Iowa Almanac
Iowa Almanac -- Friday, November 29, 2024
A legend dies in Iowa. More from the Iowa Almanac in a moment. I'm Jeff Stein, through special arrangement with the publisher, TotallyIowa.com is now able to offer two of my books at a special holiday discount. Making waves the people in places of Iowa broadcasting and one week in June, the Iowa floods of 2008 are now available at a fraction of their original cost. Buy both and save even more. Other great keepsakes are available too, by going to TotallyIowa.com. That's TotallyIowa.com. Cary Grant was the perfect image of a 20th century movie legend. By November 29, 1986, the 82-year-old was enjoying intimate appearances before audiences across the country, playing clips from his films, telling stories from the stage and answering questions from audience members. That was the plan for an appearance at the Adler Theatre in Davenport that Saturday night. The appearance was part of the annual Festival of Trees at the River Center in Davenport. A black tie reception was scheduled before the performance. He went through an afternoon rehearsal at the theatre, then started to feel ill. He went back to his suite at what was then the Black Hawk Hotel, thinking it was a stomach virus. And during the pre-performance gala, it was announced that Grant had taken ill and would not perform as scheduled. Before long, however, his condition worsened. Doctors arrived to find him coherent but in some distress. He was rushed to a hospital around 9 p.m. but slipped into a coma on the way. He then suffered a final massive stroke and was pronounced dead at 11.22 p.m. The Quad City Times reported the death with a very simple front-page headline. A legend dies in our arms. The debonair actor, whose credits included some of the greatest films of the era, "Carry Grant," died just before giving a performance in Davenport on this date in 1986. And that's Iowa Almanac for November 29th. There's more online at IowaAlmanac.com. Until Monday, I'm Jeff Stein.