Audio Escape Almanac

It's World Meteorological Day and a date in history that's chock full of odd objects traversing the atmosphere. Or almost traversing it... in the case of the near-miss of asteroid 4581-Asclepius today in 1989. It's also the day the Mir Space Station fell from the sky, Gemini 3 launched, and rocketry's father Werner von Braun was born. And it's the day President Reagan announced the Strategic Defense Initiative. Amazing. We'll have some voices and sounds to convey those stories, and then we'll lighten up with a silly song published on this day in 1923. There's also an eight-second snippet from a famous Oratorio that was first performed today in 1743. And finally, there's news of a change in the Almanac beginning next week.

Internationally, it's a day for observing water and seals. In the US, it's rollercoasters. And today, two Canadians have something to say about errant herring and chanting children, a Brit talks to the audience, and a German gets a wise-crack in. We'll also listen to anniversary sounds relating to the Equal Rights Amendment, Reese Witherspoon, and Pat Robertson. Plus, the first Augusta National Invitation Tournament was played today in 1934, and there's more on that at ProVoiceTracks.com/almanac, along with a link to more audio from one of the Canadians on the show.

The first full day of Spring is sprouting with audio specific to this day... everything from the thrills of Charles Lindbergh's Medal and the Selma marchers to the agony of a Slovenian/Yugoslavian ski jumper and a Cleveland DJ's apologies for the concert that went wrong. For him, Alan Freed, things would get worse but that's a story for another day. This day, there's also anniversary audio from Beethoven, Kate Smith, Larry Hagman, and Little House on the Prairie. Plus birthday music from Modest Mussorgsky (by way of Ravel). There are links to more information about Lindbergh's Medal of Honor and the marches in Selma, Alabama, at ProVoiceTracks.com/almanac

Spring arrives in the Northern Hemisphere today, a day that's also World Frog Day. We'll observe the former with Ella Fitzgerald and the latter with... well, frogs. It's Independence Day in Tunisia, and it's a big day for publishing. Albert Einstein sheds light on one or the other. Also, anniversary audio from Lyndon Johnson and Humphrey Bogart... and birthday audio from Vera Lynn, Holly Hunter, Ozzie Nelson, and Big Bird. We'll also hear from Libby Riddles, who in 1985 became the first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Libby and Iditarod links are on the companion Web page at ProVoiceTracks.com/almanac.

On this, the day the swallows return to Capistrano, we'll listen to a little of the Amos n Andy show, first broadcast in Chicago on this day in 1928, and we'll hear from Moms Mabley, born on this date in 1894. There's also anniversary audio from Bob Dylan, Goldfinger, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, C-Span, and President Bush. On the companion Web page at provoicetracks.com/almamanc, there's more information about San Juan Capistrano, Amos 'n' Andy, and Moms Mabley.

On this last Almanac edition before a long-weekend break... Today is World Pi Day and it's Potato Chip Day in the US. We'll choose one for a sound opportunity, touch on The Mikado (first performed on this date in 1885), and listen to a few seconds of the first-ever Gold Record (TM), certified this date in '58. Also, anniversary audio from Jack Ruby and birthday sounds from Billy Crystal, Albert Einstein, and Jerry Jeff Walker. And we'll close with the Rolling Stones: why they moved to France on this day in 1971 -- and what happened afterward. NOTE: The next AE Almanac will come down Monday, 3/19.

March 13th is a slow day for observances around the world so we'll take it to the next level. It's Hamburger and Pickle Month and it's World Clown Week! It's also Play the Recorder Month, and your Almanac host makes his recorder dubut in today's episode. Tennessee's Butler Act went into effect this day in 1925. We've a brief explanation and we'll move on to 1938 and Germany's annexation of Austria. Today's the day news started getting out, and we've a snippet from a radio report. And then there's anniversary audio from The Long Hot Summer, The Allman Brothers Band, and Neil Sedaka. We close with observing the 21st anniversary of the Microsoft IPO. On the Almanac's companion Web page, there's more information about the Butler Act, the Scopes Trial, and there's even a link to the Microsoft IPO calculator. What the heck!

The biggest-yet AE Almanac starts with today's observances on Mauritius and Australia. There's a little music from the former -- and the latter provides a natural segue to FDR's first Fireside Chat, given this date in 1933. It's a date that Harry S. Truman chose in 1947 to speak and take action (Truman Doctrine) against the spread of Communism abroad. We'll hear from both Presidents and move on to the world of entertainment. Les Miserables opened on Broadway today in 1987. We'll listen to just a little bit, and then it's to anniversary audio from Simon and Garfunkel, Wally Schirra, and Barbara Feldon.

It's Baron Bliss Day in Belize. The Baron is the kind of tourist any country would love to have. We'll start there and bring you a few notes from a Verdi opera first performed on this date. And then it's to other anniversary audio... including the film debuts of Bob Hope and James Dean, Edward R. Murrow's McCarthy episode of See It Now, and a Dan Rather first -- and last. And yes, that's more CBS programming than usual for any one Almanac. We'll close with the guitar of Robin Trower, born this day in 1945.

It's International Womens Day, and we'll observe it by touching on its history and bringing you the voice of Louise Beavers, who was born on this day in 1902. Before The Beulah Show, Beavers broke cinematic ground in Imitation of Life. We'll also have anniversary audio from Richard Strauss (Don Quixote), the Fillmore East (Big Brother and the Holding Company), Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker's Guide), and what was probably President Reagan's first "Evil Empire" reference in a speech given on this day in 1983.

It's Metallica Day in San Francisco, and we'll open the program with a Metallica snippet in observance of the day. There's also some tunage from Nick LaRocca and Guy Lombardo that's germane to this day, but we'll move on quickly enough to the biggest thing that happened on March 7th: the 1965 incident at the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama. We've a news report and some words from President Johnson. We'll also observe Ravel's birth and the passing of Divine, Harris Glenn Milstead. And we'll close with news of Roald Amundsen that reached the world today in 1912.

It's both Dentists' Day and Alamo Day. There' s a brief look at both, working-in some Bob Wills on his birth anniversary. There's also anniversary audio from CBS Radio' s The March of Time, Charles Manson (a quite brief song segment),Walter Cronkite, Lou Costello, Rob Reiner, and Sargeant Barry Sadler. And some Larry Flynt news.

It's both Mother-in-Law Day and Boston Massacre Day. We'll give a nod to each and move on to Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech, delivered this day in 1946. There's more to the speech than just coining an expression. We'll also bring you anniversary audio from The Beatles and observe the birthday of Paul Evans by way of a song he wrote for Elvis. It's been exactly four years since Natalie Maines stirred the big pot, and you'll hear a word or two from her. Today is also the 25th anniversary of John Belushi's passing, a date in history that also saw Patsy Cline, Sergei Prokofiev, and Josef Stalin die. We'll close with the Wham-O product that was patented on this day in 1963.

It's Read Across America Day and Texas Independence Day, and it just happens to fall on Sam Houston's birthday. We'll observe the occasion and bring you anniversary audio from King Kong, Elmer Fudd, and Miles Davis. It's also the day in 1962 that JFK announced new atmospheric nuclear testing. We'll listen to some of what he had to say and close with guitarist Celedonio Romero on his birth anniversary.

It's National Pig Day in the US and Baba Marta Day in Bulgaria. We'll give a nod to both and observe the anniversary of the first Salem Witch Trial. It's also a big day for black Americans, there being anniversary goodness from Hattie McDaniel, Paul Robeson, and Harry Belafonte. Also, Ralph Ellison, Richard Wright, and the connection between them. Plus, there's JFK audio from the day he announced the creation of the Peace Corps, today in 1961. All that, Ron Howard on his birthday, and a brief history of FM radio's beginnings -- all in just under five minutes!

On this Kalevala Day in Finland, it also might be the birthday of the US Forest Service's Smokey Bear. We'll observe the occasion anyway, and bring you the link between the first televised basketball game and the last airing of M*A*S*H. Also, anniversary audio from the Branch Davidian standoff and the North Hollywood shootout. All that, plus Zero Mostel and the letter of "density".

On this Dominican Republic Independence Day (and Polar Bear Day), we'll observe the first performance of Beethoven's 8th Symphony, Robert Schumann's plunge into the Rhine, and Shirley Temple's 1936 contract. Also, anniversary audio from The Road to Utopia, the AIM occupation of Wounded Knee, SD, and there's even a fine line from Joanne Woodward on her birthday

We'll observe Liberation Day in Kuwait, and bring you some music by Franz Schubert on the anniversary of its first public performance, and from Dragnet (radio) on the anniversary of its final broadcast. Also, sound from Mason Adams, Jackie Gleason, Tony Randall, Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, and Johnny Cash

On this Iwo Jima Day, we'll remember it and another WWII event on the same date that involved the Japanese Navy. Also, anniversary audio from Woody Guthrie, Peter Fonda, Schindler's List, Dolly the Lamb, and A Flock of Seagulls.

On George Washington's birthday, we observe the spurious connection between Woolworth's and Chico Marx, and explain why it's a big day for the Republican Party -- on Ted Kennedy's birthday, no less. Also, anniversary audio from the 1980 US Olympics Hockey Team and Drew Barrymore.

On Ash Wednesday and International Mother Tongue Day, we'll visit the WWI Battle of Verdun and give a nod to Greta Garbo. Also, anniversary audio from Alka Seltzer, the Jackson 5, Jimmy Swaggart, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Andres Segovia.

We observe Mardi Gras, Pancake Day, and North American Hoodie-Hoo Day, and bring you anniversary audio from The Barber of Seville, Follow the Fleet, Dylan Thomas, The African Queen, Friendship 7, and Kelsey Grammer. All that, plus a gratuitous wedding anniversary or two.

On President's Day -- and Nepal's National Democracy Day -- we'll remember the first rescuers who reached the Donner Party in the Sierras and listen to a little bit of the 6th Symphony by Jean Sibelius on the anniversary of its first performance. Also, anniversary audio from Tommy Dorsey's orchestra, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, The Starland Vocal Band, and Jeff Daniels. Oh, and the uncredited Tommy Dorsey Orchestra track is... "I'll Take Tallulah".

On Lithuanian Independence Day, we'll look at Studebaker's origins, observe the birthdays of Edgar Bergen, Hugh Beaumont, and John McEnroe, and bring you anniversary music from Bessie Smith and Elvis

We observe Canada's National Flag Day, New Zealand's National Lamb Day, and the anniversary of the explosion of the US battleship Maine in Havana Harbor. Also, music of Duke Ellington, Inner Circle, and UB40. Plus... the Teddy Bear turns 104.

A brief history of St. Valentine's Day and a few things that also happened on this date, including the premier of the WWII radio series This is War, the revival of West Side Story, Jacqueline Kennedy's White House tour, Aretha Franklin's Respect, and Jack Benny's birth, among others.

It's Get a Different Name Day (with thanks to wellcat.com), and we'll start there on today's show, segue to the birthdays of a couple actors who changed their names, and then bring you anniversary audio from Bruno Hauptman, William Winter, and Jack Webb.

On this first day of Random Acts of Kindness Week, it's Clean Out Your Desk Day. We observe both and bring you the link between Charles Darwin and a riot in Ecuador. Also, Lorne Greene's link to Santa Anna, and anniversary audio the McGuire Sisters, Barbie, and Ray Manzarek. Oh yeah, and it's Lincoln's birthday!

We observe the origins of volleyball, intercollegiate basketball, the Davis Cup, and the Brickyard, and listen to anniversary audio from She Done Him Wrong, the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, The Bradys on CBS, the Simpson's Itchy, Scratchy, and Poochie Show, and the two links between Bill Haley and Halley's Comet.

A nod to Narvik, Norway, on its Sun Pageant Day, the two Salem teens who weren't witches, The Boy Scouts of America on its founding day (and FDR's anniversary speech), Jimmy Carter's first press conference as President, Larry Flynt's sentencing and brief incarceration, Spud Webb's slam-dunk, and Andy Rooney's suspension

On this day in history... Grenada's National Day, the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904, Pinocchio released (whilst Felix the Cat holds on), Frank Sinatra's Everything Happens to Me, the Beatles at JFK, Cassius Clay becomes Muhammad Ali, debut of This is Tom Jones, and the release of Blazing Saddles

The background on New Zealand's Waitangi Day, the arrest of Paul Harvey, Murrow's Castro interview, Reagan's birth, and Vince Guaraldi's passing.

A brief history of the Tybee Bomb, jettisoned 49 years ago today, and anniversary audio from Enrique Caruso, The Smothers Brothers, Nigel Tufnel, and Howard Stern