The Western Association of Equipment Leasing Newsline, June, 1992, headlined the page. “Them thar fellars ain't no regular cowboys, them is WAEL executive committee members. Pictured from left to right (during WAEL's Spring Conference last May in Scottsdale, Arizona) are City Slickers: WAEL President Hal T. Horowitz, CLP, president, American Pacific Acceptance Corp., Irvin, California; WAEL Vice President Gordon Roberts, vice president First Concord Acceptance Corp., Denver, Colorado; WAEL Past President Bill Grohe, vice president, Brentwood Funding Enterprises, Inc., San Francisco, California; and WAEL Secretary/Treasurer Peter Eaton, CLP, regional vice president, M&I First National Leasing Corp., Palo Alto, California.”

Orange County, CA .
Operations/Credit Manager with 15 Years Experience, Middle & Large Ticket, initiated policies for Patriot Act and Sarbanes Oxley, Team Motivator.
E-mail: equiplender@aol.com

New York, NY.
10+ years in equipment leasing/secured lending. Skilled in management & training, documentation, policy and procedure development & implementation, portfolio reporting. Strong work ethic.
Email: dln1031@nyc.rr.com

Wayne, NJ
20+ heavily experienced collection/recovery VP looking to improve someone's bottom line. Proven, verifiable track record. Knowledge of all types of portfolio. Will relocate
Email: cmate@nac.net

“This story has been floating around the internet for several months with both UAEL and NAELB Standard Committees looking into alleged charges of "double funding" allegedly between Lasalle Bank and Textron; alleged leases not being funded and brokers not receiving commissions. No one has wanted to go on the record about what is going on, and Metrolease has never returned e-mail, telephone calls, or faxes regarding this. The rumor was the company would be going out of business.

“'I spoke to John Blazek last week and confirmed that they are closing down operations and are running under a skeleton crew. The owner has already begun the operations of another company operating as a funding source....name has not been disclosed. John will help close operation.'

“John Blazek is the vice-president of the company. He formerly was president of Stratford Leasing, which he also closed down.”

“Hi Kit, I thought I'd give YOU an update (not for your readers)for the most part, you were always fair with me and allowed me to get in my two cents when I felt Commercial Money Center and Bill Hanson were being attack unfairly!

“I have personally been out of the leasing industry for at least a year to year and a half. We discussed before how I wasn't enjoying it (coming from the nightclub business), so I decided to get out, it devastated Bill, but he realized I wasn't happy.

“Now, as far as Bill scamming millions out of people and living in the lap of luxury? I highly doubt that! To my knowledge, he took on three investors ($50,000 each) at Conrad and Associates. I don't know the exact agreement he had with them, but I know he was paying them a monthly amount for several months before he stopped. No, he's NOT on a yacht with Ron in Florida. He suffered two major heart attacks in the last few weeks and had to go under the knife for a six-time bypass. He just got out of the hospital last week and is living with his family (blood family, NOT the ADOPTED or illegally ADOPTED like me) in Kansas.

“I know his business (Conrad and Associates) was struggling before the medical problems hit. But, he tried his hardest to always make those payments on time and I am sure, if he's physically able to work, he will keep doing so.

“Kit, I asked you one time when we were at CMC, why you were aggressively printing stuff about Bill when he wasn't an owner? Your response was he was a stockholder and officer. Kit, I have NEVER been an officer at CMC and Bill Hanson owned 100% of the stock at Conrad and Associates. I have NEVER talked or met with any of these investors. But, after reading your Leasing News, you would think I was one of the Enron people.

(The story originated over six months ago, in February, when one of the investors did not receive his payment and was unable to communicate with Bill Hanson, and asked us if we knew where you or he was located so he could follow-up. Another reader said in February and March, he was with the former president of Commercial Money Center. The Nevada Department of Corporations lists Bill Hanson as an officer of Commercial Money Center and several related corporations. Former employees talked about his roll not only in attracting business, but in funding and other operations of the company. If you are in touch with him, please let him know the people Conrad and Associates borrowed money would like to communicate with him. editor.)

Housing starts remained strong, but unchanged in July, holding at 2.04 million (SAAR). The single family sector was flat (1.711 million SAAR), while multi family was down 3.2%. Regionally, the bad weather in the South pulled starts down 5.4% while the other regions showed increases – NE 6.5%; MW 9.1%, and West 2.1%. Permits were up 1.6%, suggesting that the near term outlook for starts is good.

Analysis and outlook: The housing market remains strong and is expected to remain so for the rest of 2005. Interest rates remain very attractive although they are inching upward (fixed rate for conforming and jumbo loans at 6.02% - national average rates from HSH Associates - http://www.hsh.com/today.html ). The market remains at lofty levels due a combination of strong demand and innovative financing (new mortgage products that allow buyers to have lower monthly payments in the near term), plus rapid price appreciation in some markets is encouraging some prospective buyers to “jump in” before rates get too high.

Concerns remain the same as last month – the weakening dollar (weaker dollar is inflationary and puts upward pressure on interest rates) and rapid house price appreciation (pushing prices out of reach for a growing number of potential buyers). In addition, higher energy prices could hurt the U.S. economy in at least two ways – higher inflation pushing up interest rates, and the “added tax” burden on consumer spending.

Today, with the rapid growth and growing size of two economies - China, and India, the demand for energy is outstripping supplies, and the long term prognosis for oil prices is much higher than what it would have been absent the stellar performance of these two economies (which by the way, do not produce enough oil for domestic needs). China, for example is now the world's second largest importer of oil behind the U.S.

According to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR - http://www.realtor.org/research/index.html), housing markets remain frothy in some regions. Nationally, NAR reports that prices have increased at a 13.6% pace, year over year – a very healthy rate that is skewed by even higher rates in some regions. For example, in the past 12 months, metro regions in Washington DC, Miami, and NYC are up 26%, 32%, and 18% respectively. In contrast, over the same period, slower economies in Chicago, Denver and Houston contributed to slower price appreciation rates of 7.7%, 2.6%, and 2.4% respectively.

Summary: The housing market is expected to remain strong through the rest of this year, but modest inflation and dollar problems will push mortgage rates upward through 2006 and this means the housing market is expected to pull back sometime in 2006. Single family will probably slow the most due to affordability problems with entry level buyers as higher mortgage rates shift some prospective single family buyers to the rental market.

President
Acceptance Leasing & Financing
Airport Corporate Centre
894 Beaver Grade Road
Suite 304
Moon Township, Pa. 15108
Ph. 412-262-3225
Fax 412-262-1154
CVillella@acceptlease.com

Fifty-three metropolitan areas representing 31% of the total U.S. housing market are considered extremely overvalued and confront a high risk of future price corrections, a study conducted by National City Corp. says. The study determines a market extremely overvalued if prices are 30% above where the study estimates they should be based on historic price data, area income, mortgage rates and population density.

Yesterday we reported on Lessors.com Conference Chair-Bon Vivant, well-known County-Western singer John Semon and the Lessors.com conference from August 24-25 at The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia. We have been covering his summer as one of the American Idol judges, noting that he is also a well known country and western singer, plus song writer, best known for “I knew the deal was dead when he didn't sign the check.”

Among his other County and Western Billboard top hits are “Orange County Lineman” and “Kiss me quickly, because I have to go out and sign a lease.”

John replied that we did not mention the other top songs he wrote, and perhaps attendees can get him to sing one or two of them at the conference:

“They May Put Me in Prison, but They Can't Stop Me from Leasing”
“My Wife Ran Off With My Best Lessee and I Miss Him”
“I've Got Tears in My Ears from Lying on My Side and Crying over This Lease”
“How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?”
“I Been Roped and Thrown by NorVergence in the Lessor's Smoking Mirrors Corral”
“I Lowered Her Rate, She Lowered My Life”
“I Don't Know Whether to Kill Myself or Sell Cars”
“I'm Just a Bug on the Windshield of Leasing”
“If I Can't Be Number One in Your RFQ, Then Number Two on You”
“Mama Get the Hammer (There's A Fly on This Credit Manager's Head)”

David G. Mayer's Business Leasing News is not included in the Alexa report list as it does not have its own individual site and Alexa finds Patton Boggs, LLP Attorneys at Law. The rating is not valid as it includes all those who visit and communicate with the law firm. When Business Leasing News has its own individual web site, it will be included in the Alexa survey.

*It should also be noted that two web sites have their "list serve" posted via their site, meaning their e-mails are counted as a visit to the site, whereas they are "list serve" communication. These are technically visits to the web site, but primarily to use "list serve."

These comparisons are compiled by Leasing News using Alexa and should be viewed as a "sampling," rather than an actual count from the website itself. Other than as noted above, we believe the ratings are reflective as most have stayed in the same position, basically, for over a year.

The Alexa tool bar works on most browsers.
They are partnered with Google.

You may download their free tool bar A graph and analysis of the last three months are available.

( Note: the lower the number, the higher you are on the list. It is based on all web sites. Leasing is only a very small part of the various sites such as Yahoo, MSN, Google, etc. )

NARBERTH, PA -- -- Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc (NASDAQ: RBPAA), Royal Bank America's parent company, is proud to announce the creation of its new leasing division, Royal Bank America Leasing. Formed in partnership with Primary Financial Corporation and Alliance Capital Ventures, both regional equipment leasing companies, RBA Leasing will focus on small-ticket leasing solutions for today's growing businesses.

Leasing allows businesses to maintain their competitive edge by acquiring the latest technologies without the long-term risk of equipment obsolescence. Tax advantages, including payments treated as a pre-tax business expense, make leasing advantageous to many expanding businesses.

"The ability to offer innovative leasing solutions further strengthens our commitment to our business customers," noted Royal Bank America President/CEO Joseph P. Campbell.

Royal's Managing Partners in RBA Leasing, current Primary Financial Corp. owner Mike Basile and Alliance Capital Ventures owner Keith Brinks will retain a financial interest in the company and run the day-to-day operations.

"We take pride in our reputation as the region's premier providers of leasing solutions, and are certain that as part of the Royal family we will continue to offer highly-personalized service to our customers," commented Royal Bank America Leasing Managing Partner Mike Basile.

According to industry estimates, businesses finance over $200 billion worth of equipment every year. Royal Bank America Leasing will finance essential-use equipment including office furniture, technology assets, phone systems, medical and laboratory equipment, software and manufacturing.

Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, headquartered in Narberth, Pennsylvania, operates sixteen full-service branches under the name Royal Bank America and five locations under the name Royal Asian Bank. Together, Royal Bank America and Royal Asian Bank offer a wide variety of products and services, including commercial real estate loans, residential mortgages, deposit accounts and Internet Banking solutions at www.royalbankamerica.com and www.royalasianbank.com.

Mr. Duck brings more than 13 years of experience within the valuation and financial consulting profession. Prior to joining LVI in June 2005, Brad was most recently a senior associate with a specialty in Machinery and Equipment appraisal within Deloitte Financial Advisory Services. Prior to Deloitte FAS, he worked with American Appraisal Associates, Inc. where he specialized in insurance appraisals, property accounting, and fixed asset management engagements .

Mr. Duck's responsibilities at LVI include determining the value of machinery and equipment and related tangible personal property under several value definitions including: value-in-continued use, value-in-place and value-in-exchange. Transaction types include sale/leaseback, tax leases, synthetic and cross border leases, allocation of purchase price, fixed asset record tracking, insurable value and management planning purposes.

Mr. Duck holds a Bachelor of Science, Management from Rider University. He is a Candidate Member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA). Brad can be reached at bduck@leasevaluation.com.

Lease Valuation International, Inc. was formed in January, 2005, with initial focus on valuation services supporting structured finance and leasing-related efforts on a global basis. In addition to Stamford, offices are in Chicago, Illinois, London, England and Melbourne, Australia.

For more information on LVI, please contact John Oates at 203-975-2112 or joates@leasevaluation.com.

For more information on this press release, please contact Jamie Utz at
203-975-2154.

Jamie Utz
RVI Group
Phone Number: 203-975-2154
Fax Number: 203-975-2199
E-mail: jutz@rvigroup.com

MINNEAPOLIS, - Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc. said it has named Craig Farrell the new Northeastern Territory Manager for its Commercial Vehicle Group. He will provide equipment-financing solutions to commercial vehicle manufacturers, distributors and dealers throughout Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.

New to Wells Fargo, Farrell has over 20 years of experience in the equipment finance industry. His experience includes credit, asset management and sales, and he specializes in truck, trailer and construction equipment financing.

Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo Bank. With a portfolio that exceeds $7 billion, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance serves more than 22,000 customers in the U.S. and Canada.

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $435 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance to more than 23 million customers from more than 6,000 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and elsewhere internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the United States to receive the highest possible credit rating, “Aaa,” from Moody's Investors Service.

TEMPE, AZ - - CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) announced that Roy Keller, president of CIT Construction, will retire on August 31, 2005 after 27 years of service at the company.

“Roy has had a remarkable career at CIT and we thank him for his many years of service and the invaluable contributions he made over the years. His distinguished expertise has helped position CIT Construction as a leading lender,” said Rick Wolfert, Vice Chairman, CIT Commercial Finance. “It has been a privilege to work with Roy and we wish him continued success.”

Keller joined CIT in 1978 as a district sales manager and was most recently president of CIT Construction. His responsibilities included overseeing all sales, credit and service activities for manufacturers, distributors and end users in construction, transportation, business aircraft, materials handling, energy and inland waterways industries, among others, in North America.

CIT Construction - U.S. is a leading lessor and lender in the construction, printing, machine tools, plastics, healthcare, and manufacturing markets. Further information can be obtained at the company's website at www.cit.com or www.efinance-it.com.

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT), a leading commercial and consumer finance company, provides clients with financing and leasing products and advisory services. Founded in 1908, CIT has nearly $60 billion in assets under management and possesses the financial resources, industry expertise and product knowledge to serve the needs of clients across approximately 30 industries. CIT, a Fortune 500 company and a component of the S&P 500 Index, holds leading positions in vendor financing, factoring, equipment and transportation financing, Small Business Administration loans, and asset-based lending. With its Global Headquarters in New York City and Corporate Offices in Livingston, New Jersey, CIT has approximately 6,000 employees in locations throughout North America, Europe, Latin and South America, and the Pacific Rim. For more information, visit www.cit.com.

The tasting panel found that good rums can be every bit as complex as Scotch or Cognac, and that they can be enjoyed neat just as easily as in a cocktail.

Recently we passed on www.winezap.com which gave you comparative costs on a specific bottle of wine, very helpful for collectors or those who would like to learn the value of a bottle of wine the have. This program was mentioned by a professional wine retailer as being the most extensive:
www.wine-searcher.com

1807- Robert Fulton began the first American steamboat trip between Albany and New York, New York. He revolutionized transportation and the growth of the country, but was laughed at for his invention. The US Minister of France Robert R. Livingston raised money to allow Fulton to design and construct his “steamboat” in France. He launched his “proto-type” on the Seine in 1803. He then secured exclusive rights to operate steamboats on the New York waters. The first Albany-to-New York trip took 32 hours to travel the 150-mile course. Although his efforts were labeled “Fulton's Folly” by his detractors, his success allowed the partnership to begin commercial services. Fulton became a wealthy man, but when his exclusive contract was up, he lost most of his business to Cornelius Vanderbilt, who parlayed his capital into banks, railroads and real estate. Excellent book at
www.amazon.com The Vanderbilts and the Story of Their Fortune
by W. A. Croffut (Hardcover - June 1975) I also recommend the next time you are either in Chicago or New York to take a “river” trip to not only see architecture, historical landmarks, but to understand why these cities grew, primarily due to their water access, and understanding the Ferry between New York and New Jersey and other states, you can understand how Vanderbilt became a multi-millionaire as he built up a monopoly by undercutting his competition, and when they went out of business, he raised his prices and was basically the only game in town.

1585- The Roanoke Island colony, sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh, was established on Roanoke Island, off the northeast coast of what is now North Carolina, under the leadership of Sir Richard Grenville and Sir Ralph Lane. The settlers fared badly and returned to England in June of 1586. In 1587 Raleigh sent out another group, under John White, consisting of 117 men, women, and children. White returned to England for supplies but was unable to get back to Roanoke until Aug. 17, 1590. He found all the colonists gone; the only clue to their fate was the word Croatoan carved on a tree. The meaning of this remains unexplained and no trace was ever found of the settlers.
1635- English Puritan Richard Mather, 39, first arrived in Boston. A staunch defender of the congregational form of church government, Mather is remembered today for founding the "dynasty" to which was born his son Increase Mather in 1639, and his grandson Cotton Mather in 1663.
1786- American Frontiersman Davy Crockett was born at Hawkins County, TN. He died during the final heroic defense of the Alamo, March 6, 1836, at San Antonio, TX. In his autobiography, 1834, when he was a congressman, Crockett wrote, “I leave this rule for others when I am dead. Be always sure you're right—then go ahead.”
1790-First presidential declaration of the free and equal status of Jewish-American citizens.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/aug17.html
1807- Robert Fulton began the first American steamboat trip between Albany and New York, New York. He revolutionized transportation and the growth of the country, but was laughed at for his invention. The US Minister of France Robert R. Livingston raised money to allow Fulton to design and construct his “steamboat” in France. He launched his “proto-type” on the Seine in 1803. He then secured exclusive rights to operate steamboats on the New York waters. The first Albany-to-New York trip took 32 hours to travel the 150-mile course. Although his efforts were labeled “Fulton's Folly” by his detractors, his success allowed the partnership to begin commercial services. Fulton became a wealthy man, but when his exclusive contract was up, he lost most of his business to Cornelius Vanderbilt, who parlayed his capital into banks, railroads and real estate. Excellent book at
www.amazon.com The Vanderbilts and the Story of Their Fortune
by W. A. Croffut (Hardcover - June 1975) I also recommend the next time you are either in Chicago or New York to take a “river” trip to not only see architecture, historical landmarks, but to understand why these cities grew, primarily due to their water access, and understanding the Ferry between New York and New Jersey and other states, you can understand how Vanderbilt became a multi-millionaire as he built up a monopoly by undercutting his competition, and when they went out of business, he raised his prices and was basically the only game in town.
1809- In Pennsylvania, Thomas Campbell, 46, and his son Alexander, 20, formed the American Movement for Christian Unity, which later became the Disciples of Christ Church.
1885--Amos, CA hits 130 to set the August U.S. record high.
1887-Birthday of Marcus (Moziah or Mosiah) A Garvey, St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, well-known Black leader of the “Back to Africa” movement.
http://search.eb.com/blackhistory/micro/227/63.html
http://www.finalcall.com/perspectives/m_garvey8-17-99.html
http://www.africawithin.com/garvey/garvey.htm
1892 (or 93)- Birthday of Mae West - U.S. burlesque, stage, radio, and movie star who specialized in double- entendres and sensuality. She had a regal bearing and her wisecracks were legend. She was sexual and was proud of it. She was once arrested for "corrupting" youth for her stage work. One of the problems was not the throw of the hips or the sexual commons, but her very strong woman roles. She was in charge of her life, her sexuality, and men went to her. Her personal life mirrored her public presentation. During World War II the inflatable life jacket was named after her because of its large curves. She starred in vaudeville and on Broadway for a number of years. She made 11 motion pictures including She Done Him Wrong (1933) and My Little Chickadee (1940). She was pure camp. Her autobiography is Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It (1959.) She invested in real estate, especially in Hollywood and became a very, very wealthy woman. Some of the famed "wise-cracks" of Mae West who never married:
"Give a man a free hand and he'll run it all over you."
"He who hesitates is last."
"I only like two kinds of men: foreign and domestic."
"I feel like a million tonight, but one at a time."
"It's not the men in your life who count. It's the life in your men."
"So many men, so little time."
"I've been in more laps than a napkin."
"Come up and see me sometime....."
"When I'm good, I'm very, very, good, but when I'm bad, I'm better."
"She's the kind of girl who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong."
"When a girl goes bad - men go right after her."
"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it."
"I've been rich and I've been poor. Believe me, rich is better."
"It's better to be looked over than overlooked."
"I wrote this story myself, It's all about a girl who lost her reputation, but never missed it."
1894 - Skookum Jim and Tagish Charlie, members of the Tagish First Nations people, and George Carmack found gold in the Yukon, Canada, starting what became known as the Klondike Gold Rush. The three men were prospecting in Rabbit Creek (which they renamed Bonanza), a tributary of the Klondike River, when they made their discovery. Over 100,000 people stampeded to the Yukon in search of gold.
1896 - George Carmack discovered gold in a tributary of the Klondike River, Canada, precipitating the famous gold rush.
1897---WB Purvis patented the electric railway switch. Among the black inventor's patents was the first fountain pen, patented bag machines, a bag fastener, a hand stamp, and the edge cutter for such products as aluminum foil, wax paper, cling wrap.
1903 - The first Pulitzer Prize was awarded, when Joseph Pulitzer contributed a million-dollar donation to Columbia University providing the funds for the Pulitzer Prize awards made in his name.
1906—Birthday of Hazel Gladys Bishop - U.S. inventor, chemist, business tycoon. While employed as an organic chemist for Standard Oil she conducted a series of home experiments to develop a lipstick that stayed on the lips and didn't smear to everything else they touched. In 1950 she formed the Hazel Bishop, Inc. Later she formed Hazel Bishop Laboratories which developed a series of home care products. A partner forced her out of the $10 million company she created and then, through court action, forbade her from using her own name in her future careers or in personal appearances. She became financial analyst for Evans & Company and Bache and Company with her opinions actively sought on matters of the burgeoning cosmetics business. In 1978, she became an adjunct professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan specializing in training students for careers in cosmetics.
1909-Bandleadere Larry Clinton born Brooklyn, NY.
1915 - Dayton, Ohio resident Charles F. Kettering patented the electric, automobile self-starter.
1915 --Mob lynches Jewish businessman Leo Frank in Cobb County, Ga after death sentence for murder of 13-year-old girl commuted to life.
http://www.crimelibrary.com/classics/frank/
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/leofrank.htm
http://www.leofranklynchers.com/
1915 - A hurricane hit Galveston, TX, with wind gusts to 120 mph and a twelve foot storm surge. The storm claimed 275 lives, including forty-two on Galveston Island, with most deaths due to drowning. Of 250 homes built outside the seawall (which was constructed after the catastrophic hurricane of 1900), just ten percent were left standing.
1918-Tenor sax player Ike Quebec born Newark, NU.
1920 -Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman dies as a result as a result of being hit by a pitch thrown by Yankee submariner Carl Mays. The tragedy remains the only on- field fatality in major league history.
1920-Bassist George Duvivier born NYC.
1939 - The magical "Wizard of Oz," the first movie to combine the uses of black and white, and color film; premiered. It starred Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale; Bert Lahr as both the Cowardly Lion and Zeke; Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow and Hunk; and Jack Haley as both the Tin Woodsman and Hickory. Buddy Ebsen originally cast as the Tin Man; but sickness forced him to leave the production before its completion. The movie was based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", which had previously adapted into a musical play. The Hollywood version, directed by Victor Fleming, won an Oscar for best movie score (Harold Arlen and E.Y. ‘Yip' Harburg), and for best song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".
1943 - On CBS radio, writer Norman Corwin's first success "Passport for Adams" debuted. It starred Robert Young, who played a small town newspaper editor. Corwin would go on to have many radio successes including radio classics: "This is War", "An American in England" and "We Hold These Truths" all of which he wrote and produced. Lieutenant General George S. Patton and his 7th Army arrive in Messina, Sicily before British General Bernard Law Montgomery and his 8th Army, winning the unofficial "race to Messina," and completing the Allied conquest of Sicily.
1944---Top Hits
I'll Be Seeing You - Bing Crosby
Amor - Bing Crosby
Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet - Ella Mae Morse
Is You is or is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) - Louis Jordan
1948- An estimated crowd of 100,000 fans pass by the body of Babe Ruth which is on display at Yankee Stadium.
1952---Top Hits
Walkin' My Baby Back Home - Johnnie Ray
Auf Wiedersehn, Sweetheart - Vera Lynn
Half as Much - Rosemary Clooney
A Full Time Job - Eddy Arnold
1954 - In Rhode Island, the Newport Jazz Festival opened at the Newport Casino. The festival featured jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan and Ella Fitzgerald.
1955- Hurricane Diane, following hurricane Connie floods Connecticut River killing 190 and doing $1.8 billion damage
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/nerfc/historical/aug1955.htm
1956- Shelly Manne, with Previn and Vinnegar, cuts jazz version of “My Fair Lady.” I used to see them in person at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, every weekend I could when I went to high school They made one of the best jazz albums in history.
1960---Top Hits
It's Now or Never - Elvis Presley
Walk--Don't Run - The Ventures
Walking to New Orleans - Fats Domino
Please Help Me, I'm Falling - Hank Locklin
1962 -- L.A. County Coroner officially labels Marilyn Monroe's death a "probable suicide." Norman Mailer (author of The Naked & the Dead) subsequently theorized she was murdered, partly on the grounds that "it is extremely rare for a woman to commit suicide in the nude."
1963—Football coach Jon Gruden birthday.
1968 - People Got to Be Free, the hit single by The Rascals, rocketed into the top slot on Billboard's record charts, and stayed there for 5 weeks.
1968---Top Hits
People Got to Be Free - The Rascals
Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf
Light My Fire - Jose Feliciano
Heaven Says Hello - Sonny James
1969 – Third day Woodstock : Richie Havens, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who, The Band, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix.
1969 - Camille, the second worst hurricane in U.S. history, smashed into the Mississippi coast. Winds gusted to 172 mph at Main Pass Block LA, and to 190 mph near Bay Saint Louis MS. The hurricane claimed 256 lives, and caused 1.3 billion dollars damage. Several ocean going ships were carried over seven miles inland by the hurricane. The hurricane produced winds to 200 mph, and a storm surge of 24.6 feet. Complete destruction occurred in some coastal areas near the eye of the hurricane.
1973- At Shea Stadium, 42-year old New York Mets' outfielder, Willie Mays, hits his 660th and final home run of his career off Reds' lefty Don Gullett. Third-string catcher Hal King belts a pinch-hit homer in the top of the 10th inning giving Cincinnati a 2-1 victory.
1974-Bad Company's "Can't Get Enough" is released.
1976---Top Hits
Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John and Kiki Dee
You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees
Let 'Em In -Wings
Say It Again - Don Williams
1977-The day after Elvis Presley's death, President Jimmy Carter issues the following statement, "Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable. More than twenty years ago, he burst upon the scene with an impact that was unprecedented and will probably never be equaled. His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture. His following was immense and he was a symbol to people the world over, of the vitality, rebelliousness and good humor of his country." Or as James Brown once put it, "he taught white America to get down."
1977-Florists Transworld Delivery (FTD) reports that in one day the number of orders for flowers to be delivered to Graceland has surpassed the number for any other event in the company's history
1978-Deep Purple's "Hush" is released.
1984---Top Hits
Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.
What's Love Got to Do with It - Tina Turner
State of Shock - Jacksons
That's the Thing About Love - Don Williams
1988 - Fifty-five cities, from the Middle Mississippi Valley to the Middle Atlantic Coast Region, reported record high temperatures for the date. Beckley WV reported an all-time record high of 96 degrees, and Baltimore MD hit 104 degrees, marking their thirteenth day of the year with 100 degree heat. Chicago IL equaled a record with 46 days of 90 degree weather for the year. Thunderstorms produced severe weather from Wisconsin to New Jersey. Thunderstorms in New Jersey produced high winds which gusted to 92 mph at Wrightstown, and blew down a circus tent at Lavallette injuring fourteen persons.
1992 - Woody Allen admitted to being romantically involved with Soon-Yi Previn, adopted daughter of Mia Farrow, Allen's longtime companion.
1993 - Pop star Michael Jackson became the subject of an investigation of child molestation of a 13-year-old boy. Police confiscated video tapes and photographs from Jackson's Neverland ranch home, but found nothing to support the allegation. The charge was that Jackson had fondled and engaged in oral sex with the boy over a period of several months. It was believed that the child-abuse allegation grew out of an "extortion gone awry," after a purported demand for $20 million by the boy's father, a dentist, was denied. Charges were later dropped, and an unidentified source leaked to the press that a hefty settlement, possibly as high as $15 million, was paid to the boy's family. More than a year after the damaging allegations were made, the Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County district attorneys publicly announced that they didn't have enough evidence to charge the pop singer with a single crime.
1994-Boise, ID recorded its 41st day in a row with 90 plus temperatures, a record for that city.
1994--severe thunderstorms belted central Oklahoma. Winds gusted to 113 at Meno, 104 at Mangum and 97 at Hobart. Hail up to 4.5 inches in diameter driven by the winds totaled 30 mobile homes at Okarche
1996 - Ross Perot announced he was the Reform Party's presidential candidate.
1998 - United States President Clinton admitted to having an improper relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
2002 Homering in the seventh inning of Mariner stater James Baldwin, Yankee All-star Alfonso Soriano becomes the first second baseman to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season. Bobby Bonds is the only other Yankee to post a 30/30 season accomplishing the feat in 1975.
2002- Alex Rodriguez becomes the sixth player and the first infielder to compile five consecutive 40-home run seasons. The Rangers' shortstop joins Ralph Kiner (1947-51), Duke Snider (1953-57), Ken Griffey Jr (1996-2000), Sammy Sosa (1998-2002) and Babe Ruth (1926-32), who established the record with seven straight 40-homer seasons.
2003- Peanuts character Charlie Brown joins late broadcaster Bob Prince, Negro League star Josh Gibson, former catcher Manny Sanguillen current shortstop Jack Wilson to be honored by the Pirates with a bobblehead doll give-away day. Almost ten percent of the nearly 18,000 Peanuts strips created by Charles Schulz focused on baseball.
2003 -The Rally Monkey, the Angels' unofficial mascot, is honored for its contribution to last season's world championship with it's own bobble head doll promotion. The Rally Monkey Bobble Belly joins other dolls given to fans this year paying tribute to Troy Glaus' (2002 World Series MVP) , Adam Kennedy' (ALCS MVP), and Mike Scioscia (AL manager of the year) and will wear an Anaheim jersey with a name of a honored player on the back.
2004--- As she enters Raley Field at 6:27 p.m., five year old Olivia Perez is honored by the River Cats as she becomes four millionth fan in franchise history. The Triple A affiliate of the Oakland A's reaches the milestone faster than any club in minor league baseball history.

A Faulkner sentence is an extra inning game,
Simply and finally playing through its Will and exhaustion.

Third Base Coach signals are ee cummings poems-
Gimmicky, sure, but meaningful in their color
When you break the code.

The prisons play contests of Bukowski prose,
Where a stolen base may be a literal image
And everybody gambles nothing.

Weird killers load the bases at a
Stephen King Little League field, the sequel,
A grand slam promise at the bank.

Although Poe would never sit through nine,
His words are a dark season in the cellar,
A team leaving town and the death of a Beautiful groupie.

Finally, Wolfe who wrote slugfest
Double-headers played to million-footed
Throngs, then flickered like so many other
Stars never meant for extra innings.

----------------------
with the permission of the author, from his
book of baseball poetry:
“Waiting for Godot's First Pitch”
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