"EVEN WRONG NUMBERS COST MONEY"

SORRY, YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG NUMBER, THAT'LL BE 5 CENTS

Paris, France (JFK+50) On May 2, 1926, The Evening Star reports that since telephone rates have increased here in Paris, "even wrong numbers...cost money."

It seems if you are staying in a "big hotel," and get a "wrong number" on your telephone, you will be charged just as though you got the right one.

All free telephone service in the city has been cancelled along with reduced rates for customers.  

Associated Press says that this situation has resulted in a "bitter climax" of the "poor telephone service" in this city.

JFK+50 NOTE

There was no 'pay per call' system in Paris in 1926 as local residents paid an annual subscription fee of 600 francs equal to several months salary of the average worker.

Telephone calls locally from hotels were generally affordable but long-distance & international calls were very expensive.

In the United States in the 1920s, you could make a local call from a public telephone for a nickel.  As time passed, the cost went up to a dime & remained there for many years.

SOURCE

"Right or wrong, Phone Numbers in Paris Cost Same," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 2, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Candlestick Phone 1918-1919

Model 3G

Photo by Daderot (2015)

CC0 1.0

"NOVEL & CHIC WHEN MATCHED WITH THEIR DRESSES"

WOMEN OF PARIS ARE 'SET TO WEARING SPECTACLES'

Paris, France (JFK+50) On October 16, 1925, Associated Press reports that while the eyesight of the female population of Paris, "the city of fashion," is not better or worse than last year, the women have become "set to wearing spectacles."

Why? 

Because "the celluloid frames," available in a variety of colors, "are novel and chic" when matched up with their dresses.

The spectacles come in mauve, green, beige, blue, and almost any other color. 

 One Paris optician, an American, says he sells about a hundred pairs every day.

SOURCE

"Glasses to Match Frock Latest Fad Of Chic Parisienne," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., October 16, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Beautiful Model Wearing Glasses

Pexels

www.pexels.com

"INJURY FROM CONTINUALLY FALLING OFF A HORSE"

GLORIA SWANSON HAS 'SUCCESSFUL' OPERATION IN PARIS HOSPITAL

Paris, France (JFK+50) On February 18, 1925, silent film actress Gloria Swanson* "was hurriedly and mysteriously removed from the Plaza Athenne Hotel**" here in Paris early in the morning hours and "taken to a hospital where...an operation was performed."

Miss Swanson's husband, Marquis de la Falaise de la Coudraye said "the operation was entirely successful."

The famous actress's medical condition was caused in part by her having to "continually" fall off a horse during rehearsal for a movie scene.

*Gloria Swanson (1899-1983) was born in Chicago, Illinois & became a successful actress in the silent film industry during the 1920s.  GS was nominated 3 times for Academy Awards for 'Best Actress.'  She became known as 'Queen of Hollywood.'

**The Hotel Plaza Athenee opened in Paris, France on Avenue Montaigne in 1913.  Its' Le Relais restaurant became a cafe for American soldiers during the liberation of the city in WWII. 

SOURCE

"Operation On Marquise Gloria," The Washington Times, February 18, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

Gloria Swanson

1922

Photo by Melbourne Spurr

PD

"A VAUDEVILLE SHOW HAVING FEW EQUALS"

ROUND-THE-WORLD AVIATORS FALL ASLEEP...AT THE FOLIES BERGERE

Paris (JFK+50) On July 15, 1924, The Evening Star reports after 260 hours in the air flying a distance of 18,000 miles, United States Army round-the-world flyers "took a breathing spell" here in Paris.

U.S. embassy officials treated the aviators to a visit to the Theater Folies Bergere, "a vaudeville show having few equals for its magnificence."

Unfortunately, the gentlemen were so exhausted from their flight that "each and every one...went sound asleep in the Folies Bergere*."

*Folies Bergere was built as an opera house opening in 1869.  FB was most popular 1890s-1920s.  Revues featured extravagant costumes, sets & effects.

SOURCES

"Flyers So Weary They Fall Asleep In Paris Theater," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., July 15, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Flyers To Leave Early For London," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., July 15, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www,loc.gov/

 

 

Folies Bergere

Fleur de Lotus

by Jules Chevet

www.flickr.com/

"SEINE HAS BEEN RISING STEADILY FOR 4 DAYS"

THOUSANDS OF BARRELS OF WINE SWEPT FROM PARIS WAREHOUSES BY FLOOD

Paris, France (JFK+50) On December 30, 1923, the Associated Press reports "a thousand kegs and barrels of wines were floating down the Seine."

The wines had been swept from warehouses in eastern Paris by the swollen river.

The A.P. says the river has been "rising steadily for four days."

St. Louis Island*, located in central Paris, "is practically under water."

*St. Louis Island, originally known as Ile Notre-Dame, is 27 acres in size & is one of two natural islands on the Seine River in Paris, France.

SOURCE

"Barrels of Wine By Thousands Go In Seine Flood," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., December 30, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Wine Barrels

photo by Jim Nix

www.flickr.com/

"THIS CITY IS NO STRANGER TO ME"

PRESIDENT & 1ST LADY VISIT PARIS

Paris, France (JFK+50) On June 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy, and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, enjoyed a busy day here in Paris*.

In the morning, JFK spoke to the Members of the Bureau of the Municipal Council at the Hotel de Ville (City Hall).  Afterwards, there was a luncheon given by President and Mrs. Kennedy for President Charles de Gaulle and Madame de Gaulle at the American Embassy.

The President said...

"This city is no stranger to me.  A Parisian designed the City of Washington, Pierre L'Enfant, who laid out our broad boulevards.   More people speak French in my own section of New England than any other language except English.  I salute this city and I salute this country."


 Afterwards JFK spoke to the North Atlantic Council  (NATO) and a grand finale came in the evening when the President and Mrs. Kennedy were honored at a ballet at Louis XI Theater.

*Paris is the capital & largest populated city of France.  It is home of the Louvre, the most visited art museum in the world, the Eiffel Tower & Notre Dame Cathedral.  It is the 6th most popular city for travel in the world today.  In the 1860s, Paris was illuminated by 56,000 gas lamps earning her the nickname "City of Lights."

SOURCE

"Remarks at a Civic Reception for President Kennedy at the Hotel de Ville," June 1, 1961, Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States:  John F. Kennedy, January 20 to December 31, 1961, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1962.  

             Scenes of Paris
Photos by Jennifer Mangone (2018)
 

"A CELEBRATED MOMENT IN THE U.S.-FRENCH RELATIONSHIP"

A PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO PAREE

Paris, France (JFK+50) On June 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy enjoyed their second day visiting Paris.

Ambassador Charles Rivkin describes the Kennedys three-day visit to France as "a celebrated moment in the U.S.-French relationship."  He wrote...

"The extraordinary warm welcome that greeted the French-speaking Mrs. Kennedy at every stop inspired President Kennedy's famous remark, 'I am the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris, and I have enjoyed it.'"

At a  morning event, JFK spoke to the members of the Bureau of the Municipal Council at the Hotel de Ville (City Hall).  Afterwards, there was a luncheon given by President and Mrs. Kennedy for President Charles de Gaulle and Madame de Gaulle at the American Embassy.

JFK told the audience that American interest in France goes to our "common interests" and the preservation of freedom around the world. He said the "long tradition (of France) gives the representatives of this country a special distinction around the world."

Afterwards JFK spoke to the Parliament Council of NATO.  The grand finale came in the evening when JFK and Mrs. Kennedy were honored at another dinner and a ballet at Louis XI Theater.

SOURCE

"Statement by Ambassador Charles Rivkin, 50th Anniversary of Kennedy Visit to Paris," www.photos.state.gov/

American Embassy, Paris

ADOLF HITLER TOURS PARIS

HITLER MADE 3 HOUR TOUR OF PARIS 75 YEARS AGO TODAY

Paris, France (JFK+50) Seventy-five years ago today, June 23, 1940, Adolf Hitler made his first and only tour of Paris.  The visit came the day following the signing of an armistice between the Third Reich and German-occupied France.

According to the "Murder is Everywhere" website, there is a controversy regarding the date of the visit because architect Albert Speer, who was with Hitler on the trip, gave the date in his memoirs as June 28th.  MIE verifies that the visit was on a Sunday which would have fallen on June 23rd in 1940 and two other members of Hitler's group confirmed the visit  was on the 23rd.

There is also some disagreement on just how impressed the Fuhrer was with the city.  According to the History Channel, Hitler was "so impressed" that he would have Speer begin plans on a massive building program in Berlin. Speer's own memoir, however, indicates that Hitler "showed no interest in the most beautiful" architecture of Paris.

Hitler was only in Paris for about 3 hours, but that was long enough for him to order the destruction of two French World War I monuments.  

Among the sites Hitler visited that day were Opera Garnier, Champs-Elysses, Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower.  

SOURCES

"Hitler takes a tour of Paris," This Day in History, June 23, The History Channel, www.history.com/

"Hitler's Tour of Paris," Murder is Everywhere, www.murderiseverywhere.blogspot.com/

"Hitler Tours Paris:  June 23, 1940," Holocaust Encyclopedia, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, www.ushmm.org/

Adolf Hitler in Paris* 

June 23, 1940

Office of War Information

NARA Image

*Pictured with AH are Albert Speer (left) & Arno Breker (right)

LIBERTY BELL RINGS FOR 1ST READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

 July 8, 1776


LIBERTY BELL RINGS FOR 1ST READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE


The citizens of Philadelphia were called to the Pennsylvania State House today by the ringing of the Liberty Bell which signaled the 1st public reading of the Declaration of Independence.


The Liberty Bell was built in 1751 to proclaim the 50th anniversary of Pennsylvania's constitution.


The 2000 pound bell, made of copper & tin, was given the name "Liberty Bell" in a poem published in an abolitionist pamphlet.

                            Liberty Bell
                    Liberty Bell Center
          Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
          Photo by Bev Sykes (2004)*


*WC Fields liked to say "I'd rather be in Philadelphia" but I am sad to say, I have never had the opportunity to visit.  Certainly, the "City of Brotherly Love" should be seen by all Americans & I hope to get there soon.


July 8, 1853


COMMODORE PERRY SAILS INTO TOKYO BAY

US Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry sailed his fleet of 4 ships into Tokyo Harbor today in hopes of gaining an audience with Japanese officials.


After some behind the scene negotiations, the Japanese government agreed to meet with Commodore Perry.*


*This marked the 1st time in 200 years that the Japanese opened up a relationship with a western nation.

July 8, 1938


AMBASSADOR KENNEDY HONORED IN IRELAND


Ambassador to Great Britain, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., was given a banquet in his honor today at Dublin Castle in Ireland.


Prime Minister Eamon de Valera welcomed Mr. Kennedy & praised both the ambassador & the United States.


July 8, 1941


BOSTON'S TED WILLIAMS LEADS AL TO VICTORY IN ALL STAR CLASSIC


With the American League All-Stars down by a run in the 9th inning, Boston Red Sox slugger Ted Williams belted a 3 run home run to lead his team to a 7-5 victory over the National League All-Stars.

                     Ted Williams Plaque
                    Fenway Park, Boston
       Photo by Bernard Gagnon (2007)


July 8, 1951


PARIS CELEBRATES 2000th BIRTHDAY


Paris, France is 2000 years old today.*


*Paris, center of commerce, culture, fashion & food, boasts a population of 2 million today with 10 million in the metro area.

                        Paris, France
          Photo by Taxiarchos228


July 8, 1960


FRANCIS GARY POWERS CHARGED AS SPY


Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 pilot who was shot down 2 months ago over the Soviet Union, was charged today with espionage by the USSR.*


*In August 1960, Powers would be sentenced to 10 years in prison, but was released in exchange for Soviet spy Rudolph Abel after 2 years.

Kelly Johnson, U2 designer & Powers


July 8, 1962


JFK UPSET BY NEWS FROM COUNCIL ON YOUTH FITNESS


President John F. Kennedy, who has championed a call for physical fitness & vigor, was upset today by the results of a report from the Council on Youth Fitness.


The report says that 60% of American children do not participate in a daily program of physical activity.


July 8, 1963


JFK FREEZES CUBAN BANK DEPOSITS


In response to the continued alliance by Fidel Castro's Cuban government & the Soviet Union, the Kennedy Administration today froze $33 million in Cuban bank deposits.


The action follows the embargo set in February of last year which provided for trade restrictions with Cuba & the travel restrictions added to that in February of this year.*


*The basis for the action is the 1917 Trading With the Enemy Act.