ON THIS DAY
April 4, 2017
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE
APRIL 4, 1953 AT The age of four, Prince Charles has been raised to the status of an international personality. In a full-length article in Newsweek — The Very Model Of A royal Future — he is described as ‘proud, self-possessed and remarkably patient’. The Prince recently stopped a visitor in the corridor and asked where he was going. ‘To see the Queen,’ he was told. ‘Who is she?’ the surprised visitor was asked. ‘She’s your mother.’ At which the Prince just said ‘Oh’ and walked off quietly. APRIL 4, 1957 Prince Philip gave his first lantern lecture yesterday, on his Commonwealth tour, to 2,000 secondary school children and a handful of diplomats in London’s royal Festival hall. his pictures were accompanied by a non-stop flow of wisecracks. On the east Indies: ‘Look at these funny-looking gentlemen’, he said, as pictures of native warriors came on screen. ‘I wouldn’t like to meet one of them on a dark night.’
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
DAVID BLAINE, 44. The U.S. illusionist (pictured), dubbed the hip-hop houdini, signed a million-dollar TV contract with ABC in the U.S. after wowing executives by levitating in the boardroom. Cherie Lunghi, 65. The english actress says she’s amused so many men describe her as ‘still’ attractive, adding: ‘They’re surprised the ravages of time haven’t wrought devastating havoc on me.’
BORN ON THIS DAY
Peter Vaughan (1923-2016). The Shropshire-born character actor’s most famous part was gangster grouty in Porridge, But he also starred with ballet dancer rudolf Nureyev in the film Valentino and Sinatra in The Naked runner and, more recently, was in game Of Thrones. he said the secret to his career longevity was: ‘Luck, good wine and beer. I just had a damn good time.’ MAYA Angelou (1928-2014). The U.S. writer, poet and civil rights activist (pictured), was at one time a Broadway actress, dancer, waitress, prostitute and pimp. raped at seven by her mother’s boyfriend, she refused to speak for the next five years. Aged 15, she was also San Francisco’s first female cable car conductor.
ON APRIL 4 . . .
IN 1818, the U.S. congress decided the American flag would feature 13 red and white stripes (the number of the original colonies) and a star for each state.
IN 1964, The Beatles held the entire top five of the American Billboard music chart — the only act ever to achieve the feat in a week. Can’t Buy Me Love was at No 1, followed by Twist And Shout, She Loves You, I Want To hold Your hand and Please Please Me.
WORD WIZARDRY
NEW PHRASE OF THE DAY
Push present — a present a man gives to his partner after she has given birth to their child. GUESS THE DEFINITION Beeswing (coined 1860) A) to stand at a shop-door and invite customers in B) the scum found on top of aged wine C) to speak in a prissy manner usually with pursed lips. Answer below PHRASE EXPLAINED
Hung on the nail: To be pawned. each item pawned was hung on a nail, with a number attached and customers given a duplicate.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
If I get married, I want to be very married. Audrey Hepburn, actress (1929-93)
JOKE OF THE DAY
WHAT did one earthquake say to the other? It’s not my fault! Word wizardry answer: B