Day Tripping: December 25

Food for thought

Rod Serling was born in 1924 in Syracuse, New York. As a child in Binghamton where his family moved, Rod entertained himself for hours acting out stories from magazines. Sometimes he had an audience of schoolmates, and sometimes not.

On family road trips someone would ask Rod a question. He would talk nonstop for the rest of the journey. In school, he was branded the class clown and his teachers felt Rod would never amount to much.

“Every writer is a frustrated actor who recites his lines in the hidden auditorium of his skull.”

After graduating high school, Serling enlisted in the US Army in 1943. Born Jewish, his hope was to fight Hitler in Europe. But instead, he was sent with paratroopers to the Philippines.

The carnage Serling witnessed while fighting Japanese soldiers caused nightmares and flashbacks for the rest of his life. Serling fought in the battle to liberate the city of Manila. The street fight went on for one month.

Later, Rod was wounded and three of his comrades were killed. He was awarded a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Themes from his future writing dealt regularly with his war experience.

After the war, Rod Serling earned extra money by testing parachutes for the US Airforce. A week before his wedding day, he tested a jet ejection that had killed three men who tested it before. Rod was paid $1000 for the successful jump.

As he gained fame from radio and television, Rod Serling became an activist against corporate censorship and social injustice. Sponsors of a show he wrote called Noon On Doomsday heard the storyline involved themes involving anti-semitism.

The teleplay which was set in the American South was inspired by a true story. But sponsors insisted it hit too close to home. Serling was forced to change the setting to an era before the 20th century.

“We’re developing a new citizenry. One that will be very selective about cereals and automobiles, but won’t be able to think.”

Rod Serling remained politically active, commenting often about racial equality. He was also a vocal advocate for anti-war sentiment.

Today is:

You certainly don’t need me to tell you what day this is, so I’ll just say

Happy Christmas to all those who celebrate!

Musical Ride

King of Soul, James Brwon performed a concert for troops in South Carolina while on furlough from the work center he is serving time in 1990.

Gone But Not Forgotten

Las Vegas honored Dean Martin on the night of his death in 1995 by dimming all lights on the strip. Deano was 78 when he died from emphysema-related respiratory failure.

Notable Births

1642 — Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”

1899 — Humphrey Bogart: “The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind.”

K. Barrett Maria Rattray Maryam Merchant Dr. Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, Ph.D. Terry Trueman Dr. Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan ScienceDuuude Marcus Liam Ireland Claire Kelly Noorain Hassan, BMS Amy Pierovich David Acaster Nora Thewriteyard David Perlmutter Joe Luca Holly Kellums Michael Burg, MD Lucy Dan Dave Logan

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The Story Of Day Tripping Through History What’s Past Is Often Present

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