Austin, TX.
20+ years exper. lease/finance. P & L responsibility, strong credit & collection management, re-marketing& accounting. Computers, construction, auto & transportation. Both commercial/ consumer portfolios.
Email: kmalone@austin.rr.com

Bloomfield Township, MI.
15+ yrs experience asset management and credit analyst. Leadership and training skills. Audited returns, max residual, lease end and resale negotiator.
E-mail: cmcozzolino@msn.com

Chicago, IL.
MBA, 15+ years exp. Long history of success in maximizing residual position through outstanding negotiation skills & lease contract management. Third party re-marketing, forecasting etc...
email: jgambla@aol.com

Hartford, CT.
7yrs exp structuring US Leveraged & Single Investor leases w/ pre-paid deferred rents, 467 loans & early buyouts. Engineer rv guarantees, synthetic leases, economic capital models & securitizations.
E-mail: lease_structuring@yahoo.com

Princeton, NJ.
Asset management/credit/collection
20+ years experience in equipment financing. Last five years in Asset Management including remarketing, end of lease negotiations, equipment and market evaluations
E-mail: bgaffrey@earthlink.net

Wilton, CT.
18 years exp. in IT and High Tech leasing industry. Residual forecasting, workouts, off-lease sales, mid-term restructures, auctions, all aspects of remarketing and equipment management.
Email: charrer@hotmail.com

Karlen J. Reed, Assistant Attorney General Utilities Division, Office of the Attorney General, for the State of Massachusetts, has confirmed 13 states have filed an amici brief in the Ohio 8th District state Court of Appeals on March 16, 2005 challenging Preferred Capital's enforcement of NorVergence contracts using the floating forum selection clause.

March 21 California Attorney General Bill Lockyer made it 13 states joining the Amici Curia; Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Texas “in support of the appellees.”

The case involves the Equipment Leasing Association stance that the choice of venue is left up to the assignee of the “Equipment Leasing Agreement” and the specific location of jurisdiction did not need be agreed upon in advance by both parties (( further, that the location (cause of action )is not where the contract was signed, but that chosen by the assignee).)

This has to do with "venue," then, the jurisdiction when the case may be held. It is also often called a “floating forum,” meaning the “assignee” may choose almost anywhere ( most likely their headquarter location, or can be assigned again.)

In the paragraph before the conclusion of the brief by Karlen J. Reed, AAG, Scott D. Schafer, AAG, and Geoffrey G. Why, of the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, Public Protection Bureau, Boston Massachusetts, it is stated, " Preferred Capital will experience minimal financial harm if this court affirms the lower courts' decisions, especially compared to the harm that Appellees will fact otherwise. Even if Preferred Capital cannot sue Appellees in Ohio, Preferred Capital will not be denied its day in court. Instead of selecting a forum that would be unreasonable to the Appellees, Preferred Capital will merely need to re-file its action in the jurisdiction where Appellees reside."

It does appear this ruling has been of “financial harm, “ as it appears Preferred Capital leases have been assigned to Bank of Huntington as NorVergence lessees report being contacted by the bank that they have taken over the “contract” for Preferred Capital.

The fact that the actual location of venue was not agreed by both parties should be of concern and not the cost to either party. In many states, even agreed upon venue can be changed due to circumstances, and is up to the court to rule upon.

Howard Wayne, Deputy Attorney General for California Attorney General Bill Lockyer

Asset Management: Long Island City, NY
seeking an experienced off lease and repossession manager. Successful candidates should have prior experience. Email resume to ekaye@advantagefunding.us or fax to 718 392 5427.

About the Company: Advantage Funding is a leading commercial and consumer vehicle and equipment financing and leasing company, Long Island City, NY.

www.advantagefund.com

Middle Market Sales Rep.: exp. sales reps throughout country for middle market leasing/financing. Must have min.5-years exp. in "hard assets" ranging from 100K -$1.0MM generated from vendor and /or direct sources. Excel. benefits, base salary and commission program. Resumes to amandell@eqcorp.com .

About the Company: A rapidly expanding Middle Market Leasing / Finance Company located in CT. Equilease Financial Services, Inc

Dash takes on new assignment in the US Navy, to be stationed at Portsmith Naval Yard, Virginia, training basically for six months, and the first assignment in Kuwait. He was stationed there with the USS Preble. He says the difference is they will be living in barracks.

He did similar duty off the coast of South America, primarily cocaine runners and modern day pirates. He liked the action in Kuwait waters, he said, and is in excellent physical condition.

(He drives a Dodge truck.) gonna stay on the ship and eat lunch in the galley. this will probably be the first and only ship I will serve on again. since my change to the Special Boat Units.

(He was named after Dashiell Hammett, my favorite mystery writer, and his mother's father, who was commonly known as “Red,” as he had red hair and a red mustache. He was also a seaman, then a cowboy and miner, then when others were close to retiring, he became an OSHA inspector---he was tough as nails, taking all the tough assignments, as he too was in great physical condition, and didn't take BS from anyone. Dash was very close to his grandfather when he was alive, even going way out in the Nevada hills all summer prospecting with Red and Red's brother Jim Murdock when he was a teenager, really roughing it. The only thing I didn't like is they taught him to chew tobacco and he also learned a lot of raunchy jokes. )

“We're glad to have Non-members attend one time to get the feel of the Exhibition. I'm sorry if a reader felt, or was told, the 24 hour pass to Members Only areas was a requirement.”

Wayne Hunt
Director, Online Services
Equipment Leasing Association
4301 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 550
Arlington, VA 22203
703.527.8655; Fax: 703.527.2649
whunt@elamail.com ; http://www.elaonline.com/

(If you are a non-member, having trouble learning about the funding exhibition, which will be the largest—most funders, most attendees---please contact Wayne Hunt above.)

The Equipment Leasing Association will allow a one time conference attendance to a non-member. However, the ability to attend not only the conferences but information from their website is well-worth the membership fee)
http://www.elaonline.org/events/2005/fundexhome.cfm

DEADLINE is MARCH 30 to be included on the Final Attendee list for ELA National Funding Exhibition !"

Appointment schedules are filling up fast, so don't delay! This will be the Funding exhibit of the year!!!

OAKBROOK, IL-- A group of former American Express Business Finance executives, led by Craig Weinewuth, Jim Freund, Joel Cappon and Rose Reynolds, announced the commencement of AmeriCap Credit, LLC, a commercial finance company specializing in the Commercial Vehicle and Construction & Industrial segments.

“AmeriCap Credit is committed to providing the Best-in-Class finance solutions to vendors of Commercial Equipment,” stated its President, Craig Weinewuth. “Given the recent consolidation in the commercial finance industry and the trend by some lenders to move away from the vendor model, we feel the timing is right for a specialized lender in the Commercial Vehicle and Construction & Industrial Equipment segments - particularly one that is truly committed to servicing the vendor like AmeriCap Credit. Weinewuth continued, “In fact, we have made this the center-piece of our business model. Our vendors will work with industry seasoned professionals in sales, credit and operations; people who understand these markets and equipment and are committed to delivering the Best-in-Class vendor-finance solutions.”

AmeriCap Credit's value proposition is based on Speed, Simplicity, Consistency and Service. “Having a team that has worked together for numerous years and with extensive experience in these markets, is a very big plus for us,” explained Weinewuth. “We understand these markets, what is needed and how to deliver.” Weinewuth continued, “We have the unique ability to design our systems and procedures around these two segments as opposed to other lenders who have legacy systems built for an “all things-to all people” platform that does not quite fit all vendors. “

Weinewuth is a former Vice President/General Manager of American Express Business Finance and is joined by Jim Freund, EVP Sales & Marketing (former Director of Construction & Industrial Equipment Group at American Express Business Finance); Joel Cappon, EVP CFO (former Controller of American Express Business Finance) and Rose Reynolds, VP Operations (former Director of Operations for American Express Business Finance).

AmeriCap Credit is headquartered in Oakbrook, IL with field sales efforts across the country. For more information, visit www.AmeriCapCredit.com.

Eighty-Five Percent of Small Businesses Expect to Grow,
According to the OPEN Small Business Network
2005 Semi-Annual Monitor from American Express

NEW YORKTwo-Thirds of Respondents Plan to Make Capital Investments This Year; Nearly Two-Thirds of Women Respondents Tap Business Mentors for Strategic Guidance

Small business optimism has risen sharply, according to the OPEN Small Business Network(SM) 2005 Semi-Annual Monitor from American Express.

Eighty-five percent of small businesses report seeing growth opportunities for their companies over the next six months, up significantly from 72% in the spring of 2004 and 56% in the spring of 2003.

In addition, more than half (57%) of businesses surveyed say they expect their revenues to exceed last year's, while 35% expect revenues to remain steady. Only 7% expect revenues to fall short of last year's. On average, small business owners expect their revenues to grow by twenty percent over their current fiscal year.

"The OPEN Semi-Annual Monitor results echo what we're hearing every day from our customers: Small business owners remain positive and focused on growing their companies," said Susan Sobbott, president, OPEN from America Express. "Capital investments are up, and fewer firms are experiencing cash flow issues. This is a winning combination that positions small businesses nicely for growth."

According to the survey, small business owners are finding it easier to manage cash flow. Respondents reporting cash flow concerns dropped to 50%, down significantly from 62% in both the spring of 2004 and 2003. Of those reporting cash flow issues this year, 14% of business owners say they are most concerned about accounts receivable, while another 14% are concerned with having enough cash on-hand to win new business. They are also concerned by their ability to pay bills on time (12%) and their ability to track cash flow (8%).

Business owners say they will use a variety of tactics to address cash flow crunches, including using personal or private funds (28%), putting off purchases (18%; down sharply from 31% last spring), obtaining and using a line of credit (18%), using a charge or credit card (12%), taking out a short-term loan (11%) or leasing, rather than purchasing, business equipment (4%).

Interestingly, women small business owners are more likely to use a credit or charge card to address cash flow issues (19%), compared to small businesses overall (12%).

With owners focused on growth, two in three (66%) small businesses report they plan to make capital investments in the next six months. That number is up compared to spring 2004 (59%) and spring 2003 (58%). Among these businesses, new technology purchases - including PCs and software - remain atop their list of capital expenditures (43%), followed by office equipment purchases (27%), office furnishings (17%), manufacturing equipment (16%) and real estate purchases (14%).

To handle business growth - or in anticipation of it - firms are competing to attract the best employees with benefits and other perks. Business with hiring plans are more likely than others to offer paid vacations (59% vs. 52% of all respondents); paid holidays (57% vs. 50% of all respondents); and flexible work hours (77% vs. 68% of all respondents).

For firms overall, however, the rising costs of those benefits may represent a challenge to business growth. Compared to a year ago, the number of firms offering paid vacations has fallen to 52%, down from 56% in 2004; the number offering paid holidays has fallen to 50%, down from 57%; the number offering 401(k) plans has fallen to 20% from 28%; and the number of firms offering life insurance is now 17%, compared to 24% last year.

In addition, respondents cite a number of barriers to securing the financing they need to grow their business. One in five (20%) say the size of their business is the greatest barrier, followed by overwhelming paperwork requirements (12%), a low credit score (11%), limited knowledge of financing resources (8%) and lack of documentation to support their loan application (6%). Sixteen percent of small businesses report having been denied a loan or line of credit.

Businesses with hiring plans report that their primary motivations to add employees are to handle growing business and to help increase business volume, both 76%. While optimism about growth remains very high, businesses appear to be keeping their hiring plans in check. Overall, 44% of small businesses report plans to hire over the next six months, steady compared to spring 2004 (46%), but up from 35% reported in spring 2003.

Small business hiring plans vary widely by region and by a company's age. Businesses in the West are more likely to have hiring plans (56%) than those in the North Central states (46%), the South (44%) and those in the North East (30%). In addition, start-up enterprises, defined as companies in business for three years or fewer, are more likely to have hiring plans than companies in business for more than three years (64% vs. 40%).

According to the survey, 44% of small business owners plan to grow their businesses by branching into new markets, introducing new products or services and increasing investments in the business.

Nearly half of women-owned businesses (49%) will grow their firms in a similar manner.

Among business owners needing help with general business decisions or searching for ideas to grow their businesses, 52% turn to individual mentors; 51% look to personal social networks; 44% use trade industry associations; 36% use a business advisor; 31% use the Internet and 27% use a local chamber of commerce.

Women business owners are even more likely to cite mentors as a source for strategic guidance on general business decisions (63%), compared to small business overall (52%).

"Women entrepreneurs face unique challenges to starting and growing their companies," said Sobbott. "For example, our findings show that women respondents are more likely to report cash flow concerns. So they're turning to a variety of sounding boards for strategic guidance. Mentors, as well as networking organizations, serve as powerful resources who are helping women find the right answers."

Asked to name the business skills they would most like to enhance, respondents focused on customer service as the top choice at 71% - up significantly from 50% in spring of 2004 - followed by marketing (67% up from 52% a year ago), financial management/planning (49% up from 43% a year ago), decision making (45% up from 32%), negotiation (42% up from 33%) and human resources (29% up from 22%).

Continuing a steady, upward trend, 82% report using the Internet for e-commerce, up from 73% last spring, 22% in 2003 and 23% in 2002. The number of companies that report using the Internet for business activities remains steady (82%), compared to spring of last year (83%). Similar to last year, businesses report using the Internet to make travel plans (57%); purchase office supplies and equipment (50%); conduct marketing or industry research (46%); market or advertise their business (42%); service customers (42%); purchase goods from wholesalers (33%); network with other small business owners (32%); sell products or services (29%); hire staff (10%) and access capital by applying for loans or credit cards online (7%).

The OPEN Small Business Network Semi-Annual Monitor, released each spring and fall, is based on a nationally representative sample of 627 small business owners/managers of companies with fewer than 100 employees. The survey was conducted via telephone by International Communications Research (ICR) from February 9- February 22, 2005. The poll has a margin of error of +/-3.9%.

OPEN: The Small Business Network is a division of American Express that offers small business owners a wide range of tools, services and savings designed to meet their evolving needs, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital and credit information, enhanced online account management capabilities and savings on business services from an enhanced lineup of partners. To obtain more information about the OPEN Network, visit OPEN.americanexpress.com or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a card or loan.

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, business services, insurance and international banking.

CHICAGO------GATX Financial Corporation (GFC), a wholly owned subsidiary of GATX Corporation (NYSE:GMT) announced that it has commenced cash tender offers for approximately $381 million aggregate principal amount of specified series of its outstanding debt.

GFC is offering to purchase any and all of the outstanding principal amount of its 7 3/4% Notes due December 1, 2006 and 6 7/8% Notes due December 15, 2006. These offers are scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on Friday, April 8, 2005, unless extended. The tender offers are made upon the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated March 28, 2005. The tender offers are independent and neither tender offer is conditioned on the consummation of the other tender offer.

The purchase price for each $1,000 principal amount of securities tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to the tender offers will be determined at 2:00 p.m., New York City Time, on the second business day prior to the expiration date, which price determination date is expected to be April 6, 2005, in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase. The purchase price will be announced by news release promptly after its determination. The purchase price for each issue will be determined on the basis of a yield to the applicable maturity date of each of the Notes equal to the sum of (i) the bid-side yield of the specified reference security, plus (ii) the applicable fixed spread. For both the 7 3/4% Notes and the 6 7/8% Notes, the reference security will be the 2 5/8% U.S. Treasury Note due November 15, 2006, and the fixed spread will be 35 basis points. In addition, holders who validly tender, and do not validly withdraw, their securities will be paid any accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment date up to, but not including, the settlement date.

GATX Corporation (NYSE:GMT) is a specialized leasing company combining asset knowledge and services, structuring expertise, partnering, and capital to provide business solutions to customers and partners worldwide. GATX specializes in railcar, locomotive, and aircraft operating leasing.

Investor, corporate, financial, historical financial, photographic and news release information may be found at www.gatx.com.

    1756- the first stage route linking Philadelphia and New York City was completed. The roads were poor in Colonial times and affected meetings in Philadelphia... By 1766, the Flying Machine, a box wagon that ran from Camden , New Jersey to what is now Jersey City, New Jersey was the fastest way to travel. The 90-mile trip took two days and passengers had to use a ferry at each end. The first major turnpike in America was completed in 1794 between Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pa. The large profits that could be realized by sponsoring such a company led to the construction of many such roads throughout America, often in areas where they were not necessary. Lancaster Turnpike, 62 miles long, was the first macadam road in the U.S. In 1806 today the first appropriation by Congress was made to build the Great National Pike, also known as the Cumberland Road as it linked Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois.
    1790-birthday of John Tyler, tenth president of the US (Apr 6, 1841-Mar 3, 1845). Born at Charles City County, VA, Tyler succeeded to the presidency upon the death of William Henry Harrison. Tyler's first wife died while he was president, and he remarried before the end of his term in office, becoming the first president to marry while in office. Fifteen children were born of the two marriages. In 1861 he was elected to the Congress of the Confederate States but died at Richmond, VA, Jan 18, 1862, before being seated. His death received no official tribute from the US government.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jt10.html
    1806-Congress appropriated $30,000 as part of a program to build national highways, starting with what was called the Great National Pike, later to be known as the Cumberland Gap, built in sections from 1806 to 1940 between Cumberland, MD, and Vandalia, ILL. Total cost was $6,821,246. In 1856 the road was turned over to the states though which it passed.
    1848-ice jam in Niagara Falls. For the first time in recorded history, Niagara Falls stopped flowing. An ice jam in the Niagara river above the rim of the falls caused the water to stop.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/mar29.html
    1867-birthday of Denton True “Cy” Young, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, born at Gilmore, OH. Young is baseball's all-time winningest pitcher, having accumulated 511 victories in his 22-year career. The Cy Young Award is given each year in his honor to major league's best pitcher. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1937. Died at Peoli, OH, Nov 4, 1955.
    1867-the North American Pact: this act of the British Parliament established the Dominion of Canada, uniting Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The remaining colonies in Canada were still ruled directly by Great Britain until Manitoba joined the Dominion in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, Prince Edward Island in 1873, Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905 and Newfoundland in 1949. Union was proclaimed July 1, 1867.
    1882-the first Knights of Columbus charter was granted by the state of Connecticut. This Catholic, family, fraternal, service organization has grown into a volunteer force of Knights and family members totaling nearly six million who annually donate tens of millions of dollars and volunteer hours to countless charitable projects.
    1886 -- Coca-Cola is created (with cocaine—legal in this day and age).
    1886 - Atlanta, GA, was drenched with a record 7.36 inches of rain in 24 hours
    1906-birthday of E. Power Biggs, an American citizen, well-known Baroque organist who helped establish the organ as a concert instrument. Biggs refused to perform on electronic organs, but sought out and recorded on organs surviving from the era of Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederick Handel. After arthritis forced him to retire, he published early organ music. Biggs was born at Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, and came to the US in 1930 at the age of 24. He died Mar 10, 1977, at Boston.
http://web.wt.net/~pallas/BiggsSite.htm
    1918--Singer Pearl Bailey birthday
http://www.wic.org/bio/pbailey.htm
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_bailey_pearl.htm
    1920 - Clear Spring, MD, received 31 inches of snow in 24 hours to establish a state record.
    1925 -- Late March. Black leaders protest the showing of D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation, scheduled to open at the Rialto Theatre in Charleston on April 1, on the grounds it violated a 1919 state law prohibiting any entertainment which demeaned another race. Mayor W. W. Wertz & the West Virginia Supreme Court supported their argument and prevented the showing of the film.
    1940-Frank Sinatra with the Tommy Dorsey Band cuts “ Fools Rush In.”
    1944---Top Hits
Besame Mucho - The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Bob Eberly & Kitty Kallen
Mairzy Doats - The Merry Macs
Poinciana - Bing Crosby
So Long Pal - Al Dexter
    1945 - Providence, RI, hit 90 degrees to establish a March record for the New England area
    1951 – 23 rd Annual Academy Awards at the RKO Pantages Theater in Los Angeles was hosted by Fred Astaire. Best Picture (of 1950) was "All About Eve" (“It's all about women --- and their men!”), produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. It won six Oscars in all, including Best Supporting Actor for George Sanders, Best Director and Best Writing/Screenplay for Joseph L. Mankiewicz; Best Costume Design/Black-and-White for Edith Head and Charles Le Maire; and Best Sound/Recording (20th Century-Fox Sound Dept.). "All About Eve" also was nominated eight other times. The Best Actor award went to José Ferrer for "Cyrano de Bergerac" and the Best Actress was voted to be Judy Holliday for "Born Yesterday". Best Supporting Actress was Josephine Hull for "Harvey". Best Music/Song prizes were awarded to Ray Evans and Jay Livingston for the Nat King Cole classic, "Mona Lisa", from "Captain Carey, U.S.A.".
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0148477.html
    1951 - The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The King and I" opened on Broadway. "The King and I" starred Yul Brynner, age 31,
http://www.geocities.com/crawfordgirl/yulramses.html
in the role of the King of Siam -- the king who, along with his subjects, valued tradition above all else. Anna, the English governess hired to teach the King's dozens of children, was portrayed by Gertrude Lawrence. Ms. Lawrence and Mr. Brynner acted, danced and sang their way into our hearts with such memorable tunes as: "Getting to Know You", "Shall We Dance", "Hello, Young Lovers", "I Whistle a Happy Tune", "We Kiss in a Shadow", "I Have Dreamed", "Something Wonderful", "A Puzzlement", and "March of the Siamese Children". "The King and I" ran for a total of 1,246 outstanding performances at New York's St. James Theatre.
    1952---Top Hits
Wheel of Fortune - Kay Starr
Anytime - Eddie Fisher
Please, Mr. Sun - Johnnie Ray
(When You Feel like You're in Love) Don't Just Stand There - Carl Smith
    1954-born at Scranton, PA, Karen Ann Quinlan became the center of a legal, medical and ethical controversy over the right to die. She became irreversibly comatose on Apr 14, 1975. A petition filed by her adoptive parents in New Jersey's Superior Court, Sept 12, 1975, sought permission to discontinue use of a respirator, allowing her to die "with grace and dignity." In 1976 the petition was upheld by New Jersey's Supreme Court. Quinlan lived nearly a decade without the respirator, until June 11, 1985. Her plight brought into focus the ethical dilemmas of advancing medical technology--the need for a new understanding of life and death; the right to die; the role of judges, doctors and hospital committees in deciding when not to prolong life. Make sure you have written documents, properly executed in conformance with your state's law, to express your intentions regarding medical decisions (including "life support" systems that only prolong death), which may need to be made under circumstances in which you may no longer be able to make them for yourself.
    1960---Top Hits
The Theme from "A Summer Place" - Percy Faith
Wild One - Bobby Rydell
Puppy Love - Paul Anka
He'll Have to Go - Jim Reeves
    1961- District of Columbia residents were given the right to vote in presidential elections under the 23rd Amendment.
    1962 - Jack Paar left his highly successful late night TV talk show after five years. He left behind a salary of $250,000 and an estimated audience of eight-million people, including my family. My father and I would stay up late every night, watching this show together. It was our favorite. On Friday nights, we had poker games and watched it while we played. Fill-in hosts were used, including one who would ultimately win the coveted position of host of "The Tonight Show". He was Johnny Carson.
    1968---Top Hits
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
Love is Blue - Paul Mauriat
La - La - Means I Love You - The Delfonics
A World of Our Own - Sonny James
    1971 -- Lt. William Calley is convicted of the premeditated murder of at least 22 Vietnamese civilians at My Lai 4. He was paroled in November, 1974.
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mylai/
myl_bcalleyhtml.htm
    1976 - 48 th Academy Awards were held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. Hosts for the gala were Goldie Hawn, Gene Kelly, Walter Matthau, George Segal and Robert Shaw (Saul Zaentz, Michael Douglas, producers) selected as the Best Picture of 1975 "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" . It also scored the Best Director prize for Milos Forman, the Best Actor honor for Jack Nicholson and the Best Actress Oscar for Louise Fletcher, plus the Oscars for Best Writing to Bo Goldman and Lawrence Hauben. The Best Supporting Actor nod went to eighty-year-old George Burns for "The Sunshine Boys" and Best Supporting Actress was Lee Grant in "Shampoo". The Best Music/Song winner was Keith Carradine for "I'm Easy" from "Nashville". Other favorite winning and nominated flicks from the year 1975 include: "Dog Day Afternoon" which won the Oscar for Best Writing/Original Screenplay (Frank Pierson); "Jaws" which was awarded gold statuettes for Best Sound (Robert L. Hoyt, Roger Heman, Earl Mabery, John R. Carter), Best Film Editing (Verna Fields); and Best Music/Original Score (John Williams); "The Day of the Locust"; "Funny Lady"; and "Tommy".
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149329.html
    1976 - Jennifer Capriati (tennis champion: Olympic gold-medallist [1992], Wimbledon [1990]), born New York, New York.
    1976---Top Hits
December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) - The Four Seasons
Dream Weaver - Gary Wright
Lonely Night (Angel Face) - Captain & Tennille
Til the Rivers All Run Dry - Don Williams
    1979- the House Select Committee on Assassinations released the final report on its investigation into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy on this day. Based on available evidence, the committee concluded that President Kennedy was assassinated as a result of a conspiracy, although no trail of a conspiracy could be established. They also concluded that on the basis of scientific acoustical evidence two gunmen fired at the President, although no second gunman could be identified. [Note: In December 1980, the FBI released a report discounting the two-gunman theory, stating that the distinguishable sounds of two separate guns were not proven scientifically.] In addition the committee concluded that the possibility of conspiracy did exist in the cases of Dr. King and Robert Kennedy, although no specific individuals or organizations could be pinpointed as being involved.
    1982 - The oldest soap opera on network television, "Search for Tomorrow", made a big change. It jumped from CBS, where it grew in popularity for 30 years, to the daytime schedule on NBC. During the change, the program, owned and sponsored by Proctor and Gamble, continued right along with the soap, going from one network to the other the following day. The company wanted to maintain its regular 12:30 p.m. time slot, but CBS had other plans for "Search". NBC agreed to the 12:30 time and "Search" became an NBC property. Lots of celebrities have been featured on "Search for Tomorrow" including: Don Knotts, Sandy Duncan, Lee Grant, Tom Ewell, Roy Scheider and Hal Linden.
    1982 - the 54th Annual Academy Awards, presented this day at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. Talk-show host Johnny Carson acted as host for the party. Two of America's most revered performers, Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn scored as Best Actor and Best Actress in "On Golden Pond". The Best Picture (1981) and Best Writing/Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Colin Welland) was "Chariots of Fire" (David Puttnam, producer). It also won the prizes for Best Costume Design (Milena Canonero) and Best Music/Original Score (Vangelis). The Best Director Oscar went to Warren Beatty for "Reds". Best Supporting Actor, John Gielgud, won for his work in "Arthur". The Best Supporting Actress was Maureen Stapleton for "Reds" and Best Music/Song prizes went to Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Christopher Cross and Peter Allen for "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" from "Arthur", of course. One of the night's biggest winners (four Oscars -- Art Direction, Sound, Film Editing, Special Effects -- and four more nominations) was "Raiders of the Lost Ark".
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149517.html
    1984---Top Hits
Jump - Van Halen
Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler) – Alabama
    1989 - The 61st Annual Academy Awards ceremony was presented at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. ( sorry no host was recorded in my source.) "Rain Man" (Mark Johnson, producer) was awarded the Best Picture Oscar with its star, Dustin Hoffman, scoring as Best Actor, Barry Levinson getting the Best Director prize, and Ronald Bass and Barry Morrow picking up the award for Best Writing/Original Screenplay. Best Actress (of all the movies of 1988) was Jodie Foster for "The Accused". The Best Supporting Actor Oscar was won by Kevin Kline for "A Fish Called Wanda" and the Best Supporting Actress was Geena Davis in "The Accidental Tourist". Carly Simon won Best Music/Song for "Let the River Run" from "Working Girl". Other popular movies from 1988 including Oscar winners and non-winning nominees were: "Dangerous Liaisons"; "Mississippi Burning"; "Big"; "Gorillas in the Mist"; "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"; "Beaches"; "Die Hard"; "Beetlejuice", et al.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149738.html
    1989 - Thunderstorms produced torrential rains in northeastern Texas and southwestern Arkansas. Longview TX reported 14.16 inches of rain. More than eleven inches of rain at Henderson TX caused a dam to give way, and people left stranded in trees had to be rescued by boat. Total damage in northeastern Texas was estimated at 10 to 16 million dollars
    1990---Top Hits
Black Velvet- Alannah Myles
Love Will Lead You Back- Taylor Dayne
I Wish It Would Rain Down- Phil Collins
I'll Be Your Everything- Tommy Page
    1993 – 65th Annual Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. Comedian/actor Billy Crystal hosted the show for the fourth straight year. Clint Eastwood was honored with Best Picture and Best Director Oscars for his "Unforgiven". He starred, directed and produced the gritty Western which also won an award for Best Film Editing (Joel Cox) and Best Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman). Best Actor was Al Pacino for "Scent of a Woman" and the Best Actress prize went to Emma Thompson for "Howards End". Marisa Tomei took home the award for Best Supporting Actress for "My Cousin Vinny". 'Toons winning tune awards was a popular 1990s event at the Oscars and this year was no different. "Aladdin" picked up two: Best Music/Song awarded to Alan Menken (music), Tim Rice (lyrics) for "A Whole New World" and Best Music/Original Score (Alan Menken
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149864.html
    1998-The Indiana Pacers, coached by Larry Bird, set an NBA record for fewest points scored in a game by one team since the advent of the 24-second clock in the 1954-55 season. The Pacers, without their two top scores, Reggie Miller and Rik Smits, managed on 55 points, losing to the San Antonio Spurs, 74-55. Indiana shot 27 percent for the game. The previous record for fewest points was 57 held by three teams.
    1999-the Dow-Jones Index of 30 major industrial stocks topped the 10,000 mark for the first time.
    2004—Top Hits
Yeah!- Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris
One Call Away- Chingy Featuring J. Weav
Tipsy- J-Kwon
Solitaire- Clay Aiken

Rain, rain, go away,
Come again some other day,
Little Johnny wants to play.
Rain, rain, go to Spain,
Never show your face again.

It's raining, it's pouring,
The old man is snoring.
He bumped his head, and he went to bed,
And he couldn't get up in the morning.

Raindrops are such funny things.
They haven't feet or haven't wings.
Yet they sail through the air,
With the greatest of ease,
And dance on the street,
Wherever they please.

"Splash," said a raindrop
As it fell upon my hat;
"Splash said another
As it trickled down my back.
"You are very rude," I said
As I looked up to the sky;
Then another raindrop splashed
Right into my eye!