Category Archives: history

Georgia History That I Knew Nothing About: Columbians of 1946

history, photography, , , , ,

While not well-versed in the history of racism in my home state, I was consider myself fairly well informed. Therefore I was surprised that it took until yesterday (thanks to a photo in AJC’s new Photo Vault Tumblr) to become aware that in 1946, there was a Georgia-based neo-nazi group called the Columbians.

Consider this excerpt from the Georgia Encyclopedia:

“During the summer of 1946, Atlantans witnessed the rise of the Columbians, the nation’s first neo-Nazi political organization. The group pursued a campaign of intimidation against the city’s minorities, patrolling those neighborhoods most vulnerable to racial transition, and threatening with violence those residents who dared cross the city’s “color line.” Although they attracted some support from Atlanta’s working-class whites, the Columbians were uniformly condemned by the city’s press and targeted for arrest by its political establishment. By the following summer the group had dissolved, following the conviction of its leaders, Homer Loomis and Emory Burke, on charges of usurping police power and inciting to riot.”

While racism still exists today on some level, I take some solace that as far back as 1946, the establishment fought it on some level. Not as much as it should, of course-but still some level of resistance is better than none. God, if only I could say there is no racism today, but that’s sadly would be a delusional belief.

Slate Covers Prog Rock

history, Music, , , ,

So apparently, once a year, “Slate requires its staff writers and editors to take a month each year, walk away from their usual beats, and write long-form pieces about topics they’d never otherwise cover. ” And that’s how David Weigel arrived at covering prog rock for a week-long series. As a longtime Peter Gabriel fan, I was fascinated to learn the following:

In September 1972, when Genesis was touring the Foxtrot album, singer Peter Gabriel took a powder during the second (of two) solos in “The Musical Box.” He returned wearing a red dress and fox head, approximating the anthropomorphic beast on the band’s album cover, singing out the mantra that ends the song: “Why don’t you touch me, touch me, now, now, now, now!” From then, until Gabriel left the band, it wasn’t a Genesis show unless the singer put on a mask.

Um OK: Salinger & the 1940 Census

history, , , , ,

As recently noted by the New Yorker blog, Jen Carlson over at the Gothamist has discovered that (partially inspired by the release of personal details of 1940 Census) some folks have cobbled together small details about a pre-recluse J.D. Salinger. An odd way to go, but still interesting to check out on some level.

I am more intrigued by the potential for generic, non-celebrity research:

“Kate Stober at the NYPL tells us it’s ‘more than just a research tool, we’ll be helping New Yorkers create a social history map of buildings and neighborhoods in the five boroughs. When you find an address, the tool pins it to both a 1940 map and a contemporary map, so you can see how the area has changed.’ “

Atlanta 1985: The Stein Club

history, pop culture, , , , , ,

Growing out of the post from earlier this week about T.V. Dinner, a former high school classmate Annette Saldana (now a successful businessperson-and the force behind The Art & Science of Making Irresistible Requests) got me thinking more about The Stein Club. I think (emphasis on “think”) I set foot in the place, which was opened from the early 1960s to 2000, once. But I know many people that loved hanging out there. Why? I think this 1985 North Dekalb Community Television/Cable 23 show, Club Scene, hosted by Brian Smith, provides a good perspective of why folks loved the place.

The video was posted on YouTube courtesy of Smith and the 880+members of the Facebook group, We Miss the Stein Club.

2006 Ron Howard Interview: Working with Andy Griffith

episodic TV, history, streaming video, ,

There’s an underlying quality of these Archive of American Television interviews that I appreciate. That is, rather than trying to conduct a talk show format (“Here’s a funny story, Jay.”) kind of interviews, the goal is to discuss the craft and history of television.

In this snippet from a 2006 interview with Ron Howard, he discusses the experience of working with Andy Griffith and the impact that the actor had on the set, in terms of setting a tone.

Be sure to visit this site to see other clips as well or if you want all the knowledge at once: the whole six-hour interview.

What Did This Subway Used to Be?

history, , , ,

I love exploring the history of Atlanta, particularly in a visual sense.

Edgewood: Present Day (Courtesy of Google Maps/Click on photo to go to original)

So what did this place used to be? Well according to the Coca Cola Company’s blog, Conversations, this was the ninth home of Coca Cola, back in 1898. Then in 1954, the top two floors of the building were knocked off, as shown below.

Same Building: 1954

Sneak Peek: Brad Meltzer’s Decoded

history, nonfiction, politics, pop culture, , , ,

Friend of the blog/New York Times best-selling author/Guy generally juggling three amazing projects at once Brad Meltzer sent me a link to his new History Channel show, Decoded, which is set to premiere on Thursday, December 2, at 10pm. (Ya gotta love that Brad, fellow child of the 1980s, referenced the old LA Law timeslot when mentioning his show’s timeslot to me.)

Here’s how the History Channel describes the show:

“What if the history you knew was only half the story? Brad Meltzer’s Decoded investigates the other half: the secret history of the symbols and codes that surround us everyday. Best-selling author Brad Meltzer has been writing novels for more than a decade. He has studied and written about some of the most revered institutions and documents in human history, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Presidency, the Secret Service, Wall Street and the Bible. Brad has assembled a team to investigate the countless clues and theories uncovered through his years of research, but unexplored until now. From the dollar bill to the first Presidential Codes, the hidden messages of the Statue of Liberty and the ciphers protecting the location of lost Confederate gold, the team uncovers the truth behind history’s most provocative secrets.”

The show looks to be an interesting premise, plus I’m jealous that his show is sponsored by Porsche and that the hosts get to drive a Porsche as part of the show. I look forward to seeing it on December 2.