Wednesday November 18, 2020 Smile for the Day: William Tell

On this Day:

William Tell shoots the arrow that splits the apple on his son’s head. The best-known version of the story is in the legend of William Tell, supposedly happening to start off the Swiss revolution, written first in the 15th-century White Book of Sarnen, then in Aegidius Tschudi’s 16th-century Chronicon Helveticum, and later the basis for Friedrich Schiller’s 1804 play. Tell is arrested for failing to bow in respect to the hat that the newly appointed Austrian Vogt, Albrecht Gessler, has placed on a pole, and Gessler commands him to shoot an apple off his son’s head with a single bolt from his crossbow. After splitting the apple with the single shot (supposedly on November 18, 1307), Tell is asked why he took more than one bolt out; at first he responds that it was out of habit, but when assured he will not be killed for answering honestly, says the second bolt was meant for Gessler’s heart should he fail.  (per Wikipedia)

First, a Story:

Evidence has been found that William Tell and his family were avid bowlers.

However, all the Swiss league records were unfortunately destroyed in a fire, and we’ll never know for whom the Tells bowled.

Second, a Song:

The William Tell Overture has been recorded by countless individuals, groups, orchestras and banjos and featured in many movies and TV shows. This version is quite recent and features the San Francisco Symphony musicians & their little ones in a socially distant version.  Enjoy!

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pLBXL8yXqQ)

Thought for the Day:

“An intellectual snob is someone who can listen to the William Tell Overture and not think of The Lone Ranger.” – Dan Rather

P.S. Subsequent to the Smile regarding Booker T. Washington’s historic visit to the White House, Graham Ross from England drew my attention to Booker T. and the M.G.’s.  Booker T. Jones was named after his father who was named after Booker T. Washington.  Booker T. and the M.G’s was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee in 2008, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Blues Hall of Fame in 2019.

Having two white members (Cropper and Steinberg, later Dunn) and two black members (Jones and Jackson Jr.), Booker T. & the M.G.’s was one of the first racially integrated rock groups, at a time when soul music and the Memphis music scene in particular were generally considered the preserve of black culture (per Wikipedia).

Here is Booker T. and the M.G’s live version of their hit Green Onions.  

Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB5VD_Z5Zvg

Have a great day!

© 2020 David J. Bilinsky and Colleen E. Bilinsky

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