JUNE 11, 1939: Mustard, Your Majesty?

‘On behalf of the United States of America, may we offer you this tubular delight of meat, meat byproducts, curing agents and spices?’”

On June 11, 1939, on a royal visit to the United States, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (II’s mum) joined President Roosevelt and others at his Hyde Park residence for a picnic.  There, the British monarch experienced his first ever hot dog — and his second ever hot dog, along with a beer.  It was a far cry from a typical state dinner.  No reporters, no photgraphers, no politicos.  The guest list included relatives, friends and neighbors of the Roosevelts, as well as employees and their children.

“King Tries Hot Dog and Asks For More” read the headline in The New York Times the following day, including that imagined dinner proclamation.

Werewolf? There Wolf

Actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, author and activist Gene Wilder was born on June 11, 1933.  After his first film role playing a hostage in Bonnie and Clyde, he went on to star in such memorable films as Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, The Producers, Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles.

“Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple.” — Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

“The clue obviously lies in the word “cheddar.” Let’s see now. Seven letters. Rearranged, they come to, let me see: “Rachedd.” “Dechdar.” “Drechad.” “Chaderd” – hello, chaderd! Unless I’m very much mistaken, chaderd is the Egyptian word meaning “to eat fat.” Now we’re getting somewhere!” – Sigerson Holmes in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother

 

“You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. They’re people of the land. The common clay of the New West. You know – morons.” – The Waco Kid in Blazing Saddles

 

“This is a nice boy. This is a good boy. This is a mother’s angel. And I want the world to know once and for all, and without any shame, that we love him. I’m going to teach you. I’m going to show you how to walk, how to speak, how to move, how to think. Together, you and I are going to make the greatest single contribution to science since the creation of fire.” – Dr. Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein

 

I’m in pain and I’m wet and I’m still hysterical! – Leo Bloom in The Producers