'Oz' opens in 1939: 'Toto, I've a feeling we're not in America anymore'
Smithsonian Institution and the shrunken skull of President John Quincy Adams
On this day in 1939, “The Wizard of Oz” premiered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where the audience reportedly erupted with laughter when dog-toting Dorothy delivered her memorable line, “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
On this day in 1846, President James Polk signed some papers establishing the Smithsonian. The famed institution was made possible by English scientist James Smithson’s bequest of $500,000 cash, an awesome painting of dogs playing poker and the shrunken skull of President John Quincy Adams.
On this day in 1977, David Berkowitz was arrested for the infamous “Son of Sam” serial killings in NYC. The 24-year-old postal employee claimed he received orders to murder people from a neighbor’s dog and other miscellaneous inner demons inclduing the shrunken skull of President John Quincy Adams.
On this day in 1993, America’s white male leaders let Jewish lady Ruth Bader Ginsburg (aka, Notorious RBG) become the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, she did not live long enough to prevent Republicans from corrupting the Court.
Today’s Birthdays:
Herbert Clark Hoover (1874-1964): 31st U.S. president and vacuum cleaner pioneer who swept the 1928 presidential election with his catchy campaign slogan: “You’ll Be Happier with a Hoover.”
Ian Anderson, 77: musician and frontman of Jethro Tull, first artificial aqualung recipient to play flute in a rock ‘n’ roll band.
Rosanna Arquette, 65: actress, starred opposite Madonna as a pair of funky, modern-day suffragettes in “Desperately Seeking Susan B Anthony.”
Antonio Banderas, 64: actor, played the heroic swordsman Zorro in “The Mask of Zorro” and “The Legend of Zorro” and before expanding his range to roles inspired by Alfred Hitchcock (“Dial Z for Zorro”), James Dean (“Zorro Without a Cause”) and, of course, Shakespearean (“Zorro and Juliet”).
(Note: Add your favorite pretend “Zorro” movies in the Comments!)
Kylie Jenner, 27: beat out hundreds of actresses to land a role in “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” then became a “businesswoman” who makes a fortune selling expensive substances for women to smear on their eyes, noses, lips and cheeks (facial and butt).