August 6, 2021 ON THIS DAY
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE AUGUST 6, 1964
UNION chiefs are being urged to let women work as bus drivers and Tube guards in London. A rail union official in London said: ‘We don’t think they would react quickly enough in emergencies. Anyway, they would be exposed to the danger of assault by roughs and drunks.’
AUGUST 6, 1986
DALLAS star Linda Gray is threatening to quit the TV soap if women in the series are forced to play second fiddle to the men. The Dallas sexual revolution is sparked by a decision to bring Bobby Ewing back from the dead. Miss Gray said: ‘To be told he’s coming to save the show didn’t sit well.’
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MICHELLE YEOH, 59. The Malaysian star (right) of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Crazy Rich Asians played a Bond Girl in Tomorrow Never Dies. She says she has turned down countless roles from directors who wanted her to play fragile Asian women — the ‘Ming Vase’ stereotype. SIR CHRIS BONINGTON, 87. In 1975, the London-born mountaineer led the expedition that made the first successful ascent of the south-west face of Everest. Sir Chris was funded on one expedition by condom makers Durex and said: ‘We had to discuss the ethics of taking money from cigarette brand Rothmans. Several team members smoked like chimneys, so we took it.’
BORN ON THIS DAY
DAME BARBARA WINDSOR (1937-2020). The 4ft 10in EastEnders star (right) was born in Shoreditch, East London. Her Carry On co-star Sid James once told her: ‘Sitting there you look quite normal. So how come when you get up on stage you have these enormous knockers?’ She shot back: ‘It’s called acting, Sid.’ ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987). The U.S. pop art pioneer made his name with screenprints of everything from Marilyn Monroe to Brillo pads. Warhol wore wigs that were dark at the back and blond at the front and glued them on because he was so scared they would fall off.
ON AUGUST 6 . . .
IN 1960, Chubby Checker introduced The Twist to the world, on Dick Clark’s Saturday-night TV show. He explained: ‘Pretend you’re wiping your bottom with a towel as you get out of the shower, and putting out a cigarette with both feet.’ IN 1984, Sebastian Coe won a second 800 metres Olympic medal in Los Angeles. As Lord Coe, he chaired the organising committee for the 2012 Games in London.
WORD WIZARDRY GUESS THE DEFINITION: Pippin (c late 13th century)
A) A youth between a boy and a man. B) A kind of apple. C) The traditional headdress of nuns.
Answer below.
PHRASE EXPLAINED Go for a song: meaning to be sold for a very small sum of money. The phrase is found in William Shakespeare’s 1605 play All’s Well That Ends Well.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
I’ll not listen to reason . . . Reason always means what someone else has got to say.
Elizabeth Gaskell, novelist (1810-1865)
JOKE OF THE DAY
WHAT’S the difference between a buffalo and a bison? You can’t wash your hands in a buffalo. Guess The Definition answer: B.