April 26 2013 Fri BDE.pdf - Brooklyn Daily Eagle

On This Day in HistoryBrooklyn’s Only Daily Record of Historical Events in the BoroughFounded1841Frederic Law Olmstedwas born on April 26,1822. As a landscapearchitect, the City ofBrooklyn engaged him todesign Prospect Park.Photo: Eagle Collection,Brooklyn Public LibraryCarol Burnett, actress (“Garry Moore Show,” “Carol Burnett Show,” The Four Seasons)born in San Antonio, TXJoan Chen, actress (“Twin Peaks,” “Golden Gates”)born in Shanghai, ChinaMichael Damian, actor (“Young & the Restless”;stage, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat),born in San Diego, CADuane Eddy, musician, born in Corning, NYGiancarlo Esposito, actor (Do the Right Thing, Twilight),born in Copenhagen, DenmarkKevin James, actor (“The King of Queens”), born inStony Brook, NYBobby Rydell, singer (“Wild One,” “Volare”), born inPhiladelphia, PAGary Wright, musician, born in Englewood, NJFrederick Law Olmsted,Designer ofProspect Park— Birthdays — April 26 —April 26ARCHITECT’S BIRTH ANNIVERSARY: Olmsted was born in Hartford, CT. in April 26,1822. He was educated at Yale College (now Yale Univ.). He traveled throughout Europe andthe U.S. studying landscape gardening and agricultural methods.In 1857 Olmsted was appointed superintendent of Central Park in Manhattan, the first great metropolitanpark in the U.S. In collaboration with landscape architect Calvert Vaux he designed newplans for the park, which had a strong influence on park design throughout the country. Subsequently,he planned a large number of city parks, including Morningside and Riverside in Manhattan,Jackson and Washington parks in Chicago; and the grounds of the Capitol in Washington, DC.Brooklynites remember him most for his part in planning Prospect Park. Frederick Olmstedand Calvert Vaux saw Prospect Park as a kind of preservation society. It was just to provide “anopportunity for getting fresh air and exercise,” explained Olmsted. “The main object is to producea certain influence in the minds of people and through this to make life in the city healthierand happier.” The two visionaries, Olmsted and Vaux, foresaw the arrival of the urban asphaltjungle. But the park must not only preserve; itmust also be, he felt, a civilized refuge thatblended into the city.Olmsted was the first commissionerof Yosemite National Park, CA.He was one of the first landscapearchitects in America to preservethe natural features of the terrainand to add naturalistic elementswhen lacking. Olmsteddied on August 28, 1903 in Waverly,MA. His home and studio,Fairsted Estate outside of Boston,is now preserved as a National HistoricSite and is open to the public.With partner Calvert Vaux, Frederick Law Olmsteddesigned both Brooklyn’s Prospect Park (photos above) and Central Park in Manhattan.Olmsted was also the first commissioner of Yosemite National Park, CA.Joan ChenFROM THE ORIGINAL EAGLE AND OTHER SOURCESCause of Deadly Crash UnsolvedNAPERVILLE, IL -- Few times in Americanrailroading has such near-criminal negligencebeen demonstrated as in the horrendouscrash that took the lives of 45 persons, mostlypassengers, at Naperville, Illinois, at 1 p.m. onApril 26, 1946.The thirteen-car AdvanceFlyer, Burlington's Number11, was speeding westwardwhen it was signaled to stopat Naperville by a brakemanwho thought he saw a largeobject shoot from beneaththe train as it raced over thetracks.While the train was beinginspected, the rear brakeman,James Tagney, jumpedfrom the train with a largered flag in his hand and ranback down the tracks for adistance of 800 feet. Thoughthe track was level andstraight and the weatherclear and sunny, Tagney conscientiouslywaved the flagback and forth.His efforts, thoughmandatory according to regulation,were only supplementary,since the entireroute was marked by signallights, all of which were red while Number 11was in the Naperville station. Yet, Tagneycould see in the distance the fast-approachingExposition Flyer, Burlington's speedy Number39. At the throttle of this train was sixtyeight-yearold M.A. Blaine, an experiencedBambi Up On Her ToesBROOKLYN — Bambi Linn was bornBambina Aennchen Linnemier in Brooklyn onApril 26, 1926. She attended the Children’sProfessional School in Manhattan and studieddancing with Michael Mordkin, Agnes deMille and others. Rodgers and Hammerstein’sOklahoma opened at the St. James Theatre onMarch 31, 1943, in which Bambi appeared inthe role of Aggie. She was 18 at the time. Themusical ran for 2,248 performances. Bambiwas back on Broadway in Rodgers and Hammerstein’sCarousel which opened at the MajesticTheatre April 19, 1945. Bambi’s role inthis hit was as Louise, the daughter who getsslapped causing her father’s return to purgatory.On May 6, 1948 a revival of a 1920 musicalSally, opened at the Martin Beck withBambi in the original Marilyn Miller role.Broadway wasn’t ready for a revival of a1920s musical even though Bambi and co-starWillie Howard got favorable notices. It onlyran 36 performances (the 1920 original hadrun 570). Next came Great to Be Alive, openingMarch 23, 1950 at the Winter Garden. Inspite of a fine cast including Bambi Linn, themusical closed after 52 performances.Carousel was revived in 1954 at New YorkCity Center’s customary popular prices andBambi Linn was back to dance as the daughterwho gets slapped. Bambi married dancer/choreographerRod Alexander Burke, and theyteamed together professionally. Following theirdivorce she married Joseph de Jesus. On andoff-Broadway shows include: Alice In Wonderland(’47), Bloomer Girl (’54), Dance Jubilee(’58), Spoleto Festival in Italy (’59), guestedAmerican Ballet Company, I Can Get It for YouWholesale (’62).Forty-five persons died when ahigh-speed Burlington trainrear-ended another atNaperville, Illinois on April 26,1946.Photo Wide Worldengineer.When Number 39 appeared not to slowdown, Tagney's actions became frenzied. Hejumped up and down and shouted. The ExpositionFlyer kept coming, its speed later estimatedat between 80 and 86 m.p.h. All alongits route approach signalsblinked red, but Blaine eitherdid not see them, ormore inexplicably, refusedto acknowledge them.With a wild shriek Tagneyleaped out of Number39's path at the last moment.He saw its fireman hopdown the stairs from the cab,swing outward for a momentwhile holding a safety bar,and then, moments beforeNumber 39 smashed into therear of the vulnerable AdvanceFlyer, leap for his life.His body hurtled outwardfrom the speeding train andhe was killed when he hit theground.Number 39 screechedsickeningly into Number 11,its weighty diesel engine eatingthree-quarters of the wayinto car thirteen, whichweighed 170,000 pounds.Car twelve, which weighed as much as carthirteen, was only slightly damaged, but the racingweight of Number 39 buckled the eleventhcar, the diner, which had a light metal constructioninto a U-shape. Almost everyone inside waskilled.Bambi Linn was born in Brooklyn onApril 26, 1926. As a dancer and actress herBroadway musical successes include Alicein Wonderland, Oklahoma, and Carousel.She presently operates a school of moderndance in Connecticut.Bambi took up residence in Westport, Connecticut,where she became a teacher and directorof a modern dance school. Her favoriteparts were Alice in Alice in Wonderland, andLouise in Carousel. Her favorite pastimes arewalking and reading.April 26, Brooklyn 2013 • Daily Brooklyn Eagle April Daily 26, Eagle 2013 • 50