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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | MAY 28-JUNE 3, 2021 17
In conjunction with the Greater
Astoria Historical Society,
TimesLedger Newspapers presents
noteworthy events in the borough’s
history.
On May 18, 1942, Queens underwent
its first blackout. Only the
Flushing and Astoria trains, as well
as factories engaged in war production,
were exempt.
More than 35,000 air raid wardens
in the borough took part in the
blackout. All street lights and traffic
lights were turned off, automobiles
were stopped and required to
turn out their lights. Traffic was at
a standstill for 20 minutes. A photograph
from a roof at Steinway Street
and 30th Avenue only showed lights
at the distant Brewster Building,
busy turning out Brewster aircraft
for the war effort.
Even though the Army had been
ordered to take charge of the nation’s
commercial airlines, LaGuardia
Field “will not be taken over
tomorrow afternoon, or next week,”
Mayor LaGuardia said as he arrived
Friday evening on May 15. He was
returning from Washington where
he met President Roosevelt in a conference
on “routine business.” La-
Guardia Field, the busiest airport
in the world, had been busier than
ever in recent months as the travel
of military personnel on official
business increased steadily
A Star Journal reporter went
around to 50 gas stations trying
to get gas without a ration card.
At each station he got the same response:
no card, no gas. And even if
he had the card, in most of the stations
there was no gas to be sold. At
one station a half dozen cars were
parked around the tanks.
The dealer stated, “I expect a delivery
of gas in 15 minutes. These
drivers are regular customers and I
told them to come at this time.” In
another station, a dealer refused to
sell more than three gallons. “We
haven’t enough gas to sell more.”
The ranking naval hero of Queens,
Lieutenant John Bulkeley, who
‘slapped’ a Japanese cruiser down to
‘Davey Jones’ locker’ with a torpedo
from his PT boat, was introduced by
Mayor LaGuardia to a crowd estimated
to top a million for a Sunday,
May 17, event in Central Park. Billed
as the ‘I am an American Day Rally’,
the event was planned as a “reaffirmation
of allegiance of the Constitution
and all-out support for the
nation’s war programs.” Lieutenant
Bulkeley also notched another spot
in the hall of fame when he piloted
the speeding PT boat which spirited
General Douglas MacArthur from
Bataan to Australia under the very
guns of the Japanese fleet.
Outstanding dignitaries included
Governor Herbert Lehman and
Supreme Court Judge Hugo Black.
Private Joe Louis, the boxing champion,
and actor Paul Muni delivered
brief remarks. More than 1,000
police were on hand to direct the
crowd. Famed African-American
singer Marian Anderson as well as
Lily Pons, of the Metropolitan Opera,
delivered musical selections.
Music was furnished by mass bands
of the Police, Fire, Parks, and Sanitation
departments.
The evening ended with a singing
of “God Bless America” by “the
entire assemblage.” It was led by Irving
Berlin, the song’s composer.
For further info, call the
Greater Astoria Historical
Society at 718-278-0700 or www.
astorialic.org.
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LAST WEEK’S TOP STORY:
Tribeca Film Festival presents free screenings in
Astoria Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park and
Far Rockaway playground
SUMMARY: The Tribeca Film Festival, which legendary actor
Robert De Niro co-founded in 1989, will present free community
screenings in Astoria Park next month using a traveling 40-foot
state-of-the-art LED cinema screen. Free community screenings
are also coming to Flushing Meadows Corona Park and the 30th
Street Playground in Far Rockaway.
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