FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS

Porgy and Bess (/ˈpɔːrɡi/) is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward’s play Porgy, itself an adaptation of DuBose Heyward’s 1925 novel of the same name.

Porgy and Bess was first performed in Boston on September 30, 1935, before it moved to Broadway in New York City. It featured a cast of classically trained African-American singers—a daring artistic choice at the time. A 1976 Houston Grand Opera production gained it a renewed popularity after languishing in the doldrums of the 1960s and early 1970s, and it is now one of the best known and most frequently performed operas.

The libretto of Porgy and Bess tells the story of Porgy, a disabled black street beggar living in the slums of Charleston. It deals with his attempts to rescue Bess from the clutches of Crown, her violent and possessive lover, and Sportin’ Life, her drug dealer. The opera plot generally follows the stage play.

In the years following Gershwin’s death, Porgy and Bess was adapted for smaller-scale performances. It was adapted as a film in 1959. Some of the songs in the opera, such as “Summertime“, became popular and are frequently recorded. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the trend has been toward productions with greater fidelity to Gershwin’s original intentions. Smaller-scale productions also continue to be mounted. A complete recorded version of the score was released in 1976; since then, it has been recorded several times.

TODAY’S ALMANAC

Thanksgiving (Canada)

Thanksgiving Day in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in October. The first Canadian Thanksgiving Day was observed on April 15, 1872, to celebrate the recovery of the prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Indigenous Peoples’ Day, observed in the United States on the second Monday in October, recognizes the culture, contributions, and history of Native Americans. Ways to celebrate include attending community events, supporting indigenous businesses and art, and expanding knowledge via museums and other resources. The holiday is celebrated in certain areas in lieu of Columbus Day (a federal holiday) because of the devastation that European exploration brought to indigenous peoples of the Americas. Learn more about Indigenous Peoples’ Day here.

Columbus Day

On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on a small island in the Bahamas, convinced that he had reached the East Indies. The anniversary of his landing in the New World was first formally celebrated in 1792, by the Columbian Order (Society of St. Tammany) in New York City. Now, it is celebrated nationally on the second Monday in October.

Question of the Day

What’s the best way to propagate African violets?

Cuttings from African violets are fragile. Place a cutting on peat pellets that have been well soaked in water, then squeezed to remove excess moisture. Put the cutting and pellets in a small plastic bag, but use a stick or hard plastic tab to keep the bag from touching the cutting. Seal the bag tightly and place it in bright light. When the cutting grows a healthy clump of roots, transfer the pellets to a small pot that is about one-third the diameter of the cutting and its roots. African violets need plenty of light to bloom, and they often do well under fluorescent lights.

Advice of the Day

Keep your feet warm, your back straight, and your head cool. —The Old Farmer’s Almanac, 1942

Home Hint of the Day

Hairbrushes and combs can be cleaned by soaking them in water with a splash of ammonia. Let them sit for about 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly before using.

Word of the Day

Moon’s place

Astronomical: The actual position of the Moon within the constellations on the celestial sphere. Astrological: The astrological position of the Moon within the zodiac according to calculations made more than 2,000 years ago. Because of precession of the equinoxes and other factors, this is not the Moon’s actual position in the sky.

Puzzle of the Day

Why did the doughnut visit the dentist? 

He needed a chocolate filling.

Born

• Henry Cavendish (chemist) – 1731
• Benjamin West (painter) – 1738
• The Viscount Monck (first Governor General of Canada 1867 – 1868.) – 1819
• Cassie Chadwick (con artist, also known as Elizabeth Bigley, Emily Heathcliff, and Lydia DeVere) – 1859
• Helen Hayes (actress) – 1900
• Claude Simon (author) – 1913
• James Clavell (author) – 1924
• Ed Wood (filmmaker) – 1924
• Ben Vereen (actor) – 1946
• David Lee Roth (singer) – 1954
• Tanya Tucker (country music singer) – 1958
• Jodi Benson (singer, voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid) – 1961
• Brett Favre (football player) – 1969
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. (race car driver) – 1974
• Mya (singer) – 1979

Died

• Cassie Chadwick (con artist) – 1907
• Yul Brynner (actor) – 1985
• Orson Welles (actor & director) – 1985
• Joseph Cates (director & producer) – 1998
• Christopher Reeve (actor) – 2004
• Ken Caminiti (baseball player) – 2004
• Alex Karras (football player & actor) – 2012

Events

• The United States Naval Academy (then named the Naval School) is founded in Annapolis, Maryland.– 1845
• Tobacco heir Griswold Lorillard shocked his contemporaries by showing up to the autumn ball in a tailless dinner jacket, thus making the Tuxedo known– 1886
• Sir Robert Borden became the 8th prime minister of Canada– 1911
• In Washington, D.C., President Woodrow Wilson pushed the button that relayed the signal to blow up the center of the Gamboa Dike that was keeping Atlantic waters from Pacific waters in the Panama Canal– 1913
• The American opera Porgy and Bess opened on Broadway– 1935
• The movie Lassie Come Home premiered– 1943
• The Red Baron first appeared in Peanuts comic strip– 1965
• The Supremes appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show– 1965
• London Bridge dedicated, Lake Havasu City, Arizona– 1971
• Soyuz 25 mission scrapped after docking troubles– 1977
• President Jimmy Carter signed a bill authorizing the minting of the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin– 1978
• Asteroid Cruithne (quasi-satellite of Earth) discovered– 1986
• The New England Patriots set an NFL record for consecutive victories with their 19th straight win– 2004
• An unidentified boom was heard in parts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine around 11:30 am. In some areas, shaking was also felt. An earthquake or military plane sonic boom were ruled out as possible causes.– 2021

Weather

• Washington, D.C., had its earliest measurable snow of the 20th century– 1979
• Worcester, Massachusetts, was blanketed with 7.5 inches of snow.– 1979

COURTESY www.almanac.com