Dorothy Parker died on this date in 1967. Because it is possible you have not heard her voice, here is a 1926 recording, found on “brainpickings,” of her reading “Inscription for the Ceiling of a Bedroom” (after the jump):

Daily dawns another day;
I must up, to make my way.
Though I dress and drink and eat,
Move my fingers and my feet,
Learn a little, here and there,
Weep and laugh and sweat and swear,
Hear a song, or watch a stage,
Leave some words upon a page,
Claim a foe, or hail a friend —
Bed awaits me at the end.
 
Though I go in pride and strength,
I’ll come back to bed at length.
Though I walk in blinded woe,
Back to bed I’m bound to go.
High my heart, or bowed my head,
All my days but lead to bed.
Up, and out, and on; and then
Ever back to bed again,
Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall —
I’m a fool to rise at all!—”Inscription for the Ceiling of a Bedroom”

 
* * * *
President Dwight D. Eisenhower attended his 40th class reunion at West Point in June 1955 and the event was televised on this date that year—in color. He was the first president to appear on color TV. No video remains of the broadcast.

* * * *
When Chet Huntley retired from co-anchoring the news (with David Brinkley) in August 1970, NBC News thought that perhaps a trio of anchors would be an improvement over a duo, so that network began to broadcast the news as presented by three men, each one a highly capable journalist: Brinkley, John Chancellor, Frank McGee. The confusing format only deepened the audience affection for the nightly news as presented by one anchor at CBS: Walter Cronkite.

In August 1971, NBC gave the anchor job to John Chancellor alone, but he never defeated Cronkite in the ratings. Thus, 40 years ago tonight, NBC brought back David Brinkley to co-anchor with Chancellor.

* * * *
E.M. Forster died on this date in 1970. Henry Miller died on this date in 1980. Sir Christopher Lee died one year ago today.

* * * *
Thurman Munson was born on this date in 1947. Prince would be 58 today.

Sir Tom Jones is 76 today. Prince and he shared quite a history. Here is “Purple Rain,” sung by Tom Jones, with David Gilmour, guitar:

Jaime Laredo is 75 today. Nikki Giovanni is 73. Jenny Jones is 70 today. Liam Neeson is 64. Johnny Clegg is 63. Louise Erdrich is 62. Mick Foley is 51. Damien Hirst is 51. Bear Grylls is 42. Allen Iverson is 41. Bill Hader is 38. Anna Kournikova is 35. Michael Cera is 28.

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