Memorabilia Moment – Page 32

Detente achieved in Aunt Bee’s kitchen

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On this day in 1968: The all-time highest-rated episode of “The Andy Griffith Show” airs, during the last of the show’s eight prime-time seasons.

In “Barney Hosts a Summit Meeting,” former costar Don Knotts returns for a guest appearance as Barney Fife. Hoping to help his ex-deputy impress superiors at the Raleigh Police Department, Andy allows Barney to arrange an East-West summit at the Taylor household. The meeting fails miserably until an impromptu encounter in Aunt Bee’s kitchen saves the day.

The episode won Knotts a fifth Emmy for his portrayal of Fife (Griffith never won any for his Sheriff Taylor).

Pictured: Pinback button from the collection promoting reruns of “The Andy Griffith Show” on the TV Land cable network.

Challenger claimed two with N.C. ties

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On this day in 1986 seven astronauts, including Beaufort (N.C.) native Mike Smith and N.C. A&T alumnus (and Lake City, S.C., native) Ron McNair,were killed when the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after lift-off.

Charlie Daniels went up to Washington

On this day in 1977: Wilmington-born Charlie Daniels joins the more traditional Guy Lombardo at Jimmy Carter’s inaugural ball.

Two years later the Charlie Daniels Band will hit No. 1 on both country and rock charts with the fiddle tour de force “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

Pictured: A CDB crew member’s security tag from the Lew Powell Memorabilia Collection (CK.1287.3099).

And this just in… According to his Web site, the 73-year-old Daniels suffered “a mild stroke” Friday while snowmobiling in Colorado and was released from a Denver hospital Sunday. No plans to cancel his next tour, which begins Feb. 27.

Smith Bagley, Tar Heel in absentia

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Death noted: Smith Bagley, Reynolds tobacco heir and Democratic Party fundraiser, at age 74 in Bethesda, Md., after a stroke. Though born in Manhattan, reared in Greenwich, Conn., and educated at Washington & Lee, Bagley considered himself sufficiently rooted in North Carolina to run for Congress in the Fifth District in both 1966 and 1968.

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Pictured: Pinback buttons from the collection for Bagley’s campaigns. Does anybody know which years they represent?

The good news: Not a single Zero was spotted

Rose Bowl Oregan State Out of fear the Japanese would bomb Pasadena, the Rose Bowl was played in Durham on this day in 1942.

From a thorough and nicely illustrated account “The Durham Rose Bowl, 1942” by Duke University archivist William E. King:

“Borrowed bleachers from the University of North Carolina and N.C. State boosted stadium capacity from 35,000 to 55,000 spectators. A flood of East Coast sportswriters descended upon Durham for their first Rose Bowl, while only a single writer came from southern California….

“[Oregon State] upset previously undefeated Duke [20-16]. The heavily favored Duke team lost on a cold, rainy day to an underestimated defensive team that successfully protected an early lead. Coach Wade later stated he spent too much time being host and too little time preparing the team. He also gave the team several days off to go home for Christmas. Nevertheless, the university community and nation had more important concerns to face beginning January 2, 1942.”

‘….and a PlayStation 3 Blu-Ray Disc Remote….’

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In their heyday Christmas Clubs, a creation of the Depression, lured bank customers with a disciplined way to save for holiday shopping. They paid little or no interest, but if you were lucky you might come away with a nifty premium such as this pinback button from a now-defunct bank in Burlington. Although Christmas Clubs still exist, they have largely succumbed to the credit card culture.

Durham voters rendered unto Caesar

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On this day in 1987 gospel singer Shirley Caesar, five-time Grammy winner, was sworn in as a member of Durham’s city council. Caesar chose not to run for reelection, citing her duties as pastor of Mount Calvary Church in Raleigh. She has since won six more Grammys.

A toe was lost, then a nickname found

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On this day in 1963 17-year-old Jim Hunter of Hertford in Perquimans County, hunting with his brothers on Thanksgiving Day, comes harrowingly close to ending his Hall of Fame pitching career before it starts. An accidental blast from a shotgun blows away his right little toe and embeds 45 pellets in his foot.

By June he has recovered sufficiently to sign a $75,000 contract with the Kansas City A’s. Flamboyant owner Charles O. Finley, dismayed that his “bonus baby” has no nickname, will concoct a story about Hunter’s running away from home at age 6 and being discovered fishing. Hence, “Catfish” Hunter.

J.P. Stevens strikers no fans of ‘Peanuts’

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“In 1976, after its workers in North Carolina voted for the ACTWU to represent them, [J.P. Stevens] once again refused to bargain….

“A five-year international consumer boycott proved ineffective — in part because ‘Peanuts’ characters, stitched into the textile giant’s sheets and towels, masked the corporate identity.

“The ‘Peanuts’ line, [touted as] the ‘single biggest-selling sheet pattern ever produced in the history of the domestics industry,’ was in a special position of influence…. [But like his father] Charles Schulz had a deep suspicion of the demands of labor. Neither Schulz nor [his licensing agency] took steps to persuade Stevens to negotiate. Finally it was a campaign of pressure against the banks and institutions that had supported Stevens — including that future pillar of ‘Peanuts’ licensing, Metropolitan Life Insurance — that forced Stevens to settle.”

–From “Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography” (2007) by David Michaelis

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