Archives for August 2011

August 28, 1955: LA Rams and NY Giants Play First Overtime NFL Game at Multnomah Stadium

August 28, 2011 by Dave Knows Leave a Comment

22,222 fans at Portland’s Multnomah Stadium (now known as Providence Park) witnessed the first National Football League game won in “sudden death” overtime on August 28, 1955 when the Los Angeles Rams‘ Paul “Tank” Younger, from the 2 yard line, smashed over the New York Giants‘ right tackle to score the winning touchdown (The Oregonian, 29 August 1955).

Harry Glickman, the exhibition game’s promoter (and one of the future founders of the Portland Trail Blazers) had pressed the NFL for the overtime permission, and as luck would have it the game ended all tied up at 17-17.

The game featured future hall-of-famers Tom Landry, Frank Gifford, and former University of Oregon Webfoot Norm Van Brocklin, who as quarterback for the Rams engineered the winning 70-yard drive.

August 27, 1966: Astoria-Megler Bridge Officially Opens, Completing Last Link in Highway 101 from Mexico to Canada

August 27, 2011 by Dave Knows Leave a Comment

A four day celebration marked the dedication of the Astoria-Megler Bridge, with a ribbon cutting taking place on August 27, 1966 (The Sunday Oregonian, 28 August 1966).

ASTORIA (Special) – The $25 million Astoria – Megler Bridge was dedicated here Saturday under faultless skies, closing the last link in Highway 101 from Tijuana, Mexico, to the northern tip of Washington – 1,625 miles.

Oregon’s Gov. Mark O. Hatfield and Washington’s Gov. Daniel J. Evans presided and an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 people jammed this coastal community for a day of celebration which included the finish of a marathon boat race from Portland to Astoria; a three – hour parade down Marine Drive; the dedication ceremonies; a mammoth salmon barbecue at the fairgrounds and finally a semi-pro football game at Gyro Field.

(Though this was the official dedication, the Astoria-Megler Bridge had actually opened to automobile traffic a month earlier, on July 29, 1966.)

Kick Ass Oregon History Vol 3 #2: Civil Defense Part 1 – Operation Green Light

August 26, 2011 by Dave Knows Leave a Comment

Kick Ass Oregon History is the latest series of podcasts from the enthusiastic historians behind ORHistory.com.

Volume 3 #2 dropped yesterday: Civil Defense Part 1 – Operation Green Light:

In 1955 Portland’s ambitious Civil Defense program initiated “Operation Green Light” and tried to evacuate ALL of Portland’s Downtown to the suburbs. FAST.

Featuring an interview with Portland Mayor Sam Adams!

Go listen!

The brains behind this Kick Ass project are the crack hustlers of Oregon History Doug Kenck-Crispin and Andy Lindberg. Doug is a graduate student studying Public History and Pacific Northwest History at PSU, and Andy, though a Portland native, is currently working as an actor in New York City. Doug does most of the research and writing for the podcasts with input from Andy, who voices the broadcasts with a thespian’s flair.

With the Kick Ass Oregon History podcast they plan to cover just the good stuff: Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll and Earth Shattering, Devastating Destruction.

Ultimately, our goal is to take Oregon History out of the hallowed halls of the academy, get folks excited and enthused about this shared history, and get them out into the state, digging it and experiencing it. Get them to embrace it, and get their boots muddy in the process. It’s all OUR History; nobody owns it.

Visit ORHistory.com and stay tuned to @Oregon_History on Twitter for further details on specific episodes and the series. Catch up on missed episodes at the Kick Ass Oregon History archives.

August 26, 1902: Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Makes Oregon Debut

August 26, 2011 by Dave Knows 1 Comment

The first Oregon appearance of the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show took place on August 26, 1902 in Northwest Portland (The Morning Oregonian, 27 August 1902).

There were thrilling times at the Wild West show yesterday. For two hours before the gates opened people were blackening the streets that lead to the big tents, at Twenty-first and Savier streets. Good nature reigned, despite the heat and the dust. And as a reward the strong men who managed to pilot their families in were entranced and spellbound for two hours by an exhibition of nerve, skill and manly strength. Those whom long years in office and at desks had enervated woke to the knowledge of their birthright of physical vigor and activity, and the many plainsmen and miners and ranchers who thronged in every section glowed with the feeling that this was almost the apotheosis of their own deeds.

The “Wild West” themed circus-like show was popular at the turn of the last century, touring the country and the world, showcasing Western and American Indian cultures, horsemanship, sharp shooting, and dubious re-enactments of historical battles and Indian vs. Cowboy encounters.

Weekend Amusements (August 26-28, 2011)

August 25, 2011 by Dave Knows Leave a Comment

The state fair, a street fair, Sunday Parkways, movies in the park, beer events, and more – looks like a great weekend!

Ongoing

PDX Beer Week

The first annual PDX Beer Week takes place August 19 through 28 (yes, a 7 day week isn’t long enough when the theme is beer!) around town.

“Celebrating the city with the most breweries in the world, PDX Beer Week is a great way to explore all that Portland has to offer within its unique craft beer community.” [more]

Movies in the Park

Movies in the park this weekend:

Friday: Megamind @ St. Johns Park
Saturday: The Social Network @ Laurelhurst Park
Sunday: How to Train Your Dragon @ Argay Park [more]

Oregon State Fair 2011

The 2011 Oregon State Fair runs from Friday, August 26 through September 5, at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem. Heather and I had a blast at last year’s fair.

Competitions this year include 4-H of course, along with categories such as fine art, farm and garden, photography, floral, creative living, and grill offs. And of course there will be horse shows, and exhibits of livestock and the best part: small animals. [more]

Thursday-Saturday

Festa Italiana 2011

The 20th Festa Italiana turns Pioneer Courthouse Square into a piazza Thursday through Saturday, August 25 through 27, 2011.

This is one of my favorite Portland festivals, and not just because of the strolling accordionists. Arrive early to secure a table in the beer and wine garden! [more]

Saturday

The Mighty Mites – Session Beer Fest

The first Might Mites Session Beer Fest takes place this Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Coalition Brewing (2724 SE Ankeny), from noon until 7pm.

There is a pernicious assumption among beer fans that in order to bristle with flavor, a beer must be strong. The notion has led to rampant escalation in alcohol content—the steroid era of good beers. But it doesn’t have to be so. Throughout history, brewers have regularly packed intense flavors into small beers. [more]

Sunday

Kraftskiva Crawfish Party

House Spirits Distillery‘s first annual Kraftskiva Crawfish Party takes place this Sunday, August 28 at the distillery (2025 SE 7th).

There is a tradition in Sweden that at the end of Summer, in the month of August, they celebrate by having an enormous crawfish party. This year marks our 1st Summer Party Blowout with respect to this age-old occurrence, featuring food and merriment in the Scandinavian style. [more]

Southeast Portland Sunday Parkways

Portland Sunday Parkways come to close-in Southeast Portland on August 28, 2011.

Spend your Sunday morning and afternoon (11am to 4pm) winding your way on bike or foot through mostly residential streets free of car traffic, from one park to the next. The 2-way, 6.2-mile Southeast Portland Sunday Parkways route connects Laurelhurst, Colonel Summers and Ivon Parks, plus the Hawthorne Street Fair. [more]

Hawthorne Street Fair

The 2011 Hawthorne Street Fair takes place Sunday, August 28, from 11am to 5pm.

For the third year in a row the fair coincides with the Southeast Portland Sunday Parkways, which intersects with Hawthorne at 32nd and 45th. Most of the street fair activities take place between 12th and 51st (take a look at the map). Clusters of arts, crafts, and food vendors pepper the side streets, sidewalks, and adjacent parking lots. [more]

And for even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Blogging Portland on the Cheap, PDX Pipeline, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

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