1776 How Many Colonists Were “Patriots” In The Revolution?

Leave a reply

Many Colonists Did Not Want To Break With Great Britain

“Loyalists” Were Merely On The Losing Side Of History Says John Hyde Preston

We all know the saying that history is written by the victors. But, as the United States celebrates America 250 on July 4, we don’t acknowledge an overlooked fact.

There were a great number of colonists that did not want to be free of England. These were the  Loyalists; those remaining faithful subjects of King George III. And the Loyalists were the losers.

Many colonists had grievances with the King of England. But they did not necessarily wish to dissolve ties with Great Britain.  As far as government, a great number of the colonists did not wish to “alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,” as the Declaration of Independence states.

Most Americans today assume the revolution was inevitable due to British oppression. They assume most colonists were rabid patriots starving for liberty and those loyal to the King were a small minority.

That is not the truth.

John Hyde Preston’s dynamic, yet forgotten history of the Revolutionary War, Revolution 1776, Harcourt, Brace and Company (1933), delves into the topic of the numbers when it comes to “Patriots” during the rebellion. Continue reading →

Thank You For Your Service In World War II

1 Reply

A Thank You Letter My Grandfather Received After Serving In The Army Air Corps During World War II

When my grandfather was returning from World War II to civilian life in November 1945 he managed to accumulate a bunch of ribbons and medals during his years in the service. He was quick to put the war behind him, discarding much, except for a few precious possessions.

My grandfather saved some photographs of his fellow soldiers and all the correspondence exchanged to and from my grandmother.

Recently I was going through his things and I was a bit surprised that he saved what appears to be a form letter of sorts.

General Fay R Upthegrove

The short letter is personally addressed Continue reading →

Turning Immigrant Children Into Good Americans – 1893

1 Reply

Indoctrinating Young Immigrants To Be Patriotic

Independence Day Celebration

A Short Article From The New York Evening World July 3, 1893

Immigrant street scene with patriotic children NYC circa 1916

CHEERED LIKE AMERICANS

Independence Day Exercises at
the Baron de Hirsch School.

Little immigrants Show the Results
of Patriotic Training.

Four hundred and fifty very bright-looking little boys and girls, children of Russian Hebrew Immigrants and pupils of the English day classes of the Baron de Hirsch fund school, this morning commemorated Independence Day at the Hebrew Institute, East Broadway and
Jefferson street.

The exercises were simple, but full of patriotism, and gave ample evidence of the wisdom of that part of the curriculum introduced by Auditor Balch, of the Board of Education, which relates to the inculcation of sentiments of love for “Old Glory” and the country over which it floats. Continue reading →

Old New York In Photos #196 – Union Square East 1905

2 Replies

Union Square 14th Street & 4th Avenue 1905

We are looking east along 14th Street towards Fourth Avenue. There are al least 50 people in the background, but the sparsity of pedestrians and traffic in this usually very busy area indicates that this was probably taken on a Sunday morning.

The seven small buildings between 14th and 15th Streets feature advertising of the day.

With street scenes as this, establishing a date is as simple as looking at the surroundings. Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #195 – Tyrone Power & Sonja Henie

Leave a reply

Tyrone Power & Sonja Henie Dining -1937

Skating Star & Actor Who Are Romancing
Beverly Hills, CA – Sonja Henie, famous figure skating star, at present working in pictures in Hollywood, and Tyrone Power actor, do a little billing and cooing at the Tropics Cafe, here. Photo: International News Photos February 7 , 1937.

Tyrone Power was Sonja Henie’s co-star in Thin Ice with production of the film running from May through July 1937. It’s the story of a hotel ski instructor who falls in love with a man who goes skiing every morning.

Sonja Henie was born on April 8, 1912. The Norwegian three-time Gold medal Olympic skater Continue reading →

Bob Feller Wins Father Of The Year

Leave a reply

Bob Feller Kisses Wife After Winning “Sports Father Of The Year” 1948

FELLER NAMED SPORTS FATHER OF THE YEAR
New York, NY –  Bob Feller kisses his wife, who ought to know, after he is awarded medal as 1948’s “Sports Father Of The Year” at the Yankee Stadium here today. In addition to the kiss, Mrs. Feller got orchids from her husband too. The medal was awarded to the Cleveland star pitcher by an ice cream company in behalf of the youngsters of America who look upon Bob as quite a guy. Photo: Herb Scharfman / International News,  June 12, 1948

The award to Feller was first announced on May 26, 1948 by the National Father’s Day Committee. The previous year’s sports award winner was Babe Ruth. The award was given to Feller between games of a double-header at Yankee Stadium.

68,586 fans attended the twin-bill on June 12 and saw the Indians sweep the Yankees 7-5 and 9-4.

The Indians would go on to win the World Series in 1948.

In 1948, the 29-year-old Feller had two sons Steven and Martin. A third son, Winthrop Bruce Feller was born 1950.

But Feller had issues with his wife Virginia Winther, who he married on January 16, 1943.

According to the Society for American Baseball Research,  “Virginia, had become addicted Continue reading →

Marilyn Monroe’s 100th Birthday – What She Would Look Like In 2026

Leave a reply

June 1 Is The 100th Anniversary Of Marilyn Monroe’s Birth

What Would Marilyn Look Like Today?

Marilyn Monroe in New York City sitting by a fountain. c 1955 photo Sam Shaw

The odds that any female movie legend reaches the age of 100 are extremely slim.

Currently Eva Marie Saint (On The Waterfront; North By Northwest) is 101. Lee Grant (In The Heat of the Night; Shampoo) is 100. Olivia de Havilland lived to 104. Gloria Stuart (Titanic, The Invisible Man) was 100 when she died. If movie stars do reach the magic age of 100 they generally stay out of the spotlight and will not allow photographs to be taken of them.

Had Marilyn Monroe not died at age 36 on August 4, 1962, it is unlikely she would have lived to be 100-years-old. Life expectancy actuarial tables bear this out. Marilyn’s documented medical issues, both physical and mental, would be another longevity barrier, Speculating what Marilyn would look like at 100 is preposterous.

But why should that stop Artificial Intelligence programs from creating an image of what Marilyn would look like at age 100?

Marilyn Monroe 2026 AI photo edited

If Marilyn Had Aged

Marilyn Monroe’s mother- Gladys Pearl Monroe Baker Mortensen Eley c 1970s.

Gladys Baker Eley July 6 , 1963 photo: AP

Marilyn’s mother Gladys Monroe Baker lived until 1984, dying at  the age of 81.

These two photographs of Gladys, Continue reading →

A Play At The Plate You’ll No Longer See

Leave a reply

Rusty Staub Takes Out Catcher Jerry May At Home Plate – 1970

MONTREAL: Montreal Expos’ Rusty Staub (10) collides with Pittsburgh Pirates’ catcher Jerry May (12) after scoring Montreal’s second R.B.I. on a single by Coco Laboy, which also scored Don Hahn in the first inning here. August 4, 1970 photo: UPI Telephoto

Even though Rusty Staub scored, the Expos lost the game 4-2.

Baseball players have always played hard. It’s just that Continue reading →