourism tips. Just ask the locals!
"Even if your kids say they want to walk, bring the stroller."
Nice advice, if you can get it.
1960: Camelot premieres at the Majestic Theatre. It will run for another 872 performances.
1967: The 20th Century Limited, the famed luxury train, completed its final run from New York City to Chicago.
Designed by Henry Dreyfus.
You can see it on the board on a Grand Central Tour.
The most famous, luxurious and greatest train's loss is a harbinger of the threat to Grand Central Terminal. The next year the same developers who destroyed Penn Station targeted Grand Central. The waiting room was supposed to be a bowling alley. As for the great hall, take a look at the PanAm/MetLife building, they were going to build a twin of it on top. The case took ten years to affirm landmarking.
1990: Baseball great Clint Thomas died after 94 years.
He was the Negro League's outfielder from 1928-1938 for the NY Lincoln Giants, the Harlem Stars,
the Black Yankees, co-owned by Bill "Bojangles" Lee, the NY Cubans, and the Newark Eagles.
2009: Comcast and GE announced a joint venture, with Comcast owning a controlling stake in NBC Universal.
I've been in and around NYC for decades, and I haven't seen one of these people once. If you need to ask a local, contact me or find another guide. I'll be happy to help you with your question or finding the guide that is right for you.
The New Yorkers involved with this are great and well-intentioned, but this campaign is ridiculous.
More and more about today in History
http://www.biography.com/on-this-day/december-03
More about today in History
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/on-this-day/december-3/