Day Tripping: March 28

Mayhem, Missed Opportunities, and Meltdowns

Welcome to my daily feature where each day on the calendar marks a part of our shared history.

Sent Packing

During Passover season in 1917, the entire population of over 90,000 Jews in Jaffa and Tel Aviv were forced from their homes by Turkish authorities. The ruling handed down by Ottoman Governor, Jamal Pasha, made the Jewish citizens refugees in their own homeland, unhappy that the Jews had openly welcomed the British arrival to the region.

Pasha‘s intent was to send a clear message to the Jewish population they would suffer the same fate as Armenians who were being slaughtered. On the days when Jews were celebrating their freedom from Egyptian bondage, they were once again cast out from their homes without food, transportation, or a place to go.

Bad Advice

Barbara Streisand visits Elvis Presley backstage after his concert at the Las Vegas Hilton in 1975 and offers him the lead role in her new film which he shows interest in accepting. However, on the advice of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis demands more money than the producers of A Star Is Born are willing to pay, and they cast Kris Kristofferson instead.

This was the third version of four for this film. The original was made in 1937 starring Janet Gaynor and Frederic March, the second in 1954 with Judy Garland and Mason. You probably remember the last remake in 2018 with someone named Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.

Radioactive Scare

During the dawn hours of the morning in 1979, coolant began leaking from pressure valves in the Number 2 reactor at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. Had the cooling pumps been left to perform their function automatically, it would have prevented what became the largest nuclear disaster in American history. Instead, the operators on duty misunderstood their instruments and shut down the cooling system.

With less than an hour before reaching critical levels, the site’s personnel realized the error and let water flow again, averting a complete meltdown. Though the radioactive leak was mostly contained inside Number 2 reactor, the incident signaled the end of the nuclear power era in the United States, and no more nuclear plants were ever built.

Musical Milestones

During his appearance on the Muppet Show in 1978, Alice Cooper offers his hosts fame and fortune if they sign their souls over to him. While Kermit the Frog is aghast, Gonzo goes in search of a pen for the rest of the show. Alice performs Welcome to My Nightmare and School’s Out on the show. Enjoy!

Narratives

Police find a crashed car full of quaaludes, cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and a concealed revolver on the San Diego Freeway in 1982. The car’s sole occupant is singer/songwriter David Crosby who was en route to a ‘No Nukes’ rally. Crosby’s lawyer pleads down to a reckless driving charge.

Remembrance

Often called Canada’s version of Mark Twain, Stephen Leacock was an accomplished writer and humorist. A favourite of Jack Benny and Groucho Marx, Leacock died in 1944.

His works in a multitude of media including stained glass, screenings, tapestries, and canvas reveal a legacy of Jewish art. Marc Chagall passed away in 1985.

Notable Births

1986 — Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta is born, otherwise known as the aforementioned…Lady Gaga

K. Barrett Katie Wallace Maria Rattray Maryam Merchant Dr Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, PhD. Terry Trueman Dr Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan ScienceDuuude Marcus Liam Ireland Claire Kelly Noorain Hassan, BMS Amy Pierovich

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