Posted in History, tagged american dance festival, durham nc, madonna, richard maschal on November 14, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
In 1978, Richard Maschal of the Charlotte Observer visited Durham to cover the American Dance Festival. In a class of leotard-clad students, he recalled later, “One stood out. She had a beautiful face, the image, I immediately thought, of a Renaissance madonna….We sat on a bench, and I asked her name. ‘Madonna,’ she replied…. She [...]
Posted in On This Day, tagged duke power co, durham nc, durham recorder, great falls sc, james b. duke, southern power co on September 30, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
100 years ago today: James B. Duke’s Southern Power Co., forerunner of Duke Power Co., brings electricity to Durham. Among the bedazzled is a reporter for the Durham Recorder: “From the water driven generators on the Rocky Creek below Great Falls, S.C., the mysterious energy flashed over the lines or tower to tower, over hill [...]
Posted in Just A Bite, tagged creative class, durham nc, raleigh nc, richard florida, thirty two magazine on June 28, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
“[A] test has been done by Mel Gray, who teaches economics at the University of St. Thomas, and the results cast doubt on the idea that a flourishing artistic environment will cause economic growth…. “Gray told me, ‘I spent a sabbatical in North Carolina, and both Raleigh and Durham have established these Offices of Creativity, [...]
Posted in Just A Bite, tagged chapel hill nc, durham nc, eli evans, intellectual center of the south, marvin brody, raleigh nc, sonny evans, the provincials, unc chapel hill on April 19, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
- We… object to the reference to Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh as “a sleepy corner of eastern Carolina.” Wake up! Chapel Hill has long been known as the “Intellectual Center of the South.” Get out of your concrete office and come down to visit modern, industrial North Carolina. MARVIN BRODY SONNY EVANS Chapel Hill, [...]
Posted in Just A Bite, tagged chitlin circuit, durham nc, here come de judge!, laugh-in, look that up in your funk and wagnalls, pigmeat markham, sammy davis jr., vaudeville on March 27, 2012 | 2 Comments »
“['Laugh-In' guest] Sammy Davis Jr., decked out in an oversized judicial wig and robe, introduced a courtroom sketch by strutting across the stage on his Cuban heels, waving his arms and chanting, ‘Here come de judge! Here come de judge! Here come de judge!’ — a line popularized by [Durham-born] black comedian Dewey ‘Pigmeat’ Markham…. [...]
Posted in Just A Bite, Memorabilia Moment, tagged duke ellington, durham nc, edward merrick, in a sentimental mood, nc mutual insurance company, stanley dance on March 7, 2012 | 4 Comments »
“We had played a big dance in a tobacco warehouse, and afterwards a friend of mine, an executive in the North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company [treasurer Edward Merrick], threw a party for us [at the N.C. Mutual Building in Durham]. “I was playing piano when another one of our friends had some trouble with two [...]
Posted in History, On This Day, tagged american legion, armistice day, durham nc, ku klux klan on November 12, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
On this day in 1928: At the request of American Legion officials, Durham police remove a Ku Klux Klan float from line in the annual Armistice Day parade. The float bears the letters “KKK” and two white-draped figures representing “Purity” and “Honesty.” “Since our post is composed of men of all classes and all religious [...]
Posted in Just A Bite, tagged durham nc, greensboro nc, harmon killebrew, jim gentile, raleigh nc, roger maris, sportswriters, wilson nc on May 25, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
“Roger’s long torturous season [1961, in which he hit a record 61 homers] was over…He had committed to a traveling, postseason home-run-derby exhibition that also featured Harmon Killebrew and Jim Gentile…. He had a miserable experience. Again, the press was at the heart of his problems. Gentile recalls: ” ‘We went to Wilson, Raleigh-Durham, Greensboro [...]
