Keener Today – May 7

 May 7, 2025
Happy Birthday, Dr. Edwin Land, inventor of the Polaroid Camera
Happy Birthday, Dr. Edwin Land, inventor of the Polaroid Camera

How many of us owned a Polaroid Swinger? “It’s more than a camera, it’s almost alive. It’s only nineteen dollars, and ninety-five.”

Today in History:

  • 1763 – Odawa Indian Chief Pontiac and 300 followers attempted to take Fort Detroit by surprise. After his plan failed, Pontiac laid siege to the fort two days later, and was eventually joined by more than 900 warriors from a half-dozen tribes in the struggle against the British military occupation of the Great Lakes region.
  • 1847 – In Philadelphia, the American Medical Association (AMA) was founded.
  • 1946 – Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corp. was founded, later renamed Sony.
  • 1958 -The Champs performed their instrumental hit “Tequila” on ABC-TV’s “American Bandstand.”
  • 1966 – The Mamas and the Papas started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Monday Monday.” The band members reportedly said they all hated the song, except for its writer John Phillips. The Mamas and the Papas won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for this song.
  • 1966 – The Rolling Stones released the single “Paint It, Black” in the U.S.
  • 1967 – Soviet youths openly defied police and danced the Twist in Moscow’s Red Square during May Day celebrations.
  • 1970 – The Temptations released the single “Ball Of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today).”
  • 1972 – Reginald Dwight legally changed his name to Elton John.
  • 1973 – George Harrison released “Give Me Love.” Harrison’s single went on to replace “My Love” by Paul McCartney at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and in turn was replaced at #1 by “Will It Go Round in Circles” by singer/musician Billy Preston, who played with Harrison and McCartney during the “Let It Be” sessions in 1969.
  • 1977 – The Eagles went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Hotel California,” the group’s fourth U.S. No. 1.
  • 1978 – The 90,000 tickets available for Bob Dylan’s concerts at London’s Wembley Empire Pool were all snatched up in less than eight hours.
  • 1982 – The first Men at Work album, Business as Usual, already a No. 1 hit in their native Australia, is finally released in America. In November, it rises to the top in the U.S.
  • 1994 – Randy Bachman led 1,322 guitarists who had gathered in Vancouver to play Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s “Takin’ Care of Business,” for 68 minutes and 40 seconds.
  • 1998 – Steve Perry officially left Journey, honoring an agreement made with Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain that they would reform the band without him if he was not able to tour. He was replaced with the similar-sounding Steve Augeri.

Today’s Birthdays:

  • Edwin Land, the inventor of instant photography, as in the Poloroid Land Camera was born today in 1909.
  • Actor Darren McGavin of “Christmas Story” fame was born today in 1922.
  • American Comediaenne Totie Fields was born today in 1930.
  • Beatle publicist Derek Taylor wasb born in Liverpool on this date in 1932.
  • R&B singer Jimmy Ruffin (“What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”) was born today in 1936.
  • Johnny Maestro — lead singer for the Crests, the Del-Satins, and the Brooklyn Bridge — was born today in 1939.
  • Journalist tim Russert was born today in 1950.
  • Country singer-songrwriter Terry Allen (“Amarillo Highway”) is 81.
  • Thelma Houston is 79.
  • Bill Danoff of Starland Vocal Band (“Afternoon Delight”) is 79.
  • Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann is 78.
  • Mic Gillette of Tower of Power was born today in 1951.
  • Eagle-Eye Cherry is 57.

Happening Today in Metro Detroit:

Visit Detroit Hometown Tourist Day, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Campus Martius Park, Detroit. Info: visitdetroit.com/hometowntouristday
Detroit Institute of Arts Free General Admission for Tri-County Residents, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (typical Wed), 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit. Info: https://dia.orgUniversity of Michigan Museum of Natural History Free General Admission, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (typical Wed), 1105 N University Ave, Ann Arbor. Info: https://lsa.umich.edu/ummnh

Building Big with Paper Cups, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Ann Arbor District Library – Traverwood Branch, 3333 Traverwood Dr, Ann Arbor. Info: https://aadl.org/events

Teens Night Out, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM, Baldwin Public Library, 300 W Merrill St, Birmingham. Info: https://events.getlocalhop.com/teens-night-out/event/xuKLHa7QxG/

Books and Bricks, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Ann Arbor District Library – South Branch (Malletts Creek), 3090 E. Eisenhower Pkwy, Ann Arbor. Info: https://aadl.org/events

Pet Protectors, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Dearborn Public Library – Edison Branch (DPL system), 16101 W Warren Ave, Detroit. Info: https://detroitpubliclibrary.org/events

Home Grown for Homeschool Scholars, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Mount Clemens Public Library, 150 Cass Ave, Mt Clemens. Info: https://mtclib.org/calendar.aspx

LEGO Club, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Romulus Public Library, 11121 Wayne Rd, Romulus. Info: https://romuluslibrary.org/calendar/
Learn to Ride a Bike (for Detroit Kids), 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Lexus Velodrome, 601 Mack Ave, Detroit. Info: https://lexusvelodrome.com/events/tag/detroit-kids/2025-05/

Basic Computer Skills Class, (Varies, e.g., 5-6 PM or 6-7 PM), Detroit Public Library system (check specific branches). Info: https://detroitpubliclibrary.org/events
Belle Isle Nature Center Exploration/Possible Guided Walks, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (general hours), 176 Lakeside Dr, Detroit. Info: https://belleislenaturecenter.detroitzoo.org

Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend at the 44th Annual Art Birmingham! Enjoy 150 artists, live music, kids’ activities, food trucks, and craft cocktails—all in scenic Shain Park, downtown Birmingham. It’s free and fun for all! Saturday, May 10, 10 to 6, and Sunday, May 11, 10 to 5. Details at artbirmingham.org.