This Day in Histor-Bloggery by Michael A. Stusser

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“There’s a fifth dimension beyond what is known to man – a dimension of sight, of sound, and of the mind. You’ve just crossed into…the Twilight Zone”

On this day in 1959, Rod Serling premiered his fantastic and oft-creepy, paranoid program on CBS-TV. Funny thing about the “Twilight Zone” – though it was often advertised as a sci-fi show, there was rarely a scientific explanation for any of the zany discoveries that ever happened …a guy able to transform his face into other people, a soldier who can see death ahead of time, an ever-advancing hitch-hiker (if he can jump ahead like that – why’s he need to hitch?!), that scary monster on the wing! Wanna really be creeped out: Get the DVD with “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.” “Between the pit of man’s fears, and the summit of his knowledge…lies, the realm simple known, as the Twilight Zone…” The original series has 156 episodes, and is a far better use of your time than “The Simple Life”. Better yet, read the scripts…

On October 2, 1967, Thurgood Marshall was sworn in, becoming our nation’s first black Supreme Court Justice. In addition to winning the ground-breaking Brown vs. the Board of Education case as an attorney , Marshall helped dismantle the less-than human “Separate but Equal” standard in the United States, and sparked the civil rights movement. (Oh what I wouldn’t give for us to be able to swap Mr. Marshall with our current African-American justice, Clarence Thomas, who seems hell bent on reversing every case Thurgood ever voted on in his 24 wonderful years on the bench…)

On this day in history in 1984, three cosmonauts returned to earth after a record 237 days in orbit. That’s a long of TANG, folks. The trip was actually supposed to last an entire year, but the Ruskies ran out of vodka, caviar and beef jerky, and figured, since no one was really watching, they might as well head home a spot early. In 2006, cosmonauts made more history when Mikhail Tyurin shanked the longest golf shot in history off the International Space Station. Of course, when it comes to out-of-this-world golfers, our boy Alan Shepard was the first guy to whip a nine-iron out of his space bag (1971). Tiger, eat your heart out…

Forget same-sex marriage – how ‘bout Multiple-Sex-Partner Marriage! On this day in 1871, Mormon advance-man Brigham Young was arrested for bigamy. I don’t have a whole lot more to say on the trial (though the Brigster had more than 20 wives, he was not convicted of a crime), but I did want to make sure my blog had the words “multiple sex partner” and “bigamy” in there…and so I thank Mr. Young in hindsight. That ought increase the Google hits!

Talk about peas in a pod! Cigar-munching American comedian Groucho Marx (1890) and oft-hunger-striking Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi (1869) were both born on October 2^nd, but more importantly, the stork delivered philosopher and icon Kelly Ripa (in 1970). I mean, isn’t she the cutest? So cute, in fact, they should swap her out with Katie Couric who could then go back to reporting stories on her level – like the one about that squirrel on water-skis. And while this fella’s not so cute, Sting too has a birthday today (born in ’51). I never liked Sting (though I’m glad he brought greater awareness to world hunger and yoga ….). Another singer who I do like (born today) and wish was still alive, the fab Don McLean (1945). C’mon, you know the words.

Graham Greene, Brit author of The Power and the Glory, The Quiet American and The Third Man (great book, and damn fine flick adaptation directed by Orson Welles) was born today in 1904. Though Mr. Graham is also a Penguin author of note, I do not like him – not because his work is sub-par (it is not), but because his resume includes 23 more novels than mine, books that have been translated into 26 more languages, with over 20 more million copies sold. And yes, that’s jealousy creeping into the blogosphere….Still, I’ll give him the last word (yes, he’s earned it): “Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, the melancholia, the panic fear which is inherent in the human situation."

Some famous folks also bit the dust on October 2^nd, and should be mentioned in passing. (Puns, anyone?) California Cowboy Gene Autry died in 1998 at the age of 91 (which is still only 91 in horse years…). A little trivia for ya about the Singin’ Cowboy: Gene is the only entertainer to have all five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (for Radio, Recording, Motion Pics, Television and Live Theatre). Rock “Stud Muffin” Hudson (who knew?) died this day of AIDS at age 59 (1985). Actually, now that I think of it, Doris Day and Donna Reed may have been clueless, but I’m sure Liz Taylor knew Rock liked the boys. Still, back in the Golden Age of Hollywood, they knew how to keep a secret. Today, we know too much…

And, finally, on October 2, 1836, Charles Darwin returned to England after five long years of throwing up aboard the HMS Beagle and figuring out that Eve did not come from Adam’s rib. For an in-depth interview with Mr. Darwin, you’ll have to buy my book. But it’ll be worth it – or I’ll be a Monkey’s Uncle.

See you tomorrow for another Day in Histor-Bloggery!

Michael A. Stusser

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The Dead Guy Interviews, Michael Stusser, Penguin Books, celebrities, interviews, books, history, trivia, famous people, Gene+Autry, Don Maclean, Graham Greene, Mohandas Gandhi, Brigham Young, astronaught, Thurgood Marshall, Twilight Zone, Rod Serling, Rock Hudson, Charles Darwin