40 Years Ago Today

Tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the release of the Beatles “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. Sgt. Pepper is one of the things in this world that lives up to the hype. It really did change the game.

One of my favorite moments has always been, “Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!” I have heard that John came up with the lyrics after seeing this circus poster.

It’s kind of hard to read here’s the text.

PABLO FANQUE’S CIRCUS ROYAL
TOWN-MEADOWS, ROCHDALE
Grandest Night of the Season!
AND POSITIVELY THE
LAST NIGHT BUT THREE!
BEING FOR THE
BENEFIT OF MR. KITE,
(LATE OF WELLS’S CIRCUS) AND
MR. J. HENDERSON,
THE CELEBRATED SOMERSET THROWER!
WIRE DANCER, VAULTER, RIDER, etc.
On TUESDAY Evening, February 14, 1843.

Mssrs. KITE and HENDERSON, in announcing the following Entertainments ensure the Public that this Night’s Production will be one of the most splendid ever produced in this Town, having been some days in preparation.
Mr. Kite will, for this night only,
introduce the
CELEBRATED
HORSE, ZANTHUS!
Well known to be one of the
best Broke Horses
IN THE WORLD!!!

Mr. HENDERSON will undertake the arduous Task of
THROWING TWENTY-ONE SOMERSETS,
ON THE SOLID GROUND.
Mr. KITE will appear, for the
first time this season,
On The Tight Rope,
When Two Gentlemen Amateurs
of this Town will
perform with him. Mr. HENDERSON will, for the first time
in Rochdale,
introduce his extraordinary
TRAMPOLINE LEAPS
AND
SOMERSETS!
Over Men & Horses, through Hoops,
over Garters and lastly through a
Hogshead of REAL FIRE!
In this branch of the profession Mr. H challenges THE WORLD!
For particulars see Bills of the day.

I think that’s just so cool. Actually, it was pretty cool even before John got ahold of it.

Now, there has been infinite speculation about the pig story. This is from a transcript of a Fox News interview with the hunter Jamison Stone.

JOHN GIBSON, HOST: A “Big Story” exclusive: Did Jamison Stone really kill one of the biggest pigs on the planet? A lot of people writing on the Internet say no. But the 11-year-old boy from Alabama is determined to prove that he did in fact kill this humongous hog earlier this month in Georgia. He says the picture is not a fake and I, for one, believe him.

So, John Gibson is on the record saying the pig is legit. He is the first media type that has not hedged his bets on this story. Does he know something we don’t or, is he following his reporter’s instinct? It’s not the most ringing endorsement because, Gibson has a habit of saying anything that pops into his brain, but it’s a start. I’m rooting for you Jamison.