No toot from the horn

25 years ago — 1993

The curator of the Beatle museum set up shop at the Liberty Bowl Tuesday, as Paul McCartney’s one-night Wonders presented the musical memories of a generation. And while McCartney’s “New World Tour” drew several generations of fans, most of the 40,000 in attendance were Baby Boomers who grew up with the Fab Four. Considering that the former Beatle turns 51 in June, it seems likely that this 14-date run is McCartney’s last major American tour and Tuesday night his final Memphis concert.

50 years ago — 1968

NEW YORK — Aircraft and tools magnate Howard Hughes has moved into the billionaire class, a lonely eminence of wealth occupied a decade ago by only one American, oilman J. Paul Getty, a survey showed Sunday. The study published by Fortune magazine, its first survey of American millionaires since 1957, showed that the nation also has six half-billionaires and 153 persons with more than 100 million dollars apiece.

75 years ago — 1943

Speeches, a grand parade down Beale Street and a War Bond auction climaxed the Negro division of the Shelby County bond drive last night. The Memphis Negroes exceeded their goal of one million dollars, the largest contribution by any Negro group in the country.

100 years ago — 1918

WASHINGTON — The big naval appropriations bill, for 1.5 billion dollars, passed the House yesterday by a unanimous vote. It will allow the United States to develop the largest submarine destroyer force in the world, to boost the enlisted strength of the Navy from 78,000 to 330,000 and that of the Marine Corps from 30,000 to 75,000, and to build a fleet of Henry Ford’s Eagles (destroyer chasers).

125 years ago — 1893

CHICAGO — An irreverent scoundrel tried to steal the ashes of Christopher Columbus last night from the Convent La Rabida where they are on loan from a cathedral in Spain. He put the small urn containing the ashes in his pocket while the guard’s back was turned. The thief made it to the front door where a scuffle ensued and the guard caught the ashes in mid-air.

Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale, attempting to toot his Beale Street horn during an appearance in Memphis on April 28, 1984, had to look down the bell of his tiny bugle when no sound came out. Looking on are Rev. James Smith (left),...