Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, Mar. 3, 2022
1931 Francis Scott Key’s song “The Star Spangled Banner” was adopted as the American national anthem by the U.S. Congress. The anthem was adopted after a public outcry when a 1929 Ripley’s Believe it of Not cartoon pointed out there was no American national anthem. Key wrote the song in 1814 after seeing the American flag flying following the British bombardment of Ft. McHenry during the War of 1812.
1934 Bank robber John Dillinger escaped from the “escape proof” Indiana Crown Point Maximum Security Prison. According to FBI files, he used a fake gun carved from a potato; however, he claimed it was carved out of wood, while others said he had a real gun.
1951 The long-running children’s science show Watch Mr. Wizard debuted, starring Don Herbert as Mr. Wizard. The show ran until 1965.
Music History:
1966 Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay formed Buffalo Springfield in Los Angeles. Among the first wave of American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined rock, folk, and country music into a sound all its own. It’s million-selling song ‘For What It’s Worth’ became a political anthem for the turbulent late 1960s.
Notable Birthdays:
Actress Jessica Biel 39
Olympic track and field gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee is 59.
Hall of Fame football great Herschel Walker 59
Credit to:
Thisdayinmusic.com and Thisdaytrivia.com
