ON THIS DAY
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE MARCH 24, 1949
WINSTON CHURCHILL (right) came to New York today — to cheers, a sprinkling of boos from ‘No war’ pickets and a Press conference so big it became a mass meeting. Tens of thousands of New Yorkers massed outside the Cunard pier to welcome him, to yell ‘Good old Winnie’. Mr Churchill said: ‘I hardly expected anything like this. I’m out of office after all.’
MARCH 24, 1966
MICHAEL CRAWFORD, known as Byron in the BBC’s satire shows, was called up to receive the award for the most promising newcomer to British films. But it was the most embarrassing moment of his life.
He took 13 strides to the top table at the British film Academy ceremony. Then he was told: ‘It’s not you.’ With a quick correction, compere Michael Scott announced that it had been won by Judi Dench for her performance in four In The Morning.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
GRAEME SWANN, 38. The cricket star played 60 Test matches during his England career. After winning the Ashes, he triumphed in Celebrity Mastermind (Star Wars was his special subject) and said: ‘It’s better than winning the Ashes. At least this trophy is the real thing.’ TOMMY HILFIGER, 66. The U.S. fashion designer, whose company was bought for £2 billion in 2010, popularised the ‘preppy’ look. He got the idea for his brand as a teenager while flicking through records in his bedroom: ‘I was looking at Jim Morrison and David Bowie and Mick Jagger and I thought: “Ah! I want to look like them!” ’
BORN ON THIS DAY
WILLIAM MORRIS (18341896). The designer — whose 19th-century motifs such as the Strawberry Thief (right) are still popular — was the father of the Arts and Crafts movement. Born in Walthamstow, his wife, model Jane Burden, was muse to PRERAPHAELITE artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti. ROSCOE ‘FATTY’ ARBUCKLE (18871933). The U.S. silent film star, who weighed 21 stone, was the world’s highest paid entertainer with a $1 million-a-year contract (then worth £225,000) in 1919. But he was sacked after he was acquitted of the rape and manslaughter of a starlet. An alcoholic, he died aged 46 of a heart attack.
ON MARCH 24 . . .
IN 1603, James VI of Scotland became James I of England. IN 2002, Halle Berry became the first black winner of the best actress Oscar.
WORD WIZARDRY
NEW TERM OF THE DAY Cool beans: An exclamation of approval or delight. GUESS THE DEFINITION
Adamitism (by Thomas Carlyle in 1831): A) Damning by faint praise. B) Nakedness for religious reasons. C) Mentioning something by saying you won’t mention it. Answer below PHRASE EXPLAINED
Cornish hug: An embrace that causes you to be thrown over. Cornish men were famous wrestlers who tried to throttle their opponents with a special grip.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
THE soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience. Emily Dickinson, U.S. poet (1830-1886) JOKE OF THE DAY I FEAR for the calendar... its days are numbered. Guess The Definition answer: B.