The Missing Obamanomics May 23, 2008
I ate too many baloney sandwiches, Franklin, but thanks for the Whitestone Bridge, a favor to Fiorello La Guardia. The alphabet soup of federal relief agencies he created--NRA, WPA and CCC--didn't do the job. (Forbes)
Financier Gets His Name Alongside New York Lions Apr 23, 2008
Popular attractions in their own right, the "literary lions" were dubbed Patience and Fortitude by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia during the Depression. The names stuck, although they are not inscribed anywhere. (Newsmax)
Sherry Britton, 89, star of the burlesque stage Apr 4, 2008
In the 1940s, after burlesque was effectively banned from New York City by the administration of Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, Britton sometimes called "Great Britton, a stripteuse with brains" went on to an acting career that took her to theaters around the country. She performed in 39 plays, including 14 musicals, sang in nightclubs and made numerous television appearances. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
WESTERN MONTANA LIVES - Alfredo Cipolato was a Missoula institution Feb 26, 2008
"Mrs. Roosevelt and the wife of Fiorello La Guardia, they always came for tea," he recalled. "And they never tipped!". (Missoulian, MT)
Battle Over Burlesque Jan 26, 2008
New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia promised his administration would put an end to the incorporated filth of burlesque, claiming that the shows damage the morals of impressionistic and desperate audiences. In April 1937, City License Commissioner Paul Moss, who held the strings when it came to licensing venues, called a public hearing on the striptease with the implicit goal of banning burlesque altogether. (Suite101.com)
Nearing 100, Brazilian architect Niemeyer still has designs on future Oct 28, 2007
In 1939, Niemeyer teamed up with Lucio Costa to design the Brazilian pavilion at the New York World's Fair, for which he was named an honorary citizen of New York by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia. Niemeyer was welcomed back in the 1940s, working with Le Corbusier and Sir Howard Robinson on the United Nations headquarters. (Boston Globe)
New York grudgingly opens the door Sep 24, 2007
In 1938, as Nazis persecuted the Jews overseas, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and Police Commissioner Lewis Valentine created a special police squad to protect visiting German officials and the German consul general in New York. It was led, not by accident, by Jews: Captain Max Finkelstein, president of the department's Shomrim Society; Lieutenant Jacob Lickers; and Sergeant Isaac Goldstein. (International Herald Tribune)
Today in History September 20 Sep 20, 2007
In 1947, former New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia died. In 1957, Finnish composer Jean Sibelius died. (MSNBC -- Race)
Bloomberg's just short of the truth Jun 24, 2007
From this same elevation, although in the Depression era when men were shorter, Fiorello La Guardia reigned over the city during his three-term mayoralty as "The Little Flower.". But this was the mayor's office. (Newsday -- Opinion)
FLASH BACK ... June 15, 1945 Jun 15, 2007
"Since Mayor Fiorello La Guardia has stopped parking of racegoers' cars in Queens County, they have come across the line into Nassau County," he said. "A chaotic condition occurs, blocking the highways for normal traffic and endangering the lives of our children." The ban had been put into effect years before as one of many ways to conserve gas and rubber (used in tires) during World War II.. (Newsday -- Business)
Musical chairs Mar 15, 2007
Mortier running the "people's opera," as Mayor Fiorello La Guardia affectionately dubbed the company at its inauguration in 1944. Clearly New York's "other" opera company is poised to shake up the local scene. (International Herald Tribune)
A tale of remembrance and cold-blooded murder Jan 11, 2007
bre, a campaign for justice for Italian immigrants that drew in Fiorello La Guardia, Clarence Darrow and other well-known names of the day. But however broad the issue became, at its core were a child's death and a father's grief and rage. (International Herald Tribune -- Arts)
Spitzer holds cards on city's gambling future Nov 16, 2006
Seventy years ago, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia lifted a sledgehammer and personally wrecked dozens of slot machines confiscated from gangster Frank Costello. Now the city is poised to have a legal video terminal parlor with yearly profits beyond Costello's wildest dreams. (Newsday -- New York City)
Here's how the truly great mayors do it Nov 11, 2006
Is it wheedling money out of senior levels of government, as New York's Fiorello La Guardia was so adept at doing. Or revitalizing a city's decaying core as mayors have done in Indianapolis, New Orleans, Miami and elsewhere. (Toronto Star -- GTA)
A human bridge to a colorful past Oct 23, 2006
That ceremony brought 4,000 to the span on Oct. 24, 1931, including New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and the governors of both states. "Franklin Roosevelt was New York's governor then and he stood over there on the south side," Pops said. (NorthJersey.com, NJ)
LEGENDARY GOSSIP GAL THE MODEL OF GREAT REPORTING Sep 15, 2006
As a matter of fact, if destiny had been different, we might have made a fine duo and tied the knot - with the good tidings of Mayor Fiorello La Guardia. steve. (New York Post -- Columists)
It's highfalutin opera for the common people Sep 7, 2006
When New York City Opera was founded in 1943, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia called it the "people's opera company." Starting with a sampler concert tonight, City Opera will try to fill that role, for a few days at least, with a preseason roster called "Opera for All." After tonight's concert comes "La Boh?me" on Friday and Sunday, and "Carmen" on Saturday, with the highly regarded mezzo-soprano Rinat Shaham in the title role - each show for $25 a ticket. That's a good deal for people who end up with... (Newsday -- Entertainment)
* Nudity: All done in the best possible taste Aug 25, 2006
Unlike the fan dancers and hootchy-kootchy gals who once drove Mayor Fiorello La Guardia into paroxysms of moralistic rage, forcing padlocks on 42nd Street, the Windmill nudists had to pose stock still. At least the fan dancers could show off their motor skills along with their assets. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Altercation: Secretary of Defense Lieberman? Aug 22, 2006
"Heres my prediction: If Lieberman wins the election, he will not switch to the Republicans, as some fear. But he will do the functional equivalent, which is accept Bushs appointment to replace Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense, resign his seat and allow the Republican governor of Connecticut to appoint a Republican in his stead. That is the implicit deal between the Lieberman camp and Rove, Cheney, Bush etc and the reason, that alone, in the entire country, this is the only race where this... (MSNBC -- Politics)
One game, three teams in '44 (Dick Heller) Jul 2, 2006
5 million, a clothing company paid $1 million for an autographed game program and New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia bought $50 million worth of bonds on behalf of the city. Even if the game didn't count, the spectators got their money's worth. (Washington Times, DC)
Pulp alive and well in ‘The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril' Jun 23, 2006
The lurid details and swashbuckling language are torn from the pages of "Amazing Stories," "Phantom Detective" and "Terror Tales" sensational 1930s magazines that New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia had his cops rip from the newsstands in his ill-conceived 1930s morality campaign. We haven't seen writing quite like this in a very long time. (North County Times)
51 Blocks: A Walk In The Park Jun 18, 2006
It was, she says, "Disneyland--without the commercialization, of course. There were no neighborhood playgrounds then, no Coney Island. This was it.'' In the end, though, the park would become more than just a pleasure ground. The huge reservoir near 81st Street (replaced by the Great Lawn in the 1930s) guaranteed clean water for the city, a dairy (sans cows), provided reliable fresh milk for babies. The military also was represented. Submissions to the original design competition had to include... (Newsday -- New York City)
