Day Tripping: November 2

Moonlight Man

Burt Lancaster was born in Manhattan, New York in 1913. He grew up in a working-class home where his father worked as a mailman. Burt became a high school basketball star and earned an athletic scholarship to New York University.

At the age of nine, Lancaster first met his lifelong friend, Nick Cravat, and when Burt dropped out of college, they started a duo circus act. The pair worked as acrobats for Kay Brothers Circus during the 1930s.

“Take the feeling of hunger out of your gut, and you’re no longer a champion.”

An injury ended Lancaster’s circus degree, so he went to work as a singing waiter until joining the Army during World War II. After his service, Lancaster landed a short-lived role on Broadway which got him a look from Hollywood. His first released film role was opposite Ava Gardner in The Killers, a film noir classic.

Following more roles as the heavy, Burt won an Oscar for Elmer Gantry in 1960. He then starred in Stanley Kramer’s acclaimed Judgement At Nuremberg.

Lancaster worked on several occasions with his friend, Kirk Douglas. He also fought against AIDS and in 1985 when Rock Hudson died from the disease, Burt read his friend's last words at the Commitment to Life fundraiser. He was also the only major star to appear at Hudson’s funeral.

His filmography included notable works like Birdman of Alcatraz, The Swimmer, and The Professionals. Burt Lancaster’s final film performance was in 1990, fittingly iconic as old Doc ‘Moonlight’ Graham in Field of Dreams.

Musical Ride

At Game 5 of the World Series in 1968, Jose Feliciano performed the Star Spangled Banner on his acoustic guitar. His rendition appeared on the Hot 100 charts afterward. Every major star has been trying to out-spangle the next ever since.

Interesting Notes

Aviation mogul Howard Hughes flew his wood-framed aircraft, the Spruce Goose for one mile in 1947. Hughes’ plane was then the world’s largest with a wingspan of 320 feet.

Gone But Not Forgotten

George Bernard Shaw was one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th century with works including Pygmalion, Man and Superman, and Major Barbara. Shaw died in 1950 at 94.

Notable Births

1944 — Keith Emerson: “I consider everything I compose a gift.”

1961 — k.d. lang: “When women make their image about youth and sexuality, and not about intellect, that’s kind of a dead-end road. So I think it’s a combination of self-entrapment and entrapment by society.”

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

All previous Day Tripping entries are available at the following links:

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

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