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February 1st
0656 - Died this day, Sigebert III, king of Austrasia, aged about 25. 0772 - Adrian I began his reign as Catholic Pope. 1204 - Died this day, Alexius IV Angelus, regent of Byzantium (1203-04), murdered. 1248 - Died this day, Hendrik II, duke of Brabant (1235-48). 1294 - Died this day, Louis II the Stern, ruler of Upper-Bayern. 1327 - Edward III was coronated King of England. 1328 - Died this day, Charles IV of France (the Handsome), the last monarch in the direct line of the Capetian dynasty. (1322-28). 1502 - Died this day, Olivier de la Marche, Flemish writer, poet, governor. 1539 - Emperor Karel and King François I signed an anti-English treaty. 1542 - Died this day, Hieronymus Aleander [Girolamo Aleandro], Italian diplomat, cardinal, aged 61. 1552 - Born this day, Sir Edward Coke, in Mileham, Norfolk, English jurist who helped the development of English law with his arguments for the supremacy of common law over royal perogative. (defended common law). 1587 - Elizabeth I, Queen of England, signed the Warrant of Execution for Mary Queen of Scots. 1603 - Born this day, Michael Trumper, composer. 1605 - Born this day, Isaac Aboab de Fonseca, Portuguese-Netherlands rabbi, mystic. 1633 - Born this day, Gabriel Schutz, composer. 1633 - The tobacco laws of Virginia were codified, limiting tobacco production to reduce dependence on a single-crop economy. 1650 - Died this day, Rene Descartes, philosopher, 'I think therefore I am'. 1659 - Born this day, Jacob Roggeveen, Dutch Swiss lawyer, navigator (Easter Island). 1662 - The Dutch garrison on Formosa surrendered to Chinese pirates. 1666 - Died this day, Sjihab al-Din Sultan C. Shah Djahan, mogol of India (Taj-Mahal). 1669 - Died this day, abandoned child Huygens friend poet Catharina Questiers, buried at 31. 1669 - French King Louis XIV limited freedom of religion. 1669 - Born this day, Miguel Lopez, composer. 1690 - Born this day, Francesco Maria Veracini, Italian opera composer. 1691 - Died this day, Alexander VIII [Pietro Ottoboni], Italian Pope (1689-91), aged 80. 1691 - Died this day, George Etherege, English stage writer (Love in a Tub), aged 56. 1694 - Died this day, John L. baron van Elderen, 63rd bishop of Liege (1688-94), aged 73. 1709 - Alexander Selkirk [Robinson Crusoe] was rescued from Juan Fernandez. 1710 - Born this day, Konrad E. Ackermann, German actor (Die Oberpfalz). 1717 - Henri d'Aguesseau's got his first appointment as chancellor of France. 1720 - Sweden and Prussia signed a peace treaty. 1732 - The Parliament of Ratisborn accepted 'Pragmatic Sanctions'. 1733 - Died this day, August II the Strong, King of Poland (355 children), aged 62. 1742 - Sardinia and Austria sign an alliance. 1743 - Died this day, Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni, Italian composer, aged 85. 1747 - Died this day, Jacobus E.J. Capitein, Dutch slave, vicar, merchant. 1750 - Anglican clergyman and hymnwriter John Newton (author of Amazing Grace), aged 24, wedded Mary Catlett. Their marriage lasted 40 years, before her death in 1790. John lived another 17 years, and died in 1807. 1757 - Born this day, John P. Kemble, in England, actor, director (Drury Lane, Covent Garden). 1763 - Born this day, Thomas Campbell, founder, Church of Disciples in America. 1783 - William Herschel announced the star Lambda Herculis as the apex. (Someone explain?) 1788 - Isaac Briggs and William Longstreet patented the steamboat. It was the first US steamboat patent issued, by Georgia. 1789 - Chinese troops were driven out of the Vietnam capital Thang Long. 1789 - Born this day, Hippolyte-André-Baptiste Chelard, composer. 1790 - The US Supreme Court met for the first time, the year after it was established under the Judiciary Act. (New York, NY). 1791 - English founder of Methodism John Wesley wrote in a letter: 'Probably I should not be able to do so much did not many of you assist me by your prayers.. 1791 - Born this day, Charles J. Sax, Belgian music instrument builder. (Father of Adolphe Sax, saxophone inventor). 1793 - Ralph Hodgson of Lansingburg, New York, patented one of the world’s greatest inventions: Oiled silk and linen. 1793 - Revolutionary France, having executed King Louis XVI, declared war on England and Holland. 1795 - Died this day, Giacomo Insanguine, composer, aged 66. 1801 - Born this day, Thomas Cole, US romantic landscape painter (Hudson River School). 1801 - Born this day, Adolf Fredrik Lindblad, composer. 1803 - Anglican missionary to Persia, Henry Martyn wrote in his journal: 'Oh, that I may learn my utter helplessness without Thee, and so by deep humiliation be qualified for greater usefulness.. 1805 - Born this day, Auguste Blanqui, in France, revolutionary (workers' leader). 1807 - Born this day, Henri Klimrath, French lawyer (Mémoire sur lesson Olim). 1807 - Born this day, William Bowen Campbell, Brigadier General (Union volunteers). Died in 1867. 1809 - Dutch King Louis Napoleon accepted the metric system. 1810 - The first insurance company managed by blacks was formed, the American Insurance Company of Philadelphia. 1810 - Seville, Spain surrendered to the French. 1810 - The US Population was put at 7,239,881, with a Black population of 1,377,808 (19%). 1810 - Born this day, Charles Lenox Remond, in Salem, Massachusetts, famous black. 1814 - Lord Byron's The Corsair sold 10,000 copies on the day of publication. 1814 - Volcano Mayon on Luzon, Philippines erupted killing 1,200 people. 1818 - Died this day, Giuseppi Gazzaniga, composer, aged 74. 1819 - Born this day, Henry Lawrence Eustis, Brigadier General (Union volunteers). Died in 1885. 1821 - Born this day, Charles Samvei Bovy-Lysberg, composer. 1824 - Died this day, Maria Theresia von Paradis, composer, aged 64. 1827 - Born this day, Alphonse de Rothschild, French banker. 1829 - Born this day, John Potts Slough, Brigadier General (Union volunteers). Died in 1867. 1832 - Died this day, Ecco Epkema, Dutch classic linguist (Frisian/Old Frisian), aged 71. 1833 - Born this day, Henry McNeal Turner, black methodist bishop. 1838 - Died this day, Abraham de Veer, Dutch Governor-General of Suriname (1822-28), aged 71. 1839 - Died this day, Giuseppe Valadier, Italian architect, archaeologist, aged 76. 1839 - Born this day, James A. Herne [J Aherne], US playwright (Hearts of Oak). 1840 - The world's first dental college opened in Baltimore, Maryland. (Baltimore College of Dental Surgery). 1841 - Born this day, William H.H. Davenport, in Buffalo, stage medium. 1844 - Born this day, Granville Stanley Hall, US psychologist. 1844 - Born this day, Eduard Adolf Strasburger, German botanist (Angiospermen). 1846 - Theophile Gautier published The Hashish Club about his initiation. 1848 - Born this day, Adhémar Esmein, French lawyer. 1851 - Died this day, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, novelist (Frankenstein), aged 53. 1859 - Born this day, Victor August Herbert, in Dublin, Ireland, cellist, conductor [Pittsburgh Symphony], composer, operettas (Babes in Toyland, Naughty Marietta), songs (Ah Sweet Mystery of Life [At Last I’ve Found You]). Died 26 May 1924. 1860 - Morris Raphall of New York, NY, became the first rabbi to open the House of Representatives. 1861 - A dike broke in Gelderland, Netherlands. 1861 - Texas seceded from the Union, becoming independent once again. A furious Governor Sam Houston stormed out of a legislative session upon learning that Texas had voted 167-7 to secede from the Union. They joined the Confederate States of America. The 7th to do so. Since the articles of statehood passed by the US Congress gave Texas this right, it was perhaps the only state whose secession was legal. 1862 - The Battle Hymn of the Republic was first published in Atlantic Monthly. The lyric was the work of Julia Ward Howe. The music to the song was inspired by the song John Brown's Body. Howe wrote the new words for the existing piece of music. 1864 - The second German-Danish war began. 1864 - Austrian/Prussian troops occupied Sleeswijk/Holstein. 1864 - The Battle of Yazoo River, Mississippi began. (ended 8 February). 1865 - General Sherman's march through South Carolina began. 1865 - J.S. Rock became the first black lawyer to practice in the Supreme Court, admitted to bar. Abolish slavery in the US was signed. (13th amendment approved). 1867 - Bricklayers in the US started working 8-hour days. 1869 - Born this day, Johannes F. 'Frits' Bakker Sr., actor (Holland Tooneelgezelschap). 1869 - Died this day, Frederik W. Conrad, hydraulic engineer, railway pioneer, aged 68. 1871 - Died this day, Alexander Nikoleyevich Serov, composer, aged 51. 1871 - Jefferson Long of Georgia became the first black to make an official speech in the House of Representatives (opposing leniency to former Confederates). 1872 - Born this day, Paul Fort, French poet, founder of Vers et Prose. 1873 - Born this day, Clara Butt, in Southwick, Sussex, contralto (Country of Hope & Glory). 1873 - Died this day, Matthew Maury, hydrographer. 1874 - Born this day, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, in Austria, poet, dramatist, essayist. 1875 - Born this day, Eddie Pola, composer (Lullabye of Broadway). 1875 - Died this day, William Sterndale Bennett, composer, aged 58. 1877 - Died this day, Joseph-Leon Gatayes, composer, aged 71. 1877 - Born this day, Thomas Frederick Dunhill, composer. 1878 - Born this day, Hattie Wyatt Caraway, politician, teacher, first woman elected to the US Senate. 1878 - Died this day, George Cruikshank, English illustrator (Grimm), aged 85. 1879 - Born this day, Sydney Baynes, composer. 1880 - Born this day, Antonio Guarnieri, composer. 1880 - Born this day, Francesco Balilla Pratella, composer. 1881 - Born this day, Jose Ignacio Quinton, composer. 1881 - The US Assay Office in St. Louis, Missouri was authorised. 1882 - Born this day, Louis St. Laurent, in Compton, Québec, Canada, (L) 12th Canadian PM (1948-57). 1883 - Born this day, Jevgeni B. Vachtangov, Armenian/Russian actor, director (Eric XIV). 1883 - Died this day, Pavel Melnikov, Russian historian, author. 1883 - French Lieutenant-Colonel Gustave Borgnis-Desbordes reached Bamako on the Niger. 1884 - Born this day, Yevgeny Zamyatin, in Russia, novelist, playwright (We). 1884 - The first volume of the Oxford English Dictionary, from A-Ant, was published. 1885 - Born this day, Camille Chautemps, premier France. 1887 - Born this day, Dirk Roosenburg, Dutch architect. 1887 - Harvey Wilcox of Kansas subdivided 120 acres he owned in Southern California and started selling it off as a real estate development (It's now Hollywood). 1889 - Born this day, Gertrude Caton-Thompson, British archaeologist (Zimbabwe, Southern Arabia). 1889 - Died this day, Joseph Gungl, composer, aged 78. 1891 - Born this day, James Price Johnson, composer. 1892 - Born this day, K. Rudolf Mengelberg, composer, musicologist (Amsterdam Concert Hall). 1892 - Mrs William Astor invited 400 guests to a grand ball at her mansion thus beginning the use of the 400 to describe the socially elite. 1893 - Giacomo Puccini's Opera Manon Lescaut premiered in Turin, Italy. 1893 - Thomas A. Edison completed construction of the world's first motion picture studio at the Edison Laboratories in West Orange, New Jersey. The studio was given the nickname 'The Black Maria' because of its resemblance to a gigantic paddy wagon which bore the same nickname at the time. The whole studio rested on a platform which revolved to follow the sun, increasing the number of filming hours per day. 1895 - Born this day, John Ford [Sean Aloysius O'Feeney], in Maine, Academy Award-winning director (The Informer [1935], The Grapes of Wrath [1940], How Green Was My Valley [1941], The Quiet Man [1952]) also Stagecoach, Air Mail. Died 31 August 1973. 1896 - Born this day, Anastasio 'Tacho' Somoza, General/President of Nicaragua (1937-56). 1896 - Composer Giacomo Puccini's romantic opera, La Boheme, had its world debut in Turin, Italy. 1897 - Born this day, Denise Robins, in London, romantic novelist (1st Long Kiss). 1898 - The Travelers Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut (the company with the red umbrella over their logo) issued the very first automobile insurance policy. Dr. Truman Martin of Buffalo, New York, paid $11.25 for the policy, which gave him $5,000 in liability coverage. 1900 - Born this day, Stephen Potter, humorist, writer (School for Scoundrels, Shipbuilders). 1901 - Born this day, [William] Clark Gable, in Cadiz, Ohio, US film actor, wartime US Air Force captain, Academy Award-winning actor, It Happened One Night [1934], (Mutiny on the Bounty, Gone With the Wind, Painted Desert, The Misfits). Was once turned down by a studio for having 'big ears and looks of an ape'. Was married to actress Carole Lombard. Died 16 November 1960. 1901 - Pioneer American missionaries Charles (37) and Lettie (31) Cowman set sail for Japan. Later in the year they founded the Oriental Missionary Society. They laboured in the foreign field until Charles' worsening health forced them to retire in 1917. 1902 - Born this day, Langston Hughes, African-American poet, translator, author (The Weary Blues, Way Down South). Died 22 May 1967. 1902 - Born this day, Carlo Borbolla, composer. 1902 - The binding of women's feet was banned by imperial decree in China. China's empress Tzu-hsi forbade the binding of woman's feet. 1902 - US Secretary of State John Hay protested Russian privileges in China as a violation of the 'open door policy. 1902 - Died this day, Salomon Jaoassohn, composer, aged 70. 1902 - Hermann Sudermanns Es lebe das Leben premiered in Berlin. 1903 - Died this day, George G. Stokes, British physicist, president of the Royal Society, aged 83. 1903 - Born this day, Georg Rendl, in Austria, miner, bee-keeper, writer (The Bees Novel). 1904 - Died this day, Peter P.M. Alberdingk Thijm, Dutch historian, writer, aged 76. 1904 - Born this day, S.J. Perelman [Sidney Joseph], in Brooklyn, New York, author, writer, humorist, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Around the World in 80 Days [1956]Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, One Touch of Venus, Strictly from Hunger, Westward Ha!, Around the World in 80 Clichés. Died 17 October 1979. 1904 - Enrico Caruso recorded his first sides for Victor Records. He did ten songs in the session for $4,000. 1905 - Germany contested French rule in Morocco. 1905 - Died this day, Oswald Aschenbach, German painter, aged 77. 1905 - Hague soccer team ADO was formed. 1905 - Hungarian premier Tisza resigned. 1906 - The first federal penitentiary building was completed, in Leavenworth, Kansas. 1906 - English Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Grey's wife Dorothy was fatally injured. (Doing what?) 1906 - Born this day, Hildegarde, in Adell, Wisconsin, night club singer (I'll Be Seeing You). 1906 - Born this day, Pierre Cardevielle, French composer, conductor (Amants Captifs). 1907 - Born this day, John Canaday, art critic (Metropolitan Museum of Art Portfolios). 1907 - Born this day, Alan Strode Campbell Ross, professor (coined the terms U & non-U). 1907 - Born this day, Günter Eich, German literary (Underground Highway, Girls of Viterbo). 1907 - Born this day, Mozart Camargo Guarnieri, in Brazil, composer. 1907 - Born this day, Sándor Veress, Hungarian pianist, composer. 1908 - Born this day, Albie Booth, collegiate Hall of Fame football star (Yale). 1908 - Born this day, Edward Staempfli, composer. 1908 - Born this day, George Pal, Hungarian/US director (When Worlds Collide, Puppetoons). 1908 - Died this day, King Carlos I of Portugal (1889-1908), assassinated, together with his son, Luis Phillip, Crown Prince of Portugal, in Lisbon by a mob. King Carlos was 44. 1909 - US troops left Cuba after installing Jose Miguel Gomez as president. 1909 - Born this day, Douglas Hall, Governor of Somaliland Protectorate. 1909 - Born this day, Helen Chandler, in Charleston, South Carolina, actress (Christopher Strong, Dracula). 1909 - The US Assay Office in Salt Lake City, Utah opened. 1910 - The first British labour exchange opened. (Where?) 1910 - The Dragoumis government formed in Greece. 1910 - Died this day, Otto Julius Bierbaum, German writer (Irrgarten Der Liebe), aged 44. 1910 - Born this day, H. Stanley Cayzer. 1910 - Born this day, Jahangir Khan, cricketer (father of Majid, Indian player 1932-36). 1910 - Born this day, Michael Kanin, in Rochester, New York, director, writer, actor (Woman of the Year). 1910 - Died this day, HÇläne Mercier, Dutch author, social reformer, aged 70. 1913 - Born this day, Jeffrey Kindersley Quill, test pilot. 1914 - The New York Giants and the Chicago White Sox played an exhibition baseball game in Egypt. 1914 - The Pennsylvania State Board of [motion picture] Censors was appointed. 1914 - The Tanganyika Railway opened. 1914 - Born this day, Hans Zülig, Swiss dancer. 1915 - Born this day, Sir Stanley Matthews, first British soccer player to be knighted. 1915 - Passport photographs were first required in Great Britain. 1916 - Born this day, Gordon Hobday, Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire. 1916 - H. Thiele discovered asteroid #1847 Stobbe. 1916 - Died this day, Anton Simon, composer, aged 65. 1917 - Admiral Tirpitz announced unlimited submarine war. 1918 - Franz Lehárs opera Wo die Lerche singt premiered in Budapest. 1918 - Kern, Bolton and Wodehouse's musical premiered in New York, NY. (Name?). 1918 - Russia adopted the Gregorian calendar, this day became 14 February. 1918 - Born this day, Maurice Laing, life president (John Laing). 1918 - Born this day, Muriel Spark, in Edinburgh, Scotland, novelist (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie). 1919 - The first Miss America was crowned in New York City. Edith Hyde was not, the judges found, a Miss. She was already a Mrs, Mrs. Tod Robbins, the mother of two children. 1919 - The Dodgers traded Jake Daubert to the Reds for Tommy Griffith Daubert. 1920 - Soccer team the Quick Boys was formed. 1920 - The Royal Northwest Mounted Police merged with Dominion Police to become the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. (The Mounties). 1920 - The first commercial armoured car was introduced in St Paul, Minnesota. 1920 - Born this day, Pierre Jonquéres d'Oriola, in France, equestrian jumper (Olympics gold 1952, 1964). 1920 - Born this day, Kenneth Bond, former vice-chairman. 1921 - Born this day, Peter Sallis, actor (Last of the Summer Wine, Taste the Blood of Dracula). 1922 - Born this day, Renata Tebaldi (Ersilia Clotilde), opera singer, lyric soprano (La Bohéme). Debuted as Elena in Boito's Mefistofele [1944]; debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in Verdi's Otello [1955]. 1922 - Born this day, Bogumil Witalis Andrzejewski, professor of Cushtic Languages. 1922 - Born this day, Clifford McWatt, cricketer (West Indies wicket-keeper in 6 Tests 1954-1955). 1922 - Died this day, William Desmond Taylor, director, actor (Broken Coin), aged 49. 1923 - An Allied ultimatum on Lithuanian occupation of Memel was issued. 1923 - The Fascists Voluntary Militia was formed in Italy under Mussolini. 1923 - Noël Coward's Young Idea premiered in London. 1924 - Amsterdam's Netherlands Press Museum opened. 1924 - The new British MacDonald government recognised the USSR. 1924 - Soccer team VSV Tonido formed in Voorburg. 1925 - The first national conference of KPD's Rotfrontkämpferbund took place in Berlin. 1926 - Kirghiz Autonomous Region in RSFSR became Kirghiz ASSR. 1926 - Land at Broadway and Wall Street sold at a record $7 per square inch. 1926 - Born this day, Douglas Johnson, historian. 1926 - Born this day, Peter Crill, Bailiff of Jersey. 1926 - Born this day, Stuart Whitman (Maxwell), in San Francisco, California, actor (Captain Apache, Ransom, Revenge, Cimarron Strip, The Seekers, Trial by Jury, Private Wars, Omega Cop, Delta Fox, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, Rio Conchos, The Longest Day, Ten North Frederick, Silver Lode). 1927 - Born this day, Galway Kinnell, in Providence, Rhode Isalnd, author (Body Rags, Book of Nightmares). 1928 - Born this day, Peter Gordon Dorrell, archaeologist, photographer. 1928 - Born this day, Sam Edwards, physicist. 1928 - Born this day, Thomas Eric Evans, dean of St Paul's cathedral. 1928 - Born this day, Tom Lantos (Representative-D-California, 1981-). 1928 - Born this day, Ursula Mamlok, composer. 1929 - Weightlifter, Charles Rigoulet of France, achieved the first 400 pound ‘clean and jerk’ as he lifted 402-1/2 pounds (182 kg). 1929 - Died this day, August Otto Halm, composer, aged 59. 1930 - The Times published its first crossword. 1930 - Born this day, Peter Tapsell, British MP. 1930 - A Loening Air Yacht of Air Ferries made its first passenger run between San Francisco and Oakland, California. 1930 - Arnold Schönbergs opera premiered in Frankfurt. 1931 - Born this day, Boris Yeltsin, in Ural Mountains, USSR, the first president of the Republic of Russia and prime minister of the Russian Federation [1991-1999]. 1931 - Born this day, Madeline Berthod, in Switzerland, downhill skier (Olympics gold 1956). 1931 - Born this day, Barrel [ABM] Frinking, teacher, Dutch MP, member of Dutch 2nd chamber (CVP). 1931 - Born this day, Mark Richmond, CEO (Science & Engineering Research Council). 1931 - Born this day, Ton [ABM] Frinking, Dutch MP, politician (CDA) 2nd Chamber. 1932 - Born this day, John Hart, in Denver, Colorado, newsman (CBS News Retrospective, NBC News). 1932 - Born this day, Sir John Nott, British MP, former Conservative Defence Secretary. 1932 - Bradman made 299 vs South Africa, but ran out his partner going for the 300th. 1933 - The colonial government arrested Anton de Kom in Paramaribo, Suriname. 1933 - Dutch bishops forbade membership in non-catholic unions. 1933 - The German Parliament dissolved, General Ludendorf predicted catastrophe. 1933 - Born this day, Reynolds Price, US writer (Strengthened by a Pale Green Light). 1934 - Born this day, Bob Shane, vocalist, The Kingston Trio, 1958 US No.1 and UK No.5 single Tom Dooley plus nine other US Top 40 hits including M.T.A., Greenback Dollar and Where Have All the Flowers Gone. 1934 - Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss dissolved all political parties except his own Fatherland Front. 1935 - James T. Farrell finished his Studs Lonigan trilogy. 1935 - The first March of Time newsreel premiered at the Capitol. 1935 - Born this day, Ruth Clarke, moderator (General Assembly of the United Reform Church). 1935 - Born this day, Vladimir Viktorovich Aksyonov, in USSR, cosmonaut (Soyuz 22, T-2). Cosmonaut #36/79, retired 17 October 1988. Did two space missions, with a total duration of 11 days 20 hours 11 minutes 47 seconds. His first space mission was September 15-23, 1976, as flight engineer in Soyuz-22. Mission duration 7 days 21 hours 52 minutes 17 seconds. His second space mission was June 5–9, 1980, as flight engineer of Soyuz T-2. The duration of this mission was 3 days 22 hours 19 minutes and 30 seconds. 1936 - Born this day, G.H. Blake, principal (Collingwood College, Durham University). 1936 - Born this day, Stuart [Maxwell] Whitman, actor. 1937 - Born this day, Garrett Morris, in New Orleans, Louisiana, actor, comedian (Saturday Night Live, Martin, Carwash, The Anderson Tapes, Almost Blue). 1937 - Born this day, Don Everly, in Brownie, Kentucky, US singer, The Everly Brothers, 1958 UK and US No.1 single All I Have To Do Is Dream, plus over 25 other UK hit singles. 1937 - Born this day, Ray Sawyer, in Alabama, vocals, Dr Hook, 1972 US No.5 & UK No.2 single Sylvia's Mother, 1976 UK No.2 single A Little Bit More, 1976 No.5 UK single If Not You, 1979 UK No.1 single When You're In Love Wih A Beautiful Woman, 1980 UK No.8 single Better Luck Next Time, 1980 UK No.4 single Sexy Eyes. 1976 UK No.5 album A Little Bit More, 1980 UK No.2 album Dr Hook's Greatest Hits. 1937 - Died this day, Marguerite Audoux, writer. 1937 - Stapleton, Staten Island became a customs-free port. 1938 - Born this day, Jacky Cupit, golfer (Rookie of the Year [1961], Canadian Open champ [1961], Western Open champ [1962], US Open runnerup [1963]). 1938 - Born this day, Sherman Hemsley, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, actor (The Jeffersons, All in the Family, Dinosaurs, Amen, Mr. Nanny, Love at First Bite). 1938 - Born this day, Jimmy Carl Black, drums, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, 1970 UK No.9 album Hot Rats. 1939 - Born this day, Joe Sample, keyboards, The Crusaders, 1979 UK No.5 single Street Life. 1939 - Benny Goodman and his orchestra recorded And the Angels Sing, on Victor Records. The vocalist on that number, who went on to find considerable fame at Capitol Records, was Martha Tilton. 1939 - Born this day, Del McCoury, bluegrass singer, musician. 1939 - Born this day, Paul E. Gillmor (Representative-R-Ohio). 1940 - Born this day, Herve Filion, sulky driver (1969 Canadian Sports Hall of Fame). 1940 - Born this day, Bibi Besch, in Vienna, Austria, actress (Star Trek 2, Beast Within). 1940 - Frank Sinatra sang Too Romantic and The Sky Fell Down in his first recording session with the Tommy Dorsey Band. The session was in Chicago, Illinois. Sinatra replaced Jack Leonard as lead singer with the band. 1940 - Born this day, Wayne Rivers, hockey. 1940 - Russia began a new offensive against Finland. 1941 - The US female Figure Skating championship was won by Jane Vaughn. 1941 - The US male Figure Skating championship was won by Eugene Turner. 1941 - Downbeat magazine reported that Glenn Miller had inked a new three-year contract with RCA Victor Records. The pact guaranteed Miller $750 a side, the fattest record contract signed to that time. 1941 - Born this day, Anatoliy Firssov, in USSR, ice hockey play (Olympics-gold-1964, 1968, 1972). 1941 - Born this day, Franco Nones, in Italy, 30K cross country skier (Olympics-gold-1968). 1941 - Born this day, Robert Walmsley, British Vice-Admiral. 1941 - The Air Training Corps, affiliated to the RAF, was formed. 1942 - Born this day, Dave Sincock, cricketer (chinaman bowler played for Australia 1964-66). 1942 - Born this day, Wayne Rivers, hockey, (NHL: Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, SL Blues, NY Rangers) 1942 - Born this day, Terry Jones, in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, actor, comedian, director (Monty Python, Personal Services). 1942 - Vidkun Quisling became prime minister of Norway. He formed his second Norwegian government. 1942 - Planes of the US Pacific fleet attacked Japanese bases in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. 1943 - Mussert formed a pro-Nazi shadow cabinet (Netherlands). 1943 - Born this day, Bob Jamieson, broadcast journalist. 1943 - American tanks and infantry were battered by German positions at Fais pass in North Africa. 1943 - Born this day, Tina Sloan, in New York, actress (Lillian-Guiding Light, Search for Tomorrow). 1943 - Born this day, Josceline Dimbleby, cookery writer. 1943 - Born this day, Lord Mountevans. 1944 - Born this day, Leo Burmester, in Louisville, Kentucky, actor (Flo, Chiefs, The Abyss, Odd Jobs). 1944 - Born this day, Tommy Duffy, rock musician (Echos). 1944 - Died this day, Martin Lunssens, composer, aged 72. 1944 - Died this day, Piet Mondrian, abstract painter (Composition in Blue), aged 71. 1944 - US Army troops invaded two Kwajalein Islands in the Pacific. 1944 - Born this day, Paul Blair, baseball, (Baltimore Orioles [World Series: 1966, 1969-1971/all-star: 1969, 1973], NY Yankees [World Series: 1977, 1978], Cincinnati Reds). 1944 - Born this day, Dennis Farina, actor. 1944 - Born this day, [Dick] Duck Snyder, basketball (Seattle SuperSonics). 1944 - Born this day, Michael B. Enzi, US Senator. 1944 - The Supreme Soviet enlarged the soviet republics' autonomy. 1944 - The US 7th Infantry/25th Marine Division landed on Kwajalein/Roi/Namur. 1945 - The US Army arrived at Siegfriedline. 1945 - US Rangers and Filipino guerrillas rescued 513 American survivors of the Bataan Death March. 1945 - Born this day, Ole Buck, composer. 1945 - Died this day, Johan Huizinga, Dutch culture historian (Homo Ludens), aged 72. 1946 - Born this day, Bert Braverman, in Los Angeles, California, actor (Bobby-Vega$, Roy-New Odd Couple). 1946 - Hungary was declared a republic, with Zoltan Tildy as communist president and Ferenc Nagy as prime minister. 1946 - Died this day, Hans Betghe, writer, aged 70. 1946 - Trygve Lie, a Norwegian socialist, became the first Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN). 1947 - Aleide de Gasperi formed the Italian government of Christian-democrats and communists. 1947 - Dmitri Shostakovich was named professor at the Conservatory of Leningrad. 1947 - NV United Dutch Fokker's Aircraft was established. 1947 - Heavy snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures combined with a serious fuel shortage brought Britain to its economic knees. Over 4 million workers were made idle by power cuts. Coal trains couldn't battle through the 20ft snow drifts. Thousands of homes were without light and heat for several hours of the day. 1947 - Born this day, Adam Ingram, British MP. 1947 - Born this day, Terry Hibbitt, soccer star. 1948 - Born this day, Debbie Austin, LPGA golfer, (seven LPGA tour victories, ranked among top 30 LPGA all-time career money list at the time of her retirement). 1948 - Born this day, Jennifer Adams, superintendent (Central Royal Parks). 1948 - The Palestine Post building in Jerusalem was bombed. 1948 - The Federation of Malaysia was formed from 9 sultanates. (Names?. 1948 - Born this day, Rick James [James Ambrose Johnson, Jr], in Buffalo, New York, American funk and soul musician, who worked as a singer, keyboardist, bassist, record producer, arranger, and composer during his long career. 1980 UK No.41 single Big Time. 1981 US No.3 album Street Songs, 1981 US No.16 single Super Freak part 1. Found dead at his Los Angeles home on 6 August 2004, he had died from pulmonary and cardiac failure with his various health conditions of diabetes, stroke, and a pacemaker being listed as contributing factors. A coroner's report released 16 September 2004 officially ruled his death as accidental, reporting nine drugs found in James' bloodstream. His uncle was Melvin Franklin, the bass vocalist of The Temptations. 1949 - The 200 inch (5.08-metre) Hale telescope was first used. 1949 - Born this day, Dave Thompson, American football, (Clemson University [all-American: 1970]; Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints). 1949 - Clothes rationing ended in Britain after the Second World War (WWII).. 1949 - Born this day, Jimmy Lee Thorpe, in Roxboro, North Carolina, PGA golfer (1985 Greater Milwaukee Open). 1949 - Died this day, Herbert Stothart, composer, aged 63. 1949 - The modern state of Israel formally annexed West Jerusalem. 1949 - Louis B. Mayer, the Mayer in Metro Goldwin Mayer (MGM), became a millionaire once more. This deal had nothing to do with the movies, though. He sold his breeding farm of race horses for one-million dollars. 1949 - RCA Victor countered Columbia Records’ 33-1/3 long play phonograph disk, not only a smaller, 7-inch record (with a big hole in the center), but an entire phonograph playing system as well. The 45-rpm, soon made the 78-rpm record a blast from the past, and it made possible the invention of the Jukebox. 1950 - Died this day, Harry Blomberg, Swedish author (Jacobs Dröm), aged 56. 1950 - Urko Kekkonen was elected president of Finland. 1950 - The USSR demanded condemnation of Emperor Hirohito for war crimes. 1951 - A temperature of -50ºF (-46ºC), was recorded in Gavilan, New Mexico. A state record. 1951 - Alfred Krupp and 28 other German war criminals were freed. 1951 - The United Nations (UN) condemned the People's Republic of China as an aggressor in Korea. 1951 - A third A-bomb test was completed in the desert of Nevada. It was the first telecast of an atomic explosion. 1951 - The first X-ray moving picture process was demonstrated. 1951 - Born this day, Andrew Smith, British MP. 1951 - Born this day, Brandis Kemp, in Palo Alto, California, actress, comedienne (Fridays). 1952 - Born this day, Rick James [James Johnson], in Buffalo, New York, singer, songwriter, producer, musician, 1980 UK No.41 single Big Time. 1981 US No.3 album Street Songs. 1952 - There was a General strike against French colonial management in Tunisia. 1952 - [Samuel Nathaniel] S.N. Behrman's Jane premiered in New York, NY. 1953 - CBS-TV debuted Private Secretary. Ann Sothern played Susie McNamera, private secretary to New York talent agent, Peter Sands (played by Don Porter). The show ran during the regular TV seasons on CBS (last show was 10 September 1957) and ran on NBC-TV in the summers of 1953 and 1954. 1953 - Born this day, Andy Mill, skier, husband of Chris Evert. 1953 - Born this day, C.A. Barnett, headmaster (Whitgift School). 1953 - General Electric Theater premiered on CBS TV; Reagan later hosted it. 1953 - You Are There with Walter Cronkite premiered on CBS television. 1953 - Dr. A. de Waal was appointed as Netherlands first female assistant Secretary of state. 1953 - Flooding in Netherlands, killed 1,835. 1953 - WEEK TV channel 25 in Peoria, Illinois (NBC) began broadcasting. 1954 - Scapino Ballet Studio in Amsterdam was destroyed by fire. 1954 - Soccer team The County formed in Doetinchem. 1954 - Born this day, Billy Mumy, in California, actor (Will Robinson-Lost in Space, Dear Brigitte, Palm Springs Weekend, Twilight Zone-The Movie, The Rockford Files, Sunshine, Babylon 5). 1954 - A television classic was born on CBS-TV, as The Secret Storm was shown for the first day of what would become a 20-year run on the network. (First TV soap opera). 1954 - Born this day, Mike Campbell, guitarist, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, 1989 UK No.28 single I Won't Back Down. 1954 - Died this day, Edwin Howard Armstrong, inventor of FM radio, when he jumped from his 13th floor apartment window. He was born 18 December 1890. 1954 - Died this day, Julius P. Hoste, Belgian minister, newspaper publisher, aged 69. 1955 - Born this day, Kate Ashbrook, General Secretary (Open Spaces Society). 1955 - Born this day, Margaux Hemingway, actress. 1955 - Born this day, [Theodore Roosevelt] T.R. Dunn, basketball. 1955 - Born this day, Virginia Elliot, three-day eventer. 1955 - The state of Mississippi was hit by a series of tornadoes as storms raged through the American south, leaving a trail of destruction the cost of which would be tens of millions to repair. Twenty-nine people were reported to have been killed, state authorities declared. 1955 - H.C. Hansen was appointed premier of Denmark. 1956 - The Hague Daily Newspaper revealed the war crimes of Hague mayor Schokking. 1956 - WSAV TV channel 3 in Savannah, Georgia (NBC) began broadcasting. 1957 - Born this day, Donna Adamek, in Duarte, California, bowler (BWAA Woman of Year 1978-81). 1957 - Died this day, Friedrich von Paulus, German field marshal (Stalingrad), aged 66. 1957 - This day saw the first black pilot (P.H. Young) on a US scheduled passenger airline. 1957 - Born this day, Dennis Brown, reggae singer, 1979 UK No.14 single Money In My Pocket. Died 1 July 1999. 1957 - Gijsbert of Hall was appointed mayor of Amsterdam. 1958 - The first US satellite (Explorer I) was launched. 1958 - WFTV TV channel 9 in Orlando, Florida (ABC) began broadcasting. 1958 - Died this day, Clinton Joseph Davisson. 1958 - Born this day, Maureen Madill, in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, golfer (British Open Amateur 1979). 1958 - Egypt and Syria proclaimed the union of their two countries in a state to be known as 'The United Arab Republic'. 1959 - Born this day, Anthony LaPaglia, in Adelaide, South Australia, actor (Murder One, Criminal Justice, Betsy's Wedding). 1959 - Died this day, Madame Sul-To-Wan [Conley], actress (Birth of a Nation), aged 85. 1959 - Born this day, Carolyn Hill, in Santa Monica, California, LPGA golfer (1994 McCall's Classic). 1959 - Born this day, Mike Horan, NFL punter (New York Giants). 1959 - Born this day, Wade Wilson, NFL quarterback (Dallas Cowboys). 1959 - Swiss males voted against voting rights for women. 1959 - Texas Instruments requested a patent of the IC (Integrated Circuit). 1959 - The US female Figure Skating championship was won by Carol Heiss. 1959 - The US male Figure Skating championship was won by David Jenkins. 1959 - Wiffi Smith won the LPGA Havana Golf Tournament. 1959 - WVUE TV channel 8 in New Orleans, Louisiana (ABC) began broadcasting. 1959 - Zack Wheat was unanimously elected to the baseball Hall of Fame. 1959 - Lowell Observatory discovered asteroid #2847. 1960 - In the 34th Australian Women's Tennis championship, Margaret Smith beat J. Lehane (7-5 6-2). 1960 - In the 48th Australian Men's Tennis championship, Rod Laver beat N. Fraser (5-7 3-6 6-3 8-6 8-6). 1960 - Extreme right-wing rebels in Algiers surrendered. 1960 - Four black students staged the first civil rights sit-in, at a segregated Greensboro, North Carolina lunch counter. (F.W. Woolworth). 1961 - John Huston's The Misfits rode into US theatres. It was the last completed film for Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable (he had a fatal heart attack the day after the film was completed the previous year). 1961 - Born this day, Daniel M. Tani, in Ridley Park, Maryland, astronaut. 1961 - Born this day, Gabrielle Carteris, in Phoenix, Arizona, actress (Beverly Hills 90210). 1961 - Born this day, Gina Hull, in Jacksonville, Florida, LPGA golfer (1989 USX Golf Classic-8th). 1961 - The first full-scale test of US Minuteman ICBM was successful. 1961 - British minister Enoch Powell made medical insurance more expensive. 1961 - Mackay and Kline hung on for 100 minutes for a cricket draw vs West Indies. (Who were they playing for?) 1962 - New Faces of '62 open at Alvin Theatre in New York City for 28 performances. 1962 - The NL released its first 162-game schedule. 1962 - Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was published. 1963 - Paul Simon graduated from Queens College in New York. 1963 - Kamuzu Banda was sworn in as the first prime minister of Nyasaland (Malawi), when it became self-governing. 1964 - The Beatles started a 7 week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with I Want To Hold Your Hand, the first No.1 by a UK act since The Tornados Telstar in 1962 and the first of three consecutive No.1's from the group. 1964 - President Lyndon B. Johnson rejected Charles de Gaulle's plan for a neutral Vietnam. 1964 - Stop the World, I Want to... closed at Shubert Theatre in New York City after 556 performances. 1964 - Governor Matthew Welsh of Indiana declared Louie, Louie by the Kingsmen 'pornographic', so he tried it get it banned. The FCC couldn't figure out the lyrics, and the governor's move backfired by making the song one of the most covered titles in existence. 1964 - The Suriname River was dammed. 1964 - Born this day, Jani Lane, rock musician (Warrant-Cherry Pie). 1964 - Born this day, Dwayne Rudolph Goettel, musician. 1964 - Born this day, Kaitlin Hopkins, in New York, NY, actress (Kelsey-Another World). 1964 - Born this day, Sharon Bruneau, in Toronto, Ontario, actress (Sensuous Muscle). 1965 - Born this day, Brandon Lee, in Emerson, Colorado, actor (Showdown in Little Tokyo). 1965 - Born this day, Sherilyn Fenn (Sheryl Ann Fenn), in Detroit, Michigan, actress (2 Moon Junction, Twin Peaks, Fatal Instinct, Of Mice and Men, Diary of a Hitman, Wild at Heart, The Wild Life). 1965 - Born this day, David Callaghan, cricketer (South African all-rounder in one-dayers 1992). 1965 - Born this day, Stephanie Marie Elisabeth de Grimaldi, in Monte Carlo, Monaco, Princess. 1965 - Dutch Queen Juliana opened the Brienenoord Bridge in Rotterdam. 1965 - The NL adopted an emergency team replacement plan to restock any club struck by disaster. 1965 - Peter Jennings, aged 26, became anchor of ABC's nightly news. 1965 - Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and 770 others were arrested in protest against voter discrimination in Selma, Alabama. 1965 - P.J. Proby split his pants during his first number at the ABC, Luton, the manager stopped the show and gave everyone in the audience a refund. The incident caused a ban on Proby's performance in UK halls and TV. 1965 - Medical prescriptions on the NHS became free of charge. They remained so until June 1968. 1966 - Born this day, Donna Edmondson, in Greensboro, North Carolina, playmate of the year for November 1986. 1966 - Born this day, Eddie Zambrano, Venezuelan/US baseball outfielder (Chicago Cubs). 1966 - Born this day, Michelle Akers, in Santa Clara, California, soccer forward (Olympics 1996). 1966 - Born this day, Rob Lee, footballer. 1966 - Died this day, Nicholas Piantanida, while setting a balloon flight record. Died while descending. 1966 - Died this day, Buster Keaton [Joseph Francis], US comic (General), aged 69. 1966 - Died this day, Hedda Hopper [Elda Furry], US gossip columnist, aged 75. 1966 - Died this day, William Harrigan, actor (Invisible Man, Girl in 419), aged 71. 1967 - Died this day, Ernie Bromley, cricketer (2 Tests for Australia 1933-1934). 1967 - Died this day, Langston Hughes, poet, translator (Weary Blues), on his 65th birthday. 1967 - Born this day, Laura E. Dern, in Los Angeles, California, actress (Blue Velvet, Mask, Smooth Talk). 1967 - Born this day, Tim Naehring, in Cincinnati, Ohio, infielder (Boston Red Sox). 1967 - Severe brush fires in Tasmania destroyed $11 million and claimed 60 lives. 1967 - WCLP TV channel 18 in Chatsworth, Georgia (PBS) began broadcasting. 1968 - In Saigon, South Vietnam's national police chief Brigadier General Nguyen Ngoc Loan summarily executed an accused Viet Cong spy with a bullet to the head. Unfortunately for the general, he happened to shoot him right in front of NBC cameraman Vo Suu and Associated Press photographer Eddie Adams. 1968 - Vince Lombardi resigned as coach of the Green Bay Packers. 1968 - Former Vice-President Richard Nixon announced his candidacy for President. 1968 - Died this day, Lawson Little, amateur golfer (US/British Opens 1934, 1935), aged 57. 1968 - World trade conference Unctad 2 opened in New Delhi. 1968 - US troops drove the North Vietnamese out of Tan Son Nhut airport in Saigon. 1968 - South Vietnam President Nguyen Van Thieu declared martial law. 1968 - Born this day, Lisa Marie Presley, model, daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, was born in Memphis, Tennessee at 5:01 pm, exactly nine months after the King's and Priscilla's wedding night. Lisa Marie married in 1994, the ‘Gloved One’, Michael Jackson. They separated on 10 December 1995 and divorced later. 2003 UK No.16 single Lights Out 1968 - Born this day, George Quigley Jr., in Cincinnati, Ohio, skeet (Olympics 1996). 1968 - Born this day, Javier Sanchez, in Spain, tennis star. 1968 - Born this day, Kent Mercker, in Dublin, Ohio, pitcher (Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles). 1968 - Born this day, Mark Recchi, in Kamloops, British Columbia, NHL right wing (Montréal Canadiens). 1968 - The Doors were offered a half-million dollars to star in a film (it never happened). 1968 - Born this day, Pauly Shore, in Hollywood, comedian (Totally Pauly, Encino Man, In the Army Now, The Bogus Witch Project). 1968 - Born this day, Sean Millington, CFL fullback (British Columbia Lions). 1969 - Born this day, Patrick Wilson, Weezer, 1995 UK No.12 single Buddy Holly. 1969 - Crimson and Clover recorded by Tommy James and The Shondells, jumped to No.1 on Billboard's record charts, and stayed there for 2 weeks. It was the groups second and last No.1 single. Billy Idol had a 1987 US No.1 with Mony Mony, which was a No.3 hit for Tommy James in 1968. 1969 - Born this day, Bryan Jacob, in Palatka, Florida, 59 kg (130 lbs) weightlifter (Olympics 1992, 1996). 1969 - Born this day, John Moore, Australian baseball catcher (Olympics 1996). 1969 - Jim Morrison was arrested for exposing himself in concert. 1969 - The US female Figure Skating championship was won by Janet Lynn. 1969 - The US male Figure Skating championship was won by Tim Wood. 1969 - WPGH TV channel 53 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (IND) began broadcasting. 1970 - A US Government report revealed that 31% of college students had tried pot. 1970 - Died this day, Blaz Arnic, composer, aged 69. 1970 - Israel and Syria battled in the Golan Heights in the worst fighting since the Six Days War. 1970 - Born this day, Eric Mobley, NBA center (Vancouver Grizzlies). 1970 - Born this day, Malik Sealy, NBA guard/forward (Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers). 1970 - A stalled commuter train was rammed by a high-speed express at Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 139, and injuring 179. 1970 - Ford Frick, Earle Combs and Jesse Haines elected to the Hall of Fame. 1970 - West-Germany and the USSR signed a gas contract. 1970 - WMAA TV channel 29 in Jackson, Mississippi (PBS) began broadcasting. 1971 - The soundtrack album from the movie, Love Story, starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali McGraw, with music by Frances Lai, was certified as a gold record. 1971 - Born this day, Ron Welty, drums, The Offspring, 1999 UK No.1 & US No.59 single Pretty Fly, For a White Guy, 1999 US No.6 & UK No.10 album Americana. 1971 - Evonne Goolagong scored her first major senior singles victory as she defeated Margaret Court in the finals of the Victorian Open, played in Melbourne, Australia. 1971 - Born this day, Ajay Jadeja, cricketer (Indian opening batsman). 1971 - Born this day, Derek Byrd, NFL cornerback (New Orleans Saints). 1971 - Born this day, Robert O'Neal, WLAF safety (Amsterdam Admirals). 1971 - Born this day, Tomas Mikael [Tommy] Salo, in Surahammar, Sweden, NHL goalie (Team Sweden, New York Islanders). 1971 - Died this day, Jim A.J. Christy, cricket (10 Tests for South Africa, 638 runs at 34 33). 1972 - Born this day, [Thomas] Carlton Bruner, US 1500 metre freestyle swimmer (Olympics 1996). 1972 - Born this day, Brian Krause, actor (December, Sleepwalkers, Return to Blue Lagoon). 1972 - The first scientific hand-held calculator, the HP-35, was introduced at $395. (Hewlett-Packard). 1972 - Born this day, Geoff Sanderson, Hay River, North West Territory, Canada, NHL left wing (Hartford Whalers). 1972 - Born this day, Richard Becker, in Aurora, Illinois, outfielder (Minnesota Twin). 1972 - Wings recorded and released Give Ireland Back to the Irish in the UK. 1972 - Chuck Berry has his first UK No.1 single with a live recording of a song he'd been doing for over 20 years - My Ding A Ling. UK public morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse attempted to have the song banned. 1973 - Born this day, Andrew DeClercq, NBA forward (Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics). 1973 - Born this day, Elena Makarova, in Moscow, Russia, tennis star (1993 Futures-Val). 1973 - Monte Irvin was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame. 1973 - Born this day, Michael Joyce, in Santa Monica, California, tennis star (1989 USTA National Boys' 18). 1973 - Born this day, Tlia Reima, ice hockey center (Finland, Olympics 1998. 1973 - Gladys Knight and the Pips left Motown Records (and it's Soul label) for Buddah. 1973 - London's Stock Exchange admitted women for the first time. 1974 - Good Times, a spinoff from Maude, premiered on CBS TV. 1974 - Born this day, Jennifer Lien, actress (Hannah Moore-Another World). 1974 - Born this day, Lisa Marie Scott, in Pensacola, Florida, playmate for February 1994. 1974 - Born this day, Randy Josselyn, in Los Angeles, California, actor (Fever Lake, Andy Colby's Incredible Adventure). 1974 - Born this day, Walter McCarty, NBA forward (Boston Celtics). 1974 - A fire on the 12th floor of the 25 story Joelma Bank Building in Sao Paulo, Brazil, killed 177 and seriously burned 293. A crowd of 10,000 spectators hampered firefighters near the building. The new building's cheap construction was primarily at fault. 1974 - Died this day, Lynda Ann Healy, first Bundy murder victim, abducted in Seattle. 1974 - Died this day, Marieluise Fleißer, writer, aged 71. 1974 - Ronnie Biggs, one of the 'Great Train' robbers, was arrested in Rio de Janeiro. 1974 - Larry Lujack at Chicago's WCFL upset listeners who'd requested songs by Jim Croce by responding with I'll play more Croce records when he goes back in the studio and cuts a few more, OK? 1975 - Elvis Presley arranged for his daughter, Lisa Marie, to meet her favourite singer, Elton John, for her seventh birthday. 1975 - Died this day, Richard Wattis, actor (Dick & the Duchess, Liberace), aged 62. 1975 - Neil Sedaka had his second US No.1 single with Laughter In The Rain, over 12 years after his last chart topper Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. 1975 - Born this day, Big Boi, Outkast, US rapper, 2001 US No.1 & UK No.2 single Ms Jackson, 2004 US No.1 & UK No.3 single Hey Ya, 2004 UK No.4 single Roses. 1975 - Pilot had their only UK No.1 single with the song January. 1975 - The first successful Washington Capitals penalty shot was taken by Ken Lockett vs Vancouver Canucks. 1975 - Lorne Henning scored on the 3rd Islander penalty shot. 1975 - Hoppy, Gene & Me by Roy Rogers peaked at No.65 in the US. 1975 - Born this day, Martijn Reuser, Dutch soccer player (Ajax). 1975 - Men on the Moon closed at Little Theatre in New York City after 5 performances. 1975 - Otis Francis Tabler became the first open homosexual to get security clearance to work for the US Defense Department. 1976 - Rich Man, Poor Man mini-series premiered on ABC TV. 1976 - East Lansing police arrested Dodgers reliever Mike Marshall for taking batting practice at Michigan State University after he was warned not to. 1976 - Judy Rankin won the LPGA Burdine's Golf Invitational. 1976 - Sonny and Cher resumed on TV despite a real life divorce. 1976 - Died this day, Edgar Pangborn, sci-fi author (Judgment of Eve, Davy), aged 66. 1976 - Died this day, Werner C. Heisenberg, physicist (Nobel 1932, field theory), aged 74. 1977 - Died this day, Edmond Hamilton [Moore], US sci-fi author (Danger Planet), aged 72. 1977 - The Sex Pistols began a European tour in Belgium. 1977 - A heavy blizzard in New England claimed 100 lives. 1977 - Hillsdale High School defeated Person High School 2-0 in basketball. 1978 - Director Roman Polanski skipped bail and fled to France after pleading guilty to charges of engaging in sex with a 13-year-old girl. 1978 - Harriet Tubman became the first black woman honoured on a US postage stamp. 1978 - Amstrad were advertising their new ranges of hi-fi, the 8000 system complete with 40 watt amp, speakers and amp, £86 and the executive system with 140 watt amp, record deck, tuner, tape deck and speakers priced at £365. 1978 - The Bob Dylan film, Renoldo and Clara, premiered. 1979 - Egypt and Syria proclaimed the union of their two countries in a state to be known as 'The United Arab Republic'. 1979 - Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran after 14 years in exile in France. 1979 - Patricia Hearst was released from a San Francisco prison for bank robbery. 1979 - The USSR performed a nuclear test at Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalitinsk, USSR. 1979 - Died this day, Mort Marshall, actor (Cully-Dumplings), aged 60. 1980 - The soap opera Love of Life ended a 28 year run. 1980 - Born this day, Courtney Hamilton, Miss Arizona Teen-USA 1996. 1980 - The Sears Radio Theater moved from CBS to Mutual Broadcasting System. 1980 - Died this day, Jack Bailey, TV host (Queen for a Day), aged 72. 1980 - Died this day, Romolo Valli, actor (Boom, La Viaccia), aged 54. 1980 - Uriah Heep kicked off their 19 date ‘10th Anniversary’ UK tour at Birmingham’s Odeon, supported by Girlschool. 1981 - Died this day, Donald W. Douglas, US aviation pionieer, builder, aged 88. 1981 - Died this day, Ernst Pepping, composer, aged 79. 1981 - Died this day, Nils Geirr Tveitt, composer, aged 72. 1981 - Died this day, Wanda Hendrix, actress, (Sierra, Ride the Pink Horse). 1981 - In the 11th NFL Pro Bowl, NFC beat AFC 21-7. 1981 - In the 31st NBA All-Star Game, East beat West 123-120 at Cleveland. 1981 - The Duke Ellington-musical Sophisticated Ladies premiered in New York, NY. 1981 - The Dutch Antilles census was 231,932. 1981 - The French government accord sent 60 Mirage fighter jets to Iraq. 1981 - Sandra Palmer won the LPGA Whirlpool Golf Championship of Deer Creek. 1981 - Trevor Chappell bowled underarm to Brian McKechnie, WSC Final MCG. 1982 - 'Bar-Kays Day' was declared in Memphis, Tennessee. 1982 - The Confederation of Senegambia was formally launched. (Senegal & Gambia). 1982 - Late Night With David Letterman debuted on NBC-TV. 1983 - Died this day, Tullio Campagnolo, Italian bicycle manufacturer. 1983 - The USSR performed an underground nuclear test. 1984 - The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the demise of the tiny half penny decimal coin in the UK. 1984 - Daniel Stern became the NBA commissioner. 1984 - Ravindara Mhatrem, an Indian diplomat, was kidnapped in England. 1984 - China and the Netherlands regained diplomatic relations. 1985 - Glen Frey of the Eagles appeared on an episode of NBC-TV's Miami Vice. 1985 - A temperature of -69ºF (-56ºC), was recorded at Peter's Sink in Utah. A state record. 1985 - A temperature of -61ºF (-52ºC), was recorded at Maybell, Colorado. A state record. 1985 - Azharuddin scored a 3rd Test century in a 3rd Test Cricket match (122 vs England). 1985 - The Cardinals traded D. Green, Jose Uribe, and Dave LaPoint to the New York Giants for Jack Clark. 1985 - The US female Figure Skating championship was won by Tiffany Chin. 1985 - Appearing at Loughborough University, were King, on the first night of a 23 date UK tour. 1986 - Appearing at Portsmouth Polytechnic, were The Bangles. 1986 - Diana Ross married Norwegian shipping magnate Arne Naess in Geneva, Switzerland. Stevie Wonder performed at the reception. They were divorced in 2000. 1986 - Two days of anti-government riots in Port-au-Prince resulted in 14 dead. 1986 - Denny Crum, suffering from the flu, used the telephone to coach his Louisville basketball team. The Louisville Cardinals won 92-71 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. 1986 - KHJ-AM in Los Angeles, California changed its call letters to KRTH. 1986 - Died this day, Alva Myrdal, Swedish Nobel peace prize winner (1982), aged 84. 1986 - Died this day, Dick James, music publisher, in London aged 58 of a heart attack. Worked with many UK 60's acts including Beatles (1962-70). 1987 - Died this day, Erin Westmore, makeup artist (Hollywood Backstage), aged 82. 1987 - A 163 day strike against Deere & Company ended, the workers accepted a wage freeze. 1987 - A 38,873 NBA crowd watched Chicago at Detroit. 1987 - Kathy Postlewait won the LPGA Mazda Golf Classic. 1987 - In the NFL Pro Bowl, AFC beat NFC 10-6. 1987 - Terry Williams of Los Gatos, California, won the largest slot machine payoff to that time. He put $4.9 million in his pockets after getting four lucky 7s on a machine in Reno, Nevada. 1988 - Died this day, Heather O'Rourke, child film star, formerly of the Poltergeist movies, tragically at the age of 12 during emergency surgery for bowel obstruction in San Diego, California. She died just prior to the release of Poltergeist 3. 1988 - Died this day, Reinder Zwolsman, Dutch businessman, aged 75. 1988 - The Cars announced they were breaking up after 12 years of working together. 1989 - Died this day, Paul Robi, singer, The Platters, of cancer. 1959 UK & US No.1 single Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. 1989 - Students marched in London against government plans to introduce student loans. 1989 - Died this day, Vincent Crane, formerly of Atomic Rooster. 1989 - Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 was at its perihelion. 1989 - Princess Diana of England visited New York, NY. 1990 - Bulgaria's government resigned after the ruling Communists failed to entice the fledgling opposition movement into a power-sharing deal until free elections. 1990 - Yugoslavia deployed troops, tanks and warplanes in Kosovo province, where police battled ethnic Albanians demanding political reforms. 1991 - South African President F. W. De Klerk opened parliament with a speech promising the demolition of the remaining pillars of apartheid. 1991 - Craig McDermott took 8-97 vs England at the WACA. 1991 - A US Air and Skywest Fairchild commuter jet collided at Los Angeles Airport killing 32 people. 1991 - An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale hit Afghanistan and Pakistan, resulting in more than 1,200 people killed. 1991 - Died this day, Carol Dempster, actress (Sally of Sawdust, America), aged 89. 1991 - Died this day, H.J. van Ommeren-Averink, Dutch MP (CPN). 1991 - Died this day, James G. MacDonald, cartoon voice (Mickey Mouse), aged 84. 1991 - Died this day, Phil Watson, NHL coach (New York Rangers). 1992 - Died this day, George Berkeley, actor (Life Stinks, Captains & the Kings), aged 70. 1992 - Died this day, Irving R. Kaufman, federal judge (Rosenberg Case), aged 81. 1992 - George Michael and Elton John went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, it was also a No.1 in the UK. All proceeds from the single went to Aids charities. 1992 - US President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed the Camp David declaration which states that their two countries no longer regard each other as adversaries. They signed an agreement of general principles that concluded decades of East-West rivalry and encouraged a future relationship of cooperation. The signing in Washington DC marked the official end of the 'Cold War'. 1992 - Barry Bonds signed baseball's highest single year contract of $4.7 million. 1992 - Denis Potvin's No.5 became the first number to be retired by the New York Islanders. 1992 - Crazy He Calls Me closed at Walter Kerr Theatre in New York City after 7 performances. 1993 - New York Judge Sol Wachtler was indicted for harassing Joy Silverman. 1993 - Soyuz TM-16 landed. 1994 - United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali backed the use of air power in Bosnia. 1994 - Died this day, Fouad Fram al-Boustani, Lebanese historian (Rawaeaa), aged 88. 1994 - Died this day, Olan Soule, radio voice (Super Friends), of lung cancer aged 83. 1994 - Irina Privalova ran a world record 50 metres indoor in 6.03 seconds. 1994 - A large meteorite fell near Kusaie, Pacific Ocean. 1995 - Amtrak's New York-Tampa run ended. 1995 - Amy van Dikes swam a woman's world record 50 metre butterfly in 26.73 sseconds. 1995 - Andy and Grant Flower made a 269 stand vs Pakistan, a brotherly record. 1995 - Belgium's TV channel VT4 went on the air. 1995 - Communist Vietnam opened a liaison office in Washington, DC, for the time in the 20 years since the end of the Vietnam War. 1995 - Died this day, George Abbot, director (Damn Yankees), aged 107. 1995 - Died this day, John Smith, CEO (Liverpool FC), aged 74. 1995 - Died this day, Michael Caesar, pope of pot, of liver cancer aged 52. 1995 - Richey James guitarist with the Manic Street Preachers vanished leaving no clues to his whereabouts. He left The Embassy Hotel in London at 7am, leaving behind his packed suitcase. His car was found on the Severn Bridge 16 days later. 1996 - Died this day, Clive Burton, neuropathologist, aged 54. 1996 - Poland's president named Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, an ex-communist leader who had often stood outside his dominant party's mainstream, as prime minister to lead the country out of political crisis. 1996 - Both houses of the US Congress overwhelmingly approved a rewrite of the 1935 Communications Act. Some highlights: allowed local and long-distance telephone companies, as well as cable TV providers, to offer a mixture of goods and services; Deregulated cable TV rates; allowed consumers access to a greater variety of cable, telephone and other communications services; and, in one of the most controversial changes, it revised the National Multiple Radio Ownership Rule and Local Radio Ownership Rule, allowing most of the stations in the US to be snatched up by a few corporations. 1997 - Blur went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Beetlebum. 1997 - The original soundtrack from the film Evita went to No.1 on the UK album chart. 1997 - Died this day, Herb Caen, columnist, of lung cancer aged 80. 1997 - Died this day, Mitchell Goodman, writer, aged 71. 1997 - Boy George was beaten up by two bouncers after trying to jump the queue outside The Ministry Of Sound in London where he has been a guest DJ. 1997 - Died this day, Peter Morris, historian of France, aged 50. 1997 - Died this day, Thelma Moss, psychologist, aged 78. 1998 - Street Corner Symphony closed at Brooks Atkinson, in New York City after 79 performances. 1998 - In the 86th Australian Mens Tennis Championships, Petr Korda beat Marcelo Rios (6-2 6-2 6-2). 1998 - In the Australian Mixed Doubles Tennis, J. Gimelstob and V. Williams beat Suk and Sukova (6-2 6-1). 1998 - Michael King of Clayton, Georgia was charged with the baseball-bat beating to death of Kenneth Paul Smith. King urinated in Smith's front yard, and after the property owner complained, he was severely beaten with a bat kept in King's Ford Mustang. 1998 - In the NFL Pro Bowl Game, AFC beat NFC 29-24. 2001 - A collection of Sir Elton John's private photo's on display at a museum in Atlanta were withdrawn. The exhibition, which included snaps of nude men, was said to be too explicit, some school trips to the museum had been cancelled. 2001 - Corus, the biggest steelmaker in the UK, axed more than 6,000 jobs in a massive programme of cuts. 2002 - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club made their UK live debut when they appeared at Liverpool University. 2002 - The father of S Club 7's Paul Cattermole was jailed for 3 years for sex acts with two 14 year-old girl fans of the group. Gerald Cattermole, aged 50 had been warned by police not to get involved with fans who often visited his house. 2002 - Passengers were stranded on a ferry which ran aground in high winds as storms continued to batter Britain. 2003 - Died this day, Malcolm Roberts, singer, from complications of emphysema aged 77. Had 1968 UK No.8 single May I Have The Next Dream With You. 2003 - The Space Shuttle Columbia blew up on re-entry, 16 minutes before its scheduled landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with its debris hitting homes and businesses in Nacogdoches, Texas. 2003 - Died this day, Rick Husband, Commander of Space Shuttle Columbia, aged 45. 2003 - Died this day, William McCool, Pilot of Space Shuttle Columbia, aged 41. 2003 - Died this day, Michael Anderson, Payload Commander of Space Shuttle Columbia, aged 43. 2003 - Died this day, David Brown, Mission Specialist of Space Shuttle Columbia, aged 46. 2003 - Died this day, Kalpana Chawla, Mission Specialist of Space Shuttle Columbia, aged 41. 2003 - Died this day, Laurel Clark, Mission Specialist of Space Shuttle Columbia, aged 41. 2003 - Died this day, Ilan Ramon, Payload Specialist of Space Shuttle Columbia, aged 48. 2004 - During the MTV-provided halftime show of the Superbowl, former boy band member Justin Timberlake conducted an obviously pre-scripted move to expose Janet Jackson's right breast, which oddly sported a ninjitsu-style throwing star as a pasty. The nation was shocked, simply shocked, that a pristine, noncommercial event such as the Superbowl could be ruined by a Jackson. 2004 - LMC vs U2 started a two week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Take Me To The Clouds Above. |
Trivia
Trivia - petty details or considerations, matters or things that are very unimportant, inconsequential, or nonessential; trifles; trivialities.
Trivial - of very little importance or value; insignificant: "Don't bother me with trivial matters." Trivially - unimportant, nugatory, slight, immaterial, inconsequential, frivolous, trifling.