Train of thought Thursday

by chuckofish

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Ain’t that the truth.

Well, today is the birthday of Olympic swimmer and film star Buster Crabbe.

Clarence Linden Crabbe II grew up in Hawaii and went to USC where he was the school’s first All-American swimmer (1931) and a 1931 NCAA freestyle titleist. At the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, he won the bronze medal for the 1,500 meters freestyle. Four years later in Berlin, he won the 1932 Olympic gold medal for the 400-meter freestyle swimming event.

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20-year old Buster at the 1928 Olympics

His swimming prowess (and the fact that he was adorable) launched his career on the silver screen. He became the undisputed king of motion-picture adventure serials during the 1930s and 1940s. You might remember him as Flash Gordon…

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…or as Tarzan…

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…or as Buck Rogers…

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Well, although I can’t say I’ve ever actually seen one of his serials or movies–he was a bit before my time–I’ll toast him tonight.

“The characteristic of genuine heroism is its persistency. All men have wandering impulses, fits and starts of generosity. But when you have resolved to be great, abide by yourself, and do not weakly try to reconcile yourself with the world. The heroic cannot be the common, nor the common the heroic.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

And tomorrow is Friday!