Labor Day Weekend

Summer's last holiday - and a day off for many - is almost here. For many, it's marked as the day to stop wearing white until spring. But Labor Day is known for more than the fashion rule.

Just as Union Square is known for being more than an ordinarily bustling node in New York City’s transit system.

Union Square has also been the site of important political actions, from promoting free speech, to being the place working class New Yorkers - many of them recent immigrants - met to defend the labor movement, holding boisterous labor meetings.

It's where the first Labor Day parade and festivities began on September 5 1882, when 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square.  

Last year, the Labor Day parade was held virtually instead, and it looks like there won't be the usual parades for Labor Day 2021 either. We are going through some testing times.

What do you have planned for the Labor Day weekend? 

Joy and I like to think that RUSC is a place you can come to escape, switch off and relax with a good old comedy, take yourself off to Twin Rock Falls with Fibber McGee and Molly, or enjoy a round a golf with the Great Gildersleeve. 

If you like a bit of history, have a listen to the news broadcast from 1948 when President Harry S Truman gave a Labor Day Address in Cadillac Square, Detroit.

One of my favorite shows is Life with Luigi, which is always good for a laugh When he wrote home to his mother in the 1950s show, he wrote one of my favorite lines...

"The funny thing about Americans, all year they work and then one day they stop work and guess what they call it? Labor Day!”

When you've had a chance to listen to the shows, let us know which is your favorite in our latest poll over to the right --->>>

And then when you've had your fill of listening, test your knowledge in our Labor Day special quiz.

Have a great weekend!

P.S. If you like a little more drama, why not listen to some of the Studio One shows I've been adding to RUSC lately. There will be an editorial after the weekend with more information about the series.