12th June

Today in 1931, Alfonso Capone, the son of a Neapolitan barber, was charged with 5000 offences under America's Prohibition Laws. This man had orchestrated the St Valentine's Day Massacre, made an estimated $100 million from bootlegging, racketeering and prostitution and once beat a man to death with a baseball bat. How mad has the world become when all they could actually get him on was tax evasion (the 1930s equivalent of parking on a double yellow line). I can't help thinking a bullet in the head would have been more appropriate, cheaper and final.

In other news ...
Vic Damone, the American singer who had a smash hit with On the Street Where You Live from My Fair Lady was born today in 1928. I only mention him because until I was sixteen I was convinced his name was Victor Moan and I couldn't help thinking that that was a rather risky handle for a vocalist. Mr Damone is happily still with us, I believe, and so a very happy 84th birthday to him, for today.

2nd June

I absolutely refuse to mention the Jubilee. Oh, dear, I've blown it.

In other news ...
Rex Harrison died today in 1990. He was suave and sophisticated and is best known for the following roles:

• Rex Harrison in Blithe Spirit
• Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady
• Rex Harrison in Cleopatra
• Rex Harrison in The Agony and the Ecstasy.

For My Fair Lady he won an Academy Award and a Rex.