1975 Kentucky Derby

The 1975 Kentucky Derby 

101st Running

Won by Foolish Pleasure

1987 Kentucky Derby

The 1987 Kentucky Derby was won Alysheba, the son of Alydar who famously finished 2nd in all 3 Triple Crown races in 1978 to Affirmed. 

Alysheba would win the Kentucky Derby and the 1987 Preakness before finishing 4th in the Belmont.

Classic Movie Poster of the Day

Cool Hand Luke

1967

NY Times Bestseller List (NonFiction) 04/27/2014)

New York Times Bestseller List

Hardback Non-Fiction

Week Ending April 27th 2014

10 - A Call To Action - Jimmy Carter
(3 weeks on list)
The former President denounces discrimination and violence against women.

9  -  Love Life - Rob Lowe
(Debut)
The actor's second book of stories and observations.

8  -  The Divide - Matt Taibbi
(Debut)
How economic inequality has created separate systems of justice for the rich and poor.

7  -  Creativity Inc. - Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace
(Debut)
How managers can develop an environment that promotes creativity, by the co-founder and president of Pixar Animation.

6  -  Killing Jesus - Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
(29 weeks on list)

5  -  10% Happier - Dan Harris
(5 weeks on list)

4  -  Big Tent - edited by Mallory and Elizabeth Factor
(Debut)
Essays by well-known conservatives explain how the movement developed.

3  -  Thrive - Arianna Huffington
(3 weeks on list)

2  -  Face The Music - Paul Stanley
(Debut)
A memoir by the KISS rhythm guitarist.

1  -  Flash Boys - Michael Lewis
(2nd week on list) (2nd week at #1)
The world of high-frequency computer driven trading, from the author of "Liar's Poker".

NY Times Bestseller List (Fiction) April 27th 2014

New York Times Bestseller List

Hardback Fiction

Week Ending April 27th 2014

10 - Miss Julia's Marvelous Makeover - Ann B. Ross
(Debut)
In the 15th novel in a series, the outspoken Miss Julia of Abbotsville, NC must help "spruce up" the surly teenage granddaughter of a distant cousin.

9  -  In Paradise - Peter Matthiessen
(Debut)
A middle aged literature professor becomes involved in weeklong Zen retreat taking place at Auschwitz in 1996.

8  -  The King - J.R. Ward
(2 weeks on list) (last week's #1)

7   -  The Invention of Wings - Sue Monk Kidd
(14 weeks on list)

6  -  Missing You - Harlan Coben
(4 weeks on list)

5  -  NYPD Red 2 - James Patterson and Marshall Karp
(3 weeks on list)

4  -  The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
(25 weeks on list)

3  -  Carnal Curiosity - Stuart Woods
(Debut)
In the 29th Stone Barrington novel, the New York lawyer confronts thieves who can bypass high-end security systems.

2  -  Keep Quiet - Lisa Scottoline
(Debut)
A father hides a terrible secret to protect his son.

1  -  I've Got You Under My Skin - Mary Higgins Clark
(2nd week on list) (first week at #1)
The producer of a true-crime show must contend with participants with secrets.

Gunsmoke on Radio - The Debut

April 26th 1952 CBS radio debuted a new "adult western" for its radio audiences.  Starring radio veteran William Conrad as Marshall Matt Dillon, this Norm MacDonnell and John Meston creation was aimed at a more adult audience instead of a fast action shoot'em up like Gene Autry, The Lone Ranger or Cisco Kid.   This was an almost true to life depiction of the old west with all its grit,grime and death.  Known for not usually a happy ending that had kids cheering, the end was one could have expected to have actually happened in the life of Marshall Dillon in a wild town of Dodge City, Kansas.

The last great drama in the golden age of radio, Gunsmoke would be on the air until 1960, but by then radio was an antiquated form of entertainment and television and Gunsmoke's own version on television had become a huge success.  Still consider by many old time radio enthusiast and experts as the best drama radio produced it to this day remains a popular choice on social media sites old time radio.

 April 26th 1952

Billy the Kid

Season 1 Episode 1

guest star Dick Beals as Billy

2005 Kentucky Derby

In my countdown to the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 3rd 2014 another look back at classic races.

This time its a major upset as Giacomo wins the 131st Kentucky Derby as a 50-1 longshot.

2001 Kentucky Derby

The 2001 Kentucky Derby was won by the speedy Monarchos won tied the record for the fastest derby with 1:59.97.  That speed matches him with Secretariat who set the record while winning the 1973 Kentucky Derby.

And here is Secretariat's famous Derby victory

Kentucky Derby

With the 2014 Kentucky close at hand lets again look back at some of the great races of the past, but we start with last year's race which was run on May 4th 2013 and won by ORB

Billboard Korea Hot 100 (Top 20) April 16th 2014

Billboard Korea Hot 100

Top 20 Songs

Week of April 16th 2014

NY Times Bestseller List (Fiction) April 20th 2014

New York Times Bestseller List

Hardback Fiction

Week Ending April 20th 2014

10 - Be Careful What You Wish For - Jeffrey Archer
(4 weeks on list)

9  -  Power Play - Danielle Steel
(4 weeks on list)

8  -  Destroyer Angel - Nevada Barr
(Debut)
The National Park Service Ranger Anna Pigeon must rescue friends who are kidnapped while camping in Minnesota.

7  -  By Its Cover - Donna Leon
(Debut)
Commissario Guido Brunetti investigates the theft of books from a library and the murder of one of its patrons.

6  -  The Invention of Wings - Sue Monk Kidd
(13 weeks on list)

5  -  The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
(24 weeks on list)

4  -  Missing You - Harlan Coben
(3 weeks on list)

3  -  NYPD Red 2 - James Patterson and Marshall Karp
(2 weeks on list)

2  -  I've Got You Under My Skin - Mary Higgins Clark
(Debut)
The producer of a true-crime show must contend with the participants with secrets as well as her husband's murderer.

1  -  The King - J.R. Ward
(DEBUT)
Book 12 of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series

Pujols hits a two-run shot for No. 500

Gunsmoke on Radio and Television

"What the Whiskey Drummer Heard"

Radio

Episode 32 Season 2

Originally aired April 17th 1954

Television

Episode 31 Season 2

Originally aired April 27th 1957

41st Academy Awards - Mel Brooks

April 14th 1969

The 41st Academy Awards were held in Los Angeles to celebrate the year of 1968.  

The winner for Best Original Screenplay went to comedy legend Mel Brooks for : 

"The Producers"

NY Times Bestseller List (Fiction) 04/13/2014

New York Times Bestseller List

Hardback Fiction

Week Ending April 13th 2014

10 - Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson
(4 weeks on list)

9  -  Stone Cold - CJ Box
(3 weeks on list)

8  -  Tempting Fate - Jane Green
(Debut)
A happily married middle-aged woman is drawn to another man.

7  -  Be Careful What You Wish For - Jeffrey Archer
(3 weeks on list)

6  -  Power Play - Danielle Steel
(3 weeks on list)

5  -  The Invention of Wings - Sue Monk Kidd
(12 weeks on list)

4 - Blossom Street Brides - Debbie Macomber
(Debut)
Three women's lives intersect around a Seattle knitting store.

3  -  The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
(23 weeks on list)

2  -  Missing You - Harlan Coben
(2 weeks on list)  (last week's #1)
Kat Donovan, an NYPD detective, searches for the ex-fiance who left her years before; her father's murderer; and the reason the users of an online dating site are disappearing.

1  -  NYPD Red 2 - James Patterson and Marshall Karp
(DEBUT)
Detective Zach Jordan and his partner are called when the body of a wealthy woman is discovered on the Central Park carousel.

Classic Movie Poster of the Day

April 11th 1983, the Academy Awards were held to honor the best of 1982 in film.  

Winner of the Oscar for Best Picture 

GANDHI 

starring Ben Kingsley 

Other Academy Awards for Gandhi:

Richard Attenborough - Best Director

Ben Kingsley - Best Actor

Best Original Screenplay

Best Film Editing

Best Art Direction

Best Cinematography

Best Costume Design

Billboard K- Pop Top 100

Billboard Korea K-Pop Chart

Top 100 Songs

Week 1  April 2014

Gunsmoke on Television

Season 3 of Gunsmoke (1957-58) was the first of 4 consecutive seasons that Gunsmoke was the #1 show on network prime time television.  Airing on Saturday nights at 10:30pm on CBS tv, it would have the record for most seasons as #1 until 1975-76 season when "All in the Family" would set the new standard with its 5 consecutive season as the top show on network television.  Oddly enough "Gunsmoke" was the #4 show of the 1971-72 season when "All in the Family" started its record setting run.

Kitty Lost

Season 3 Episode 15

originally aired December 21st 1957

TOP 10 Western Movies

Keith Olbermann's Tribute to David Letterman

Classic Movie Poster of the Day

Enter The Dragon 

1973

Bruce Lee's last appearance on film before his death in July 1973

NY Times Bestseller List - NonFiction (03/30/2014)

New York Times Bestseller List

Hardback Non Fiction

Week Ending March 30th 2014

10 - Overwhelmed - Brigid Schulte
(Debut)
A journalist probes the dilemmas faced by the working mothers.

9  -  Jesus - James Martin
(Debut)
A retelling of the life of Christ, based on scholarship, personal stories and the Christian tradition.  By the editor of America magazine, a Jesuit priest.

8  -  Things That Matter - Charles Krauthammer
(21 weeks on list)

7  -  The Future of the Mind - Michio Kaku
(3 weeks on list)

6  -  Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
(161 weeks on list)

5  -  Lean In - Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell
(51 weeks on list)

4  -  David and Goliath - Malcolm Gladwell
(24 weeks on list)

3  -  Killing Jesus - Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
(25 weeks on list)

2  -  10% Happier - Dan Harris
(Debut)
A co-anchor of "Nightline" reports on the science and spiritual basis of meditation, and describes how it has improved his life.

1  -  Uganda Be Kidding Me - Chelsea Handler
(2 week at #1) (2nd consecutive week at #1)
Humorous travel stories.

NY Times Bestseller List (Fiction) 03/30/2014

New York Times Bestseller List

Hardback Fiction

Week Ending March 30th 2014

10 - The  Chase - Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
(3 weeks on list)

9  -  Private L.A. - James Patterson and Mark Sullivan
(5 weeks on list)

8  -  The Bootlegger - Clive Cussler and Justin Scott
(2 weeks on list)
The early 20th century detective Isaac Bell tracks a wide ranging international criminal enterprise.

7  -  The Invention of Wings - Sue Monk Kidd
(10 weeks on list)

6  -  The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
(21 weeks on list)

5  -  Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson
(2nd week on list) (last week's #1)
The second book of the Stormlight Archive fantasy epic, set in the world of Roshar.

4  -  Stone Cold - C.J. Box
(Debut)
Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden and special assistant to the governor, investigates a mysterious wealthy rancher.

3  -  Be Careful What You Wish For - Jeffrey Archer
(Debut)
The Clifton Chronicles reach the 1960s in the fourth volume of the series.

2  -  Night Broken - Patricia Briggs
(Debut)
The ex-wife of Adam, mate of the shape shifter Mercy Thompson wants him back.

1  -  Power Play - Danielle Steel
(DEBUT)
Two C.E.O.s, a man and a woman, face very different challenges

Prime Time Network TV Ratings (04/01/2014)

The Nielsen prime time network television ratings for the week ending April 1st 2014

The Top 20 shows in total viewership

1 - NCIS  (CBS)
2 - NCIS: LA   (CBS)
3 - Dancing With The Stars   (ABC)
4 - 60 Minutes   (CBS)
5 - The Voice/Monday  (NBC)
6 - The Voice/Tuesday  (NBC)
7 - Person of Interest  (CBS)
8 - The Good Wife   (CBS)
9 - The Blacklist   (NBC)
10 - Modern Family  (ABC)
11 - NCAA Basketball/Friday  (CBS)
12 - Survivor   (CBS)
13 - Castle   (ABC)
14 - Amazing Race   (CBS)
15 - American Idol   (FOX)
16 - How I Met Your Mother  (CBS)
17 - Scandal    (ABC)
18 - The Mentalist   (CBS)
19 - Grey's Anatomy   (ABC)
20 - Resurrection   (ABC)

Top Ten Movies of the 1970s

Alan Kulwicki April 1st 1993

21 years ago today NASCAR and the racing world lost a true champion in Alan Kulwicki.  Alan was the last owner/driver to win the NASCAR (then Winston Cup) championship in 1992.   Sadly his life was cut short in a plane crash outside of Bristol TN.   Alan came to NASCAR with just an idea and a dream and became a hero to all the fans and proved he belonged with the greats.