On this day in history.

[giradman]

June 3, 1877:
Ludwig Alois Friedrich Ritter von Köchl, Austrian musicologist, composer, writer, botanist and publisher, known for cataloguing Mozart's works, died in Vienna (Austria-Hungary).
View attachment 72048
Ludwig Ritter von Köchel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oh yes! The Köchel Numbers - the last major work (left unfinished) was the Requiem in D Minor, K. 626 - I own numerous Mozart CDs (and even multiple different performances of many of his works) and suspect that I have nearly 2/3 of that catalog - my word! Dave

 

[scifan57]

June 3, 1965;

At 120 miles above the surface, Major Edward H. White II becomes the first American to walk in space when he opened the hatch of his Gemini 4 spacecraft and stepped into space. Remaining tethered to the spacecraft, he practiced maneuvering with an oxygen jet propulsion gun. Gemini 4 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[giradman]

June 3. 1800;

John Adams, second president of the United States, becomes the first president to reside in Washington D.C., the new Capitol city when he takes up residence at the Union Tavern in Georgetown.
John Adams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hi Scifan.. - thanks for the information on John Adams trip from Philadelphia to the 'new' capital of Washington, D.C. in June of 1800 - now that town can be miserable in the summer months - Adams moved into the newly constructed 'President's House' ("The earliest evidence of the public calling it the "White House" was recorded in 1811 - Source") on November 1, and of course was not there too long after he failed to secure a second term as President - below a pic of the original plan of the White House, which Thomas Jefferson 'altered' during his 8 years in office. Dave

The city of Washington was created to replace Philadelphia as the nation’s capital because of its geographical position in the center of the existing new republic. The states of Maryland and Virginia ceded land around the Potomac River to form the District of Columbia, and work began on Washington in 1791. French architect Charles L’Enfant designed the city’s radical layout, full of dozens of circles, crisscross avenues, and plentiful parks. In 1792, work began on the neoclassical White House building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue under the guidance of Irish-American architect James Hoban, whose White House design was influenced by Leinster House in Dublin and by a building sketch in James Gibbs’ Book of Architecture. In the next year, Benjamin Latrobe began construction on the other principal government building, the U.S. Capitol.

On June 3, 1800, President Adams moved to a temporary residence in the new capital as construction was completed on the executive mansion. On November 1, the president was welcomed into the White House. The next day, Adams wrote to his wife about their new home: “I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house, and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but wise men ever rule under this roof!” Soon after, Abigail Adams arrived at the White House, and on November 17 the U.S. Congress convened for the first time at the U.S. Capitol (Source).

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[scifan57]

Hi Scifan.. - thanks for the information on John Adams trip from Philadelphia to the 'new' capital of Washington, D.C. in June of 1800 - now that town can be miserable in the summer months - Adams moved into the newly constructed 'President's House' ("The earliest evidence of the public calling it the "White House" was recorded in 1811 - Source") on November 1, and of course was not there too long after he failed to secure a second term as President - below a pic of the original plan of the White House, which Thomas Jefferson 'altered' during his 8 years in office. Dave


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View attachment 72059

It looks like the major alteration was the addition of the portico to the front of the White House.

 

[giradman]

It looks like the major alteration was the addition of the portico to the front of the White House.

Some more pics below about the time (or after) Jefferson's terms in office (Source) - the link has some interesting reading - Dave
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[scifan57]

June 3, 2016;

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali passed away today in Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 74. Muhammad Ali - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I know I'm a day late but this was too important to leave until next year.

 

[giradman]

Battle of Midway Began Today in 1942!

Just 6 months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral "Yamamoto's plan for Midway Island was an extension of his efforts to knock the U.S. Pacific Fleet out of action long enough for Japan to fortify her defensive perimeter in the Pacific island chains. Yamamoto felt it necessary to seek an early, offensive decisive battle (Source)." The result was the most important Japanese-American naval engagement in WW II - the Japanese lost four aircraft carriers and for the rest of the war remained only a 'defensive' force in the Pacific theater (see quote below - Source).

Pics below show the relationship of the Midway Islands (small atolls/isles) to Hawaii - the 4 Japanese aircraft carriers are diagrammed. There is a 1976 star-studded (Heston, Fonda, and many others) movie which is not great (I do not own the film); a much better portrayal of the naval engagement and the search for the USS Yorktown is Robert Ballard's explorations in the late 1990s (the second 'documentary'). Dave

The Battle of Midway was the single most important naval engagement of World War II. Occurring just six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the resounding American victory at Midway checked what had been an almost unbroken string of Japanese victories during the opening phase of the Pacific War.

During a battle that stretched from June 4-7, 1942, the Japanese lost their four finest aircraft carriers—Akagi, Kaga, Hiryū and Sōryū—along with nearly 250 aircraft and over 3,000 sailors killed. In return, the Americans lost the carrier Yorktown, and around 300 men.

This victory restored the balance of carrier power in the Pacific at a crucial time in the war and allowed the Americans to begin considering counter-offensive activities of their own. Just two months later, they would land troops on Guadalcanal, which initiated what was to become the decisive campaign of the entire war. Thus, Midway marks the high tide of the Japanese offensive.

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[scifan57]

I've seen the Charlton Heston Midway movie, extended version. I also read about Robert Ballard discovering the wreck of the Yorktown sitting upright in 15,000 feet of water. This battle was the first big victory by the United States against the Empire of Japan.

 

[giradman]

I've seen the Charlton Heston Midway movie, extended version. I also read about Robert Ballard discovering the wreck of the Yorktown sitting upright in 15,000 feet of water. This battle was the first big victory by the United States against the Empire of Japan.

So, you must have seen this 'extended' version on TV, according to the quote below, i.e. 45 minutes of additional footage in 4:3 aspect ratio was shot for the television airing? That was a while back but I suspect that I would have watched it also.

I was reviewing the Midway BD which is just $8 on Amazon - the length is 2 hrs 11 mins w/ only 10 mins of the TV footage added as an extra; however, the sound has been improved - not sure if a BD version was released w/ the entire additional TV material incorporated, how the aspect ratio differences would be handled (the BD is 2.35:1)? Dave

P.S. Well to 'refresh' my memory, I could stream the film from Amazon for $4 or just buy the BD for $8 - probably will just make a purchase (have Prime so no shipping and will be to my house likely on Monday or Tuesday).

Television version

Shortly after its successful theatrical debut, additional material was assembled and shot in standard 4:3 ratio for a TV version of the film, which aired on NBC. A major character was added: Susan Sullivan played Ann, the girlfriend of Captain Garth, adding depth to his reason for previously divorcing Ensign Garth's mother, and bringing further emotional impact to the fate of Captain Garth. The TV version also has Coral Sea battle scenes to help the plot build up to the decisive engagement at Midway. The TV version was 45 minutes longer than the theatrical film and aired over two nights. Jack Smight directed the additional scenes.

In June 1992, a re-edit of the extended version, shortened to fill a three-hour time slot, aired on the CBS network to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Midway battle. This version brought in successful ratings. Part of this additional footage is available as a bonus feature on the Universal Pictures Home Entertainment DVD of Midway (Source).

 

[scifan57]

June 4, 1876;

The first transcontinental express train from New York City to San Francisco arrives after 83 hours, less than 4 days from coast to coast. Across the Fence: All aboard the Transcontinental Express

 

[giradman]

June 4, 1876;

The first transcontinental express train from New York City to San Francisco arrives after 83 hours, less than 4 days from coast to coast. Across the Fence: All aboard the Transcontinental Express
View attachment 72090

Hey Scifan.. - earlier today, I was on the 'Today in History' website and saw that 1876 train statistic above - nearly 4 days and sure that the folks were amazed back then. Just over a century later (around 1990 or so) - I (and my colleague) got to ride twice (NYC to Paris & back) on the BABY below - MACH 2.04 at 60,000 ft - a mere 3 hour trip - luckily, our expenses were paid for by Siemens & GE. Dave
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[scifan57]

June 5, 2004;

Ronald Reagan, after a long battle with Alzheimer's, passes away at his ranch with his wife Nancy by his side. He was buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Ronald Reagan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[J. A.]

June 6, 1931:
A fire in Munich's Glaspalast destroys more than 3,000 artworks.

Glaspalast (Munich) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[scifan57]

June 6, 1931:
A fire in Munich's Glaspalast destroys more than 3,000 artworks.
View attachment 72127
Glaspalast (Munich) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The same fate that befell the Crystal Palace in London. Being made of iron and glass certainly didn't stop them from burning down.

 

[scifan57]

June 6, 1944;

D-Day, the allied invasion of mainland Europe begins with landings on the beaches of Normandy. Normandy landings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia