While I’m not focusing on events 60 years in the past (our links to 100, 80, and 50 are more than enough), occasionally I depart from something, particularly if it occured in the first few months of my six decades here on Earth. Here's an interesting one:
30 August 1963
The Department of Defense made a one-sentence announcement to the press on this occasion, that being: "The direct communication link between Washington and Moscow is now operational."
It was not a phone link, by the way, but a teletype link.
The cassette tape was introduced by Philips at the annual Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin.
My mother had an early tape recorder which she used somehow in the context of her studies at the local community college. I recall that it was a gift from my father, and regarded as expensive at the time. She kept it in good condition. I recall it had a separate microphone.
I wonder what happened to it?
Eddie Mannix died at age 72.
Mannix is families to Coen Brother's fans as the central character in Hail, Ceasar!, although the quasi comedic portrayal given there considerably cleans up his actual nature. In the film, Mannix is portrayed as a devout Catholic family man burdened with the job of keeping Hollywood dimwits out of trouble. The portrayal is a great one. In reality, Mannix was a fixer, and actually was Catholic, but is associated with a string of at least rumored despicable acts. He and his second wife (his first wife died early in their marriage) never had any children.
His record of film costs has proved to be an invaluable historic resource.
